Love, Mom hooked me from the very first page and didn’t let go. Mackenzie’s story is both chilling and heartbreaking. She is the daughter of a famous thriller writer who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a mystery that feels straight out of one of her mother’s books. The mysterious letters, the diary entries, and the unraveling of long-buried family secrets kept me on edge the entire time.

What I really enjoyed was how layered this book was. It is part psychological thriller, part family drama, and part coming-of-age story for Mackenzie as she navigates grief, betrayal, and danger all at once. The twists were clever, the suspense was intense, and the emotional depth gave the story so much more weight than your typical thriller.

An addictive, unsettling, and thought-provoking read. I could not put it down.

What a fun popcorn thriller! It’s a perfect recipe of family secrets, amateur investigation, and mysterious letters from the dead. When a thriller has more than one ‘part’ and short chapters, I know it’s going to be good! This didn’t disappoint. I won’t lie and say I didn’t see most of the twists coming but there were a couple of surprises and it was still fun to watch it all play out. I had a good time! If you enjoy popcorn thrillers then I’d absolutely recommend!

This book was so much fun. The twist was a bit unexpected but once it came, wow, was it a ride!
I loved the writing style. It had me hooked!

This book was so good. I didn’t want to put it down!!
The thriller dives into a lot of family dynamics with a lot of twists and turns.

Highly recommend!

This book is just amazing! I was gripped from the beginning.

A famous author dies suddenly and her daughter Kenzie starts receiving letters from her Mom. These letters make unravel everything in Kenzies life and soon she is digging deep in to a mystery that will change everything she knows.

I read this book in a day. It is amazing. Full of twists and turns but also quite emotional. There were some twist which made my jaw drop and you find that you just want to read more and more to find out what is going on.

I would love to read more by this author as if it’s anything like this book then I have definitely found a new favourite author.

Love, Mom
By Iliana Xander

I have been hearing about this book all over the interwebs so I was very excited to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy and check it out for myself.

It was a fairly quick, easy read that hooked me from the beginning. This book was different than I expected but in all the best ways! I had several guesses on where the story was going and what the twist was going to be but none of them were right! This is one I will definetly recommend to other readers and thriller lovers! I will be on the lookout out for more books by this author!

Dear Iliana Xander,
I need more!
Love, an obsessed fan.

This book is phenomenal! Absolutely gripping, twisted, and jaw-dropping! I'm not sure if I've ever read anything by this author before because she writes under different pseudonyms, however, this psychological thriller is in my top 5! The twists are insane, the characters are wonderfully developed, and the obsession of one of the characters kicks it all up a notch (or 5!) There's not a dull moment in this book and from the beginning to the very end, I was hooked! 5 stars across the board!
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Iliana Xander for this captivating and amazing ARC!

What a wild ride by Iliana Xander. The twists and turns kept hitting and it was such an enjoyable read. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

Thank you so much, Poisoned Pen Press, for sending me over this ARC. I believe this one was originally self published some time last year but got picked up (which is great news) and I’m so thankful I was able to receive a copy in exchange for an honest review.

You guys!! This book is so good!!! I devoured it! The plot, the suspense, the twists, and even the characters were all interesting. Seriously, if you love a story filled with twists - this is for you!! I was hooked from the very first page and I love how everything tied together by the end.

You won’t regret this read! Highly recommend. A binge worthy book!

4.5 ✨ but rounding up because the twists were so fun!

New publication date is Sep 2, 2025.

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

Mackenzie Casper has always lived in the shadow of her famous writer mother. After her mother’s mysterious death, Mackenzie starts receiving anonymous letters and finds her mother’s diary, leading her into a web of secrets. The premise hooked me, but the payoff fell flat—I was left wanting more depth and a stronger resolution.

This one had twists and turns but I wouldn't say it blew me away and had me guessing a lot.
I did like that Mackenzie learned her true family in the end though.
I think the book is well written and well paced. We hear from Mackenzie regarding the loss of her Mom and how she pieces together a horrific past life for her Mom and Dad.
I like that we get a glimpses of the bigger picture through the letters and later other important characters who help to work out what really happened.

A young woman and a budding writer, Mackenzie Casper, lives in the shadow of her famous writer mother, who dies in a mysterious accident. This is the story of how Mackenzie finds out the truth of her mother, who was always aloof from her, and a mystery.

The puzzles and clues about her mother arrives by way of anonymous letters and her mother's diary. I was left dissatisfied, for some reason.

What a great read!!! I was completely hooked the whole time. This might be the only thriller book that I would reread because it wasn't just suspense or mystery, there was also found family and romance. I very much enjoyed the banter in between discoveries. I wasn't able to guess the plot twists and I loved how it ended.

Wow. Couldn't put this one down!

Mackenzie has just lost her mother, a famous author, under potentially suspicious circumstances. After the funeral, she starts to receive letters, supposedly from her mum, written long ago, containing untold secrets.

Is it some elaborate hoax? Or was there more to her mother's story than meets the eye?

The review below is posted on Amazon as well as Goodreads.

What a thrill this book gave me! I loved every second of it, I was extremely interested in it from the beginning and it held my attention. The chapters weren't very long and I did not want to put it down. I was content with how it ended and couldn't believe all the twists and turns. While some aspects, I guessed, I truly did not know how it was going to work out. I felt like I was reading a Freida McFadden book which has so far been my favorite author in the genre. I can not wait to see what else comes from this author!!

This book was so great! The twists were twisting. I thought I had it figured out, but nope I was wrong. Loved the author’s writing and will read more of her works!

This book absolutely blew me away. Hands down one of the best thrillers I’ve EVER read! This gripping story gave me chills, had me crying, had my heart pounding, my fists clenched, had me holding my breath…and I could NOT put it down! I went over a million possible scenarios in my mind while reading and ALL of them were wrong! Twist after twist, my mouth fell open, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I loved every minute — every second of this book. Five stars!

I loved this so much! I never knew what was coming next and the last plot twist had my mind completely blown. I also enjoyed how the romance was woven into the story but didn’t overshadow the main story. This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read so far this year.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Iliana Xander has crafted the kind of thriller that burrows under your skin and lingers long after you close the final page. Love, Mom isn’t just a story about grief or family secrets, it’s a razor-sharp exploration of how far obsession, fame, and betrayal can twist a life.

Mackenzie Casper is not your average protagonist. She isn’t simply navigating the shadow of her famous mother’s legacy, she’s unraveling it, page by page, letter by letter. The mysterious envelopes that arrive after her mother’s untimely death are like literary landmines: each one explodes with revelations that are more disturbing than the last. Watching Mackenzie’s world fracture as she learns what her mother was truly capable of is both addictive and unsettling.

What I loved most is that this isn’t a predictable “famous author with skeletons in the closet” setup. Xander layers her mystery with psychological dread, peeling back the glossy veneer of celebrity to reveal rot and obsession underneath. The diary entries felt like whispers from beyond the grave, taunting, manipulative, and impossible to ignore.

The pacing is relentless without sacrificing atmosphere. Every chapter feels like creeping down a dark hallway, unsure if you’ll find a locked door, a hidden passage, or something unspeakable waiting for you. And the ending? Absolutely gutting in the best possible way, it reframes everything and left me staring into space, replaying the book in my head.

If you love thrillers that blend family drama, literary intrigue, and a creeping sense of paranoia à la Riley Sager or Alice Feeney, this one deserves a place at the top of your TBR. Love, Mom isn’t just about a daughter discovering who her mother truly was, it’s about realizing that sometimes, the truth is more terrifying than fiction.

A great thriller. Full of twists and turns, a plot that will leave second guessing everything you think you know and still prove you wrong. Great read