Holy cow ! I loved this book! Sally just never disappoints !!!! I loved this story and the whole direction of the book!

WOW! This book is so full of deception and greed. The book draws you right in from the beginning of the first chapter. I feel like Sally put her foot on the gas and never let up through the whole book! The book moved quickly and I didn't want to put it down.

I love that this book was told from both Diana and Lucy's POV and alternating timelines. It made the book really flow. I was never really able to pick a side. I couldn't say I loved Lucy or Diana. Usually when I don't love either character I don't love this book but this one was different. I thought this book was fresh and new.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Sally Hepworth for my copy of The Mother-In-Law!

Lucy’s Mother In Law Diana has been tough on her children and their spouses. Then she is found dead, by apparent suicide, and nobody can believe it. She didn’t seem like the type to kill herself, but what else could have happened? The story is told through Lucy and Diana’s points of view, in past and present tense.

There are so many twists and turns in this book. It’s the ultimate dysfunctional family story, after reading, you will definitely not look at your family the same way.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Although I am a single lady, it doesn't mean that I haven't heard my share of "mother in law" stories. Some women just cannot cut the cord even after their precious sons get married. For the heck of it I decided to do an internet search on mother in laws. My sweet baby Jesus! There are tons of mother in law stories not to mention a definitive list of the worst mother in laws in HISTORY. Bring your popcorn because if you're anything like me, you'll head down a very dark hole on Saturday night.

The story begins with two police officers arriving at Lucy's home to inform her husband, Ollie, that his mother is dead, an apparent suicide that might be more. As the story moves from the present into Lucy and Diana's tense past, it seems clear that more than one person would be happy to have Diana dead.

I read this novel in one sitting, but would certainly put forward that the book could be called "Mother" as Diana( in my opinion) had an even more aggressive relationship with Ollie and his sister, Antoinette. The more that I read about the highs and lows of Diana's past, I begin to wonder how reliable Lucy's narrative really was as the secrets start to unravel. Although I had an inkling of what the big reveal was going to be, I was still hooked enough to keep the pages tourning. The Mother-in-Law was my first Sally Hepworth read, but it surely will not be my last.

Goodreads Review: 14/04/19
Publication Date: 23/04/19

I finished this book at 3 this morning; it is a book that once you start reading, it is impossible to put down! The Mother-in-law is suspenseful, with twists and turns around every corner, never knowing where it's going to take you! The story revolves around the contentious relationship between Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana, two strong, independent women that are always butting heads, never really understanding what makes the other woman tick. This story is also very poignant and heartfelt, and as events unfold you are pulled deeper into the relationships and conflicts with all of the compex characters in this story. The dialogue is sharp, the feelings intense, secrets abound, the plot fast-paced—an excellent book all around!

Wow, I loved it! Please add me to the huge list of fans for Sally Hepworth. I have heard so much about this author and yet this is my first book I have read by her. Needless to say I am quickly adding the rest to my TBR pile!

The age old mother- in- law vs daughter- in- law dilemma. Except this time the mother in law Diana ends up dead! Certainly even though Lucy and Diana have had their differences in the past, it surely would not have come to this?! As we search for the answer to this question we are privy to both Lucy and Diana's point of view. Which allowed us to see how each really felt about the other as we got a look into each of their thoughts.

This book started out with a bang and did not let up. I literally flew through this book in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down! I loved the writers style which kept me gripped to the pages until the very end. I know that many will think Diana is unlikable, but dare I say I loved her. Yes I did! I loved reading her point of view. She was very witty at times and made me laugh. I felt she was a very strong woman with a strong personality. This quite often rubs people the wrong way, but it made me like her even more.

I read this book as a group read with the Traveling Sisters. It was a fantastic book to read as a group because we could bounce all our theories off each other. Needless to say this one kept me guessing until the very end. I never saw that ending coming! That is the best kind of book in my opinion! Loved my first book by Sally Hepworth, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC and Sally Hepworth for writing this fantastic book!

I loved, loved, loved this book! It seems that all Lucy ever wanted from her Mother-in-Law, Diana, was to be accepted and loved. Lucy misses the feeling of having her own mother in her life and sought to have a loving relationship with her husband Ollie's mom.
But Diana was never a "warm and fuzzy" kind of mom. She was tough as nails and successful despite of having to work hard her entire life to build an empire from the ground up. Diana is immersed in her charity work and she feels strongly that giving her children hand-outs will leave them short of knowing what "working hard for your money" feels like.
But... I think Diana got a bad wrap. Being told from multiple perspectives, the reader got to know Diana and her hearts desires. Yes, she was hell-bent on tough love. Yes, she was rich. Yes, she didn't freely give wads of money to her grown children whenever they had a business idea or desired another opportunity in life. She loved her family, her husband, and her work.
Did she go too far though? After her husband Tom died, she began to rethink things. Here's where it got real hairy. This story just got better and better!
I loved the plot twists, the flawed characters, and the drama of it all!!! A fast paced and twisty story, it will have you reading through all hours of the night!

I love it when I read a book that makes me want to read more from that author. I haven’t been reading mysteries or suspense novels for a while but I’m so glad I was in the mood and had THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth all queued up. Set in Australia, this book follows Lucy as the daughter-in-law who loves Ollie and her family more than anything. But with Ollie comes his mother, Diana. From the beginning, you know that Lucy has lost her own mom and really expected that Diana and her would hit it off and she’d have both an amazing husband and a wonderful mom. But Diana is not warm and fuzzy. Hepworth captures the importance of what we say, don’t say, and forget to say perfectly in this novel. The relationships she develops and the writing she uses are fantastic. I really couldn’t put it down – both from a desire to know who the “bad guy” was and to see what happened to the relationships with everyone in the book. It was just awesome and I’m grateful to have read it early. I’m even more grateful that my mother-in-law is amazing and that we have such open communication. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“I could have written more, but in the end, there’s really only two pieces of wisdom worth leaving behind. I worked hard for everything I ever cared about. And nothing I ever cared about cost a single cent.”

Truly sucked me in! This book was outstanding, I was hooked from the first paragraph. I’ve never read Sally Hepworth before, but I will be adding her books to my to be read pile for sure!

We all either have a cringe worthy mother in law or we know someone who has that kind of relationship so, why should Lucy’s be any different? This book explores those relationships and how time, patience and understanding can maybe change things for the better.

However, this is a thriller/mystery/suspense filled story so, it isn’t all roses and pony’s right?

So, the remaining question is, how far will you go to get what you want?

Five stars all the way! Thank you so much to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the galley of this intense, family drama. Thoroughly enjoyed it, this would be a great beach read!

An suspenseful and intriguing family drama about asking parents for financial help.

SUMMARY
Diana Goodwin is found dead in her home shortly after her husband’s death, and suicide seems the logical conclusion. There was a suicide note, and she had just recently told her family she had breast cancer. But the police are investigating, and it’s seems everyone in the family might have a motive.

When Lucy first met Diana, 10 years ago, she was overwhelmed by the grandeur of their palatial home. Since her own mother had passed away when she was thirteen, Lucy had hoped to find a warm, loving future mother-in-law, but that is not what she found. Lucy’s fiancé, Ollie, adores his mother, but his sister, Nettie, and her husband, Patrick, warn Lucy that Diana “could alway be worse”.

Diana is aloof with her children and spends most of her time and her wealth on a charity she established to help refugees. Whenever her own children ask for financial assistance they are repeatedly refused. She wants her children to go it “on their own”, just like she had to do, when she was young. When Diana’s husband Tom was alive, he would occasional help the kids, but now then he is gone, both Nettie and Ollie are desperate for help.

REVIEW
The Mother-in-Law is a intriguing family drama. Diana was quite the character that you’ll love to hate. How dare she not help her kids. I found myself holding my breath just waiting for the next horrible or rude thing she would do. But as the past and the present unfold, we find there is so much more to the story.

I loved reading both Lucy and Diana perspectives. It all blends effortlessly to form a surprising and grabbing story. I couldn’t stop inhaling the pages to find out what happen to Diana. It’s a story that makes you think about the perceptions of your interactions and relationships with others. Why do people turn out they way they do?

Sally Hepworth’s writing was mesmerizing. Her story could be plucked from the headlines of today. She is from Melbourne, Australia and is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives (2015), The Things We Keep (2016) and The Mother's Promise (2017), and The Family Next Door (Feb 2018). 

Thanks to Netgalley, Sally Hepworth and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published April 23, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

You must read this book! The characters are so life like. I love the way the author explains what Lucy and Diana are thinking during their conversations. It makes them more relatable. Diana portrays herself as a hardcore mother in law, but you also see a sensitive side. Lucy is a typical daughter in law who tends to be defensive. The relationships in this family are easy to identify with throughout the story. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Addictive, thrilling, and full of shocking twists and turns. The Mother-in-Law is the first book by Sally Hepworth that I have read and it will definitely not be my last. This book had me flipping through the shocking pages to see what would happen next. What is better than a family drama that is full of lies, deceit and betrayal? Full of secrets, it seems no one is being honest with themselves, let alone the rest of the family. When everyone is hiding their fair share of secrets, who do you believe? Is anyone innocent or are they all to blame?

I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of the friendship, or lack thereof, between Lucy and her mother-in-law. I mean, who doesn’t want to get along with their mother-in-law and be accepted fully by her? And that is all Lucky wanted – to be accepted by Diana and feel that she was considered good enough to be married to Diana’s son Ollie and feel a part of their family. It should be easy enough, right?

Well this is not the case. Lucy has a hard time connecting with her mother-in-law Diana, and Diana is not making it easy on Lucy. Diana seems aloof, cold an indifferent. Is it just Diana’s nature and the way her personality is, or does she simply dislike Lucy for no apparent reason?

We are introduced to a wide variety of complex and dynamic characters in the book. We have Diana and Tom, who are married, and have two children Ollie and Nettie. Ollie is married to Lucy and Nettie is married to Patrick. With so many characters in this book who had their own reasons for disliking or even hating Diana at times, is one of them responsible for Diana’s death? After all, each of them have their own share of reasons for possibly wanting to murder her.

Well job Sally. I look forward to reading your other novels.

WOW! What a fantastic book. I suspected all at one time or another but only learned who the murderer is at the very end. Loved it and highly recommend. Will look for more books by this author for sure. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself hoping for the best throughout, and wishing the daughter-in-law would open her eyes to the situations a little more. I guess maybe we never really know anyone, or their intentions. This book was so heartfelt that I found myself appreciating my own mother-in-law by the end — that’s when you know it’s a good book, if it makes you reflect on yourself. I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes books with alternating perspectives. This has been one of the best books I’ve read in that style. I loved it! Thank you, Netgalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this gem. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Clever, impactful & irresistible!

This book was nothing like I imagined it to be…..it was so much more than your typical “evil” mother-in-law tale!! Loved it!!


THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by SALLY HEPWORTH is a gripping, captivating, thought-provoking, and fabulous mystery/thriller that I was immediately drawn into and devoured quickly. The story was so darn entertaining and absolutely un-put-down-able!!!!

SALLY HEPWORTH delivers quite the unexpected, clever, engaging, complex and well-written story here told in alternating chapters between the past and the present in both Diana (mother-in-law) and Lucy’s perspectives. The storyline was brilliantly plotted, flowed seamlessly and the characterizations were absolutely spot-on. The dynamics between these characters totally fascinated and entertained me. And it was so interesting to hear from both sides as each of them had their own interpretations of what they actually meant or how they felt or thought about certain scenarios.

The mystery itself here was done so well and not rushed at all. It was another one of those books where the fantastic storytelling guides and entertains you without any shocking unrealistic scenes. The storyline is full of twists and turns and so subtlety interspersed that totally snuck up on me in the end. I love it when an author is so talented to shock you with her writing style alone which just makes that pivotal moment much more shocking in its own right. Brilliant!!

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: That cover is absolutely striking with its bright & welcoming design which definitely caught my eye and definitely enticed me into wanting to read this book.
Title: Simple, impactful and fabulous!
Writing/Prose: Well-written, fluid, witty, beautiful and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, clever, unique, thought-provoking, believable, interesting, heartfelt, fast-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: Whoa! Absolutely loved it and totally took me by surprise!
Overall: This was an all around fabulous book with such a creative and refreshing storyline that was definitely very satisfying and well worth reading! Would highly recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Sally Hepworth for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The relationship between a daughter in law and mother in law can be difficult. Trust me I am speaking from personal experience! Reading this book was hard for me at times as I reflected on my own relationship with my mother in law. That being said it was a page turning thriller that took me on a wild ride. When Lucy meets her mother in law Diana for the first time she is so hopeful for a warm loving relationship. But she quickly finds Diana to be cold, distant and very different from herself. Now with Diana being found dead from an apparent suicide the family struggles to understand what brought her to this. Furthermore once the autopsy comes back it reveals Diana might not have committed suicide after all. Family secrets and betrayals start coming out and you never know who is telling the truth. This book is told through alternating perspectives of Diana and Lucy which I really enjoyed. As the narration flips from the past to present we learn more about this tumultuous relationship. I recommend this book if you are looking for a book with family drama that keeps you on your toes!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St Martin's Press for this advance reader copy,

I liked this book, didn't love it. It was a little quiet and missing some of the drama and soap i was expecting. Told from the alternating perspectives of Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana (who mysteriously dies and her family is considered prime suspects-Lucy in particular due to their difficult mother/daughter-in-law relationship). While it was a straight forward engaging read, I had trouble relating to any of the characters (which is funny since I just got married and have my only history of mother-in-law drama). I think I was expecting fireworks and ended up with bonfire instead. It's not a bad book by any means, but I think I had different expectations.

This book was a good mix of genres, mostly a family saga with a murder mystery twist. Some parts were amusingly poignant, other parts were just heart-rendingly sad.
The author reminds me of Lianne Moriarty, the way she mixes humour with real life circumstances and a touch of suspense.
The dynamics were primarily between two people, Lucy and her mother in law, Diana.
Lucy was truly a good person and Diana was misunderstood in the way that some strong people are - she did not feel the need to explain herself to others, which may have hurt her relationship with her children.
Diana endured some unique hardships as a young woman, but grew stronger for it and wanted her children to be equipt to do the same. She made no excuses and I felt was a little hard on them, while her husband seemed to enjoy indulging them.
It is no spoiler to say the book starts out with Diana's mysterious death and the full story is told by flashbacks from Diana and the current time point of view is Lucy's.

In what has become a popular format, this story is told from two points of view, alternating between the past and present. Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diana, have never “clicked”, despite Lucy’s attempts. When Diana is found dead, family secrets and relationships come to a head as the police investigate whether it was suicide or murder.

Set in Australia, this was an engrossing read that I really liked. I don’t often give 5 stars unless a book is truly outstanding, but there was something about this one that really appealed to me.

“The Mother-in-Law” was a slowly revealed mystery, telling the story through alternating chapters of flashbacks and current times. At different points, I considered every character a suspect, and enjoyed that it wasn’t a mystery that was figured out quickly or easily. I enjoyed the character development of the mother-in-law, Diana, who seems in the beginning to be a cold, harsh woman but the flashbacks reveal who is really is and why she’s the way she is. I was genuinely saddened knowing what was going to happen to her.