This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Totally chaotic but in a way that really works.

Rowan seems to have the perfect life. Successful writing career, loving husband, and a gorgeous new baby girl. But after a traumatic birth, she is struggling with her mental health -- resulting in a fight with her young babysitting, June.

June is an aspiring actress who is just finding her way in New York City. During the day she works as an editorial assistant for a talent agency, where she becomes more entwined in the personal lives of Rowan and her husband, Gabe.

This story is told through both women's POV and bounces back and forth between the past and present day as the reasons behind Rowan's mental health struggles and June's disappearance start to come into focus.

All I can say is, this book didn't go where I thought it was going at all. Great, high-suspense read!

📚: The Break by Katie Sise (@katiesise)
⭐️: 4/5

Rowan is a new mom in New York to beautiful baby Lila. She’s navigating new motherhood with her husband, Gabe and help from a babysitter, June. Another part of her new motherhood reality? A paranoia that brings panic, anxiety where something feels so wrong and filled of dread. What is really going on, and who can Rowan trust?

A slow(ish) burn thriller, this book brings maternal mental health to the forefront. While some of it hit so close (too close?) to home - fellow new mom that experienced a traumatic birth and suffered through PPA here 🙋🏻‍♀️- these kind of stories, both real and fictional, are so important to bring stories of motherhood and postpartum to light. (But seriously, a TW for those that have battled postpartum mental illness.)

Thanks to Little A via @netgalley for the digital ARC. The Break is out now, and available on Kindle Unlimited. #gifted

I struggled with how to rate this one. This story is told in dual POV, which I love. Without this, I think this story would have really suffered. Rowan is suffering from PTSD after having a baby. June is the babysitter who goes missing. I enjoyed many parts of the story but it didn't really start progressing until after the half way mark. So, I settled on a 3. I'll definitely read more by this author.

This was a fantastic thriller—it had suspense, twists and turns and many plot twists. Just when you start thinking one thing, another twist pops up! Highly recommend!

This was a great read….the ending was a surprise as there were multiple characters that were suspect. I liked the two points of view of the main characters.. all in all I enjoyed this read and look forward to,reading more of this authors work.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s a story that wraps up motherhood and paranoia and intrigue, and twists it together masterfully.

Although the book started off quite slowly, once you get into it, it’s undeniably bold and enthralling. The mystery is one you want to uncover, and each layer is peeled back slowly at just the right time. Thrillers can often fail when it comes to their pacing, but I had no issues here. New things are revealed just before I can declare getting bored and it was enough to keep me going until the next thing.

Some parts of the story feel disjointed however, and left me wanting. Sean, for example, never feels as fully fleshed out as you’d like a major character to be and his reveal as the antagonist is almost cheapened by his absence. I wish his character had been handled with a bit more nuance or finesse, as some aspects of the character and plot felt cliche.

Still, quite enjoyable and just as page turning as I want a thriller to be.

This is the second book I have read by this author and it was excellent. This book was dark and suspenseful, a very fast paced story. I read the whole book in just 2 sittings. The main character was suffering from postpartum issues and PTSD so it created another layer to her story. The story was told through various perspectives and each added to the story. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Break is the third book I've read by Katie Sise and it's her best work so far. I was excited to be granted early access since I enjoyed her prior novels - We Were Mothers and Open House. The Break refers to a possible psychotic break and definite post=partum depression that Rowan suffers after the traumatic birth of her beautiful baby girl Lila. Her husband Gabe is very cautious allowing Rowan to be alone with Lila and a part-time babysitter, June, is hired to help out. Rowan's distress about possibly harming her baby was palpable to me as the reader. The anxiety she feels came right off the page. The story is multifaceted - several storylines that are all connected but not so obviously at the beginning. The Break was a great book to start at the New Year and I read it in two days because I enjoyed it so much. It would be best described as suspenseful but not over-done.

Sometimes there is pain in childbirth, this book is raw look at what happens when a mother goes through a traumatic birth and postpartum depression and anxiety. When this happens, it makes you question everything you do for your child. The look into the life of Rowan, draws you in with ending you never see coming, there is murder, love loss and the power of what is right in front of you.

Rowan doesn't remember what happened the day her daughter came into the world. What she does have flashes of memory of is how she almost her hurt her friend and her daughter's babysitter. As she starts to put the pieces together, things come to light then her friend is found dead, and she is the last one to see her. Is she going crazy or is someone trying to hurt her and her child??

This book will leave you on the edge of your seat till the end, gripping page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for copy of this book for my honest review.

This was a slow burn thriller for me. It kept me interested and I did not guess the ending. Good for readers who enjoy a multi layered mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ecopy of this book.

Truly an insane book. This one is just so fun and thrilling. Thank you to Amazon Publising for the advanced copy

Rowan and Gabe are the proud new patients of their baby girl Lila. Rowan is having some difficulties, and is suffering from PTSD after her traumatic birth, and she’s having trouble remembering. Rowan nearly died during childbirth she finds herself becoming paranoid and suspicious of everyone around her.
Harrison is Rowan’s and Gabe’s friend and works at a talent agency, he recommends June who dreams of being an actress to help the new parents as a nanny, and help Rowan when she feels overwhelmed. Soon June requests to take some time off after being frightened by something that happened between her and Rowan.
When June disappears just days after her and Rowans altercation, Rowan becomes the main suspect. The neighbors come forward and say they heard screaming. But only Rowan knows what really happened that night, and she has to dig deep because she knows she can’t trust her own mind. Rowan decides to her investigation but is helping or making herself look more guilty? I loved this book it made myself question every character and their motive! It gave us Rowan’s and Junes POV and that just added to the story!

Okay I really, really enjoyed reading this book a lot! It was the perfect twisty tale and I found it hard to put down!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Break by Katie Sise.

Ooooh, this was a new little spin on a domestic mystery. After Rowan viciously accuses her new baby's nanny June of mistreating her baby, she feels awful. Rowan isn't herself after giving birth, and she knows she's not acting right. And she's so relieved when June anxiously forgives her. But Rowan can tell that something is off, there seems to be a thick tension ever since that time. And when June goes missing, Rowan is shocked to find herself on the suspect list.

I've definitely read things with this flavor before, I could name a few movies and books that had the same smack. But I don't want to give anything away. Regardless, this was fresh and fun, and kept me hot on my toes the whole time. Definitely worth the read.

Such a great book! Highly recommend it to anyone and I look forward to reading more by this author! A must read!

After becoming a mother, Rowan O'Sullivan is overwhelmed with dread and paranoia. She accuses her part-time babysitter, June, of unspeakable things, only to have her disappear days later. As Rowan's memory has become unreliable and frightening since the birth of her daughter, Lila, she must try to untangle the deep recesses of her mind and face the dark things she's so desperate to keep buried. Rowan must discover what happened to June in order to protect her newborn and find out if she can trust the people she loves and most importantly, herself.

Rowan has it all, a new baby daughter, a husband, and a part time babysitter to help with it all...yet she feels dread. She starts blaming the babysitter for everything that is going wrong. Then the babysitter disappears and everything is broken and left for Rowan to answer to. She can't remember and tries desperately to untangle the deep recesses of her mind and face the dark things she’s so desperate to keep buried. No one is prepared for the outcome!
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of the book!

This is a well done twisty thriller with good characters. This easily could have been exploitative but it's not. The dual time lines work. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This is a great psychological thriller. They're are many twists and turns, along with the dual POV that keep you guessing until the end

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Holy mind blowing, knock your socks off psychologically thriller!! Katie Sise delivered a gripping, emotional on the edge of your seat story line. There were so many twist and turns my head was spinning. While some subjects presented in this story are difficult (postpartum and mental illness) Sise did her research and incorporated the sensitive subjects amazingly.

Roman dealt with an usually trans birth with daughter, Lila. She has no memory of what should have been a happy moment in her life. With the help of husband Gabe and babysitter June she is trying to navigate life after, but when she lashes out at June that’s when everything takes a turn. When June disappears all eyes are on Rowan. Feeling out of sorts Rowan doesn’t know who to trust, not even her own thoughts. Will she every be able to uncover the truth?

I loved this book! I cannot say enough about this psychological thriller that incorporates realistic issues. This really made the story come to life: if you need a mind bending novel read this now!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Katie Sise and Little A publishing for this amazing ARC.