I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. The plot was clever and the twists kept coming out of nowhere. Brie has a normal, satisfying life until one day her baby is snatched and her world upends. She finds a note with instructions on how to proceed and finds that she will do anything to get her sob back. Even if it means murder...

Mother May I was a great audiobook read by the author. I was on the edge of my seat listening to this book, waiting nervously to know this story's outcome. You will love this book.

I really enjoyed Never Have I Ever so I was very much looking forward to this one. This latest from Joshilyn Jackson did not disappoint! The story grabbed me from the beginning. The pacing was excellent and never felt rushed. This book was a major page turner and I would highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys thriller/suspense novels. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for granting access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review tomorrow to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor.

This is the first book I've read by Joshilyn Jackson and uhmmm *BRB need to go read her backlist*
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I've been reading a ton of Suspense/Mystery/Thrillers and its really hard for me to give out a 5 star rating to one but this was definitely an exception! I did not want to put this down and when I had to I couldn't stop thinking about it, needless to say I read this in a day. This is one that I'd totally recommend going into knowing as little as possible. I really loved the characters Bree and Marshall and even though some of their decisions were questionable I couldn't blame them. The plot twists just kept coming and I loved how this wrapped up, the ending was super satisfying and didn't leave me wondering and unfulfilled like some other thrillers I've read.

This was a riveting, crazy roller coaster ride of a book and gave me The Chain vibes which I also loved. Highly Recommend!!

Joshilyn Jackson never disappoints and this is no exception. A 5-star read! She is also one of the few authors who are successful narrators. The audio had me on the edge of my seat. This would be a good book club selection...when we're able to have book club again. Thanks for the opportunity to read/listen to this ARC.

Mother May I is every woman's worst nightmare, turning around to find that your baby is gone, and the tale that Joshilyn Jackson weaves is nothing short of spectacular. I was completely riveted to the audio version, which is enhanced by the fact that Joshilyn herself is the narrator.

Bree Caabat has it all -- a handsome and successful husband, three beautiful and healthy children, and a beautiful home in an exclusive area. All of that changes in an instant. Not only is her infant son kidnapped, but Bree is then forced into making a series of diabolical decisions in a desperate attempt to have Robert returned. How far is Bree willing to go and what else is she willing to sacrifice? I absolutely loved this book. In my opinion, it's Joshilyn Jackson's best, most addictive novel so far, and my advice to other readers is to start Mother May I when you have time to binge it, because you won't want to put it down.

This was a solidly fine domestic suspense. It started off as a fast-paced and interesting MeToo themed suspense when BREE’s youngest child is kidnapped by an older woman who is trying to provide justice for her own daughter - who had been wronged by Bree’s husband in college. Jackson does a good job of highlighting the lengths a mother will go to for her child and the justifications that might be made. Unfortunately though, it started to slow down and feel repetitive about halfway through the novel. I also listened to this in audio and while the narrator was strong when reading Bree’s parts, she didn’t really change her inflection or tone when speaking from other characters POV which sometimes made the transitions confusing or weak.

Overall I thought this was fine but not something I would strongly recommend.

* A big thank you to Net Galley & Harper Audio, for this audio book in exchange for an honest review. *

Let’s start by saying this was my first book by Joshilyn Jackson and I can’t wait to drive into more of her work. I especially appreciated she was the narrator; which I think lent credibility into the true emotion coming from the characters. Who better to portray Bree’s emotions better than the person who created her?

This novel takes the listeners on a path every parent hopes to never face. Bree’s baby son Robert has been taken; by the same witch no less that she saw peering in the window last night. Where Robert was once sitting in his car seat is now empty, save for a note telling her what she already knows. Her baby has been taken. She must do exactly as the note says if she ever wishes to see her baby again.

While following the every instruction the kidnapper, Cora, gives Bree; they begin to form a bond. Bree picked up on the facts that she reminds Cora of her own daughter, the daughter who is said to be helping Cora exact this revenge plot of her. Why and how Bree is entangled in this is due to whom she married. Something in his past seriously wrong these two women for them to go to such length to enact revenge.

As Cora and her daughters tale finally unfolds, we learn Bree is not the only mother who has been effect by the past mistakes of their husband.

Will Bree be able to save her son and her marriage at the end of this book; is something I can not divulge. I will say my heart goes out to the daughter of Cora for why this all started. This book takes it readers on a journey that isn’t always all pleasant; but it something that happens sadly a lot in our societies. I was raised in the same sense that Bree and her friend Betsy were – danger lurks around every corner. While others like Bree’s husband had a different luxury in life. Never having to look over their shoulder or worry about bad things happened. Sometimes because they are smart other times because family influence has a lot of power.

I really enjoyed this listen! The narration was really good and a new and interesting take on a kidnapping story. It’s a fine line to balance between wanting to yell at the character, “Just call the police” and understanding why they didn’t and the author handles it well. The ending is a little too perfect, which is why I knocked it down a star. Overall this was an exciting read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

What a great story. How does one's past come into your present life. One's past can bring trouble to your family, to your friends and even people you had forgotten about. Even though Bree did not do anything her husband and his friends did. This causes trouble when Bree thinks she see someone at her window, maybe a witch, she is not sure. Well, this is the start of trouble. Give this a read. I think you will like it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55004063

I received an audio of Mother May I from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The author Joshilyn Jackson writes in a very formula style. The damsel was poor from the south she marries an upperclass guy. The knight is her deceased friend’s husband. The crime is an abduction of her infant son. Supporting cast is her husband and a crazy old lady.

The story was adequate. The narrator did her job. I don’t get the title of the book. It doesn’t tie into the story.

Two stars is generously given to this book.

I have read all of Joshilyn Jackson's books. I love that J.J. integrates southern culture into her books. She does an excellent job portraying the friendships and family dynamics, and I love hearing about places across the south that I know so well. The characters are also developed in a way that allows the reader to understand their individual personalities as well as the complex relationships that they have with each other.

The beginning of the book starts with Bree feeling as if her family is being watched and the sudden kidnapping of her son Robert. I liked the narrator, and I was engaged in the story as Bree worked to find her son. However, I ultimately found the plot to be both too predictable and too unrealistic. It was easy to determine why Coral had stolen Robert (and Geoff). Yet, at the same time, her actions seemed unrealistic for a mother. In addition, I was disappointed by the ending that felt unrealistic and too "tidy" considering the events Bree and her children had just experienced. Overall, it was a quick thriller that kept my attention, but not a favorite.

This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book and it will not be my last. The story captivated me from the very beginning. There are so many twists and turns I never knew what was going to happen. It kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought things were wrapping up, something else happened. I also enjoyed the dual POV. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.

Another fantastic book with twist after twist, after another twist! I did not expect this book to end the way it did at all, but at the same time it was the exact ending that I needed. Definitely didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did, especially at the beginning and I contemplated giving up at first, but very glad that I stuck with it.

Mother May I started off right out the gate with a huge "OMG moment" - and although I'm not big on the stolen/missing child storyline - this one definitely grabbed me immediately!

About midway though, I was kinda over it, unfortunately. Things seemed really repetitive, a bit of an "investigative drag" and got a little dry. I had a hard time liking the characters enough to want to find out what happened and the back story of "why" just seemed a bit "done before?". But also, you kind of are told who did it mid way through, and who the kidnapper was - and by and then I kinda lost interest.

So I really enjoyed the first half, but the second half just kinda was a bit "meh" for me. I think she showed her hand too soon and the explosive twisty ending I was hoping for was a bit of a fizzle. A bit too neat and tidy of a wrap up. Maybe if I was a mother I'd have found it more riveting and intense? But I was a bit underwhielemd at the conclusion.

I will definitely be checking out other books by Joshilyn Jackson though - as I have heard wonderful things about her other books! (This was my first) I think this might have just been a case of the subject matter, and pacing of the conclusion being a little dry for my dark and twisty personal taste.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn’t quit reading. What a great mystery/suspense story. I love the kind of books you just can’t put down!

I have read and liked some of Jackson's books before so I was excited to get this audiobook. I've always read her books, not listened to them, but a well known podcaster I like has always mentioned how she loves Joshilyn Jackson books as read by the author.
I have tried and tried to listen to this audiobook. I have gotten hours into this and every time I turn it back on, I cringe. The author/narrator's voice, especially when she tries to change it for some of the characters, is so grating and shrill. It has almost made me drive off the road it is so bad..
So, unfortunately, I will not be finishing this audiobook. Honestly, I never could get into the story either and found it so boring and badly written, but it is the narrator that made me hate this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook.

This book was narrated by the author on audio and I think she did a wonderful job. The voices were distinct for each character, emotion was voiced very well.

I think if I were a mother, this story might resonate with me more; aside from that, it was a very enjoyable read/listen. I don't think it was the most unpredictable story in terms of plot, but the beginning did have me guessing at what would happen. It was a satisfying story, I would say, but not exactly super suspenseful. The emotions of the main character were very thoroughly explored and laid out; sometimes I really enjoyed hearing every little thing that was going through her head, and other times I just couldn't relate (as most of her worries were the motherly sort) and it was a little much for me. I also wish Marshall had been a more complicated character. He was a little too much "I'll do anything for her" type of person, to the point where I didn't think it was very realistic or explainable. But as I said before, I did overall enjoy the story, and the audio form was a pleasure to listen to.

MAJOR SPOILERS:

I think the ending was wrapped up a little too nicely. Trey was handled in a way that seemed to solve all of her problems and leave her with minimal grief (at least, minimal enough that she could remarry). I'm all for a happy ending, but I wish there had been a little more surprise (I mean, we all saw the happy end with Marshall coming) or some more realistic aspect to the ending to bring it down to earth a bit.

4 stars. Riveting and multi-layered domestic has it all. She is the beautiful wife of an wealthy lawyer from an old moneyed Georgia family, with three kids and a picture perfect home. Until one morning she awakes to see a witch-like old woman peering in her bedroom window. This ominous sighting will set off an adrenaline fueled ride of a plot. There is kidnap, murder, explosions and more...all precipitated by an act that happened decades earlier.
I can't help but feel that Joshilyn Jackson had the Brett Kavanaugh hearings forward in her mind as she wrote much of this novel. Readers should be forewarned that there is fairly explicit sexual violence described. But the issue is timely and thought provoking.
Thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for this advanced audiobook. The author reads her own work, and it is hard to imagine a better narrator.

This was my first from Joshilyn Jackson and I loved that the audiobook was read by her. She was an excellent narrator. The premise of this book starts with Bree, who lives a seemingly perfect life with a beautiful, wealthy family after growing up poor herself and never imagining this would be her life. When her baby is taken from her, everything about her family and her husband's past comes into question. This was a thriller the whole way through and kept me on the edge of my seat until part 3, where I felt it took a steep dive from the climax. I didn't love the ending and wish there had been a better resolution, although I did ultimately appreciate how the family ended up. The lessons served in the end did save the anticlimactic ending for me. I love when a thriller ends with some life lessons and this definitely did that, although it could have taught some more important ones if things had ended a little differently. Overall, still a pretty good thriller and I'd read more from this author.