This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

This was my first time reading the work of Julia Spiro.
Such a Good Mom is hard to categorize. Is it women’s fiction? A domestic thriller? A murder mystery? Parts of all of these, I think. The POV character is Brynn, a new mother struggling with post-partum depression, who is trying to make sense of her feelings about her life and loved ones and at the same time uncover the truth about the death of a young woman close to the family.

Things I liked most about this story:
Insights into the unique and serious challenges facing moms with post-partum depression, including the exhaustion, ambivalence, guilt, self-blame and disappointment that can come with having your dreams of parenthood turn out to be very different than you had expected or hoped;
Glimpses into what it’s like to be a working-class local person living and trying to make ends meet year-round in a place most people know only as a luxurious part-time vacation spot for the wealthy;
The honest portrayals of family dynamics of support and conflict, love and resentment, comparison, competition and loyalty.

Things that didn’t work as well for me:
The writing style was more narration than deep POV. The author tells us everything rather than helping us feel it. As a result, whenever I came across contradictions, I couldn’t be sure whether they were the result of an unreliable and conflicted POV character or actual continuity errors.
The mystery itself was not completely believable to me , possibly because I never felt I knew the characters well enough to be able to see them doing the things they did.
The main character, Brynn, seems to have been sleepwalking through her life, misreading everything and everyone around her for decades in a way that made it difficult for me to really root for her.

All in all, it was an interesting concept I wish I could have been drawn into more deeply.
3.6 stars

I received an e-ARC and all opinions are my own. (Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advance copy!)

Thank you, Netgalley, the publisher and author, for an advanced copy. This review is entirely my own.

This book is a solid 3 stars from me and that might be generous. It was a little overkill in relations to some parts being repetitive or redundant. The mystery part was well done but the exhausted new mom bits weren't for me.

Such a Good Mom
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Five Stars- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and author, Julia Spiro for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I have read by Julia Spiro, but it won’t be the last. This book resonated with me on so many levels. Having experienced postpartum depression myself, I didn't fully realize what I was going through until much later. As a new mother, losing your identity and career is incredibly difficult, and I think Spiro captured that experience beautifully. I also really loved the character of Brynn (and the name too!).

The lies, deceit, family drama, and, of course, the murder make this a true page-turner and had me hooked from the beginning! I had an inkling of where the story was headed halfway through, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the ending.

Brynn is a new mother living on Martha’s Vineyard with her husband Ross, whose family has deep (and expensive) roots in Vineyard influence. Everything changes when semi-local Cecilia is found washed up dead on the beach and Ross is taken into custody for her murder. Brynn, though, isn’t sure if that’s the truth, but she’s not sure about much because she’s a new mother.

I really liked this book, but I most liked it when it was talking about Brynn struggling with motherhood. One instance that stuck out to me was when Ross classified Brynn and their newborn son, Lucas, as “hanging out,” completing belittling all the work Brynn does. Brynn noted that Ross seems like he’s “doing his half” with watching the baby while Brynn takes a shower, with Ross saying he “has it under control.” Brynn’s inner monologue stated Ross can “have it under control” because she’d set it up for him as such, like after changing the baby or having bottles ready. Another memorable like was Ross saying he unloaded the dishwasher for Brynn. Brynn rightfully bit back angrily, “oh, you did it for me,” which speaks to the Ross (and men largely) viewing housework as a woman’s job and “doing the women a favor” by unloading a chore deemed feminine. Outside of a murder mystery, I think this novel could stand on its own about Brynn navigating motherhood.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The best part of this book is the candid and accurate portrayal of postpartum depression and especially the stigma attached to it. The main character, Brynn is overwhelmed with her newborn son yet pretends to be managing, compares herself to other parents and is afraid to be honest with her closest friends. And then her husband is arrested for murder and in a brief interaction with Brynn, he asks her to look for clues to discover who the real killer is and so the murder mystery begins. As Brynn slowly unravels clues, she gradually begins to open up to her friends as she figures out who she can trust and eventually determines how and why a young woman was killed.
I enjoyed the depiction of the difficulties faced by first time parents and the importance of supportive family and friendships. The murder mystery part of the story was only so-so with really no major twists or surprises. I thought that the portrayal of wealthy privilege of. the residents of Martha’s Vineyard was overdone and mostly ridiculous and unrealistic. For this reason, it was hard for me to become engaged in the solving of the murder. And while unnecessary to the story, it was nice that Brynn recognized at the end that even though she consciously chose her in-laws over her parents, she discovered that her own mother was the person that she could rely on the most.
I would rate this book 3.5 stars overall rounded up.

Brynn Nelson has a beautiful life on Martha’s Vineyard—a newborn baby, a loving husband, and a successful career. But postpartum exhaustion and Ross’s growing distance leave her feeling lost.

When a family friend, Cecelia Buckley, is found dead on the shore and Ross is arrested, Brynn’s world shatters. With more questions than answers, she’s determined to uncover the truth—even if it means her husband is guilty. As sleepless nights blur reality, Brynn doesn’t know who to trust, including herself. But she won’t stop searching for answers.

Told through the eyes of a new mother struggling to protect her family while caught in the storm of a murder investigation, this novel offers a compelling look at the emotional toll of uncertainty and betrayal. While it delivers an engaging story, it leans more toward women’s fiction than a true thriller, with a mystery that—while intriguing—feels strongly hinted at along the way. The big reveal may not come as a shock to seasoned readers, but the journey is still one worth taking.

I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy and enjoyed experiencing Brynn’s journey. Many thanks for the chance to dive into this story early!

I really enjoyed this book! I wanted to know who was the actual murderer. It was a great story. I would have given it 5 stars but the premise of the book, "the good mom" was kind of boring. I'm a mom, I get, it's hard. It was just details about feeding and being tired and getting through the newborn stage it didn't really add anything to the story. Thanks again to @netgalley for this ARC opportunity!

Such a Good Mom is a fine book. I liked how the author described being postpartum and Brynn’s mental state. I also love how the author described Martha’s Vineyard.

There were some dull moments but it ended well. In the grand scheme of things, this book is forgettable but I appreciate the ability to read an advance review copy.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. The suspense was lacking and it dragged on. I found myself skimming at times, especially these random stories about insignificant characters. I don't think this book knew what it wanted to do or where it wanted to go. The "mystery" aspect was completely lacking, leaving me feeling incredibly underwhelmed.

Who have this author my diary?! Hehe just kidding...kinda. I'm a author/stay at home mom so I immediately could relate to the story. But instead of my first kid, I am postpartum with me third. However, I read to escape, and am not a fan of so many recent books focusing on the nagatives of motherhood. I'm not in the mental space to enjoy that type of storyline right now and feel like it's been really overdone with thrillers as of late. It's becoming cliche. There was also a lot of info dumping right off the bat and tons of telling rather than showing. So, although I love thrillers that tackle motherhood, this didn't feel fresh and just wasn't the type of story for me right now.

This is a great telling of a woman's life trying to live and love while suffering with postpartum depression. What ruins it is the mystery part of the story. It should have been one or the other. Together, it just didn't mesh.

Title: Such A Good Mom
Author: Julia Spiro
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller; Family Drama
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 304

Brynn Nelson has a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, as well as a successful career, as a writer. Additionally she leads a busy life on Martha’s Vineyard; she knows she should be happiest person there! However, is a struggling new mom, she want to be a good mom but isn’t feeling the attachment she thought she would have with her baby.
She isn’t aware that she is suffering from postpartum depression.
Her husband Ross works with his father at a construction company, however lately seems to be distant and things aren’t on the best of terms in their marriage.

When Cecilia a family friend is murdered, Brynn is shocked that Ross is a suspect.
She is determined to find the truth, and in doing so she discovers secrets.
Story turned out to have more family drama than I thought.
I had this on my TBR shelf for some time and feared it wasn’t going to work for me.
Turned out better than expected!

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Book for this this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 29, 2025.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This was an easy read. I really love how the author wrote postpartum depression. I feel like all of her descriptions of motherhood, c sections, and the terrifying newness of bringing a baby home were right on the money.
This is more of a drama than a thriller, so good though. I was invested in the story Spiro was weaving the entire time.
Thank you so much netgalley and Minotaur for inviting me to read this one! Would recommend.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the audiobook and eBook!

As someone who really loves what I call "baby mama drama thrillers", I was so excited for this one!

I loved the post-partum aspect a lot and watching our main character, Brynn, navigate life after motherhood. That aspect felt very realistic!

In this case I actually cared more about Brynn and her motherhood struggles than I did about the actual mystery. Once the mystery started coming to a conclusion, it was told to the read very matter-of-factly and not revealed in a creative way.

I also struggled with the repetition of so many of the same points and lines over and over again, especially surrounding the reveal.

Overall, it was an easy and quick read, but not one that will stand out to me!

This is a serious book about postpartum depression with a murder mystery on the side. Brynn is a first time sleep-deprived mom, totally in denial that she is severely depressed, questioning her worth, her ability to be a mom, her marriage, her career, her own mother, her extended family, her baby son’s love for her and her husband’s loyalty. Ross has been less than a perfect father, not always aware how overwhelmed his wife is, but still obviously in love with her. Brynn and Ross are residents of Martha’s Vineyard, a relatively small place in the off season. Ross is employed by his father’s shady construction company, and of course, everyone on Martha’s Vineyard knows everyone. As if things couldn’t get worse, Ross is suddenly accused of murdering another islander. He insists he’s innocent, tells Brynn not to trust anyone(including his family), and to look for the “orange sun.”

Even as Brynn’s world is imploding, she does believe Ross couldn’t have killed anyone, and she tries to figure out who was really responsible.

The murder mystery is simple, but the story is still overwhelmed by Brynn’s state of mind. We get multiple flashbacks to Brynn’s awkward relationship with her own mother and stories of childbirth followed by the disappointment of motherhood. As much as you want the murder to be solved, you also want Brynn to break away and get the mental health support she really needs.

The audiobook is superbly narrated by Abigail Reno, who brings Brynn to life and allows us to empathize with her. But, overall, this is a sad book with a broken main character. 3.5 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO No eye colors are mentioned, but a lot of tears are shed.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Not much is mentioned about the unique vegetation of the Vineyard.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

As a mother of two and someone with a history of post partum depression, the realness of early motherhood was beautifully captured. For Brynn, the sleepless nights, the changes in her relationship, losing her identity, and struggling to keep up with the daily basics is a enough to bury her, but then add in the fact that her husband has just been arrested for the murder of a young woman…how is she supposed to get through this? This explores the importance of support systems, friends, and admitting when we need help. The focus is on Brynn and what she is going through mentally and emotionally during this time of her life. The murder is obviously significant, but the story leans more strongly as women’s fiction novel vs mystery/thriller. I do wish there was more depth regarding the other mothers in the book and their relationship to Brynn throughout the book. Some of that seemed rushed at the end. It would have been a great through line/mirror/juxtaposition.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Apr 29 2025

Mystery murder is one of my fav genres to read, and this book did not disappoint.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of "Such a good mom".
Postpartum depression/issues, motherhood are issues very well described/presented.
A psychological thriller intertwined with a woman's invisible struggles with motherhood.

Murder in paradise isn't what any new mom plans for, but that's exactly what Julia Spiro serves up in her latest thriller. Set against the pristine beaches and old-money mansions of Martha's Vineyard, this story follows a fresh-faced mother who stumbles into a murder case that shatters her picture-perfect world.

Spiro nails the less-than-Instagram-worthy moments of new motherhood—the sleepless nights, the crushing anxiety, the constant second-guessing. She weaves these raw realities into a mystery that peels back the manicured lawns of island life to reveal the rot beneath. The Vineyard itself becomes more than just a setting; it's a pressure cooker of wealth, secrets, and judgment.

The mystery itself won't shock hardcore thriller fans, but that's not really the point. The real story here is about the masks we wear as mothers and the price of fitting in. Spiro's strength lies in her sharp observations of privilege and parenthood, even if the plot occasionally meanders like a tipsy tourist on Circuit Avenue.

The ending ties everything up neatly—perhaps too neatly for some—but it's satisfying enough for readers who want resolution with their beach reads.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars

Pick this up if you like your mysteries with a side of mommy drama and social commentary. Just don't expect breakneck pacing—this one's more chardonnay on the porch than shots at the bar."