The Better Mother by Emily Shiner.
You let him in your house. Now how are you going to stay safe?
Omg Emily has written another belter of a read. I did like zoe and Ethan but Micah gave me the chills. I certainly didn't see that coming. Twisty gripping and tense. I loved it. 5*.

My first read by Emily Shiner and I was hooked from the beginning. The story is about Zoe, a loving mother to two year old Anna and a doting wife to Ethan. They have a wonderful life with Ethan going out to work as a doctor and Zoe at home as the homemaker. Things change when a 13 year old boy called Micah turns up at their door one evening claiming Ethan is his father. Zoe tries to continue her façade of a wonderful life and now becomes the fabulous step mum. Micah claims his mum has disappeared but is there more to this story.

Each time I thought I had the plot sussed out, something else would happen so it had me guessing throughout. I needed to continue reading to the end to find out.

Absolutely amazing! this book had me hooked from the start and I struggled to put it down, the storyline and characters are so well thought out and written it makes a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish

Wow, this was something else entirely
I second guessed myself for a minute
I enjoyed it so much, the multiple characters pov is so well written and I loved reading from different perspectives
Thank you netgalley for the arc

This book is a mystery/thriller with different point of views from the characters and beautifully written. The timelines were also very well written.

I read this book in a day and I never looked back! The twist and the plot were pretty easy to identify but the different POV's kept me intrigued to see how everything was going to unfold. A couple of the characters were so unlikable that it made it hard to feel bad or connect with them in any way. I do wish that the ending would've given a little more, I wanted to know how the characters dealt with the aftermath.

Overall I give this 5 out 5 because it really was a great book and I will definitely read more from this Author. I enjoyed the thrill of the plot and its twists.

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.

The Better Mother is one of my favourite books so far by Emily Shiner. We follow Zoe, who seemingly has the perfect family. She's married to Ethan, and they have a daughter, Anna. But everything changes when one night they receive a phone call that Ethan says was just a wrong number. The next day, a thirteen-year-old boy ( Micah, who looks just like Ethan) turns up on the doorstep. Zoe takes Micha under her wing, hoping to be a better mother than the one he seemingly has. His paternal mum leaves him for days, leaves him with little to no food, and is an addict. Micha very quickly begins to call her mum, which makes Zoe a little uncomfortable. Alarm bells start ringing, and Zoe begins questioning herself as guilt kicks in for having doubts about a child. Then things start coming to the surface of Michas past....
This book was an absolute page-turner and I didn't see the final twist coming! If you like twisty, psychological thrillers that make you question everything, you need to read this!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Better Mother' by Emily Shiner.


Read and reviewed for Emily Shiner, ZooLoos Book Tours, Netgalley and Inkubator Books..

Publication date 22nd October 2023.

This is the seventh book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Caretaker', 'You Can't Hide', 'Her Husband's Secret's, 'I'm Following You', 'The Hotel' and 'The Wife In The Photo' and I would highly recommend each and every one of them!!


This novel consists of 47 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



Emily does it yet again!! I genuinely don't think she can make a book that I don't love!! Love, love, loved this book!!!! Absolutely gripping edge of your seat page turner!!! I mean just HOW HOW HOW can an author make each and every one of her AMAZING books EVEN BETTER each and every time???!?!?


This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

The storyline was captivating and addictive from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it. It was absolutely rammed full of lies, secrets, family, tension, drama, murder, twists, suspense and everything you could ask for in a page turning psychological thriller. I just could not stop reading this absolutely addictive book from the first word to the last. Emily's extremely talented and evocative skills really brought the book to life and I was completely absorbed throughout. I lost count of the amount of times I promised myself one more chapter but that one finished in a way I just HAD to know what would happen next so I said just more and this went on and on until I ended up finishing it in one sitting!!! It was absolutely ram packed with mystery, secrets, deceit, murder, drama, hidden agendas, turns, mind blowing explosive twists, tension, suspense, and absolutely everything you could ask for in a psychological thriller. The location and atmosphere was absolutely perfect for this gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I absolutely love Emily's books and am guaranteed to be shocked every time I pick one up which is not an easy feat considering how many books I read a year so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Emily!!! One of the things I love about her books is that they can also be quite thought provoking and always end with MASSIVE BOMBSHELLS that I absolutely love and never do see coming. Emily's evocative writing drags you deep into the storyline from the first sentence to the very last and will keep you up until the very last word! THAT ladies and gentleman is a true sign of an absolute must read. I absolutely loved the ending which was definitely an unexpected twist which is just one of the reasons I love Emily's books, she manages to get me every single time!! I've said it before about Emily's books and I shall say it again!! I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie and would wait up all night to get tickets to watch it!!

I hope your busy writing your next book Emily as I just cannot wait to see what bombshell twist and explosive storyline you have up your sleeve for us next!!!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. I love the fact that we got to see what was happening from the points of view from not just the main protagonist Zoe but also from her husband Ethan's son Micah and as with all her amazing books Emily weaves all of the chapters together with perfect timing until it all comes together with an explosive BANG!! It also explains absolutely everything which leaves no question unanswered at the end which is a pet hate of mine!! It also leaves you questioning what is really going on and gets you thinking more and more the deeper you delve into the storyline. Emily's multiple person perspective also really helps the reader understand the characters more making them more realistic to the reader. I was completely invested in all of the characters throughout and Emily's evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. I had no idea what to think of Micah, what was really going on or where it was all leading which just goes to show what a talented author Emily is and I cannot wait to get hooked into her next psychological thriller which is guaranteed to be another page turner!! Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!!


Congratulations Emily on yet ANOTHER huge success. This is the exact reason why you are in my favourite 5 authors list!! Here's to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Emily's 'The Promise' which is guaranteed to be just as addictive as this book and another amazing book by Emily that I cannot wait to get stuck into!!


Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, intriguing psychological thriller that will keep you up at night on the edge of your seat with a pounding heart!!


243 pages

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Another amazing book by Emily Shiner, I literally couldn't put this book down, the characters were so well developed, although I found Micah to be creepy and very needy, I also felt so sorry for him! And what an amazing twist!

Zoe has a perfect life with her husband and young daughter. When a thirteen-year-old boy shows up on their doorstep, claiming to be her husband's son, her first response is to welcome him into their lives. I loved this domestic thriller. The author immediately presents Zoe as a likeable character with a strong marriage, a wonderful mother to her young daughter. So when things start going wrong and her suspicions begin to mount, its easy to empathize with her. I'm not sure I loved the ending, but it was a very enjoyable read right up until the last bit which had me questioning why that touch was needed.

I have fallen in love with Emily Shiner's books this year, and this one did not disappoint! She is an auto read author and I am currently working my way through her catalog.

This book was well-written with great character development and an intriguing plot. There were parts I predicted, but there were still twists and turns that I didn't predict. Either way, this book was addictive and I wasn't able to stop reading until the end. The mom's POV was so believable that I found myself creeped out while reading this at night. My emotions were all over the place while reading this. In true Emily Shiner fashion, the twist at the end blew my mind. I was glued to these pages until the very last word. Even with a few predictable parts, I truly enjoyed this page-turning thriller by one of my fave authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fast paced entertaining quick read and my new favourite by Emily Shiner. While some of her books have been hit and miss with me, this has got to be one of her best.

It is fast paced with short snappy chapters and a simple storyline that holds your attention throughout. It may be a tad predictable but it certainly didn't ruin my enjoyment. I loved every minute of this quick read which I devoured in a matter of hours.

Emily Shiner's "The Better Mother" takes readers on a gripping journey into the depths of family secrets, trust, and the chilling unknown. This psychological thriller is a masterful exploration of what happens when an unexpected visitor disrupts a seemingly happy marriage, bringing danger and deception into their lives.

The story centers around Zoe and Ethan, a happily married couple, whose lives take a dark turn when a 13-year-old boy named Micah appears on their doorstep, claiming to be Ethan's son and in desperate need of help to find his missing mother. Zoe's compassionate nature compels her to welcome Micah into their home, despite Ethan's reservations.

The tension in the narrative builds as Micah's behavior becomes increasingly unsettling. He lies compulsively, lurks in the shadows, and begins forming a troubling bond with Anna, Zoe and Ethan's young daughter. The family dynamic unravels, and Zoe begins to suspect that there is something deeply wrong with Micah. The stakes escalate when Micah's mother's body is discovered, and the police launch an investigation into her murder.

Shiner's storytelling is both haunting and skillful. She masterfully weaves a web of suspicion, gradually intensifying the sense of unease throughout the narrative. The characters are complex and relatable, and the author delves into their innermost fears and vulnerabilities, making the reader empathize with their plight.
As the plot unfolds, Shiner keeps readers on edge, never revealing too much too soon. The suspenseful atmosphere keeps you guessing, and the unexpected twists will leave you shocked and breathless. "The Better Mother" showcases the author's ability to craft a psychological thriller that plays on the reader's deepest fears and keeps them turning the pages until the heart-pounding climax.

Highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Emily Shiner - 4.5 stars!

Zoe is happily married to Ethan and a stay-at-home mother to toddler Anna. Life is good. Until teenaged Micah shows up at the door, saying his mom is gone and Ethan is his dad. Zoe wants to do the right thing so she invites Micah in and tries to make him feel part of the family. But things just seem off.

The story spools out between the perspectives of both Zoe and Micah. There's a tense feeling of things just not being right - Micah seems too needy, is fascinated with Anna, and is lying. I really felt for Zoe - she tried so hard to do the right thing for Ethan, as well as for Micah and Anna. You could feel her inner turmoil. It's a quick, well-written read with that twist at the end that I didn't see coming!

Once again, we have another brilliant psychological thriller by Emily, who never fails to grab my attention.

I've read a few books now and every one has been a brilliant as the last, giving me everything I'd want from this genre.

In this book, Zoe and Ethan are shocked when 13year old Micah comes knocking and claims to be Ethan's son. His mother has gone missing and he needs help.
Although shocked, the couple invite Micah into their home while they help him - but soon, they realise that all is not quite right with Micah and when the police reveal that his mother has been murdered, alarm bells start to ring.

It's no surprise that I was hooked from just seeing the cover, the author name and reading the blurb!

Although it's pretty obvious how this will go, this does not detract from the enjoyment of reading at all! And of course, it's packed with twists that will keep you second guessing too.
Emily's writing is fast-paced and exciting, with short chapters that make it so easy to keep reading on until late.

The characters here were interesting to explore. The dynamics between the couple as Micah enters the picture giving us that uncomfortable vibe - but also the creepy atmosphere that follows Micah around as we work through the book, kept me on edge throughout.

Another brilliant read to add to my growing list by this author. Can't wait to see what I find in the next one.

This intense story played on my mind long after I finished reading! Zoe is happily married to Ethan and one day there is a knock at the door and it turns out to be a young boy Micha who claims he is Ethan's son and after one look at him there is no denying it but Ethan says he knew nothing of the boy. Zoe invites Micha into there home and from there things really heat up. I had no idea where the author was going with this story so it kept me on my toes the whole book. With short sharp chapters I found myself eagerly turning the pages. The ending was not one that I guessed but it was surprisingly shocking. This author continues to write unique books that are never the same but always page turning thrillers!

the better mother emily shiner


#TheBetterMother #EmilyShiner #NetGalley

Another thrilling page turner from Emily Shiner!


Zoe has the perfect family, a handsome doctor husband, an adorable little girl Anna.

Until Micah shows up.
The story is told from Zoe's perspective and Micah's.

When 13 year old Micah shows up at their door, Zoe hears his sad tale of being hungry and often abandoned by his drug loving mother, she takes him in. His father is less than thrilled but he agrees.

Micah instantly adores Anna and Zoe, calling her mom right away.
Anna too adores Micah.

All should be well right?

Well no, not long after Micah arrives Zoe starts becoming nervous and afraid when he is around. He will silently appear out of nowhere.
There are just things she isn't comfortable with.

Other than the sudden appearances of Micah I couldn't quite understand Zoe's fears, I thought they were a bit unusual.

But when she started snooping and finding things it made a bit more sense.

Totally gripping and written in a way where you just have to keep reading the story, the book just pulls the reader in and holds them captive until the last page is read.

I got a few surprises and the very end just made me super sad and a bit ill but that's just me, I can't think that readers would become ill over the last few sentences.

Highly recommended 4****
Thank you NetGalley the author and publisher

posted to netgalley, goodreads, Amazon and wordpress.com

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. I am happy to say this is yet another amazing thriller from Emily Shiner. She never disappoints! I was so sure I knew what was happening, then a twist came and I knew. Then - another twist came and I was amazed. Definitely a must read.

An absolutely page-turning, suspenseful, THRILLING read! I love Emily Shiner and all of her fabulous novels. She always leaves me wanting more and SHOCKED with her twisty endings. I truly did not figure out the ending until I actually read it, which is a nice surprise in the world of thrillers! I recommend this fast paced read to anyone who enjoys a good domestic thriller that will have you glued to your seat until you read the last word. Took me only a couple of hours to consume this well written read!

Emily Shiner is equivalent to Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin in the psychological suspense genre and for a good reason! Great book

You will love “The Better Mother” if you are a fan of creepy child characters!

The book starts with a night call that Zoe’s husband, Ethan, gets in the middle of the night. Nothing unusual, he is a doctor and works a lot. But soon after that call the young boy comes to their house claiming he is Ethan’s son.

They both realize the boy, Micah, is not lying — his appearance speaks for him. No doubt he is Ethan’s son.

The story is simple: Micah’s mother got pregnant at a young age, never told Ethan about the baby, and raised him herself. She is troubled, doing drugs, and always disappears for days. Now she has disappeared again.

So Zoe not only invites Micah to stay for a while but soon decides to be a better mother for him. And Micah is really happy about it, he is willing to have a good family so bad. But he is creepy, and day by day Zoe feels more weird and suspicious about his behavior. Also, she has a young daughter who become close to her new brother really soon. Zoe thinks she made a mistake inviting Micah to their house and starts to dig deeper.

The book is such a page-turner! Chapters are short and you can’t just put it down. The more creepier it gets the more you start to doubt everything is happening.

I started it with the thought “Just a couple of chapters” and soon realized it was the middle of the night and I was already halfway through it. So fast-paced and soooo good!

Was thinking about the main twist before it was revealed but it seemed just not true! Turned out I was right but still, it felt so unexpected. And in the end, another twist came, I was so horrified!

The only thing I didn’t like it’s the description of the book that reveals what happened to Micah’s mother. It's kinda of a twist (not a hard-guessed but still a twist) that came out only after almost 60% of the book. Think it’s ruined the suspense a little bit.

But still definitely will recommend "The Better Mother" to all domestic thriller lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.