★★★★ 4.5 stars

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Julia Crouch's engrossing domestic thriller THE NEW MOTHER (previously titled "Mother's Helper" ).

Think "Single White Female" meets "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle"...and thensome! Because this compelling domestic thriller with a little bit of stalkerish and a lot of Insta isn't what you expect it to be. My introduction to Julia Crouch as an author was fraught with tension throughout despite a little lagging to begin with. Just when you think you know what's happening, you realise you haven't got a clue!

Crouch does a brilliant job of setting the reader up to wonder which of the two women is the biggest threat...sweet but slightly dull faithful follower Abbie or the self-obsessed narcissistic control freak mum-to-be Insta influencer with one too many hashtags Rachel? From the first moment, you are unsure who to believe. And then just when you gain an opinion on the two women, all that you think you know is turned on its head in a twisted role reversal that will leave you thinking...what the hell did I just read?

Instagram influencer Rachel has the perfect life successfully promoting products she is sent for free as part of her #onbrand #veganlife. At 38, biological clock is ticking and all she wanted was a child to complete her life. Now she is pregnant with the much wanted child that will make up for everything that has gone before. But Rachel has a problem. As a busy influencer who employs people to keep her world appearing perfect, she now needs a mother's helper to assist Rachel leading up to the birth and beyond. She puts out the call on her Insta profile and travels to London with #bestfriendFran who has come over from Rotterdam to help Rachel interview the shortlisted applicants over the course of three days. Just when all hope appears to be lost, Rachel finds the perfect candidate in 26 year old Abbie James, a quiet and reserved but seemingly competent young woman with glowing references too good to pass up. Added to that, Rachel sees Abbie as a "work in progress" for her to promote on her Insta profile which will in turn boost her followers.

After a wealth of forms and NDAs to sign, Abbie makes the journey from Bristol to Devon as the live-in help for Rachel over the ensuing months. But upon arrival she immediately gets admin Wanda offside who takes an instant dislike to her, with the feeling being completely mutual. She is shown to her "rooms" made up of a suite of rooms incorporating living, kitchen, bedroom and ensuite in the top floor attic space. Abbie cannot believe her luck. With her is her trusty friend Barney, her budgie, who she must keep to her rooms as Rachel is allergic to feathers. Soon after arrival, Rachel puts her to work in the gym and a vegan diet, which Abbie has faithfully adhered to since following Rachel, for a makeover project that Rachel has coined as #AbbiesJourney.

Rachel has based her whole life on Instagram as being #authentic but when Abbie moves in and makes herself invaluable to her, she realises that what she sees on Insta is only what Rachel wants you to see. Begging the question, is Rachel all that she appears?

Both women have a hidden past that is lurking just beneath the surface - but which of them is the most sinister? Which of the two women is hiding the most? Who has the darkest secrets?

THE NEW MOTHER is a solid read that will have you questioning the outcome throughout, despite the slow pace that lulls you into a false sense of boredom at the start...thoroughly intentional, I might add. The characters? I'm not sure you are supposed to like either of them and I sure didn't. Not one....except maybe Fran, and of course Sam the dog #SamDog and Barney the budgie. Animals are always my favourite people anyway. Suffice to say, neither woman is quite right in the head but one of them is full on bats*** crazy, taking things to a whole other level! I was completely captivated by the train wreck of an ending.

The big secret from the past dubbed The Event, when revealed, does shed a light of understanding for which I completely sympathised, making the entire story fall into a twisted jigsaw puzzle piece by piece. It was then I realised that the slow pace from the start lulls the reader into a false sense of something like boredom where it's all about Rachel and how completely self-obsessed she is. The tension mounts rapidly then and by 60% I couldn't put the book down as I watched the train wreck unfurl.

It's interesting to note that THE NEW MOTHER is an entirely female-oriented plot with no men to save the day. The only male to feature, albeit briefly, is Fran's hubby Wim (pronounced Vim)...although he was a heavy presence from time to time despite not actually being there. But the biggest feature of this story is the fake and disturbing aspects of social media and its influence on others, particularly those vulnerable to such influence. It highlights the fact that what you see is not real - it's all fake-up for marketing and money. A prime example of the way media governs the market of advertising. You'd think we'd learn that none of it is real - it's just hype to promote their products so people are stupid enough to spend money on them. Marketing...that's all it is. And social media is just another tool.

THE NEW MOTHER will mess with your mind. It is claustrophobic; it is tense; it is complex; and it is thrilling. And just when you think you know what is happening, it veers off in another direction leaving you scratching your head. The dynamic between Rachel and Abbie becomes something sinister as you are left wondering who to believe in this dishevelled mess.

You live with her. You trust her. But you don't know her... Who do you believe? Who can you trust?

THE NEW MOTHER (previously titled "Mother's Helper" ) is a fun and captivating read that is horrifyingly real. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a twist.

I would like to thank #JuliaCrouch, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewMother in exchange for an honest review.

First, I want to thank Julia Crouch, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me this book so I may bring you this review.

WOW!!! Julia Crouch is a creative genius who really thought outside of the box in her latest psychological thriller The New Mother. Guaranteed you have NEVER read a book quite as unique, thrilling, somewhat relatable, eye opening, twisted, mind blowing and will make you second guess things about your own life possibly. This is a book that EVERYONE will be talking about so I suggest you go run out and get your copy today!!

If you are a fan of social influencers on Instagram or other social media this is the book for you. One thing that stood out to me in this book was she wrote in various instagram postings that include the hashtags and everything. However, instead of showing us the various pictures she described them to a T.

I was smiling ear to ear as I could feel Abbie’s excitement as she got the job of Mother’s Helper to her ultimate favorite social influencer Rachel! Oh she was her biggest fan alright! It was the perfect job for her to get to know her better and take care of the soon to be baby.

Oh it was so cute how they kept referring to the baby as Beansprout.

Too many times I found myself laughing like crazy! One time in particular between the thick tension between Wanda and Abbie. Oh they both could just go at it back and forth jab after jab!

Throughout this book you will learn not to judge a book by its cover because it is not always what it seems.

Hold on tight because Julia throws you a lot of wicked twists and turns!! Don’t blink because you will literally be at the edge of your seat for this fast paced climatic ending.

This was the first time reading something by this author, and for sure it won’t be the last time.

I like thrillers movies and mystery tv series, I like playing the detective and trying to figure out who did it and why, before it is revealed by the protagonists, and because of that I decided to give this book a try.
I admit, I was skeptical at first, because I have tried in the past reading this genre and didn’t like it, but after a few pages I was proven wrong.

This book really messes with your mind, and while reading I kept saying in my mind how looks can be deceiving. How easily we can be fooled.
Sinister, twisted, and deceptive, Julia offers us a thriller novel, with plenty suspense and action, that will have the readers gasping for air at the end of the book. I know that I have. Can’t wait to read her other books.

I seem to have developed a love hate relationship with psychological thrillers the last year or so. What was once one of my favourite genres now tends to leave me rolling my eyes a lot and annoyed because come on, even a blind person saw that twist coming a mile away.

So I wasn’t entirely sure about reading The New Mum but I really enjoyed Julia Crouch’s last book, Her Husband’s Wife, which had been a while ago and so I decided to give this one a go.

Rachel and Abby are two quite unlikeable characters, not that that ever need be an issue. Rachel is an influencer, as fake as they come. Abby isn’t who she says she is either. Both could present a danger to someone as they both seem to have their own set of issues.

If you read a lot in this genre, the twists won’t really surprise you. They won’t keep you from pretty much exactly being able to predict how this will end. Unfortunately for me, that did take away a whole lot of the tension a psychological thriller tends to provide and in the end I just found myself getting more and more annoyed by the actions of these characters.

I guess you could say I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it either. Just landed somewhere in the middle and now I should really just take a really long break from this genre.

This book has it all- suspense, Instagram, stalking, and craziness. Rachel is a pregnant influencer who details every detail of her life. She is looking for a mother’s helper for when baby “Beansprout” comes. Abbie interviews and gets the job. She quickly moves in with Rachel and ingrains herself into Rachel’s life.
I’ve read thrillers before so I thought I knew what to expect. But this one kept me guessing the whole time!! This was my first book by Julia Crouch, but it won’t be my last!
I want to thank Julia Crouch, Bookouture and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The new mother by Julie Crouch.
You live with her. You trust her. But you don’t know her…
Wanted: full-time, live-in help for expectant mother. Must be organised, friendly and willing to do anything.
Rachel is determined to be the perfect mother. She has a birth plan, with a playlist and a bag ready by the door. She’s chosen a lovely light cream paint for the nursery, and in wide-eyed, innocent Abbie she’s found the perfect person to help her with her baby.
Because every mother needs a bit of help, don’t they?
But Rachel needs a little more than most.
She still makes sure her bedroom door is locked before she goes to sleep. She still checks the cameras that are dotted throughout the house.
Rachel trusts Abbie.
She just knows better than to trust herself…
I really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters apart from Abbie. I didn't trust her. I loved the cover. 5*.

We all know when it comes to having a new baby in the house, one could certainly use an extra pair of hands. For Rachel, an influential influencer, it's a most needed addition so she advertises and proceeds to hire Abbie, a sweet, kind, loving girl, who is an avid fan of Rachel's. Seems like a perfect match and as both ladies await the arrival of the baby, they learn things about one another, that perhaps they never wanted to know. They both have secrets, ones that could bring ruin onto to both their heads.

There's many things going on in the story and just as you think you know what will happen, a curve is thrown in and viola! off you go in another direction. This was a well-done psychological thriller which pits the new age of the internet with everyday issues.

The story is told in alternate voices and it was compelling to learn of the personalities of Rachel and Abbie, as they look at each other each day a bit differently. I can't say that I would want either of them as friends or even someone I would follow on the various sites. However, the author kept them interesting as she explored the psychological elements that drove each of them, and indeed these women were driven.

I recommend this story to those who enjoy delving into reasons and motivations of people. The old adage of "if it looks too good, it probably is" certainly applies to the meeting of Rachel and Abbie.

Thanks, to Julia Crouch, Bookouture, and NetGally for a copy of this story that will published October 12, 2021.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I could not follow the storyline because the social medias made it too confusing. Did not read it all

Contemporary telling of a new nanny position within a wealthy setting where it all seems to be too good to be true. And it is! Cleverly written and interestingly dialogued where everyone is hiding something.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Wow, what a fast paced, twisted thrill ride! Kept me engaged in the captivating and chilling story! A must for my fellow thrill lovers! Will surely keep you up all night and leave you with a shock! Highly, highly recommend!

The New Mother by Julia Crouch
Pub Date: 12 October 2021
You live with her. You trust her. But you don't know her.
Wanted: full-time, live-in help for expectant mother. Must be organised, friendly and willing to do anything.
Rachel is determined to be the perfect mother. She has a birth plan, with a playlist and a bag ready by the door. She's chosen a lovely light cream paint for the nursery, and in wide-eyed, innocent Abbie she's found the perfect person to help her with her baby.
Because every mother needs a bit of help, don't they?
But Rachel needs a little more than most.
She still makes sure her bedroom door is locked before she goes to sleep. She still checks the cameras that are dotted throughout the house.
Rachel trusts Abbie.
She just knows better than to trust herself…
Wow, this is one heck of a psychological thriller. Julia Crouch does it again. The plot focuses on how social media can bring immeasurable happiness and wealth, but for some, it also brings intrusion, limitless harm, or worse.
Abbie and Rachel are equally cleverly well-written characters; both have their own hidden agendas and both of them you want to like/dislike, believe/disbelieve.
The story has many twists and turns along the way; there is also descriptive violence entwined. It is
terrifying and gripping at the same time, definitely placed into the correct category/genre.
I am happy to recommend it.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and author Julia Crouch for a pre-publication copy to review.

I loved The New Mother.

This is the sort of thriller I love to write about! A juicy thrilling plot, lots of twists and a shocking end. No wonder I’m in love! Abbie was such a crazy character and I raced through the pages with emotions all over the place.

The Instagram posts were interesting and not something I’ve seen used before.

WOW! What a book.

5/5. I want a sequel! (pretty please)

Oh my what a story. This is such a book of the now focusing on the power of social media both to bring wealth, power and notoriety, but also lies, corruption and fear. Ultimately I intensely disliked all the characters but along the way I swung backwards and forwards, hopeful about one and then another. I couldn't put this book down and it is full of twists and turns but I felt it had rather a dismissive and neat ending as if the author was unsure what to do with her characters to bring a conclusion. I almost feel as if it would have been better if we had been left guessing or on a cliff hanger. This would have suited the style of this book better I feel.
One other point, this is not a book for the faint hearted. It involved quite a bit of (perhaps too excessive?) violence.

If you are looking for a book that has secrets and twists, off-the-wall crazy characters, a dash of “what-did-I-just-read,” and a stinging commentary on social media, this is the one for you.
Seriously, I am struggling with how to describe this book because it was all of what I just said and more, but it wasn’t gonzo or ridiculous.
It was just a really, really good story! It wasn’t static, it morphed as it went, growing organically until the breathtaking climax. And before I get into the rest, can I just say that the pivotal scene was one of the most cinematic I have ever read?
Anyway, as usual, I don’t want to give away any plot points, which is going to be tough in this review.
I thought the author did a fantastic job of creating both Abbie and Rachel. It was obvious from the beginning that they both had something to hide, but the true extent of those secrets took a long time to be revealed. And even when there were hints, they didn’t give away the full nature of the deceit.
Each was meant to be sympathetic in their own way. And as truths were revealed, I found myself wondering whether or not I still felt sorry for them or if they deserved what was happening. It’s a talented author who can make me care about characters enough to give them deeper thought and connect to my own feelings about them.
I found myself predisposed to dislike Rachel, but I recognize that was due to my distaste for social media influencers. I don’t want to say too much, but she really personifies the whole scam of Insta-celebrities.
(BTW, pay attention to the Instagram posts that are interspersed with the chapters. That is all/)
I’m sure that was by design, because the character was too well-established for the author to not mean for that connection to be made.
As for Abbie, she was a bit of a sphinx. I think she truly believed in what she was doing and could always justify her actions. But her reactions to certain events showed that she was as in control of herself as Rachel was – and that didn’t make for a good combination.
There were a few subplots that I wasn’t too sure about at first, but later in the book it became apparent as to why they were necessary. The same goes for a few facts about Fran and Rachel’s friendship. I get it, but they didn’t necessarily fit into the bigger scheme.
Unless, of course, they were meant to be as off-the-wall as where it all ended up.
Honestly, I could prattle on. Let’s just leave it at this is one of my favorite psych thrillers of the year. Oh, and Annie Wilkes has nothing on the characters in this book.
Go. Read it now.

I really enjoyed The New Mother. I enjoyed how the Instagram posts were woven into the story and it had enough twists to keep me hooked all the way to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This was my first time reading a book by Julia Crouch and it definitely will not be my last! As a former nanny/mother’s assistant I knew I was going to enjoy this book. The plot was intense with many twists along the way, and the ending was absolutely perfect. I will be telling everyone to read Mother’s Helper!

This book started well but I’m afraid I gave up half way through. You could see where the story line was going quite early on and sadly it became repetitive and a bit tedious. Rachel, worshipped by thousands if not millions of devoted fans is not all she portrays. Her mother’s helper, Abbie similarly so. If this is a psychologist thriller as promised any unexpected twist and turns must happen later in the book. I

This was a good read, I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator with her different voices for different characters. The story was easy to get wrapped up in even though the thriller portion wasn’t evident for quite a few chapters.

Insta, a stalker and a cuckoo in the house, what more, if that appeals, could you want from a story?
Well, after reading quite a few books on similar themes I expected to know what was coming and was quite happy with that ( being one of those the theme appeal to )……however whilst the ‘bones’ of the book are as I thought there is so much more to it and yep I am ( again ) going to say I am saying little else on the plot except to say it is tense, claustrophobic at times and a brutal insight in the world, hopes, dreams and narcissism of social media, tightly wound up with a whole pandoras box of secrets
Rachel ( the influencer ) is annoying and likeable in equal measure, Abbie the fan and ‘Mother’s Help’ is portrayed in petrifying style and well, I wasn’t a fan but what a fantastic character she is in the story, shudderingly so
I really really x1000 liked that one of the characters raised an eyebrow and commented about the ending as a reader would do, hard to explain but was really great dialogue
So, a great read, fun, horrifying and potentially scarily real

10/10
5 Stars

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Mother’s Helper’ by Julia Crouch in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Rachel Rodrigues has chosen to have a baby alone and reaches out on Instagram for a full-time live-in mother’s helper. After having thousands of applicants Rachel chooses quiet and unexciting Abbie James who she’s sure she can mould into being more like herself, and as an Influencer on social media Rachel knows that all her followers will be watching.

When I read the description of ‘Mother’s Helper’ I expected to be gripped by an exciting psychological thriller. Unfortunately I found it slow and flat in places and didn’t like the characters or the Instagram messages between each chapter. Although I had a couple of attempts to read it I couldn’t get any further than half-way before I gave up as I had no interest in the characters or finding out what was going to happen. It’s probably my age and it’ll be more suitable for younger readers but I’m sorry it just wasn’t for me.