This book really caught my interest, due to the post partum depression angle. Our protagonist clearly has undiagnosed PPD, and that affects most of the decisions that she makes in this book. She has a hard time caring about life, and resents her son for throwing her personal life into chaos. On top of it, her husband is arrested for a crime that he says he did not commit, and she has to figure a way out of it.

This book really had me at the offset, and it was an easy read for me. I looked forward to picking it up again and again, and related to the new mom in the story, due to my own history. I think a lot of women will relate to this, and it explores the world of PPD, and also the guilt that those with PPD go through (which feeds their PPD). The mystery also really was good, and not too far fetched. Overall, a really great, enjoyable read!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW: PPD and PPA

3.25 Stars and a DNF at 53%

When I first read the description for this book, I figured I would be hooked. The book sounded intriguing, and it had a great title (Especially for a reviewer who is also a new mom). However, the storyline fell flat because of grammatical Errors throughout it. It seems like the publisher never did a proper spellcheck, because there was incorrect grammar and spelling throughout this book. I actually had to book early (Chapter 17) because I couldn’t read anymore of it. I wish this offered the best of luck, but this book just fell flat.

Better editing would provide a better read. New author to me, and poor editing so I don't know if this is her standard fare or an outlier. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

TW: postpartum depression.

Brynn and Ross have a great life and just welcomed a new son, Lucas, to their world. Ross is next in line at Nelson & Sons construction, but everything turns to crap when he’s arrested for murder. While Brynn is in the darkest point of her life dealing with postpartum depression, learning how to do life as a new momma with a newborn, she starts investigating the case. Along the way, she finds herself again all while getting to the bottom of it!

I overall enjoyed the book, I did however find it predictable, I pegged it. I did find that the postpartum depression was a little repetitive, but I do understand that it is a real thing that women go through and probably have the exact same feelings repetitively, so I do respect how the perspective into the condition was highlighted.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Such A Good Mom!

Such a Good Mom is a atmospheric thriller set on Martha's Vineyard. When the main character's husband is arrested and accused of a murder of a local woman, she must use his cryptic clues to figure out what it happening behind the scenes, all while trying to keep her sanity as a new mom. I especially liked the descriptions of new parenthood in this book, and the thriller plot was intriguing and moved quickly

I enjoyed this domestic thriller set in Martha's Vineyard, a perfect setting for murder and the community of whodunits.
I loved it.

Finally read this over Christmas break and it was such a good read. Love that it touched on real topics woman struggle with and at some point the story went off track but not for long in my opinion. Definitely a good read for a book club.

I received a free copy of, Winter Magic In Port Berry, by K.T. Dady, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Brynn should be so happy, living in Martha's Vineyard, having a loving husband, and a new baby, but then someone is dead, and her husband is the prime suspect. This book had a lot going on. Murder, postpartum, and more, it was a good read.

Honestly, not a bad thriller, but the whole book just falls apart at one point and never gets itself back on track. I liked the idea of looking at a woman's post-partum depression, but the whole murder to solve thing just felt like a weird combination since there was a lot happening and you didn't have a lot of time to focus.

"Such a Good Mom" focuses on Brynn Nelson who is still reeling after the birth of her son. She's not really able to put into words what is wrong with her, but taking a shower and even sleep seem beyond her. She knows she used to love her husband, but now she feels frustrated by everything he does. When a murder takes place though, Brynn is left investigating because she does not think the person accused could have done it.

It was a bit exhausting being in Brynn's head so much, and honestly that's just because Spiro just writes her repetitively after a while. I thought that Brynn was not very developed and neither were a lot of the other characters after a while.

The book takes place on Martha's Vineyard, but we get a different side to it in this book because Brynn and her husband are "natives". They grew up there and she doesn't want to ever leave even though it's hard to make a living there year round. Brynn's husband is in construction and she's fighting to get back to writing.

The why behind the murder didn't make sense and then who did it and why was so obvious I kept waiting for Brynn to catch up. I think that Spiro just should have stuck with one theme. If she wanted to write about how hard motherhood is, that would have been fine. That honestly were the best parts of the book. The tossing in of the murder and cast of characters did not work really. It felt like an afterthought after a while. And I have never been pregnant, but even I knew that she was dealing with post partum depression and her refusing to acknowledge it was weird after a while. It just felt like there were so many different things happening in this one it took a while to sort through.

This was such a good book! I didn’t know what was happening most of the time (a rare and magical experience when reading for me!) and I love that. Usually I can see the “twist” a mile away. The plot was great, characters were well thought out and executed, and the story kept me thoroughly engaged. My only complaint is that sometimes Brynn was too ignorant for her own good and she really seemed a bit self centered, thinking that she was the only person who felt the way she did about motherhood. She bordered on whiny in parts. I would have liked to see her have those moments removed. It would stay more true to the badass mama who happens to be struggling with new motherhood. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book and didn’t want to put it down!

While I liked how this book brought attention to post partum and the real post partum feelings, thoughts and beliefs, that’s about the only thing I like about it. The story line was drawn out and at times boring. I found the main character to be whiny and blaming of everyone else… just didn’t love it

“Such a Good Mom” by Julia Spiro has an intriguing premise—a new mom caught in a murder mystery—but ultimately falls flat. It starts off good, but by the fourth chapter I was utterly bored by the predictable plot, underdeveloped characters, and lack of suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There was a lot of promise to this book. I loved the setting, and I think it was great of the author to weave in some postpartum depression themes along with the murder investigation and the corrupt in-laws. But even writing all of that shows that it’s almost too much for one book. We never actually get to know anyone very well because it’s trying to cover so many topics. At times it felt exciting but mostly it felt slow to me.

A murder mystery set amidst a new mom's struggles with post-natal depression, this book is an unusual, though generally successful, combination of a couple of genres. Set on Martha's Vineyard, it also offers a fascinating picture of the various needs and motivations of the characters who call the island "home," whether part-time or full-time, old residents or new.

This is the first novel I’ve read that was able to weave in the realness of postpartum while not making it a story about motherhood. I read it at 17 months postpartum and it hits on how hard those early months are in such a relatable way. Thankfully, I didn’t have a murder to worry about!

While I think the overall concept is creative, it felt slow. The conversations between the MC and other characters felt shallow and unnecessary at times.

My favorite part was the epilogue! I love epilogues after stories like these. And as an aspiring writer myself, I felt seen in those pages. Thankful the author put motherhood in these pages in such a real way.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A murder happens on Martha’s Vineyard. A young mom dealing with some postpartum depression struggles to work through what may have happened with this murder. The reason this is so big for her is because her husband is arrested and wanted for murder. Before he is taken away by the police, he whispers something into her ear And hopefully she can use this information to set him free.

Good plot, interesting characters, relatable content of a new mom and feeling fuzzy and dazed.

This book covers a lot of ground for such a fast read. As another reviewer states, the chapter structure sort of keeps you sucked in. I loved it. Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this ARC

This book did an amazing job of showing what it looks for someone going through postpartum depression. Having experienced it myself, it made me feel very seen. There was also an issue with a murder and figuring out the situation surrounding that which was interesting, but it was the main character's challenges of dealing with new motherhood that I felt really made this book stand out.

Such a Good Mom is one of my top ARC reads of 2024. It was my first book by Julia Spiro and it will not be my last! I loved everything about this fast paced mystery set on Martha's Vineyard with a main character who is a very new mom.

Such a Good Mom is told by Brynn, who is struggling with everything about parenting a newborn. Her husband Ross seems to be pulling away, her mother in law is critical of her parenting, and she feels like she is losing herself completely. Sound familiar? Goodness, yes. (Except the MIL part, mine is a gem.)

So with all of this on her plate, Brynn is shocked by the news of a young woman on the island going missing and her husband is the key suspect. The so much evidence against him, Brynn is rattled but determined to find answers... whatever they may be. Thus she embarks on a journey to learn more about her in laws and the year rounders of the island she calls home.

If you love a quick mystery, stellar exploration of matresence (the many changes that result from becoming a mother), and have vs. have not vacation destination settings, this one delivers. Such a Good Mom was the very well executed merger of so many things I love in books and I hope you'll love it as well!

A captivating ontemporary novel of a new Mom with postpartum depression. the story commands your attention until the very last page.
Very engrossing read!