This book took my emotions on such a rollercoaster. I felt like I was going absolutely crazy right alongside Jo. Once I finished I had to take a step back to just let all of those emotions settle. Jo's struggles brought back so many painful memories from when my son was born. I struggled severely with postpartum depression and anxiety so at times Jo's negative thoughts were difficult to read, but I feel like since I had my own personal experience's similar to hers I appreciated them and her story more.
I thought I had everything figured out about halfway through, just to find out that I was on the complete wrong track. Fantastic debut novel. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.

Wow I can’t believe this is a debut! 🤯 𝗜𝗙 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥 is a slow burn, domestic suspense that’s told in dual timelines (Jo’s past as a teen & present self) with gripping & unforeseen twists and turns!

I may not be a mother but Summerville expertly depicts all those emotions, anxieties, worries, etc. that come along with being a new mom. 𝗜𝗙 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥 is definitely an emotional roller coaster & Summerville does include all the trigger warnings at the beginning!

Side note: I absolutely love how all the main characters are named after the Little Women, such a classic! 🤩

Overall, the ending was 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬! The chapters were also short and made for an easy read which is a huge plus! This one will definitely be hit for all the psychological thriller fans out there! 💯

This was a great read. Very suspenseful. Reading it made me feel like I was going crazy. Couldn’t put it down. Had no idea what would happen until the very last page. Very twisty and suspenseful! Great book for her first novel!

Joanna is the mother to 5-month old Addison whom she loves fiercely. Jo struggled during her first month of mommy-hood, and when she thought she was getting things under control, things started spiralling when there was an anonymous call to Child Protective Services regarding her parenting abilities. Jo is diagnosed with postpartum depression and she starts having blackouts; unable to recall events that could cause her to lose Addy. She begins questioning everything and everyone. Who does she trust if she can’t trust herself?

A novel that delves into the hardships of new parenthood and the weight of trying to be the perfect mother: ”Everyone seems to expect women to just adapt instantly to motherhood. Isn’t there a learning curve like everything else in life?”

It took me a little while to connect with Jo, but once I connected with her, the novel was unputdownable! “If I Lose Her” is a fast-paced novel with the perfect ingredients to build up to the twisted plot. I had an inkling of whodunnit, yet I would doubt myself each time Jo questioned herself.

Great debut! I would not hesitate to read another of Brianne Sommerville’s novels.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. *Please note that the quote may be subject to change or removal in the final version.

The marketing materials warned that this one is dark and it definitely is, at first, in a misery lit sort of way. It's a different style of thriller. The first chapters feel more like a true story than a domestic thriller. Gradually, the pace picks up and the plot starts to twist until it reaches an unexpected conclusion. Jo's fear and confusion are realistically portrayed, especially when she makes mistakes that any mother could have made.

Mothers go through enough postpartum without having to question their sanity or whether or not someone is messing with them. But that’s exactly what Jo is dealing with after someone calls children’s services on her. Thing is she can’t even recall doing what she’s been accused of. She’s left wondering who can she truly trust esp if she can’t trust herself.

I found this to be a good story. It was a bit much as a mother myself in a few spots. It did make me cry and feel some type of way. I did like that it kept me guessing until closer to the end as it revealed more details leading to the end shock.

a great thriller to keep on the shelves! i believe the author is one that we need to watch out for as this was a very strong debut!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a twisted, psychological thriller that I absolutely loved up to the very end!!!

Jo Baker gave birth to her first child, Addison, who is about 5 months old. Addy is an adorable baby but motherhood has not been exactly easy for Jo. From trouble sleeping to minor blackouts, things just seem to be ramping up in the difficulty department. No matter what she does, Jo just can’t seem to get everything under control. She relies on her sisters and her husband but still has issues. CPS is called as Jo left baby Addy outside in her basket for hours and other odd events keep happening. We learn that Jo was emotionally and mentally abused by her deceased mother and Jo is afraid that she will become like her mother as well.

There are red herrings and other twisted events that I honestly thought anyone could be messing with Jo. The ending blew me away! I definitely will be reading more from this author! Highly recommend!!!

If I Lose Her is a captivating DEBUT thriller told in dual timelines. Jo, a new mom is suffering from postpartum after having a baby. She is not sure what has happened. Strange blackouts? Incoherent? She knows this is not herself.

I really enjoyed this novel. We were able to hear Jo’s backstory as well. Jo’s husband has not been supportive. I honestly was shocked at the ending. Just when you thought you have figured it you, didn’t. Thank you to #netgalley and #thrillerbookpromotions for my ARC. #briannesommerville #thrillersuspense

Thank you
@thrillerbookloverspromotions & @briannesomm for my complimentary copy. My thoughts are my own.

Joanna Baker is totally in love with her baby girl, Addison. However, the first few months as a new mother have been difficult for her as she has struggled with troubled memories of her own mother. To make matters worse, strange things keep happening…Joanna has blackouts and trouble remembering things. When someone makes an anonymous call to Child Protective Services, Joanna’s difficulties ramp up. Soon Joanna’s husband and sisters are doubting her; but Joanna is also wondering who can SHE trust?

MY THOUGHTS: This well-written debut novel kept me engaged from the very beginning! The author does a great job depicting the immense love Joanna has for her baby, even while she struggles with her fears. The characters, especially Joanna, are well-developed and the suspense builds at a steady pace. Soon, I was questioning everyone myself! I didn’t predict the conclusion. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!

One thing I loved about this book was the accuracy of motherhood and post partum depression. I really related to the character a lot as a mother and one who also suffered from post partum depression. Sometimes it's so hard to listen to those intrusive thoughts and wonder whether or not you're going crazy, and that was something Jo went through a lot as a first time mother. The story line was great, the writing fantastic, and there was a twist I didn't see coming! If you love dual timelines and thrillers, I highly recommend giving this one a read!!

WOW! I FLEW through this book! I could have finished it in one day if I didn’t have things to do. This book is full of gaslighting, it made me so mad and I didn’t know who to trust or believe! Someone calls CPS on new mom Jo for leaving her baby outside in the heat. Jo doesn’t remember doing this, or any of the other numerous things she does that would make her an unfit mother. She had a terrible relationship with her own mother and wonders if she could really be doing these things without her knowledge. Go into this one with as little info as possible and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

If I Lose Her by Brianne Sommerville is an emotional rollercoaster ride through the mental exhaustion and PPD suffered by Joanna after the birth of her child. The well written story ensures you go through the same doubts, fears and insecurities at the same time as Joanna, never really knowing what is truth and what is exacerbated by her exhaustion and anxiety.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

I cannot get over how much I loved this book. As a new mom I found myself resonating with everything Jo was going through. I had all the same thoughts she did when my son was in his first year of life. I also resonate with Jo with her relationship with her mother. I’ve never felt more connected to a character before.


Also that ending!?! How crazy was that!!! I was SO shocked!

This book was written so well and was so easy to follow. I will never stop recommending this book to my friends. This will be my go to thriller recommendation going forward!!!!

Well done Brianne!! I can’t wait to read more from you in the future!

WOAH…. Now this is a DEBUT!!! I’m not sure I can write a review to do this one justice but I’ll try.

Sommerville has delivered a tightly plotted and utterly compelling thriller, full of twists and red herrings. I couldn’t race through this one quick enough.

The storyline centres around Jo and her PPD and boy… does Somerville capture that brain fog, that blurring of days into weeks, that immensely sleep deprived exhaustive state of being in the thick of it with a newborn. At times, I wasn’t sure if Jo was an unreliable narrator or not - her state of unravel was delivered in such a realistic but sensitive way.

I found this book so utterly evocative - the feelings associated with early motherhood and all the challenges it brings, the frustration of her husband being a total a-hole and not getting it AT ALL (I was lucky in that my husband was supportive and in the trenches with me) but she also clearly had such a difficult upbringing - I honestly wanted to give this woman a hug (and I ain’t a hugger 😂)

Sommerville is one to watch out for. If this one isn’t on your TBR, pop it on now! You’ll absolutely LOVE IT!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing company for the arc of this book. This book had me hooked from the first page. Jo is a new mother to Addie and is married to JP. After Addie’s birth, Jo had a touch of postpartum depression. Luckily, she was able to get over it and enjoy her time with her baby girl. Then strange things started to happen. Addie was found outside screaming and crying on the patio while Jo slept. Child Services was called and from there we were introduced to Jo’s sisters, a strange neighbor, the gossipy Moms group and Jo’s mother in law. As this mystery continues, there are flashbacks to Jo’s childhood that gave us a glimpse at Jo’s mother who dealt with her own issues. Was someone’s messing with her? Who called Child Services? Why is JP not believing her? Was this all in her head? Was she too much like her mother? I did not see the twist coming AT ALL! I read this in two sittings only because I had to do laundry or no one would have clean underwear. This was so good. Don’t miss out!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3½ ⭐️✨
IF I LOSE YOU
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery thriller
📖 323 pages
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🍼👶🏼⏳😔🚗💊😱
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 3/5/2024

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

Thank you @thrillerbookloverspromotion for the #gifted copy!

Woah, what a debut novel! From the outset, IF I LOSE YOU, plunges you into a world where reality blurs, & trust becomes a precious commodity. Jo, the enigmatic protagonist, serves as an unreliable narrator, leaving you questioning her motives & the authenticity of her experiences.

While the initial pacing may test patience, resembling more of a family drama than a gripping thriller, hang in there, the narrative gains momentum! The turning point, around the halfway mark, unleashes a torrent of suspense, propelling the story into a realm of unputdownable tension. Amidst the adrenaline-fueled twists, some plot elements strain credulity, requiring a suspension of disbelief, so go in with an open mind.

Alternating timelines offer a poignant glimpse into Jo's tumultuous past, unraveling the intricacies of her psyche & motivations. Overall, IF I LOSE YOU is a promising debut, albeit with its share of pacing issues & narrative implausibilities. For fans of psychological thrillers willing to navigate a slow-burn start for a rewarding payoff, this novel offers a captivating journey into the depths of deception & self-discovery.

There are A LOT of trigger warnings so please be sure to read them below:
⚠️ post partum depression, manipulation, depression

The story follows Joanna Baker who confronts the reality of postpartum depression after a near-fatal mistake triggers Child Protective Services' intervention. As her blackouts worsen & accusations pile up, Jo struggles to make sense of her unraveling world. With her sisters by her side, she delves into her past to uncover the truth & fight for custody of her daughter against mounting odds. In a gripping tale of resilience, Jo must navigate her faltering mental state to protect her most precious treasure.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ alternate timelines
◽️ an unreliable narrator
◽️ when you’re not sure who to trust
◽️ complicated family dynamics

Wow! What an amazing debut novel by Sommerville. This book had my head on a swivel the entire time. Trying to guess what was happening and feeling for the main character, Jo. I was questioning everything I knew or thought I knew. The ending had my jaw dropping. Don’t miss this book and add to your TBR now…seriously GO!!!

If I Lose Her is a gripping and addictive psychological drama/mystery. It was truly out of my usual reads but it sucked me right in from the start. It explores postpartum depression combined with memory loss and it's highly engrossing.

The characters were all untrustable in my opinion. Even the FMC Jo was so hard to trust. All the mysterious events that were happening made it really hard to know who the culprit was. This is what truly kept me hooked.

I loved the alternate chapters between Jo's past as a teen and present. It truly helped explain her depression and relationship with her sisters. This is a debut and it was hard to believe. The writing was excellent, the plot unfolded perfectly and the conclusion was highly satisfying. Highly recommended.

✨️Thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions, @netgalley, @risingactionpub & @briannesommeville for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I Lose Her is a mystery that follows new mother, Jo, and her worrying experiences in the early months. Jo adores her infant daughter, but is sleep deprived, and odd things keep happening that she can't make sense of. Her husband is often away for work and doesn't really take an active role at home. She has support from her family, but she can't reconcile the strange occurrences and her memory lapses. When we meet Jo, she has been reported to Child Protective Services for leaving her baby outside unattended. In her perspective, she is capable and doting, but harried from the constant responsibility and lack of sleep.

The current day is interspersed with glimpses from Jo's childhood and her abusive, neglectful mother. At first it's unclear at first how her childhood experiences connect with the present-day. As we learn more, things start to click into place. The story reads very quickly. I found Jo's husband so maddening! He's so often absent at home and yet judges his wife for every mistake she makes. Perhaps that's my own sensitivity, but I think fathers should take more responsibility at home and with their children. The story moves really quickly and I was especially flying through it in the second half. I wanted to know what was going on. Jo is such a relatable character. The author does a great job building tension, depicting early motherhood and how familial relationships change.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.