This was a book full of unlikeable characters, but in a good way. I thoruoughly enjoyed it and was genuinely very happy about the ending as I just felt so sorry for Her.

Charlotte needs help. She has a six-week-old baby, Jordan, and her husband Lawrence has been dead for four of those weeks. Dealing with the sudden death of her husband while she is a new mom is beyond difficult, and the lack of sleep and support is getting to her. Not to mention the worry - she doesn’t know how she’ll afford to take care of their daughter, as Lawrence did not make her the executor of his will. They had separate banks accounts, and their fancy house and her BMW were in his name. She has to go back to her modest job as a bank teller in two weeks, but after daycare costs, they won’t be left with much.

Enter Sophie, in the form of a knock on the door. Charlotte had just put out an ad for someone to come in a few hours per week to do a bit of housekeeping, and Sophie saw it and decided to show up. She also has a surprise - she is Lawrence’s estranged sister, she is also newly without a partner, and she’s ready to move in and take care of her niece. Charlotte wasn’t wanting live-in help, or help with Jordan at all, but at the time, she was too tired to say no to Sophie’s offer. She opened her home to this woman, at the same time opening a can of worms.

At first, it’s nice having someone to clean up and cook for her, but soon Charlotte sees that Sophie is getting pretty obsessed with Jordan. She wanted a housekeeper, not a nanny, but who is she to tell an aunt to stop loving her niece? As her suspicions grow, she searches the internet to find out more about Sophie, but can only find her perfectly-curated business site. When she comes home one day and finds Sophie in her room, she finally finds her voice, and tells her to leave. But as Sophie said on day one, it wasn’t going to be easy to get rid of her…

This book is written from the points of view of both women, plus an unknown woman from the past. It was easy to see where the story was going, but that didn’t make it any less fun to read, and there were still plenty of other shocks. The ending was good but abrupt; I wish I’d been given just a little more, and that’s pretty much my only complaint. I guess that shows how enjoyable this book was to me though. If you’re a fan of this kind of psychological/domestic thriller, don’t sleep on this one! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “What Every Mother Needs” will be released on May 30, 2025.)

I enjoyed everything about this book… I except the ending. The storyline was thought out and the characters were believable but the ending fell short for me. I was disappointed because I felt like it ended right in the middle of a thought. I would still recommend this book because like I said the storyline was good. It was enough to keep me turning the pages and I didn’t want to put it down.

Charlotte is struggling as a new mum, alone after the death of her husband, Lawrence. Sophie says she's Lawrence's sister. and Charlotte needs all the help she can get - what new mum doesn't?

Charlotte and Sophie are both the victims of one controlling man. As they each narrate the story, it is impossible to know which one is telling the truth and who will stay one step ahead. In the midst of the twisty narrative, is a newborn baby girl, Jordan. Both women are desperate to be mothers and it's that desperation that tips them both over the edge after years of manipulation by the late Lawrence. The craziness they are driven to was chilling and when the situation came to a head, I was holding my breath!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emily Shiner and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Shiner shines again. Even though I had the plot figured out, I still loved the story. A widowed mother is having a hard time and when her late husbands sister shows up she offers to help. No question! She is exhausted. But.,,, they both have secrets they want to keep from each other.

I recently finished "What Every Mother Needs" by Emily Shiner, and I have to say, it was quite the gripping read! The story revolves around Charlotte, a mother trying to navigate life after the loss of her husband while caring for her adorable baby girl, Jordan. The arrival of Sophie, claiming to be Charlotte's late husband's sister, adds a twist that keeps you on your toes.

Shiner really does a great job of building suspense. I found myself wanting to know more about Sophie and her true intentions. As the plot unfolds, you can feel the tension grow, especially as Charlotte struggles with her own challenges. The emotional depth of both characters is profound, making it easy to empathize with their situations.

The pacing is solid, and there are plenty of twists to keep readers engaged. However, I felt some aspects could have been developed a bit more. For instance, I wanted a deeper exploration of Charlotte's backstory and her relationship with her husband. It would have added even more weight to the story.

Overall, I’d give this book a solid four stars. It’s an engaging thriller that highlights the complexities of motherhood and trust. If you're looking for a compelling page-turner that keeps you guessing, I'd definitely recommend picking it up!

Great book. I did not expect the twists and turns. There were some missed words that I noticed which is fine I was still able to read the book. Strong four stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC!

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but there were so many parts that made me feel like all the women of this story were weak-minded and very naive from the beginning. That being said, I didn’t mind that, as many women would do the same actions that took place in this book. The twists and turns felt a bit predictable but nonetheless, it still kept me on my toes! There were a few minor writing mistakes as well, like the story would be in Sophie’s point of view but then say something about what “Sophie” was doing when really, it was supposed to be Charlotte’s name. And there were a couple grammar mistakes, but not a lot for me to be confused, just enough for me to notice.


All in all, this book wasn’t bad! If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing, you’ll like this one!

You cannot go wrong with an Emily Shiner thriller, including her latest, What Every Mother Needs.

Charlotte's husband,. Lawrence, recently passed, leaving her to raise their baby girl Jordan. Charlotte has been having. difficult time managing on her own, until Sophie shows up at her door. Sophie says she is Lawrence's sister - but how come Charlotte has never heard of her? Sophie is immediately obsessed with Jordan. She knows that Charlotte doesn't deserve Jordan after what she did. And she will stop at nothing until Jordan is hers.,

The story provides POVs from Sophie and Charlotte, as well as an unknown "her" POV. Emily Shiner does a great job at creating disbelief. I was unsure who to trust and kept flipping back and forth throughout the novel. The book is fast paced and really hard to put down. Didn't find that there was any unnecessary filler, which often happens in thrillers. It is contrite and well written. Emily Shiner always manages to deliver a compelling read.

I docked a star as the ending felt a bit flat for me after the rollercoaster of a novel. I think way more could have been done. Left me feeling a bit dissatisfied.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book just as much as Emily Shiner's other books! I couldn't put it down, I needed to know what happened. And that ending??? I have so many questions I wanted more!

I wanted to shake Charlotte for letting a stranger in but once I put that aside I really enjoyed this novel. The twists and turns had be thinking and I constntly switched between who was "bad". A solid thriller.

I was hooked from page 1. I love a good, twisty story. The two main characters were very interesting women. Both liars indeed, but one of them had a good reason to lie, and the other didn’t.
I kept trying to decide who to side with and at the end I sided with the right person.
I wish the end would’ve been expanded on a bit more. I wanted more of the story.
But I’m glad to have discovered Emily Shiner through this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book!

Amazing book! I read this entire thing in less than 12 hours. It was so gripping, I had to finish it as quickly as possible! This book roped me in from the very beginning, and it had plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very end! I thought this book was fantastic, and I believe other readers will enjoy it as well!

This thriller had me questioning every character... and every motive. This story had me hooked from the very first page. Two women. Two sets of secrets. And a baby caught in the middle.
The tension builds with every chapter as the lines between truth and lies blur, and you’re left wondering who you can trust.
I loved the slow unravel of hidden pasts and the creeping sense of dread that made it impossible to stop reading.
If you love psychological thrillers full of twists, betrayals, and jaw-dropping reveals, this is a must-read!

Charlotte's husband has psssed and she left with her baby alone. Sophie shows up her door, the sister-in-law she never knew existed. I enjoyed this book but felt the ending was too rushed and just stopped abruptly. This could be an opening for a second book. Thank you Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.

What Every Mother Needs by Emily Shiner is an intense page-turner that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Shiner masterfully blends the emotional complexities of motherhood with gripping psychological suspense. The characters feel real and their fears and doubts are palpable, making it impossible not to get invested in their story.
The tension builds steadily, with twists that kept me guessing and turning pages late into the night. This book isn’t just thrilling — it’s a deeply emotional exploration of trust, protection, and maternal instinct. Emily Shiner’s writing is sharp, heartfelt, and incredibly compelling.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful read that grabs you emotionally and won’t let go, What Every Mother Needs is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended!

What a great read!
It can be a bad thing when you are reading a thriller and you like Charlotted (whose husband Lawerence just died and left her alone as a single mother) and Sophie (his sister).
This book had every angle of suspense that you want in a thriller and shows that skeletons in the closet may come out when you least expect it.
The ending.. WOW just wow. Emily Shiner does it again.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this book, with my honest review below.

What Every Mother Needs is a well done thriller that has you completely shocked by the end (actually shocked vs. Amazon description of book ‘shocked’.

Charlotte is a new mother to baby Jordan who recently lost her husband Lawrence and desperately needs some help at home. Sophie is Lawrence’s sister who comes to help - though Charlotte has never met her before. Interspersed are recollections from ‘her’, a woman (maybe Charlotte) who had a relationship with Lawrence. The tension in this book ramps up because neither Charlotte nor Sophie seem quite right, but the reason why is the big twist as is the ‘oh no you didn’t’ ending. Definitely a solid thriller for all the lovers of that genre, unique in the idea it explores if not wholly unique for the genre.

Some stranger just shows up and says they know your dead husband. Says she's his sister that he never mentioned and you're just like heck yes move in sis. Such a great book. Thank you for letting me read this in advance. I was hooked from the start and couldn't stop reading it.

This author never fails to deliver a thrilling, suspenseful journey. Loved everything about this book. Amazing character building and I hope that there will be a follow up book on this.