Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the eARC for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are mine alone. The deluxe edition of "Love, Mom" by Iliana Xander will be available on September 2nd.

This has got to be my favorite read of 2025! Hands down, no questions asked. This book dives deep into Mackenzie Casper's late mother's life and the complex secrets she harbored. The twists were twisty, and when you think you're in the clear, you're hit with more twists. It has to be the most twisty book I've ever read.

I really enjoyed how the puzzle was put together in this gripping novel. I just couldn't get enough and had to keep turning the pages. I couldn't put it down.

Do yourself a favor and plan to read this soon!

I'd give it 6 out of 5 stars; it's literally that good. Happy reading!

Wow. This has got to be one of my absolute favorite reads of the year.. I was in an absolute chokehold. I couldn't put it down and was crying at certain parts. I really felt connected to Mackenzie throughout the story dealing with personal family secrets and trauma. She is trying to figure out her family history and being wow. Just so much to unpack in such a short time. I really wished the book was longer because I just didn't want it to end!!!! Gaaahhhhh

I didn’t expect Love, Mom to feel so much like a YA novel, especially since the main character is a university student. I was genuinely surprised and honestly a bit confused that the tone and dialogue felt more suited to a high school setting.

The plot, with its mysterious letters and signature sign-off, gave me strong Pretty Little Liars vibes - again, very high school. I struggled with this disconnect and found it hard to engage with the story despite really trying to push through.

Unfortunately, after 50 pages, I ultimately decided to put the book down, as I just couldn’t connect with both the writing or the characters.

While I’ve seen many other reviewers give this book high ratings, I think it just wasn’t for me. I appreciate receiving the ARC, and I think readers who enjoy thrillers with a more youthful tone may have a very different, more positive experience.

When a thriller makes you throw the book across the room and then pick it back up because you NEED answers...
That's exactly what Love, Mom by Iliana Xander did to me.
A grieving daughter. A mysterious #1 fan. The prologue was so gripping, it glued me until the very end. I knew this book was going to be a ride & it absolutely delivered.
The premise hooked me instantly: Mackenzie ("Kenzie") trying to process her mother's death while also receiving unsettling letters that pull her deeper into secrets she didn't know existed. It's eerie, emotional, and atmospheric in all the best ways.
The POV shifts? Chef's kiss. Part 1 from Kenzie's present POV, Part 2 diving into multiple past POVs, and Part 3 circling back to the present. It's cleverly crafted, never confusing, and keeps the suspense alive with every switch.
The pacing is perfect:Sharp enough to make me gasp out loud, but never rushed. Messy family dynamics, chilling fan obsession, and raw emotion woven together in a way that made me forget time completely.
And can we talk about the COVER? Simple. Clean. Mysterious. Fits the book like a glove. it's not screaming for attention but that's exactly why it works. Minimal, haunting, and so in tune with the story that it feels like part of the atmosphere itself. @ilianaxander.author l'll read anything you write next.

Love, Mom is a thrilling, twist-filled mystery that will keep readers guessing at every turn. Iliana Xander expertly blends family secrets, dark suspense, and a page-turning investigation as Mackenzie uncovers the truth behind her mother’s death. Each shocking revelation deepens the intrigue and raises the stakes. Fans of suspenseful, twisty thrillers won’t be able to put this one down.

Love, Mom is the story of a daughter, who loses her mother, and then starts receiving letters from her. She, along with her friend, put all the pieces together as she reads the letters to discover secrets from the past that they must now find the answers to. Little by little, she figures out that her life as she knew it, was not really the truth at all. This book pulls out all the stops. There are small twists along the way, but in the end, it's one right after the other. I highly recommend this novel if suspense and mystery is your genre of choice!

I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of Love, Mom (Deluxe Edition). Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press. First let me say, I was totally hooked from the first page to the last. Ben wasn't a very likeable character, but he was a boy scout compared to Tonya. If you ever meet someone like her, run! The ending was shocking and not predictable. Time to check out more of Iliana Xander's works. What a ride!

What a journey! This book has so many twist and turns, it keeps you on edge the entire time! Right from the beginning you are sucked into this mystery, that has you keep reading long after you should have gone to bed, because your have work the next day. Just saying. Amazing book!

We meet Mackenzie, the daughter of a very famous author. Her mother tragically dies in an accident, and just a little after, Mackenzie starts getting letters that’s apparently from her #1 fan. Crazy fan mail? As the letters keep coming, Mackenzie learns more and more about her mothers past and discovers that her family has been keeping a lot of secrets from her..

Thank you so much to Iliana Xander, Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for letting me read this amazing book!

4 stars ⭐️ Love, Mom was a quick read psychological thriller that had an unpredictable twist! I do feel like this is more of a YA thriller but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

THE PLOT TWISTS. THE 3 PARTS. This book was written beautifully, and I loved the combination between present tense and past tense, as well as the letters. Let me tell you I was not ready for all the plot twists within this book. I thought it was gonna be just a regular psychological thriller with one unexpected event. This book kept them coming! My mind was blown. I also love how minimal the explicit romance was in this book, like romance was there, but it wasn't the focus of the book.

This is exactly what a psychological thriller needs - mystery, crimes, creepy characters, deceit, lies, questioning what's real and what's not real. It did take me a while to get into it, but once I reached part 2 I was hooked!

This was a solid read overall. It didn’t completely grip me the whole way through, but it held my interest enough that I wanted to see how it all played out. Some twists were pretty easy to spot, but there were definitely a few surprises that kept things interesting.

The premise really intrigued me - a famous author dies unexpectedly, and her daughter starts receiving letters claiming her mom wasn’t who she seemed. That part of the story was my favorite. It had just the right amount of mystery and tension.

The writing style was easy to follow, and the short chapters helped move things along. I do think the book could’ve had a bit more depth, though. Some of the themes felt like they were only lightly touched on, and a few of the later twists didn’t fully land for me. It also felt like it dragged a bit in the middle.

Still, it was entertaining overall, and fans of Freida McFadden or twisty domestic thrillers will probably enjoy it. It’s not a new favorite for me, but I’m glad I read it.

“Love Mom” is a book that delves into the complexities of love, deception, and the unraveling of a life. It’s like a puzzle, but you can’t put the frame together until you reach the middle.

The story begins with a sudden death that sets off a chain of events that unravels the life of Mackenzie, a girl who never felt close to her mother despite knowing she would always take care of her. Mackenzie’s life takes a dramatic turn when she receives letters from a #1 fan, which forces her to confront the truth about her mother’s past.

As Mackenzie delves deeper into the mystery, she realizes that the life she knows is not based on truth. The book is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good, suspenseful story.

Book had an interesting premise. Imagine your mother is dead, but she can still speak to you. Sort of. Through letters. And explain what happened in the past that today is coming to haunt you. I enjoyed this book, and will definitely read more by this author in future.
TB

What starts as grief spirals into obsession, manipulation, and a mother-daughter legacy built on secrets.
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I just finished Love, Mom by Iliana Xander (Deluxe Edition!) and I’m still recovering. This book grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. It’s twisty, raw, and disturbingly real—the kind of psychological thriller that messes with your head in the best possible way.

Mackenzie’s journey through grief, legacy, and chilling discoveries had me questioning every character—and every motive. The diary entries? Absolutely haunting. And that ending?? No spoilers, but trust me… you’ll want to scream.

This novel was absolutely gripping from start to finish! The storyline is cleverly plotted, packed with psychological tension, and moves at a fast pace. With its focus on flawed, multilayered characters—both likable and unlikable—it feels authentic and believable. It’s mysterious, eerie, emotional, and heartbreaking, featuring a strong villain and plenty of twists that kept me on edge. The writing is descriptive yet straightforward, making it an easy, addictive read that I simply couldn’t put down.

Love, Mom is a psychological thriller that follows Mackenzie Casper. After the death of her mother—a renowned author who tragically died following a serious accident—Mackenzie begins receiving strange letters signed “Love, Mom.” As the mystery unfolds, she discovers these letters come from her mother’s diary, leading her to uncover long-buried secrets and shocking truths. The plot twists were brilliantly executed, including one I never saw coming, and by the end, everything tied together seamlessly with no loose ends—just a super satisfying finish.

This book gave me the same thrill as watching a top-tier psychological thriller movie, where every scene matters. It had my emotions all over the place in the best possible way. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Content warnings: death, rape, death of a parent, fire injury, pregnancy, sexual assault, and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Iliana Xander, and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the premise of this book sounded great. I was interested in the very beginning, but I quickly lost interest. This is a popcorn style thriller, so in typical popcorn thriller fashion, the writing isn't very good. I also feel like after the first twist is revealed, the remainder of the book dragged on too long and the ending lost impact. The character development was very surface level and I didn't connect to or care about any of them. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.

Wow! Such a twisty read! I was hooked from the beginning and Iliana Xander did not disappoint. This was such a face paced read and I could not put it down.

Wow, I could not put this book down. I needed to know what happened next. The turns this took had my head spinning. About half way through I wanted to start it over with the new knowledge I had. Masterfully written and perfectly timed twists and suspense. The ending wrapped up every little detail I had been wondering about. Can't wait to read this again.

Unfortunately this was DNF for me at 31% just could not get into it or make myself want to finish it, Something about the writing was off for me and felt more YA than I was expecting. Was a miss for me but would recommend anyone to give it a try. I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this book, especially because I have heard so much about it. Very intriguing and I did not see that ending coming. Great read!