Not My Mother by Theo Baxter

I like a good thriller, and whilst the plot wasn’t too complex or unexpected, I found it to be an enjoyable read.

"Not My Mother" by Theo Baxter follows Carly, who finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger when Jake, a young boy, confides in her that the woman who returned from the hospital claiming to be his mother is an imposter. As Carly digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew. With tension mounting and danger lurking at every turn, Carly must navigate her own complicated personal life while racing against time to uncover the truth before it's too late.

I’ve got to say that the way Carly was introduced into Jake’s life was trifling to say the least and it did make me side-eye Carly for her naivety a little, no matter how good her intentions may have been. I also felt Hans was also a little too understanding for me when it came to accepting Carly’s past. I definitely thought that there might have been more to his character than meets the eye.

While some of the main characters were insufferable, the believable villain arc added depth to the storyline and kept me engaged throughout.

Overall, "Not My Mother" turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable read once the storyline picked up the pace. I'd recommend it to those seeking a thriller-lite experience.


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Jake’s mom went to hospital. Someone else came back.Carly has a complicated personal life. She’s been the mistress of famous artist Nelson Carter for the past five years. Now Nelson has finally left his wife Amanda, but instead of committing to Carly, he’s indulging in a series of one-night stands.She has had enough and is about to leave him when a vicious attack on Amanda means Carly has to put her plans on hold to care for Nelson’s traumatized ten-year-old son, Jake.Only when Amanda is released from hospital can Carly finally move on with her life.But then a frightened Jake confides a disturbing secret - ‘That’s not my mom’. He is convinced the woman who came home from hospital is an imposter.Carly tries to brush this off, but she can see that Amanda’s behavior does seem strange. And when someone targets Jake, Carly realizes she has to get to the truth of what’s happening.A decision that leads her step by terrifying step towards a dark secret that will change her life forever.

Loved it from start to finish. Theo Baxter knows how to spin an amazing story.

Firstly thank you to the publishers for my chance to review.
This is a new author for me.

I raced through this intrigued to discover the truth!
It was fast paced and unpredictable.
The plot made it difficult to know who to trust so that added to the suspense.

However some parts did seem rushed and even far fetched especially reading as a parent. But still a great way to escape 😊

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

This one seemed a little all over the place and thrown together quickly - the slower pace at the beginning did not match the end nor did the characters match motives. The son in the beginning was a nuisance and within two chapters because the most important thing in the book. Overall not a fave from me but could be for someone else

This book was incredible. I honestly could not put it down and I didn't want it to end! I wish (hope) there is a sequel because I want to know how their lives will be!

2.5 Stars

Carly Michaelson unwittingly entangled herself in the lives of Nelson Carter’s family. As the threads tightened, dark secrets started to emerge. But it might be too late to save his innocent son, Jake, and herself.

The prologue intrigued me, but unfortunately, it went downhill from that point forward. The writing was dull and lacked the intensity needed for the genre. The characters were one-dimensional, and everyone seemed asinine and incompetent. The only thing I liked about the book was Jake.

Not My Mother had a promising premise but regrettably lacked in the execution.

2.5★

Carly Michaelson has been in a dead-end relationship for years, but her bond with ten-year old Jake strengthens as his family seems to be deteriorating. With suspicions and odd occurrences, Carly is determined to uncover the truth and protect Jake.

“You don’t have to be scared of monsters; they aren’t real.” “Some are. The ones who look like people but are really awful,” he said, keeping his voice low, barely even a whisper.”

Going into this book, I was expecting a thriller but this story lacked tension, plausibility and character dimension. Though there were a few plot points that had some grit, there wasn’t enough to feel the suspense.

"Not My Mother" by Theo Baxter is a thrilling ride from start to finish. What makes it so enjoyable is its ability to keep you guessing. The story is full of surprises, with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like books that keep you guessing and have plenty of suspense, "Not My Mother" is definitely worth a read.

First and foremost, thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I really wanted to enjoy this read but it was pretty dull. It was very fast pace, which I felt made the characters seemed rushed. The little romance aspect of this felt too forced. 'Love at first sight' I guess some will call it, but it lacked chemistry. For me, I didn't feel any connections with any of the characters. I was hoping it could be at least a little more realistic but everything that happened made me think WTHeck? Especially when FMC anonymously asked a doctor online about the mothers symptoms and he suggests something so outlandish crazy. I've never known a doctor that would suggest such an extreme without even have met the patient.

Not My Mother by Theo Baxter immediately snatched my interest and kept me captivated to the end. Well written, well researched, well developed, with believable, relatable characters.
It was twisted and was a truly bingeable book. I couldn't read it fast enough.
The pacing of the book is relentless, drawing the reader in with its fast-paced narrative and engaging plot twists.

Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for this approved eARC!

This book was gripping. From the first page, the action started, and it kept up until the end. There was a predictable twist, but that did not take away from the story at all. There were unexpected twists throughout the book, and at times, I wasn't sure what or who to believe. The drama was intense, and the suspense building was palpable in this book. I loved Carly and Jake's relationship. It was endearing to see how much they cared for each other. Watching their relationship develop was the highlight of this book for me. This could definitely be turned into a movie script!

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for the book #NotMyMother by #TheoBaxter. This book about a boy whose mother gets attacked and afterwards he thinks she isn’t his mother. He doesn’t feel safe and stays with a family friend who tries to protect him. I read this book in one sitting and recommend it.

Another great book from Theo Baxter, this one kept me guessing and turning the pages until the shocking conclusion. I loved the ending, it was great!

Basically a run of the mill story, nothing to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
The main character was a ten year old boy who acted more like the adult than any of the other characters. Not really believable. The attitude of the police was ridiculous. In light of the evidence provided by Jake and Carly, they ignored everything and no investigations were carried out. The whole book was long winded and mediocre. But one good point was everything turned out right at the end.

For once I can say “pulse pounding” is a perfect way to describe this book. I demolished this in one day, staying up past my bedtime to finish it. This one had me guessing, and wondering if I could trust anyone in this story. It’s a work of FICTION and some reviews gasp at the thought of a mom & dad giving their child over freely to someone they don’t really know that well (but come on, how well do you really know your child’s caregiver, teacher, coach, after school caregiver, etc - it’s not that far fetched). The book is sad, as far as the child and what is happening, but it’s so magical how caring and heartfelt the MC is, and I’m glad she was portrayed how she was (flaws and all).

1.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for giving me this free eARC for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I did not like this book. One of the main characters is a 10-year-old kid. No one treats him like a kid. Maybe because all the other characters, who are adults by the way, act like children. Nelson is one of the most ridiculous characters I’ve come across. He could have been forgiven if the character dynamics were explained better. Or explained much at all really. We see very little of how things were before Amanda’s accident. As a result, there’s little for readers to go off of for her as a character. It’s also unclear how her relationship was with Nelson, Carly, and Jake before the amnesia. I have so many questions and none of them are even about this “fake mom” fiasco.

The writing is drawn out. Majority of the scenes are unnecessary to the story. The narration follows every little detail of Carly’s everyday life. Hence, we would get boring descriptions of the simplest things like—deciding to get pizza, calling pizza place, placing order, hanging up the phone… The whole book is written like this. If transitions are difficult, doing hard scene breaks would still be better than this type of overwriting. Interestingly enough, certain scenes that should’ve been described in great detail are just glossed over or summarized in 1-2 sentences.

To end on a more positive note, I do think that it’s nice to see “the other woman” as the kind main character—the mom who stepped up. If the dynamics were done well, this could have been a great rep in a Modern Family way.

This book easily could have been a 4-4.5 star book. Unfortunately due to some serious plot holes and implausible moments I feel that this is a 3 star book.

I felt that as an adult, Carly too readily makes decisions based on statements made by a 10 year old boy. Most adults would consider must more realistic answers before coming to the conclusions that she does much too early in the book. There is also the behavior of the police. I can understand them thinking she's a hysterical woman at first, but as evidence mounts up they all continue with the dismissive attitude. This leaves it up to Carly and 10 year old Jake to find out who is pursuing and trying to kill them. On occasion Jake shows more maturity than Carly does.

As what was intended to be a thriller, every time the book picked up speed, it lost momentum because these moments brought down any built up tension.

Thank you to Inkubator Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#netgalley
#notmymother

This was just an ok read for me. I do read a lot of thrillers so this one was just pretty average for me, but if you don’t you may like it! I thought the concept of the ex girlfriend caring for the son was unique but as usual, the incompetency of rather lack of care from the police was cliche. I also don’t care for romance thrown into my thrillers unless it makes total sense to the plot. Overall I was entertained but I probably wouldn’t pick it up again.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this work in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are that of my own!

I have been looking for a book like this since I have started reading thrillers. They way this author writes leaves you wanting to know what happens next. You will think you have the book figured out, but with all the twists and turns, you will find out that you were wrong and you will have to pick your jaw up off the floor.

Jake Carter, who is 10 has an enemy and his life is in danger. His caregiver is focused on keeping him safe and find out who's intention is to harm him, with or without the police.

The relationship between Jake and his caregiver is so sweet and loving. But the twist at the end of the book will leave you wanting a part two!

I rate this book 5 stars and will recommend this book to all my friends and family!