2.5 stars.

The beginning of this book had me hooked right away, and I was curious to learn about these characters and what they were hiding. I think this had a great start; but after that it did fall flat to me. I feel like this book was trying to do too many things, and it couldn't exactly decide what the main "mystery" was. I did enjoy the creepy isolated island setting, and the way that the island was almost a character itself.

The reveal was a little underwhelming, we spend the entire book really setting it up to be something crazy, and I just felt like the book over promised and under delivered on that front.

All in all, this is a quick psychological thriller that did keep me turning the pages, but maybe just isn't for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Had me gripped right from the very first page and I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what happened and why. I really enjoyed it

I was immediately hooked from the opening line of this book. This book has all the makings of a great thriller! The writing style was done very well and the character development was amazing. Ameilia is such a sympathetic character that you root for her and connect with her. Her life is allover the place and the readers follow her journey into hysteria. There were so many hidden secrets and the reader is left with uncovering the truth and being able to tell what is real and what are lies. The author did a great job of telling the story through past and present and keeping the reader engaged with some twists and plenty of suspense. I kept turning the pages and didn’t want this book to end!
A true psychological thriller with superb character development I am looking forward for readers to be able to pick this one up on its expected publication date of February 17 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Good Bad Mother is a decent read, but it falls short of delivering the gripping suspense expected of a mystery-thriller. While the book is fast paced in narrative, it lacks the tension and urgency that typically defines this genre.

One of the main issues I had with the book was the characters, I simply didn’t care about any of them. They felt flat.
In a story where emotional stakes should be high, I felt indifferent. Additionally, the final reveals were underwhelming. Instead of a shocking or satisfying conclusion, they felt somewhat forgettable.

While Good Bad Mother isn’t a terrible book, it’s not one that stands out in the crowded mystery-thriller genre. It’s an okay read, but not particularly memorable.

From the beginning to the end of this book I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it. It’s full of secrets, betrayal , revenge, and a mother whose secret could destroy the perfect life she’s built for herself. So many incredible plot twist and secrets, but some of the secrets were easy to guess prior to being revealed. I loved how most characters at some point or another were made to seem like the villain and it kept me guessing till the end when it was revealed.

Amelia, Clover, and Jack were my favorite characters. Amelia truly deserved a better life and a better husband. She went through so much tragedy that she didn’t deserve.

Timothy was my least favorite character. He has no redeeming qualities and was a horrible husband to Amelia.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What if you were trying to hide something from your past, but your circumstances have put you in the spotlight? That's the dilemma Amelia finds herself in when her wealthy mother-in-law decides to have a family photo and a subsequent magazine article about her prestigious family.

Amelia grew up poor, so she's sure she hit the jackpot with her handsome husband, her perfect baby, and her ideal life in one of the richest neighborhoods on Cutter Island. But she has a secret. One even her husband doesn't know. But someone is watching, and it could be anyone in this tight-knit neighborhood.

I liked the twists, although one had me very confused at first! I thought the buildup was a little overdone for what the secret actually was as often happens in slow burn thrillers. But the author kept me engaged so that I had to keep turning the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader's copy.

This was a hell of a ride. An amazing thriller that had me on the edge on my seat.

I've read this in one sitting.

I loved this book as it details a "now" and "then" journey featuring Amelia and husband Timothy as they deal with baby Clover and his wealthy family on Cutters Island. Amelia has never "fit in" with them as she grew up poor and they seem to shun her whenever they attend frequent family dinners. But Amelia has been leading a secret life and begins receiving threatening notes in her mailbox. Is her past catching up to her or is her present life in danger with the wealthy family who snubs her when they can?
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was great with so many twists and turns and I wanted to keep reading the book. in fact, it kept me up late at night continuing to read to find out what happened next. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Talk about a book that will have you hooked from start to finish! I seriously could NOT put this down. I was on the edge of my seat so eager to know where the story would lead. Quick chapters, dual timelines, and a plot twist that will have your jaw on the floor!

I did enjoy the story but I wanted more from the ending. I wanted some people to get what they deserved and more explanation! What happens now kind of answers! Still pretty good!

We all have secrets. Is it worth keeping secrets from the person you love? Amelia has fallen in love with a very wealthy man but she fails to tell him about her past. She has been hiding for years, not wanting anyone to know what she did. This all falls apart when her new mother-in-law wants a family picture for a magazine article. What will happen and how will everything stay together or fall apart.

I enjoyed learning Amelia's secrets a little at a time but the ending seemed too rushed for me. The book overall kept me second guessing myself on who was doing what. It was clearly a test to see if we could figure out who was leaving the notes. Was her husband in on her secret? I guess you'll have to read to find out the truth

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Good bad mother was a captivating story!!
Amelia Sterling has the life she never dreamed of. A loving husband and a perfect daughter. Marrying rich was not part of her plan but her perfect life is starting to unravel when letters start to appear threatening to make her pay for what she did.

I really enjoyed this story and how it changed between the two POVs showing a little from the past to try and present. You can really feel for Amelia and how frazzled things are making her become. I could never figure out just exactly what was going on and was pleasantly surprised by the ending! Cannot wait to read more by this author! Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc!

I received this book as an ARC. Amelia seems to be living the perfect life: a beautiful house in a prestigious neighborhood, a new husband, and a new baby. Her husband is from a wealthy family and they must keep up appearances at all costs. The problem is, Amelia has a secret. A secret that could destroy her happy life if her husband found out. Suddenly she starts receiving disturbing notes in her mailbox and Amelia becomes increasingly paranoid. Her husband senses something is wrong, and Amelia begins to question if she can even trust him.

I'll start off by saying that I really liked this book. That being said, the buildup to what the big secret was fell a little flat for me. It just didn't seems as big of a deal as it was made out to be. The writing was good and the character development was great.

Anya Mora does it again!! I couldn’t put this one down and spent the whole book suspecting everyone. I really enjoyed this one and it might just be her best one yet! Highly recommend. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc

We meet Amelia, living the dream on the million/billion aires Cutter Island, newly married and just had a baby, all is perfect

But of course it isen’t

There is a massive back story Amelia is hiding from everyone even her husband Timothy and via a pic for a fancy magazine on ‘well to do families’ could it all be about to be wrenched away

The ex fiancé moving back opposite also causes big problems

Pretty much every psychological thriller trait is used in this book but if you love them then its a perfect quick read to add to your collection, it was comfortably predictable, something we all like now and again

Well written and as the author says being a Mum of 6 she knows how to write about Mum’s

Thank you Bookouture & Anya Mora for this read.

From the very first chapter the author did an excellent job at totally hooking me. The idea of long kept secrets and someone who knows the truth, had me reading desperately to find out was responsible and what the truth was. Told through then and now, the story unfolds rapidly with a build of suspense and I just knew that things were going to go down. Along the way there are a few twists, and despite me feeling the ending was slightly rushed, this book is a totally bingeable read.

Characters with hidden pasts, someone who knows the truth and a mix of some horrible characters that means you believe you can't trust anyone - this read will have you turning the pages from start to finish.

The past always comes back to haunt you. Especially if you don't tell your deepest, darkest secret to your husband. (Side note: so many stories where the protagonist is hiding things from their significant other, which I get happens, but huge things? I would feel like I'd know but maybe love blinds you!). Also, never live near your in-laws, especially when they don't seem to like you or prefer your husband's former lover. Some families are just messed up. Good characters. Interesting plot. Echoes normal intrigue from the author's books. Will continue to read more.

4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story has it all - secrets, lies, love, chills, betrayal, redemption.
I really enjoyed the pace of the story and the character development.
Told through the eyes of multiple characters - I always enjoy a story that gives the reader small snippets of the past throughout.
My heart was rooting for Amelia, but also yelled at her to just tell the truth and leave the situation.
Balancing motherhood, letters from someone in her last, a past she’s been trying to run from…. Worlds collide and, as always, the truth is eventually revealed.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Publishing for early access to this ARC.

Release date: Feb 17 2025

My first read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed!

"The Crib is empty" the first sentence of the book... So... We're definitely not on to a bad start... In a good way!!

We follow Ameilia, who's new life is pretty much spiralling out of her control, we see her descend into a slight madness. I mean, I don't blame her, fresh new baby, rushed wedding, ghastly family in law... Which were so well written, they made my insides crawl and I felt so much sympathy for our Ameilia, the psycho letters in the mail...(I do feel this is such an American thing though, creepy letters left in the mailbox... In the UK we'd be like "oi mate, what you doing with your hand in my letterbox?"... Then tape it shut... Problem solved.... But does not make a good book I guess!.... I digress...) Id be going a bit mental too and then that spineless husband and the Ex! Ooooh the bitch!! But there's more... More stuff from her past, give the girl a break!

So yeah, poor girl been through the mill, the characters are very well developed, I felt the feels for them. I liked the flicking back and forth between characters and past and present but also at the end where Ameilia drifts back and forth between consciousness... Really felt the anxiety build up here.
Honestly so well written throughout, easy to follow and plenty of twists and turns.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, to Bookouture and the author.