I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an easy read, but I just couldn’t get into it. I found it repetitive and predictable, and the story dragged on for me.

Prepare yourself for a tsunami of emotions. A gripping listen that will have you shouting, doubting and exhausted just like protagonist Lou. Will resonate on so many levels with parents everywhere.

Wow, wow, wow! From the very first moments of the prologue, I was absolutely captivated, and once I started, I couldn’t stop listening. Some of my other responsibilities may have been momentarily neglected as a result!

The narrator, Sofia Zervudachi, was the ideal voice for these characters—her performance was impeccable, with flawless production that made for an incredibly smooth listening experience.

I believe many mothers will find themselves resonating with Lou, a new mom who is sleep-deprived, overstimulated, isolated, and feeling utterly alone. There were moments when I found myself shouting, "Someone help her!" This book truly draws you in, and Natali Simmonds knows exactly how to immerse the reader in the story. Just when you think you know where it’s headed… it takes a surprising turn.

This is a must-read (or must-listen)! Truly, wow, wow, wow!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC audiobook!

This was the first audiobook in a long time to give me anxiety. What a rollercoaster!

I thought I knew what was going on and then I didn’t and then I did! Back and forth! All of these characters made me mad. All of them. I truly understood why Lou felt rage! A husband who doesn’t notice she is struggling, a family who are so consumed in their own lives to notice her. Let’s be real, most first time moms can relate to some of Lou’s frustrations and anxieties.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. An unreliable narrator story line always keeps me engaged and attentive,

The narrator was also great, I listened at 2x

Highly recommend this book!

Natali Simmonds has once again provided readers with a twisty phycological thriller that is sure to stay with us and make an impact! Following Lu and Tony we are welcomed into the couples lives as a new parents to their newly one year old son, Riley and the very real ups and downs of parenthood. Lu and Tony had a fast paced relationship that saw a baby come into the picture sooner than planned but the happy couple welcome their baby into a loving warm home but things don't quite stay great and blissful for long.

This book really did capture the realities of being a first time parent and the narration along with how well each chapter was written allowed me as the reader to feel as though I was physically in this book. I can honestly say I haven't felt the emotions I felt reading this for a single other book in all the years I have been a reader. I felt every drop of anger, frustration, tiredness, fear and desperation Lu felt as though they were my own feelings. You want to scream at Tony for his poor moments as a husband and give Lu a break yourself as the reader and comfort Riley. We were truly able to feel as though this characters were real and emphasises with their struggles. The narration was full of emotion and brought Lu to life adding to the reading experience.

As the book progresses and we learn more about Lu's mental health and her growing friendship with Natalie, a neighbour who may just be getting a little too close we too are able to feel Lu's paranoia, not knowing what is real and who to trust and this kind of suspense leaves us hooked throughout. This was a suspenseful read that left you on the edge of your seat asking questions while also touching on so many important topics around pregnancy and life as a first time mother. Simmonds keeps things raw, true and to the point shining a light on topics that women still struggle to discuss with each other. This book come the end felt like a hug and the message that you are not alone.

I would highly recommend this book and I'm so grateful to of had the opportunity to listen to this audiobook thanks to NetGalley.

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

When I began listening to this, although I genrally knew how the plot was going and none of anything that happened was of surprise, I still found myself immersed in this.

I believe the way in which the post natal depression was depicted wasn't overly accurate my take was that whilst being pregnant for the 2nd time, witnessing a murder, moving home with a baby and dealing with severe sleep deprivation it is absolutely plausible that anyone could and would have hallucinations even in the extreme nature that these seemed to be. With that being said the storyline really mainly focused on this one character and her mental health for the most part, whilst I felt it was obvious where this was going it isn't exposed until the end so this may not be the case for everyone to have thw same opinion or understanding ans may actually question the character of Maggie. There could maybe have been a little more done in the backstory as it felt the beginning just started off running, then slowed down to focus on intricate details of the characters mental health.

Particularly if someone reading this has never suffered from severe sleep deprivation, which I felt was more the issue, they may not find this very relatable or believable although it was a little conflicting at times with the description of post natal depression. To add to this, I don't believe this is true of course in reality for all people, but for the purposes of a fictional story, it is absolutely believable with the amount of stress she was experiencing overall. She begins with irritatability, leading to paranoia and uncertainty of herself. With little support, she then finds herself absolutely lost in an episode of psychosis.

A relatively quick listen, I enjoyed the narration by Sofia Zervudachi, and I did feel like I was able to visualise the story, so this was well delivered with good changes in pitch and tone of all characters.

With thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ELC in return for an open, honest review.

While my baby sleeps is a twisty, gripping psychological thriller with high anticipation and filled with unpredictable twists and turns.

Lu is tired. She needs to rest. However her toddler, Riley takes up every moment of her life and her partner, Tony is of no help whatsoever. Having the post partum depression and bone tired, she begins to have morbid thoughts of killing other people in ways that are horrifying and gruesome. Her suppressed rage results in sleepwalking until one day one of the residents is found murdered and her hands are covered in blood.

Distorted and unsure, her neighbour's sister becomes her light in her darkness by befriending her. But is Maggie truly the friend she claims to be?

This was my first book from Natalie Simmonds and I was absolutely intrigued by the way she weaved suspense and anticipation in an intriguing manner. The narrator has done a commendable job in bringing the emotions and expressions of the protagonist. The story follows a steady streak of engaging elements of surprises, shocks, and curiosity. By the middle of the novel, everything is darkly twisted and I was on the edge of the seat. The clever plot, manipulation, and lies are significantly thought out and were weaved in an engrossing way through and through.

Yes, I would definitely recommend it.

The narration for this audio was very hard to digest. The story had great potential but was repetitive and confusing at times.

3 stars
This one had a promising storyline, but fell a little short for me.
Topics-
- Unreliable narrator
- Postpartum psychosis/depression

Pros:
- The ending was pretty good
- I always like a good domestic type suspense

Cons:
- Extremely repetitive - it felt a bit like Groundhog Day
- Too long of a period where I was confused about what was going on

Narrator of audiobook:
- I really love her super soothing voice, but it is a bit on the monotone side. This actually seemed very fitting for the character, who was emotionally struggling, but it made for a semi-boring listen.

I do want to thank the author, NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really appreciate it.

More like a 3.5, but since half stars are not a thing, tie goes to the author and it’s rounded up.

While My Baby Sleeps was an audio from NetGalley and I listened to it at the perfect time - while staying with my first grandchild, Riley, and providing 5 weeks of child care. I, like the MC, am currently sleep deprived and having brain stuff 🤣

Despite my fatigue, this one kept me listening, and guessing, through the entire book. I did manage to figure out the plot about half way through, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this well narrated audiobook.

Well done.

I was fortunate to get early access to the audiobook, and I loved it! The narrator, Sofia Zervudachi, was expressive and brought the story to life. The book kept me guessing until the very end! I ended up binge-listening to it in one day. Highly recommend it!

Publication date- February 7, 2025
#WhileMyBabySleeps #NetGalley

Well that was a wild ride! I thought I was losing my mind along with the FMC. I didn’t know what was real or not. I also didn’t know who to believe. I didn’t expect that ending at all! It surprised me! This is a great thriller book that I think thriller lovers would enjoy! The audiobook was great! I couldn’t stop listening to it.

Thank you to: Bookouture Audio & NetGalley for this ARC audiobook by Natali Simmonds
Release date is set for: February 7th 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This book was very slow to start & there was a moment I did question if I could finish, but I am glad I did because about 1/2 way through it became unputdownable with twists & turns where you just had to find out what happens.

This book does brings mental health into question and through the authors writing, you were really able to empathize with Lu & felt her exhaustion, anxiety & fear. The ending as a whole is what brought this book together.

Once again, thank you @NetGalley! Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen this advanced audio copy. 

#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio  #WhileMyBabySleeps

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator- nice, clear voice with proper emotions. This book captivated me from the very beginning. Yes, it is repetitive but stick with it- there is a purpose. There were a few twists, some I saw coming but others were a surprise. Highly recommend this one!

Great read. Thank you for letting me listen to this audiobook. It was great. Cant wait to recommend.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I really enjoyed it.
I wasn't quite sure how it was going to go - I thought Lou may have postnatal depression, but also thought it was possible it was a crazy woman trying to take over their lives.
It kept me guessing and the twists and turns were enough to keep me interested!
I didn't expect the ending!
I liked the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The perfect thriller for any new mom! My baby is already 4 years old and yet this took me right back to those exhausting fourth trimester days (and while that sounds kind of awful, it was actually really comforting and cathartic).

Premise - Lou is a new mom whose baby doesn't sleep through the night and whose husband thinks it's a good thing that he's 'not letting himself go after the baby,' though really that means he's off at the gym living his best life while she's sleep deprived and overstimulated at home a crying baby. Riley is going on a year old, but it feels like fourth trimester will never end. Lou's mental health starts tanking, as exhibited through her murderous fantasies. When she comes to one night, covered in blood and standing outside in the cold, she fears the worst. Her neighbor's sister, Maggie, rescues her. She gets rid of the blood-soaked pajamas and tells Lou it's for the best that they put this behind them. But as Lou's tenuous grip on reality slips more and more, and people who've wronged her start to disappear, even Lou starts to wonder if motherhood has turned her into a monster.

Phew! PPD and PPA are no joke, and you'll recognize that horrible, unstable feeling if you ever flirted with either. That said, Lou's murderous impulses aren't the way most of us respond to extreme stress... I loved the whole ride. This was an incredibly nostalgic read, even as it was layered with the high stakes life-or-death drama of thrillers, and pretty healing, too. I loved the way things ended for Lou (until maaaaybe the very last page). If you parented without a village and you were the primary parent, with a working spouse who didn't participate in night wakes, you'll love the way things turn out at the end.

In addition to the topic and execution of the plot, I loved the voice in this. The protagonist was so relatable, to the point that unfamiliar experiences (her insane rage and bloodlust) almost seem reasonable. She's exhausted, she's alone, she's not allowed to complain or she'll seem ungrateful for her tiny miracle.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sofia Zervudachi. Her read was perfect! Reassuring, thrilling, relatable, like being inside the head of a dear friend. I highly recommend listening to this story in particular as an audiobook, as I think that really adds to the experience (especially for moms, as it lets you revisit the isolation of the newborn period with the comfort of a 'friend' by your side).

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 🌟

Unfortunately this was a miss for me, firstly because the mental health trope is massively overplayed. Especially post partum psychosis, in fact I’d go as far as to say it was actually in really bad taste Secondly the story was extremely repetitive and predictable. Something kept me intrigued thought so that showed good stole, and good character development, I certainly wouldn’t dismiss giving the author a try again on any future work.

Really sorry I’d have loved to have loved it and left a glowing review but it would’ve been dishonest.

The narration was nice.

New readers to the genre might really enjoy it.

I’m much obliged to Bookouture audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

3.5 rounded up - Lou loves her baby Riley so much, but since he was born, she feels like she is losing it. She doesn't sleep, is losing track of time, and has sudden rushes of rage that scare her. Her partner works nights and sleeps during the day so most of her time is spent alone with the baby. After another night of not sleeping, Lou finds herself outside in her pajamas, hands bloodied and locked out of the house. She doesn't remember coming outside and is panicked to get back into her baby. She remembers her neighbor has a spare key to their home and even though it is the middle of the night, she knocks hoping for some help. Her neighbor's sister, Maggie, answers and helps Lou inside and to get cleaned up.

When police turn up at the door the next day investigating the death of her noisy neighbor down the block, Lou worries about her lost time in the night. She couldn't have had something to do with his death. She is just sleep deprived. Lucky for Lou her new friend Maggie is there to give her the support her partner and family have not. Maggie starts to come around every day to help with cleaning, shopping, and caring for Riley. But as Maggie is there more and more, other people in her family start to disappear... What does Maggie really want with Lou and her life?

I have very mixed feelings on this one. I was only so-so with it for most the book and then the last 20% flipped the script and shocked me. This one majorly plays into mental health and postpartum depression, and it made for a twisted and shocking storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review.

This is a gripping and intensely suspenseful thriller! The author masterfully builds tension from the very first page, using the protagonist's sleep deprivation to create a palpable sense of unease and paranoia. The mystery unfolds cleverly, keeping the reader guessing until the shocking twist. The characterization is superb, making the protagonist's desperate struggle for survival both believable and deeply affecting. A truly unputdownable read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. (⁠・⁠o⁠・⁠)