First off thanks to netgalley for providing me an ARC!

I literally struggled to sleep after binging this book.
Jacy and Jed had a quick romance which led to marriage and led to being pregnant. They went to the UP in Michigan for her to meet his father. The book quickly ramped up. I went from being frustrated with the men in the story not listening to Jacy, to on edge with the ending.
While I enjoyed the book, I would not recommend it to those who may have had issues with their pregnancy or giving birth, as this book addresses both and would be triggering.

A creepy and suspenseful read that tackles modern day issues. I loved this book as I always love Megan Abbott's books. 5 / 5 stars!

Megan Abbott is an auto-buy author for me and this is another grand slam from her. Jacy and Jed go to visit his father and after Jacy has a pregnancy health scare, she starts to feel trapped. If you are a fan of psychological suspense this is a must read.

When newly pregnant Jacy and her husband Jed visit Jed's father on Michigan's north penninsula, When her father-in-law starts saying and doing odd things, is it pregnancy hormones or something more sinister?

I've largely fallen out of reviewing actual books since my son was born in 2019. Now that he doesn't require total attention all the time, I requested this from Netgalley and they approved. Netgalley still thinks I'm somebody, I guess.

I wasn't sold at first. It seemed unsettling and I was horrified to think Jacy would end up banging her father-in-law. Spoilers, she doesn't. The craziness comes in baby steps so things sneak up on your. Reading this on the heels of Lock Every Door, Megan Abbott succeeds with the psychologic suspense where the other book failed. It helps when the characters have some personality and seem pretty fleshed out.

Like I said, I wasn't thrilled with it at first but when I started sensing the wheels would come off at any moment, it was very hard to put down. four out of five stars.

As far as slow-burn thrillers go, this is one of the better ones. It seems like not much is happening, like maybe this story will be a bore, but if you pay attention, you’ll start understanding that things aren’t as they appear.

Jacy and Jed take a road trip to visit Jed’s father. He lives in a remote area and the pregnant Jacy thought it would be a nice relaxing time. It felt good to have the men dote on her. There’s no Wi-Fi or cell phone signal so they could spend quality family time talking and reminiscing. A few days in, Jacy has a medical emergency and the local doctor puts her on bed rest. Things start to really unravel for her at this point. Her husband is aloof, her father-in-law is keeping secrets and Jacy is starting to unravel. She wants to leave. Her husband wants to stay. She needs to get home and will have to do it on her own.

I do hope there will be a sequel because the ending left me hanging. It was a bit rushed and I need to know more. All in all, this was a fantastically entertaining story and I give it 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

2.5 stars, rounded up

Overall I was disappointed in this book. I had such high hopes as I love Megan Abbott, but I felt like this book just didn't deliver. I spent 90% of the book constantly looking at the percentage to see how but I had left. It felt like nothing happened and then once it did, the ending left me unsatisfied and wanting more.

I also struggled with it because I didn't find any of the characters engaging or relatable. As someone who prefers character driven books, it caused me to struggle even more.

Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book absolutely set me on the edge of my seat. The writing was disorienting and it worked sooo well for this story. So good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Megan Abbott books. They are quick reads that have a lot of depth and story baked in. They always deal with complex dynamics between people whether it is cheerleading (Dare Me) or a mysterious illness (The Fever), Megan Abbott knows how to bring it.

I was excited to dig into Beware the Woman as it sounded like a claustrophobic journey that was a little bit more gothic, suspense than I'm used to seeing in a Megan Abbott book. The sad news is that this one didn't do it for me and I ended up DNF'ing 50% through the story,

The story starts off with Jacy and her new husband Jed making their way to the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan to visit Jed's father. Jacy is pregnant, but having no issues with the pregnancy. When they make it to their destination, things start to get a little weird. There is a caretaker that is very reminiscent of Mrs Danvers from Rebecca, and after a few days Jacy begins to have problems with her pregnancy which forces them to stay longer than anticipated. This is where I ditched the book as pretty much by 50% through there was a lot of eerie set up done, but not a lot else in way of story.

Here's to hoping her next one is more what I'm looking for in my Megan Abbott stories.

This is my first book by Megan Abbott! While I love the creepy, eerie feel and atmosphere of this, it fell flat for me. I needed more! I needed one more chapter at least at the end. It was also too much of a slow burn for me and I love my slow burns! But all around it had a great story and plot. I enjoyed this read.

Thank you Netgalley and Megan Abbott for this creepy, gothic ARC!

2.75/5 stars! This book was, unfortunately, a miss for me. The pacing felt very strange and it kept me from becoming engaged with the story and the characters. The premise was promising; it just didn't pay off for me. That being said, I feel like the ending was handled well, and am open to reading other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

With more than 8 novels published and thousands of novels sold, is it any wonder that Megan Abbott is currently one of the most popular writers of all time?

Abbotts books are primarily thrillers, but commonly incorporate elements of drama, deceit and mystery.

Having read Abbotts entire backlog, requesting Beware the Woman was a no-brainer.

Be prepared for the ride or your lifetime . There is no way you could predict all that this book holds . Whatever expectations you might have, watch as this book exceeds them .

One of my favorite things about Abbotts books are that they are realistic . Not only are they realistic but they are completely unpredictable and never seize to amaze me .

I could not recommend this book enough . Do your thing, go pre-order yourself a copy .

Teaser :

Honey, I just want you to have everything you ever wanted. That’s what Jacy’s mom always told her.

And Jacy felt like she finally did. Newly married and with a baby on the way, Jacy and her new husband, Jed, embark on their first road trip together to visit his father, Dr. Ash, in Michigan’s far-flung Upper Peninsula. The moment they arrive in the cozy cottage in the lush woods, Jacy feels bathed in love by the warm and hospitable Dr. Ash, if less so by his house manager, the enigmatic Mrs. Brandt.

But their Edenic first days take a turn when Jacy has a health scare. Swiftly, vacation activities are scrapped, and all eyes are on Jacy’s condition. At the same time, whispers about Jed’s long-dead mother and complicated family history seem eerily to be impeding upon the present. As the days pass, Jacy begins to feel trapped in the cottage, her every move surveilled, her body under the looking glass. But are her fears founded or is it paranoia, or cabin fever, or—as is suggested to her—a stubborn refusal to take necessary precautions? The dense woods surrounding the cottage are full of dangers, but are the greater ones inside?

Read BEWARE THE WOMAN by Megan Abbott if you love creepy feelings, domestic mysteries, uncertainty, pastries, disconcerting interactions, neon signs, questioning everything, secrets, familial trauma, reproductive justice, mountain lions, medical drama, ol' boys & bridges.

Megan Abbott does it again! I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review, so thank you netgalley, Putnam, penguin house and Megan Abbott!

Summary: Jacy is a newlywed who is also recently pregnant. Her and her husband Jed go on a 17 hour road trip to his dad’s house in Michigan’s upper peninsula. Upon arriving, Jacy spends some time with Jed’s dad, known to readers as “Doctor Ash”, as well as caretaker Mrs. Brandt. Not long after arriving, Jacy has a medical scare requiring a visit to the town’s doctor, Dr. Craig who insists on bed rest precautions. Jacy speaks to her own obgyn who doesn’t agree, and they come up with a follow up plan once Jacy comes home. Meanwhile, Doctor Ash seems to be obsessing over Jacy’s pregnancy and each day that goes by is more of an indication to Jacy that something is very wrong here. Is she able to leave her husband and father in law to get back home?

My thoughts: I love Megan Abbott’s books, and I read through this book quickly! It kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen to Jacy, her baby, and Jed and Doctor Ash. The writing is great, and it makes you feel like you’re in a fever dream state until the end. You’ll be wondering if Jacy is reliable, if Mrs. Brandt is helping or hurting her, and why is Jed acting so strange around his dad? I just wish there was an epilogue because the book ends rather abruptly and I would like to find out what happens to some of the characters. 4/5 stars for a well-written thriller!

Taking place over the span of roughly a week, with occasional flashbacks, this book was a ride!

Jacy and Jeb are newlyweds (whirlwind romance) and soon-to-be parents. They take a road trip to visit Jen’s dad in Michigan’s remote upper peninsula. Things are good and overly friendly…until they turn sinister. But things turn sinister in such an unexpected way, that unless you’re smart about it, you don’t see it coming.

I loved the creepy vibe from the house being literally in the middle of nowhere, the lack of cell reception, the landlines going in and out. I also loved the characters who stepped up to help when sh1t hit the fan, and who had been helping behind the scenes for the whole book.

I didn’t love the blatant HIPAA violations, incompetent medical care, the zero respect for a woman’s right to healthcare privacy, Jeb’s lies and wishy-washy attitude flips, and Jeb as a character with no depth who’s easily manipulated and is never straight with his wife. I hated Doctor Ash, but didn’t know why until the plot twist. Also, what was up with the constant controversy about mountain lions? 15’ fences? So many guns? That was just disturbing to me. Maybe I’m a city girl at heart.

Overall, a wild ride in the deep dark woods.

This was a great book! I read it in two days because I had to know what was going on in this mysterious hidden secrets story! Loved the ending!

This was a slow burn for me. The beginning was a little odd and dragged out for me. Eventually, I did get wrapped up in the dysfunctional family drama so much that I stayed up all night reading it. Man, these characters are truly something else.
I can't imagine what all was going thru Jacy's mind during all of this craziness. Wow, is all I can say. Add the pregnancy hormones in the mix and i kept waiting on mama bear to come out.
The ending was rather abrupt. I do feel like I need to know what happens. It leaves you on a cliffhanger. Is there going to be a part 2?
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do recommend this book

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC
Where do I start. This book had a very promising beginning and also a little into the story but I did lose interest quickly. It was too far drawn out and nothing was happening fod fhe longest time. I understand that the author slowly built up the story but it was just way too slow in my opinion.
Then, when things started happening, boom it was the end. It came way too quickly and just abruptly stopped.
As an animal lover, I do not understand why the dog had to be in the book. Not to give any spoilers but, if you are like me, you might feel very triggered by what is happening with the dog. It will bother me for a long time and definitely wished I didn't have to read that part.
I wanted to like this book but it definitely was not for me. I feel like,.what in the world did I just read?

This wasn't my favorite by Megan Abbott, but her writing style is crisp with an edge of dirty that is super addictive, and I can't help but keep reading.

As a mother, this book gave me the absolute biggest shivers. Every single questioning moment had me thinking back to my own pregnancies. The plot was a slow burn for me at first, but once it got rolling, whoa buddy! It definitely makes you think about every day interactions of women, especially when pregnant. It’s very often NOT the hormones.

Thank you NetGalley, Megan Abbott & the publisher for allowing me to read this dark & twisty gem!

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 "Beware the Woman" by Megan Abbott

⭐️⭐️⭐publication date May 30,2023

Jacy and Jed were the fools that rushed in-met and married quickly and soon after were pregnant. Four months into their new lives, they take a road trip to visit Jed’s father Dr. Ash, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Dr. Ash lives in an isolated house surrounded by woods and
managed by the mysterious Mrs. Brandt. Jacy is flattered by the warm welcome she gets from Jed’s father and tries to ignore her husbands odd expressions and behaviors. A relaxing idyllic vacation takes a turn when Jacy has a health scare, and things quickly get weird as Dr. Ash becomes increasingly overprotective and controlling over her. He becomes consumed with protecting his unborn grandchild no matter what the cost.

This book was weird. I felt like a good 90% of it nothing was happening and when it finally started to pick up, the book ended. I wanted more from the ending. I will confess that this is not my favorite Megan Abbott book. I also didn’t go in expecting a Gothic Novel.


Thank you to @netgalley and @penguingroup for this digital arc

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