Maya Patel is a high-achieving CEO, new mother, and wife who seems to “have it all.” But behind the gloss—investor meetings, influencer posts, and a perfect infant—is a woman drowning in guilt. Pressured by her career ambitions, family expectations, and postpartum anxieties, she becomes desperate for relief. Enter Liz, a charismatic pharmacologist, who hands Maya a revolutionary “guilt pill”—an experimental supplement purporting to erase female guilt. At first it works beautifully, sharpening her confidence and freeing her from doubt. But soon, the boundaries blur and the guilt-free allure spirals into ruthlessness, threatening everything Maya holds dear—her career, her baby, and her identity.

This book spotlights the emotional turmoil of postpartum life and the internalized pressure to “do it all.” Maya’s struggle is especially poignant as a South Asian immigrant daughter and startup founder wrestling with cultural and generational expectations. I was impressed over how the author cleverly spun a speculative concept—an emotion-altering pill—into a moral test. I felt myself invited to question whether erasing guilt liberates or destroys us.

From the emotional rawness of caring for a colicky baby to boardroom tensions, the novel commits to authenticity. I felt this resonated with my younger self as a career minded mom. I felt the reading her was fast and compelling—blending satire, drama, and moral tension. I also appreciated that Maya’s layered identity as an Indian American and first-generation professional enriched the narrative.

I felt the Guilt Pill was a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant story that dove into the modern pressures on women—particularly those juggling motherhood, ambition, culture, and mental health. The narration by Dev Joshi added to my listening experience and reading enjoyment. Thanks to the author's background as a psychiatrist, it’s rooted in emotional realism and ethical inquiry. While it's not a traditional thriller, its insight and pacing make it a compelling, conversation-provoking read—ideal for book clubs or anyone navigating the complexities of guilt and self-worth.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25 out of 5 stars)
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave was a powerful and engaging read that blends women’s fiction with just the right dose of light thriller. While it’s positioned as a mystery/thriller, I actually think it fits better as a women’s fiction and emotional drama with thriller elements—so readers know what to expect going in.

The story shines in how it centers Maya’s personal journey—her career, family dynamics, past traumas, and the intense societal pressures placed on women. Themes of motherhood, identity, race, and the impossible standards of womanhood are all tackled with care and depth. The “guilt pill” concept added a unique twist that made the story feel both relatable and imaginative without being too far-fetched.

Sharmila Devar’s narration was outstanding. She made Maya feel so familiar, like a friend you’ve known for years. Her emotional delivery really brought the character to life.

As someone who’s watched loved ones navigate motherhood while managing their own careers—and having worked hard on my own path—I deeply connected with Maya. I cried toward the end, not just because of the plot, but because I know how real her pain is for so many women in the real world.

I did see the twist coming, but it still worked well and added a satisfying layer. I’ve already recommended this to several people, especially those looking for something thoughtful, emotional, and just suspenseful enough to keep the pages turning.

This book hooked me from page one. Maya Patel
seemingly has it all-until guilt threatens to unravel everything. Enter a mysterious pill that erases guilt, and suddenly she's fearless... maybe too fearless.
A sharp, thought-provoking story about motherhood, ambition, and what we're willing to sacrifice to "have it all." Dark, witty, and impossible to put down! The discussions are endless and sooo relatable!!! Not to mention the Indian Rep is amazing!

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is a cleverly crafted thriller about motherhood and the desire to not lose yourself in parenting.

In this story the main character has internal dialogue that is raw, vulnerable, and VERY relatable. Be warned, this makes her an “unlikable” character that you’ll love.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was incredibly well done. I listened at 1.75x speed (this is my normal audiobook speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listening copy.

Not being a mother or a CEO, this book didn't really resonate with me. But I can see how it would be hard to balance all the pieces of life, especially in a family from an India backgound.

This was the best most amazing book. I was so into all the dynamics. I loved the mom and brother. I loved the relationship our protagonist had with her best friend. I especially loved the narration.
The ending was so good,

I loved 75% of the book. The buildup and the different formats of presenting the story were fantastic and gripping. However, the ending didn't feel as satisfying with all that buildup.

What if women could get rid of their guilt?

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is one of those books that completely pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. I found myself flying through the pages, totally immersed in the story and constantly wondering what would happen next. It’s sharp, layered, and full of timely commentary on what it means to be a woman in today’s world—especially one who dares to want more than just survival.

As a mom of four little ones, I found the main character’s journey so incredibly relatable. Her constant struggle to balance work and home life, her deep-rooted “mom guilt,” and the pressure to be everything to everyone really hit home. Saumya Dave explores so many important themes—ambition, modern motherhood, social media, postpartum mental health, race, privilege, and the way society treats women who want to have it all. The book doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but it also offers moments of vulnerability and insight that felt validating and real.

The writing is emotional and thought-provoking without ever feeling heavy-handed. There are twists along the way that kept me guessing, and the character development felt incredibly authentic. I also listened to this on audio, and Sharmila Devar’s narration was phenomenal—she captured the stress, anxiety, and internal conflict of the main character so well, it felt like she was living the story right alongside her.

This is a bold, honest, and important book that stays with you long after the last chapter. Highly recommend it to anyone who’s ever struggled with identity, balance, or the impossible expectations placed on women today.

Wow. Such a relatable book and perfectly voices the challenges of motherhood for a career oriented female of immigrant parents. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the emotional rollercoaster. Looking forward to more books from this author!

Overall, the book was fine. I really like the premise and get the point the author is trying to put out into the universe; and to be honest the writing is really good. However, if I split this book into 3 sections I can review it better.

Part 1 - great character building. I felt like I really got to know Beta and her husband Dev and I liked it.

Part 2 - I enjoyed the storyline but even this feminist thinks it was a bit over the top. I think it would have been a lot better to tone down how often it lists all the ways marginalized people have it harder. The point was made early on and man do I agree, but it the repetition got a bit annoying. Maybe that’s just me though? You can decide for yourself.

Part 3 - I liked the ending of the story. It was good. But, to me, the way it was written came across a little preachy. Like an after school special but for marriage.

I liked the book, and I think it’s going to get great reviews. I think it just wasn’t exactly the right book for me.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I can’t give review on the content or story of the book itself, because I had to DNF it. This is purely feedback on the audiobook and not the writing of the book.
I will not post this review online because I don’t think it’s the story’s fault, but for me the narration was incredibly hard to listen to even with different speed settings, it felt badly paced/choppy which made it confusing and hard to listen/focus on.

I appreciate the chance to be able to listen to this ahead of time, but as it is now, I will have to read the physical book to be able to finish the story.

I really wanted to love this book, but I truly couldn't get past the premise of it. I loved the writing style though. The style sucked me in and I was fully engaged in the beginning, but I got to a point where I just didn't feel like this was a book suited for me and my reading preferences. Would love to read more of Saumya Dave's books in the future though.

Review: The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (Rounded up from 2.5)

The Guilt Pill has a compelling and timely premise: what if there were a pharmaceutical drug that could temporarily relieve women of chronic, socially conditioned guilt? Saumya Dave sets up an intriguing thought experiment, one that promises to unpack the complex relationship between gender expectations and emotional labor. Unfortunately, while the idea is bold and original, the execution doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

The protagonist, Maya, is a woman burdened by the familiar pressures of being everything to everyone—dutiful daughter, supportive partner, self-sacrificing professional. When she begins to secretly take a drug that suppresses guilt, the story seems poised to offer a rich exploration of how such a shift might alter women’s lives, choices, and relationships. Instead, Maya's transformation is swiftly overshadowed by the drug’s harmful side effects, which distort her personality so drastically that the novel never truly investigates what it would look like for her to live guilt-free as her authentic self.

Rather than showing these tensions through well-developed character dynamics or nuanced plot developments, the novel leans heavily on lengthy internal monologues and impassioned tirades. While the issues raised—misogyny, emotional labor, societal double standards—are important, the delivery often feels didactic. The feminist message, rather than being woven into the fabric of the characters’ lives and choices, is too often told rather than shown. This makes the book's central themes feel opaque and occasionally forced.

Despite its strong concept, The Guilt Pill doesn’t quite follow through on its own promise. The novel touches on fascinating ideas but fails to fully explore them, particularly the core question of who a woman might become without the ever-present weight of guilt. In the end, I found myself unsure of what the book was trying to say.

A creative premise earns The Guilt Pill points, but muddled execution and a lack of narrative clarity keep it from being the provocative, insightful story it could have been.

The Guilt Pill is sharp, fast-paced, and well-written. The concept was truly original and thought-provoking. Saumya Dave taps into some very real anxieties around motherhood, ambition, and societal expectations, and there were moments that felt uncomfortably relatable in the best way. The writing is slick, the pacing mostly tight, and I flew through it.

That said, I had a hard time connecting with some of Maya’s decisions. I wanted to root for her, but I kept getting tripped up by how easily she fell under Liz’s influence. Liz’s ulterior motives were so obvious that it strained my suspension of disbelief—Maya’s total buy-in felt a little too convenient at times.

Still, I appreciated what the novel was trying to say about guilt, power, and the double standards women face. Even when I didn’t agree with the characters, I was engaged and curious to see how it would all play out. It's a messy, thought-provoking story that’s well worth the read—just not quite as tight or subtle as it could’ve been.

☆ALC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now


This looks like it will be an unpopular opinion but....

Title, book cover, and concept.... super intriguing!

Unfortunately I struggled to get through this. The narrator was good and made it more interesting for me.

Ultimately this just moved way too slow for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audio of this book. The narration was good.

I really liked this story. The idea of being able to take a pill to get rid of mommy guilt is so interesting to me. I thought the characters were relatable and enjoyable.

I feel like there was a lot of repetition in the book which made the story move along slowly in my opinion. I do think this one is worth the read but I would consider it more of a thriller and not a science fiction book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Sharmila Devar does a fantastic job narrating this story and really pulls the reader in!!

Maya Patel has it all...a husband, successful startup, influencer status, and a new baby! But outside of the public eye, she is drowning in all of the responsibilities. Enter influencer Liz Anderson, who give Maya the "guilt pill". Its an experimental supplement that erases all motherhood, wife, corporate ceo guilt...but is that a good thing???

This is a clever story that explores the complexities and stress on women and the many roles they hole - motherhood, minority race, wife, and the pursuit of a successful career. Its a fun listen and relatable to any woman no matter their station in life. Recommend!!

Really enjoyed this suspenseful commentary on motherhood, guilt, and societal pressures to be perfect in every aspect of life. Really makes you think!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

If you enjoyed the thought experiment of THE MEMO (Lauren Mechling, Rachel Dodes) and The School for Good Mothers (Jessamine Chan) this book is for you!

Premise - Maya Patel is a female founder with an up-and-coming startup, a sweet husband, and an adorable newborn son. It should be the perfect life, but as any new (or not-so) mother knows, it's hard to juggle that many irons, especially when one is a 24/7 needy, adorable, helpless human. The mom guilt is making her feel like she's failing at everything, so when a fellow founder pitches her a supplement that suppresses guilt, she goes for it. At first she's turbocharged, accomplishing way more without any guilt bogging her down. But soon she starts to uncover the implications of guilt-free living... and then she disappears.

I love these sorts of sci-fi/women's fiction/corporate fiction mashups and will devour anything of the sort, so this was obviously a hit for me. Dave did a great job exploring the premise, building out the advantages/disadvantages of living without female guilt, and while some of the moments were a little heavy on the cheese (paneer?) it was overall a thought provoking (and fun!) read perfect for a book club.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sharmila Devar. Devar did an excellent job with the read! Her characters were full of personality, whatever the audio-equivalent of 'leaping off of the page' would be. Their vibes matched the characters sooo well - Liz's guilt-free supplement pitch was a little desperate, a little edgy, a little eerie, a lot seductive. In a word, perfect!

I didn't love Devar's Mark as much - he felt over the top smarmy in a way that didn't feel real for a charismatic startup/VC (read: cult) leader type. I wanted him to seduce me, too, so I could fall down the rabbit hole with Maya and that *definitely* didn't happen, but her read of him was fun in a soap opera way so I didn't hate it. Overall, really solid character work!

Thanks, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Guilt Pill was an amazing read in my opinion. The mom guilt representation was spot on. What it’s like for women and new moms in the workplace was spot on. The representation in the book was all around amazing and it was very well done. The amount of things that resonated with me was astronomical. I’ve never felt more seen from a character in any book I’ve ever read. The book did take a weird turn of events I wasn’t expecting and that side of things was left unresolved, which I didn’t really like. Overall I would say the story did tie up nicely though and left you with a feel good feeling. This was a five star read for me and I would recommend it to any woman, new mom, seasoned mom, and everyone in between. I need a trophy copy to tab because I just loved this book so much!