Per usual, though this is a 5 star read to me, I didn't give it a favorite designation because I don't see me re-reading this in the future. I thought this was a great thriller and I loved the twists and turns the book takes.

"The New Mother" follows Natalie Fanning, known as Nat throughout the book. Nat has given birth and also recently moved into a new neighborhood. Nat feels overwhelmed with love of her newborn son, but also feels as if she's slowly losing it due to lack of sleep and conversation with other adults. She meets one of her neighbors, Paul, who seems to have a magic touch with her son, can get him to settle when no one else can. But also Paul seems to listen and understand her problems. Enter. Murder. Just pretend those last two words were followed by a maniacal laugh.

I thought the book did a great job of giving us Nat and Paul's points of view throughout. I do have to say though based on what was going on with Nat. I had comments/questions about things I was shocked that no one was asking about. And I say that as a woman who has no children (God love them, don't want them myself).

The writing was great. Nat's sections felt more and more divorced from reality. Pauls' read as stoic. And no spoilers, but liked the slow reveals about a host of things going on. I thought one thing, and then quickly realized I was wrong.

The flow worked for this one too. The whole plot takes course over a period of five months. I don't know if all the bits and ends would have been wrapped up that fast, but honestly I was glad for it. The other book I finished the other day felt like it took forever to get to the end.

The setting of the story taking place in a well to do neighborhood where too many neighbors notice things was great. I have noticed a rise in suburbia will kill you stories, and this was one of them and I enjoyed it.

The ending was great and I liked how things got resolved.

I read this author’s debut novel (The Favor) last year and really enjoyed it - I knew this would be an author to keep an eye on, so I was very happy to get the ARC for this, her second book!

The synopsis is slightly short, as this review will probably be, because you don’t want to know what this man, Paul, has in store before you read it yourself. We know from the synopsis that he has an interest in our protagonist though, and it’s as creepy (if not more) than you’re imagining.

Natalie is our main character, and she’s a mom with a difficult newborn. It’s obvious from the beginning that she has post-partum depression, and that, combined with a lack of sleep, is really affecting her mental health. She loves them both, but she’s angry with her husband and angry with her baby - she can’t get sleep, her baby Oliver eats constantly and Natalie feels like a downed cow. At so many times in the book, I wanted to shake her and say “JUST LET HIM HAVE A BOTTLE SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SANITY”, but I know there are a lot of mothers who feel guilt over breast-feeding. Natalie is definitely one of them.

All this is happening in a new neighborhood, and Natalie has no close support system aside from her increasingly-distant husband. One day, while breaking down during a walk with her son, she meets Paul. He’s one of her neighbors, a stay-at-home dad/aspiring writer, and is the only person aside from Natalie who can get Oliver to sleep. Soon, she trusts this man completely … which was exactly his plan.

This was quick, super entertaining, relatable to moms, and a great thriller. It was also a good look at post-partum depression/psychosis and insomnia. I really enjoyed this one; it gets a solid four stars from me!

(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Nora Murphy, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 30, 2023.)

This was such a good psychological thriller. I never felt bored because the pacing was just right. I liked how the book commented on the unbearable stress of motherhood, but it wasn’t preachy about it. I really felt the pain and suffering of the mother in the book, and even though I could see where the story was headed, each step held my attention.

THE NEW MOTHER
BY: NORA MURPHY

Bravo, for Nora Murphy for writing such an excellent novel of what it's like to be a new mother. Trying to do things right, albeit putting yourself in the position to expect perfection from yourself. My experience was very different from this character Natalie, and even this author's. My sons are 24 and 21 now, but I remember their births and my feelings toward motherhood as easy and the memories come back like they were only yesterday. I am not up to date with the latest *How to care for your new baby manuals*. I think that this book is a great learning experience for mothers who have just given birth, and are trying to figure it all out. I still very much enjoyed this novel for the most part. Sometimes I just wanted to say to Natalie (the main character), to not be so hard on herself. I disagreed with her about letting her baby Oliver fall asleep in his baby swing, so she could get some rest. I would imagine that anybody who went without sleep for as long as she did, would slip into the grips of psychosis. I think that my one quibble with this novel is it did get a little repetitive from Natalie's ruminations of her continuous ramblings about not sleeping. That's not to say that I didn't sympathize and empathize with what she herself put herself through.

Like I said, I haven't read up on the latest research, but the baby swing saved me and my husband in terms of getting sleep with our first born. We had the same problem with our first born son, in that he would cry whenever we put him in his crib. So we put the baby swing next to our bed, and let him sleep in it. It worked like a charm. He would finally settle down and sleep, and we would give the swing a new wind up, every time he woke up. He would go back to sleep, and so would my husband and I. Natalie says to her husband Tyler that sitting up sleep--isn't as healthy for a baby. My son was relentless just like Baby Oliver. He wouldn't sleep in his crib and wanted to be picked up, so I wanted to say to Natalie who suffers from either/or Postpartum depression, or psychosis or both. Stop refusing every idea to give herself a break, and accept some help from those offering to give it. Happy mother equals a happy baby. I thought Natalie was being unreasonable by ridiculing her Mother-in-law's decision to be a stay at home mom. She refused her husband Tyler's offers to let his mother help, so Natalie could finally get a break.

Basically, this book is about a new mother with her new born baby named Oliver who thinks she is a failure as a mother. At not being able to resume her job as a lawyer, after only eight weeks of maternity leave. At not accepting help from her husband or his mother. Natalie thinks that she and she alone is the only one who can soothe her baby. Except for her neighbor, Paul Riley, who is a stay at home father of a ten year old daughter named Petra. Paul befriends Natalie in their bucolic neighborhood, and he is the only one Natalie lets hold her baby. Soon the two of them become
great friends. It is only Paul who can give Natalie the moral support, but Paul has nefarious plans for Natalie. The up to no good Paul Riley and his intentions are what saved this book for me and elevated it up to a Five star reading experience for me. I think that his actions and the consequences of what he does is what enhances this novel greatly, for me anyway. I think that I enjoyed this novel, but feel that younger women preparing to give birth or women who have just given birth will be the target audience to read this. Perhaps, for women who think that they have to do it all, they might also benefit from reading this.

Publication Date: May 30, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Nora Murphy and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheNewMother #NoraMurphy #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Although I am more than a little bit over the "new mom, sleep-deprived, convinced she's going crazy, being told she's too emotional" plot device, this one throws in an over the top horribly scary, do-good stay at home dad next door neighbor. That's not something I think I have read before, and I found it downright chilling and page-turning. If you'd like a fresh-take on this type of storyline, this is one for you.

Now this is the kind of thriller I love. I was pulled in instantly and on the edge of my seat many times. Lots of twists and turns throughout. Nat is a new mother, living in a new house, in a new neighborhood and dealing with postpartum depression. She's lonely, exhausted, and can't seem to relax, until she becomes friends with Paul. The stay at home dad in her neighborhood. He seems to be just what she needed to help her. As you read on, Paul begins to seem very sus and you start to wonder, does Paul have an ulterior motive for befriending Nat?!

This was a fun, suspenseful and relatable thriller. I did not guess how it played out. I can't wait to read future books by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. Out May 30. My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Bookbub, and Amazon once it publishes.

Oh my gosh! I was totally hooked on this book! Cannot wait to read more by Nora Murphy. This had all the elements of a perfect psychological thriller. So many feels. I laughed, cried, nearly threw my kindle. And then cried again. It struck so many chords with me. Brilliant characters that just kept the storyline racing along. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

This book was surprisingly good. So well written, the main character's struggle with a new baby who doesn't sleep much who needs so much, who is losing herself and desperate and perfect for a neighbor with suspicious motives. I wish there was a little more time spent on how she turned the tables, there was a lot of build up in a quiet way. 4..5 rounded up

A special thank you to St Martins Press, Nora Murphy and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected proof in exchange for my honest review. This book offers a lot to fans of psychological thrillers! A new mom adjusting to her life while undergoing post pardon depression, a seemingly too perfect, ever so helpful married man from her block and lots of manipulation. The reader is told “who done it” in reference to the actual murder, but the reader is left guessing whether they covered their tracks enough to get away with it. Some parts of the resolution of this story seemed far fetched to me, but since it’s fiction, I rolled with it! I would recommend this book to others!

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Favor by this Author, I was ready and willing to dive into her second book. Holy Moly!!! Natalie is an isolated, exhausted new mother who is befriended by the stay-at-home dad who lives down the street. I was afraid for Natalie. If I ever had a neighbour like Paul, I would be moving! This Author is going places. Read her books. This one is especially amazing. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for the invitation and allowing me to read and review this book.

Captivating, riveting, emotional, unpredictable.

Natalie just had her first baby. He's not an easy baby and her life seems to be falling apart around her. Until Paul, her neighbor, comes into the picture. The man has the magic touch. But what are his true intentions?

A solid domestic thriller I enjoyed.

The Nnew Mother by Nora Murphy was such a twisted, crazy, unpredictable book. I’m not even gonna pretend that I wasn’t triggered by some of the things that I read, a couple of times I had to put it down because I remember the exact feeling that this mother was feeling. That just goes to show what a good author Nora Murphy is. She can really pull you in and make you feel all the feelings. It definitely took me back to my second postpartum experience. Coming from a mother who did it to seek out help during the time when help is needed the most, I thought this book detailed her emotions and feelings perfectly.

Natalie is a new mom. The first few weeks with her new son should be blissful and should be happy but her son is colicky doesn’t like being put down and just enjoys the comfort of her. She attempts to go back to work. She’s just too tired, going on less than three hours of sleep a night, so she has to forfeit her job. Enter Paul , her neighbor, who has the magic touch when it comes to collicky, cranky babys she immediately is drawn to him, because with him in her life, she could finally get the rest she feel she deserves, but Paul is looking for a little something more.

I would definitely recommend this book as it something I haven’t read before. No one can understand the relief of that small gesture of help when you’re in a dark hole.

This book will grab your attention and heart strings! Natalie is a new mother and having a hard time adjusting to that role. Her and her husband just recently moved into the new house in a new neighborhood; and now she has just had her first child.
After being overly tired from lack of sleep with the new baby, Natalie finds solace in her new friendship with the neighbor, Paul. The twists and turns start from the very beginning of this relationship! At times I wanted to reach into the book to tell Natalie to stop talking or don't leave him alone in your house! The rollercoaster ride that happens with all the twists is fast happening and once you get into this book you will not be able to put it down!

I look froward to reading more from Nora Murphy. Thank you Net Galley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Life can throw us curve balls sometimes. We don’t always know how to ask for help. We become vulnerable when unexpected help comes along. This is what happened to Natalie. She was a new mother and had a very demanding baby boy who cried incessantly. Her husband Tyler was sweet and caring but not much help in the baby department. Natalie was an accomplished lawyer and now that she became a mom she struggled with putting her career on hold. No sleep, wearisome, and frustrated she longed to find a way to soothe herself and her baby.

In walked Paul. He was a stay-at-home dad and had all the time in the world to immerse himself into Natalie’s life. He was a protector and a soft place to land for her. He helped with her son during the day and she could finally sleep! She was also suffering emotionally and was not receiving the proper help which made her even more unguarded.

He had a motive for helping her. Would she find out what is was before its too late? You will have to read this very raw, emotional thriller to find out. Although it is a fictional book, it delves deep into marital issues, postpartum depression and the struggle to be what society thinks is a good parent. Backstory and a lot of plot building until the middle of the book when it takes off on the thrill ride. I really liked The Favor by Nora Murphy and I feel this book is just as good or better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the Arc.

Isolated, lonely, tired... vulnerable.

Wow I inhaled this. This was a great story!

As a new mom to a colicky baby I really appreciated how true this story felt. I felt like I could really relate to the character and I think that's why I was on the edge of my seat with everything going on.

Natalie is a new mom and she's dealing with postpartum depression, lack of sleep, and taking care of a newborn on her own but the author really elevated on it with the relationship she had with Paul and how he starts to take advantage of her & took matters into his own hands, using her as a pawn. I ate it up.

This story is told in multiple POVs (Natalie & Paul).

This is a book you don't want to miss.

Thank you Netgalley & St Martin's Press for an Advanced Readers Copy!

A phenomenal story that any mom who has had a child can relate to.
The postpartum loneliness, fear, extreme fatigue and pain is too much at times.
The guilt can be overwhelming as Natalie and moms everywhere want to keep their identity and jobs, but things are now different. A little person is in your charge and we just cannot do it all!
Can you understand these feelings? I know, I can.
Now- the neighborhood has a murder and it is in the woods by Natalie's home.
Who is responsible and why are the police even talking to Natalie?
Is she being framed or could she have actually committed a crime without remembering?
She never cared for Erin, the woman who died, nor really knew her, but her husband, Paul was definitely a friend. Or was he?
This is a well done, intense book that I truly had a hard time putting down. The plot from beginning to end just thickens and gets better.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @St. Martin's Press for this amazing ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review. Excellent! I would love to see this as a movie!

Natalie Fanning is a new mother to baby Oliver. She loves her son, but is more than a little overwhelmed, especially when it turns out that her son has colic. She takes a sabbatical from work to stay home with him, and slowly slips into isolation and despair. When Paul, her neighbor who happens to be a stay-at-home-dad offers to give her a hand, she is relieved to find that he actually is very good with the baby. But Paul isn’t just being a helpful neighbor - he has a sinister plan of his own.

This story was fantastic! As a mom of two kids myself, I can relate wholeheartedly to Natalie. I also have been a stay-at-home mom for close to a decade, and Natalie’s feelings of isolation and losing her whole identity resonated with me so much! It’s so hard when you don’t have a village to help you, so I can understand why Natalie trusted Paul. I knew he was too good to be true, but I wasn’t expecting him to be so conniving. Without giving any spoilers, I just wanted to kick him somewhere for manipulating such a vulnerable person! The author also included a very nice note after the book reflecting on her own experiences.

I suffered from post partum depression after my second child was born and it was hell. So this is particularly close to my heart. If you would like more info or to connect to other moms, please check out @thebluedotprj on IG for more info ❤️

Thank you to Netgalley, Nora Murphy and Minotaur for the ARC! “The New Mother” releases May 30th!

I really enjoyed this book. The main character, I had a gard time liking, but by the end I had figured out why. This book definitely kept me second guessing all the characters. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the advanced copy, for an honest review.

For fans of Nora Murphy’s The Favor, this new domestic thriller will have you binge reading to find out what happens next. Nora Murphy is making her way onto my auto read authors list. When lawyer Natalie brings home baby Oliver, Natalie quickly realizes all the challenges that she is up against with raising a newborn. Natalie’s husband is a lawyer and has to return to work shortly after Oliver’s birth. Natalie struggles with the lack of connection or support until her neighbor and stay at home dad Paul comes into the picture to offer Natalie friendship and the support she has been longing for. The plot escalates and Natalie will find herself questioning what she believes to be true and what is actual reality. I loved that this story was a true depiction of the struggles of new motherhood and how the plot spins in unsuspecting directions.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this read. I have to say this book almost put me into one of the worst slumps ever. I read and read and read and was wondering where is this going. The same old same old. I have to say the author took me back to when I was having my children but this was the extreme. I was screaming at my kindle..

I do see that this book has a deeper meaning to it..but I do not think it had to be written this way to get the point across.