I was annoyed by this story. The writing wasn't bad per se, but the main character came across as needlessly whiny so it was hard to take her seriously. I didn't really care about the characters--maybe because I was seeing them through her eyes?--and the "big reveal" when it finally happened seemed more like an attempt at drama than a true party of the story. It was an effort to make it to the end of the story for me.

I would give this book a 3 or 3.5 stars. I think it really did a great job telling what it's like to be a new mother going through all emotions. I am not a mother, so I can not fully relate, but I think the author did a great job describing what it would be like. I also think she did a great job describing youth friendships & the messiness of life. I did go back & fourth on the narrator. Sometimes I liked her & sometimes I did not. I think she did a great job making it seem like she was telling the story, but other times I felt kind of blah towards her narration. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

This audiobook was an emotional read. Must more so than I was expecting. It wasn't a bad thing. It just hit me harder than I thought it would. It is all about friendships, trauma, being a first time mom and postpartum depression. I have two young children so I feel like this hit very close to home for me. Amanda's struggles were all too real to me. I have a 5 month old that will not sleep... so I felt like I could feel Amanda's exhaustion through the book. I also really liked the relationship between Amanda and Carrie. There were so many complex feelings there.

The narration was spot on. I think she encompassed Amanda's voice and thoughts perfectly.

I am looking forward to more from this author.

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed listening to the Audiobook of this book. It was an awesome experience. The narrator did an awesome job.
Everything Here is under Control was such an interesting read. With the whole drama of two best friends growing up together, growing apart, finding themselves and coming together again, it was a ride.

I enjoyed reading about the themes the book highlighted; All different kinds of relationships: romantic, mother-child bond, friendship; motherhood, self realization & growth even politics and the fight against racism and bad government.

Lovely book. Highly recommend.

An exploration into motherhood and the friendships between female friends - the second book I’ve read from a similar ilk this year, after Expectation by Anna Hope.

The story felt raw and incredibly perceptive. I don’t think the author chose to hold back any of the graphic details of childbirth and the aftermath (i’m always shocked to hear real accounts of how the American health system works). I liked the relationship between the adults and the children - it was such a complicated yet relatable relationship between Nina and Carrie. Gabe felt a bit generic as a character, ticking a lot of the stereotype boxes, but I think this is done on purpose as it helps the reader hone in on the other relationship. An interesting twist halfway through the book though starts to change your opinions on Gabe, both for better and for worse.

Story wise, it’s very simple. The setting was something I could completely picture - relatable in both the past and present day stories being told. There was a small conversation between Gabe and Amanda via text/messages near the end of the book which nearly killed me in the audiobook with the back and forth with the screen names. Perhaps when the narrator reads audiobook versions of screen messages they should put on different voices rather than reading the screen names - it might help make it sound less repetitive.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this whilst I was pottering around cooking, tidying the house or out on my lunchtime walks, and would dip into reading the Kindle version of it alongside the audiobook just before bed. A great story about relationships. Thank you again to NetGalley and Emily Adrian for granting me early access to this book.

Nothing is under control in this page-turner starting from the moment Amanda shows up on childhood friend Carrie’s doorstep with a young baby in her arms. Amanda has made the 500 mile drive in the middle of the night from New York to Ohio looking for help from her oldest friend.

Everything Here is Under Control is the story of a homecoming and connecting with friends from long past. The book also explores the complicated relationships of best friends and the complexity of familial relationships. All these connections are taking place in their hometown, where Amanda fled seeking a better life years earlier.

A key theme in this book was also the difficulty in transitioning to parenthood. Both Amanda and Carrie have struggled with their roles as new parents, and Carrie especially as a young mother. I appreciated the author’s exploring the challenges of a new baby and being a new mom, as it’s a topic that I don’t think is addressed often enough. It’s clear in this story that Amanda is challenged in this new role, and at times may feel that she is lost and lacking in support.

Overall I really enjoyed Everything Here is Under Control, which is a book that stays with you after you read the last word on the page. Will there be a sequel? I hope so!

Amanda, at 31 yo, having just delivered a baby ("Jack", 10 weeks ago), feels lost, and no one, not her "boyfriend" Gabe, not the doctors and nurses, and not even her mom truly understand how utterly desperately lost she feels. The only one who Amanda feels would truly understand her, is her "estranged" best friend, Carrie. But even if Carrie WOULD help her with Jack, Carrie is miles away in their hometown of Deerling, Ohio, and Amanda is in Queens NY. To reach out to Carrie, Amanda and Jack would have to leave Gabe (boyfriend and father) in NY (because he is working), and that would be unfair to Gabe. But unfair or not, Amanda makes the choice to return (to her hometown of Deerling and) to Carrie. And, once Amanda and Jack show up, Carrie IS, (luckily), ready to help.

The story alternates between 2016 (just prior to the elections), and 2002, and Amanda's and Carrie's senior year in high school, gradually revealing heir backstories. In their senior year, Carrie gets pregnant and chooses to have the baby. After Carrie's baby Nina is born, Amanda moves to NY with her boyfriend, Gabe, (not a spoiler). This is the story of their friendship. I do not want to say anymore. No spoilers.

I listened to the audiobook courtesy of Blackstone Publishing and @NetGalley. The narration by Madeline Lambert is fantastic. She pulls you into the story, and she does a really sweet job with Carrie's daughter (Nina's) voice (12 yo).

Overall, I enjoyed reading #everythinghereisundercontrol by Emily Adrian. She does a terrific job describing the many challenges (and life changes) first time mothers (& teenage mothers) face (this is because she started writing this book just after giving birth to her own child ... nothing like having just gone through with it!). The book has a really interesting twist that catches you off guard. Absolutely a worthwhile and fun read! I received a complimentary audiobook from Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley in return for my honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of this title and really enjoyed it! I loved the premise being a story of estranged childhood friends, their relationship, growing up, dealing with emotional difficulties, all against the uncertain backdrop of the 2016 presidential election. I really found this to be exceedingly interesting and very timely. As we enter into another presidential election and an even more uncertain time, I felt the book gave me hope about the future. It's essentially a story about motherhood, womanhood, friendships, grief, and the way we love each other.

Listening to this book, I was wrapped up in the first few lines. I really enjoy the narration and would listen to another novel narrated by this voice artist. The characters are nuanced and well-written and the vocalization of their thoughts, voices, and actions were exceptional. I felt the narration of this story really brought out the depth and complexity of the narrative.

The pacing was fine at about 7 hours. I've listened to very long books before, but this was the perfect length for this type of novel. I am so glad that I've been able to review this as my first audiobook review. Emily Adrian is a talented writer and I would read another book from her. This book is perfect for a book club or for fans of contemporary, prescient literary fiction. Fantastic narration by Madeleine Lambert as well!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a book that I have heard so much about. Amanda turns up at her childhood best friends house with her newborn in her arms. They haven't seen each other in years. The years away and the helplessness of a newborn mother is shown like you are with them at the house. Once you figure out the small twist, you are so engrossed with each character, you didn't even realize what was happening. If you have ever given birth in any way, this book will help you to feel appreciated for all that your body went through. I also read this through audio and I loved the narrators voice through out.

I received an audiobook copy of this book to review through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It was a quick and enjoyable read. The narrator did a good job of changing tones and inflections to reflect the emotions of the various characters. It is a realistic portrayal of the early days of motherhood. This was a compelling story of friendships and the ties that bind over the years and through various tough times. From the beginning of the book the reader knows there is a reason that the friendship between Amanda and Carrie is tense and strained, but when it is revealed it shows how strong their bond truly is. Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this text.

Everything Here is Under Control tells the story of two former high school friends Amanda and Carrie, reconnecting after many years. Amanda is a new mother struggling in this role and with her identity, and she shows up again in Carrie's life seeking help, Carrie having become a mother when they were still in high school.

The story touches on the expectations placed on mothers, the struggles new mother's face, and the complexities of friendship, especially as we age, change and adapt to our personal situations.

I felt like Amanda and Carrie's story was compelling in itself, so there were some points added to the plot, like the 2016 election, that felt out of place and distracting from the heart of the story. Their story and all the complexities within it could easily stand on its own without adding in current events to ground it in time. I felt like the "twist" of the story was an extra step that wasn't exactly necessary and took away from the real issues the author was examining. Listening on audiobook, I enjoyed the narration, but sometimes had trouble deciphering shifts in time or flashback scenes/chapters, as the transitions weren't always clear.

Overall, this was a solid read that did a good job of reflecting on new motherhood and friendships, and I would suggest this to anyone that's a fan of literary fiction, stories with strong female characters, stories of motherhood and its complexities, and fans of feminist reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There were parts I liked about this book and parts that I really disliked. I liked the characters a lot and thought that the author really did well showing their friendship. I did think Amanda seemed whiny and entitled at times. The story jumped back and forth a lot, so you have to pay attention to keep track. It could have been smoother in the transitions. I really felt let down at the end. The narrator was okay but she didn't really change her voice or emote much. .

This is the first audio book I've listened to. I was surprised, I guess I expected there to be more passion in the recording. The narration itself was very monotone. It made it difficult to tell the characters apart. There was a part in the book that was a text message that went back and forth for a whole page. That is fine to read because you can visually see that this is a text message. But to have it read to you was agonizing to listen to.

I was glad that I had my kindle download of this book next to me because the audio book stopped working about chapter 14. I tried everything and couldn't get it to work.

Now I understand why they have audio excerpts on Amazon so you can get a feel for the person reading the book before you purchase it.

The best thing about this book was it's depiction of new motherhood. From the physical and emotional and how relationships change, Everything Here is Under Control got it right! However, I found the characters so selfish and self absorbed! Once the plot twist is revealed you start questioning everything and the author does not do a great job of addressing those concerns. I did enjoy the book but wanted it to dig deeper into the various relationships.

"This is such a well -written book about motherhood and female friendships. It is told from the moms— Amanda. She has left the city to go to her hometown. She arrives at her friends house and you start to understand more about their friendship. It starts slow but then I got going and ended up enjoying it!

Amanda loves her new baby, but she is struggling to keep her head above water. Reaching her breaking point, she jumps in the car with the baby and drives to Ohio, arriving at her best friends house. Only problem is that she and Carrie haven’t spoken in years. Can their friendship heal?

This was such a great story of female friendship. Carrie and Amandas friendship faces some very unique and interesting challenges, but I loved how they came back together and found a way to heal some past wounds. It also focused a lot on the life and struggles of a new mother, which I can only imagine the difficulty new moms face. This was a quick and well done read.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Recommend: For anyone looking for fiction that focuses on the theme of motherhood

[Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review]

"Everything Here is Under Control" is a beautifully-written book about motherhood and female friendships. The story is told from the perspective of Amanda, a new mom, who has just driven from Queens to her hometown in suburban Ohio to show up unannounced at her friend Carrie's house. The reader slowly discovers the details of Carrie and Amanda's friendship, and why it is so intertwined with Amanda's feelings about motherhood.

The first half of the book was very slow for me. It focused on the day-to-day drudgery of caring for a newborn and Amanda's negative feelings towards motherhood, her partner Gabe who is still in New York, and her childhood best friend Carrie. I had to push myself through the first few hours of the audiobook because I couldn't find the "why" - why was this story notable? What was the point of the book? The "why" was revealed for me about halfway through (which I take issue with a little... I should at least know there's going to be a reveal, right? I wish the author would have hinted at it a bit more), and which completely changed the course of the book for me. The second half totally sucked me in, and I stayed up late listening to finish!

Despite the slow start, I'd recommend this one for anyone who is interested in fiction that focuses on new motherhood. And I'm definitely going to look into more of Emily Adrian's books; I loved her writing style. The audiobook was also well done.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An honest look at motherhood and relationships as the lines blur between friendship and family.

EVERYTHING HERE IS UNDER CONTROL is the type of book that doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It brings to the forefront the emotions and stresses of its characters all the while lacing wit and humor into the narrative. Adrian has written a true ode to what it means to be a woman, flaws, and all.

What I liked about this novel is that it has multiple layers. It is not just a story about the evolution of Amanda and Carrie’s friendship. It is not only about motherhood and the struggles women face from being a new mom to a single mom of a young adult. It brings together those elements with small-town mentalities laced with bigotry, complex emotions, and complicated past relationships. The reader gets to know all the players and invest in their lives as everything comes to the surface and is laid bare.

This richly told novel is honest, filled with heart, and smart. Adrian has taken what is going on in the country and shown a light on all the sides of humanity. She shows her readers that even when life isn’t perfect or under control, you can still find your way in life. A beautifully poignant read.

Amanda isn’t sure what she expected when she brought Jack into the world, but the responsibility for him falling just on her shoulders was not it. At her breaking point, Amanda packs up her newborn and leaves Brooklyn for the familiar comforts of rural Ohio -- and her best friend, Carrie. Carrie and Amanda had been inseparable in high school, but Amanda followed Gabe to New York City leaving Carrie (and Carrie’s daughter) behind.

Interspersed with dry humor and flashbacks to when Carrie and Amanda were in high school, Everything Here is Under Control is a beautiful but heartbreaking story about friendship and motherhood. Told through Amanda’s very sleep-deprived point of view, combined with the narrator’s performance on the audiobook, there were a lot of times I was actually laughing out loud or felt like crying (and it’s very hard for me to get outwardly emotional about books). What hit me hardest was how Amanda was struggling with her relationship with her partner, Gabe, and what she thought their relationship would look and feel the same after adding Jack to the mix. Turning to her mom for answers, Amanda’s mom suggests that Amanda loves Gabe less. Then, she reasons, Amanda’s expectations of him won’t be so high and she won’t be so disappointed when Gabe doesn’t help out with the baby -- his baby -- without being asked.

Amanda tries to run away from her current life, to put distance between herself and her reality, by returning home. She just needs a break from her life, from Gabe, from sleep deprivation and feeling like the worst mother in the world. But what Amanda does is put back the pieces of her life she scattered between Brooklyn and Ohio when she left to begin with.

Heartwarming and hilarious, Everything Here is Under Control was a book I related to on so many levels despite being kid-free. Amanda is a deeply flawed character, but she knows it (even if she does avoid self-reflection as much as she avoids actual mirrors). Amanda is relatable, and a reminder that even if you think you don’t have things under control, you’re always doing way better than you think you are.

This book was difficult to get into and I had a hard time sustaining my interest to start. At around 50% there was a major plot twist in the story, that I feel as though I should have seen coming. Overall this tells a story of withstanding friendship and motherhood. The sacrifices we make for our children and fighting for love and what we hold true.