"Mother May I" by Joshilyn Jackson is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly blends suspense and family drama, earning it a solid four-star rating. Jackson's characters are intricately crafted and deeply compelling, each one adding layers of complexity to the story. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a picturesque suburban neighborhood, the setting is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in a world where danger lurks just beneath the surface.

Jackson's writing style is both lyrical and suspenseful, with prose that crackles with tension and emotion. The plot of "Mother May I" unfolds with a perfect blend of mystery and intrigue, as the protagonist navigates the twists and turns of a terrifying ordeal. The pacing is expertly handled, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each new revelation. The relationships between the characters are richly developed, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.

Overall, "Mother May I" is a riveting and engrossing novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Jackson's skillful storytelling, atmospheric setting, and compelling characters make for an immensely enjoyable reading experience. Whether you're a fan of psychological thrillers or simply love a good page-turner, "Mother May I" is a must-read that is sure to leave you breathless.

This was my second read by this author and once again I felt it just missed the mark for me.

It only takes a moment. Your focus is elsewhere. When you turn back…your child is gone. Poof! This is what happened to Bree when her young son strapped in his car seat vanishes when her attention turns to her other children.

When Bree is contacted by the kidnappers she is told she only needs to perform one small act and her son will be returned to her unharmed. Easy peasy! Well not so fast….

I’m all about suspending my believability in order to enjoy a thriller. But this one really asked a bit too much from me.

The author narrated her own book and I thought she did a fabulous job bringing the characters to life.

I tried to give this book a chance. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. It also feels like the book tries to tackle too much. I know this book will be enjoyed by other readers. I will not be sharing this review on my pages.

This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book and I just loved it so much I went to my local BAM to buy it and ended up getting a signed book. Was so excited!

Suspenseful with lots of twists and turns. Joshilyn Jackson is brilliant at making most of the "bad" characters morally grey rather than all bad - more true to life. And great for book club discussions - at what point has someone atoned for sins of the past? And really, what is atonement?

This one had me talking to fellow booksellers about Trey, Bree, and especially the witch in the window. The ending is satisfactory if just a bit neat. Overall a good solid suspense with some heart wrenching moments for anyone who is a parent!

What wouldn't a mother do to get back her kidnapped child? That alone was enough to grab my attention and keep it. The relationship that develops between the kidnapper and the mother was interesting and you could feel the pain on both ends. In addition, the backstory on the motivation for the kidnapping speaks to white male privilege and the different paths of victims and perpetrators.

I don’t usually read thrillers, but this story of a desperate mother compelled me and I’m so glad I read this one! It kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime

What would a mother do to get her child back? When Bree Cabbat's son is taken she received very specific directions. Will she be able to get him back? This scenario is every mother's worst nightmare.

This is a fast paced read that will kept me guessing. There are twists, turns, and surprising revelations repeatedly threw my predictions off course. I highly recommend it.

This is my second JJ book and this one was hard for me to read as a mom - it made me highly uncomfortable. I enjoyed it but don't think I was mentally in a place to want to read this book right now. It was thought provoking though!

I did not enjoy this one. I found the story itself strange and the characters hard to connect with. I generally like this author and will read future books, but this was not for me.

I was quickly drawn into this book but by the end I felt it was just ok. There wasn’t anything specific that made it less than stellar but overall I just felt it fell short of being awesome. I did also listen to the audio version which was narrated by the author. Sometimes I really love this because some authors have the ability to read their words flawlessly and with the perfect tone and pitch in all the right places. I think for me this actually took away from the book a bit because the author had a distinctive voice and it just doesn’t fit all the characters in this particular book. While I really wanted to love this book I think it fell a little short.

Special thanks to #netgalley #MotherMayI for special access to and advanced readers copy

OMG, what a page turner this book is! This is a new author to me and if you have never read anything by her I highly recommend you pick this book up and start turning the pages! There are some pretty intense moments! ENJOY!!

This book really touched me--and what mother has never had a fear of a missing child? and that knot in my stomach stayed with me almost through the whole book. Bree could have been a spoiled weepy "can't do anything" mom, but she chooses to fight for her child and in the end showed some compassion for the people who took him (unbelievably). all while finding out secrets from a past life.

This was a page turner! As a mother, I was definitely pulled in and needed to see what this mother would do to get her child back. I really enjoyed this one and plan to read more from this author.

After loving Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson, I have been looking forward to reading Mother May I. First, the cover is gorgeous. Second, this book is fast paced and will keep you reading way past your bedtime. It’s suspenseful and a true page-turner and those are two elements I love in a book. This book was a solid 4 stars for me.

I love a dramatic start to get me into a story and this book did not disappoint. As a mother, there is little more worse than to have something happen to your child. This was a solid story that kept me reading long into the night.

A fun and fast-paced thriller. You will read this in one quick weekend as you can't put this one down! A great read for anyone that loves a suspense thriller.

Bree is living the life of her dreams with a doting husband and beautiful children. Until someone who is out for revenge kidnaps her baby and forces her to decide just how far she will go to protect her family.

This is a plot-driven mystery/thriller with a psychological game of cat-and-mouse. It kept me turning pages to find out what happened next, and although it's somewhat unbelievable and uneven at times, it was a good read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This was a wonderfully fast paced thriller with a lot of twists that were unexpected.

Bree has made a good life for herself by finding Mr Right in Trey and they have a perfect life. 2 amazing girls and then an infant son to complete the family.

Trey is away on business when Bree is started on a journey of terror and anxiety. She and her best friend's husband, Marshall, are partnered together on this journey to hopefully beat the clock.

This is a book with several triggers: child abduction, rape and torture.

This plot is very well done and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat hoping for a happy ending to this tragic story. Wonderfully done. Joshylin Jackson does it again

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.