Definitely every mother’s nightmare. Mum gets a call as her daughter is working over the summer.
Terrifying thought of this happening.
The family are close and when the worst happens they close up.
But what would you do if you got that call?
I know what I’d do, everything to help. But does Melissa? You never know what anyone’s actions will be.
Excellent story, lots of secrets & what is going to happen next.
Expect nothing less from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

A mother receives a call while at work that her daughter is in the hospital with no memory of what occurred to her.

This book gives multiple perspectives and time lines. There was some shock factors, but I was hoping for more. It was an enjoyable read

Every mother’s nightmare a perfect title to this story and thanks again Bookouture for another good read. Some parts of the book were uncomfortable to read and anxiety driven. Especially the scenes with Byrne. The book did drag on in a few places. When you reach towards the ending, the twist appears and another twist appears!

Every Mother's Nightmare by S.E. Lynes offers a truly unsettling premise, and I found myself consistently drawn in by the short chapters. This structure was fantastic for maintaining a quick pace and building suspense, making it easy to devour large chunks of the book in one sitting. Each chapter ended on just the right note, urging me to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. However, despite the compelling plot, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. While their individual struggles and motivations were clear, I found it difficult to empathize with them on a deeper level. This distance prevented me from becoming as emotionally invested in their journey as I would have liked, which ultimately impacted my overall enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published July 2025.

This was an absolutely gripping read! Every Mother’s Nightmare is a twisty, emotionally charged thriller that taps into every parent’s worst fear. From the opening chapter, I was pulled in by the tension and urgency.

Told from multiple perspectives, the story paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of a mother’s anguish when she receives a call her duughter is in hospital and can’t remember what happened. One of the things I loved most was the constant suspense throughout which kept me turning the pages until late at night. The twists genuinely caught me off guard which I always love in a thriller.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fantastic thriller I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this pre-release copy.

Susie Lynes is one of my go-to authors for when I want a guaranteed enjoyable read, and this one did not disappoint.

The title is very accurate because, as the storyline unfolds, it really is every mother's nightmare!

Casey and Dan are very close siblings. They look out for each other and enjoy each other's company. Dan's friendship with the (controlling) Byrne rings alarm bells from the get-go, and rightly so. The more we learn about him as the story progresses, the more you dislike him. As events unfold, you find out what a horrible person he truly is.

The writing is very well done and really gets across the feelings of anxiety and panic as the severity of events and potential for what could happen to Casey and Dan unfolds.

I enjoyed the way the book was written, where each chapter is from one of the three main protagonists view; Mel (mum), Casey, and Dan. I think this makes the story more three-dimensional as it's not just from one person's viewpoint.

I felt that the character of Spider had more potential, and he could have been a more significant character than he turned out to be.

Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-crafted story, with a compelling narrative and engaging characters whose relationships feel authentic and layered. From the outset, the book lays a solid foundation, and I appreciated the gradual unfolding of the story behind the central events.

While I was anticipating impactful plot twists—and they did arrive—they didn’t quite deliver the shock value I was hoping for. The surprises are there, but they’re more subtle and introspective than jaw-dropping, which might not meet the expectations of readers looking for dramatic reveals.

That said, it was still an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. One of the most intriguing aspects was how the author portrayed Byrne’s charm and manipulative influence over others. His ability to captivate those around him was disturbingly believable, raising uncomfortable but important reflections on how similar dynamics play out in real life.

Another standout element was the portrayal of the mother’s emotional landscape. The fear and helplessness she feels in knowing the different dangers her children will face based on their gender was depicted with sensitivity and nuance. It added depth to the narrative and made her character especially relatable.

Overall, I genuinely liked the book. It didn’t quite deliver the shock factor I had hoped for, but it made up for it in subtle tension, psychological insight, and emotional honesty. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a reflective tone.

ppphhh did i just dive into this one. from the blurb i was excited as where this book and could and the suspense even from reading the very first pages had me hooked and wanting to know more. because it surely would make every mothers nightmare to get a call that your daughter was found scared, confused and not knowing what had happened to her. and what comes next is taught with both brilliant writing, plot and character portrayal. i couldn't put this book down. i had to know both what happened story wise but also if the characters were going to be ok. i needed to know this ending!]
their are some major and relevant themes covered in this book and Lynes does a super job of writing them to the way in which they should be. its not held back on and neither should it be. the darkness of certain things underlying mens behaviour needs to be talked about and this thriller covers that toxicity brilliantly. for this is about a brother and sister who are entwined around a summer camp and an event that will bring their mother to the rescue but also us wondering what a mother would do to protect their child. and actually who is it here that need protecting?
this book was non stop, need to read this now, next page please reading. i loved it. it felt perfectly paced and getting to know the story from the different pov only added weight and tension to what we were learning along the way. and each time you get to the end of one chapter your left with more element to just where this might be going, but often your not quite sure until you get fed the next part and boy are you hungry for it which each passing chapter.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to give my review.

This is a suspenseful story revolving around single mother, Melissa, and her son, Dan (23) and daughter, Casey (18). Dan and Casey decide to attend a Summer Camp, and that’s when things start to go downhill. Melissa receives a phone call informing her that Casey has been found disoriented, with no memory of what happened, and is being taken to the hospital. What happened to Casey at Summer Camp?

This story has a lot of twists and turns, keeping the reader constantly guessing. When you think you have it figured out, you don’t! S.E. Lynes is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine!

S.E. Lynes is back at the top of her game!
After feeling slightly let down by The Perfect Boyfriend, I was delighted to read this gripping tale that reaches out to every mother — parent — who fears that phone call telling them something has happened to their child. I've been there myself, and the sheer, stomach-churning terror will never leave me (it all turned out OK, I hasten to add).
The book opens with divorced mum Melissa on the receiving end. Something has happened to her daughter, Casey, although the details are initially sketchy. What ensues is a carefully crafted story that examines the toxic traits present in some young men, who can at the same time earn the admiration of their peers.
Piece by piece, we learn what happened, but the author keeps us on our toes, never quite sure till the final pages.
As always, I noted down some memorable lines:
'With these guys, humour is a test, something to withstand in order to prove yourself. Like a gun.'
'Richard, her ex, was only ever a passenger who turned into an annoyance.'
'How awful it was to know someone this well, to see through the perfect lawn of their once-adorable mannerisms to the earthworms writhing beneath.'
Highly recommended.

Literally every mother's worst fear, the call while you're at work that something has happened to your child. Melissa couldn't get to the hospital fast enough! Desperate for answers as Casey has no memory of what happened. Was this just a terrible accident or was there something more going on?

The suspense builds steadily, with well-drawn characters that pull you in. This is a psychological thriller that's both gripping and emotional. A compelling, page turner that's perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with real emotional depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to ARC read this in return for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley! This is not my first by this author and it won’t be the last. Every Mothers Nightmare grips you from the beginning. The alternating between characters and timelines to tell the story was intriguing. I did not guess the twists that were coming.

This is something no mother should ever have to go through. You will be on pins and needles wondering who and why. There is a surprise twist at the end.

Every mothers nightmare definitely freaks you out. Its the call that every mom hopes they never get. Its the type of call that will change your world forever.

Are you a thriller fan? Check out Every Mother's Nightmare by SE Lynes. This was a good read and it's available soon.

This book was great and it was a gripping story
I thought that i would like it because I never stopped reading until I finish
Wow wow wow
I had an ARC

Every Mother's Nightmare is a twisty suspense story that touches on reality. It's every parent's worst nightmare, getting that call that your child is in trouble and needs you. Because it hits close to home, it gives the reader chills and brings about the question of how far would we go to protect our children.

Melissa receives the terrifying phone call that her daughter, Casey, has been hurt and is in the hospital. Racing to get there, she is trying to understand how this happened when her son Dan was supposed to be looking out for his sister. This, however, is just the beginning of the nightmare. When a body is discovered close by to where the kids were staying, the panic goes into overdrive. It's an all out protect at any cost, but just who needs to be protected and from what.

This was such a good read. The pace was fast and addictive. It alternated points of view, and the time line went back and forth to before and after the incident. The characters were questionable, but I could totally relate to Melissa and her situation. There were a number of twisty surprises that keep the reader guessing to the end. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

A slow start but as the story continues., the tension increases and the reader is given red herrings all the way through until the very last page and while I didn't even consider that character, i had a feeling there was more to them then just a minor person in the background. As usual the author manages to grip the reader's attention from the very first page and this is definitely a five star plus read for me.

Oh my gosh I literally was up all night reading this. It was so worth the lack of sleep. I started reading this novel early in the day and could not force myself to stop. It was so good that I wish I could go back and force myself to slow down, reread it and savor every moment. I loved this novel

Every Mother's Nightmare by S.E. Lynes is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that delivers exactly what it promises: heart-stopping suspense and an absolutely unputdownable reading experience. This book grabbed me from the opening pages and refused to let go until the final, shocking conclusion.

The premise is every parent's worst fear realized. When a mother receives that dreaded phone call about her daughter being found confused and alone in a hospital, the story launches into a relentless spiral of tension and mystery. Lynes expertly weaves together multiple layers of deception, family secrets, and moral ambiguity that will leave readers questioning everything they think they know.

What sets this thriller apart is its brilliant use of misdirection. Just when I was certain I had unraveled the mystery, Lynes pulled the rug out from under me with revelations that completely shifted the narrative. The pacing is absolutely perfect, building tension methodically while dropping carefully placed clues that take on entirely new meaning as the story unfolds.

The character development is exceptional, particularly the complex portrayal of a mother torn between protecting her children and confronting uncomfortable truths. The family dynamics feel authentic and raw, making the psychological stakes feel incredibly real and personal.
Lynes has created a psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn, combining domestic suspense with darker psychological elements. The writing is sharp, the plot twists are genuinely surprising, and the emotional core of the story resonates long after the final page.

This is psychological thriller writing at its finest. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys complex family mysteries with genuine surprises and emotional depth.