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frostbitsky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I bought this from a 2 for 1 credit sale from Audible in November 2022. I think the deal was if you used a few credits you would get a coupon so I must have scrambled to get something that sounded interesting to fill the order.
The description says Soon to be a major motion picture starring Scandal's Kerry Washington and I feel like I remember seeing a trailer with Kerry Washington but now I can't find that trailer online. It's like it's been Memory Holed. All the info I can find on it are articles from 2017. So either I imagined I saw this movie trailer or I can see the future.
So this book has a lot of trauma so I while it's a good drama and a good mystery, it's not a feel good book. It should probably come with a trigger warning for some distraught mothers.
Winnie suffers from depression after her mom's tragic accidental death. She then suffers from PTSD after she gets her son Midas back.
Scarlet, who stole baby Midas, was manipulated by her therapist, and then developed a psychosis after she didn't hold her stillborn baby.
Frances was effected by the abortion her mother forced her to get (btw, her mother is such a fake Christian. No real Christian woman would do that to her daughter. She made me sick.) Then Frances became so obsessed with the case she went above and beyond. She was making so many dumb decisions and putting her foot in her mouth. Ugh, she would make me cringe!
I was particularly pissed off with Colette's feminist mom. Like, grandma, stop galavanting around the world and go help your daughter with her newborn, you selfish *****. You can go galavanting when the kid starts school.
There was also a common theme of women being manipulated by men in positions of power. Scarlet and her therapist. Frances and her teacher. Nell and the Secretary of State. Nell was like a Monica Lewinsky character.
You also have the moms comparing themselves to other moms so they could be The Perfect Mother. Whether it's how they take care of their baby or going back to work. There was a lot of shaming from some of the characters towards the women who wanted to be stay at home moms. I thought the whole original point of feminism was that women got a choice, but now it has gotten to a point that the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Women are forced to work against their will to pay the bills, keep up with the Joneses, and maintain the women can do it all reputation. There is nothing wrong with a woman choosing to be a mom and figuring out how to live more modestly on the husband's paycheck. I think that this book was making that point too. Stop shaming stay at home moms.
It seems like much of this book pissed me off, but it was funny too. Particularly, Nell was very funny. Her humor was very sarcastic. I loved this quote about the TVs in the back of taxi cabs: How is it, she wonders, that people are too afraid to be alone with themselves to endure even one ---damn car ride through New York City without the distraction of inane entertainment?
I also laughed because one of the detectives was named Steven Schwartz and I had a crush on boy with that name when I was in the 4th grade.
The mystery does have some suspects and red herrings. The end had one of those big sum up reveals where the villain just narrates how the evil plans were executed.
The story also does a great job of showing how the media and the blogs with the options of outsiders can be very toxic.
Cristin Milioti did a great job. Since she gave each character a distinct voice that is how I was able to keep all the moms straight because there are quite a few to keep track of.
3.5 out of 5 Baby Bottles.
The description says Soon to be a major motion picture starring Scandal's Kerry Washington and I feel like I remember seeing a trailer with Kerry Washington but now I can't find that trailer online. It's like it's been Memory Holed. All the info I can find on it are articles from 2017. So either I imagined I saw this movie trailer or I can see the future.
So this book has a lot of trauma so I while it's a good drama and a good mystery, it's not a feel good book. It should probably come with a trigger warning for some distraught mothers.
Scarlet, who stole baby Midas, was manipulated by her therapist, and then developed a psychosis after she didn't hold her stillborn baby.
Frances was effected by the abortion her mother forced her to get (btw, her mother is such a fake Christian. No real Christian woman would do that to her daughter. She made me sick.) Then Frances became so obsessed with the case she went above and beyond. She was making so many dumb decisions and putting her foot in her mouth. Ugh, she would make me cringe!
I was particularly pissed off with Colette's feminist mom. Like, grandma, stop galavanting around the world and go help your daughter with her newborn, you selfish *****. You can go galavanting when the kid starts school.
There was also a common theme of women being manipulated by men in positions of power. Scarlet and her therapist. Frances and her teacher. Nell and the Secretary of State. Nell was like a Monica Lewinsky character.
You also have the moms comparing themselves to other moms so they could be The Perfect Mother. Whether it's how they take care of their baby or going back to work. There was a lot of shaming from some of the characters towards the women who wanted to be stay at home moms. I thought the whole original point of feminism was that women got a choice, but now it has gotten to a point that the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Women are forced to work against their will to pay the bills, keep up with the Joneses, and maintain the women can do it all reputation. There is nothing wrong with a woman choosing to be a mom and figuring out how to live more modestly on the husband's paycheck. I think that this book was making that point too. Stop shaming stay at home moms.
It seems like much of this book pissed me off, but it was funny too. Particularly, Nell was very funny. Her humor was very sarcastic. I loved this quote about the TVs in the back of taxi cabs: How is it, she wonders, that people are too afraid to be alone with themselves to endure even one ---damn car ride through New York City without the distraction of inane entertainment?
I also laughed because one of the detectives was named Steven Schwartz and I had a crush on boy with that name when I was in the 4th grade.
The mystery does have some suspects and red herrings. The end had one of those big sum up reveals where the villain just narrates how the evil plans were executed.
The story also does a great job of showing how the media and the blogs with the options of outsiders can be very toxic.
Cristin Milioti did a great job. Since she gave each character a distinct voice that is how I was able to keep all the moms straight because there are quite a few to keep track of.
3.5 out of 5 Baby Bottles.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Violence, Abortion, Child death, Death of parent, Infertility, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Miscarriage, and Grief
lindseyrwenzel's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child death, Grief, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt
jlautry's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the second novel that I have read by this author. I enjoyed this one almost as much as I did the first. It keeps you on your toes the entire time. The story kept me engrossed throughout and I was able to read this one pretty quickly. It has short chapters, which I love. It has a lot of characters so I was getting them mixed up sometimes and I found none of them very likable (appropriate for the story). But the story was still really good and I am excited to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, and Miscarriage
blimowery's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
A book that actually had me guessing as to whom the kidnapper was! I really enjoyed it.
Cristin Milioti is a fantastic audiobook narrator!
Cristin Milioti is a fantastic audiobook narrator!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Child death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Medical content, Infertility, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Xenophobia
kaci422's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Abortion, Child death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, and Stalking
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