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!

Somewhat a unique story diving into the age old concept of “mother’s guilt”. How does a mother function when they have a baby and a blossoming career at the same time? What mother wouldn’t be enticed by a pill that just takes the guilt away?

“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.”
“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯?”

Thank you Park Row Books, HTP Hive, HTP Books and Audio for the advanced readers copies via Netgalley. While I have Dave’s backlist on my shelves this is the first I have read by her and it won’t be my last.

We follow Maya in the past after she’s been placed on maternity leave with her firstborn and then begins to spiral, causing fallouts and everything starts to unravel. Each chapter briefly ends with a series of interviews/convos/media coverage regarding her present disappearance.

While I am not a mother I felt this one was a bit more easily identifiable as a woman overall and the guilt that we often carry due to societal and cultural pressures and expectations regarding work/career, relationships, marriage, motherhood, and the up keep of home; to have everything under control and be successful in all areas of our lives all the time. It’s not even always the guilt but also the resounding negative inner voice that constantly critiques every single aspect of who we are and our decisions.

It’s part contemporary women’s fiction, part mystery/thriller (this is more low key), and it took a little bit for it to gain some steam. However, I enjoyed it more as it went on and appreciated the honesty and growth that occurs in this story. Like I said, it’s very relatable and it would be nice to see it gain more exposure here on booksta!

Content includes profanity, mental health, drug use and addiction. I give it 3.75 out of 5 (rounded up to 4)

Solid read that presented a new, thought-provoking idea and gave me a chance to relive my postpartum days. The descriptions about the hard parts of being a new mom: the shame, the guilt, the resentment, and the rage were so accurate. It was healing to see it all from the outside with fresh eyes. Although I really connected with the new mom aspects it was about so much more. I think this could resonate with an anyone who’s been told, “you can have it all!” The mystery aspect of this story made it a quick-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this eARC!

this one but as a woman & mother it’s such a relatable read.
Our FMC is a new mom & CEO and experiencing guilt trying to juggle everything. Enter The Guilt Pill. It instantly calms and gets rid of guilt. But at what costs?! I’ll have to finish to find out!!

This was such a fun, thought-provoking, and totally addictive read. Maya’s a new mom trying to keep it together while running her own company, and when things start spiraling, her mentor Liz offers her an experimental drug that promises to ease the guilt and make life more manageable. What could go wrong, right?

I loved the themes this one explored—motherhood, ambition, identity—and the way it was told. The writing was sharp and engaging, and I flew through it. I especially liked the mixed media elements and the timeline shifts between the present-day fallout and everything leading up to it. It added a lot without ever getting confusing.

There were a couple of threads I wish had been developed more—like Maya’s in-laws or more scenes with Liz in her inner circle—but honestly, those are minor. The story still landed for me.

Don’t go in expecting a huge twist, because that’s not really the point here. It’s more about the choices we make and how far we’ll go to hold it all together. Super compelling and very bingeable.

I devoured this book. Seriously, ate and left no crumbs! The emotions that it provoked and the validation it gave to sooo many aspects of motherhood was the most real and relatable representation I have seen.

This is a contemporary fiction (with a sprinkle of sci-fi) following the story of a new mother, who is also the founder/CEO of an up and coming company. The story follows her through the trials of new motherhood and the challenges MANY woman face with balancing work/family/friends/health/socials etc. It was so raw and beautifully done to capture the pure hell we all go through in some way or another.

To be totally honest, it was rather hard to read at some points because I almost had a PTSD response! As a working mother of three littles, I LOVE my kids and my husband more than life itself, but there is so much truth in this book. Those first few months/years are incredibly hard and unfortunately, most people just do not get it. The premise for this book is a reality for far too many woman. The idea of being able to take a pill to take away all your guilt and allow you to focus....very tempting (and perhaps a little closer to the truth than many would like to admit with various things on the market today!).

Overall, I was totally captivated and would not have changed a thing! Even the climax was perfect, it that it isn't all tidied up in a pretty bow- life rarely is...

I listened to 35% and it felt super repetitive - like, we get it... it's hard balancing motherhood and a career. Nothing was happening IMO.

I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as a thriller, but it was still a fun ride. I loved the overall concept of this plot, and I think the characters the author created really made this story come to life. The narration was fantastic, and probably made it all the more fun to read.

What an interested read! The idea that all mothers have guilt. Whether it is guilty for no working and staying home and raising your kids, for working and not being home, for spending time with others and not your husband etc. What if you could get rid of your guilt with a simple pill? Maya Patel is a business woman, who owns her own company, is married and has a newborn at home. This felt a little like the movie, Limitless, with Bradley Cooper. The pill with Maya takes, not only doesn’t make her feel guilty with any decisions that are made, but also makes her more confident. From the beginning, I was saying “Don’t take it! It can’t be good for you!” The timeline went back and forth between present day of her disappearance and how she got there in the past, with most of the story set in the past. I loved the exploration of guilt, and is it always bad or can it be there to be good? It also touches on mom influencers on social media and how what you see isn’t actually what is true. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, I was engaged and excited to pick it up each time.

Saumya Dave's The Guilt Pill audiobook offers a thought-provoking and sharply observed exploration of the societal pressures and internal burdens placed on women, particularly mothers. The narration effectively captures Maya Patel's initial struggles as she juggles the demands of a startup, marriage, motherhood, and friendships, all while battling a pervasive sense of guilt.

The introduction of the experimental "guilt pill" presents a fascinating and unsettling premise. The audiobook format allows the listener to experience Maya's initial relief and subsequent transformation as she sheds her self-blame and embraces an unapologetic version of herself. However, Dave skillfully unveils the dangerous consequences of this seemingly miraculous solution.

As Maya delves deeper into the guilt-free existence, her newfound ruthlessness begins to threaten the very foundations of her life – her marriage, her friendships, and the company she painstakingly built. The audiobook effectively portrays the escalating tension and the moral questions raised by the pill: Can true empowerment come at the cost of empathy and responsibility?

The Guilt Pill is more than just a thriller; it's a feminist commentary on the impossible standards women are often held to. Dave tackles complex themes of motherhood, ambition, race, and the societal expectations that fuel female guilt. This electric and taut audiobook will leave listeners contemplating the true meaning of "having it all" and the potential pitfalls of seeking a quick fix for deeply ingrained societal issues.

4.5 / 5 stars

Maya Patel is a new mom, a business owner, and an online darling — so when she goes missing, the media frenzy is immediate. Told in a dual timeline that alternates between news coverage and social media reactions to her disappearance and the events leading up to it, The Guilt Pill follows a woman unraveling under the weight of motherhood, ambition, and impossible expectations. The guilt Maya feels — for not being a better mom, a more present wife, a more effective CEO — is suffocating. So when a #girlboss mentor introduces her to an experimental pill that erases guilt, Maya jumps at the chance to feel more assertive, confident, and in control. But as she becomes bolder and more unapologetic, the Maya her friends and family once knew begins to slip away — until one day, she vanishes without a trace.

This is primarily a contemporary novel about motherhood and mental health, with just a seasoning of speculative fiction. Maya’s choices — especially her reliance on the pill — aren’t always "right," but they’re always understandable. As a working mom of young kids, I felt so seen by this book. Maya's experience captures that very specific new-mother mental spiral in a way that felt raw and real — especially the expectation that moms should do it all without ever asking for help. Her descent into dependence on the guilt pill was both frustrating and heartbreakingly relatable. There were arguments in the book between Maya and her husband that I swear I had with my own spouse during the postpartum period.

The audiobook narration by Sharmila Devar is steady and clear, and the story’s structure — especially the inclusion of news reports and media segments — helped maintain tension and intrigue. The denouement spells things out a bit more than necessary, and the pacing lags in spots, but overall I found this smart, compelling, and hard to put down.

Fans of thrillers will appreciate the psychological layers of this “missing woman” mystery, but I’d especially recommend this to working moms who lean toward contemporary or literary fiction — particularly those interested in motherhood, mental health, and the quiet pressures women carry. If you're a working mom who likes your fiction grounded in emotional truth with a light speculative edge, The Guilt Pill will absolutely resonate.

📚Pub Week Review🎧

Massive thanks to #partner @saumyajdave @parkrowbooks @htpbooks @htp_hive for the gifted copy!!! This book is so beautiful and carries an important message. I alternated between the physical copy and the ALC by Harlequin Audio.

The Guilt Pill by @saumyajdave
Publisher- @parkrowbooks
Audiobook narrator- Sharmila Devar
Pub Date - 4/15/25

Imagine you are the CEO of a successful start up company. You worked your tail off to there too. Your company is flourishing and you’re all over social media.

Maya Patel is the CEO of Medini, a company with beauty products that are safe for the environment. She lives with her husband, Dev and also has a new baby. Her baby boy is colic and has been causing her so much stress that she feels guilty just for going into the office.

One day, her friend Liz hands her a pill that she is working on that will remove ALL GUILT. Allowing her to be successful, a good mother and empower her without all the guilt attached. Unfortunately, there are some ugly consequences that follow.

What I loved about this story was how close to home it is for mothers. Mothers who are trying to make it in their professional lives and personal lives. She hit the nail on the head and I absolutely loved it!!!

I will say that the narrator’s voice was a little irritating. I wouldn’t have imagined Maya’s voice like that. I preferred the physical copy to the audiobook.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
📖 Title: The Guilt Pill
🧍‍♀️Author: Saumya Dave

About?
A new Mother named Mya - with a powerful career trying to do both jobs well. Not just well, she is a perfectionist. She meets her absolute idol and a friendship forms. Her idol decides she wants to mentor Mya and offers her a “supplement” to help her with her guilt. At first this “guilt pill” is the answer to Mya’s dreams. But soon she needs more and more to have the same guilt free feelings and becomes addicted.
Makes you feel?
If you are a wife and mom, this book will feel like the inside of your thoughts! It’s so hard to do a job well, and also feel like a good mom. And the time management between those two is a constant battle. I know I’m guilty of feeling constantly pulled in both directions. If I’m at work as I feel I should be home with my son, and when I’m with my son, I feel like I should be working!

“The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: if you could take a pill that took away all of your guilt, would you?

AOTD: yes I absolutely think I would!

Thank you so much to @Netgalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave.

I really appreciate what the author was trying to do with this book. It's excruciating feeling the guilt of motherhood, combined with all that life throws at you, and wondering if you'll ever be enough. I totally get it.

Having said that, this book didn't totally land for me. First of all, while I don't like the culture that has piled so much guilt on women for trying to "have it all" I also don't think guilt is a terrible thing. Maybe guilt is the wrong word, but just awareness of our capacity and when it's time to set boundaries. Either way, I struggled to relate or feel strongly about either the story or the characters, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

I was excited to read this book because it sounded like an incredible thriller and women's fiction novel. I am not sure which one I was expecting it to be though genre wise. With that being said, the reality of it seemed to lean more towards women's fiction in my opinion. I would also say that there was a good deal of sci-fi in the story as well. It did take me a while to get through this book as I picked it up, read about 40-50% and put it back down only to pick up later. I slightly considered dnfing this book, but I am glad I did not. It was a story with an interesting and clever premise and iI would be open to reading more by Saumya in the future. I also really enjoyed the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job bringing these characters to life!

I really, really enjoyed this latest from Saumya Dave that sees Maya Patel, a South Asian CEO and new mom struggling to balance everything and feeling guilty about never doing enough in either role. When her new 'friend' Liz offers her experimental pills that will erase all feelings of guilt, Maya reluctantly succumbs and eventually becomes addicted. And like all things that seem too good to be true, the pills too turn out to have dangerous consequences. Relatable, clever and full of all the stress of new motherhood mom-guilt, this domestic suspense thriller was great on audio and entertaining from start to finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!