Two couples have been neighbors and best friends for 10 years. One of their sons die in a horrible accident and they all have to come to terms with starting over. This was a very twisty story and kept me reading till the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this re-release, soon to be made into a movie on the big screen. To be published May 2023. I’ll be watching for the movie!

One of the easiest and hardest reads ever. On one hand, it's a propulsive domestic thriller that keeps the pages TURNING. On the other hand, it's so traumatic it literally kept me up at night. This was a great, fast read but I felt that the middle stretched a bit too long, and the ending was rushed.

Overall, a captivating read and I can see why legit actors Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway would be drawn to the movie (tv?) adaptation.

WOW!! What did I just read? Where to even start? I’m still trying to process this gut-punch of a thriller, and it’s one of those that I will never, ever be able to stop thinking about.

With that said, it was very upsetting for me, and I caution moms of young children to heed the content warnings of child loss. However, some of my favorite reviewers were not bothered by this at all, so perhaps this is just my level of sensitivity.

Okay that part aside, I picked up this novel based on my friend @coffee.break.book.review Danielle’s review and also the fact that it is being adapted as a feature film starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. I was intrigued. And #influenced.

It’s been translated from a French bestseller and is a quick, highly bingeable read. I started it around noon on a Wednesday, woke up thinking about it at 3am and finished it by morning. Utterly unputdownable.
If you like a jaw-dropping roller coaster of a thrill ride, then pick this one up. As for me, I’ll be curled up in the fetal position trying to take it all in for a while.

My thanks to @harperviabooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

I did like this book. It kept me engaged. I didn’t see how Sylvain having the secret past added to the plot except to show he’s not a good person. I would have liked more details on the poisoning and how they got away with it. The end felt abrupt. I’d really give it 3.75 stars

Translated from it's original French, Mothers' Instinct is a whirlwind of a thriller.

Two couples, friends and next door neighbors face the death of one of their sons. The family is beside themselves with grief and things escalate from there. One mother is sure the other one is responsible for her (living) son's accidents.

This is where I'm going to stop because it gets WILD. WIIIILLLDDD.

This is sure to be a best-seller in the States and I can't wait to see how it translates onto film.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Two couples are neighbors turned best friends turned chosen family in Mothers’ Instinct, and the families even have boys who are just months apart in age. The boys grow up running from one home to the other, having sleepovers, and feeling as close as brothers. A terrible accident takes the life of one of the boys, causing irreparable damage to the relationship between the families. When smaller incidents start occurring, the mother of the remaining boy becomes paranoid, positive the other couple is trying to hurt him in an act of revenge.

This book is quite dark and twisty, setting up a wild finale to the story. I wasn’t sure what to think through the middle- was Laetitia paranoid or justified in her panic? That set up a tense atmosphere, keeping the reader wanting more. I don’t feel like I really got to know the characters well, the story was told in a way where I felt like I was on the outside looking in. There are a lot of small details and betrayals throughout the story that keep it interesting along the way. And the ending was straight up crazy and I’ll be sitting here thinking about it for awhile!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Via for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I can’t wait to see the movie version!

It was a goal of mine to read more translated work this year so when I read this book's description AND saw it was translated from French, I knew I had to jump on this opportunity. Also being made into a major motion picture, yes please. Without a doubt, I can see this being a successful hit a la "A Simple Favor" vibes.

The whole time I was reading this book, I just kept thinking "I couldn't imagine." I'm still recovering from the emotional whiplash that is the plot of this book! I went from not being able to imagine how amazing raising kids with your best friend/neighbor would be (like pure envy) to not being able to even fathom how either family could ever recover from Maxime's accidental death. Add in all the blame and guilt and I found myself fully engrossed with this tense and emotional read.

The one downside for me was how quickly things escalated and then ended. I was left with either wanting a little more of the thoughts and conversations of Sylvain and Tiphaine, or a little less of the actual "whoa, she went there kind of ending." Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this book!

Mother's Instinct has a shocking plot but it really wasn't my type of mystery.
Thank you HarperCollins for the review copy.

Mothers' Instinct
by Barbara Abel
Pub Date May 16, 2023
Harper Via
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🇫🇷 enjoy translated books
want a fast paced read
love jaw dropping twists
like unreliable narrators
I can't wait to watch American Series adaptation of this book staring Jessica Chastain and 'Anne Hathaway! I am sure these brilliant actors will give lives to these troubled characters.
I felt the translation was clunky. I wish I knew French.
The story gave me nightmares.
It's worth the thrill! 4 stars

“Friendship is a source of strength no one can live without. Everyone needs friends as much as sustenance and sleep.”

When I read the description of Mothers’ Instinct and saw it was being made into a major motion picture, starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, I just had to read it! Annnnd that’s about where my excitement stopped…

This book was just mediocre at best. Though fast paced, with a twisted cast of characters, the writing was really clunky and just hard to read at times. This took away from my overall enjoyment. Could it be the French to English translation?

The character names were tripping me up the whole time: David and Laetitia, and Sylvain and Tiphaine, whose sons are Milo and Maxine respectively. (Again, I’m sure these are popular and very normal names in their country of origin)

The book dragged in parts; I found myself putting it down and not really wanting to pick it back up. Then the ending felt very rushed; I didn’t particularly care for the ending either.

However, and this is a BIG however, I do think it will be a brilliant movie adaptation. It has the meat and potatoes to be an amazing thriller. I think with the right director and actors, this will come to life scrumptiously on the big screen!

Pros: Short chapters, which gave the book good pacing.

Cons: You’ll probably never look at Doritos the same again.

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

Did not expect that ending! Wow on thrilling twists and turns that culminated in a super surprising, heart racing, frightening close to this dramatic book! Barbara Abel has created an amazing story.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Holy wow, this book starts off with a bang! Sure, we’re told in the synopsis that there’s some friction between the two ladies in this story, but gracious, you don’t really know how much until you read the opening pages. Make no mistake, this is some high-octane animosity. Yikes!

The story begins with one very explosive prologue, in which neighbors and ex-best friends Laetitia and Tiphaine are brawling out in the driveway, but how did they get to this point? Chapter 1 catapults us back in time so we can witness the destruction of a friendship. As the pages turn, we’re shown one significant event after the next. In the beginning, the tension is present but subdued; however, as the narrative years fly by, the pressure builds until the fabric of these characters’ lives and relationships ruptures.

With this tale of friendship and motherhood, Barbara Abel gifts her audience with an exploration of some weighty themes, but they’re expertly wrapped in layers of suspense and insanity. As you navigate through the perilous waters of trauma and guilt, you’ll have to take frequent breaks to shake your head and catch your breath. Because. It. Is. Wild! Trust me.

Whatever type of reader you may be, and whichever genre you normally prefer, you’ll find something here to appreciate. There are points to ponder, emotions to feel, and thrills to experience. It moves at breakneck speed, and not a single word is wasted. This is a story for everyone. Run, don’t walk, to get your copy.

📚Book Review 📚 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mothers’ Instinct by Barbara Abel

*Release Date: May 16
*Was translated from French
*Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain are starting in the movie 🎥

#MothersInstinct #NetGalley #HarperVia

Every woman dreams of having their best friend live next door, have sons the same age, husbands that get along and Laetitia & Tiphaine are living the idyllic life….until tragedy strikes. Now their friendship is turned upside down. While one woman grieves, the other becomes suspicions and the gripping power of this book takes over!

I LOVED this book right from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading it (finished it at 2am 😳) Barbara gives you subtle hints that when the ending comes along you are gobsmacked! Sweet baby otters 🦦 I did not see that ending coming!

I can’t thank HarperVia enough for the Advanced Reader Copy! ❤️❤️

When I saw that this was a soon to be motion picture starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain I just knew I had to read it. I can see how this would make a great movie!

This domestic thriller is a fast read with page turning suspense. The ending was a bit foreseeable and left me feeling slightly unsatisfied. There weren't enough red herrings to detour me from being able to predict the ending. However, even though I did predict the ending it did not take away from my enjoyment of reading the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperVia for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant! Both heart wrenching and thrilling at the same time. Just wow!

Poor little Milo is only six years old when his best friend and next door neighbor, Maxime, dies tragically. Since his parents are best friends with Maxime’s parents, he is able to ascertain that things have become very tense between them. Over time, strange and scary things start happening, and Milo’s parents are fighting a lot, and his little world is crumbling around him. What is happening? Who can he trust?

This story is dark and disturbing, filled with vengeance and fear. It’s a literal thrill ride through the warped mind of a grieving mother.

I am so looking forward to the movie. If it’s half as good as the book, it will be money well spent. I give this book 5 stars and urge everyone to pick up a copy.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperVia for the advanced copy.

What a story! The story is about two families who live next door to each other, whose lives are intertwined in friendship as their sons are growing up together. It is a fast-moving, compelling book. Recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Harpervia for an early copy of Mothers Instinct. WHOAAAAAA WHAT WAS THAT? I’ve never read anything like this book, CRAZY!!!!! Soooooooo GOOD, LIKE WOW!!! The hospital scene was sooooo intense, the ending was SICK!!!! Awesome plot, I’ve already told friends that they HAVE to get this book. Phenomenal Novel. Cannot wait to watch it too. Thank you AGAIN SO MUCH

This was one twisted novel. I went back and forth on how to rate it because there were some really good parts and then some boring sections. Nothing really happened until Maxine’s death. Then the story started to come together. This should make an exciting suspenseful movie!

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper for this awesome read!

I'm not going to try to spell the names of the characters so I'll just say 2 couples live next door to each other ,each with a little boy that are the best of friends. One boy suddenly dies and accidents start to happen to the surviving boy. Why? The tragedy tests the friends, breaks apart their bond and puts in motion for one couple one very twisted plan of revenge!

Read this book! I went thru it in 3 days. Easy read and a page turner. I look forward to more from this author.

Ohh my! Obviously I was going to read this knowing it’s about to be turned into a movie with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. Duh!

I LOVE books with unhappy endings. Like, LOVE LOVE LOVE them! And this twisted unhappy ending, was like the cherry on top. 🍒 😍

You see what’s coming but you’re so transfixed on the car crash that you can’t for the life of you look away. This isn’t a book to give to mommy dearest. 👹

My dark heart loved it. 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️