I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts were good and twisted, which made my little black heart happy. Then on the other hand, some parts were just…not that good. I could see where the author wanted to go with it. There were some pretty good twists in there. One I didn’t see coming! Which had me saying OMG! Despite having one of twists that were really good, the rest sort of fell flat for me. I wanted to like this story more than I did.

This is my first Joshlyn Jackson book and putting my feelings for this book aside, I will check out other works by her. Her writing is good and I enjoyed the story. I give this 3 stars.

In the blink of an eye, Bree's new baby boy is abducted. Bree must complete one small, seemingly harmless task to get him back, which will launch her into a web of tragedy and secrets.

This book is a mother's nightmare! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen to the baby. I loved seeing Bree navigate this terrible experience, and the tension was exquisite. On the other hand, though, parts of it became a bit repetitive, and the ending was a pretty big disappointment for me. There are times when I want my books to end neatly with everything wrapped up, but this was not one of those times.

WOW! This book was super good!! This was my first book by this author and I am so glad I read (or listened) it. I actually went into this book without any knowledge of what is was about, only that it was a domestic thriller, which I love !

Bri and Trey have the perfect family. He is a successful lawyer and she is a stay at home mom of two beautiful teenage girls and a perfect new little baby boy. They have a great house, beautiful neighborhood, all the things.
Until one day, Bri's world all changes when her baby boy is kidnapped and she must jump through many hoops to get him back.

Not only does Bri do whatever she needs to to get her son back, she also find that how she grew up (before she became Treys Wife) is very similar to the kidnapper and feels for her. She also finds out some very disturbing details about her husbands past and must figure out how to deal with them.

This book definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know what was going to happen, what was she going to do next, was she going to break any rules? How was she going to get her son back? As a mother to a beautiful baby boy as well, I definitely relate to her the most. She made sure her other children were safe, and literally did what she needed to to save her son, a thing any mother would do. I also really loved how compassionate she was and how she was always trying to do the right thing by everyone.

I think if you love domestic thrillers, family thrillers, you will love this book! it was very suspenseful and thrilling. I loved it. The only thing that felt a little rushed was the ending. It was closed up, everything answered for, but it was all out of know where. Maybe that was good, I didn't see it coming.. lol

Thank you to Joshilyn Jackson, Harper Audio & Netgalley for this advanced listening copy of this book. I will definitely be recommending this to many people !!

Bree is married to Trey and they have a perfect family. Trey comes from a family with money and a great job, one day while Bree is at an event for her daughter, her son is kidnapped in the blink of an eye. She receives a phone call and a bag on her doorstep with Instructions on how to get her son back. She reaches out to her deceased best friend’s husband, and the two of them try to locate the kidnapper and get her son back alive. What she has to do will have consequences beyond what she expected. And will this tear her family apart? While this was a good book, it kinda dragged in spots, but all in all a decent read. #MotherMayI. #NetGalley

Mother May I have more of Joshilyn Jackson please!

Jackson's books are on fire! I love that her last two books were psychological fiction. I really feel that she has found another niche in writing this genre. MOTHER MAY I is nail biting, page-turning, and fast paced. I couldn't stop reading it! This will be a MUST read for any psychological fiction fan.

From outer appearances, Bree Cabbat has it all--a wealthy, devoted husband; a loving family; and a beautiful home. She has certainly risen far above her humble beginnings. And then the unthinkable happens. Her ten-week-old baby boy is kidnapped, sending Bree into a nightmare from which she may never recover. Who would take Robert--and why?

As Bree desperately follows the abductor's instructions, she is drawn into a situation that threatens to irreparably unravel life as she knows it, with no guarantee she will ever see her son again.

Mother May I is a gripping tale of suspense with plot lines that take it beyond the average thriller, weaving in the effects of power, class, and privilege, and the lengths a mother will go to to protect her child. Deftly revealed secrets bring a reckoning that shakes the relationships of the well-developed characters to the very core, with unexpected outcomes and consequences. This compelling read establishes Joshilyn Jackson as one of the best authors in the suspense/thriller genre.

This was twisty with many layers of character development. I especially enjoyed the fact that the author is an actress and talked about the main character needing to put herself into different personas in order to achieve her goal. The level of detail was terrific and the topics of child abduction, date rape, and addiction were featured in a sympathetic manner.

When Bree Cabbat's infant son is taken, she promises to do anything to get him back. How far is too far, and what is she willing to do to uncover the ultimate truth behind her son's abduction?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow to start, but once Bree starts investigating, it picked up a lot. I thought I had it figured out, but the twist at the end . . . This is definitely one for your dark and twisty thriller reading list.

I wasn't sold on the premise, but man did this book deliver!! Bree was such a great character - she was smart, she thought through her decisions, and never once did she trigger the "ugh why did you do that" response from me. Excellent discussions about privilege, and personality development, and "can good people do bad things." The story started a bit slow, and dragged in a few areas heavy with those discussions, but overall the pace was exciting. I think I will definitely keep Joshilyn Jackson on my list when I'm in the mood for a moderate thriller!

Mother May I may be a nursery school game but I can assure in this book it’s a game with deadly consequences.
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Bree wakes with a premonition and what follows is a horrifying game of cat and mouse. Her baby is kidnapped and she must go every single thing the woman says or her baby dies. The question is how far will one go to save the ones you love?
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I flew through this one though I might have guessed the ending I did still enjoy this one.
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Thank you to #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Talk about just feeling spooked, then to have your child go missing, could things be worse? This book gripped me from
The beginning and even on the slower parts, I still felt significantly engaged.

This book had some of my favorite aspects in a book, dark thrillers, alternating POV and twisty. It had a good build
Up and as a mother myself, I just wanted Bree to find the peace she deserved and get her baby back.

Can’t wait to pick up more from this author in the future .

Bree has the perfect life and perfect family. While it wasn't always rainbows and unicorns, she has overcome being the poor girl and losing her father. One day she is watching her daughter practice and the next thing she knows, she can't find her infant son. He vanished, car seat and all. There is only a note left where he once sat. Bree has to get home and tell no one that Robert is gone. Telling anyone could be detrimental. Who would take an infant? As Bree tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, she finds out more and more about her life that could end life as she knows it.
Joshilyn Jackson is the Queen of women's fiction, especially fiction that keeps you reading long in to the night. Her writing has a way of getting into your mind and not letting go. Mother May I no disappointment. I will always look for Joshilyn Jackson's work and will always recommend her books to others. Special thanks to NetGalley, Joshilyn Jackson, and William Morrow and Custom House Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars
#MotherMayI #NetGalley

For fans of twisty psychological thrillers like Gone Girl, Jackson delivers a heart-stopping tour de force that examines the all-too-contemporary nature of race, gender, and privilege. This novel is packed with secrets and lies the reader will race to unpack, as they seek to understand Bree (the protagonist) and the life she has built for herself. The work is cocooned around a central, simple, striking question - how far would you go for your family? It is a question that will draw readers in, keep them turning the pages long after lights out, and reward them with an unbelievably ending. I think I can confidently predict that this is a book that will be seen often on America's post-COVID beaches.

Title: Mother May I
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Genre: Fiction, thriller
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Revenge doesn’t wait for permission.

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned by her single mother that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected her mother’s fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of: a loving lawyer husband, two talented teenage daughters, a new baby boy, a gorgeous home, and every opportunity in the world.

Until the day she awakens and sees a witch peering into her bedroom window—an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daugh­ters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It’s her child.

To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small—but critical—task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price, making her complicit in a tangled web of tragedy and shocking secrets that could destroy everything she loves. It is the beginning of an odyssey that will lead Bree to dangerous places, explosive confrontations, and chilling truths.

Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family—but what if the cost tears their world apart?

I’m a huge Joshilyn Jackson fan. Her novel gods in Alabama is one of my top 10 favorite books ever. I discovered her quite by accident, fell in love with the voice of her stories, and realized Southern fiction was a thing.

Mother May I is more of a thriller than her other novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The character arc that Bree experiences during the short time period of this novel is incredible to experience, and I was up early finishing up this novel before my day started. Highly recommend!

Joshilyn Jackson is a bestselling author. Mother May I is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/29.)

The premise of this one was pretty good and it got into the action quickly. When Bree's baby, Robert, is kidnapped she will do whatever it takes to get him safely returned. Money is not want the kidnapper wants--she wants revenge for her daughter. The kidnapper has already killed another child on her revenge mission. Although, this was not realistic at all, the twists and turns kept the story flowing and me page turning. The ending again did not seem realistic, but I did enjoy the twist and that the people who had done wrong got their comeuppance. I enjoy revenge stories, so this one was right up my alley--I do think it may have been more impactful if the story had included Coral's (the kidnapper) perspective too.

Huge thanks to William Morrow for sending me the e-book for Mother May I. I really enjoyed this read. It was so intense in the beginning, that I had actual nightmares for a few nights (new mom here!). You definitely have to suspend your belief at times, but this was a super fun suspense read that made me want to actually read more of the genre.

I really liked this book, it grabbed my attention from the start. I was intrigued wanting to find out more throughout the whole book. There were good twists throughout the book, which I love. I love when thrillers keep me on my toes because it makes me want to find out more. The only thing I didn't care for was how the book ended, I hate thrillers that end wrapped up in a perfect bow. Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller and definitely recommend this one!

This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through to the end. It’s a story about revenge, a mother’s love for her child, and the abuse of power and privilege.

Bree Cabbat grew up poor but thinks she hits the jackpot when she meets Trey, a wealthy and successful lawyer. When their infant son is kidnapped when her back is turned, and the kidnapper tells her that she’ll kill the baby unless Bree does exactly as she’s told, Bree is willing to do almost anything. But following one direction leads down a rabbit hole that Bree never saw coming, and while she has help from a couple of allies, she still is forced to watch as her entire life collapses around her.  

I know this is a thriller, but it asks a serious question that I’ve rarely seen covered in other books: How would you react if you found out your husband isn’t who he told you he is? And I’m not referring to a case of mistaken identity, here, but rather what if it turns out your husband, the person you’ve chosen to live your life with and create a family with, is actually someone else’s bad guy? And what would you do for your child?

While I found some of the plot a bit drawn out, and the ending very convenient -- at the end of the day it fits squarely in its genre -- I enjoyed this one. But know that this is not a light thriller; it deals with some heavy themes. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion. Thank you for the opportunity.

This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book. She usually is not on my radar but I saw some great reviews of this, so grabbed it from the library. Turns out - she’s a very good writer! I would definitely read her again.

This is a thriller-mystery-family drama combo that worked on all levels. Where I think Jackson shines is in writing about family dynamics and the ferocity of mother love. The relationship between the main character, mother Bree, and her infant son and daughters rang very true and grabbed my heart. I was immediately invested in Bree’s story.

Bree is living a perfect suburban upper-crust life with her husband, teen daughters and infant son. One morning, she awakens to what she thinks is a witch with hungry eyes peering in her bedroom window. Shaken, Bree dismisses it until she sees the same woman in the parking lot of her daughters’ private school. Bree is there with her infant son, Robert, watching her daughter in a school play rehearsal. Bree puts Robert’s car seat down at the back of the balcony, where he’s sleeping peacefully, so she can move forward to watch the play. When she turns back, his car seat is gone. In its place is a note - “If you ever want to see your baby again, GO HOME.” She knows it was the witchy-looking old woman who took him, but why? What does she want?

It’s a tension-packed thrill ride for the first two-thirds of the book. At some point, I sensed where Jackson was aiming to go with the family drama part of the book and I didn’t like it. She manipulated the characters and storyline so that everything wrapped up neatly and comeuppance was served on all levels. Life is messy and people are complicated - the latter part of the book felt unrealistic and forced compared to all that came before.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t put it down and I was very impressed with Jackson’s writing and the development of her characters. Nicely done - just felt a little mucky at the end.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for an ARC of this novel. My review, however, is based on the hardcover edition.

Bree Cabbat leads a charmed life. She married a wealthy man from a powerful and wealthy family, They have two teen daughters and an infant son, Robert. After growing up poor, with a single mother, Bree never dreamed that she would live a life that included private schools and black Amex cards. But now she can't imagine her life without them. One day while Bree is the "snacks mom" after play practice, she turns her back for just a minute, and their life changes forever. Somebody has taken Robert. The kidnapper, an elderly woman with nothing to lose, has given Bree one simple task to complete. If she does this one thing, she will get her baby back. But she must tell nobody. So Bree does it, but with tragic consequences. Will Bree be able to save her baby and keep her happy life intact?


Some of the dark twists in Mother May I really surprised me. One thing to remember is that no matter how perfect somebody's life looks from the outside, there are always secrets. Bree Cabbat was nearly perfect as a mother and wife, yet not perfect enough to keep her baby safe. I really liked her relationship with her best friend's husband, Marshal. He was everything that Trey was not, but he also shared a similar background to Bree and Betsy, making him more approachable. This fast-paced novel really had me on the edge of my seat - desperate to know what was going to happen. And things did not turn out how I (or Bree) expected. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS.



Bottom Line - Mother May I is the kind of domestic thriller that will put fear into the heart of any mother's heart. Fast-paced and full of twists, you cannot put this book down.



Details:

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
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Pages: 336
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 4/6/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.