This book has everything I love in a book: interesting family dynamics, a mystery and an ending that I couldn’t predict until I was smack in the middle of it. Adding Sally Hepworth to my MUST READ list immediately

From the moment Lucy met her husband’s mother, she knew she wasn’t the wife Diana had envisioned for her perfect son. Exquisitely polite, friendly, and always generous, Diana nonetheless kept Lucy at arm’s length despite her desperate attempts to win her over. And as a pillar in the community, an advocate for female refugees, and a woman happily married for decades, no one had a bad word to say about Diana…except Lucy.

While reading this book, I had a newfound appreciation for my mother-in-law! I feel like a lot of women can relate to this book when it comes to their in-laws. This is a great book about family drama with thrills and twists.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of The Mother-In-Law
Pub Date: 23 Apr 2019

Mother-in-law drama plus family drama equals so much more! Many daughter-in-laws will be able to relate to Lucy as she tries to please her mother-in-law. A story about a very dysfunctional family with many twists and turns along the way to an unusual ending. Highly recommended!

This was a great book and very different from other mother-in-law books I’ve read. I had a feeling this one would be good but it was even better than I expected. I liked the different points of view going back and forth from Lucy/Diane and Past/Present. Excellent plot and character development! This is one you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC and opportunity to review this book!

I truly enjoyable read! I related to one of the characters in this book and was surprised by the ending. The juicy middle was interesting too. Not thought-provoking but still compelling. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The book is mostly told with past and present chapters by Lucy, the daughter in law, and Diane, the mother in law. Since Diane is dead when the book starts, all her chapters are from the past, while Lucy's chapters are from both the past and present. Lucy is married to Ollie, whose sister Nettie, is married to Paul. There is also Tom, husband of Diane and father of Ollie and Nettie. On occasion, I would get a little confused about the timeline of things, with the past and present chapters mixed together.

Diane had a difficult life once she turned 20 and those difficulties helped to mold the life and decisions of Diane, as she aged. Diane became wealthy and because of the hardships she endured and the hard work she put into making a life for herself and her family, she feels that her children should work for what they want and not be given much financial help in their adult lives. Her husband Tom helps the adult kids, on the sly, although Diane is aware that he does it, even though she disapproves.

Lucy is the woman who marries Diane's son Ollie. Because Lucy's mom died when Lucy was 13, she craves the attention and love of a "mother-like" woman and hopes she can get those things from Ollie's mom. But Diane's heart is hardened by the past and she doesn't even know how to show love except with cutting remarks, a stiff lip, telling others to work hard for what they want...her version of tough love. Lucy and Diane butt heads at almost every turn, with Diane ignoring Lucy's requests when it comes to the grandchildren.

Even though I think we are supposed to see Diane as a sympathetic, misjudged character by reading her chapters, I found it hard to give her a pass on her continued callous behavior towards her son, daughter, and daughter in law. There are several instances where Diane fleetingly mentions a story or reason behind some of her behavior and acknowledges that telling others the reasons would help them to understand but she never follows through so that others can understand. After so many missed opportunities to explain herself, I stopped having any sympathy for her passive/aggressive excuse of "forgetting" to explain her actions.

I was more sympathetic towards Lucy who tries to be a good wife/mother/daughter in law but eventually just gives up on the daughter in law part. Her relationship with her mother in law becomes so bad that when Diane is found dead of a suspected suicide but then maybe murder, heads turn towards Lucy as someone who would wish Diane harm. The story is full of secrets and withheld information from various characters and there are really several people who might have wanted Diane dead.

Contrasting Diane's hard treatment of her children, she runs a charity for refugees, where she pours love and charity on strangers, helping them to feed their families, find jobs, find homes, and make their way in life. Diant touts that her family is the most important thing to her but she doesn't show that in most of the book. I also never understood how Diane and Tom came into their wealth and I wish the book would have gone into that more, rather than just saying it was because of "hard work".

Rated the book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. It was an enjoyable read although I do wish Diane hasn't been so black and white when it came to her treatment of her children (black) and her treatment of strangers in need (white). Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this Advance Read Copy.

I ended up liking this book more by the end than I did about halfway through. It felt like it was going to be a bunch of stereotypical characters doing the same stereotypical things, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way it turned out.

The characters on the whole ended up being much more layered than they appeared to be. The story is told in both present day and flashbacks from two different viewpoints: Diana the Mother-in-Law and Lucy her daughter-in-law. Occasionally I got thrown off because there were time jumps in the middle of chapters not made explicitly clear, but it wasn't too bad.

I do think the author gave much more attention to fleshing out the female characters than the male ones. At times the men in the story seem like sitcom versions of men, which kept me from really being invested in them.

Also, throughout the book I was having trouble deciding if Lucy was supposed to be a parody of a "woke" person or actually socially conscious. I only bring this up because of the many times she declares her self a feminist, but then is completely blown away by her husband doing basic household chores or child rearing. Like, yeah, if you're 8 months pregnant and feeling sick your husband should be doing the laundry...and oh my god referring to him as 'menfolk'! Twice!! I feel like if I ever met Lucy she would drive me crazy.

Besides that I enjoyed the pacing and the fact that we're kept in suspense until the very last dozen or so pages. You might suspect some earlier on, but there's enough held back to keep you on the edge of your seat!

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I saw the five star reviews which made me want to read it more. When I was 20% in, I was wondering if I was even reading the same book as them. Not much had happened. (except for the obvious, that Diana is dead.)
This was told by two voices, Lucy and Diana, the mother-in-law. It was good to see both sides. Diana was not a bad person. She had her reasons for most of her actions, but I think if she voiced some of the reasons there wouldn't have been issues.
I stuck out reading this, because I wanted to see what happened to Diana, but it was a struggle. I was bored with the majority of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness, this book! When I put in my request to review it, I had assumed it was a thriller regarding the mysterious death of a mother-in-law. What I received, however, was so much more than that. Told from various perspectives and timelines, we follow Lucy, a mother of three, and, Diana, her wealthy and not-so-warm-and-fuzzy mother-in-law. I experienced a wide range of emotions reading this book, from anger to understanding to, eventually, sadness. There were so many dynamics and relationships at play, yet they flowed together beautifully. The writing is superb and relatable. Hepworth is a new favorite of mine!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing with me with an ARC of "The Mother-in-Law" in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know what to expect going into this book. I have never read any previous works from Sally Hepworth, so I was not aware of her writing style. After reading this book, I am a fan! I finished this book in less than 24 hours. I am already looking forward to reading more of her works.

Hepworth did a wonderful job of writing characters who were relatable and likeable, flaws and all. Alternating chapters from the perspectives of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law provided a unique experience. I was able to get inside both of their minds and gain a better understanding of why people act the way they do. It made me reflect on my own life and people I may not see eye to eye with and wonder what is behind their words and actions.

What I found most telling for me was that rather than constantly thinking about the outcome and what happened to Diana, I was more enthralled with the journey. That is a sign of a well-thought-out and written book.

I had the privilege of reading Two Houses, the author's prior book, before it was released, so I was excited to read this book hoping it would have the same charm and wit that I had enjoyed in her previous book. And I wasn't disappointed! I love how she highlights how what we say can be interpreted so differently by different characters and how what we choose not to say can have such a profound impact on our relationships, as we all know that it so true in life as well as fiction. Once again, the author successfully drops hints along the way that lead you to believe you have figured it out, but you haven't! I don't read many mysteries but there is just something about this author's writing that I really enjoy. Don't let the title keep you from reading it - I know it's an old worn out topic but this book puts a new spin on it. Can't wait for her next book.

I really enjoyed this book! The book is somewhat of a mystery in that there is a death that looks like suicide, but is it really? However, there is more here than just a "who-done-it". This book is about family and family dynamics. I loved the sentence "you don't choose your mother-in-law-the cackling mercenaries of fate determine it all" So true for all of us with a mother-in-law! I found myself having a hard time putting the book down, especially during the first 3/4 of the story as the plot began to take shape. This is one I would definitely recommend.

This book was recommended to me by two of my colleagues, and boy, it did not disappoint! Hepworth delivered one of the best books I have read in a long time!

The Mother-In-Law takes readers through a tale of a ridiculously rich family where things don't appear to be as they seem. Hepworth pays particular detail to character development by switching between Diana's (the mother-in-law) and Lucy's (the daughter-in-law). However, throughout the course of the book, you get to know the entire family very well through the twists and turns Hepworth weaves. How did Diana REALLY did? Once you think you have things figured out, think again!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this fantastic read

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book! At the beginning of the book, Lucy and Diana (the mother-in-law) do not really care for each other. As the story unfolds, the reader gets to know both of these women and the many layers of their complicated relationship. I won't give the ending away, but it ended with a twist I wasn't expecting. Highly recommend!

The Mother In Law was different then what I had thought it would be but I still really enjoyed this one. I liked that the chapters were told from Lucy and Diana's different perspectives and also went back and forth between the past and present. I went into this book thinking that I was going to have a negative opinion on the mother in law Diana, which I did at first, but I liked how the author was able to write her character in a way that created a deeper understanding of Diana and her actions. This was a solid read that I will be recommending to friends this year. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Whew. This story. Sally Hepworth is the queen of creating a twisted story that is anything but predictable. If you loved The Family Next Door then you are surely going to love The Mother-In- Law. We all know the difficult relationships of the wife and the mother-in-law. Whether we are lucky (ahem-not so lucky) enough to have her in our own family or we have a friend who has stories of her own, we all know THAT mother-in-law. And while some might secretly imagine a stampede of wild elephants smashing her into a pancake or a mysterious explosion sending her into oblivion, nobody actually means it. Right? But what happens when that is exactly what becomes reality? That is exactly what this story dives into. It’s complicated, it’s heart wrenching, and it leaves you scratching your head. This was such a fun story to dive into and watch unfold. And maybe, just maybe, you will come into it with a new appreciation of your own mother-in-law (unless yours is worse. Then let me sign up to be the first to read your own book)

This book kept me going all day trying to decifer what really happened. Several twists in relationships and personalities will keep you guessing until the end. Characters I didn't like, I grew to appreciate over the length of the book. Very intriguing psychological thriller will keep you turning pages until the end. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

4.5 STARS

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Macmillan Australia through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Sally Hepworth, Macmillan Australia, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I totally and completely loved, loved, loved this book!! It was INCREDIBLE with so many twists and turns that I got dizzy reading it!! The characters were very well thought-out, the plot was believable and good, and the plot twists were intense!!

I have read ALL of Sally Hepworth's book and she is getting better and better! This book is going to be THE book of the year!!

HIGHLY recommend this book!! Go and get this book when it comes out and read it!!

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Mother-in-Law.

This is my first book by this author so I went into this with an open mind.

The Mother-in-Law is a decent domestic drama between a cold mother-in-law named Diana and her daughter-in-law, Lucy.

It was a refreshing change from most domestic thrillers that feature a wife and husband, or a husband and a mistress and his wife, or a husband and his mistress....well, you get the picture.

Told from each woman's perspective, readers are introduced to Diana, the affluent wife of two children, Nettie and Ollie, and Lucy, Ollie's naive wife who lost her mother when she was 12. Lucy is shocked when her fantasies of Diana subbing as her de facto mom are dashed when Diana remains cold and indifferent to her.

As time passes and events unfold and Diana is drawn into the lives of her children's dramas, readers are given insight into how Diana's personality was created, how she met her kind husband Tom, and how her stern demeanor was forged.

When Diana is found dead under mysterious circumstances, all signs point to Lucy, who had an acrimonious relationship with her but as the story unfolds, we discover she wasn't the only one.

There's a little bit of everything in here, soap opera wise but its not dragged out incessantly; infidelity, infertility, money woes, loss and sorrow. All of these factors are a possible motive behind Diana's untimely death.

I was indifferent to Diana, though I respected her for her wisdom and age, the lessons she learned from the mistakes she made as a young woman and the strength she hoped to instill in her own children. I could see where she was coming from though I found her strangely cold to her own children. Why couldn't she just be forthright and explain her actions to them?

I didn't like Lucy; I thought she was silly and naive and kind of dumb. I understand she's an only child and misses her mother desperately but she had a Disney version of how Diana would act and that's just childish. Seriously, how old are you to imagine your mother-in-law would be someone who loves you as much as your mother?

I wouldn't call this book suspenseful; its just a matter of eliminating the suspects and its not hard. It's about two women and how their past and experiences have shaped them into the women they are now.

I did enjoy the character development and a look at how our assumptions based on appearances and first impressions are almost always inaccurate.

We can never really know a person until we take the time to speak to each other and it takes time, patience and effort to find similar ground on which to bond over.

Unless your mother-in-law is a real witch, then you're out of luck.

Wow! What a good book. I could not put it down, but had to every now and then just to absorb everything. Lucy has a very complicated relationship with her mother in law Diana. Lucy is sweet, maternal and loveable, she was just 13 when her own mother died, so she really wants a close relationship with Diana. Diana is cold, blunt, and totally uninterested in Lucy. they are totally different people and a lot of the problems stem from miscommunication, however, it must be said that Diana has difficulty forming close attachments, even her own children feel estranged from her. The story is told through the points of view of both Lucy and Diana. Ollie, Lucy’s husband and Diana’s son has had a very privileged upbringing. He and his sister also always had a huge legacy dangling over them. Diana and her husband Tom are extremely wealthy, however, Diana wants her children to be self sufficient and self reliant. Unfortunately Ollie’s business is failing, he and Lucy’s house is too small for their growing family. His sister Nettie is is desparate for children and needs money for a surrogate and Diana refuses to help either of her children. Tensions escalate, then Diana is murdered. You know someone in the family is quilty, but who? The alternating points of view from the past through to the present works very effectively to help understand Diana.
Highly recommend. Thanks to netgalley for a free copy, all opinions are my own.