As a parent, I found this book to be tough to read at times. I can't imagine what it would be like to have been either one of these mothers. It would be horrific to lose a child. It would also be horrific to have your child go to jail for accidentally killing his friend and your friend's son. Unimaginable. A painful situation for sure and a solid plot for a book.

This book kept me intrigued. I knew there were mysteries at play and wanted to see how it would all play out. The author fed pieces of information a little bit at a time. As I started putting it all together, I really appreciated the author's cleverness. A few things were overdone but by and large, I thought the book was well done and a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved reading this book. While I can see where a single punch could happen between friends, this town took it to an extreme. However, I loved the dark theme, the overall feeling the book projects, and find it a perfect thriller for anyone looking for what to read next. I also love that it's one of the books you can stay up late reading and not fear!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Helen Cooper for the advanced copy of My Darling Boy.

This was a riveting mystery that read exactly like a TV show (in a good way). There were twists and turns and a group resolution at the end. I was totally into it from start to finish.

Great book for lovers of messy mysteries!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. This book had a whole lot of moving parts and pieces at all times that made my head spin! I never quite knew where it would end up but could follow along easily enough. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and how it jumped back and forth from the past to present. I would recommend if you like psychological thrillers with endings you’ll have trouble being able to figure out!

My Darling Boy is a tense, emotional thriller that dives deep into friendship, guilt, and revenge.

I absolutely loved this. It sucked me completely in from the very beginning. Told in multiple POV with scenes from the past. I couldn't put it down, So many twists, secrets and lies.

Alice and Christy were best friends, so naturally so we're their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until one New Years eve when Leo ends up murdering Robbie. Leo is sent to prison and is released two years early for good behavior. When his mom eagerly arrives at the prison to pick him up, Leo has been released early and no where to be found. Where is Leo and why did he kill Robbie?

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC.

Helen Cooper is still an auto-read author for me ever since I read her debut and loved it, but I have yet to find that magic again in her latest reads. MY DARLING BOY was a decent read, but I just never really connected with it like I had hoped.

I generally prefer first person for thrillers over third person, but if it's a well-written book and it works, I don't even notice when it's third person POV. This one stuck out to me, though. I got the two main characters/moms mixed up for a long time and who was whose mother. I don't know why it was confusing, but for some reason it was. They felt a little too similar and it just wasn't sticking in my head.

The plot was fine, but nothing too wild. There were some twists, but nothing too jaw-dropping. I think there were a few more things that could have been more suspenseful or developed to really pull readers into the plot a bit more. This just didn't have the magic for me, and that's okay! Still a find read, but this won't be anything memorable for me.

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book. Chrissy and Alice used to be best friends until Chrissy’s son Leo killed Alice’s son. Leo is convicted of manslaughter and getting out of jail but when Chrissy goes to get him he’s missing. The story unfolds between the characters and all the secrets they are keeping.

I absolutely loved this. I read The Couoke in the Photo and was excited to read another thriller by Helen Cooper. This sucked me in from the very beginning. Told in multiple POV with scenes from the past. I couldn't put it down until I found out their past's secrets at the end. So many twists, secrets and lies.
Alice and Christy were best friends, so naturally so we're their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until one New Years eve when Leo ends up murdering Robbie. Leo is sent to prison and is released two years early for good behavior. When his mom eagerly arrives at the prison to pick him up, Leo has been released early and no where to be found. Where is Leo and why did he kill Robbie?
I would definitely recommend.
Thanknyou Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC.

This was a great book. Family secrets surrounding a New Years Party make for a fun thriller . I couldn't put it down and it kept me interested the whole time. Highly recommend this book

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC.

My Darling Boy was an excellent thriller. Any book that hooks me in the first chapter gets a high score from me but this one also kept me intrigued. Chrissy and Alice are best friends until they are not. Their sons get into an argument and one of them ends up dead. Figuring out what really happened in that argument uncovers many secrets in everyone’s lives. The ending felt like a movie ending- but I still loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

In a small English village, Chrissy and Alice are tried and true friends and their sons have followed in their footsteps, but when a tragic event unfolds, Alice blames Chrissy and life is no longer the same for anyone. Chrissy has become an outcast and as her son is released from prison no one wants him back in the village. Little by little the story unfolds, but it takes too long and it just lacks the direction needed to make it the thriller it could have been. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This novel grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go, offering a raw, emotional journey that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

The story follows Rachel, a mother who is devastated by the loss of her son, Michael, and the aftermath of his death. The novel delves into Rachel’s attempt to make sense of the pain she feels and navigate a world without him. Through her eyes, we experience the intensity of grief—the overwhelming sadness, the feelings of helplessness, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of such a profound loss. Cooper’s portrayal of grief is achingly real, capturing the subtle nuances and stages of mourning with heartbreaking accuracy.

What makes *My Darling Boy* so powerful is the way it weaves past and present. As Rachel reflects on her relationship with Michael, we learn about their shared memories, their moments of joy, and the deep connection they had. These flashbacks add emotional depth, making the loss feel all the more poignant. Cooper’s prose is poetic and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the relationship between mother and child, as well as the complex feelings that arise when a loved one is gone.

The emotional complexity of the characters is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Rachel’s grief is not just about losing Michael, but about reconciling with the person she was before his death and the person she must become after. The secondary characters, including her husband and friends, add richness to the story, each representing different facets of grief and healing. The way Cooper handles these relationships—showing the ways in which grief brings people together and drives them apart—is both poignant and powerful.

While *My Darling Boy* is undoubtedly a heart-wrenching read, it is also a story of hope, resilience, and the way love endures even in the face of unimaginable loss. It’s about finding a way to move forward while still holding onto the memory of someone who meant the world to you. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers or a neatly wrapped ending, but instead reflects the messy, unpredictable nature of grief, and how we carry those we’ve lost with us in different ways.

If you're looking for a novel that will make you reflect on the nature of love, loss, and healing, *My Darling Boy* is a must-read—just be prepared for an emotional, unforgettable experience.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ARC

This was an okay thriller, nothing memorable though. It kept my attention enough, but it felt like it took a long time to read. I wasn’t reaching for my kindle constantly to finish it.

Chrissy and Alice are BFF’s, so naturally their sons, Robbie and Leo also became besties. One night, Leo pushed Robbie and Robbie ended up dying. Leo was incarcerated. On his release date, his mom goes to pick him up, only to find out he was released early. No one can find him, he hasn’t reported to his PO. Where did he go? Why did he kill Robbie? Who is the newest woman in the village who seems to insert herself into Chrissy and Alice’s life? What is the connection?

So initially this book had me hooked. But at some point i just felt like the plot wasn’t moving fast enough. I do appreciate the authors writing.

All these twists in this book! I know I definitely wouldn’t like any of these type of friends to find me, because EVERYONE had secrets! Leo was a bit whiny for me, but I guess that was to be expected. Overall this was a great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book so much. I think the author did an amazing job laying out the story of how two families are torn apart by secrets from a new years eve party. I could not put it down, and I can't wait for more from this author. I recommend this to others because it was really good.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Penguin Group Putnam

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have enjoyed both books.

My Darling Boy is a thriller about two women, Alice and Chrissy, who are best friends. Their sons are best friends too. Their friendships are shattered when one son causes the death of the other son. After serving 22 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, Chrissy’s son, Leo, is released. He immediately goes missing.

Did Leo disappear voluntarily? Are the townspeople who have turned against Chrissy and Leo responsible for his disappearance? There are characters in this story who are keeping secrets. Slowly these secrets are revealed. These secrets have consequences which turn deadly.

The plot and the author’s writing kept me interested as the story progressed.

“Whatever happens, they will all be bound, by a tangle of secrets.”

My Darling Boy by Helen Cooper tells the story of two mothers, two sons, a murder and a lifetime of secrets. at a New Year’s Eve party thrown in Allison‘s pub Leo murders Robbie and goes to jail, but on the day he’s to get out she waits for him and when he never shows she learns he was already released and picked up, but where could he be The story is told for multiple POV’s and tells not only the history of the two friends but the abuse Allison suffered and other secrets they share. Through the story all Allison wants to know is where is her son and will she find him alive? unfortunately, there’s someone outside of this fractured friend group that wants to know the truth and will stop at nothing to find out. I read this book about a week ago and this is definitely one of those books that live in your mind especially the part when Eathan is having salad for dinner and just picturing that whole scene my first initial thought is who would put up with that but I know some women do but that is not what this book is about just know this is a great book and one you will be thinking about long after putting it down. I love Helen Cooper’s books and can’t wait for the next one. #NetGalley,#PenguinGroupDutton, #HelenCooper, #MyDarlingBoy,.

My Darling Boy is the perfect one-sitting binge book, just like all the Helen Cooper books I’ve read before. While I always enjoy them, this might be my new favorite. I think it’s because the plot starts with a bang, instantly making me need to know all the whys.

There’s a lot in My Darling Boy about secrets and the bonds of friendship, but also the power of forgiveness, all wrapped up in a little thrillery package. Loved it!

One night changes the lives of two close knit families - one child, Robbie, is dead and the other, Leo, goes to prison. After being ostracized by the community, Chrissy prepares for Leo's release from prison at the same time of a celebration of life for Robbie. When Leo goes missing, the search reveals long kept secrets and ultimately brings the community back together. I found this one hard to put down.