A perfectly fine book but really requires you to suspend belief, I felt bad for Sarah and what she went though but this was quite a ride

What a wild ride! I listened to the audiobook version of this book and it was so well done. The narrator was good at differentiating voices which made it great to listen to. The story itself was crazy from the get-go and you never knew who to trust or what their motives were. I thought it was very well done after getting through the first chapter which was a bit slow-moving for me. I would definitely recommend this book for a fast-paced thriller laced with religious trauma, lies, and small town captors.

I only had one issue but it was with the audio file on Netgalley's app. Chapter 36 wouldn't play no matter what I did so I'll never know what happened to the internet modem.

When Sarah’s husband dies, she discovers he’s basically disinherited her, lied about his “dead” mother and promised their children to another family

I cannot imagine how I’d feel upon discovering my dead spouse had betrayed me so deeply! I felt such empathy for Sarah and could hardly bare to see what more lies and struggles lay ahead

Her decisions make sense but she clearly hasn’t read many thrillers herself, because being stuck in a house in the woods with no WiFi is a horror movie waiting to happen!

The book is fast paced and builds in tension, the red flags coming thick and fast - mother-in-law Candace is clearly one sandwich short of a picnic!!

I’ve been reading thrillers for many years, decades in fact and this is literally the first time I’ve felt represented! I’m Jewish and Sarah is the first Jewish character I’ve come across. Judaism isn’t just a religion, it’s a culture, that I think a lot of people don’t appreciate. I’m currently non practicing, but being Jewish is a huge part of my identity. Never having been represented in a thriller is actually really sad and I’m truly grateful to author Mina Hardy (Megan Hart)

Note, this book is not about Judaism, (but it definitely touches on some unfortunate fringes of Christianity)

The ending seemed a bit haphazard and the resolution, kind of abrupt. I prefer fully fleshed out scenes where conversations cover the conclusion, rather than a reflection of what happened, however I was satisfied with the ending and resolution

Audiobook narrator Gail Shalan was fantastic as all the characters, especially Candace, the MIL from hell! Actually I did cringe when she voiced the toddler Ellie - is any child that shrill?!!

Definitely going to be reading the rest of this authors thrillers and if you’re a romance fan, check out Megan Hart’s 30 other books!

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was from crazy to absolutely insane! I really enjoyed this book and gasped out loud at every twist in the plot. This one had me guessing and I could not wait to find out all the secrets. I really enjoyed this book and am in awe of how gripping it was.

A very creepy twisty story of someone trying to brainwash and gaslight a mother who just lost her husband and is trying to keep everything together for her daughter and unborn child. Not only did her dead husband's mother come out of the woodwork but the people she thought she trusted also tried to gaslight her into thinking her unborn child would be better off with them instead. It was unhinged in all the right ways and scary how close it is to reality and what happens to people.

I really enjoyed it ans will definetly be recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC of the audiobook! When Sarah's mother-in-law, who she believed to be dead and had never met, turns up after her husband's passing, she begins to realize everything she thought she knew about her husband was a lie. This was definitely an entertaining thriller whose twists kept on coming. This can, of course, start to feel too outlandish, but if you're someone who enjoys thrillers by Riley Sager and can suspend your disbelief enough, I definitely recommend this one. It's also a quick read which I appreciated. Because I received an ARC of the audiobook, I will just note that as a personal preference, I found the toddler voice to be really grating. The highlight of this book for me was the religious tension between the Jewish mother and the Christian mother-in-law, and the mother-in-law's inability to accept anyone else's belief system. Very entertaining!

Like A Mother is a slow, creeping type of mystery/thriller. For the first about 80% I’d call this more mystery, but towards the end it def gets thrilling and leaves you not able to put your book down until you reach the end.

Like A Mother follows a pregnant mother, Sarah, after her husband dies from cancer. A woman named Candace shows up saying she is her dead husband’s mother. Sarah and her toddler end up moving in with Candace and Sarah slowly begins to realize there is more to Candace and that she really had no idea who her husband really was. Creepy grandma’s is one of my favorite weird tropes and Candace definitely fit that role. If you like a thriller/mystery that is creepy/disturbing, and gives you this foreboding sense that something sinister is slowly building then this one if for you!

I read this one on audiobook and I’d highly recommend! The narrator did an amazing job.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Audiobook ARC of Like a Mother.

Unfortunately i could not like this book despite really trying to, i liked the narrator and the overall vibe of the story but couldn't connect with any of the characters and all felt one dimensional
Sorry

This book was such a wild ride!

From living her worst nightmare, Sarah is trying to move on after her husbands death. But what happens when the mother in law you thought was dead was very much so alive?

This is a short, but very fast paced book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And a lot of things keep adding up to make it a crazy ride that you have to get to the end of!

This was a super creative story with things I definitely didn't expect or have heard of before!

The narration is great, and keeps you entertained all the way through!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook ARC opportunity!

This book, in my opinion, wasn’t as much of a thriller as it was a domestic suspense. The story begins with Sara, whose husband has passed away. There was an intensity to it, and this interested me, however the book slowed down in the middle and became repetitive.

Sara ends up moving in with her mother in law, who she was told was not alive (by her husband). Sara needs financial assistance and stability, so she moves in with Candice only to find Candice is a nightmare of a mother in law. I found it frustrating that Sara stayed through different scenarios however this is certainly seen in many domestic suspense novels.

The narrator did a great job of keeping the story interesting and showing emotion. While this wasn’t my favorite, I will definitely try another book from this author as there is potential!

This book was a such a wild ride, and I loved it! The narration was easy to follow, and I wasn’t bored at all like I can be sometimes while listening to an audiobook. Like a Mother was twisty and fun. I couldn’t believe all the twists and turns! Would recommend. I have a review post of this on Bookstagram and have it linked below.

There is just something about mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships that can make a person cringe if they have had a bad experience with it. The plot line really caught my interest when I read the synopsis. I had to see what it was all about.

Sarah is widowed from her fabulous husband, Adam. They have a daughter and a baby on the way. After her husband dies she has to figure out how to make it on her own; the money she thought she had been left is not there. In pops Candace who says she is Adam’s mom. Sarah is shocked as she was told his mother was dead. She decides to get to know Candace so her kids can have a grandmother.

Screech!! Stop!! Pump the brakes!! This may not be what it’s cracked up to be and it’s getting a little too weird for Sarah. There is also Adam’s best friend, Graham and a house helper at Candace’s named Honor. All of the characters are unusual and a bit creepy, except for Sarah and her daughter.

I have been listening to audiobooks a little more lately but I don’t do it often. I am so glad I listened to the book, as the narrator was fantastic. I really got an idea of what Candace was supposed to be like with Gail Shalan narrating. All of the characters were represented great, but Candace in particular, was as creepy as they come.

I am looking forward to more books by Mina Hardy. She is going on my Favorite list. I really enjoyed this Thriller/Psychological Thriller. The ending was satisfying and gave great closure. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this book.

Sarah is living a woman's worst nightmare. Her husband died. She has a young daughter and is pregnant. And their finances are not what she thought they were. And she isn't sure what to do.

She believed her husband's mother to be dead. So when she shows up offering to help, Sarah is hesitant. But she really has no other choices, so she accepts.

Things get wild. There are many twists and I often was not sure what was going on. Intense, creative and surprising.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an eARC of Like a Mother in exchange for my honest review!

While the first two acts prove to be slower than I would have liked, the third act delivers a great punch of a payoff that helps me emerge from this with a positive attitude. Sarah is a protagonist with whom I'm able to connect fast as she wrestles with maternal anxiety and the growing cauldron of secrets that brews within her deceased husband Adam's family. This happens despite my issues with how those first two acts don't progress as fast as I want them to, with their execution leaning toward the sort of formulaic territory that reminds me of tons of other thrillers I've gobbled up by now. But I do admire this weaving Sarah's Jewish identity into the story and convincing me that it's a crucial part of her character. I listened to the audiobook, and I enjoyed Gail Shalan's narration of it. I especially find that she does a good job at infusing Adam's mom Candace with a mixture of elderly politeness and cloaked eeriness. And once we enter the third act, that's where this really gets cooking as it dishes out some twists and turns, unveils the grim depths of Adam's family, and gets my heart pumping. I think the epilogue could have been handled less abruptly, though, but I'm still generally satisfied with how it ends.

Overall, I'm officially rating Like a Mother by Mina Hardy (a pen name for Megan Hart) 3.75 out of 5 stars, which I'll round up to four stars on Goodreads. I'll keep an eye out for more of the author's work.

Yikes on bikes. A twisty, turny, trust no one read. This was hard to stop listening because I wanted to know what was going to happen! Great narration.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This was a twisty, thought provoking read. The way it all played out blew my mind. I will need to read more by the author.

The story centers on the fascinating lives of church cult communities. The main character distances himself from the community, but after his passing, his family ends up in his hometown under the influence of his mother, who has a vicious plan in mind.

Overall, the story maintains a good pace. However, one part of the story leaves me puzzled. Adam's friend, whom he considers family, tries to cheat Sarah out of her husband's money, which is rightfully hers. The explanation for this is unclear, and I was hoping for a twist at the end of the novel that would provide a satisfactory explanation. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case.

The cult part of the story is intriguing, especially considering the numerous stories in the news in recent years. Despite this, the story lacks the suspense that I expected. Nonetheless, it is a quick and light read that offers a glimpse into the world of cult communities.

Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of the novel.

Like A Mother by Mina Hardy

Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia, and @minahardywrites for the chance to read this #advancedlistenercopy in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts are my own.

This had me hooked immediately! Several layers deep of mystery and intrigue and build up throughout with each character. @grshalan absolutely killed it on audio and brought Sarah to life. Solid twists and an end that leaves you pondering. While a domestic thriller on the surface, the book leaves you contemplating what it means to be a mother, from several angles. The last quarter or so left me clutching for dear life. I highly recommend for those looking for a fast paced thriller.


TWs: loss of loved one, m@nipulation, g@slighting, double life, religious judgement, extreme religious views, child @buse, SA, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

This book was WILD. Like I thought I knew what was happening, but I didn’t know it to THAT extent. This book was a crazy ride and I didn’t want to get off! Really good writing and you really don’t know who to trust.

Thank you to @netgalley @dreamscape_media for letting me listen to this ARC. Available now!

🏷️
#audiobooks #ARC #suspense #thriller #bookstagram
10m

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: thriller/mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This was an interesting and unique thriller but I didn’t feel completely satisfied at the end.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Lots of secrets
Unique storylines
Psychological thrillers
Unexpected twists
Creepy and suspenseful reads

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Faced paced and hooked me in

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I’m not a fan of child voices in audiobooks, I find them annoying lol
I felt like some things were left unanswered

Overall I though the narration was don’t well