I have a love hate relationship with May Cobb books. The characters are despicable and make all kinds of terrible choices so I have read and cringed through two past books. This one though…I think I wanted even more badly behaved stereotypical women acting like idiots over men. I was bored through parts and for the most part it didn’t really work for me.

I have been a May Cobb fan for a while now, and she has leveled up even more with A Likeable Woman. Yes, there are steamy scenes as with her prior books, but this story centers more on the relationship between a free-spirited (aka an “unlikeable”) mother and a daughter who’s emotionally stuck and unable to move on until she knows the truth about her mother’s death. I especially loved learning about the unusual art Sadie did in her garage and how it was a way for her to rebel against the patriarchal expectations of her. This might be Cobb’s twistiest novel, and the alternating POVs between Kira and her mother Sadie worked perfectly to amp up the suspense. Y’all, I love my sleep, but I stayed up well into the wee hours of the night to finish because I had to know how it ended. Bravo, Cobb! You did it again!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, May Cobb & Berkley Publishing for an arc of A Likeable Woman in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own (except for any quotations) and may not be reproduced.

Synopsis (quoted) – Review Below

“She's back in her affluent hometown for the first time in years and determined to unravel the secrets of her mother's death hidden in the unpublished memoir she left behind...even if it kills her...

After her troublemaker mother's mysterious death, Kira fled her wealthy Texas town and never looked back. Now, decades later, Kira is invited to an old frenemy's vow renewal party. Though she is reluctant to go, there are things calling her back . . . like chilled wine and days spent by the pool . . . like her sexy childhood crush, Jack. But, more importantly, it's the urgent texts from her grandmother who says she has something to give Kira. Something about her mother's death, something that looks an awful lot like murder.

When her grandmother gives Kira a memoir that her mother had been working on before she died, she is pulled into the past and all of the sizzling secrets that come along with it. With few allies left in her gossipy, country club town, Kira turns to Jack for help. As she gets closer to what--and who--might have brought about her mother's end, it becomes clear that someone wants the past to stay buried.

And Kira might be next.”

I was absolutely thrilled that Berkley gave me the opportunity to review the digital arc of May Cobb’s newest novel on NetGalley. First – Berkley is extremely selective with who gets to review advance copies so it’s a privilege and honor to have gotten approval for this one. Second – May Cobb – I absolutely adore and is a must-read for me!

I absolutely LOVE a thriller/mystery in which a book, of sorts, is used as the catalyst and source of clues to solving a mystery (i.e. Last Heir to Blackwood Library, A Discovery of Witches, and many others that are escaping me right this very second).

I really enjoyed the multiple POV of Kira & Sadie, which allowed us to see both sides of the story and examine all angles.

As with all of May Cobb’s novels, are setting is a uppity area full of the rich who can get away with murder, pun intended. No one is who they seem and this gripping, page-turner will have you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

I keep waiting for that 5-star May Cobb novel, for me, because I know it’s coming. She’s a steady 4-star author for me and that’s absolutely not a bad thing. I know the general outline of one of her novels from the start and love getting to read the new story that fills in that outline. I love an author I can rely on to hold my attention and not disappoint. So, thank you Ms. Cobb for another wonderful read that I will be recommending!

My first read by this author and I would read more by her even though this wasn’t a favorite. I found it too slow for my liking when it comes to thrillers.

After Kira’s mom died, she was convinced that she hadn’t killed herself. She knew that someone have murdered her but the entire town didn’t believe her and eventually her grandmother sent her away. When she gets invited back for a childhood friends vow renewal and her grandmother tells her she has something she needs to see, Kira decides to come back and find out what truly happened to her mom.

This book felt a little different than May Cobbs other books, but I really enjoyed it! I did figure out what happened to Kira’s mom a bit early, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book! I certainly was still constantly flipping the page hoping to find out more, and of course confirm that I was right! I really liked the dual timeline of Sadie’s view point compared to Kira, and while I found Kira to be slightly naive at times, that’s pretty standard for the genre. I can’t wait to see what Cobb does next!

“Don’t be like me; don’t be a likable woman”.

After her mother Sadie’s death, Kira fled her Texas town and never looked back. Decades later, present day, Kira is invited to a friend’s vow renewal. Though she is hesitant to return home, she is eager to see her childhood crush Jack, and her grandmother. Kira is surprised when her grandmother gives her a memoir her mother was working on before her death; it appears there were secrets in this town that someone would kill to keep secret.

This was a such a great character-driven thriller! Though this is Kira’s story, we follow along with her in reading her mother’s story in her memoir. There is the mystery surrounding
Sadie’s death but this is also such an emotional story about being a woman; I was not expecting to be able to relate to so much of it. This was my first May Cobb book and it won’t be the last!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC! “A Likeable Woman” releases July 11th!

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.

Kira returns to her hometown many years after her mother’s suspicious suicide. Her grandmother lures her home with the promise of giving her something that belongs to her mother that pertains to her death. Told in alternating timelines through mother and daughter’s POVs, this evenly paced mystery had me hooked from page one. I love a small-town domestic thriller where friends and neighbors know too much about the MC’s history, so everyone seems shady. Kira’s suspicions that her mother was murdered are disregarded by her sister who never left their hometown and it creates a simmering tension between Kira and the whole town. I loved learning about Sadie’s life in the past timeline and experiencing Kira and Sadie’s relationship from both of their perspectives. It endeared readers to both women and made Kira’s mission to uncover the truth about how her mom died feel like it was our mission too. I loved this book!

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing, May Cobb, and Netgalley!

I originally detailed everything that bothered me about this book, but ultimately it boiled down to this: I didn’t enjoy Kira as a character; I found her immature and oblivious. I didn’t like the pages of detail about things that interrupt the plot and ultimately led nowhere. I found it odd that she harbored such a strong crush on a man she hadn’t seen or spoken to in years. And the ending was a bit ridiculous. However, I do think the bones of a story were there with decent writing and could see myself picking up something from this author in the future.

Kira fled her hometown as soon as she could. Her mother who she adored died, and she’s never been happy with the official verdict. 24 years have passed, and Kira’s life is a mess. She didn’t continue with her art which she learned at her mothers side, and lives in the same dumpy apartment, has no real friends, and it’s just basically coasting through life.
An invitation to go home to attend a vow renewal is the last thing she would ever say yes to. But, her childhood crush, Jack, a man, she still pines for will be there, so she hops on an airplane and heads home. He is married with a son, but Kira can’t keep her eyes off of him wondering if somehow they can still be together. But that isn’t her biggest worry. Someone does not appreciate her coming home and looking into her mothers death. Could Kira be right? Was her mother murdered? Well this town or at least the people Kira knew are just terrible! Gossipy, too much drinking, and still making Kira feel small and out of place.
For once, I figured out who was guilty very early on in the story. Yeah me! I didn’t love how it ended and I had some issues with Kira. If she had been younger, I would’ve related to her more, but also most of the secondary characters just seemed to act like they had just graduated from college.
However, this was a page turner, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing it on the beach in July. Oh, and that ending, maybe someone will wind up getting their happily ever after.

I was beyond excited to receive this early arc from NetGalley 👏🏻 I’ve only read The Hunting Wives by May Cobb and she immediately became a favorite, by just reading ONE book! I then got My Summer Darlings, which is still sitting on my shelf and I will definitely be reading that one soon!

On to my review… this book was a bit of a slow start imo. Now, this could be because I just wrapped up a 5⭐️ read and this book just wasn’t hitting the same. I was definitely coming off a high and while this book finally picked up halfway mark, it just never really shocked me. I never really felt connected to any of the characters and the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me and honestly, very predictable. What I did enjoy was the alternate chapters between Kira & Sadie and I liked the mysterious setting. I can’t really say too much more as I don’t want to spoil or give anything away.

May Cobb writes a twisted story of a family torn apart by the death of their mother, Sadie. Daughter Kira never believed it was a suicide, so when she finds herself thrust back in time to her hometown and the people who doubted her theory, she's met with resistance and threats. Cobb works her signature suspense by declaring every character a suspect, delivering a conclusion that packs a brilliant punch. Fast-paced, perfect beach read.

Kira's mother died suddenly when Kira was a teenager. Kira headed West as soon as she could because she couldn't stand to stay in a town full of lies. A few decades later, Kira is invited back for an old friend's vowel renewal, and she decides to go back home, mostly in hopes of finding out more about her mother's death. Shortly after she RSVPs yes, she receives a mysterious text message telling her to stay away.

A LIKEABLE WOMAN by May Cobb is a book with small town gossip and a dual point of view. I love all of May Cobb's books and recommend them constantly, but this one was just OK for me. It was a quick read, but the characters were not very likable, and it was predictable. Thank being said, I am still excited to read whatever May Cobb comes up with next!

Thank you to Berkley Publicity and NetGalley for my ARC

I love May Cobb books and am so grateful to have received this one early. This was well written, but unlike her previous two, this was too much of a slow burn that never fully captured my attention.

This was my first book by May Cobb, and it was a really fun read. I was immediately drawn into the story. Kira is returning home to her small hometown in Texas to attend a friend's vow renewal. She moved away over 20 years ago after her mother committed suicide (although Kura suspects foul play). She happens to receive a memoir her mother wrote and begins to unravel what really happened. There were alot of characters in this one and I felt that sometimes it was hard to keep track of. I enjoyed the whole mystery of this book, and although I did guess some things early on, it was still really good!

Out July 11.

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

In this outstanding thriller, Kira is begrudgingly leaving Los Angeles and returning home to East Texas, where she grew up, to attend a vowel renewal ceremony. She left Texas twenty years earlier, just after she lost her mom and she’s the only one who believes her mother was murdered. Once in East Texas, she’s forced to face her past: her sister, her childhood crush, a slew of friends, her grandmother and a bad boy from her past. When her grandmother hands her her late mother’s journals, Kira finally sees evidence of her belief that her mother very well may have been murdered. The novel moves between Kira’s narration and her mother, Sadie’s, journal entries that work together to tell a complete story. Cobb does a masterful job creating so many plausible suspects. There is such a strong sense of place in this novel and it was nice to see a neurodivergent character (her friend’s son) written with such grace and authenticity. A more than likable thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and to Berkeley Publishing Group for the advanced review copy.

This is such a fun summer read for fans of decades old secrets in high Texas society. Kira returns to her hometown for a vow renewal, a town she hasn’t visited in years since her mother died mysteriously. Everyone at the time called it suicide, but Kira has never believed that. As everyone from her past brings forth new memories, Kira slowly unravels the terrifying truth behind her mother’s death.

I loved the insight we got into both Kira and her mom Sadie, the way May entertained Sadie’s memoir with the present timeline, and the slowly building tension throughout the whole story

After Kira’s mother died mysteriously, she fled her small town and headed out west. Decades later, Kira is invited back to her hometown for a ‘friend’s’ vow renewal with the hopes that she’ll finally uncover some answers behind her mother’s death.

A LIKEABLE WOMAN by May Cobb is a slow burn mystery told through multiple POVs and timelines (Kira and her mother Sadie).

This book unfortunately missed the mark for me. It lacked a lot of the ‘rich moms behaving badly’ that Cobb’s previous books came stacked with and I found the mystery to be extremely predictable, causing all of the twists along the way to be confusing and unconvincing.

The main character Kira (and her sister and every other side character now that I think about it) also seemed incredibly naive and self-centered, which felt especially off considering her age.

I’ll still be looking forward to whatever May Cobb comes up with next despite my dislike for this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: July 11

A special thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I’ve read two of May Cobb’s previous books, and this one screams summer with that cover, out 7/11/23!

I’m landing somewhere in the middle with this one - May Cobb sure knows how to write female characters that are straight terrible, ha! I LOVED the hunting wives (wild), really disliked my summer darlings, and this one felt totally different than those two. Our main character Kira returns home to a small town for some sort of reunion event, and she’s already not looking forward to it, as her mother committed suicide (albeit, Kira suspects foul play and that her mother would never do such a thing), and she’s never wanted to go back. Told mainly from Kira’s POV, there’s also some flashback chapters with Sadie, Kira’s mom, and you find out she’s writing a book that will expose everyone.

A few things that didn’t work for me - Sadie’s chapters felt so slow, and were a slowwwww burn. I found myself wanting more of Kira’s story in the present day to keep things moving. I also noticed that May Cobb writes these women that act like they need alcohol (and Valium in this case) to survive the day - I’m going to throw that out as a trigger warning, as I think you need to know what you’re walking into. Finally, there’s a billion characters in here, and it was really hard to remember who’s who, when it comes to the friends of Kira, her parents’ friends….they all use first names and I had to pause and remember, wait Mike is old but Katie is Kira’s age, and it was a lot to keep straight.

Thank you again NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! Pub date coming next month: 7/11/23.

Thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley, I had the opportunity to delve into this highly anticipated book, which turned out to be an absolute delight.

From the moment I set my eyes on the captivating cover, I was immediately drawn into the world within its pages. The narrative revolves around a family, harboring hidden secrets that are waiting to be unraveled. Tragedy strikes, causing these secrets to come tumbling out, leaving the characters grappling with the aftermath.

As the story unfolds, the characters find themselves entangled in a web of temptations that blend pleasure with danger. Each decision they make carries significant consequences, intensifying the emotions and keeping me fully engaged in their journey.

I was particularly touched by the sensitive exploration of a theme that is deeply personal to me. The author skillfully weaves this theme into the fabric of the story, evoking a range of emotions and lending an additional layer of depth to the narrative.

The immersive writing style brings the characters to life, allowing their struggles and desires to resonate strongly with the reader. I found myself completely absorbed in their world, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the twists and turns that awaited them.

I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this captivating book. It is a gripping exploration of secrets, tragedy, and the complexities of human choices. Prepare to be captivated by a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

A Likeable Woman
By May Cobb
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2023
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5

The characters in May Cobb's A Likeable Woman are complex and mesmerizing, creating a thrilling landscape that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With each page, the plot thickens and the suspense builds, making readers anxious to see what unfolds next. In addition, the story is set in Longview, Texas. Being a native Texan, I am uniquely familiar with the region, and the setting adds to its appeal.

Synopsis:
Kira fled her wealthy Texas town after her mother's mysterious death. But the secrets of her past still haunt her, wherever she goes. Years later, Kira is invited to a vow renewal celebration by an old adversary. She is reluctant to return home, but her grandmother texted her that she had something for her related to her mother's death. With a wealth of questions and few answers, Kira is determined to get the truth - whatever the cost.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this exciting book with me. Reviewing it was a pleasure. I look forward to reading more from May Cobb in the future.