Emily Shiner (favorite author) returns following The Nanny Share with her latest twisty domestic thriller, WHAT EVERY MOTHER NEEDS, cleverly written—a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Readers will go back and forth with their loyalties while reading. With this cast of unreliable narrators, hang on for the wild ride!

Two women.
One innocent baby.
One controlling dead man.
Both women are liars.
One is a killer.
Which one is more dangerous?

About...

Told from three POVs:

Charlotte:
Set in the fictional town of Reidsville, North Carolina, Charlotte is a recent widow raising a six-week-old baby girl named Jordan.

She is overwhelmed with caring for a baby and the housework. Unfortunately, she was not in Lawrence's will, so she may have to put Jordan in a nursery and return to her old job as a bank teller. They have nice cars and a home, but they have separate accounts.

She places an ad for help with household tasks, including cleaning and housekeeping, shopping, and meal planning and preparation. (no live-in position) However, the nursery will be off-limits.

Sophie:
Sophie, a glamorous woman architect, shows up with suitcases at her door to assist. She claims to be Lawrence's younger sister (guess they were estranged). But she wants more than housekeeping and meal planning, she wants to spend time with Jordan (her niece, of course).

However, she suspects Charlotte may have deadly secrets. Did Charlotte kill her husband, and is she capable of raising Charlotte? She must stay around at all times to protect Jordan. She has an agenda.

Her:
Throughout the novel, we encounter an unknown voice that provides readers with background information about Lawrence, starting eight years earlier. It is spine-chilling. He is controlling, abusive, manipulative, a liar, and a psycho. Did someone murder him? If so, you can see why.

Charlotte has never met Sophie and did not know he even had a sister. She does not like the idea of a stranger moving in, but she is desperate and worn down, and maybe this is what she needs. What Every Mother Needs—after all, she is the aunt and wants to help out and get to know her family.

As time moves on, Charlotte becomes more and more suspicious of Sophie. What is her motive? Why is she nosing around in her things and asking personal questions?

Charlotte is worried about keeping her secrets. Sophie is determined to learn more about Charlotte, Jordan, and Lawrence as she has her own agenda.

How will this dangerous game of cat and mouse play out? Which woman would you trust?

My thoughts...

WHAT EVERY MOTHER NEEDS is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its jaw-dropping twists!

The author keeps you in suspense with the dark secrets, and the characters are so complex that you are guaranteed to change your mind about each woman with more back-and-forth twists than a tennis match.

Each character's true nature is a mystery. You may find yourself sympathizing with one, only to switch sides in the next chapter. This book will keep you guessing and changing your mind throughout. From the first page to the last, WHAT EVERY MOTHER NEEDS is a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

The usage of the unknown HER chilling voice was brilliant and an excellent way for readers to get to know Lawrence and all his manipulative ways.

You may predict what is going to happen; however, you are not sure until the ending. It does not take away from the entertainment. Multi-layered, past and present, with wicked characters and dark humor, domestic thriller fans will enjoy it!

I think I have read all Emily's books, and I am a huge fan! I adore NC authors and support them. Highly recommend her backlist.

Recs...

If you're a fan of Shiner, Daniel Hurst, Miranda Rijks, Keri Beevis, A.J. Campbell, K. L. Slater, Robin Mahle, Kaira Rouda, or Freida McFadden, WHAT EVERY MOTHER NEEDS is a must-read for you.

Blog Tour...

Join me on May 30th (pub day) for the Bookouture Books on Tour on my blog for more about the book and author!

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a gifted advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: May 30, 2025
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At first, I wasn't sure where this was going to be heading. There were a few truth bombs dropped in here and there to keep the reader on track but the duplicitous nature of this story was completely gripping.

After the death of her husband, 6 month old Jordan is the centre of Charlotte's world and she would do anything for her. Being a single mother about to go back to work is just a bit hard though and so she appeals for help and is really lucky when her appeal is answered.

The dual POV aspect with insight into the thoughts of each character and the secrets hidden in their past leaves you wondering throughout just who the bad guy actually is. Who, if anyone, will get what they want in the end is anybody's guess as the story arc takes some interesting turns. I would definitely recommend this if you like your thrillers fast paced and intense.

When Sophie shows up at Charlottes house claiming to be her sister in law. Charlotte is surprised, her husband Lawrence never mentioned a sister. Soon Sophie has moved into the house and has taken over looking after the new baby Jordan. Will Sophie get what she came for? A good read with twists.

Rounding up from 3.8 stars.

Normally I love Emily's books. This one just didn't do it for me. There are only 2 main characters and I didn't feel any attachment to either of them. It was hard for me to get absorbed into the story. Unfortunately, this just isn't my favorite book by Emily Shiner. That being said, I love her books and I look forward to reading the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Charlotte is a recently widowed mother of a 6-week-old baby, dealing with exhaustion, stress, and the tension of her sister-in-law moving in. She never even knew her husband had a sister but she needs all the help she can get. I found this book extremely engaging. It's a very good thriller.

What Every Mother Needs by Emily Shiner is a psychological thriller that will leave you questioning everyone’s motives. When Charlotte’s husband, Lawrence, dies, she’s left juggling a return to work while caring for their baby alone. Out of the blue, Sophie—Lawrence’s sister—shows up. The strange thing? Charlotte had no idea he even had a sister.

Although initially suspicious, Charlotte accepts Sophie’s help and allows her to stay, feeling like she doesn’t have much of a choice. While the overall plot is somewhat predictable, the small twists and unexpected turns uncover intricate layers that add depth and tension, keeping the story engaging.

I give this book 3.5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful read that builds as it progresses. As you try to pinpoint the “villain,” the lines blur, and it becomes unclear who to trust—keeping you guessing until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advance reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of What Every Mother Needs by Emily Shiner.
I have read several books by this author and she did not disappoint! The story was a good one. It was a bit predictable but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of it. It you like domestic psychological thrillers, this one is for you. Make sure you check it out!! Publication Date May 30, 2025
#NetGalley #Emily Shiner #Bookouture

I really enjoyed this unputdownable gripping psychological suspense thriller. I couldn’t put it down. It’s such a brilliant page turner. I was hooked from the first page to the last.
It’s so well written, easy to follow and the tension slowly builds as the story unfolds with unexpected twists throughout keeping you guessing.
The short chapters alternate between the wife Charlotte , the sister in law Sophie and Hers POV’s adding more depth, layered with emotion, history and a growing sense of unease.
I enjoyed the authors writing style which is compelling, engaging and enjoyable. I loved the characters. The story is intriguing, mysterious, relatable, suspenseful and fast paced. I look forward to seeing what @authoremilyshiner writes next.
I definitely recommend this one. It’s well worth a read if you enjoy domestic psychological thrillers.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #WhatEveryMotherNeeds in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 30 May 2025.

"She’s what every mother needs. But can you trust her?"
What Every Mother Needs is a thriller that follows Charlotte who is a struggling single mother and needs support after losing her husband Lawrence, but all is not what it seems when Sophie shows up. Make sure to read this one to find out what happens. The author did a good job writing this book. The characters I didn't enjoy in this, but I did like the ending in it though. Overall, this was a decent read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who likes thrillers. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this read in exchange of my honest review of What Every Mother Needs by Emily Shiner.

This book grabbed my attention from the start.
Having read one other book by this author and loving it, I had high hopes for this one.
It did not disappoint. Loved the story line. Loved the characters.
Only thing I would of liked was a little more of an ending. I feel like there was more of the story to tell.
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review

Kudos to Emily Shiner for this page turning domestic thriller. This is one story that you should absolutely not try and guess what’s going on as it had numerous unexpected twists throughout the story. Simply well written, easy to follow, and will keep you at the edge of your seat as you continue to navigate through the chapters and try to figure out who’s actually the antagonist in this story. But what happens when everyone has secrets? When the characters you grow to love you grow suspicious of? When the characters you despise you begin to feel sorry for? Yep… this story brings it all.

Charlotte is a new single mom of an infant daughter, as her husband is recently deceased. Left with no support, she’s desperate to find help when suddenly her mysterious sister-in-law shows up on her doorstep. This should be a blessing in disguise, right? Well.. Charlotte never knew Lawrence even had a sister so who is this mysterious woman? Again, desperation throws her common sense & red flag radar completely out of the window and she invites Sophie right on in.

Overall, a recommended read that I highly enjoyed. Never a dull moment! I’ve read other books by Emily and have enjoyed them all so far. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Whoa! What a twisty ride. I absolutely LOVED this book! What Every Mother Needs by Emily Shiner had me hooked from the very first page.

Charlotte is a new mom whose husband, Lawrence, recently passed away. Charlotte is struggling with adjusting to being a new mom and a widow. She puts out an ad looking for someone to come in and help. When Lawrence's sister Sophie shows up on Charlotte's doorstep, Charlotte is shocked since Lawrence never mentioned having a sister. Yet she is so relieved to have some help. Can Charlotte trust Sophie? Or does Sophie have her own motives for showing up on Charlotte's doorstep?

I had no idea where this story was going. I found myself frustrated with all the characters at different times. Unsure of who to believe, my thoughts on who the "bad guy" was flip flopped multiple times. The story builds this constant sense of tension that had me racing through the chapters. And the twists? Wow! Just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot flipped everything upside down. I found myself furiously flipping the pages needing to know what was going to happen.

What I didn’t see coming AT ALL was the ending. It completely caught me off guard in the best way. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took a final turn that made my jaw drop. So good.

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

What a fantastic book, that had me gripped from the first chapter. I loved reading book that constantly leaves you wanting to read it all in one day. The characters are well described and you can imagine what they are really like.

This is my first book by Emily Shiner and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC copy 😁

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book. If you overthink or think about the worst case scenario often, this book is for you. I know a lot of people love a good twist right off the bat, but I thought the first twist in the book could have waited a bit longer because after that the book kind of dragged on for a bit before picking back up again. That being said, it was definitely worth the read for the twists at the end! Overall, I really liked this book and could see it being made into a movie. If this happened it would be one I would watch.

Side note, there were some mistakes in the book (an extra word or inaccuracies) that I have pointed out below:

Chapter 6-six pages in: it says “because you’re Jordan’s sister” It should say Lawrence’s sister.

Chapter 10-three pages in: it says “Sophie became desperate enough” It should say Charlotte, not Sophie.

Chapter 30- seven pages in: it says “food of my bed” instead of foot of my bed.

Chapter 51- it says, “she the security settings”

This is my first book from Emily Shiner and I enjoyed it. I love stories that I am constantly trying to figure out. I really thought both Charlotte and Sophie were both crazy. And I hated Lawrence, but I'm sure we were supposed to not like him. The twist at the end was perfect and just the kind of twists I love in my thrillers.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

WHAT did I just read?! This book was so twisty and addictive—I devoured it in no time.

When I started reading, I found myself thinking, “Why would you let a stranger into your home with a newborn?” But hey, it's fiction, so I just went with it—and I’m glad I did. The setup pulls you in quickly, and even though I figured out part of the twist early on, the full picture didn’t hit me until much later. And wow... the payoff was worth it.

Emily Shiner knows how to keep you guessing, and I loved how the tension just kept building. If you’re into domestic thrillers with layered secrets and shocking reveals, definitely add this to your list!

A page turner, I was invested in the story from page one.
Charlotte is anew mum and recently widowed. She is exhausted from lack of sleep, so puts up an ad for some general help a few hours a week. Sophie arrives at door, she tells Charlotte she is her late estranged husband’s sister, she has suit cases with her and can move in and solve Charlottes problems immediately. Charlotte didn’t want live in help, but finds herself too tired to say no, so invites Sophie in, unaware of the can of worms she is opening or the game of cat and mouse that is about to begin!
The story is told in alternate POVs by both woman plus an unknown woman from the past.
I did guess some of the upcoming twists, but still enjoyed the read though I felt the ending was rushed and fell a bit flat.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review..

3* for me

I found the first half slow, but after hitting 50% I understood why it was slow as it had to build up the two main characters and the story, it started getting really good! I need to know what Sophie was getting up to and what she was planning. But then the ending was a let down for me, I feel like an extra could have chapters it would have ended better. I need to know ( without giving spoilers )did Sophie manage it? Did she get away with it? Did Charlotte come back? Did Charlotte get what she wanted?

Apart from that this book was a easy read, an when I hit the 50% point I didn’t want to put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alright this one was so good I regret not having time to read it in one sit !!

I had a looooot of theories for it and only two were true 😂😂
I was on edge and the ending got me like “🤯😱😳”

That said when you read this book you will probably choose a side !! It’s quite difficult but I chose one and in the end I’m more than happy about it 😅

I can’t wait to read her other books !!

Great suspenseful read! This book sucked me in and kept me wondering. The twist at the end was a true surprise.