in the family way

Brynn Nelson is a new mother. She had a difficult childbirth, and while her son Lucas is healthy, it was exhausting, and they’re both still having trouble sleeping at night. She’s barely keeping up with the basic things they need to survive, much less getting back to writing novels. Her husband Ross says that he’ll do whatever she needs, but then he goes off to work at his father’s company, leaving her alone with the baby. Brynn needs help, but she’s so tired that she can’t articulate to herself what is is she needs, much less tell anyone else.

To make things more difficult on her, they live on Martha’s Vineyard, so resources are sparse. Even Brynn’s parents moved off the island. But Ross’s family is still around, his parents and brother Sawyer, and she has some friends on the island. But Brynn is struggling to ask for help, trying hard to be a good mom who doesn’t need anyone else.

But when she finds out that there was a death on the island, a woman the family knows, she can’t help but be curious. The woman found on the beach, Cecelia, had worked at the club and known them all. She was kind and smart, and Brynn was sad to find out that she had died. But then the police were saying she was murdered, and Brynn was stunned. Why would anyone kill Cecelia?

But Brynn is truly shocked when the police show up and arrest Ross at work. Brynn had taken Lucas in to talk to Ross about a worrisome text he had sent, and then he was arrested for murder. Brynn knew that her husband would never kill anyone, but she had no idea what had happened to cause anyone to think that he would.

As the days go by and she sees evidence that someone who looked just like him was on video chasing after Cecelia the night of her murder, Brynn tries to figure out what is happening. Ross had given her a cryptic clue as he was arrested, to find the orange sun. But Brynn couldn’t figure out what he was talking about or where to start looking. Meanwhile, she continues to struggle with breastfeeding, sleeping, and then one night Lucas runs a fever, making her worry even more if she could ever be a good mother or not. But as she finally starts to accept help from those around her, Brynn starts to figure out what really happened to Cecelia that night.

But just as she’s starting to find her footing as a mother, will her chasing after a killer put her in danger? Or will she be able to free her husband and start the family life they both deserve?

Such a Good Mom is a powerful story about the first few months after having a baby and how difficult those days can be without the right support. Having so little sleep and help with the baby certainly put Brynn in a crazed mindset to try to take on a complicated crime, but her determination through it all is inspiring. It was not easy to hear about the childbirth or the days following, so I would be aware of that if you’re squeamish, but this is a solid thriller about a young family’s struggles to make sense of a heartbreaking murder through postpartum depression.

I listened to the audio book for Such a Good Mom, narrated by Abigail Reno. I thought she did a beautiful job, even with some difficult scenes. I could feel Brynn’s pain through her narration, and I thought Reno treated this story with strength and grace, which fits Brynn perfectly. Such a Good Mom is well written, but it is a little darker than I expected. Brynn’s struggles as a new mother was more than just some baby blues. She had some genuine physical issues after going through childbirth and got very little care for herself afterwards, which was disheartening. But the ending is satisfying, and it is a strong story with an important message as well.

Egalleys for Such a Good Mom were provided by Minotaur Books and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.