Love Mom was a very satisfying fast paced read. The fmc Mackenzie was likeable as was her best friend, however almost everyone else was questionable at best! Lots of twists and questions are thrown in, making it an enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc of this book for review.

Trama, Drama, Momma!
Fantastic attention to detail. Good twists like a thriller should have, and it wrapped up with no loose ends.

Mackenzie's mom, a very famous author, passes away in an awful accident. Trying to continue on with her life, Mackenzie attempts to continue her normal day to day activities - going to class, writing some of her own stuff, hanging out with her best friend. But when letters start showing up that appear to be written by her mom before Mackenzie was even more, she can't help but question - was her accident really an accident? Or is something more sinister going on?

This book was very well written. From the first chapter, you're hooked. I loved the shorter chapters that always left me wanting to keep reading because I just HAD to find out who was sending these letters. The letters themselves give you just enough information that you crave the next one. I did figure out a few of the twists and while I wasn't shocked at the big twist at the end of the first part, it definitely didn't take away from the amazing story and I definitely didn't have it all figured out.

What I liked most about this book was the way everything was wrapped up. I don't feel like much was left unsolved. The last chapter put a cherry on top that was fantastic!

I would definitely recommend this one if you love Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin!

Thank you NetGalley for the deluxe edition of this book. Unfortunately I could not finish this book! It was incredibly slow! I made it into like half way to the book. I kept trying and trying to read but could not. The twists are okay and the writing isn't that great. The pacing I feel is the biggest issue with this book. DNF.

If I had to summarise this book in one sentence, I'd say this should be a mainstream success. Why isn’t everyone reading this book and talking about it? I'm going to recommend it all the time. Because I loved it as an avid reader who is used to reading all the time. But I also think it's perfect for those who don't read as much but are looking for a book that they won't be able to put down. It's a great choice for both groups and that's not always easy to find.
In order to be something that the masses could enjoy, a book doesn't need to be dumbed down. It can still be smart, like this one is, but have a way of telling the story that makes it easier for those not into the reading habit to consume it more easily.
It's one of my top 3 reads of the year so far. And it's been a good reading year.

So why did I like the book so much? A few reasons. The premise was already interesting and the way we start the book with part 1 throws us into the story from page 1. No fluff whatsoever. The story is pretty straightforward. This fictional author died and her daughter had a complicated relationship with her, therefore the grieving process is also challenging. Her dad seems to be looking for something and other elements tell us there are a lot of secrets our main girl Mackenzie doesn't know about. Ok, I'm in!
The structure of the story and the way the author chose to tell it work so well. Hence why I said this could be enjoyed also by those not used to reading in general or not used to reading this genre. It has its twists and we spend a good amount of time trying to work out what happened and how, but it's still easy to follow. And incredibly gratifying because everything is explained. It might sound stupid to point that out but all genres can end up overcomplicating the story and then leaving all these minor plots unresolved. It's not a big deal sometimes, but it can be frustrating. Not the case with this book. Every single thing that needs to be explained will be explained. And in a way that makes sense. That blew my mind because even some of the smallest details that one could think will break the realism of the story (not that a made up story has to be 100% realistic but there is a limit to how much we can suspend our disbelief) were explained by that piece of information that could have been just a random comment a character made. But no, it was actually what helped put the pieces together. Just so well done.

I'm not someone who cares much about the length of chapters. Short or long, it's whatever. But I know a lot of people prefer one or the other. And going back to the non readers, I feel it's more typical for someone who doesn't read often to want shorter chapters. Very long ones can feel too challenging. Or maybe even boring.
This book has pretty short chapters. And that's another reason why the story moves so quickly and so smoothly. A “just one more chapter” became four or five more chapters because it didn't take long to finish one.

As for the characters, it's hard to explain without spoilers. But I'll say every character felt very distinctive and there was more to them than what one could initially think. Mackenzie’s journey is pretty special given everything she goes through. And every time we learned more about Lizzy's books, I wanted to read them. They just sounded so good. And when a book tells you about fictional characters and their books or movies and you want to read them, you know the author did a good job making them feel like real people who created real art. Sadly, I'm not able to pick up a copy of “Lies, lies and revenge” to read.

This is a mystery/thriller, right? So what about the twists? I guessed the big one two pages before it was revealed so…at least I guessed it. And when I finished that chapter, I literally said “well that's a twist!”. Again, another element that I think so many people will enjoy. When I think about mainstream thrillers, they all have that really shocking moment that makes people gasp. And the way the story continues after the revelation made it more impactful.
What we learned happened was so heartbreaking. I've read way gorier or more graphic stories. But it's the way this was done that was impactful. And how the characters reacted to it. One of the characters got on my nerves but I also found her fascinating.
This book has characters who come from a foster home and I think the book did a great job showing that it's that very hard beginning of their lives that made them the way they are. That lack of support and the feeling of rejection, if they didn't find a family, turned them into someone they might not have been otherwise. It doesn't justify anything they did but it adds a complexity to the plot that's very welcome. Villain needs to be interesting and the ones in this story were fascinating. Even if they got on my nerves sometimes but they were supposed to. I was supposed to react that way to their awful actions and to the way they thought.

Like I said, it was very satisfying how the story wrapped up. Not just the ending, though I loved that too, but how each piece found its right place in the puzzle.
And even if it was a very minor part of the plot, I enjoyed the bit of romance that was added to it. Another element that I think non readers can appreciate and it was just very sweet.

Another absolute 5-star book that made my reading journey this year even more successful.

this might be one of the most entertaining thrillers I've ever read! I finished it in less than 24 hours and it’s truly unlike anything else!! It's the kind that keeps you invested from the first page and questioning what will happen next!!

Love, Mom is a gripping psychological thriller that hooked me from the very first chapter and didn’t let go. I could not stop turning the pages, eager to find out what secret would be revealed next. Iliana Xander creates a smart, tense atmosphere that slowly tightens its grip on the reader with each new letter that arrives.

The story follows Mackenzie Casper, a bright student haunted by the shadow of her recently deceased mother—a best-selling thriller author. After the funeral, Mackenzie starts receiving mysterious envelopes that include pieces of her mother’s diary. What she finds inside changes everything she thought she knew.

The tension builds brilliantly. Each letter draws Mackenzie—and the reader—deeper into a web of deception, dark secrets, and buried truths. I loved the layered storytelling and how Mackenzie evolves as she uncovers the past. It made me question who we are when the truth is finally revealed.

Some moments stretched believability slightly, but the ride was worth it. It’s a compelling story that asks: how far would someone go for success, and what happens when those secrets claw their way to the surface?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is a must-read for fans of suspenseful family thrillers.

Love, Mom is an entertaining, multi-layered mystery. I did not see the midpoint twist coming and audibly gasped when I read it; it was easily one of the book’s strongest moments. The short chapters, multiple narrative perspectives, and the inclusion of letters gave the book a quick pace and variety that kept me interested.

That said, I found the ending to be quite rushed. Several major developments were packed into a few final chapters set a year after the main action. Those chapters delivered critical plot information that deserved more space, especially since earlier twists were so well-paced and detailed. A few more chapters could have made the ending more satisfying, but the journey there was still suspenseful and engaging!

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the DRC of the Deluxe Edition!

Wow, loved this! A little bit of a slow start, don’t let that put you off! Huge twist halfway through the book then so many more twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down, read 60% of the book in one sitting. I will be reading more from this author now as the writing style was brilliant! Can’t wait for the paperback copy!

This Novel deserves every hype it’s getting and much more, I thoroughly enjoyed this Novel from start to finish. It definitely one of my favorites so dar for 2025!

Highlights-
- Fast-paced suspense that keeps you hooked
- Gripping twists and shocking revelations
- Deep emotional intensity woven into the story
- Layers of deception and hidden truths
- A mother’s mysterious death that unravels dark secrets
- A haunting family mystery

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

An incredible, heart breaking story which reads partly like a gothic horror and partly like a modern family psycho-drama. There are so many key players in this plot and the author carefully stretches them out to the maximum thrilling effect. Every character has a role to play in unravelling the mystery and this is shown right down to the final chapter, giving a tremendous sense of satisfaction and closure. Is it a realistic plot? Not really, but the author is skilled enough to make it seem credible and this, along with her careful use of character interplay, makes it a terrific read.

This novel was great! The storyline had clever plotting and psychological tension. It is a fast paced read, having the flaws of the characters as the main focus. It is mysterious, eerie, emotional and sad. It contains a strong villain, with the characters being very multilayered. The characters felt believable, as it contained both unlikable and likable characters in it. This is easy to read, descriptive, straightforward and beautifully written. The twists in this story really kept me on edge! This book is both exciting and addictive!

“Love, Mom” is a psychological thriller that centers around Mackenzie Casper. Mackenzie’s mother passes away not long after Mackenzie starts getting these mysterious letters. Mackenzie’s mom was a renowned author and got into a serious accident, which is what caused her death. Soon after her mom passed away, she starts receiving letters that are signed with “Love, Mom.” As the story unfolds, Mackenzie figures out that these letters are really from her mom’s diary! Mackenzie ends up digging up past secrets and things get twisty! Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!

I think fans of Freida McFadden and John Marrs would really enjoy reading this book! The content warnings include death, rape, death of a parent, fire injury, pregnancy, sexual assault and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Iliana Xander and Poisoned Pen Press for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The NEW arc of this book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025!

An insanely twisty and unputdownable read!
I didn't see any of it coming, each chapter had me scrambling for more. I LOVED it