I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is about two women who are good friends. One is a doctor (Liz) and the other is a stay at home mom (Jess). Jess brings her 10 month old daughter to the ER for a head injury and Liz must report the injury as possible child abuse. Now, don't think, oh I can't read about that, because this book is not really about child abuse. The book is about so much more than that. It's about Liz doing her job and feeling guilty for doing so and what it does to her friend. It's also about Jess and what she is going through, because how could this have happened to her? She is a great mother but there is definitely something going on with her. Overall, a pretty good read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to review this eARC!
This book is about 2 women- Liz and Jess. Liz is a pediatrician and Jess is the mother of 3. They met when their kids were super young and have been friends ever since. Jess seems to be the perfect mother, but then one night she brings her baby girl into the ER saying she's acting weird and we discover she has a fractured skull. The rest of the book is trying to figure out what happened to the baby. We also learn more about Liz's mom and her past. The book is told from multiple perspectives and multiple timelines. I thought it was done well and added intrigue to the story as opposed to making it confusing.However, this book was way too long. It started off really strong and then had a long lag until it picked up again in the ending. I liked the exploration of postpartum mood disorders, though I wish they would've been explored further. All that being said, this was an entertaining read that I would recommend if you don't mind books that don't have a very fast plot.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
For most of the book we think Jess has postpartum psychosis because she has a lot of visions of harming their unplanned 3rd child. She is pretty neglectful and isn't the mother everyone thinks she is after this child. However, what actually happened to the baby was that Jess was having the intrusive thoughts so she decided the benefit outweighed the risk and she was going to go to the liquor store and leave her kids alone (the oldest was 8). She didn't trust herself around the baby so she left the kids with instructions not to pick up baby sister and to call if they needed anything but she'd be back soon. Freddie, the 8 year old, confesses to trying to change her diaper and letting her roll of the changing table, however thats not what happened. Another mom in their group, Charlotte, used to date Jess' husband and she never got over it so when she saw that Jess left, she swooped in and went into the house and told the kids what a naughty mom they had, etc. and she dropped her off of the changing table then manipulated the soft hearted boy into thinking it was his fault. Justice is served and all is well in the end.
We also find out that Liz's sister, Clare, did not actually die of SIDS as a child. Her mom had postpartum psychosis and killed her.

This was actually a really deep story about post-partum depression, and I feel like the description really need to say that. There are probably some people who would decide not to pick it up then, but I also think so many more actually would. It touches on the subject from so many angles and characters that it was so much deeper than I originally thought. I especially enjoyed the perspective of how those around Jess, the main character who is most likely suffering from ppd. How does her mindset affect her kids, her husband, her friends? How do they really see her? It was an enjoyable book, but as it often happens for me, there was one factor in the ending that I didn't really like. I think it took away from the real story about ppd, and that was the far more interesting story to me. I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with ppd, personally or with someone you know, to help you think through what it really means to life overall.

This is the first book I read by Sarah Vaughan. I'd say it's a pretty intense book, though just a bit repetitive in the middle. But overall does create a compelling story of less talked about aspects of motherhood.
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The novel starts with showing Liz, an experienced pediatrician, in the ER, seeing one of her best friends bring her little girl with a head injury. While Liz is examining the little girl and talking to the mother, she understands that the story of how the injury happened, and her friend's strange behavior don't not add up.
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[Spoiler warning] I don't have first hand experience, also don't know anybody that has gone through postpartum depression, but I think the author does a good job of creating a suspenseful unraveling of the impact and magnitude of postpartum depression aggravated by OCD tendencies.
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I liked the multiple POVs used to tell the story. And the final twists were satisfying and realistic, which I always appreciate. I'd say that the first and last quarters were gripping, and the middle could have been edited and shortened, for a more uniform reading experience.
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I think there should be a trigger warning for pregnant women or mothers with kids under one year old, as some scenes are a bit intense.
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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an interesting book that I wasn't too sure where it was going. When Jess comes into the ER with her baby who is severely hurt, her friend Liz sees right through the cracks. Jess isn't telling the truth and there is more to the story... so much more.

Jess is suffering, confused about her hurt baby, and her friendship with Liz. There's so much uncertainty throughout the book, it was almost annoying.

Over the course of the book, we see both Jess and Liz's point of views but nothing really comes to fruition. We still don't know exactly what happened to Jess's baby until the very end of the book and it is a total twist; I didn't see that coming and it was really insane.

I enjoyed this book and the ending was well worth it... but it wasn't my favorite.

This wasn’t the twisty book it promised to be. Honestly, it took me just over 4 days to finish whereas usually I finish in 1-2 days on average.
I kept waiting for the ‘good stuff’ and it barely hit the mark.
Jess and Ed have three children. One day Jess brings in little baby Betsey to the ER - she is not herself. She finds that Betsey has a skull fracture and this begins a whirlwind of social services, police and finger pointing when Jess’s story does not match up with the fracture itself.
Friend Liz happens to be a pediatric doc in the hospital when this happens and gets wrapped up in the fiasco. Their mommy and me/school friend group also is concerned about Jess’s well being and stories come out of concern for her- possible post partum depression.
When the truth finally tumbled out months later- it is not something anyone was expecting...

I really enjoyed this book. The story follows a group.of friends who all meet up and have young children. Liz is a pediatrician and one day her friend Jess brings her 10-month old baby to the hospital. Liz discovers that the baby's injuries do not go along with the story that Jess is telling her. Jess is investigated and speculation is rampant amongst the other mothers. Then Liz uncovers a secret from the baby's brother that turns the whole investigation.
The story keeps you riveted and then boom - an ending you just did not see coming!
A great read that I thoroughly recommend.

This was a really great story, just a little slow moving IMO. A hard look into what postpartum depression/psychosis looks like and how devastating it can be to a family when left untreated. There were parts of the story that just seemed distracting and unnecessary to the story. Overall it was a good read.

Pediatrician Liz, is called to the emergency room and finds the 11 month old daughter of her friend Jess is the patient. All signs point to abuse, but Jess has always been such an excellent mother and Liz tries to give her the benefit of the doubt, putting her own job at risk. When her boss gets involved, the police and child protective service are called in. What would make such a seemingly perfect mother hurt her own daughter?
This is a revealing story focusing on postpartum depression and anxiety. Jess was able to control her extreme anxiety and fear for her children with her first two, but the third and most difficult child sends her anxiety out of control. Every time Betsy has colic and is inconsolable makes her feel more and more like a bad mother. I started out severely judging Jess's character but as the story continued, I felt sorry for her and admired the lengths she would go to protect her children.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story is one many women will relate to. It’s about motherhood, trying to go it alone, and the dark thoughts that accompany our fears. Jess is the mom who has it all. But her story about her child’s ER visit doesn’t add up and Liz, the doctor, begins to realize something is wrong....with her past, too. Taught, well-written, and relatable, this is a great thriller.

This is a sad and engrossing tale of motherhood.

First thing to know is that this is not really a mystery or a “domestic thriller” - I went in expecting that, and found more of a Big Little Lies type story of a group of friends with a focus on one particular family. If you are expecting a more traditional thriller just know that this is not that book.

Despite that, the book was engrossing. There is a mystery of sorts in the book - how did mother Jess’ child get seriously injured? Jess’ friend, a doctor, is the first to identify the injury and also one of the first to wonder if her friend was responsible for hurting her child. I found this story very involving and the sensitive subject matter was handled with frankness and honesty as well as not a little sadness.

I think it’s always useful to read a book that explores the darker sides of motherhood, and does not rest on so many of the stereotypes of “perfect mothers” common in women’s fiction.

As with many books that try to be thrillers or quasi-thrillers nowadays, I felt like this book had one twist too many. The original ending, before the unpredictable twist, was a good one and made for a consistent and highly readable story. The twist itself was somewhat out of left field, but managed to work anyway, even though I think I would have preferred the ending without it.

This is a really well-written piece of women’s fiction and I recommend it, even though it will break your heart a little.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Sarah Vaughn for the advance copy of this book, which was at times a tough read, but a good one.

Little Disasters is a very well written mystery. A plot that pulled me immediately into the story. A real page turner. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I was intrigued by this book. A mother brings her baby into the hospital and it's discovered she has a fractured skull. The doctor, a friend, knows the mother is covering up something. An investigation ensues and the story gets very tangled. The author included tricky plots that were very clever. I felt sorry for little Frankie who bore the brunt of the blame and he wasn't at fault at all. Jess stupidity angered me. It shows how quickly life can become disastrous if you turn your back.

This book wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed it all the same. I requested this thinking it would be a fast-paced thriller, but instead I would say that it is a thoughtfully-paced mystery. However, the tension builds throughout the book and I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Recommended for anyone who enjoys mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a fan of The Anatomy of a Scandal, so I was curious to see what Vaughn would write this time around. Liz is a pediatric doctor, who has drawn the short straw and is working Friday night when a friend, Jess, brings in her ten month old baby to the ER. The mother’s story isn't consistent with the head injury. As much as Liz doesn’t want to, she’s forced to get social services involved.
We hear from both women, in a nonlinear fashion. The women have vastly different lives. Jess is a stay at home mom in a “traditional” marriage. She’s an anti-vaccine, perfectionist, organic food kind of mom as well. I can’t say I liked either Jess or Ed, probably because I just couldn’t identify with them. But I could sympathize with the way their lives are overrun once the ball starts rolling on the investigation. And as the book went on, I definitely felt sorry for Jess, as she has some serious issues.
Liz was someone I totally related to. She’s blessed with a good marriage but has an alcoholic mother. She's the kind of gal that suffers insomnia because of everything she worries about.
The book shows how little we sometimes know or understand our friends. And how one instance can make us call all our assumptions into question. It is a well paced book, with an underlying tension. We know from early on that Jess is lying. But why? Kudos to Vaughn as I was sure I knew what had happened but she threw in a great twist I didn’t see coming. I loved this ending as it reminds us of the importance of our friendships.
Now, I’m not maternal at all, unless there are four legs and a tail involved (another reason I didn’t bond with Jess). But parts of the book disturbed me!
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

Jess is a mother of 3 and has felt overwhelmed since the birth of her youngest. Her husband works long hours and she finds herself frequently alone to manage the home and children. 

Jess feels isolated and alone. She struggles with feelings of anger and resentment toward her infant daughter. 

A trip to the ER with the young girl results in protective services being called; raising questions about Jess’s care of her children. Her husband is ambivalent; torn between how he feels and inconsistencies in Jess'  story. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a slow building drama/,mystery 


Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book

Liz, an emergency room doctor, is called on to assist with a baby girl's head injury. The head injury is puzzingly severe, and her mother - an old friend of Liz's - has no proper explanation. From there, this novel moves back and forth in time - from the present to when the group of friends first met at a prenatal class - ratcheting up the tension as it goes. The story deals with mental illness (such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts) and does so in a thoughtful and sensitive way. Some of the passages are quite difficult to read, particularly if you have young kids, but not in a gratuitous way. I reached the end and felt quite emotionally wrung out - it's an enjoyable psychological thriller, although I think it would have been better without the final twist.

This novel is both a compelling psychological thriller with unexpected twists and turns, and also an exploration of motherhood and female relationships from multiple angles. Pediatrician Liz is called in on a consult and finds a friend and her infant daughter. As she examines the little girl, she notices a head injury and has the sinking realization that the story is not adding up and she may have to report potential abuse. This has crossover appeal for thriller and women's fiction readers, as well as fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty.

Motherhood in the raw. Sarah Vaughan weaves the tale of motherhood through a group of women who met in a birthing group though ten years later things are not as they seem when Liz, a doctor, has to report her friend Jess after her youngest child has a skull fracture and the story doesn't quite add up. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of Little Disasters in return for an honest review.

When pediatrician, Liz Trenchard is called into ER by a junior doctor she is surprised to see that the baby daughter of her friend Jess is the patient. Jess says the baby has been crying all night and then started vomiting but when Liz examines her she finds a head injury that Jess can't adequately explain. However, Liz knows that Jess, stay at home mother of three, is the perfect mother all other mothers are jealous of, so what happened for baby Betsey to have a head injury?

This tale of mothers and parenting will resonate with many mothers who have experienced the long and often lonely hours of dealing with an unsettled baby who won't stop crying and hardly sleeps. It's no wonder that some exhausted, sleep deprived mothers will suffer from postnatal depression and even anxiety about accidently harming their babies. In trying to work out what has happened to Betsey, Liz is also forced to look at her own relationship with her mother and events that happened in her childhood. Although not a thriller, this is an engaging character-driven mystery, delving into what happened to baby Betsey, the events that led up to it and the importance of society and friends in supporting new mothers and recognising when they need help.