This book had such an interesting concept that I think will really resonate with readers - especially women. I was hooked right from the start and couldn’t put this down! This is a book that will make you think and reflect on your own life.

This book dives into some emotional topics and ethics in medicine. It was a very unique story that discusses classism and racism and gender roles.

Maya was at the top of her career with a new baby and a perfect instagram page, but inside she was really struggling. Her experience felt so authentic and real and raw. She is trying to manage everyone else’s expectations of her - who hasn’t felt outside pressures and tried to keep it all together?

She gets to experience living life with no guilt…but there are always consequences to our actions…

Loved this book, it was such a fantastic dive into the realities of motherhood with a slight speculative twist. Must read.

I am more than excited to review this book. Before I delve into it, I want to go into a little backstory. Social media can be such a toxic and awful environment, but sometimes you get lucky and find a kindred spirit. Several years ago I happened to win a book from this lovely young author during a random give away on Instagram. We started chatting a bit via DM and realized we had quite a bit in common- both of us of South Asian descent, both Jersey girls, both physicians, and both avid readers. Saumya very kindly reached out on Goodreads to praise some of my reviews. Having a published author reach out to tell my that she enjoyed my little reviews more than made my day! Over the last few years, Saumya and I exchanged emails and I had the privilege of learning a little bit about this book in its infancy and even got to preview the first few chapters.
Reading this book was such an interesting experience for me. The story brought me right back to my own confusing and stressful time after the birth of my first child. Maya is an up and coming influencer, business woman and new mom. She has literally given birth to a new business and a child almost simultaneously. Like most new mothers, she is struggling. If she ignores her business at such a crucial stage, she runs the risk of losing control of her own company. And yet, as ambitious as she is, she also just wants to nest and snuggle with her newborn son. Saumya nailed it as she depicted Maya's real conflict as she tries to reconcile her old life with her new one. As I read Maya's story it brought me right back to all of the insecurities I experienced after having my first child. Too many stories sugar coat how hard new motherhood is. This book definitely did not do that. I also really liked reading about the way Liz insinuated herself into Maya's life and became her confidant. When you are struggling, having a safe space with someone who understands your situation is such a comfort. Also, Liz was an incredibly intoxicating presence for Maya and how she insinuated her way into her life. Without giving too much away, Liz comes up with a novel way to alleviate all of the new mom guilt, but at what cost? I continued to root for Maya and her husband Dev throughout the entire book. We often see a new mother's struggle with motherhood, but what about the dad's struggle? I liked how Saumya handled the conflict between Dev and Maya as they navigate being lovers and parents. The backstory of Maya's family of origin added a lot of depth to the story. Knowing about Maya's parents helped you understand her work ethic and strong desire to make her business succeed no matter what. I have read all of Saumya's novels and have enjoyed them all. I always appreciate how she incorporates her insights and sensitivity as a psychiatrist into her novels. I think that this novel is bound to be a huge hit and I could not be any more pleased for my lovely friend. Congratulations!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I found myself feeling very seen in this book as a mother and as someone who works in the tech industry. I really enjoyed the premise of this book but found it a bit lacking in the suspense/mystery side as well as repetitive as the scene was set around the need for more ‘guilt pills’. The ending was a great lead up for a second book which will hopefully expand and give more answers to the lingering questions I have.

Ohh what a ride!

As a fan of Saumya Dave's other books, I couldn't wait to read The Guilt Pill. The premise was incredibly relatable as a first gen American with Indian motel owning parents, and I found Maya to be a very realistic main character, even when her actions made me so frustrated (mostly because it felt like looking in a mirror at myself).

While there was some predictability and some of the commentary done a bit heavy handed, the message of this book was clear and one that we need to discuss more as a society. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and cannot wait for the next book that Saumya Dave cooks up for us.

for moms 💜… and the people who love them.

For the mom who has ever felt guilty… while trying to do all the things. This one is for you. And for the people who love them, this book is a reminder that even the strongest ones need to be seen, held, and understood.

—

I just finished an ARC of The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave, and it was so validating!! Maya, the FMC, voiced so many of the thoughts I’ve carried but rarely said aloud.

The contrast between her life as a CEO and new mom was written with such care and it really captured the messy, beautiful tension of trying to do it all. It honestly felt like reading parts of my own story.

If you know me, you know I love the mental health trope, and this book delivered. It explores the emotional toll of postpartum depression and anxiety, part of the broader spectrum of PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders). As a mental health professional, I deeply appreciated how these struggles were portrayed with nuance and compassion.

Her friendship with Alaina also really stayed with me 🥹 she’s the kind of friend who sees you, lifts you, and lovingly calls you in 🤍.

The last 20% took an unexpected psychological thriller turn, but the ending is a powerful reminder of how much further we have to go in creating systems that truly support women and mothers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

I was excited to read this book because it sounded like an incredible thriller and women's fiction novel. I am not sure which one I was expecting it to be though genre wise. With that being said, the reality of it seemed to lean more towards women's fiction in my opinion. I would also say that there was a good deal of sci-fi in the story as well. It did take me a while to get through this book as I picked it up, read about 40-50% and put it back down only to pick up later. I slightly considered dnfing this book, but I am glad I did not. It was a story with an interesting and clever premise and iI would be open to reading more by Saumya in the future. I also really enjoyed the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing these characters to life!

A very good pink thriller story about motherhood and being a successful woman. I really liked the story progression and the overall plot. There were several parts that left me with thoughts to reflect on. Unfortunately, I feel that the thriller part of this book never arrived. The climax was very brief and seemed to be very rushed in the writing. It did not create quite the thrill like I expected. Overall, definitely a story worth reading, and one worth adding to your shelf, but not as impactful as it could have been.

I really, really enjoyed this latest from Saumya Dave that sees Maya Patel, a South Asian CEO and new mom struggling to balance everything and feeling guilty about never doing enough in either role. When her new 'friend' Liz offers her experimental pills that will erase all feelings of guilt, Maya reluctantly succumbs and eventually becomes addicted. And like all things that seem too good to be true, the pills too turn out to have dangerous consequences. Relatable, clever and full of all the stress of new motherhood mom-guilt, this domestic suspense thriller was great on audio and entertaining from start to finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Maya Patel is a badass tech founder, CEO, and popular influencer. She’s also the oldest daughter of immigrants, a people pleaser, and a brand new mom. She finds herself exhausted and lost as she tries to balance all the demands of the many facets of her life. When she becomes overwhelmed and can’t seem to do everything right, she’s overcome with guilt. In comes Liz Anderson, one of Maya’s inspirations as a woman in tech. Liz introduces Maya to a new “supplement” her company is working on that removes the feeling of guilt from women. At first Maya feels like she can do anything without the burden of this guilt, but as time goes on she starts to develop concerning side effects and her life steadily spirals out of control. When she winds up missing, rumors spread about her drug use, her professional mistakes, and her failing relationships.

This book really hit home for me as a new working mom. I’m sure I’ve written the same postpartum frustrations in my own journal. Add on discussion of racism, sexism, intersectionality, and the toll addiction takes on a person and their family and you have a depressing reflection of how difficult it is to live and raise kids in this world. Love the characters, loved the dark humor, loved the juxtaposition of social media’s take on Maya’s life vs her actual life playing out. I’d recommend this book to others in postpartum, to working moms, and to those trying to understand this crazy experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Saumya Dave for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. My review will be published on Goodreads and Instagram on 4/15/25. I will update this review to include links then.

This book was a little too relatable and I’m not mad about it at all. I thought this was a pretty spot on look at the conflicts of motherhood, especially during the first year. Maya was such a complex character and it was so easy to understand her struggles with the mental/physical/emotional toll motherhood can bring while also wanting to maintain herself outside of being a mom, especially with being a CEO/founder of a company. I really liked how it explored the changes you can feel in a marriage after giving birth. There were so many nuances and layers to this part of the story and I was kind of blown away by it. I did find the Liz part of the story exciting at first, but it ended up being a bit of a let down. I think part of that was because we didn’t really get to know Liz very well and also there was not much closure once that part of the story ended. I did really enjoy the police interviews, articles and social media posts sprinkled throughout the book. That added a fun layer of mystery and suspense. Overall, as a deep look into the burdens and blessings of motherhood, I LOVED IT, but the mystery part of it was a little bland.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced digital reader’s copy!

The Guilt Pill is very much geared towards/targeted towards mothers, and the many directions they get pulled in when juggling motherhood with personal ambitions, love, relaxation, other relationships, etc. I'm not a mother but I have a few mom friends, and I know firsthand how much they struggle with taking time for themselves and how conflicted they feel when it's time to prioritize their needs, and often times they feel selfish when taking care of yourself and making sure you don't go crazy while juggling everything else is the least selfish thing one can do.

I felt like this was more speculative fiction than anything else, but there are some suspenseful moments that keep the pace moving, I loved the South Asian representation and the social commentary overall, but I felt like the dual timelines got a little muddled sometimes. Not in a way that was confusing, but it made the story feel dragged out in a way at some points, more specifically when it was trying to juggle being suspenseful at the same time.

Overall I loved this one and think this is a great read for moms struggling with their sense of self and those of us who care for the mothers in our lives!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

4 ⭐️s

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC.

This book was really intriguing and explored professional women's guilt in a way that I felt was so true and real. If I put too much in over here, I am not enough over there but both need me. It is so hard and I can understand the desperation for a pill to fix that guilt. I will say that parts of this were just a bit too farfetched for me, but I overall really did enjoy the concept of this story and felt so strongly for Maya.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced listener copy! I paired the ALC with the ARC. This was a fun read. This book is heavily centered on mom culture, but don't let that stop you from reading it! The Guilt Pill also has nuanced discussions on corporate culture, especially working in a leadership role as a woman of color. It also touched on how marriages can change after becoming new parents, as well as how your own upbringing can shape your expectations of motherhood.

The audiobook took my reading experience up a notch! It is narrated by Sharmila Devar, and she does an excellent job of portraying the cast of characters and keeping me engaged in the story. There are also snippets of social media posts, police interviews, and news articles in between the chapters that were fun to listen to. I think this is one of those books that are better read via audio!

This book is listed in the science fiction/thriller genres, and I definitely wouldn't describe it as that lol. I would describe this as a women's fiction book with elements of speculative fiction. The "thrilling" portion isn't as fleshed out or creepy as it could be for me to consider it a true thriller.

Read if you enjoy:
-Commentary on mom and girlboss culture
-South Asian representation
-Dual timelines

Would you take a pill that promises to wipe away the guilt you feel? Maya, CEO of a start up, a new mom, and a first generation American becomes friends with Liz, whose company makes the pill and finds herself spiraling differently. This is a layered novel of motherhood, classicism, racism, and so much more. It's more thoughtful and thought provoking than you might expect if you haven't read Dave's earlier work. Maya is relatable and sympathetic-and you'll root for her. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A very good read.

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of motherhood and individuality, and the intersection between the two. With sharp wit and insightful observations, Dave delves into the challenges and joys of navigating the roles of mother and self. This novel offers a deeply human perspective on the struggles and triumphs that come with balancing personal identity and maternal responsibilities.

What an interesting look at mom guilt at its finest. Strong character development. A slow burn plot. Interesting, but just not quite enough to keep my attention.

Maya is CEO and Founder of an eco friendly company. She’s recently had a baby and is balancing motherhood, marriage, and her career, leaving her ridden with guilt. When she connects with famous girl boss, Liz, she’s introduced to a supplement that blocks female guilt.

This book did a great job of showing the pressures of working mothers, especially those that run their own business. The guilt of having to choose between career and motherhood when issues arise is real. Maya’s character makes us think: what if we didn’t have to feel that guilt? Of course the reader realizes right away that it’s not going to end well but there’s still mystery to the story. I enjoyed the business aspects of the story, as well as the influencer parts.

“With just one pink pill, she’s limitless. F*ck the rules. The rules weren’t made to benefit people like her.”

The Guilt Pill comes out 4/15.

Thank you HTP, Park Row, The Hive, and Harper Audio for the gifted digital and audio copies.

The Guilt Pill
Saumya Dave
Publishing Date: April 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)

🎧 Narrator: Sharmila Devar 🎧

This book grabbed my attention immediately when I saw that the FMC was a new mom struggling with all the guilt that comes along with motherhood. RELATABLE.

In short, “The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.”

Being a mom is hard. Being a woman is hard. Being a POC is hard. Being a business woman is hard. Being all of the above can feel impossible. The pressure and expectations, the hurdles to be jumped, the judgement, the double standards, the loss of identity, the self- blame and guilt, etc.

This book has SO MUCH representation of important and often under represented topics:

💊 Mental Health
💊 Marriage Therapy
💊 Individual Therapy
💊 Drug addition and Rehabilitation.
💊 Motherhood
💊 Childbirth
💊 Breastfeeding and Pumping
💊 Postpartum Depression
💊 Childhood trauma
💊 Parental forgiveness
💊 Parentified/adultified children
💊 Racism and Sexism

The way this books shines a light on what it’s like to be a mother and try to navigate friendships, marriage, a career, and self identity while not losing yourself to the guilt that is inherently there once you have a child was truly remarkable. The way the author portrayed the complexity and reality of life while weaving in so many topics (above) was impressive and realistic.

There was a bit of a psychological thriller aspect thrown in there, that honestly I don’t even think was necessary, because the rest of the story was poignant enough all on its own. Regardless, this book is a must read for all women, but especially mothers. You will feel seen and heard, which is something we don’t often receive.

🎧 Sharmila Devar was excellent in her narration. I loved how she was able to further immerse me into the cultural aspects of this story through her accents. You can’t go wrong reading this one with your eyes or your ears.

With sharp insights on the demands of mothers and suspenseful pacing, The Guilt Pill does one of my favorite things satirical thrillers can do: take you on an entertaining journey while forcing you to face a few uncomfortable facts about our current reality.

Maya Patel "has it all:" a successful business, influencer status, a trust fund husband and a newborn. But actually managing post-partum life is turning out to be more difficult than Maya expected, and she feels guilty about everything she's missing out on. When fellow female CEO and influencer Liz Anderson introduces Maya to a new supplement that she says will take away all of her guilt, Maya jumps at the opportunity. At first, it makes everything in her life so much easier, but the longer she uses it, the more her actions change so drastically that she starts to not even recognize herself anymore. Can Maya (and other mothers everywhere) actually live a guilt free existence, or does removing guilt entirely hurt her more than it helps?

This book dives into the complicated world of motherhood with an empathetic, well-researched lens. You can feel Dave's experience as a psychiatrist and mother in the sharp commentary about how women navigate the world as mothers who want to also stay connected to their individuality. Dave deftly explores the social constructs that place women in guilt traps whether they're "too focused on their career" or "too obsessed with being home with their kids."

If you love witty satire and sharp social commentary blended up in thrillers, you HAVE to add this one to your TBR right now. Fans of Madwoman and The Push will devour The Guilt Pill!