I have now read the book and listened to the audio. I loved this thriller. It’s one of my 2021 favorites.

What lengths would you go to in order to get your child back? Bree, a Georgian mother, is faced with finding out what lengths and what truths she’s willing to unravel in order to meet the demands of a crazed woman who kidnapped her son.

The novel is spellbinding, captivating, and intense! It’s everything a thriller should be.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to the audiobook. It was a decent story, although it took a few chapters to really pull me in. Some of the characters I liked, others I disliked. I wasn’t a big fan of the narrator. Her voice was a bit grating.

But overall a decent listen.

How did I not know the author was the narrator until the very end? It’s almost unfair how talented she is in not just writing but narrating. She gave life to her characters in a way that had me instantly invested in their lives. I suppose it helped that this book was amazing. It was full of twists and turns and unlike your typical thriller those twists and turns brought the reader to have to face difficult topics and before I could finish processing bam we were off in another direction completely. This book tackles gender roles, sexual assault, revenge, unfair discrepancies based on socioeconomic status, kidnapping, and murder. I loved that the chapters alternated between the perspectives of the two main characters Bree and Marshall. Bree is happily married and the mother of three. She is grateful for the privilege she has married into because she was raised by a single mother and knows what struggling looks like. Marshall is one of her oldest friends who had been married to her best friend Betsy until Betsy’s unfortunate all too early death. When the unthinkable happens and Bree’s baby boy is kidnapped Marshall is the first person she reaches out to. This book is her journey of trying to regain her son while finding secrets she had no idea were buried in her husband’s past. This was the first book by Joshilyn Jackson I have read but it will definitely not be the last!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for giving me this advanced copy for an honest review.

Brea is beside herself when her infant son is taken . She mistakenly thinks it is for ransom but soon finds out its for revenge involving her husband and his boss.

This story was very very good but the audio version was not as it was not read well, over played , over dramatic. If you decide to read this book don't go audio
I do highly recommend it. It's twisty, surprising and a very interesting plot. I did really enjoy the story.
4 stars.

This was not my favorite Joshilyn Jackson book. It was too melodramatic, what with all the murder and kidnapping and general subterfuge. I prefer her more standard domestic stories.
Thanks to #netgalley and #williammorrow for this ARC of #mothermayi in exchange for an honest review.

An infant is stolen from his mother and held for ransom. Bree must drug her husband's partner, Spencer, to get him home. But Spencer dies. And still no Robert.
Bree works with Marshall, a long time friend of Bree and investigator for her husband's law firm. Together they research the dying woman who is seeking revenge. Her daughter was a victim in college- Bree has no idea what her husband could have done.
Good twits. Tragic story about a young woman eager to be liked and explore freedom in college.

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is a thriller that is every mother’s worst nightmare. When Bree’s infant son, Robert is kidnapped, she naturally thinks it’s for a ransom that her affluent husband and in-laws will be able to pay. When she learns that the stakes are higher and involve past wrongs against the perpetrator that is linked to her somehow, she makes the decision that nothing will stand in the way of her getting her son back home safely, bu at what cost to her, her family, and others she knows. Jackson’s novel is a thriller and also delves deep into important issues in society today. This audiobook was narrated by the author herself and I enjoyed her southern accent. Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked from the beginning. What happened to Bree is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her baby, Robert, was taken from her while she was watching her daughter’s school musical rehearsal. A single piece of paper was left behind with directions of what she should and should not do. What mother wouldn’t do anything to get her helpless child back? What was the reason why her baby was taken? How far would you go to protect your family? This was a suspenseful mystery thriller that is not to be missed. Mother May I would be a great book club read as many discussions can be taken from it. It was a page turner that had me wanting to know what happened next.

I was provided a free audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

One might recall a game from one's childhood called Mother May I. It involves one player (or "child") asking "mother" if he/she can perform specific actions. The "child" is at the mercy of "Mother. Certain tasks may only be completed with permission from "Mother." The person playing "Mother" may offer up alternative actions that may not be desirable, but the "child" must complete these actions.

Protagonist Bree Cabbat is forced to play a real-life version of Mother May I when her infant son is kidnapped by a mysterious old woman. The kidnapping is prompted by events from many years ago, completely out of Bree's control. She is paying the price for something unspoken, something evil from her husband's past.

Many times while reading, I put myself in Bree's position. What would I be willing to do in order to save my child? Could I forgive my husband for mistakes he made? Or are some mistakes unforgivable?

Mother May I is a domestic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. But it's also more than that. It's an examination of the culture we live in and a critique of masculinity. A man will do whatever it takes to protect the women in his family: his daughters, his mother, his wife... But what about the others?

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance audiobook version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How well do you really know those close to you? I really enjoyed the story and was hooked to find out what would happen next, even though the reactions to of the protagonist in almost every situation seems so far-fetched. Still, that didn’t turn me off of the story, I was still drawn in wanting to know what was coming.

This book would be great for a book club, would lead to great in-depth discussions of ‘what-would-you-do?’

Overall, I’d recommend this book for anyone who wants to escape into someone else tragedy, someone who enjoys mystery and/or psychological thrillers.

Wow, this book was a lot more intense and heavy than I thought it would be.

This book is about a mother named Bree whose child is kidnapped. The kidnapper then reaches out to Bree asking her to complete a horrific request in order for her to get her child back.

I listened to the audiobook and it was exciting and drew me in from the beginning. The narrator made it easy to differentiate between the different characters. I also liked the ending. My one criticism is sometimes there was too much detail involved, especially explaining events in the past, I sometimes found my thoughts drifting

Mother May I was the second Joshilyn Jackson book I've read. I listened to this as an audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator and the story as a whole. Jackson captures your attention and heart right from the beginning and the suspense carries throughout the book.

Did not care for the narrator’s voice and the storyline was a little far fetched for my taste. If you are into witches and that type of thing then you may enjoy this but I was turned off from the start.

Thank you to Joshilyn Jackson, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for this audio in exchange for an honest review. The narrator is awesome! The plot of the story grips you right away, and the twist in the end? Never saw it coming! Definitely a must listen for 2021. 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2 rounded up to five for goodreads.

5 stars for the narration; 3.5 stars for the story. Super well narrated audio book! Loved all of the characters and their distinct voices! The story was a good one - it took me a few minutes to get into it but once the EVENT occurred (I'm not telling), the story took off and took me along for a fun ride. The ending was a bit confusing but made for a nice chat with a friend of mine to make sure we interpreted it the same way. Gotta love it when that happens! Thank you Harper Audio, Joshilyn Jackson and NetGalley for the advanced listen!

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is a wild ride! This is a suspenseful family drama with a strong underlying mystery that kept me invested from beginning to end. This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book and wow did it impress! I was thoroughly hooked by the story and intrigued by the characters - I didn't like many of them but I still wanted to know everything. I wanted to know the why, the how, and the what is going to happen next every turn of the page. And boy were there some twists that had me raising an eyebrow.

I was provided both the audiobook from HaperAudio and an e-copy from William Morrow for review - having both versions of this book at my disposal, I was able to enjoy it by sight and sound. Both are excellent! The narration is fantastic! The writing is quick and easy to read! I highly recommend either the audiobook or the physical book - both are great - whichever you prefer, honestly.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperAudio, and William Morrow copies of this book for review!

It is rare to find books that not only then an entertaining story, but in the process manage to raise questions about our previously, dearly, held ideas about how the world functions and what it means to be a human. Mother May I is a story of a house wife, happy with three children, materially well-off, with a husband whose commitment and love for his family needs no questioning. But what will become of her seemingly stable world when her new born is kidnapped? How well do we know our close family and friends? what are we willing to do if we learn of their dark secrets, the ones that even they are reluctant to confess ever happening. And above all, "criminals" aren't born in most cases. We all struggle with the darkness and the light inside of us. Some situations are so slippery and tempting that anyone of us can slide down a desperate spiral downfall.

Wowsers. Talk about a thriller! It had me riveted throughout most of the book. It was one of those reads that keep you guessing at where the next curve may come from in this story. There were places that I thought were a bit too drawn out, and that would help the pace move a bit faster. I’d say this was a 4.5, and thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

TW: Child Abduction, rape, drug abuse, murder


This was my first Joshilyn Jackson novel and I am thoroughly impressed. I can't wait to read her other works. I listened to it in audio form narrated by Joshilyn Jackson herself and I am in love.

Bree Cabbat has it all, a wealthy, loving husband, two intelligent daughters, an new infant son; her life is perfect, until it’s not. After spying a “witch” peering at her through her window, Bree is a bit on edge. Rightfully so, as Robert, her son, soon vanishes while Bree is at her daughters’ school function. Bree receives a phone call from the kidnapper that leads her on a devious course to get her son back. With the help of her late best friends husband and former cop, Marshall, we follow Bree through the nerve-racking journey that proves a mother would do anything to keep her children safe.

The ending was a bit too unrealistic to me but after all that drama a little happy was needed so I understand. All in all, a solid 4 star story!

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

This had a very great start. Everything happened pretty quickly and I was instantly pulled into the story. This story is told in three different parts. I flew through part one. It was really good and really captured my attention. Part two did slow down a little, but still had details that kept me reading. Part three was ok. I did not love the direction everything was heading. It was pretty predictable and obvious what happened to cause everything that was currently happening.

Overall, I enjoyed this one though.