Her chest tightens, her heart speeding up. The kitchen is chaos. she steps on something hard, and looks down. The dinosaurs are scattered everywhere, But her son is nowhere - her baby boy is gone. The police arrive. she can't look at her husband. Instead, she studies the network of lines on her shaking hands. Then her phone beeps with a voice message. "Listen to it on speaker" says the detective. A woman's voice fills the air..

Wow. This is another page turning, gripping and well written book. The pace is fast and I was pulled into this story from the first page. The characters are well developed. I think this is a book that you need to go into it blind, the less you know about the plotline, the more you'll enjoy the story when you do read it. There's twists and red herrings but I did eventually guess where the story was heading.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author Nicole Trope for my ARC of #TheStayAtHomeMother in exchange for an honest review.

I found The Stay-at-Home Mother to be a gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down. I was easily drawn in by the prologue and enjoyed how the story unfolded. There are some great twists along the way and an ending I didn’t see coming. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

I read this book in oe sitting, it was so good. Absolutely gripping all the way through and so many twists that I felt like I had whiplash. A great read.

Nicole Trope is a mastermind of psychological thrillers!

Just when you think you have the plot twist figured out, here comes another plot twist and then another plot twist. The Stay-at-Home Mother is a dual character thriller that tells the story of Andrea and Gabby. Andrea is the mother of a toddler and is nine months pregnant with a new baby, when her and her husband who has dark secrets move into a neighborhood. Before long, Andrea meets her across the street neighbor, Gabby, a fellow stay at home mother, or so she thinks. But just as Andrea’s life is not perfect, neither is Gabby’s. They both have secrets. Dangerous and dark secrets that threaten their perfect suburban life facade.

This psychological thriller covers a mix of using social media to make ones like look perfect, fraud, addiction, mental illness, and naivety. The author uses the characters weaknesses and emotional triggers to really drive the story home and tie the multiple twists and turns together. She did a fantastic job and I would give this more than five stars if I could! It was highly addicting and hard to put down.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion of a review.

There is one word that comes to mind when I think about this book, that word is awesome. The author ensured that every line conveyed a sense of breathless anticipation. I knew what was going to happen from the outset, at least I thought I did. I was wrong Nicole Trope serves up twist after twist until I had no idea whether I was on my head or my heels. The final chapter was a work of genius, I don't think anyone will see that coming. I can't wait to read more of this brilliant author's work.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

“Everyone is hiding something. It’s just that some people are better at it than others.”

Trope’s upcoming book is a five-star, mind-bending thrill ride!

It’s about how we react when we find ourselves in the midst of the unthinkable. It’s about the tendency to overlook our blessings at the first sign of a struggle. And most of all, it’s about the importance of living authentically, wary about the ‘fake news’ that bombards us daily.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with such an unreliable narrator…and I think I liked it! I was aware from the outset that the Gatelys and the Burrells were keeping secrets, but every time I thought I had it figured out, Trope surprised me. I liked how she used plausible topics from today’s newspaper headlines to explore her theme of deceit, mental illness and fraud. As I turned the last page, I thought how sad it is that it takes the experience of almost losing everything for human beings to place a greater value on change.

Trope’s characters are emotionally driven and she uses their unthinkable experience to explore relationships, forgiveness, appearances, and justice. She proves that a fresh start is within the grasp of each of us; we are only one decision away from a completely different life.

This thought-provoking psychological thriller must be on your reading list in the new year.

Be ware of Greeks bearing gifts! Chocolates aren't JUST chocolates.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I enjoy Nicole Trope's writing and do not miss an opportunity to read a new release so I was excited for "The Stay-at-Home Mother." The story was good with an increasing level of disturbing suspense in situations that are particularly frightening for mothers. The characters were well developed and written, the conflicts felt authentic, and the ending had a satisfying twist that I did not see coming. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre or are an N.T. fan. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an enjoyable, quick read. The alternating perspectives and advancing times lines were intriguing. There were definitely parts where I was racing through the pages to get answers. In the end, parts of this just fell flat for me. It was slightly anti-climatic, which I believe is because I anticipated the ending. It was missing the shock factor for me. Nonetheless, it was a solid read.

Two mothers become friends, but neither is exactly what she seems to be. I enjoy domestic thrillers that involve motherhood and this kept me turning pages the whole way through. It wasn't quite what I was expecting - that scene from the book's description doesn't happen until the very end - but it was an entertaining, fast paced read.

It is very hard for me to get through books with barely any dialogue. This was a very slow paced read. I enjoyed the twist at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I'm unfortunately DNFing this at 33%. It's a very slow paced book for me with unlikeable characters. I really wanted to like this but there was nothing for me to get into after quite literally the first page. I'm thankful for NetGalley to send me the arc but as of now I'm going to check out other books from this author.

Thank you Nicole Trope, Bookouture, and Netgalley for this advance copy.

Wow this book was fantastic! Gripping and mind bending! This book is a must read! Nicole Trope is a new to me author and I just put all of her books on my TBR! Love when I find an author that wows me! That epilogue! Holy heck! What a shocker!

Andrea, her husband Terry, and their 3 yr old son, Jack move to a new neigborhood, after losing their house. Andrea who is pregnant and due in a few weeks, is exhausted an overwhelmed with a toddler and getting them moved into their new house. When the new neighbor, Gabby befriends Andrea and offers her much support that is needed at this time.

Gabby has a teenaged son name Flynn. Gabby's husband travels for a living, and Gabby is all alone with Flynn, who lately has been unruly. So they are both benefitting from this new friendship.

One day Flynn disappears and Gabby doesn't know what to do to find him. In the midst of all of this Andrea starts having contractions and can't reach her husband so she has to leave Jack with Gabby.

When Andrea gets home from the hospital (just braxon-hicks) Gabby and Jack are gone. Her neighbor's house is in disarray. Furniture turned over, picture frames on the floor and broken, clothes strewn all over the bedroom, and the front door is open.
What happened in Gabby's house? And where is Gabby and Jack?

Make sure to grab a copy to find out what happened them!

The story successfully drew my attention in the first chapter. I’m hooked!


When Andrea received a voice message saying by a woman, “why are you using a picture of my son in a missing children’s website? Why are you using it and when did you get it?”


Andrea Gately and Terry have a young son called Jack. Meanwhile they are expecting a newborn baby girl in the coming days. Andrea has moved to a new neighbourhood in Sydney.


Gabby is a divorced single mother with a grumpy teenage son called Flynn. They lives opposite to Andrea. Gabby invites Andrea home and becomes their new friend.


Gabby broke down and found out that his son Flynn left her and was on the way to USA to find his father Richard - in order to escape from his controlling mother.


But is that true?


Among these 34 chapters, the POV of Andrea and Gabby, revealing bit by bit but full of twists. I like all the characters created by Nicole, especially Jack. Young but brave!


Pub date: 3 Jan, 2023

Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture for this ARC. The beginning of this book was a little slow for me, but I was curious and wanted to know what was going to happen. The book really picked up for me and then I couldn't put it down. I agree with other readers that I did not see the end coming. I have really enjoyed every book I've read by Nicole Trope and I can't wait to read what she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy of The Stay-At-Home Mother. This one took me awhile to get into, I truly felt for the heroine. I knew the neighbor was lying about her son right from the start. The husband was a total waste. The ending completely fooled me, did NOT see that coming at all. Stick with it, the ending will be worth the read.

This was a slower paced mystery/suspense book. I wouldn’t put it in the thriller category but it was really fascinating. I liked the back and forth between characters each chapter-dual pov, it made it way more interesting to read. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, but I was sucked into the story.

Book Title: The Stay-at-Home Mother
Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: January 3, 2023
My Rating: 4+ rounded up!

Andrea Gately and her husband Terry are moving into a new house. They have a young son Jack and are expected a baby. Andrea is overwhelmed with the move as the house isn’t new but in need of remodeling. She missed her old neighborhood and friends so is happy to meet her neighbor Gabby, who is a stay-at-home-mom, with Flynn a teenager and has befriend her and Jack. Gabby’s husband Richard travels a lot so Gabby is pleased with getting to know Andrea.

Now more disappearing is taking place! Andrea is exhausted at 8 ½ months so when Gabby offers to take Jack for the day Andrea agrees. However, at 7:00 Terry has rushed home from a business diner as Andrea has not answered any of his text messages, He find her home asleep and no Jack. He clarifies that Gabby is watching Jake but she should have returned him hours ago.
Where are Gabby and Jack? Have they disappeared?

Now more disappearing ~ Flynn is gone.
Gabby apologizes to Andrea for the miscommunication regarding watching Jack and then tells her that Flynn hates her and has left and going to try to find his dad in the US.

I don’t want to give away any more as I want you to get caught up in this as much as I was!
I love psychological thrillers! I totally look forward to the twists and turns but in this story the twist has twists.

This was GREAT!!!
I always love reading the Author’s Notes/Acknowledgements etc. In this case ~ ‘A Letter from Nicole’; she provides us with a lot of information regarding her motivation ~including telling us that she changed the whole story when she wrote Gabby’s epilogue as a draft. She said Gabby had been dropping hits the entire story.
Wow! I love how the characters reach out to the author!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 3, 2023

Nicole Trope has written another really good book. It’s engaging and quick to read. I gave it 4 1/2 stars, because there was a gigantic twist at the end.

Andrea and Terry have hit hard financial times, and move into a smaller rental house. Andrea, with a 3 year old son, and pregnant with her second child, befriend a kind neighbor. Gabby, the woman across the street, is raising her teenage son, while her husband travels for business. She is immediately drawn to Andrea and her son, and offers friendship, kindness and babysitting to the exhausted expectant mother.
However, we find that Gabby has a lot of deep, dark secrets!
The final few chapters reveal the secrets, but the epilogue knocks the reader over the head with the twist!!
Thank you NetGalley, and Bookouture for the ARC!

Goid plot and interesting characters,not everything is at it seems,a twist at the end.kept the reader in suspence, good use of description.

The Stay-at-Home Mother by Nicole Trope is compelling domestic thriller with an intense and absorbing storyline. Totally unexpected twists during the story and at the end. Gabby was a surprising character. First book by Nicole for me and definitely will not be the last.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book