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.

Interesting read. Having just finished Never Have I Ever, the first book I’ve read from Joshilyn Jackson, I thought this would be similar. I love her writing style, and I thought I would be sucked in quicker than I was with this one. Twist and turns, and a shocking ending. Deals with very sensitive material and subjects. I would still recommend it.

Mother May I is dark, moody turmoil wrapped in desperation and baked in vengeance.

Pacing is a steady, slow burn that gradually ramps up toward the end. This isn’t a race-to-the-finish-line thriller, but more of a bubbling cauldron threatening to spew scalding splotches of goo at any moment.

I listened to this on audio, which is narrated by the author. This made the experience more powerful, because of course no one knows the characters, emotions, and story better than she does.

So, in case I haven’t been clear, I loved this book.

Thank you Netgalley for an audio copy of Mother May I, in exchange for an honest review.

Bree seems to have the perfect life with her wealthy lawyer husband, two thriving teenage daughters and a brand new baby son. While watching her daughter rehearsing for a school play she takes her eyes off of Robert and in that moment he disappears, in his place is a note to follow certain instructions if she ever wants to see him again. Within a few short days Bree's life will change forever and she will be pushed to limits she never thought possible while learning deeply buried secrets from the past.

I was very exited to get a copy of Joshilyn Jackson's newest work because I have enjoyed the previous novels I have read of hers. I liked the concept of this thriller; a baby taken and a mother pushed to do unspeakable things to rescue him. The first third of the novel follows this premise but switches into secrets of the past and justifications for the kidnappers actions and that's where I lost interest. It was not that imaginative or the twist could be seem coming. The other main issue that I had with the novel is that I did not like any of the characters, especially Bree. While she is the main focus of the story she is very self centered and switches her loyalties including sympathizing with the person who took her baby. She loves to repeat, in almost every chapter, how she is a great actress... umm you barely did college theatre give us a break. In the end most of the people got what they deserved but it tries to hard to put everything else into a weird happy bow that is awkward and forced. I had an audio version read by the author herself, her story telling is enjoyable for the most part, I did find some of the voices she used a bit grating. Other all this was an okay thriller but not a favorite.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The author is the narrator and she did a fabulous job telling her story. It grabbed my attention right from the beginning, and I had to keep listening to find out what was going to happen. The story starts with Bree's infant son being kidnapped, and as the story ensues you see what lengths a mother will go to protect her children. It has enough twists and turns to keep you interested. If you enjoy thrillers give this one a read, not only is it entertaining but it tackles heavy topics as well.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for this book.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I think I loved this one more than the first. The synopsis makes you thing there is a paranormal element, there is not. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, just stating facts.

Mother May I follows a woman named Bree who has her baby kidnapped by a mysterious old lady. She has to do something in order to get her child back and she finds out the reasons along the way for the kidnapping.

It is VERY fast paced and so much happens. There is twist after twist in this book. I can't wait to read more from the author.

The only thing, for me, that I didn't like was that I don't think that it is realistic that so much of the book happened in around 24-hours. However, that is always a feeling with books like this.

However, the audiobook is really well done and read by the author herself!

I will be posting about it on my blog very soon.

I received an early audio version of this book from Netgalley and Harper Audio.

Mother May I is my first Joshilyn Jackson book, and I will be reading more by her. It grabbed me from the start, and I really enjoyed most of the book. Revenge and a mother's love. How far will a mother go to protect their child? I tried to put myself in Bree's shoes and the "witch's" shoes several times but it gave me anxiety. I could not stop listening to this story. I need to find out what happened.

The ending felt a little too perfectly wrapped up and parts toward the end were too drawn out for me. It did have some twists that I didn't see coming and some twists that I found more predictable. Overall, good read and I'll be picking up this author again.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for this early copy. I enjoyed the audio - fit the characters perfectly.

"Mother May I" is a gripping, tightly-plotted, and tautly-paced novel of suspense. I could hardly put it down! In fact, I only put it down once--and only because I had to. This one definitely will not be one to miss for fans of the mystery/thriller/suspense genres.

While sometimes I am hesitant with self-narrated audiobooks, in this case, she does a great job bringing her story to life in the spoken word format.

This book was amazing! I was sucked in from the very beginning and my heart raced as I followed along with Bree's story of losing her son and doing the unthinkable to get him back again. The audio version was outstanding and the setting descriptions made me feel like I was right there with Bree. I found myself taking extra long walks just so that I could keep listening.

I received an ARC audio version from Netgalley and the publisher for which I am truly grateful for. There is nothing like a Joshilyn Jackson narrated book. I have only read one of her books while I have listened to every other one of hers except one. I am more hooked on an audio when the author narrates it. To hear their story in the author’s own voice to me sounds like someone telling the story rather than the narrator simply reading a story.

This one kept me on the edge of my seat just like her last book “Never have I Ever”. I really enjoy Ms. Jackson’s change in direction to a suspense/thriller or psychological drama in these last two novels. However, I highly recommend all of her books as she is simply a stunning writer.

This was my first audiobook from NetGalley. I really enjoyed the story, especially the friendship between Bri and Marshall. There were several twists and turns leading up to the devastating reveal. Highly recommend.

Mother May I is the first Joshilyn Jackson I have read. I thought it was very well written and engaging. The story as very suspenseful and realistic not over the top. I plan on reading more of her books in the future.

Entertaining, but cliche.

I love a plot that involves kidnapping which is why I picked up Mother May I. However, this did not deliver. Like I said before entertaining but very cliche! I predicted the story and how it was going to go.

Bree (our main character) has a son that gets kidnapped by a woman. The woman leaves her a disposable cell so Bree can keep in contact with the kidnapper which I liked. The conversations with the kidnapper were entertaining, I enjoyed listening to those parts.

Bree annoyed me most of the time. I also felt like this book was too long. I felt like it should have ended after chapter 22. After chapter 22, it drags severely, got very boring to the point I really didn’t want to not finish. However, I did because I wanted to see the ending.

The ending was very cliche. I also didn’t find this book thrilling honestly.

As the audio goes, I liked the narrator!

Overall, I still will read anything the author writes! I still will buy a copy to support the author and publisher!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I could not stop listening to this story--Joshilyn Jackson is a top-rate narrator and author. I have read almost all of her previous books, and I love the new direction she has taken in writing thrillers. The first 3/4 of this book was the thriller portion--a race against time to save baby Robert and an exciting untangling of lies and deceptions. I'm not usually a reader of thrillers but I was hooked and would give it 5 stars. The last quarter of the book went into different territory (spoilers ahead). I was all in for the ethical and moral questions of rape and consent and frat boys not taking responsibility for their actions. Our main character was in for serious trouble if she chose to hold her husband accountable for his past actions--after all, he all but threatened a contentious divorce and the loss of her children. Unfortunately, the quick, tidy ending took away the moral dilemma, paving the way for a too-happy ending. It was still a great read--hats off to Joshilyn Jackson--who lives in my home town and even managed to include our beloved indie bookstore, Little Shop of Stories in the book.

Thought-provoking, chilling, and gripping!

MOTHER MAY I by JOSHILYN JACKSON is a twisty domestic thriller that kept me intrigued and entertained right to the very end. I absolutely loved the witch angle, it added an extra layer of suspense to the storyline for me.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author. To be honest I didn't immediately connect with the narration but as the story continued and it became more interesting then I started to enjoy her voice that much more.

The ending was a little bit disappointing for me though and predictable.

Thank you so much to Harper Audio and NetGalley for my review copy!

Thank you William Morrow, Harper Collins, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for Mother May I. Mother May I has so many twist and chilling tales. It proves that a mother will do anything for her own child. I give Mother May I 3 ⭐⭐⭐'s.

Bree wakes up one morning to a witch staring at her in her bedroom window. She believes that it was a horrible dream and goes about her day. Later on the same day she sees the old woman again at her daughters school. While at her daughters play practice Bree's infant son is kidnapped.
The mysterious woman has Bree completing complicated task to get her son back. Will she ever be able to get her son back?

Normally I would show a review in this space that I post to our website as well as Goodreads and Amazon after publication date. I am not doing so in this case as I did not enjoy this book - and I will attribute that for the most part to the narrator. The narrator is absolutely critical in audio books, and this one was so into dialect and inflection that I often lost where I was in the story. The story itself seemed to drag on, and I never did connect with the main character (Brie). I did finish the book, obviously would not recommend the audio version and am very lukewarm on the story itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook! I found myself not wanting to stop listening at times to find out what was going to happen. I liked how the story unfolded and discovering how everyone was connected! I liked the characters very much as well. I would read more books by this author and would recommend this book to other readers if revenge is your type of story! Thank you again to NetGalley!