Such a Good Mom
By Julia Spiro

This book has basically two co-existing themes. The first is the story of Brynn, a new mother suffering from post-partum depression. The second is the story of a murder committed in her community on Martha's Vineyard which has a major impact on her marriage. Both themes are given equal emphasis here.

Brynn grew up on the island – on the "wrong side of the tracks". Her husband Ross is the scion of one of the island's leading families. Their marriage is a happy one until the birth of their son Lucas. Lucas is not an easy baby. His constant demands on her lead to an exhausted mom who doubts her abilities as a mom and her love for her son. She does not recognize that her negative feelings are hormonal – not due to a failure of her parenting skill. However, the lack of communication between her and Ross only makes her feel more isolated.

Into this situation, a young woman she both knows and likes is found dead – and it is murder! Quickly Brynn realizes that her family by marriage is somehow involved. As Brynn tries to figure what happened, she finds herself doubting everyone. Who can she trust, when she doesn't even trust herself?

The two issues of the idealized version of motherhood as opposed to its reality and being able to trust make this an interesting read. The author does a good job of weaving the two themes together.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I picked up Such a Good Mom thinking it would be more of a suburban drama with a little suspense sprinkled in—and while that’s in there, what really surprised me was how deeply it dives into postpartum emotions. Julia Spiro doesn’t hold back when it comes to exploring the mental and emotional rollercoaster of new motherhood. Honestly, it caught me off guard. I wasn’t fully prepared for how raw and vulnerable parts of the book felt. It’s not a bad book by any means—the writing is solid and the characters feel real—but emotionally, it went places I wasn’t ready to go. If you're in the right headspace, this could be a powerful read. But if you're not expecting to confront some heavy truths about identity, motherhood, and mental health, just be warned—it’s heavier than the title and cover might lead you to believe.

As a new mother struggles with her role, her life is about to implode

Brynn Nelson seems to be living a charmed life. She is a published author working on her third novel, has a loving husband who works for his family's successful business on the island of Martha's Vineyard where they live, and has just given birth to a healthy baby boy. In fact she has everything she has ever wanted (she even really likes her mother-in-law!)...but instead she is struggling to get through each day. All the other new parents in her circle all seem so happy and have their lives together, while Brynn feels inadequate and unloving. She resents her husband Ross for not doing more to help and wonders if she or their marriage are going to survive, but can only pin a smile on her face and hope she's able to fake it through another day. When the body of Cecelia, a young woman who works at a club that she, Ross and her in-laws frequent regularly and whom they all know, is found dead on one of the local beaches Brynn is shocked...but things only get worse when Ross is arrested for the crime. Ross has seemed secretive of late, and has been staying late at work more and more. He swears he is innocent, but can Brynn believe him when evidence of his involvement keeps popping up? She needs to find out what really happened to Cecelia...who would want to kill her, and why? Will discovering the truth help save her marriage, or will it be the final straw?
Such a Good Mom is less a mystery/thriller and more a family drama that offers an honest portrayal of the challenges faced by many new mothers...exhaustion, the pressure to be perfect and happy even on days when just taking a shower takes more effort than its worth, and the endless questioning of one's capabilities. Although it has been more than a few years since I was in Brynn's shoes I found myself able to empathize with those struggles as I wondered if I was up to the task of motherhood after all. I know the island of Martha's Vineyard very well (though not as a year-round resident) and enjoyed reading the names of familiar places throughout the story, although apart from those mentions I had more of a sense of life on any small island that relies economically on wealthy summer tourists rather than on the Vineyard specifically. The underlying mystery is a bit formulaic, not really the thriller that I had expected based on the initial blurbs. If you are looking for a honest look at a woman struggling with post-partum depression who isn't getting the help she needs with a hint of a local mystery woven through it, then this is a book you will enjoy. If you're after a riveting thriller whose main character happens to be a woman struggling with postpartum depression, then this might not be the best match for you. Overall, it was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to a 4 given my fondness for the setting. Fans of author Julia Spiro's earlier books or of Anne Rivers Siddons, Aimee Molloy or Emma Brodie should give this novel a try. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.

I almost felt like this was two completely different books, one about a woman struggling with postpartum depression that was so intriguing and relatable and another focusing on a murder that felt thrown together a bit. I understood Brynn very well and I thought the look at postpartum was so well done and nuanced. There were several times I’d be reading and think “That’s EXACTLY how I felt!” I really enjoyed the look at a how a relationship changes from dating to marriage to children and how to better communicate your needs to your partner. That part of the book, I loved. The murder mystery just felt incredibly unrealistic and relied on so many people turning a blind eye over decades and while I know that’s how it is for certain wealthy people, here it just felt too convenient. I think for how fleshed out and detailed the postpartum side of the book was (and no complaints here about that), the murder mystery part needed it more. It was still intriguing and I was interested to see where it would go, but I was much more invested in Brynn’s journey as a new mom.
CW: miscarriages, postpartum depression, abortion, murder, death

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital readers copy!

Brynn has a bad case of Post Partum Depression. She is having a hard time coping with motherhood, is severely sleep deprived, and not getting much help from her husband Ross. Unknown to he, Ross has been preoccupied with investigating his own father’s shady past. When a young woman’s body washes up on the beach, Brynn is shocked when Ross is arrested for the murder. Brynn is pretty sure he’s innocent, but the evidence against him is beginning to look insurmountable. She races to find the one clue Ross has given her - to find the orange sun.
This is a book about motherhood and post partum depression with a murder mystery thrown in. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard was nicely done and showed the differences between the Down-island royalty and The Up-island Free Spirits. I felt like the main focus of the story was post partum depression and I think the author has done a magnificent job of describing it and all the struggles of women suffering through it. I loved that Brynn had a supportive trio of friends helping her cope. The murder mystery itself wasn’t nearly as well develop and it wasn’t too difficult to guess the identity of the killer as there aren’t that many suspects. 3.75 stars

I had a bit of a mixed reaction to this book. I could totally relate to so many of the aspects of island life, from the wealthy summer people vs the year round residents, the absolute beauty of the place, and the difficulty in maintaining much privacy…..I live year round in such a place. What lost me was Brynn and the endless description of her postpartum depression, it took away from the mystery aspect for me, if you’re looking for women’s fiction that deals with the struggles of postpartum depression and the toll it takes this may be for you, if you’re more of a mystery lover just know that it takes a back seat. The characters are well written, the locale beautifully described, and the heaviness of postpartum depression rings true, I was just looking for more of a mystery oriented book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for an advance ARC.

Such a Good Mom was my first read by Julia Spiro. New mom Brynn is in the throws of postpartum depression when her husband is arrested for murder. He is adamant that he did not do anything, but that he knows why he is being arrested. He leaves her a cryptic message regarding "the orange sun" and tells her that she needs to find it in order to get an explanation of what is happening.

I enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful. I didn't necessarily think the depths of postpartum depression shown here were necessary for the development of the story. The plot developed slowly and lagged a bit along the way for me. However, I was not expecting the ending! Overall an enjoyable read, but likely will not be super memorable overall. 3.5 stars.

This book was so relatable. So many mom moments. Great story and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery behind what was happening.

★★★½☆


SUCH A GOOD MOM: Where Mystery Meets Motherhood's Raw Edge

I couldn't put this one down, though not always for the reasons I expected. What begins as a Martha's Vineyard murder mystery transforms into something far more intimate – an unflinching portrait of postpartum struggle that hit me in places I didn't see coming.

The balance feels deliberately uneven – 75% raw motherhood experience, 25% whodunit – with Brynn's unreliable narration creating a claustrophobic haze that mirrors her mental state perfectly. Each chapped nipple and sleepless night felt so visceral I could almost feel my own body aching in sympathy.


Tropes I'm Tracking:
👶 New Mom Overwhelm - The crushing reality of postpartum struggles
🕵️‍♀️ Unreliable Narrator - Is Brynn's perception clouded by exhaustion?
🏝️ Perfect Life Facade - Martha's Vineyard beauty hiding ugly secrets
👫 Distant Husband - Marriage strain under the weight of parenthood
🔍 Amateur Detective Mom - Solving crime while barely functioning
🌫️ Postpartum Fog - Memory lapses and judgment issues creating tension
💔 Identity Crisis - The devastating loss of self in early motherhood

The murder investigation unfolds in foggy glimpses—mirroring how Brynn experiences her postpartum world. 🔍 I found myself both frustrated by her choices and fiercely protective of her vulnerability. That's the magic here. 💫


Not quite the beach read promised, but something more haunting that lingers. 💭

Such A Good Mom by Julia Spiro is an emotionally intense, highly relatable mystery. I really enjoyed reading this gripping, unforgettable book. The author did such an amazing job of seamlessly weaving the realness of new motherhood with the all elements of a great psychological murder mystery. A huge thank you to Minotaur Books, the author and NetGalley for the digital advanced copy of the book.

New motherhood should be a joyous occasion, but it can often times feel like one endlessly overwhelming experience with lots feedings, sleep deprived nights and plenty of self-doubt. Brynn Nelson should be completely happy right about now with her loving husband, beautiful new baby, a successful career as a writer, and a bustling life on Martha’s Vineyard. But Brynn feels like she is drowning, struggling to manage the challenges of her life. Her husband, Ross has become detached as of late, and the difficulties of postpartum are making Brynn feel like she is losing chunks of herself to the demands of motherhood.

But it’s summer time on the vineyard, a bastion for wealthy vacationers who want to come play in the beautiful sun and sand. A place of shear perfection, and long held secrets. An island that almost seems exempt from the harshness of crime and tragic circumstances. However, locals like Brynn and her husband Ross, who both grew up on the island know that tragedy has a way of hitting at any time. This time around the misfortune arrives when Cecilia a friend of the family washes ashore, dead. And when Ross is arrested and charged with her murder Brynn’s already hectic life becomes chaotic. With all that’s going on she is not sure who, or what she can actually trust, including herself. Even though everything feels turbulent Brynn is determined to figure out the truth, and she won’t stop until she uncovers the answers.

Such A Good Mom is a fast-paced, well written, murder mystery filled with plenty of twist that I couldn’t put it down. The main character, Brynn is so identifiable, easy to sympathize with because of her struggles with being a busy wife, and new mother dealing with postpartum, something that many women have gone through and continue to experience every day. This is an incredibly insightful, honest and highly entertaining book that should not be missed out on. It’s perfect for summer beach reading!

I’m finding it hard to describe/categorize SUCH A GOOD MOM by Julia Spiro. There’s a huge focus on the female protagonist’s experience with new motherhood and postpartum depression, which I really appreciated, yet there’s a strong thriller/mystery aspect to it as well. Check out this quick synopsis:

“𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘰’𝘴 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢’𝘴 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

The reflections on motherhood are what initially pulled me in, but the murder investigation is what kept me listening—I was hooked! I honestly feel like I was the perfect audience for this novel. Motherhood is one of my very favorite themes to read about, and thrillers are totally my jam. It made for a really great mash-up!

The author does a fantastic job capturing the realities of new/first-time motherhood. The exhaustion, confusion, loneliness, and stress of it all is extremely overwhelming. She doesn’t sugarcoat things and really gets into the nitty gritty. I found a lot of it quite relatable.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Reflections on motherhood
- Marriage issues
- Family drama and dynamics
- Murder investigations
- Martha’s Vineyard setting
- Character-driven novels
- Slow-burning mysteries
- Clever whodunnits

SUCH A GOOD MOM is available now! It gets 4/5 stars from me!

Thank you so much @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this advanced copy!

I’m going to preface this review by stating why I requested this book on NetGalley. The synopsis mentions postpartum and new motherhood, and I surmised that PPD would be big in this book. Why would anyone want to read that?! Well, I guess that if you’ve experienced it, then solidarity can be somewhat comforting (at least to me).

I’ve read others reviews that couldn’t understand the PPD, and thought that it overtook the story. Totally agree, it did. But it was also an accurate depiction of what it feels like. I do think that for the sake of the story the murder and other plot points could’ve shone a bit more. I also found it very frustrating that it took so long for anyone to actually help Brynn, while she was struggling so desperately. Someone tell her to stop breast feeding, tell her how detrimental sleep deprivation can be! I wanted to scream at her friends to help her more. Anywho…

As a whole, I was still heavily invested in this story. I kinda-sorta figured the ending out, but not entirely, so I liked that. I felt for Brynn and everything she was going through.

If you’re looking for a crazy thriller with a shocking ending, this isn’t going to be it. Trigger warnings should be checked prior to reading this, as the depression is heavy, and there’s such an emphasis on new motherhood.

We all think or want to be a good mom! After reading this book you will realize we all are in our own ways! It’s a great story!

Brynn has a newborn baby, a wonderful husband, and her writing career is taking off. Even though her husband Ross seems distracted lately, and she could use his help with the baby a bit more.. But when Ross is arrested for a murder, Brynn knows he’s not responsible. Despite her lack of sleep, Brynn sets out to discover the real murderer.

This is a decent story, though it did wander at times. The murder itself would have been enough story, but there was also a whole side story about Brynn’s postpartum depression. I found that tedious and boring and it felt like filler most of the time. Also the idea what everyone could see it but Brynn but no one did anything? Irritating. The murder plot line was excellent and I enjoyed that. The rest? Not as much.a

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available April 29, 2025.

New mom Brynn is frustrated with her husband, Ross. He's working long hours, behaving strangely, and not helping with their baby, Lucas, as much as she'd like. Motherhood is not what she expected--at all. She wonders how she'll ever meet her deadlines for her next novel.

If she thinks unhelpfulness is bad, getting arrested for murder is much much worse. A summer employee at the club Ross and his family belong to is found dead on the beach. What Brynn initially believes to be a senseless incomprehensible tragedy becomes much more to her. And when the evidence seems to stack up against Ross, she finally notices a few schisms in the investigation. As she sets out to figure out what really happened to Cecelia, she discovers who she can really trust.

Author Julia Spiro accurately captures the struggles of new motherhood. The mystery adds an interesting dimension to this story, although Brynn's fixation on her husband's obliviousness, even as he is in jail for murder, seems odd. The setting is fabulous and perhaps the relative lack of crime explains the police force's inability to see through the really obvious clues the killer plants. Still, it was an enjoyable read with a good setting. And here's to partners who help with babies while staying out of jail! #SuchaGoodMom #NetGalley

This title was a great "palate cleanser"--a unique novel that tackles the topic of post-partum depression and being a new mom. While the details can get monotonous (isn't that the struggle!?!), "Such a Good Mom" is blends the real with fiction in a wonderful way. Excellent tension and emotion. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 on Goodreads for me. Excited for publication day tomorrow on 4/29/25! *I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Such a Good Mom should be required reading for anyone considering parenthood and for everyone who still thinks new mothers should simply "bounce back."

We meet Brynn, a relatable mom drowning in the impossible expectations of new motherhood. Struggling with postpartum isolation, identity loss, and the suffocating pressure to be "perfect," she is too overwhelmed to fully notice the red flags rising around her until it is too late. Her husband’s growing secrecy, her in-laws' strange behavior, and the cracks in her carefully curated life all come crashing down when her husband is arrested for murder.

Set against the backdrop of an idyllic Martha’s Vineyard town, the story centers on the mysterious death of a young country club employee found washed up on the beach. As the investigation unfolds, every relationship is tested for its true value: the wealthy, doting grandparents, the old flame who never fully faded, and the best friend who might know just a little too much.

This is a quick, sharp mystery that I tore through in one sitting. It is equal parts emotionally honest and compulsively readable.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by Julia Spiro, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Abigail Reno. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Brynn should be on top of the world - she has a new baby, a devoted husband, a career she enjoys, and life on Martha's Vineyard. But she's struggling. Her husband seems distant and new motherhood is hard. When a family friend is found dead and her husband accused of the crime, Brynn's life is really turned upside down.

I loved this story of a new mom, struggling with all that entails. Nothing in her life is as it was before – not her relationship with her husband, not her body, not her work. She doesn’t trust herself enough to know who she can trust, even her husband.. You could feel Brynn's struggles and doubts about herself and those around her. I liked the look into all that goes into the label of being a good mom, mostly how we as women judge ourselves and our own moms.

This started strong but ultimately was so predictable that I figured out exactly what was going to happen with the mystery as soon as the premise was set up. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard was a nice touch and I enjoyed the commentary surrounding those who lived their all year vs the summer folks. Brynn’s struggles were handled well and felt super real - I liked that Spiro didn’t shy away from the tough side of motherhood.

I really looked forward to this one. I love the idea of this book, however I am not sure mystery/thriller genre is correct....for me it was not either of those but still a very good read. I did not care much for the main character which always makes enjoying the story a little difficult.. I enjoyed the book as the Mom goes through post partum depression and was written well...just not what I was expecting.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.