Joshilyn Jackson did it again!

Mother May I brought an action packed novel right to my fingertips. The entire book I felt as if I was in an episode of Criminal Minds.

This story is about how far a mother would go for her child. It brought action, love, betrayal and so much more. It is a must read

Wow! This book was so engrossing and kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Joshilyn Jackson has such a great way of weaving a web that it's hard to figure out what will happen next. I love how she created perfectly flawed women for this story. Most of them were not likable but I felt empathy for each and every one of them. I connected deeply to the underlining topic (don't want to spoil it), so much so that I know I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Bree Cabbat has the perfect life. The perfect husband, the perfect house, children she loves, and all of the wealth and social connections she could dream of. But then her infant son is kidnapped from right under her nose, which sets off a chain reaction which forces Bree to confront the secrets and truths she never wanted to know. But Bree is a mother, and will do whatever it takes to get her child back, no matter the costs. Even if that means ripping her world to shreds.

Mothers be warned, this book will bring your greatest fears to life. The reader can feel Bree’s anxiety and fear, and the pacing of the novel was on point with how Bree was feeling. I wouldn’t say the twists and turns were especially shocking, but all the reveals were very well done by the author. I would say this book is more suspenseful than thriller, and you can truly feel the emotion of the main characters.

Bree was such a complex character. There were parts of her I loved, and then other parts that just drove me nuts. She was both un-likeable and likeable at the same time. Nevertheless, it was hard not to root for her to succeed in her quest to save her son. So even when she lied or did something regrettable, it was hard to dislike her completely. The ending wrapped up well, but I think many readers are going to have some dissatisfaction with how some plot points ended. Again, this ties back to Bree’s character, and her thoughts/feelings.

I haven’t read any other of Joshilyn Jackson’s works, but I am definitely going to have to check out her backlist. Mother May I was an enjoyable, edge-of-your seat suspense novel that will have any mother constantly checking on the status of their children. It will also have all parents consider the lengths they would go to for their own kids. 4 stars.

I received a free digital ARC from NetGalley and Harper Audio in exchange for an honest review

This book was great. Well written, great characters and enough tension to keep me reading long past bedtime. It wasn't a super twisty book but it didn't really need that. I connected with Bree's character and really felt the dilemma. I have a little boy too so that was a scary aspect of the book for me. I had the audio of this one and I really loved that the narrator was the author. She did a fantastic job and really brought out the emotions in the book.

I volunteered to read this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. The author did a great job reading this book. The author did a fantastic job reading this book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first minute of listening to this book. You are not just listening to this book you are the characters experiencing everything. It has all the twists and turns a thriller needs and it is great. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook it is in stores now for $29.99 (USD).

I enjoyed this book. It was long, but it needed to be. There was an unexpected element to the story that I wasn’t expecting but it worked. The characters were well developed and whole. The writing was well paced and moved the story along at just the right speed. The ending was a little less than what I had seen coming but it too worked and gave an overall satisfactory closure. This was my third title by this author and I will definitely read more work by her. **Note: I did consume this work via audiobook which I believe she narrated herself- that medium added a bit more to the story (it also helped with the length) and bumped my rating from 3 to 4 stars. I would recommend that version if you have it available**

Mother May I
5/5 🎠

Thank you @netgalley and @harperaudio for an ARC audiobook! Mother May I came out last Tuesday, April 6th.

Okay so I was slow in finishing this one because I honestly couldn’t read it before bed 🙈 It was a mixture of the creepy voice the narrator used and the content of the story.

Bree is at her daughters school when her baby, Robert, vanishes. A note is left instructing her to get her baby back she must do what the kidnapper wants because she’s being watched. The story spirals from there.

I only predicted one part of the ending so overall this was excellently written and unpredictable! I’ve had Never Have I Ever in my ebooks for a while but now I feel like I need to read it ASAP to see if all of Joshilyn’s writing is this perfect ☺️

#MotherMayI #JoshilynJackson #thriller #mystery #audiobook #harperaudio #netgalley #ARC #goodreads #bibliophile #bookreview #bookworm #booknerd #bookish #booksofig #nsbookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammer #fivestarreads #recommendedreads #tbr

Posted to Instagram @myweekendisebooked April 13, 2021.

Oh wow! Mother May I was so much better then I thought it was going to be. Sure, it sounded great... but holy cow! Probably one of my favorite thrillers of 2021! There were multiple twists and turns while pulling on your heart strings at the same time as I got angry at different characters. I can’t wait to read this book again as a physical copy! If you get any book this year, I highly recommend Mother May I!

As someone else mentioned, I was captivated by the story despite it lagging during some of Bree's many times of reminiscing about her past. And in the end, for all of Bree's indignation of so many men getting away with so much (they should be in prison!) I can't let go of her own hypocrisy for not owning up to her own failings and sins, while continuing to enjoy her life of privilege and wealth. That is what is so interesting about this story, that I was able to see things from so many directions and know that so many wrongs were not going to be righted. I like the way this story makes one aware of so much, makes one think past the story itself.

Fast-paced, incredibly suspenseful story that would have been a 5 star read for me except for the ending, which was a bit of a let down. I still absolutely recommend this one. Loved the author's narration!

Joshilyn Jackson certainly shines when writing domestic thrillers that examine the nuances of family life. The book mostly takes place over two days after a chilling kidnapping which occurs at the beginning of the story.

I was on the edge of the seat listening to this incredibly suspenseful story. Bree is put into an impossible situation - a complete stranger has taken her baby and has given Bree a horrible task to complete in order to get baby Robert back.

The book rockets along at a breakneck speed as Bree and her old friend (who is now a private investigator) race against time to track down the mysterious kidnapper and get Robert back unharmed.

Bree's husband is traveling for business and her other two daughters are sent to their grandmother's while Bree figures out what to do, without involving the police.

Anything more about the plot would be a spoiler. First of all, the author did a fantastic job at narrating this harrowing domestic suspense. Her voice and slight Southern accent was perfect for the characters of a book set mainly in suburban Georgia and the surrounding areas. I also felt that the author really knew her settings, from Atlanta, to Alabama, to the upscale Southern suburbs. And any parent would sympathize with Bree's desperation and blind intent to get her child back, in any way possible.

There are lies, deceptions, and many twists and turns as Bree and her friend Marshall devise a plan to locate the kidnapper. I do think this book should come with a trigger warning for sexual assault so be warned! Plus I think the plot would certainly frighten any new parent.

Overall, Mother May I was a very engrossing, fast-paced thriller that gripped me from the very beginning. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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

I want to start by saying I don't normally like when an author narrates their own book. They generally get pretentious and over the top and I end up hating it. But, Joshilyn Jackson is my exception. I just love the way she narrates. I would almost always rather listen to her books because she really makes them come alive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, I loved the story line. I loved the twists and the turns. I was rooting for Bri from start to finish. I thought it was all well thought out and flowed well. Another book that I will be happy to recommend to friends, family, and patrons.

The story was great all throughout and had me on the edge of my seat but unfortunately the ending fell flat for more. Wanted more.

I liked the premise on this one. Creepy witch-like lady peering into the bedroom. Baby goes missing. Creepy lady who has stolen baby demands a task be completed if mom wants to get her baby son back. The synopsis says it all, but it is so much more after the task is completed. The psychological aspect of this novel was well thought out. I could not imagine what I would do in a situation like this and honestly found myself siding with the mother more than I typically do in these scenarios. The twist that rocks her world and the overall outcome were predictable but still entertaining. I do feel this could’ve been a little shorter. For me it took a bit to get to the meat and potatoes of the underlying issues. I also shocked myself by thinking that the crush aspect and how that evolved could have been left out. I typically like a little light sprinkle of this in my reads. However,  I liked the psychological dark side of this and felt that the brewing feelings pulled away from the plot a bit.

Now let’s talk narration! I was about a third of the way through when the audio came available and you know I cannot resist being able to immerse myself in all ways into my books. According to NetGalley, this is narrated by Jackson herself!  I was impressed. Not only can she deliver a great psychological thriller, but she can channel her characters with emotion and fervor. The mother’s fears and mental chaos shone through the narrative voice. Distinctive tones for each character stayed true to the end. My favorite voice was the creepy lady. I don’t want to reveal names but the old crone’s narrated character was perfection.

Outside of length and a slight hint of predictability I enjoyed this novel and the chaos of the plot. I’d recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers and suspenseful reads. I personally preferred the audio over reading as well. Thank you to William Morrow, Harper Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to this novel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Joshilyn Jackson. I love when the author narrates the book because the reader really gets to experience the author’s emotions. I feel like there isn't a better person to know how the emotions should be than the author.

The first half of the book is fabulous - Bree Cabbat has everything a woman could ever dream of - a loving attorney husband, two talented teenage daughters, a new baby boy, a gorgeous home, and every opportunity in the world. Growing up poor, she never dreamed it could be all possible. Then one day she wakes up to see an old woman dressed in black looking at her through her bedroom window. Later that day, she spies the old woman again - just minutes before Bree’s infant son vanishes. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; and if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow. The mystery woman makes contact and tells Bree that to get her baby back, she must complete one small task. She completes the task, but then the pieces of her life start to unravel, and she becomes complicit in a tangled web of tragedy and shocking secrets. Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family - even at the price of tearing her family apart forever.

I love Joshilyn’s writing so I was extremely excited to try out her audiobook. First off, if you don’t know already she reads it. I now feel like I have to go back and listen to every book she’s made an audiobook for. She brings so much life to her stories and has a great audio voice/tone. I seriously recommend this solely based off the author reading her own story. But beyond that, the story was so entertaining and had me so invested. I just wanted to know what was going on and how everyone is connected. I had a hard time pausing the audiobook. I just loved it that much. I

Synopsis:


The love of a mother. How one seemingly simple decision can change multiple lives. Now and the future. The choices we make have a ripple effect and you never know what those will be until it’s over and we may never know how one decision may change someone else’s life forever.

A kidnapping that is steeped in history. How much would you suffer through to get your child back? What would you do with a secret revealed that would change the you relationship with your husband?

This story deals with mistrust of the world, kidnapping, rape, and secrets revealed. How do you get through something that so drastically changes your world?

Review:

Mother May I kept me in suspense all the way through til the end. This was so good. While some of it I saw coming, there was so much there to keep me enthralled that it was worth continuing. I read it in one go via audiobook which was done so well. (I listened to this at x3 speed.

As a mother I felt the heart ache so real. I also can understand the mother’s view of this harsh world. It can easily take you under with so many dark things. (Or is that just me.)

While I don’t agree with rape or kidnapping, I really liked how Jackson took a deeper look into why people do the things they do. You never really know how your actions will effect others. This is what so many of us overlook. The concept of how a person be two contradicting things at the same time really resonated with me. I know different people get different sides of people. If one person brings out the good in you and the other the evil, are you really a good person or an evil one? I know we all have it in us to be either and some people are toxic for us and others help us thrive in goodness.

This definitely looks at the true depths of a person. The simple top coatings striped away to show a more intricate human being inside. The is the reality of us and I think Jackson did so beautifully.

If you enjoy mysteries, kidnappings, and hard toppings you should pick this up. This is a book to make you think about what drives people to do what they do.

I am glad to have received this audiobook from NtGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Good story line and it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. However, the next was a long time coming! There were so many times I wanted to slap the author for dragging parts out. I had wondered how Bree and Trey's relationship would wind up. I can't say I was disappointed. I liked how it all tied up at the end!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mother May I is not a bad book. It has decent pacing and says a lot of interesting things about class and class prejudice.

However, the first part was a bit similar to The Chain, which I read and enjoyed recently so it was hard for me to find the plot super original.

I also predicted things pretty easily, and since I don't read a ton of adult thrillers I don't think that's a good thing.

I think people who like domestic thrillers will still enjoy this one; it is just not for me.

I received a digital arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do to save your child? Bree Cabbat has created a wonderful life. Her marriage is passionate, the relationship with her teen/tween daughters is strong, and she adores her infant son. When her child disappears, she’s terrified and willing to do anything to get him back ... but is she?
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Mother May I confirms Joshilyn Jackson’s skills as an author of suspense as well as women’s fiction. The tension in this plot begins early and is maintained throughout - some twists and turns definitely surprised me. The joys and hardships of motherhood are explored from several points of view. Trigger warnings: Kidnapping, child abuse, substance abuse, rape, suicide
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The audiobook is read by the author; as a professional narrator, her delivery is excellent, but her voice is so distinctive, most of the female characters sound exactly the same. Thank you to William Morrow and Harper Audio for the review copies of this title; all thoughts are my own.

I did really enjoy Mother May I and honestly the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because in the beginnings, I did struggle with listening to the narration (done by the author herself, Joshilyn Jackson). However, it did seem to pick up getting further into the book and didn't bother me so much by the end! I do think that she did do a great job of distinguishing her voice between the characters but in some ways it felt like the kidnappers voice was over the top, but I'm sure that was the point!

This story has it all...love, family, friendship, chilren, a mother's love, horror, excitement, curiosity, just to name a few! It feels like all too often you read the same type of mystery book. Of course there are subtle differences to every book, but Mother May I is a totally different ball game and I love it! It is psychological suspense AT IT'S BEST!!!!

The cast of characters are interesting and characters that you want to read about and get to know! They were well thought out and in depth and gave so much fulfillment to the story!

The ending was one I would have NEVER suspected but appreciated!

Overall, EXCELLENT book! Joshilyn Jackson knocked it out of the park again! I have been super thrilled with all of the books of hers that I have read in the past and this one is no different! And it certainly won't be my last either!!

I would like to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to Joshilyn Jackson, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Mother May I, which in turn allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review.