𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌...𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕-𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕-𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓-𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉-𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒚𝒂𝒓𝒅.

I found this book to be more of a domestic suspense than a thriller, but it was still an enjoyable read. Joanna has been lost since the birth of her baby, having blackouts, losing time, and worst of all, signaling Child Protective Services to her home after an anonymous call accusing her of leaving her infant daughter alone in the yard. She is battling a traumatic past and some problems with her husband, so when her sisters step up to help her, she's relieved.

The most enjoyable parts of the book for me for the flashbacks to Joanna's past with her mother. Those parts were very easy for me to relate to, and they really explain Joanna's thoughts and feelings as an adult, especially her view of herself as a mother.

The twists in this story were very well written and believable, and I couldn't believe I didn't see it coming! A very enjoyable debut, and I thank NetGalley, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, and Rising Action Publishing for the early copy. This book will publish March 5, 2024.

I could not put this book down. It resonated with me on so many levels and I was so invested in Jo and her struggles with new motherhood.

As a new mom not so long ago myself, Sommerville's novel transported me to those early days when sleep was scarce and days (and nights) were consumed with nursing and diaper changes. Everything felt foreign, all consuming, and overwhelming. Sommerville eloquently and expertly detailed those anxieties, emotions, and all the insecurities and guilt that came with them. After reading this novel, it was easy to tell that Sommerville is a mother herself and I appreciated her vulnerability and experience in detailing Jo's successes and failures as a mother.

This book had me questioning everything. There were so many red herrings and it was hard to trust my gut on what was really going on. It was really fun disliking some characters and my heart broke for Jo and the lack of support from her partner.

While I did guess part of the twist about halfway through, I still questioned myself and definitely didn't put all the pieces together. I loved how everything unfolded and how Sommerville kept me guessing to the very last line.

All in all, this book was a knockout. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. This is an incredibly impressive debut and I'm eager to get my hands on anything and everything Sommerville writes!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Rising Action Publishing Collective, and NetGalley for the copy.

The book has been narrated in dual timelines. The writing is gripping and characters are interesting. This follows the odyssey of Joanna Baker. Addy is her daughter and she is going through Postpartum depression. She had a traumatic past. She didn’t get along with her mother and the fear is filling her mind what if her daughter Addy will also not get along with her. Jo’s mother death was traumatic and mysterious, there mother-daughter bond wasn’t good. She has two sisters; Amy and Meg. Her husband JP often go on business trips. With time Jo’s blackout increases and the worst happens when someone from her neighbourhood complains about her being an unfit mother for Addy to Child Protective Services. Her suspicion increases when her mother in law arrives and stays with them. And the same things repeats with her that has happened in her past. Her suspicion grows as she tries to piece together the mystery. Is there any person who is trying to prove that she is not a good mother?

The truth is twisted. I was suspicious of some characters in the beginning and as the mystery slowly unveiled, I could finally figure out the truth. The author wrapped it up so well. The ending some raised questions in my mind. I would highly recommend it. The author has explained pregnancy and Postpartum depression so well.

Thanks to Publisher, Author and Netgalley for giving me opportunity to read it.

Joanna is a new mother suffering from fears that she will not take perfect care of her daughter Addison. When someone calls Child Protective Services saying she left the baby alone outside, Joanna can hardly defend herself because she doesn’t remember what happened. Her husband JP isn’t supportive and no spoilers, but I loathed him from the first time he spoke.
But that isn’t the end of strange things happening to Joanna. Lapses in memory and incidents where Addison could get hurt continue to plague her. Is someone trying to drive Joanna insane or is she headed there herself?
Well, lucky me, I guessed the who early on, and that is a rare win for me. What I couldn’t figure out was the why and I got that very wrong. Most of the story takes place in the now, but it is interspersed with chapters highlighting the extremely difficult relationship Joanna had with her own mother. That was enough to make me cringe often and really feel bad for Joanna. Let me briefly mention the ending. Just when I thought most things were wrapped up, the author threw in one heck of a reveal.
The story kept me guessing, and I look forward to her next book.

I really enjoyed reading this debut novel. There is just enough suspicion surrounding every character that you can’t quite decide whether your guesses are accurate or not as to what is actually going on here.

Jo is a new mom who appears to be possibly suffering from postpartum depression. Or is she? She has lapses in her memory and seems to black out at times. She is insistent that she is not guilty of the random, unsafe situations that appear to be occurring around her. But…what if she IS guilty?!

Each character has their flaws that makes them seem unreliable, which, in my opinion, makes this such a great read. You really have no idea who you should be trusting or believing.

Thank you the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of If I Lose Her!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
💬 love an unreliable narrator
🌪️ enjoy a lot of twists
💨 are looking for a quick read
👶🏼 would do anything for your baby

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?

The pregnancy podcasts warned Joanna Baker about the baby blues, but when a near-fatal mistake places the first-time mom under the watchful eye of Child Protective Services, she receives a serious diagnosis.

Postpartum depression. Jo hears the words, yet they don't make sense. Nothing does. Her blackouts are increasing, and she can't recall events she's been accused of.

As she fights to keep her daughter, she discovers cracks in her neighborhood, family, and her own home. With the support of her sisters, she attempts to piece together her traumatic past and uncover who is truly in control.

Jo must battle her faltering mind to save what's most important -- her daughter.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such an enthralling read right from the very start! I went in blind, and was so glad I did, because I really didn’t know what was going to happen next. The entire time, I was half on Jo’s side, and half wondering if she couldn’t be trusted. I suspected other people throughout the story though, and wondered if it could be one of them. This story was also really relatable to me as a mom. I remember those early days of everything blurring together and feeling like I was losing my mind, too. Overall, this was a really fun psychological thriller that I highly recommend binging!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Joanna has a beautiful baby girl and life should be so precious but she struggles with lack of sleep etc as a new mother. Her husband and others worry about her and she begins to wonder if she is suffer from postpartum depression. She loves her baby and there is no way she can believe what they tell her She is doing. Why can’t she remember? And when child protective services gets involves she worries she will lose her baby, Can she pull it together? Is she really struggling with depression or is something else going on?

If I lose her
"If I Lose Her" by Brianne Sommerville is akin to a lifetime movie on a cozy Sunday afternoon. Joanna Baker, is a first-time mom battling postpartum depression and struggling to retain custody of her daughter amid accusations she can't comprehend. As someone who personally faced postpartum depression, I resonated deeply with Jo's frustrations and connected well with her character. Despite her perceived darker side, I found myself willing to defend her at all costs.

The book maintains a good pace, keeping the reader engaged as they breathe in the drama and gossip surrounding Jo's life. The timeline shift to Jo’s earlier life sets a good background for how her life was growing up and her struggles as a new mom. Supported by her sisters, Jo attempts to piece together her traumatic past and identify the true source of the chaos in her life.

As the story unfolds, the book keeps you guessing with multiple suspects, taking unexpected twists. Towards the end, revelations about the responsible party are both shocking and not entirely surprising. A well-deserved 4/5 stars. Special thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for providing the advanced copy.

This was quite a twisty thriller! I enjoyed the writing style, and it definitely kept my attention. I will be looking forward to reading more by Brianne Sommerville.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review If I Lose Her.

This book has me hooked immediately. I can't wait to read even more by this author. It's dark and something that even if you can't relate you can be empathetic too.

Jo had heard of the baby blues prior to having Addy, she just didn’t think she would get diagnosed with it. After a traumatic event for mom and baby, that’s exactly what happens. As Jo tries to figure out reality and her imagination she turns to her family and her husband to help her through. Can she trust them though? Are these truly black out memories or is someone trying to make her think she’s going crazy?

I wanted to love this book… I really did. And maybe it’s on me for not reading the synopsis better but the unreliable narrator just isn’t for me and the synopsis definitely hints at it being one of those. One thing Sommerville absolutely nailed was postpartum and how crazy/isolating it makes you feel. For me, it was the only redeeming quality of this book. You find yourself really feeling for Jo and rooting for her to figure it out because every mother knows how much you second guess yourself in those first few months (and honestly every month after lol). Sommerville’s writing style with short chapters made this an easy read even if it wasn’t my cup of tea. If you’re into figuring out if it’s an unreliable narrator or she’s right all along, you might enjoy this more than I did! For me.. it’s a 2/5⭐️

I have enjoyed every book I have read by Brianne Sommerville and this one was no different, it had me hooked right away.

Strong 4 and a half star read for me! I thought it was brilliant. Excellent writing style and the author kept me on my toes/intrigued throughout the whole book. I will absolutely recommend this book to my fellow thriller lovers after it is released and will be keeping an eye out for any future works by this author. Definitely add this to your TBR list!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Rising Action Publishing Co., & Author Brianne Sommerville for the opportunity to read this ARC - I absolutely loved it.

The story follows a new mother as she is grappling with learning the ropes of motherhood while simultaneously trying to come to peace with her troubled past with her own mother.
The emotions in this story were so raw - and as a mother who struggled quite heavily with postpartum depression myself, this story hit so close to home in all the right ways!

The twists in this storyline were PERFECT, and when I tell you that my jaw was on the FLOOR when the ending came, and all things were revealed, I'm not exaggerating.

I loved this book - and absolutely encourage you to read it as well!!

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Company for providing me with an ARC of this book. It covered a wide range of important topics, such as postpartum depression, emotional abuse, and the credibility of women, among others. The narrative was rich and multifaceted, and it delved into these subjects with depth and sensitivity.

Throughout the book, there was a lot happening, and the story managed to balance its heaviness with moments of humor, which helped to lighten the overall mood. The protagonist was immensely likable, and the narrative was crafted in such a way that it kept me constantly questioning whether to trust her or the supporting characters. The pervasive sense of suspicion among the characters added a layer of intrigue that I thoroughly appreciated.

While I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, I couldn't help but feel that there was potential for it to be even more engaging. Nonetheless, as a debut work, it showed promise, and I eagerly look forward to witnessing the author's growth in future works. I would rate this book three and a half stars overall.

This book was very good and the writing style was excellent. Will be an author i would read more from.

Jo had to be my favorite character and Her husband had quite a few fault but enjoyed the character as well.
The writing about mental health and postpartum life was very well written. The book was believable and very easy to follow. The family dynamics as well as all the flashbacks were very interesting. The twists and turns in this book were great all the way through and action packed thriller.

Would recommend this book to others. 4.5 stars for me :)

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

After leaving her baby daughter alone outside during a heat wave, Joanna is reported to child protective services. She tries to do better, but things start happening that lead her to believe someone has it out for her.

It gets better as it goes along, though I wasn't surprised by the ending. (Not to make it sound like I'm some plot predicting wunderkind; I just read a LOT of thrillers!) I found the fact that Jo and her sisters share the same names as the main characters from Little Women (mostly; there's no Beth) distracting at first, but I got used to it eventually.

A quick and entertaining read that I think will be a book club favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The pregnancy podcasts warned Joanna Baker about the baby blues, but when a near-fatal mistake places the first-time mom under the watchful eye of Child Protective Services, she receives a serious diagnosis.

This was well written. I think it would have hit harder for me if I was a mother myself, but I still am glad that I read it.

This touched on a lot of topics, including postpartum depression, emotional abuse, the credibility of women, and so much more. There was a lot going on throughout this entire book, and while it was heavy at times, it also managed to have some humor to lighten the mood. The protagonist was highly likable, and the way this was written, I didn't know whether to trust her or the supporting characters. Everyone seemed suspicious, and I love that in a book. However, while I absolutely enjoyed reading this, I felt like I could have liked it more. Overall, this was a good debut, and I can not wait to see the growth with this author in the future. Three and a half stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing Company for this ARC.

This book was a little slow to start, but by halfway through I couldn't put it down.
A strong 4 star read, that I'll be reccomending to other readers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.