I'm not sure if the author has changed or if it's not her; it's me... because I remember enjoying some of her earlier books but not this one. So many unbelievable scenarios, sickening descriptions, and a trite wrap up you could see coming a mile off. Not a fan. 

Bree escaped her life in rural Georgia by marrying rich. She may have grown up poor, but she has everything she could ever want now. An amazing husband, two independent daughters, and a newborn son. It all is at risk when she sees a mysterious older woman watching her. That same woman happens to be the last person Bree sees right before her son was kidnapped. When Bree learns this woman is also a mother, she seeks to appeal to their shared connection and get her son back. 

This book was darker than I anticipated. It was for sure a page-turner, but the pacing felt very off. About 60% of the way through, we figure out most of the secrets and it switches from being a thriller to a detective/mystery novel. The resolution was somewhat satisfying, but I still had some questions after it. The lines between who was good and who was bad were murky, which could be seen as an attempt to make the story more realistic. I would grow frustrated with Bree as she wrestled with what she wanted to do and what she was willing to accept. It felt like there were no winners in this story. The book kept me entertained on a day filled with flight delays and travel, but I wouldn't consider it my favorite thriller. 

Mother May I is an intense story about a mother, Bree, and the lengths she will go to in order to get her son back. The book starts with Bree seeing a witch in her window and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to think 🤷🏻‍♀️ She sees this witch a second time and suddenly her baby is missing! Bree is convinced the witch lady has kidnapped her baby and that’s confirmed when she receives a note instructing her to return home and not call the police or her husband.

I thought the first half of the book flowed really well and I could not wait to see what hoops Bree would have to jump through next. However, I do think the second half dragged just a little bit. The story definitely held my attention and had me second guessing Bree’s decisions to blindly follow her baby’s kidnapper, but who wouldn’t? I needed to know why this woman took the baby and what her grand scheme was. It was definitely fun trying to figure it out! I did not see the final twist coming and that always bodes well for my overall opinion 👍🏼

The audiobook was narrated by Joshilyn Jackson herself and I always love when an author narrates their own book. It just adds something extra to the story through their inflection and pacing. I really enjoyed the audio and the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for my advanced listening copy.  All opinions are my own.  

TW: kidnapping, rape, murder, gun violence