I loved this book it was fast paced and full of twists. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I can't wait to see what the author writes next

My new favourite book from the fabulous AJ Campbell. What a book!

So many twists and turns from start to finish. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as I really think you just need to read it and be shocked like I was. All you need to know is that Annie is a new mum and she is struggling with everything. Her husband and step kids think she is going to mad. She desperately needs sleep and for her colicky baby to stop crying. Her life is about to be turned upside down and starts to fear for her life.

I had so many trust issues with these characters! i didn’t know who to believe. I felt so sorry for Annie but at the same time frustrated. I remember the early days as anew mum, it is hard. You feel like you can’t do anything right and the sleep deprivation is torturous.

You need to read this bio and be prepared to be given whiplash!!

Thanks so much to AJ and Bookouture for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on April 14th.

Wow! At the risk of repeating myself, what a book! When I know this author has a book out it’s an auto read for me - I don’t even need to know what it’s about as her books are just so good. Yet again Amanda has written a psychological thriller that has you suspicious of everyone in it as the secrets and tension between the characters leaks out. Every time I thought I knew what was happening the plot twisted again and again. It’s has short chapters, the pace just builds and builds - so much my husband kept asking me if I was ok as I approached the last few chapters, as I kept shouting out! Set aside time to read this, as once you start it you won’t want to put it down.

Book: First-Time Mother
Author: A. J. Campbell
Genre: Psychological/Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: April 14, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 353

Story is told from the POV of Annie Carpenter a first-time mother. She and her husband Max are bring newborn baby Lola home to meet Jasmine and Jacob his seventeen year-old twins from his previous marriage. (Max’s wife Isabelle died eight years ago. The twins are all that excited about having a baby sister and a step-mother!)
Annie is nervous about carrying tiny Lora but already loves her so much.

Soon Annie is experiencing blackouts; Max reassures her that she is sleep-deprived.
Baby Lola is fussy, cries a lot. She has colic and surely hurting as well as not sleeping enough.

Annie thinks she's going mad. Things keep happening such as a kitchen fire and she doesn’t remember leaving a pot of rice cooking on the stove. The when she goes to get Lola a bottle it appears she did not preparing enough when she knows she did.

Are the twins trying to get rid of their step-mother?

When Annie is so exhausted she passes out aka falls asleep while holding Lola – when she wake up she cannot find baby Lola - and finds a lifeless body. Yikes I nearly screamed!!!! Okay not to be a spoiler but the lifeless body is her sister Samantha who appears to have killed herself in the room next to where Annie was sleeping.

This story indeed was one wild ride!
I read a lot of thrillers so know to suspect everyone but still got this all wrong.
The ending was something I never would have guessed!!!

This is AJ (Amanda) Campbell tenth psychological thriller; although only my third, I am delighted to have a new favorite author!
She draws inspiration for her stories from seemingly unbelievable situations in which ordinary people find themselves. In this case, she tells us she got the idea about Annie while taking a shower.
This indeed was another of her twisty psychological suspense thrillers!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 14. 2025.

Name :- First Time Mother
Author:- A J Campbell
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
A.J. Campbell delivers a heart-stopping psychological thriller with First Time Mother, a gripping tale of paranoia, memory loss, and a mother’s desperate fight to save her child. Fans of The Push and Gone Girl will be drawn into this intense, twist-filled story that keeps you second-guessing everything.
New mother Lola is fragile—recovering from a difficult birth, exhausted, and plagued by terrifying blackouts. Her loving husband Max assures her it’s all normal, that sleep deprivation is playing tricks on her mind. But when she wakes up to find her newborn daughter missing, everything spirals out of control. The authorities suspect she’s to blame. Even Lola begins to question herself—could she have done something terrible in a moment she can’t remember? After all, she’s made mistakes in the past. But deep down, she knows someone else is responsible. And she’s willing to do anything to prove it.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes:-
1 Intense Psychological Suspense: The unreliable narration keeps you hooked, constantly questioning what’s real and what’s a twisted manipulation.
2 Emotional Depth: The portrayal of new motherhood—the exhaustion, the anxiety, the overwhelming love—is deeply realistic and adds to the tension.
Dislikes:-
1 Some Predictable Elements: Readers familiar with psychological thrillers may recognize certain tropes.
2 A Slow Start: The initial chapters focus heavily on Lola’s struggles, which may feel slow before the thriller elements fully kick in.
Overall:- First Time Mother is an addictive, nerve-wracking thriller that explores the fragile line between perception and reality. A.J. Campbell crafts a compelling mystery with a deeply emotional core, making it a must-read for fans of dark domestic thrillers.
My Rating:- 3.5/5.

Release: April 14, 2025
Author: AJ Campbell
Publisher: Bookouture

Rating: 4 ★ 

A.J. Campbell does an excellent job of creating tension and mystery throughout the story. The protagonist’s growing sense of panic and confusion is deeply relatable, and her internal struggle, as she questions whether she’s responsible for her daughter’s disappearance, is both heartbreaking and suspenseful. The author masterfully portrays the feeling of being trapped inside your own mind, unable to trust yourself, while others around you suggest that the pressures of motherhood have caused her to crack.
What really stands out in this book is the unreliable narration. As the protagonist uncovers more pieces of the puzzle, you’re left wondering: is she the victim, or has her mind betrayed her? The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of psychological thrillers like Frieda McFadden and Jeneva Rose will absolutely devour this book, as it perfectly balances suspense with emotional depth.

First Time Mother follows new mom Annie who is struggling bonding with her daughter, Lola. She has been struggling with blackouts and memory loss, and while her husband Max insists that this is just a normal part of the new motherhood experience, she starts to fear that something darker is at play.
Annie becomes convinced that someone is deliberately manipulating her, setting her up for something sinister.
This psychological thriller is a tense, edge-of-your-seat ride that will leave you questioning the nature of memory, guilt, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child.

Favorite Quote:
"motherhood is not a type or a job; it's a transformation of who you are."

I'm here with another 5 star review from this author, and I may sound like a broken record at this point but... psychological thriller fans, YOU NEED to read her books if you haven't already.

Postpartum life has not been an easy journey for Annie so far. Lola is 4 months old, and the restless nights have Annie questioning her sanity. Max is a doting husband, but with teenaged twins from a previous marriage, a demanding job, and house renovations to contend with, Annie is feeling alone.

Then a family death happens under their nose, under suspicious circumstances. Adding grief into the mix of Annie's stress, she no longer knows who to trust.. not even herself.

This full of books is full of unexpected twists, and so many layers. The readers find themselves full of empathy for Annie, but also questioning her at times, too.
I honestly suspected everyone of playing a part in death at times. With sideline stories of infidelity and work/financial secrets, the red herrings are there at the end of every chapter.
This was another book I found myself invested in and picking up at every opportunity. I ended up finishing it at 3am one morning when waking with my own toddler.

I'll forever recommend Amanda's books, but I think this is one of my favourites.

This book is definitely for the fans of Freida Mcfadden! This psychological thriller was so fast-paced, and the short chapters makes the reader want carry on reading.

I loved that this book was in first person and the storyline had me hooked and I couldn't stop reading! I felt empathy for the characters, and I would definitely recommend this book to fellow thriller and mystery readers!

I enjoyed the book and it was my first time reading this author. It was an easy read with short chapters, which I like. It kept me engaged and invested in the main character - Annie.

I did rate it 3 ⭐️ because I felt like there was so much "surprise!" or twists rolled into the story that it got muddy. The author could have stuck with one and focused on that particular story arc.

Also, the tagline- "My baby is missing. Everyone thinks it's my fault." False. The story isn't about a baby missing and no one accuses her. That being said, it is about a first time mother trying to cope with a colic baby and navigate a blended family all while dealing with a tragedy. Granted, suspicion is pointed her way when something tragic happens in her life but it doesn't involve her baby. 🤷‍♀️

Overall, I did enjoy the book and if you are a thriller fan I would recommend it. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity. 🫶

Time for another great thriller by AJ Campbell. This has lies, secrets, and so much more crammed into this 334 page book. I appreciated the short chapters. It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. To be released April 14, 2025.

"First Time Mother" by A.J. Campbell is a gripping psychological thriller. The story follows a new mother who begins to question everything around her as strange and unsettling events unfold. It’s a tense, unpredictable journey that explores the vulnerabilities of motherhood, trust, and deception. Fans of psychological suspense will find this an engaging and thrilling read.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. The cover and title lured me in and WOW, was it exciting. As a mother myself, I was really interested in the premise. The beginning of the book was a bit of a slow pace for me but right around the middle I could not put it down. There was a new twist every chapter and every theory I had changed constantly. I was always on the edge of my seat. The ending was a nonstop rollercoaster I did not want to get off of.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and it just shows EVERYONE has a secret.

In “Baby Missing,” AJ Campbell expertly weaves a psychological thriller that grips the reader from the very first page. The story follows a new mother, haunted by blackouts and the disorienting anxiety of motherhood, as she faces the unimaginable: the disappearance of her newborn, Lola. Campbell's ability to evoke raw emotion is striking; the protagonist’s fear and desperation are palpable, and the reader is drawn into a spiral of doubt and paranoia that reflects the chaos of her mind.

The tension builds masterfully throughout the narrative, making it impossible to put down. Each twist feels cathartic yet confounding—just when you think you’ve deciphered the truth, another layer is peeled away, plunging you deeper into uncertainty. The lingering questions of sanity and trust against the backdrop of maternal instinct and love elevate the stakes immensely. Campbell astutely explores the notion of guilt, both self-imposed and societal, as those around the protagonist suspect her fragility, heightening the stakes of the search for baby Lola.

Readers have been quick to commend the book's embrace of fear and adrenaline—a true rollercoaster ride filled with pulse-pounding moments and heart-stopping revelations. With gripping prose that propels the story forward and keeps you glued to the pages, this thriller guarantees sleepless nights filled with heart-racing excitement.

“Baby Missing” not only promises an edge-of-your-seat reading experience, but it also captures the visceral essence of a mother's love, a complexity deftly handled by AJ Campbell. Those looking for a narrative that blends chilling suspense with emotional depth will find themselves completely immersed in this stunning debut.

Prepare yourself for a wild ride with unexpected twists and a captivating plot that will leave you breathless and begging for resolution. Do not miss out—once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down. “Baby Missing” is more than just a thriller; it's a haunting exploration of the lengths one will go to protect the ones they love. The questions it raises linger long after the final page is turned.

A.J. Campbell has done it again! Every one of her books (and yes, I’ve read them all) grabs me from the first page and doesn’t let go until I finish the book! Her novels are suspenseful, exciting, and there are lots of twists and turns along the way.
“First Time Mother” follows Annie’s progression as a new mother, while she physically and mentally deteriorates. She can’t put her finger on it, but she believes someone might be interfering with her day-to-day life. But who and how? You will have to grab this newest book by A. J. and find out! You certainly won’t be disappointed!

This was a book that dragged on and would have been better in a shoter version. I usually find this authors books enjoyable.

I loved this book! A fast-paced, gripping storyline about a new mum who is exhausted and full of self-doubt.
She has the world on her shoulders with a new baby who won't stop crying, two obnoxious step-kids and a husband she doesn't entirely trust. If that doesn't sound bad enough, just wait and see how this story unfolds......
I was hooked until the end, a great page-turner. Another fantastic book by A J Campbell.

This is one suspenseful and twisty read! So many secrets, so many lies, and twists that'll make your head spin. It is a slow burn but gripping read with short chapters and plenty of intrigue, and I did not predict that ending! First Time Mother is an entertaining read and I recommend it to psychological thriller enthusiasts.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC to read and review. Expected publication date for First Time Mother is 14/4/25.

A quick read that was more of a whodunnit than a twisty thriller, which is not to say it's not worth reading. The ending was more of a reveal than a twist, and most of it was predicable but still enjoyable. I'd rate it a 3.5, rounded up. I like this author, and will continue to read her books, but I liked her other ones better.

"First Time Mother" will keep you hanging on until the end! It's suspenseful, thrilling, and got you questioning everyone in the book with "who done it". With 2 step kids that she believes hate her, a husband who seems to be gaslighting her and a sister that's acting strange it's the perfect book to read when you want to sink deep and try to figure things out, but let me tell you, you won't!

I loved this thriller so much! This book was everything a thriller should be. It hooked me from the start, was impossible to put down, the suspense had me flying through chapters and the book went places I never would have guessed. I will definitely be reading more from this author!