Hmm, I really don't know how to review this book. It was decent. I wanted to continue reading to sort through the plot and find out what happens but it didn't wow me.

Safe in My Arms follows three moms who send their children to a prestigious preschool. The three moms find threatening notes in their children's schoolbags and bond together to find out why and who knows their secrets. When the director of the school is hurt, the three moms continue to bond to find out what really happened.

There were so many supporting characters in this story that I had a hard time keeping track. Overall the story was okay, maybe 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Lauren, Andrea, and Ronnie have all enrolled their children in the very exclusive and expensive Silver Swans Nursery Academy. These women are all new to the Raisin Beach, California area, and like so many other mothers, they want the best education for their kids. When they attend the Welcome Breakfast on the first day of school, not only does the school's director Piper seems less than impressed, but the other mothers seem to be speaking another language. Andrea, Lauren, and Ronnie share some Bailey's and become fast friends.
It is a good thing too since each woman has something to hide. Lauren is suffering from postpartum anger, Ronnie has a dark past, and Andrea's family has pretty much disowned her because she is transgender. But someone seems to know their secrets and doesn't think they or their children belong at this prestigious school. When Piper is attacked, they are all suspects and it appears that all of the things they are trying to hide will be exposed.
I was very interested in the story until shortly after Piper's attack. It seemed to me like it lost some of its focus, and I wasn't frantically flipping pages anymore. I did enjoy seeing how everything would work out, and Andrea was my favorite character. 3.5 stars.

It started off just kind of boring and I had a really hard time getting into this book it just wasn’t enough suspense me for me. I would rate it a 3/5 it wasn’t the worst but I’m not sure if I would want to read it again. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy read!

Sara Shepard is an amazing author. This book was definitely similar to Pretty Little Liars, but in a different setting. Parents are fighting to belong, while keeping their secrets safe. But, secrets are everywhere, and eventually these secrets are revealed.

I finished this book in just a few days because I couldn't put it down. There were a lot of twists and turns in this book, and that's what I look for when I search for a new book.

Safe in My Arms is a psychological thriller involving an elite preschool in a wealthy community in California. Three mothers are the focus of the book and all have interesting histories that made me want to find out more about them. There are several twists and turns in the plot that I did not expect. The plot moved steadily forward which is something I appreciate. However, the ending was rather drawn out. Once the crime was solved, I wanted a quick wrap-up on each of the characters. The extended ending caused me to drop one star from my rating.

How in the world can you create a thriller in the setting of a posh preschool? However, this is exactly what Sara Shepard concocted! Three moms from very different backgrounds find themselves surrounded by a mystery...who attacked the head of the preschool their children attend? The answers that are revealed will leave you stunned! I loved the friendship that the moms formed and their support of one another along with the twists in the storyline!

I love all Sara Shepard books and this one was no exception!! I loved the characters, I love the way she writes, I love the petty, suspenseful story lines... didn’t see the ending coming at all and loved this book!

I always enjoy books by her. Again it didn’t disappoint. It keep me interested from the beginning. People will enjoy it, I already told people to check it out.

Very much the women's power that Sara Shepard is known for with young adult fiction. However, the twist for adult fiction is amazing. The first half of the book was okay. It does set up a foundation for the ending. Although, some of the characters seem incomplete while others had a complete back story explained in the ending. The ending did not disappoint. It was a roller coaster ride with this story. It's different and original, like nothing I've read before. I would love for Sara to write more adult fiction like this.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sara Shepard's books always have such a good air of suspense, while maintaining the believability of the characters. I am always shocked by how creative authors can be in their story lines, and this book was no exception. The characters really sucked me in and the story line progressed at a pace that held my attention. I am excited for readers to get their hands on this one!

Having enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars series, I was excited to give this book a try. Safe in My Arms is full of the same sort of layered secrets and twists but has a much more adult feel to it. While characters with secrets sometimes drive me crazy as a reader (just tell the truth and you'll avoid so much of this!!!) it always makes for an entertaining read. I did figure out one of the "big" twists fairly early on and had a fairly good inkling as to the second big twist, but the plot felt fresh. All in all, 3.5 stars for this thriller!

Safe in My Arms is a fast-paced thriller that takes place within a small group of mothers at an elite preschool/daycare in a wealthy area of California. Each character has her own unique (tragic, mysterious) backstory, each with its own set of twists and turns. Overall, an enjoyable quick read that is quite different from the other Sara Shepard books I've read, in that it gives a little more closure and has a more adult setting.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of Safe in my Arms. I thought this was a fresh spin on a thriller taking place at a preschool. Three mothers with secrets get accepted to an elite preschool. But this preschool is not what it seems, and no one can be trusted.

This book with its assortment of characters was a quick paced easy read. The three main characters each had a secretive back stories that set the premise for the book....secrets and consequences. I enjoyed the book, and for the most part did predict how it would all unfold. However, the author did throw in a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. I would recommend this book!

I am very reluctant to give any author a one star review, but this book was such a disappointment that the rating seems appropriate. I was very interested in this psychological suspense novel based on the publisher’s promotional blurb. However, I had so many issues with the book that I had to force myself to finish it.

The setting is a high-end community (Raisin Beach…Really?!) in Southern California and the focus is an elite nursery school. The economy, in general, has taken downturn, which impacted the school’s revenue and some parents’ ability to meet the pricey tuition. At the beginning-of-the-school-year welcoming breakfast, we are introduced to Piper, the Director, Carson, her assistant, and three mothers who don’t seem to blend in with the sophistication and highly competitive nature of the other parents. When Piper is attacked and left unconscious, the three “misfit” moms come under suspicion and commit to identifying the perpetrator. In the process, multiple secrets, deceptions and illegal activities are revealed.

From the Epilogue and the Author’s Note, it seems that the intended message of the storyline is that it is challenging to be a good mother, that no one is perfect, and that self-acceptance in striving to meet ideals needs to be tempered with some slack. Unfortunately, these characters were not great models for this message. Given the backstory of each woman, I wanted to be compassionate and yet I found them some of the most unsympathetic characters I have ever encountered. The levels of deceit and manipulation made for high drama that stretched the limits of believability and the pacing of the book felt disorganized. There was so much going on that at times I struggled to keep the characters and their issues straight.

This was my first exposure to this popular author, but based on my experience with is book, I doubt I will read more of her offerings.

My thanks to the author, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Fast paced with so many plot twists it was a fast read. Engrossing storyline full of entertaining humour and suspenseful action. Friends join forces so try to solve the mystery surrounding their children’s school and the whodunnits ensue. Enjoyed it..

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

As a fan of Pretty Little Liars, I was eager to pick up Sara Shepard's new novel. The premise sounded interesting and reminded me of Big Little Lies. I liked how we were introduced to the school and director along with the three women and their backstories. Every character was well developed and had her own interesting history that was slowly revealed. Right away I was suspicious of Piper and her assistant and knew something shady was going on at the school. The misdeeds of the administration reminded me of the scandal documented in the film Bad Education and the psychological state of the director reminded of the television series Servant. While some parts were predictable, I enjoyed all the twists and turns all the way to very end!

This is a dark psychological thriller. Things are not what they seem at the Silver Swans preschool. When notes appear in the backpacks of three children indicating that someone knows the secrets their mothers are keeping, things heat up. The mothers bond together to protect their own children while trying to uncover whatever it is that the director and her assistant are hiding. This one kept me guessing till the end. Thanks to Netgalleyfor my advanced ebook copy.

Sara Shepard is the queen of novels about characters who keep secrets. In her latest novel, Safe In My Arms, the setting is an elite preschool where the clientele drive fancy cars and expect nothing short of perfection regarding their children’s education. But not everyone feels welcomed on campus. Three outlier moms begin to see some cracks in the school’s perfect exterior and when they go asking questions, they’re looking for trouble. The secrets they uncover lead to more questions, and when a violent act occurs against the principal of the school, the women will stop at nothing to get the answers they need. This was a fast, fun novel, part mystery, part suspense. The plot takes a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the very end. I always enjoy a Sara Shepard novel, and Safe In My Arms was no exception. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the advanced review copy.

I loved this book! Quirky, rich characters, an idyllic setting and something amiss at a seemingly perfect nursery school. Sometimes the strongest friendships are formed from difficult situations. Lots of twists and a fully satisfying ending. A great beach read!