This book follows a group of mothers who seem to have it all together but are hiding deep secrets. When something goes wrong with a childbirth, things turn real ugly real fast.

I love that the characters are well-developed, and you can really feel their struggles and fears. Their journey keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially the last 15% of the book!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy of this book.

This is the first book by Claire Allan that I have read and it definitely won't be the last. This is a gripping thriller with several twists and turns that had me sitting on the edge of my seat not wanting to put the book down. Set in Ireland around the life of Mel who decides to become a doula after the traumatic birth of her daughter she doesn't want other women to go through what she experienced and vows to advocate and help pregnant women. Unfortunately things don't go quite as she hopes resulting in abuse/threats over social media causing her and her family to move away to try and start over just prior to the birth of her second child. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read such an enjoyable book.

When I first came across this book, something about the title tempted me to request for reading this book. As soon as my request was accepted, I dwelled into this book. I was not disappointed.
It was a perfect mix of suspense, mystery and emotions. Orated in third person's POV, it navigates how a birth coach's one wrong experience deteriorates everything in her life and everything that transpires from that awful moment.
I appreciate the way Claire Allan highlighted how grief makes or breaks someone and the impacts of societal comments on everyone's life.
Even though at the start I had to skimp through some chapters because of how slow the story started, I got a hang of it as the story progressed.
The book title is thoroughly justified and there are many key points that talks about how anything can happen at any moment like how nothing should be taken for granted.
From the short chapters which leaves you on hook and a compelling story which is articulately penned, this book exceeds expectation. As a thriller girlie, I was surprised that the last 10 chapters left me with plot-twists I did not anticipate, and that's saying a lot.
Overall it's a good page-turner for cozy evenings.

What a scary story! Not to be read by a first time Mum! Beautifully written with many twists but really plays on the insecurities of new parents and parents to be. Also shows the negative power of the internet and how mud sticks no matter how truthful the origin. Fiction with a warning.

Awesome book!! Great author! Will be looking for more!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a birth she assisted with turns tragic, Mel moves her family to the country hoping to escape the hate and scorn she has received. However she soon learns that you can’t always run away from your troubles. Someone is still out to make sure she pays, but who? This was a great suspenseful story with an unexpected twist ending. Great way to start off my 2025 reading challenge. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review this ARC.

As with other Claire Allan books, this was a gripping read and a wild ride! I loved this story and felt it was a solid 4.5 star read (rounded up to 5 stars for Netgalley)!

I would recommend this for anyone who loves popcorn thrillers, quick reads, and books with lots of suspense and domestic drama!

This kept me completely engrossed. It was such an intriguing idea and I love how the plot unwound and even the side characters like Mel's parents added to mounting tension. The locations really came to life too, particularly the building site! A really gripping read and not that predictable. For ages I thought it was Emma behind it all to get them to move! Really great twists and turns. A little farfetched in the end but by then the reader is sucked in.

I received a free copy of, The Perfect Mother, by Claire Allan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mel had only wanted to help Alice, but things did not go as planned, and Alice blames Mel. This book is very intense.

A doua's life is turned upside down after a client has an unfortunate outcome. After a slow start, this book turned into a real page turner for me.
I was very happy with the surprise ending.

Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC.

A first time reader of Claire Allen's, and this will not be the last.

The plot was well sequenced and written in a way which gradually uncovers more and more information about the current events, and the history that led and built up to current day. The conflicting questions over who the real antagonist was, and seemingly sinister characters interspersed throughout Mel's circle made for an interesting read.

The end twist combined both the expected and inferred plot with the inclusion of a character I had not suspected!

This book was one which I could not put down, and so would recommend to those who love a twisty mystery-thriller. Caution to those who may be triggered by the overwhelming themes of child loss.

I enjoyed this book overall and i felt that the characters were relatable, however I did find the ending to be a bit predictable. I also thought it was a bit repetitive at times about things that ended up having nothing to do with the story.

Thank you to Netgally and Boldwood Books for this ARC and the opportunity to provide my honest feedback.

I am a fan of Claire Allan's books and so I was excited to read this latest one from Claire.

Mel was a doula, and Alice was her client. Unfortunately things did not go according to plan during Alice's home birth and her baby did not survive. Whilst Mel thinks she did nothing wrong Alice needs someone to blame and that is what she does .... privately and very publicly. Mel not only loses her friend she also loses her reputation and her career as a doula. Everywhere she goes she is harassed and blamed for the death of a baby, in the town where she lives and everywhere she looks on-line.

Mel, her husband and young daughter decide to move away to the country to try and live a quiet family life, where no-one will know who they are but soon things start to happen and Mel wonders whether she will ever escape that harrowing day. Who can Mel really trust? Can she ever live a quiet life with her family?

This is a great psychological thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish. A story of guilt, grief and the complexities of motherhood, this book will have you dropping everything else, not a book that is easy to put down. If you have previously read any of Claire's books then you will know what to expect with this latest one, if not then what are you waiting for - this will not disappoint if you love psychological thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a digital copy of this book.

This is another gripping read by Claire Allan. Full of secrets and lies, and and tightly woven plot, I really enjoyed it and read it in a day.

A well written novel with a good smattering of surprise twists. Sadly I felt the storyline petered out somewhat towards the end so it failed to pack the punch I had anticipated.

This was a good read that I finished in less than a day. It centers on Mel, who changed careers to become a birth doula when the unthinkable happened to a client named Alice who she also considered a good friend. Alice’s vitriol caused Mel to give up her career and flee to another part of the country, but that doesn’t stop anonymous threats to continue to occur, making Mel fear for the safety of herself and her young family.

There were good twists in this book and I thought the author did a great job of creating realistic red herrings. I liked Mel as a character and I thought her parents were total jerks, but I’m not sure the author intended me to feel that way. While a lot of the narrative does take place in Mel’s head, I felt like her doubts and fears were realistic and I could empathize with her. I had an inkling of the big twist at the end but hadn’t entirely figured it out. The ending of the book was ok but I wish it would have tied up the loose ends a little more.

Overall, this was a suspenseful read and I couldn’t wait to see what happened. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After a slight slow start to the book, it became an addictive read, especially coming up to the end!!
I would definitely recommend this book.

I was hooked from page one and read it in one setting. a good psychological l thriller, did not see the end coming.

Great book was a slow start for me! Sometimes it does take me a minuet to get into a book. With that being said I would recommend this book. Definitely a twist at the end that I did not expect.

This is SUCH a readable work of psychological fiction from Claire Allan, my favourite of her books in fact (.....and I loved all the previous books!)

The plot, set in Northern Ireland, sees Doula and Hypno-birthing coach, Mel, shunned by her local community following a tragic still birth. The bereaved mother, Alice, is very vocal in blaming Mel for the death, leading to a host of trolls and online abusive for Mel.

Mel, now heavily pregnant, and herself severely traumatised by Alice’s bereavement, moves 80 miles away with husband Ed and daughter Tilly. Far from escaping the abuse, Mel finds it has ramped up a notch and goes to confront Alice much to the horror of her family. As events in this novel play out we are treated to an utter whirlwind of a thriller - utterly gripping and SO difficult to put down!

This is such a great read, character development and plot and both excellent! 100% a novel I would recommend to fans of psychological fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.