I love a story about motherhood and ambition. This is the story of Maya Patel, who seems to have it all. Her life seems to glimmer - and then suddenly, it becomes so murky, as we begin to contend with guilt, not feeling like enough, and the lengths we're willing to go to, to resolve the motherhood/ambition tension.

I thought this was almost a highly metaphorical take on what women are expected to sacrifice to "make the cut" and keep up. Work like you don't have a family - and then be a perfect mom like you don't have to work.

This was a gripping story and the message at the end of it all was so meaningful - but with that said, it's fun and plot-driven, not heavy-handed or patronizing! A fun and really thought-provoking read - excellently read on audiobook, to boot!

One of my most favourite reads of 2025. I instantly was hooked about a story of a mom and her true struggles are described so perfectly and not out of world type. It’s a must read about womanhood and the struggles we all are having.

This book was so good! One of the most striking elements of the book was how it tackled guilt—not just as a feeling, but as a complex, often inherited, emotional experience. The author masterfully intertwined psychological insights, creating a rich narrative that is both relatable and deeply thought-provoking. Growing up in a community where doing more, being stronger, and sacrificing for others are often celebrated as virtues, the concept of guilt is compounded. For women of color, it’s not just about personal failings, but often about navigating the delicate balance between honoring one's culture while meeting external demands. The book explores this nuance with both empathy and depth. While it's fictional it's real and gave more language for the complicated emotions I see reflected in my clients and, truthfully, in myself.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I was excited to receive this as an ALC! I did not know what to expect, but it absolutely wowed me!

This feels like a commentary on the way society views women, especially after they have a baby. Let me just say a few things up top that I believe in, that were also mentioned in the book:
1) Maternity leave is not a vacation.
2) You cannot babysit your own child.
3) Fed is best, breast or formula.
4) Being a mother does not make you a bad employee.
5) Women look like CEOs.

We also explore the importance of giving other women grace, honesty and authenticity, and being careful who you trust when you are vulnerable.

Every woman needs to read this book! Cannot recommend enough.

This review will be posted on my booksta, toomanyfivestarreads.

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.