Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an eaudio ALC.

I think this was my first book by the author, but I have read several by Bookouture (they do all seem to be very similar). I'm not sure how to review this book without giving away details, as there are lots of twists that are also spoilers. The family drama, dynamics and lies in this story are non stop, and with varying POV's, it can be tough to keep all of the lies and story lines straight. I didn't really like any of the characters, they all felt silly and weak. The ending was rather far fetched. This is not a cozy mystery, but hardly is a suspense or thriller since it is so slow going.

I have to add, I really dislike the characters that are too perfect and everyone just falls at their feet, and I felt that was the case here.

2.5 stars, rounded down.

Don't Trust Mother by Carey Baldwin
Narrated by Elise Roth
Publication Date 22nd July 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for this advanced listening copy.
Ok, where to start. The narrator was good, but not very emotional (is that the right word? voice animated?) at certain scenes, just kinda spoke the same, which didn't give, the dramatic effect that it should have had.
This psychological thriller itself was wild, so much going on, I could never have predicted that ending. It lead me down so many paths of who, why, whaaaat lol. (No spoilers here) 4 stars!

Wow! The twists and turns just kept coming! Just when you think you know something, you really don’t, and it just gets twistier! I truly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I really enjoyed the writing and how the story unfolds. There’s so many reasons to distrust every character. I really liked the way the author let you feel and hear the characters’ thoughts, almost like you know them. While it is a pretty complex story, it is told brilliantly, and the narrator does a wonderful job. I highly recommend this book.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t Trust Mother starts with a gripping premise—a woman shows up claiming to be the MCr’s real mother just after her adoptive mom dies mysteriously. The setup is gripping and the suspense builds well at first.

I liked the idea of the story. I found it interesting and it kept me listening. I found some parts kind of predictable.

Don’t Trust Mother kept me hooked from the very first page. Carey Baldwin delivers a psychological thriller packed with secrets, shocking twists, and emotional depth. The unreliable narration and layered characters had me second-guessing everything and everyone. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, BAM, another jaw-dropping reveal. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and keep your heart racing, this one’s a must-read!

I cannot stand when any type of story has a fictional character that is perfect and everyone is in love with. Every character in this book talked about Ivy like she was the greatest human being to ever walk the planet; I was honestly rooting against her just because she could do no wrong and everyone loved her so much.

I found the mystery to be really predictable and I wasn't a fan of the way a chapter in one character's POV would end abruptly and then switch to a different character's POV. There's also a third POV? that comes into it and it's a little confusing (I walked up to you, I saw you, you saw me).

The ending before the epilogue came out of left field and made no sense at all. If I'm being honest, I barely even remember the epilogue and I read it twelve hours ago.

This audio book was pretty good, I wanted to and I had to finish so much so that I listened to the entire book in one day! It was engaging and kept me glued to my AirPods all day!!! The twists and turns made me dizzy.

As far as the narrators I could’ve done without Ivy but other than that it wasn’t too bad.

Absolutely amazing, most def recommend reading or listening to this book!

This was a solid low stakes thriller that I enjoyed whilst getting household chores completed.
It is narrated by Elise Roth and while she spoke on the very slow side she did a fine job. It was easily fixed by bumping up the speed. 1.25x was sufficient for a typical speaking rate and made it comfortable to listen too . I however listened at 2x speed making it only take just over 4 hours to complete.

I enjoyed that there were twists and turns throughout the length of the book. It kept the reader on their toes to figure out what was next. There was a fair amount of predictability throughout but it was still a fun ride.

So if you’re looking for a more of a comfort thriller, this is the book for you. It comes out July 22nd so it’s right around the corner!

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.

Ivy knew something was off about her mother’s “accident,” she just didn’t expect the truth to unravel her entire life.

Ivy is still having a hard time dealing with her mom’s death six months ago. Her husband is hovering and pushing medication on her. Her father is very wealthy, and while seemingly supportive, he’s the type to try to fix everything with money. Then one day, a woman named Sandra shows up at her door claiming to be her biological mother, news to Ivy, who didn’t even know she was adopted.

I listened to the audio version of this, and it felt like a Lifetime movie. I was drawn in immediately, but the story was completely implausible and a little cheesy. The narrator really added to that vibe, too.

There are quite a few twists and turns throughout. I found it a little predictable overall, but the story still kept my attention.

If you’re looking for a fast paced story that will keep you guessing, I think you’ll like this one. I just didn’t find it all that captivating.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen early.

1 star ⭐️
Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook in regards for a honest review.
I honestly couldn't get past the 50 percent mark of this book. The story felt completely obnoxious to me, and i couldn't care less about everything that was going on.
I see other people liking this book though, it was just not my type of a story or something i usually like.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 🖤🖤

Don’t Trust Mother starts with a gripping premise—a woman shows up claiming to be the main character’s real mother just after her adoptive mom dies mysteriously. The setup is intriguing and the suspense builds well at first.

However, the pacing felt uneven, with some predictable twists and characters making questionable choices. While the concept is strong and kept me interested, the execution didn’t fully deliver. A decent read for thriller fans, but not particularly memorable.

Don’t Trust Mother had me hooked from the very first chapter. The pacing was sharp and relentless, and I couldn’t stop listening. I needed to know what would happen next.

The characters were all layered in suspicion, each one carrying secrets that kept the tension high. The story was packed with twists and turns, and the ending completely caught me off guard. I never saw it coming, and I love when a thriller can pull that off.

This is a gripping psychological thriller full of dark secrets, shocking moments, and shady characters that keep you on your toes from start to finish. I listened to this one on audio, and it was a fantastic production I highly recommend for audiobook lovers.

3.5 stars!

This was such a good and easy listen, started and finished in one day! The story was fast paced and had plenty of twist and turns to keep you intrigued. The ending was a bit out there, but I love when I don’t correctly guess the ending of a book!

The narrator did a great job with the women voices but needs a little work on the men, other than that I enjoyed listening. Lastly, I do not feel that the title or the cover of the story actually give a good representation of what happens in the story.

I could not put this audiobook down. The twists and turns and surprises etc. I was sucked in and recommending it to friends who also love thrillers as I listened. Gripping!!

My first Carey Baldwin book, but not my last. Don't Trust Mother on audio was solid. The story itself is interesting and, although a slow start, kept me listening and provided enough twists that it was an enjoyable journey.

My only meh about this one was the narration. Didn't love it. Female characters were ok, men not so much. Additionally, there are a lot of players in this one and a single narrator makes my job as a listener harder. I would have preferred multiple narrator voices to better help me keep track of exactly which character was speaking. That said, I'm not a novice listener and began audiobooks on cassette format from the dark ages of the 1980s.

Premise - Ivy is grieving her mother when Sandra shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s her birth mother. Ivy didn’t even know she was adopted! But when she thinks back to the last phone call she had with her mother (cryptic, to say the least) she suspects her late mother had secrets.

Ivy starts stalking Sandra in the hopes of finding the truth, but things just keep getter by weirder and the people closest to her think she’s losing her mind.

It’s a competent novel, but the voice didn’t work for me. The characters didn’t come to life for me the way I wanted them to and I just never connected with Ivy, so I couldn’t get invested in what happened to her.

I’m sure others will like this more and I’m sorry it wasn’t for me! It’s more a marketing mismatch than an issue with the book - the cover and comps (The Wife Between Us, Girl on the Train, Frieda McFadden) made me expect a different vibe than what I got. I think this would appeal more to readers who enjoyed The Last One at the Wedding.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Elise Roth. I liked her overall narration and her female characters, but the dad voice threw me.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.