Even though I found the protagonist irritating and unlikeable, I thought this book was really good. Yes, it has important messages which it imparts sensitively and without preaching, but the story itself is a massively relatable family drama. The author does a slow reveal on the core issue and does so in a way which explores causes and effects without tying everything up in an implausibly neat bow. Really well structured and paced with strong and believable characters.

This was such a deep emotional read for me! Such an intense look at family trauma and how that can play out years down the line when family secrets are kept. The funny thing is that the MC is a therapist herself so it displays how none of us are exempt from consequences of not dealing with our trauma.

This book was very impactful to me as a parent. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was absolutely brilliant.

I blazed through this book in a day and a half. While there was much in the actual experience of Gemma that was foreign to me (childbirth, etc.), the emotions and anxiety she expresses were like someone reading my own brain. The second half of the book that delved into how she addresses her challenges offered great insight and advice that resonated with me on a cellular level. I highly recommend taking the roller coaster ride that is The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair.

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is one of those books that really sticks with you. Gemma seems to have this perfect life on the surface—successful career, loving family—but as the story unfolds, you see all the cracks beneath that glossy exterior. The way Meg Myers Morgan dives into postpartum depression and the pressures of juggling family and work is so raw and honest, it feels incredibly real.

Gemma’s story is full of tension and heartache, especially when a scary accident sets off a chain of lies that threaten to unravel everything she’s built. What I appreciated most was the blend of sharp humor and emotional depth—it never feels heavy-handed, just real and relatable.

If you’re into stories about imperfect women facing tough truths and finding strength in unexpected places, this one’s a powerful read that won’t disappoint.

I devoured this book on a long travel day. It was a perfect quick read for a holiday weekend - funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking. I love the author's honest and relatable interpretation of what it is like to be a modern woman looking for balance as a high-performing wife, mother, sister, daughter, and professional. Although it was told lightly enough to stay entertaining, the novel also highlights how the stories we tell ourselves - especially when left unchecked - can create self-imposed limitations that rob us of joy and peace. I'd love for this to be the first novel in a series about Gemma Sinclair or her family, and I'd definitely watch the movie!

Wow - I loved this! The first half made me deeply uncomfortable - and I mean that as a compliment to the author - I have never read a book that so accurately captured postpartum. As a mom of two, the feelings, confusion, tiredness of it all came rushing back. She captured the extreme emotional roller coaster of it all and how the simplest of tasks (like going to the bathroom) seem to be so daunting!

I related to Gemma so much as a mother, but I think everyone will find connection with this book. It's about her role as a mother, daughter, spouse, and sister. There's an air of mystery in unraveling Gemma's family life that weaves through the book and wanting to know that full story kept me engaged and pushing past my own discomfort of reading a postpartum mom struggle.

As a mother with two young children it hit a little closer to home than I was ready for, but it truly is a beautiful story and Meg captures the messiness, confusion, joy, and sometimes sorrow of being a daughter, mother, partner, sister, etc. Once I got going, I flew through this. I wanted to finish it, but also not stop reading it - I love when you find a book like that!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC - I loved getting to read this story!

Read in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

When I chose this book, I wasn’t expecting to go to therapy but, let’s be honest, we all know that I needed it.
Despite being childless, I could emphasise with Gemma as she slid into depression, after her baby slipped out.
That was the grossest way I could’ve put that but it feels fitting, seeing as this book is wonderfully blunt and graphic about the realities of childbirth and family life; it’s the kind of book that your aunt would nod knowingly at, and your mum would gift at your baby shower.

“I have disappeared from my own life,” is one of the defeated phrases found in these pages.
Life isn’t turning out as Gemma had hoped.
For starters, she can’t summon the same all-encompassing ‘love at first sight’ for her second son.
Then, her adored but highly strung older brother is squeezing out the last of her energy reserves when he unexpectedly announces that he’s staying with her, 4 days after birthing Calvin, and she’s struggling to roll out the required red carpet.
Gemma lashes out at a challenging patient when prematurely returning to work- this is worse than most outbursts at a job because she’s a therapist…
Rock bottom arrives with a bone crunching thud when an accident leaves her newborn injured, and innocent Gemma takes the blame.

Suddenly, she’s summoned to therapy herself.
All she wants is for life to be better but hope seems like a distant star.
Dr Fox asks, “would better have looked like?” and my mind spun.
What a sobering question. I was ambushed with this phrase that could Marie Kondo my own life, attacked again after reading that anger is the bodyguard of sadness.

How can I rest when quotes like this are casually slung onto the page?

“Gemma bit hard on her lip, swallowing the intense distress. She shifted her emotions, as if shuffling a deck of cards, until she found a better one to play.”
And

“Tell me more” he said.
[followed by a rant with TMI slathered over it]
There were several seconds of silence.
"Tell me... less."

And this?

Just as she predicted, blood was seeping out of the pad and had created a Rorschach effect on her thighs.
More quotes at the bottom but the gist is that this story is a colourful bath bomb, swirling life-straightening advice in the soothing heat of emotion.

The first note I wrote was that ‘Eddie is a total jerk who hasn’t a single redeeming feature about him: his only purpose is to make your blood boil enough that you could replace a kettle.’
By the end of the book, I’d reevaluated completely, having seen the raw skin rubbed off this prickly family.

Smuggle this book into any bleary day and reach for the phone- this book compels you.

More quotes:

1. I've got to keep everyone's feelings in mind with every decision I make. And even trying to explain what it feels like to be doing constant emotional labor is like, I dunno, like waking up and trying to explain a fading dream that was so vivid the night before. So how? How can I possibly manage everything and everyone? Who do I prioritize? And why am I the one who has to make all the decisions?

2. "There are the decisions that are thrust upon us, and there are the decisions that we are lucky enough to make. I'd suggest giving thought to which ones are more responsible for all the things you feel right now."

3. Gemma immediately felt embarrassed. One of the more common occurrences with patients—or with any person on the street, frankly-was that they would express an opinion and pass it off as fact. They would insert their interpretation and intentions on anything that was said or done to them. The work of therapy was, in part, to separate facts from feelings. Once the facts were known, the feelings could be explored.

4. Despite Gemma's deep familiarity with and thorough training in this, she knew she had just done the same thing. She sighed with recognition.

5. I think men always get portrayed as these plotting, planning, strategizing predators, hunting women. And I think they can be. But from what I've seen-from what I experienced-more often than not, men are just taking advantage any time they can. I mean, maybe some men are plotting. But a lot of them are just crimes of opportunity. They see something they want, and if the opportunity presents itself, they grab it."

Character-heavy and -driven in the best ways. Each of the characters is both endearing and frustrating at some point in the book. This is a classic story about a typical American family, and the added postpartum layer brings new depth and perspective. Heavy at times, hilarious at others. Highly recommend!

“The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair” was a spectacular book that engaged me from the very first page. This book is so easy to follow, and the main character is written in a way that makes her relatable and lovably frazzled. Once you read the book, you’ll understand what I mean. I am a mother, and I can fully relate to the time right after I had a baby, when I was in the thick of post-partum and worrying about all kinds of issues that no one else seemed to notice. Reading this book was like chatting with a good friend, hearing a story from someone you can trust and relate to. I would definitely recommend this to multitudes of people. This will be my go-to recommendation and gift for many people in my life.

Wow. I’m not sure I can currently put into words all of my thoughts about this one. This book will resonate with any woman: mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, wives. It forces you to reflect on your own familial relationships. I couldn't put it down!

Prior to starting the book, I had read other reviews and was intrigued by the divide in how people perceived Gemma's actions (or inactions). Add me to the team of those who absolutely loved every second with Gemma. Gemma is real. She's everything I think to myself and am afraid to say out loud. And because so much of Gemma is presented through inner monologue or through carefully structured reflections, I found it easy to empathize with Gemma even when it was something I'd never personally dealt with.

This is such a wonderful character, and her self-discovery and self-healing journey is one I wish we could all take for ourselves. The author doesn't make it easy on Gemma, though. There were so many mini breakthrough moments where I thought, "if this were a sitcom, this would be the moment Gemma lives happily ever after." But life is not a sitcom, so Gemma's journey isn't either. Gemma has to unravel a life's worth of trauma (some obviously big, some subtly big) in order to find herself. And yes, the timing of her unraveling is certainly inconvenient (having just given birth, in denial about post partum depression), but that too is life, so I found that very relatable. The author's sarcastic and intelligent sense of humor shines through on so many pages, so luckily for the reader, this emotionally heavy journey is written in a way that you feel ready to walk beside her, to watch her heal and to heal yourself in the process.

I devoured this book - it’s definitely the type to read again and pick up on more!

The author manages to pack in a lot over these 300 pages - alongside Gemma, we unravel family trauma, untruths, and how our childhood experiences feed into our adult lives.

It manages to portray incredibly unique, yet completely universal family dynamics and parenthood experiences.

It is well-written with real, raw characters and contains the most realistic depictions of the postpartum experience (including that first terrifying postpartum shit) that I’ve ever seen depicted in any media. I probably wouldn’t have appreciated the book as much in my 20s (or pre-parenthood), but it’s one of those books that hit me at exactly the right time.

At moments I was annoyed by Gemma. And I understand her completely.

Meg Myers Morgan's The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is a heartfelt, humorous and emotionally resonant novel that tackles the raw truths of postpartum depression, the complexities of motherhood, the strain of marriage and family dynamics, and the quiet strength required to simply exist as a woman in today’s world.

This book is a page-turner not only because of story twists, but because of its raw truth and personal connections. It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever questioned their role, their worth, or their strength, and a reminder that we can reclaim ourselves- with grace, grit and and a little bit of humor.

Thank you GFB publishing for an ARC of this book!

Holy Moly! This book took me on a journey I didn’t expect at all and I totally loved every second of it! Even though my life is very different from the main character I saw myself in her in so many ways. The trying to appear totally put together, people pleasing, and trying to make everything perfect so as to not have to deal with fall out are just some of the things I related to and seeing someone else go through it really was a reminder that that’s not what life is about. I was so hooked, had moments of complete shock, and felt deeply for her struggles. This book was such a good reminder of the importance parts of life and completely worth the read. “…everything in life was about moving little by little in the direction you wanted to go.”

Moms, remember those first few days home with your brand new baby? Remember how long the days could be, and how fast time moved? How people streamed in and out and you were never alone and never more lonely….and then how one day after your hair started to grow back you started to feel like a stronger, more powerful version of yourself? How you’d love to go back and visit that time but never want to do it again?

The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair, by The Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, is an honest telling of what it feels like to squeeze your whole self into a mother when motherhood doesn’t seem to come in your size.

I could have finished it in a weekend because it’s an arresting read and perfect for a pool bag but I made myself sit with the conversations in the story, because not only is this a hilarious novel, the characters have the kind of important conversations that some of us will never get to have with our siblings or parents; sitting with Gemma’s feelings helped me unravel my own, which couldn’t have come at a better time.

You can preorder this book from Amazon and Magic City, and you should. Read it while you sip some wine, and I recommend ordering in some pasta.

This book gripped me from page one and never let go. Morgan tackles heavy themes like postpartum depression, the unique pressures of working mothers, and complex family dynamics with remarkable authenticity and accessibility. As someone who has experienced postpartum depression myself, I was initially hesitant about how the subject would be handled, but I felt truly seen, heard, and recognized in ways no other book has achieved. Gemma is a beautifully complicated and relatable protagonist, and all of Meg's characters feel genuine, flawed, and loveable. This is an exceptional story that deserves acclaim.

WOW. What an emotional, thought provoking book. This was my first book by Meg Myers Morgan and it did not disappoint. What a journey of self realization and healing from past trauma! My newest favorite quote comes from this book!
“I’m choking with privilege but I still have to breathe to complain.” Wow. This hit in the gut!
Great read!

Wow-what an incredible ending. It was absolutely perfect and left me feeling completely satisfied. You know how some books leave you wanting more, like an epilogue that never comes, and it just feels a little unfinished? This was the opposite. The conclusion tied everything together in such a meaningful, heartwarming way.
The final section of the book, in particular, stood out to me-it beautifully captured the sweetness in everyday moments, the kind we all experience but often overlook.
Inspired by Meg, I've decided to start writing down those little moments in my own life, so I have something comforting to look back on during tougher days.
My book club can't wait to read it in July! Thanks so so much for the ARC!

In this debut novel from Meg Myers Morgan, Gemma Sinclair is “unraveling.” But this story certainly isn’t.

Morgan is a gifted storyteller. Her characters are complex but relatable, and she describes complicated feelings in a way that makes them almost tangible. Her story is laced with wisdom, but it’s never preachy. And while this story centers around a specific character in a very specific situation, Morgan has made it broadly applicable to anyone with family relationships.

This book is also eminently entertaining. Morgan is clearly a very clever person, and her wit is threaded throughout the story. In the end, she had me questioning not only my assumptions about the characters in the book, but also my assumptions about the “characters” in my own life.

There are a few books I revisit from time to time because they hit differently each time. I will add this special book to that list. And I look forward to reading it again!

This is a must read for anyone who has ever had a baby, or been in a marriage, or had a career, or belonged to a family! The way the author crafted and presented her cast of characters in such a relatable manner was nothing short of genius. You will not only be intrigued and entertained by the poignant and often times hilarious dialogue, but after reading, you will feel seen, heard, and known. Complex and powerful family dynamics at its best!

Gemma Sinclair has just had her second baby. He is four days old now and Gemma is trying to get everything in order for her family to come visit. She’s doing way too much, especially to try and make things extra nice since her brother Eddie (who she doesn’t see or hear from often, but definitely seeks his attention) and his wife Kat will be staying overnight. An accident occurs that night that sends baby Calvin to the hospital and brings the dysfunctional family dynamics front and center. Gemma is an interesting character - she’s bright, a successful therapist, a loving mother, wife, sister and daughter - yet she is really struggling with her emotions, relationships with her husband and family. It’s clear to everyone that she has postpartum depression but she insists she just needs more sleep. She is finally forced to undergo therapy herself and has to face all the feelings head on, which includes facing her past experiences within her family and how those experiences affect her current state. The author does an excellent job of showing the struggles new mothers face including the real effects on your body childbirth gives you. I thought the emotions throughout the book rang true and had me pulling for Gemma to push through and come out okay. I give the book 5 stars - I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published July 15, 2025.

This book is exceptional. It is brilliantly written in a way that keeps you coming back for more. It is a vulnerable and unique story that is also incredibly relatable. It is a deep dive into family dynamics and the impact we have on one another that deeply influences the course of our lives. I highly recommend reading it!

Gemma Sinclair is someone you think about long after the book is done. Her struggles as a wife, a daughter, a sister and a professional are all relatable. But it is her growth as a mother that really pulled me in. The journey at the center of the novel shows us that many times the only way forward is through. So feel the feelings. But also don't be afraid to ask for help.

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story about women after childbirth, family and sibling dynamics, marriage and psychology. Real, raw and emotional with some nice insights woven into the story beautifully.
You might get pissed or annoyed at things the main character did, or said, or didn’t say, but then you realise that’s what makes it so real.

Meg Myers Morgan's The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair is a touching and funny story about the challenges of being a new mom, dealing with family, and finding your strength. Gemma's journey feels real and relatable, with moments that make you laugh and think deeply. The author's writing is smart and adds a light touch to the serious topics. This book is great for anyone who has wondered about their place in life or their inner strength. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This story was a very detailed look of postpartum depression, motherhood, and family. Gemma Sinclair is relatable even to non mothers because she is a sister, wife, daughter as well. These book was messy but that is what made me like it because it made it so I could connect. There is humor, heartache and and so many emotions throughout. This is a deep and powerful book I enjoyed and you might too.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but very pertinent to many. Could be triggering for some, but worth it for me.

As an only child who has never given birth, I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to relate to Gemma’s story. However, with Morgan’s witty story telling, I soon realized Gemma is me. Gemma is my mom. She is my best friend and my coworker and my neighbor. She is every woman. This book provides an emotional journey that is also filled with humor, and the author made Gemma and her story relatable to anyone.

Brilliant must-read for any woman who feels she is “falling apart under the weight of everything.”

I devoured this book in an afternoon. It was a quick read with tons of depth, relatable characters and enough wit in the dialogue to keep the elements of trauma and post-partum depression from actually being depressing. I didn’t expect Gemma’s experience to transport me immediately back to my own motherhood journey like it was yesterday, but it did. I found myself unpacking decades of my own ‘unraveling’ while I read. Morgan’s writing is somehow both a mirror and a challenge and healing all at once. I’ve truly never felt so seen by a fictional story.

I read this book in a few days because I couldn’t put it down. Meg uses humor and insight to describe the struggles in family relationships. As parents (moms especially), we feel so much pressure to make good decisions regarding our children. As humans, we fail miserably and are so often guided by perceptions, guilt, emotions, and pride. I love writing that expresses all of these human thoughts and feelings so accurately.. I can’t wait to have a hard copy so I can reread all of my favorite parts.

this book sat with me and will sit with me for too long. but not long enough. it was so much of everything you want in a book that is just brilliant. when you start feeeeeeeling so much you know its a good book. when i dont know quite what to say, when i dont know quite how to put it all in to a succinct set of words, its actually proof of just how amazing this book is to me. because i dont actually think the words will do it justice, not to the words or emotions this book held to my whole heart and soul but just wow.
Gemma is our character for this book. and boy did we want to give her a hug. or at least help her heal.
shes just had her baby who is days old. but Gemma is taking on too much. she wants and needs everything to be just so. she needs approval and acceptance of those she loves.
but when an accident occurs things crack open. and the realities spill out.
because Gemma might look like she has it all and does it all easily. but she doesn't. shes struggling. with the now, very much so. but also with all the things that have made her her from her past. all the things that have held her together and created this person she thought she needed to be. well that person wasn't happy, or even her. it was just a person, with part of her built on pain. and now she has no choice but to look at that person and the crack and maybe start to allow the healing.
its a brilliant telling of how anyone and anything can cause us pain. and thats ok. and also how pain lingers and can come back, about, be seen in many ways. and when it comes to things like this we all need to be kinder and allow it. allow it to weaken us with no shame. and then have others and more others do so too. the understanding that needs to come from these kind of wounds or illness needs to be held of more importance! then maybe people wouldn't spiral so much. maybe we would put as much care, understanding and love into helping people. before it hits the break. its not that easy, not least because of the nature of these things. but the illness's wouldn't have so much power if our wider culture were oh so blooming different when it comes to these things.
i was rooting for Gemma. i wanted her to be ok. or at least on the way there.

**The Inconvenient Unraveling of Gemma Sinclair** by Meg Myers Morgan is a deeply resonant, character-driven domestic drama that explores the fragile terrain of postpartum motherhood and the pressures of balancing work, family, and inner turmoil. Gemma appears to have it all—successful career, loving husband, two sons—until a frightening accident involving her newborn triggers a series of lies and the resurfacing of long-buried secrets . Morgan handles the heavy themes with sharp humor, crackling dialogue, and raw honesty, crafting a heroine who is hauntingly authentic and impossible not to root for .

Where do I begin with this book? Someone asked me recently what the book was about and I had to pause. Because, well, it’s about all the things that profoundly shape us in life - family, partnerships, relationships, friendships, parenthood. And at the crux of all those is Gemma. Meg created a character that is so deeply relatable that she can be hilarious and enraging all in one moment. You’ll want to scream at her, cry with her, and laugh with her as you follow her journey. And if your experience with the book is anything like mine, you’ll find yourself deeply relating to Gemma’s unraveling with every flip of the page.

Gemma's got the “perfect life” checklist ticked, but she’s coming apart in slow motion. Postpartum depression, family tension, career unravelling, it’s all there, laid bare without sugar-coating and full of honest gut-punching moments.

Are you a mother? Do you have a mother? Do you know a mother? Read this and keep all of those women in your mind as you do. This story is written with intelligence, humor, and displays what I can only assume is emotional bravery. Warning: May cause you to reflect and self examine your own relationships, proceed with caution (and perhaps tissues and a comfort food). Gemma is going through a lot, and finds a way to come out of it on the other side - a reminder of what we are all capable of doing. Thank you to the author for making Gemma real, relatable, vulnerable, and heroic. The wittiness and dialogue are a bonus and make this read well worth the journey. Can't wait to see what else this author has to share!