4/5. Very solid thriller.
First Anya Mora book I’ve read.
Even though Amelia was pretty neurotic in this book, I hated how everyone treated her.
I did feel like her big secret wasn’t super crazy.
This book didn’t wow me but I did find the ending satisfying.
More thoughts in TikTok

DNF @ 34%

The FMC is so paranoid. She just had a baby so I guess postpartum paranoia is what the author is going for, but I’m not really sure.

The FMC “did something” in her past. She doesn’t want any pictures of her and her identity is not her real identity. She’s married a very wealthy man who appears to be sneaking around with his ex & all she can think is, “They know. They all know what I did.”

We finally got a glimpse at “what happened” around the 14% mark, but it’s when she was a kid and it wasn’t even her - so it doesn’t make sense.

I’m sure I’d need to keep reading to find out, but constantly reading “I bet they all know what I did” when her husband is sneaking around and she’s taking care of a new baby is really annoying. It’s all the book has truly said so far. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Read if you enjoy:
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏼 domestic suspense
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family drama
🤫 past secrets
👀 paranoid main characters

This is available on Kindle Unlimited. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. This one was just a miss for me.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Excellent narration cast, alternating POV’s with different narrators so it’s really easy to follow, couple of alternating timelines, but again easy to follow.

The Sterling family is absolutely atrocious, I’m not sure if there was one redeeming character trait in any of them. Absolute snob to the hundredth power.

Amelia is now married to Timothy Sterling and it hints at secrets from her past for quite a while, which I will admit in the first 1/3 of the book was getting annoying how it would reference the secret but not really give you anything. Once the secrets started pouring out, it definitely picked up the pace and kept you intrigued as to what all she was hiding in her past.

My first by the author and definitely can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thanks to NetGalley for my Audible advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Anya Mora for the eArc of Good Bad Mother.

This is a duel timeline psychological thriller that's intense and engaging. We have our MC, Amelia who is appears to want to run and protect herself and her child from the past she has had to endure. The plot and the pacing is medium and unravels very naturally into a faster pace near the last 1/3 of the book. The characters are well rounded and Anya has a great writing style to combine both plot direction, character building as well as the environment that Amelia lives in. Through the foreshadowing, you might suss out the twists and turns but it really doesn't take away from the finale.

I also listened to the audio version of Good Bad Mother in which Lauryn Allman ,Penelope Rawlins narrated. They both did a great job in keeping both the duel timelines clearly marked and the characters individual.

4 stars

This book is not very long but felt like it. It kept me entertained and invested but I wish it was a little more fast paced. I had a general idea of what the plot twist was going to be pretty early on but I feel like the buildup was better than the actual climax of the story. Narration was good! 3.5 stars

Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora. Thank you to NetGalley for my audio arc. This book released on 17 February.

‘When we move to the exclusive Cutters Island, my life changes overnight. Dressed like the perfect wife, pushing my baby down the street in her pink stroller, I look up and smile at the security cameras. Because I know they are watching. And for now, I need to play my part.’

The book opens up with Amelia waking up alone in her bed, her husband is not next to her and when she looks on the baby monitor, her baby is not in her crib.

As she runs to her daughter’s room, she realises the house is on fire. She immediately thinks about her past and how things seem to have come back to haunt her. Is that why her baby has been taken?

The story then jumps back a week and we get snippets into Amelia’s supposed perfect life. A hasty marriage after falling pregnant to Timothy who comes from a wealthy family. Her in-laws don’t like her and her husband’s ex lives just across the street from them.

We also get little details of Amelia’s life when she was younger. She tells her husband she doesn’t have any family but where is the mother and sister she talks about in her youth? She starts receiving hand delivered letters threatening her. How far will a mother go to keep her child safe?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting the ending. Both narrators spoke very slowly so I had to speed up the audio to 1.75.

I am a lover of domestic thrillers and I was so excited to see where Good Bad Mother was going to go. Sadly, this book fell flat for me. Maybe not flat but just didn't live up to what I thought it would be. This would be a great intro to psychological thrillers or a great read to pick up when you want a quick read!

We spent a lot of time hearing Amelia’s inner monologue about how she has to keep this dark secret. Which just felt like a little too much time before things happened.
She was a complex character throughout the entire story, I wasn’t sure if I would like or dislike her up until the very end.

There were lots of great tangents to get caught up in. Plus great ways to throw off your suspicions.

It is definitely for readers of Freida McFadden!

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an audioARC of this book.

Amelia thinks she's a bad mother. Well, it's what she's always been told to think of herself...that she's capable of nothing good. But why is that? This domestic suspense builds with a back and forth from the past to the present on Cutter's Island, an exclusive, wealthy community. As the story continues we learn more and more about where Amelia has come from and the secrets she's harboring. Does her husband, Tim, have secrets of his own or is she just extremely paranoid? There is a lot that becomes pretty clear right away but the suspense keeps building maybe a little too long. We hear her same regrets and paranoia over and over. I can see this one potentially making for a good sequel, however. I'd be interested to hear what comes next.
I did like the two narrators...a multicast is always a plus...but the main one must have read pretty slowly since I was able to notch up the speed a good deal. It didn't take away from the story, though.
A perfectly fine mystery for a quick read or listen.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

Well well well this was an interesting read!

The second half of the book was super interesting, the first one dragged a little bit but it was still highly entertaining.

How much will you do to save yourself? How much will you sacrifice for your child? Only mother knows !

So good!!! Not quite unpredictable but the way it all ties together was perfect!! Definitely a must read!!

I really enjoyed this! I love a good grippy, domestic thriller!! I thought that the main characters motherhood struggle was portrayed really well.

Overall a well written, enjoyable plot!

This book is an absolute page turner! From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked, and I couldn't put it down I finished it in just one day. The story grips you right from the start and keeps building excitement with every chapter.

While I loved the journey I was slightly disappointed with the ending, as my expectations for the final twist were really high. However, the book beautifully highlights how tough times reveal people’s true colors. It teaches an important lesson about recognizing who truly stands by you and who doesn’t. Despite the ending, I truly enjoyed the message it delivered

I liked it. There’s more to the story that what I initially thought. There was enough intrigue to keep me invested. The story moves at a good pace. The narrative kept me guessing- different POVs and a timeline alternating between ‘now’ and ‘then’. So many secrets! As things started to unfold, the subtle clues, that had been dropped along the way, helped piece events together. I look forward to reading/listening to other titles by Anya Mora.
The audiobook’s narration is well paced, clear and the ‘then’ chapters have a voice change (albeit an annoying voice) that clearly helps to differentiate the timeline.
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

A twisty, turny story that will have you guessing until the end. The twist at the end got me. That characters will annoy you, intrigue you and I felt a little bit sorry for female lead. So many secrets, imposing family members and trauma from the past. This book will grab your attention and keep you engaged. Lauryn Allman and Penelope Rawlins were great with the narration. They gave the characters perfect emotion, voice and personality.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookotoure for the complimentary copy.

I was really excited to listen to this book. I love a good domestic thriller. I love the narration. I just was not feeling the rich people. I did like the main character's relatable struggle with motherhood. The ending was interesting.

Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora was a book filled with suspenseful narrative and unexpected twists.
Amelia, a baker at one point in time is married to Timothy, who comes from a wealthy family. Amelia harbors a dark past that she fears will be exposed, leading to a series of events that unravel her seemingly perfect life.
Amelia knows she has killed in the past and has done time for her crime, her sister Hazel knows what really happened.

The book moves in 2 different timelines - in the present Amelia has to be part of a family picture with Timothy and their new born, but she is reluctant - she doesnt want anyone to see her in any form of media! This behavior catches her in-laws attention, but they all move on. As more and more secret letters arrive at Amelia's place everything comes crashing down!

A good fast paced book with short chapters is a plus for this for this book!

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Anya Mora for the approved audiobook ARC.

3.5 stars

Amelia and Timothy have everything—a lovely home, a cute baby girl, and a life of luxury. However, Amelia’s in-laws still haven't accepted her. It’s probably best because they don’t know about her past, nor does her husband.

The book is well-written and fun to read. Some parts were predictable, but I still liked it. The twist caught me off guard, and the ending was satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free copy of the book.

Thanks to @netgalley for gifting me an audiobook cop of Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora. It is a decent audiobook choice if you're looking for a suspenseful story with a unique premise. However, be warned that the plot is fairly predictable and the main character's internal monologues become a bit repetitive. Overall, a ⭐⭐⭐listen.

I couldn't resist the allure of this book's captivating cover and intriguing synopsis; the bonus? It was available as an audiobook! Although I wasn't familiar with the two narrators, I was pleasantly surprised by their performances—they truly brought the story to life. I’ll definitely be diving into more of their work.

This domestic thriller unfolded slower than I typically prefer, making the audiobook the perfect choice. I loved the dual timelines and perspectives, which added layers to the narrative that kept me engaged.

At the heart of the story is Amelia, who finds herself married into the prestigious and influential Sterling family. However, her decision may not be wise; Amelia carries dark secrets from her childhood that she desperately wants to keep hidden.

When Timothy proposes to the expectant Amelia after a whirlwind romance, it’s no surprise that someone in the Sterling family will start digging into her past. And you know what they say: the truth has a way of coming out.

I found the novel's structure intriguing, particularly because the identity and connection of one narrator remained a mystery for much of the story. However, the big reveal didn’t quite meet my expectations. Overall, I thought the audiobook was a fast and entertaining experience.

Thank you to the author and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

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I did not find this book drawing me in like others. The writing felt rushed and juvenile while super repetitive. The twist at the end was a bit predictable but ended up decent.