The Mother In Law was a good book overall and it was surprisingly different (in a good way) than I thought it would be. The build up was slow, I felt the book dragged in the beginning yet I still couldn't put it down. It definitely left me thinking about relationships and the meaning of family whether it's spouses, mother and daughter, mother and son, mother and daughter in law, etc. A quick read and one I would recommend to others. Thank you for the ARC copy.

Do you get along with your mother-in-law? Lucy hopes to have a good relationship with her husband Ollie's mother, but Diana makes it difficult. Diana is far from nurturing and Lucy finds her cold. When Diana is found dead of an apparent suicide Lucy reexamines everything she know about Diana and the rest of the family. An exploration of family and how you never really know everything about a people.

This book had my attention from the first page, finishing it in just over a day! I did not know what happened to Diana in her final moments until the final pages of the book. It was a fun and complicated story of a family’s deep secrets.

But beyond the mysterious death of Lucy’s mother-in-law, I found all the family issues fascinating and, as much as I would have liked to have disliked Diana(the mother-in-law), she really grew on me and I respected her views of her adult children and her love for her husband Tom.

Diana and Tom(the in-laws) were fairly wealthy and were “expected” to bail their children out of whatever financial troubles they came across. This never sat well with Diana and caused tension in the family. I could relate to Diana’s feelings of wanting her children to be independent and fight their own battles.

Anytime I finish a book and the characters sit with me for a while, making me reflect on my own life, that is a great book! I love the character developement in this story, and even though there was a mysterious murder, this story for me was ultimately about family, and the relationships we leave behind when its time to go.

I received this advanced copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published April 23rd, 2019. I hope you will check it out!

Wow! This was a compelling story. Diana had some secrets didn’t she? I was engaged immediately and when a book does that for me I am hooked. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Although it is a mystery, this novel explores some very large life issues. The writing skillfully moves the reader through several narrators and a period of several decades.

We are made to think about the horror of being an unwed mother and forced to give up a child, the ethics of euthanasia and the fertility issues which haunt so many women.

So, wrapped within this mystery, there are so many topics that a reading group will enjoy discussing. Amazing how Hepworth has turned what could have been an ordinary “who done it” into a thoughtful study of a family in crisis.

Enjoy!

This was the first book of Sally Hepworth's that I have read. I didn't know what to expect but enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Mother-in-Law. I was hooked fairly quickly and found myself looking forward to each character's storyline. I would like to have known more of Diana's story. This book explores the relationships between family members and made me wonder how I fit in my "in-law" story. A good read.

The Mother-in-Law was a great read. It kept me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the way the book is told from two different perspectives. I was able to relate to both characters. I even found myself cheering on the mother-in-law. This is another great book from Sally Hepworth!

I love Sally Hepworth's books and was very excited to get an ARC from NetGalley. I enjoyed this book - it had a good family drama with a little mystery and humor mixed in. The chapters alternated not only between Lucy, the daughter-in-law's and Diana, the mother-in-law's points of view but also between the past and the present. Their relationship was very believable and authentic. I had the hardest time with Nettie - her change throughout the book was so dramatic and none of the family seemed to notice what was going on. It was a great book and I highly recommend anything by SallyHepworth.

I was really intrigued by this book to see how the author would portray the mother-in-law. I have to say she did it perfectly! In the beginning I really did not like Diana, the mother-in-law. How could she be so cold and distant, even to her own children? But the way this book plays out with dual perspectives from Lucy, the daughter-in-law and Diana, through past and present, helps us to understand both truly and honestly. Even though I didn't agree with Diana's actions, you learn why she is the way she is and you soon come to appreciate her reasons. I couldn't put this book down! After Diana is found dead, the question is was it a suicide or a homicide? I was so absorbed into who could've killed Diana and why?! I mean there were plenty of reasons why, but who would actually go through with it? This is definitely a page-turner and I loved every minute of it. This was my first Sally Hepworth book and I look forward to reading more!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

When a story unfolds by revealing a character's perspective, it's always an interesting journey. Sally Hepworth lays out the path from three points of view within a family, and no doubt many readers will see some similarity between snippets of this story and their lives. The family dynamics are all here, both good and bad, and yes some ugly moments too, but that's what families are really about.

The distinct parallels between my life and what I was reading was stunning. Sally Hepworth nails them spot-on. Parents want to spare their children the pain they experienced growing up, but so often those one-sided intentions lack the clarity of insight into other's lives. Unless one feels the pain, they can't appreciate being saved from it. The pain is what makes us, not its absence.

The Mother-in-Law has good twists that will keep you turning the pages, and provide reading groups with plenty to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review is entirely my own genuine review of this book.

What a wonderfully different approach to family dynamics... Lucy has always had a strained relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana and when Diana is found dead under suspicious circumstances, everyone’s involvement is called into question - from Lucy to her husband Ollie, sister in law Nettie & Nettie’s Husband Patrick. Told in alternating perspectives from Lucy & Diana, the plot begins to unravel and shocking secrets come to light.

In my humble opinion, this is Hepworth’s best yet and I found this book entirely un-put-downable!

This was a fantastic read! The author did a fantastic job of weaving together various storylines that make you both love and hate the characters.

I wanted to read this book for a few reasons. Not only did the synopsis intrigue me but having a mother-in-law for the past 37 years and becoming a mother-in-law to my son's wife 5 years ago, I was curious if there would be any similarities to my real life relationships, and there were some.

Lucy lost her mother at the age of 13 so when she married Ollie she was hopeful that she would win his mother, Diana over and have a warm and loving relationship with her. However, Diana was a bit standoffish, some would even say she was "frosty" and as the years went by, the relationship turned volatile at times.

The story alternates between Lucy and Diana's perspectives both past and present but opens with the discovery of Diana's death. At first, the police felt it was a suicide but there were items at the scene that might lead in another direction.

The suspense was ongoing throughout the story, which made it hard to put this book down. The characters convincing. Not only was the mystery of Diana's death gripping, I also found the personal dynamics captivating.

Mothers of sons usually have to walk a fine line so as not to get the evil mother-in-law status, but in this case, Diana's past had such a bearing on her personality that I felt for her.

In the end, a letter was found in her desk with the following words of wisdom that Lucy now lives by:
I worked hard for everything I ever cared about. And nothing I ever cared about cost a single cent.


An outstanding read! I am looking forward of reading more books by Ms. Hepworth.

This is the story of strained relationship between a daughter in law and her mother in law, or so I thought it was. As the story unfolds, you get the an understanding of all the familial dyanmics and begin to realize that Diana, the matriarchy of the family, has her own history, beliefs and values that she persues steadfastly, even to the dismay of her family who misinterpret it as being disconnected or cold. Every few chapters, I had a new suspect at large, that is until the very end when, OF COURSE its the person you least suspect!

Giving this novel 5 stars for attention to developing the characters and their relationships, also because it was twisty/turny, and exactly what you want from a good "who done it" type story. This was my first Sally Hepworth book, and I will definitely be reading more of her in the future.

"You're a bit of a hero around here.Everyone's wanted to give their mother-in-law a head injury at least once in their life."

Thank you #netgalley ! The Mother-in-Law tells the story of Lucy, and her mother-in-law, Diana. Goodreads calls this a "twisty thriller about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder." Lucy is married to Ollie, Diana's son. Diana and Lucy seem to have a strained relationship from the beginning. Although Lucy hopes to have a great relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana always seems to keep her at a distance. When Diana ends up dead, the police cannot determine if it's a suicide or a homicide. This begs two questions. 1.) If it is suicide, why would Diana kill herself? And 2.) If it is homicide, who hates Diana enough to want to kill her?

This was my second novel by Sally Hepworth that I have read. (If you haven't read The Things We Keep, I highly recommend it.) The Mother-in-Law was an intriguing read that hooked from the very first page. Hepworth put a refreshing twist on the classic "hated mother-in-law" stereotype. The story alternates between Lucy and Diana's perspective, both past and present. Their stories were woven together seamlessly. The fact that we got the mother-in-law's side of the story left me feeling sorry for Diana. Rather than seeing her as dreadful, I was left feeling like she was simply misunderstood. She undoubtedly had her flaws, but I couldn't help but feel like she had the best intentions at heart. This story was also a good reminder that our parents are people, dealing with their own emotions and issues. The tension between Lucy and her mother-in-law was palpable. Hepworth made me feel for both Lucy and Diana; rather than siding with one of them, I found myself rooting for both of them. Besides the characters, the mystery of what happened to Diana kept me wanting to read more. I kept trying to piece together the details, and just when I thought I'd figured it out, there was a new revelation that threw prior assumptions out the window. You'll definitely want to put this on your TBR for 2019! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Not one of her books has disappointed me. In fact, they just keep getting better. This is a compelling story of a family with secrets, regrets and deep love for one another even if they do not show it. Diana is a great character. She is complex and tough, but she has her reasons for her tough exterior. This is a great story!

Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diana, do not see eye to eye and do not get along. This story is told from each of their perspectives and is compelling from the very first page. Lucy and Ollie, Diana’s son, are married with three children. Diana appears cold and unloving, except towards her husband Tom. Diana is bereft after the death of Tom and when she is found dead, it appears that she may have taken her life. Throughout the story we learn more of Lucy and Diana and their past history. Things are not always what they appear to be. This is an excellent story of domestic drama, family struggles, greed and also love.

The story unfolds through alternating chapters told by Diana (the mother-in-law) and Lucy (the daughter-in-law married to Diana's son, Ollie), and from the present and the past. Towards the end, Nettie, Diana's daughter, is heard from as well as loose ends are tied up. This was my first book by Ms. Hepworth and has inspired me to check out some of her earlier titles.

The book kept my interest during a series of long flights with its unique storyline and interesting characters. Diana turns out to be more complex than I originally expected although I don't think all the threads of her story were fully developed.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the introduction to Sally Hepworth and the opportunity to read The Mother-In-Law!

From the Title, there is an immediate assumption that there is conflict and the mother-in law is the villain. In a delightful twist, I found myself liking both characters. The author was able to effectively switch time frames and characters in an easy to follow method. There is conflict, of course but the reader is able to see both sides. I found myself reading way beyond bedtime because I was just so interested in the story line. It takes great talent to lay out personalities and values so different and let the reader make her own conclusion or identify with both characters. This is a must read next spring! Completely enjoyable
Netgalley #sallyhepworth

What a twisting, compelling, insightful and addictive novel The Mother-In-Law turned out to be! Full of pockets of grey, nothing is as it seems and no one is truly good or bad. By telling the story from the perspectives of both the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law, Sally very much shows us that there is always two sides to every story.

‘If you ask me, everyone is a little too interested in their children’s happiness. Ask anyone what they wish for their kids and they’ll all say they want them to be happy. Happy! Not empathetic contributing members of society. Not humble, wise and tolerant. Not strong in the face of adversity or grateful in the face of misfortune. I, on the other hand, have always wanted hardship for my kids. Real, honest hardship. Challenges big enough to make them empathetic and wise. Take the pregnant refugee girls I deal with every day. They’ve been through unimaginable hardships, and here they are working hard, contributing and grateful. What more could you want for your kids?’

With clever wit and a plausible plot, Sally walks us through a myriad of family dynamics that were entirely relatable. There is a high level of suspense sustained throughout, not only with regards to how Diana died, but also about the secrets various family members were harbouring and the past grievances that were yet to be revealed. The chapters are delivered in short bursts, solidifying this novel as a real ‘page-turner’. Highly recommended!

‘It occurs to me that only a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law can have an all-out war without anyone so much as raising their voice. The funny thing is, if any of the menfolk were here, they wouldn’t have a clue that anything other than a pleasant conversation was going on. If Ollie were here, he’d probably comment on “what a nice afternoon that was with Mum.” In that way, menfolk are really quite simple, bless them.’


Thanks is extended to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Mother-In-Law for review.

Review posted to my blog on 28/01/2019 in line with Australian release.