Bree wakes up one morning and looks out the window and a face is staring back at her.. Bree is concerned something bad is about to happen but she prefers to believe that everything is ok and goes about her day. Later that afternoon Bree is at her teenage daughters school with her baby son and middle daughter watching her teenage daughter practice in a play. Bree turns her back on her infant to talk to her middle daughter. When she turns back around the car seat with the baby is gone. There is a note stating for Bree to go home and wait for further instructions. No police, do not talk to anyone or you will not see your baby alive. So begins a fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Whoa! This book, oh my gosh, this book grabbed me in ways beyond a mystery thriller. It brought back college memories where the cautionary tale of the story rang too close to home. Our main character Bree, seems to have it all. Two beautiful girls and a baby boy that rounds out the set. She didn’t have to become a stay at home mom, but it happened. She’s not complaining, but a moment of attention to her daughter’s on stage performance is enough to let the worst happen. Now, Bree is at the mercy of another mother, one utterly convicted and bent on justice. She doesn’t care for an apology; she’s not asking for one. She wants blood and she’s already had it. She’ll have more if she gets her way. I could NOT STOP READING THIS BOOK!!! Looking for a thrilling ride that will also challenge you to think hard about how the world deals with certain issues, this is it. Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copy. I will be highly recommending this book to all my friends.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow

I’ve enjoyed Joshilyn Jackson’s books for a long time. This one just very well may be my favorite. Mother May I, like Never Have I Ever, is a departure from her previous books. The things I enjoyed most about her earlier works are still there - the character development and compelling storyline, but when you add in the thriller/suspense element it just makes it that much better. There were a few things that were a little predictable, but overall this was a solid 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Joshilyn Jackson and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bree Cabbat, our main character, has grown up poor in rural Georgia. Her single mother has an overwhelming belief that the world is dark, and bad people are waiting to do you harm. Bree manages to escape this upbringing and marries into a family with wealth. She has everything she could imagine, including three lovely children. She awakes one night, believing there is a witch outside her window. Later, she sees a similar person in her child’s private school parking lot. It’s not long after that her youngest child, two month old Robert goes missing. She only looked away for a minute during her daughter’s play rehearsal. Bree is left a note, with very specific instructions on what to do and what not to do. As any mother would be, Bree is panicked. She will do anything to get her child back. The story takes us through twists and turns as we discover what is behind this kidnapping. How far will Bree go to reclaim her child? This story moved along with twists and turns and kept you wondering what would happen. The tension builds to a climax, which was a little too perfect in my opinion. That being said, I did enjoy reading this book and would recommend it and I will look for other books to read by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance copy of, Mother May I, by Joshilyn Jackson. I found this book too dark and sinister for me, but others like this kind of book.

Very good suspense novel with the most surprising twist (to me, anyway) early in the book. I was planning to give this five stars, as I turned pages quickly to see what happened next. But the final 50 pages of the book took a turn I didn’t care for. It was ok but the book dropped from 5 stars to 3 at that point, for me.
Two things:
1. The details of the “3 way” are gross and unnecessary. The scene is bad enough without adding those extra details. Having ANY photos distributed of a sex scene would be a nightmare and damaging to the girl in that situation. In my opinion, putting so much focus on that detail and the graphic is distracting to the overall story. And it makes the book go into a bit of porn slide that does nothing for the story.
2. The intense focus of the last 50 pages on rape is a narrative for another book. The photo of Lexie’s face and implications of rape are a real horror and have a big impact on the story. But the book didn’t need a soapbox of commentary on the millions of “nice men”, “rich men”, “spoiled college boys”, etc that get by with rape and abuse. I felt like I had walked into a Brett Kavanaugh hearing. I’m not discounting or disputing the importance of the issue....just saying it hijacked the book and stole Bree’s story.

Mother May I was a nail biting thriller. Extremely hard to put down. My heart was pounding the whole time. From page one this takes off and holds you almost paralyzed till the last page.

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is a fast-paced baby-snatching story whose kidnapper is obsessed with avenging her daughter’s ill-thought deeds in college. Bree Cabbat has it all -- a loving husband, three children, a fine home, and plenty of money in the bank – until her baby Robert is snatched.

Paralyzed with fear, Bree does everything the kidnapper tells her to, including poisoning a man who is not only a friend of her husband’s but also his colleague. Eventually enough clues pile up that Bree knows her husband has been involved with the kidnapper’s daughter Lexie in some way, and she keeps forming the question, “What did you do?” in her mind until she finally confronts him.

Lexie lived a wild life in college with plenty of sex and drugs. She seemed to have no limits. When she suggested a threesome that included Bree’s husband, she had not counted on another person at the fraternity slipping in and taking photos. Soon the photos were spread across campus, and Lexie was asked to leave the school because of an agreed-upon morals clause. Her life descended from there into a spiral of prostitution and drug addiction.

Bree’s husband Trey never told her about this escapade, which he is not proud of and blames on being drunk and then taking drugs that Lexie brought to the fraternity. He is profoundly ashamed of that one wild night and does not buy into Bree’s suggestion of rape…something never suggested by Lexie herself.

While I was enjoying the intensity of the book nearly to the ending, this heavy-handedness toward Trey did not set well with me. Lexie wanted a threesome, she brought the drugs, she initiated it all. That photos were taken and distributed was not part of her plan nor Trey’s and his friend’s…that was purely on the photographer. All three men are eventually murdered, but their deaths did not go down well with me as I believe Lexie’s actions did have consequences. Too much blame is put on the others with no responsibility assigned to Lexie. Just my two cents. The pat ending with Bree and a male friend ending up together, even though I could see it coming throughout the book, did not fit.

Joshilyn Jackson is a bestselling novelist with works including Never Have I Ever, Gods in Alabama, and The Almost Sisters. She reads the audio versions of her books and has been nominated for the Audie Award. The author is a resident of Decatur, Georgia.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting February 6, 2021.

I would like to thank William Morrow and Custom House for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Bree, 38, grew up poor in rural Georgia, but managed to reinvent herself enough to become the wife of successful attorney Robert “Trey” Cabbat. They now live in the wealthy suburb of Decatur, Georgia and have three children, the youngest of whom, Robert, is only ten weeks old.

While Bree was thoroughly immersed in watching a school show rehearsal in which her daughter had a leading role, Bree’s son, near her side in his car seat, was stolen away from her. In place of his seat a note was left, telling her to go home for further instructions if she ever wanted to see her son again. Above all, she was not to contact the police or even tell her husband, who was away on business at the time.

After following the rest of the instructions she was given, her old friend Marshall inadvertently becomes involved, and together they try to find out who did this and why. They embark on a tense race against time to save Robert, if indeed he is still actually alive.

Although it would spoil the plot to reveal any of what they discovered, one can at least say that the issues unearthed by Jackson are not only topical and realistic, but her treatment of them is much more nuanced than how they are usually covered by the media. For these reasons it would be an excellent choice for book clubs.

Like Jackson’s other female protagonists, Bree is fiercely protective of her children, and passionately loyal to her friends and family. This book also echoes Jackson’s previous entry in the “domestic suspense” genre, <em>Never Have I Ever: A Novel</em> in that a woman who thinks she has everything she has dreamed of finds her safe and protected world upended by secrets from the past.

Evaluation: Jackson is an excellent author, writing intelligently about concerns of women, importance of families, and contemporary issues. In this book, all of this unfolds on a roller coaster ride of suspense.

Yes! While I immensely appreciate my NetGalley account, being able to read these ARC’s free of charge, I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately. My feedback ratio is sinking due to the last few “suspense” novels I was approved for. I either couldn’t get into them or couldn’t enjoy them enough to finish. However, Mother May I has ended that streak. WOWZER! This is my type book. As I type this review @ near 2 am. If you enjoy domestic suspense, domestic thrillers. Read. This. Now. You’re welcome!!😁

I was hooked from the very beginning. The story drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat until almost the end, when it fell a little flat- hence the 4 stars.

The premise of this book will pull you in with the kidnapping of a baby. Bam! You're hooked. Author Joshilyn Jackson does a great job of throwing out theories for the kidnapping but the mother of the baby, Bree Cabat, only wants to know how she can get her child back. With her husband out of town and a threat from the kidnapper if she contacts the police, Bree ultimately turns to her high school friend Marshall. Marshall is now an investigator for the high end law firm Bree's husband's family owns. The race against the clock unveils a multitude of timely topics such as the me, too movement, class privilege, good old boy's network, and college assault to name a few.
The overall story is gripping and upsetting in nature. I'd give the first three-fourths a solid four ****. The ending, however, came together just a little too neatly for me so I will give this book 3.5***

Mother May I is a great Thriller that kept me intrigued until the very end. Great story about a Mother who would do anything it takes to keep her family safe. The story starts with the kidnapping of Bree Cabbat's son Robert and quickly turns into a thrilling hunt for the kidnapper while also playing her nasty games. Bree is a great character for the mother role and she shows how she will do whatever it takes to get her son back.

Great book and can't wait to read more from Joshilyn Jackson.

I listened to the Audiobook and Read along with the EBook.
Thank you NetGalley for this early copy.

This is a well written book filled with twists and turns in the plot that make it difficult to put down. The story is told through the main character Bree, who after a rough childhood,has married successful attorney Trey. They have two girls in school and a baby boy. Bree thinks she sees a witch in her yard and again at her girls school after her sleeping baby is snatched during play rehearsal. Then the action goes quickly to Bree folowing directions so she can get her baby back unharmed with a totally unexpected ending .

This book was quite the page-turner. It flew by, and there weren’t really any boring or slow parts. It was paced much faster than Never Have I Ever, which was more of a slow burn. The best part is that it starts off terrifyingly realistically–the way the baby was stolen could be straight out of a news report. This story will make you want to double check that your doors are locked and that your kids are safely in their beds (…I assume. I don’t have kids.)

The characters were very well written and well developed. Bree grew up poor but was able to fake it until she made it, and now is living the perfect life. She was no damsel in distress, though–when her child was taken, she did everything she needed to in order to get him back. Her ability to stay cool and collected in the face of tragedy made her a compelling main character. Mitchell was my favorite character, and I was torn between rooting for him to get the girl and wanting Bree to be able to repair her marriage.

My only complaint is with the way the book ended, but I won’t spoil it here.

Overall, Mother May I was an intriguing, fast-paced thriller that grabbed my attention early on and held it all the way through the end.

Joshilyn Jackson didn’t disappoint with this psychological thriller about revenge. It grabbed me from the beginning to the end. One of the best books I have read this year. A baby kidnapped and to get the baby back the mother has to complete one task given by the kidnapper. The mother finds herself doing things she usually wouldn’t do to get her child back. A great book that I highly recommend. 5 stars.

I thought this was a great thriller. I liked the characters, especially Bree. However, I wasn't a big fan of the ending. It felt too perfect to me.

Full disclosure I read Never Have I Ever and didn't care for it much, if I recall I only gave it 3 stars. This thriller however is far better. You can see definitely see growth in the author. While the book does rely on what I feel is a bit of a played out theme of surprise rich people have secrets, this book manages to keep you on the edge of your seat as the main character gets tangled up in a crime that could have devastating effects.

This story has a complex plot that sustains the suspense throughout. Often times books that start off with a bang begin to drag a bit in the middle while building to the big bang finish. Not so with Mother May I. It wasn't a twisty thriller with I-didn't-see-that-coming plot points, but more of a reveal of some of the characters past bad decisions. It caught me and held my interest throughout.

Bree is attending the play rehearsal of her eldest daughter when she turns away from her baby for a few moments. That's all it takes. The baby is taken and a note left with the usual tell no one instructions. Leaving her two daughters in the care of Marshall, a long time friend and father of another budding thespian, Bree hurries home to await ransom demands. The demand, when it comes, is not for money, but her help in drugging a partner at her husband's law firm at a party that night. Complying, she gives him what she is told are date-rape drugs, only to witness his painful, sudden death. Now she not only has a missing child, but is a also a murderer.

In the roller-coaster ride of her attempts to get her child back and with her husband away on business, she turns to her friend Marshall for help. He is a former police detective and now lead investigator at her husband's law firm who also witnessed the partner's death. The story continues to unfold from both of their POV and it's obvious that Bree's husband and his former law partner have done something in their pasts to cause this spiraling revenge drama.

Although the kidnapped child is not a new thriller plot, the way the story sustains its suspense and drags up shocking past actions of those close to Bree kept me engaged in the book. It becomes increasingly clear that the kidnapper is a psychopath who is not averse to killing a child to satisfy their need for revenge. I highly recommend this book for those who like a good heart-pounding read. 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC. The publication date is April 6, 2021.

Mother May I: A Novel by Joshilyn Jackson was one of my highly anticipated books of 2021 and I was so excited to get an early copy. Joshilyn Jackson is a must read author for me and I was able to meet her in 2019 during her Louisville author event (remember the days of in person events). She narrates the audiobook and did a fantastic job. This book was suspenseful and had some unexpected twists. There are some heavy topics covered and trigger warnings. The characters were well developed and Bree, the main character, had so much depth. Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this review copy.