This was fun to read. I kept flipping pages to race to the end and got what I expected, but I enjoyed the journey and would definitely recommend it to others.

A really interesting main character in Kira, who's discovering the truth behind her mother's death years ago. Brought back to Texas by a party invite and the promise of a new lead, she navigates awkward former friend and family situations while trying to figure out what happened.

I felt myself being pulled out of the narrative quite a bit by the memoir chapters, and it was hard to picture Kira creeping back to the cabin to read those portions, but I enjoyed the ride of this one and definitely didn't guess the ending!

Come into a world where the secrets, gossip, and boozy soapy story is as much a character as the characters themselves.
May Cobb is one of those authors I just love,,.. she lets her characters be messy, dark, and chaotic and lets the plot and characters do their thing. :) I loved My Summer Darlings for the dark sexy secrets, adored The Hunting Wives for taking on the booze laden dark edges of rich women's lives, and now A Likeable Women brings me Tina and a dark past, and twists and turns and once again the soapy sizzling vibrancy of elite lives and country clubs and all the sneaky secrets,

A Likeable Woman does also move in a different direction with the focus on Kira's family and a her mom's past and death, the themes revealed as more personal and emotionally intense. I loved how quickly the story again brought me into the setting, the world of drinks and gossip and less than trustworthy friends, and into a world of twisted relationships and secrets.

Big fan of May Cobb so I really am so glad I got an early copy of her book! Thank you Berkley for making Feb less dreary with this hot thriller!

Kira’s mother died when she was only 15. It was ruled to be a suicide, but Kira refused to believe that and never really moved with her own life.

Eventually Kira left her hometown behind, never looking back. Until now! An invitation to the 20th wedding anniversary and party from a high school 'friend' is drawing her back.

Arriving home, everyone seems to have something to share with Kira regarding the truth about her mother's death. But no one would just come out and reveal what it was. Over and over. “Come back later and I’ll tell you.” Aaahhhhh! Just say it already, so we can all move on. 🤦🏻‍♀️

This was an extremely slow moving book. Sadly, I had the answers Kira was looking for right off the bat. She could have just asked me and I would have saved her a trip.🤣

This was my third read by this author. It had a completely different feel to it than her two previous that were light, fun, with a dash of snarkiness. This one just felt heavy and endless.

Hoping this is just a one off and I will be enjoying her next!

A buddy read with Susanne🤓📚

Thank you to Berkley Publishing via NetGalley.

A LIKEABLE WOMAN by May Cobb combines a thrilling suspense story with an emotional journey as the protagonist, Kira, searches for the truth about her mother’s death: was it suicide like everyone believes or could it be murder? Told in alternating view points and dual timelines between Kira and her mother, Sadie, the story unfolds while Kira’s life seems to implode. Invited back to her small Texas town for a vow renewal celebration, Kira has no desire to visit since having fled after her mother’s death. But, it seems like her grandmother is finally willing to share a secret she’s long held, about the tragic night, if Kira will return home. Except, someone doesn’t want Kira there or to uncover long-buried secrets. The author starts building the suspense right away, throwing in twists along with emotional conflict that will keep you engrossed. This is one book you won’t want to put down until you’ve read the very final page!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A likable woman by may Cobb publish july2023. When Kira was young someone murdered her mom. Now she is back in her hometown her grandmother gives her her mom’s journal to prove it and someone may want her to be next

The cover doesn’t quite match the story.

I think this is a good thriller with an adequate amount of build up but I have some suggestions, the day of the party reading the chapters between events feels a little forced and choppy. I’m not really sure how to fix this but just a suggestion.

I also feel like there’s needs to be more background about Kira and Jack, the quick rekindling feels like I missed something

Another brilliant, intense, and riveting page-turner comes from May Cobb, guaranteed to keep you on your toes and hook you from the first chapter!

The dual perspectives of the mother and daughter take you on a journey through time, moving back and forth to provide clues about the suspicious suicide of Sadie and the determination of her devoted daughter, Kira, to uncover the truth more than two decades later.

Kira, at 38 years old, lives in La-La Land and is estranged from the rest of her family in Texas after her mother's scandalous overdose. Her dull office job and reserved life drive her to find the truth about what happened to her mother, leaving her stuck in limbo. She receives a surprising invitation from an old acquaintance, Genevieve, which she is about to reject until her grandmother sends a text to inform her that it's time to reveal the truth about her mother. Intrigued, Kira decides to go back to Texas, which means confronting her childhood crush, Jack, who is now married with a child who has autism. She must also face her sister and their problematic, dysfunctional relationship.

As soon as Kira returns to Texas, she becomes the subject of small-town gossip and receives threatening text messages warning her not to delve into the past. She discovers that her mother wrote a memoir about her life, which could help her piece together what really happened. Despite the danger, she cannot stop until she knows the whole truth.

The author does a great job with Sadie's storyline, which is bold, eccentric, artsy, and unconventional. Sadie's fight for control over her fate, her resistance to conform to small-town life, and her ultimate decision to fake her way to be likable are the best-written parts of the book.

However, Kira is portrayed as passive and naive, with people constantly pushing her towards a relationship with Jack, even though he is married. Jack's wife is depicted as dislikable and distant, but that doesn't necessarily make her the villain.

Overall, the author does a good job of keeping the reader engaged and the final twist, while somewhat predictable, still managed to leave the reader on the edge of their seat. I'm giving this book four stars for its exciting whodunit plot, likable characters, and Texas setting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

A Likeable Woman is an amazing delectable mystery novel that you will not put down until the surprising my shocking last chapter. Boy, can May Cobb keep the suspense and secrets hidden away with romance mounting at every twist until, Bam! This novel is a sure winner.

If you all have been following me, you know I have done nothing short of beg, borrow and/or steal to get a copy of The Likable Woman.

I was two seconds away from a 37 year old tantrum. You know the kind where you roll around on your back kicking and screaming, looking like an upside down cockroach just begging for attention.

Hey look at me May Cobb, super fan over here! Do I have to sell off a damaged piece of my liver for an ARC of my most anticipated book of the year?

And just as I was about to contemplate something highly frowned upon…. I got the email.

The book gods sang, the skies opened on up and my bookish dreams have come true .

I promised the book gods I would hold my tongue and be kind all day if they would just grant me this book…

Looks like I’m in trouble .

Well it’s mine! Mine! All mine! I sang a little tune, I hugged my kindle and I did a couple of awkward ballerina spins .

And then I began....

Told through alternating points of view between dual time lines, I was instantly intrigued. The suspense is present yet not as prominent as previous novels by Cobb. This is a deep and intricate book that will show an unwavering bond between mother and daughter. Now, this is still Cobb we are talking about so you know there will be some mind blowing twists and some mystery but I cant even put into words how this book is just so much more.

My excitement built with each turn of the page. I kept repeating to myself "wow, this is really good" often enough that my husband finally looked over at me and said "what kor, what is so good, im trying to sleep!?!"

He would never understand...

I didn't sleep last night, I had promised myself that I would wait until this weekend to start this one knowing that it would keep me up late into the night but I just couldn't do it, I had been waiting for so long.

So as I sit here with a massive book hangover, I still have a smile on my face....

I got my book, and it was everything I had hoped for and more.

Due out July 11, 2023 I strongly recommend you pre-order this mind-blowing banger, you do not want to miss this!

Teaser:

After her troublemaker mother’s mysterious death, Kira fled her wealthy Texas town and never looked back. Now, decades later, Kira is invited to an old frenemy’s vow renewal celebration Though she is reluctant to go, there are things pulling her home. . . like chilled wine and days spent by the pool . . . like her sexy teenage crush, Jack. But more important are the urgent texts from her grandmother, who says she has something to give Kira. Something related to her mother’s death, something that make it look an awful lot like murder.

When her grandmother gives Kira a memoir that her mother had been working on before she died, Kira is drawn into the past and all the sizzling secrets that come along with it. With few allies left in her gossipy country-club town, Kira turns to Jack for help. As she gets closer to what—and who—might have brought about her mother’s end, it becomes clear that someone wants the past to stay buried.

And they might come after Kira next.

Big thank you to Berkley Publishing, May Cobb, and Netgalley for making my bookish dreams come true and allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review.

Kira’s mother died of mysterious circumstances decades ago in her hometown in Texas. Kira had moved away after her mom passed and never looked back. She unexpectedly receives an invite from an old frenemy in Texas to her vow renewal party in her old hometown. She reluctantly attends and gets a surprise from her grandmother. A memoir from her mother that may shed some light on her death!

May Cobb has done it again! I can't tell you how much I love her books! A LIKEABLE WOMAN had me glued to the pages. I wanted to read it quickly, but I also didn't want it to end! I thought Kira's love for her mother, Sadie, and finding the truth behind what happened to her showed how much she cared about her. Kira may have been been naive, but many of us can be at times, including me. I can't recommend A LIKEABLE WOMAN enough. It's one I'll be recommending to all my friends!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future!

I've been a fan of May Cobb since "The Hunting Wives", and I'm thrilled to report "A Likeable Woman" has all the suspense and drama we know and love her for.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒂, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒎𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅, 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔: 𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏.

You probably know her for her outlandish tales of women behaving badly, first in THE HUNTING WIVES and then with MY SUMMER DARLINGS. This author also has a deeply emotional side as first evidenced in her out of print debut, BIG WOODS, and it returns with a vengeance in A LIKEABLE WOMAN.

Told in alternating points of view with dual timelines, this is the story of Kira and Sadie, a close-knit mother/daughter team. When Kira was a teen, her mother died in a suspected suicide. Kira never bought that theory, but no one believed her; after all, her mother 𝐰𝐚𝐬 the most eccentric woman in town, embarrassing her husband with her wild feminist batik pieces and talks of going back to college. Kira fled from her small Texas town and never looked back until both insistent texts from her grandmother and an invitation to an old frenemy's vow renewal appear. Intrigued by her grandmother's texts, along with the thought of seeing her teenage crush, Kira reluctantly goes. But someone isn't thrilled by her presence and sends anonymous text messages warning her away.

The vow renewal is eerily much like Sadie's last day alive...a party, a bonfire, and Kira is more convinced than ever that her mother was murdered. Then she's hit with the secret her mother has been keeping, a manuscript that details both her mother's secret life and just how much she yearned for Kira to be her authentic self.

I can't adequately sum up the emotions I felt while reading this book. It's so terribly difficult even today for women to find their place...working moms feel guilt, stay-at-home moms often think of a life they could have had; we turn off so many parts of ourselves either to fit in or to put someone else's needs first. Reading Sadie's chapters also made me realize just how little I know my own mother and how lucky I am to still have her.

Temper your expectations, thriller lovers, because this is not a traditional thriller. While there are some wild twists and a mystery to uncover, this is very much a human story about so many things, namely regret, living authentically, and the bond between a mother and daughter. I can't recommend this book enough, and I thank NetGalley and Berkley Pub for gifting me this stunning early read. Publishes July 11, 2023.

A Likeable Woman is a fast-paced mystery with a fascinating plot.
I could tell who the bad guy was right away, because I read so many of these thrillers, but the book was still interesting.
Thank you Berkeley and NetGalley for the digital review copy.