3.5 ⭐️

SUCH A GOOD MOM by Julia Spiro

Brynn is a new mom and is very overwhelmed by her baby Lucas. She’s deeply struggling with postpartum depression, and I felt Spiro gave a very accurate portrayal of a new mom who can’t focus, can’t sleep, is worrying about everything, and feels like she is doing so much worse than every other mother that she knows. To top it all off, her husband Ross is being accused of murder.

➕ I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an accurate portrayal of postpartum depression. The author did a really good job, but I can see it being *too much* for a lot of readers.
➕ I appreciated following Brynn’s evolution throughout the novel.

➖ The mystery element didn’t carry the book. There was a murder, but solving it felt extraneous to Brynn’s internal machinations.
➖ Ross, Brynn’s husband, was a bit too milquetoast to care much about.

While I thought the mystery element was rather weak in this novel, I did enjoy the writing and thought Spiro did an excellent job capturing the lived experience of postpartum depression.

I thought the audiobook narrator Abigail Reno did a great job conveying the turmoil that Brynn was going through.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and MacMillan Audio for an Advance Reader Copy and Advance Listener Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes April 29, 2025.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: Martha’s Vineyard
Genre: Mystery

Julia Spiro’s Such a Good Mom is a gripping, emotionally raw, and deeply immersive novel that masterfully weaves psychological suspense with an intimate exploration of postpartum struggles, marriage, and the weight of impossible choices. From the first page, Spiro draws readers into the sun-soaked yet shadow-laced world of Martha’s Vineyard, where the picture-perfect facade of summer life masks the harsh realities of loss, loneliness, and betrayal.

Brynn Nelson should have it all—a loving husband, a beautiful newborn, a thriving career—but instead, she feels like she’s drowning. Spiro captures the quiet unraveling of a new mother with devastating authenticity, painting Brynn’s sleepless nights and self-doubt in painstakingly real strokes. Her emotional turmoil intensifies when tragedy strikes: a family friend, Cecelia Buckley, is found dead, and Brynn’s already fragile world is shattered when her husband, Ross, is arrested for the murder. The novel effortlessly balances the intricacies of Brynn’s internal battles with the high-stakes suspense of the murder mystery, making it impossible to put down.

Spiro excels at crafting complex, relatable characters, and Brynn is no exception. She is raw, flawed, and achingly human, making her journey not only compelling but profoundly moving. The novel doesn’t just explore Brynn’s search for the truth about Cecelia’s murder—it examines her desperate search for herself amid the chaos of early motherhood. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard, with its stark contrast between beauty and hidden darkness, serves as the perfect backdrop for the novel’s tension and emotional depth.

What makes Such a Good Mom exceptional is its ability to intertwine a psychological thriller with a deeply personal, introspective narrative. It is not just a murder mystery; it is a poignant meditation on identity, trust, and the often invisible struggles of new motherhood. Spiro’s prose is both elegant and sharp, immersing the reader in a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

While the novel delivers a fast-paced mystery, it is its emotional resonance that truly lingers. Brynn’s journey is one that many will see themselves in—whether as a mother, a wife, or simply as someone who has ever felt lost in their own life. Such a Good Mom is an unforgettable read, and Julia Spiro once again proves her talent for writing with both heart and intensity.

Highly recommended for readers who love psychological thrillers with depth, emotional honesty, and a protagonist who feels real in every sense of the word. Such a Good Mom is not just a page-turner; it’s a deeply affecting story that stays with you long after the final chapter. #netgalley #suchagood mom #booked_this_weekend

Brynn and her husband Ross are spending the summer on Martha’s Vineyard with their newborn. She should be happy, but Brynn is weighed down with doubts. When one of their friends turns up dead in the surf, Ross is a prime suspect. How well does Bryn really know her husband? This is a pacy read that throws in enough red herrings to keep readers on their toes