I loved this book! A twisty tale that keeps you gripped. So many twists towards the end i felt dizzy.
A great read.

A fascinating and heartbreaking book that was a completely emotional rollercoaster.
I would highly recommend if your looking for a book that will make you go through a thousand emotions

I absolutely loved this author's first novel so I was very excited to read this one. In my view it wasn't quite hitting the same notes but good read nonetheless. Very sharp observational skills and I love the writing. I would definitely read another book by this author.

I really thought I would enjoy this book. I had high expectations after hearing so many rave reviews, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I felt like it was slightly cheesy and just hard to get into. I ended up DNFing the book.

This book left me feeling so disappointed. The plot is so far fetched. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I DNFed at 41%

Oh yes! This is exactly the kind of book we like.
How far would a mother go to get the very best for their child?
How far would they push their family in the pursuit of the 'perfect life'?
What would you sacrifice?
This was such a gripping, twisty read.

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

I love this author. The author's unfiltered intensity returns, showcasing her remarkable ability to capture every human nuance with breathtaking precision. She weaves a narrative filled with situations and characters that elicit visceral reactions, presenting a story where each word holds significance and contributes to the narrative's excellence.

However, this time, the storyline struck me as somewhat implausible. It unfolds within a school environment where mothers are willing to go to extreme lengths to be part of the coveted 'inner circle,' all under the watchful eye of a leader—a true sociopath and narcissist. This character exudes shocking and vile qualities, creating a sense of both horror and fascination. Once these mothers enter 'the circle,' their lives are no longer their own.

While the plot may seem far-fetched, and it is, if you can overcome this aspect (as I did), you'll find yourself hanging on every word as the story progresses, delving deeper into darkness and reaching pitch-black intensity.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book takes readers through a mesmerising maze of secrets and lies. The intricate plot, filled with unexpected twists, paints a vivid picture of a world where nothing is as it seems.

A mother who is an outsider to the group of wealthy yummy mummies, tries to find her way inside the inner circle to get her son into a prestigious school and all it promises.

She attended the school in its previous guise and is still haunted by the taunts of her bullies, and the legacy of her father.

But the other mums are also harbouring their own secrets in a lethal power struggle.

An interesting and intriguing insight into motherhood. I love these kinds of books as they are always so real and raw. A true look at what it means, and what it takes to be a mother. An entertaining read, one that will stay with you for a while yet.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC.

Rose O'Connell will do anything to be the best mum for her son and one of those things is giving him the education she feels she didn't have. When The Woolfe opens Rose knows she must do anything to get him in there but to be truly part of The Woolfe she has to be part of The Circle. The inner sanctum of the elite parents that have the say on what and who goes at the school.

When one member of The Circle seemingly commits suicide Rose sees her chance to become of the the parents on the inside and grabs it with both hands. But just what has Rose joined and what is she wiling to sacrifice for The Circle and The Woolfe as it seems some people would kill for the chance.

I really enjoyed most of this and if you can see past some of the more far fetched parts and just let go it's a great read. Some of the characters are a little annoying especially Rose's husband. I would have loved to have given him a good shake. Rose was also a little frustrating in parts but came good in the end.

When Rose enrolls her young son in a new school she soon comes across The Circle. This is a group of school mums who all hold power - both in life and in the school.

I am so lucky that the school that my children go to is not like the one in the book. I have a lovely group of mum friends but the characters in this book were awful to each other. I thought it was written so very well and it really had me on edge throughout the book. I love the fact that it was such a twisty thriller - I really struggled to put this book down. This was my first book by this author but I’d definitely read more- so good.

Why did it take me so long to get to this book? It was AMAZING! Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. The ending had me speechless. Just fantastic.

Well! This was a rollercoaster of a ride that I wasn't expecting. I deliberately chose not to read any reviews of this book before I dived in, and I only skimmed over the back cover blurb. I'd like to say that was because I enjoy the element of surprise - which to a point, I do.

But in truth, I didn't have the time. I digress...

Such a Good Mother is the very definition of a 'page turner', once you've started reading, you won't be able to put it down. I suffered several late nights whilst desperate to find out what happened next. And that (apparently) much discussed ending? Let's just say it doesn't disappoint.

Rose O'Connell aspires to be the perfect Mother. To give her son Charlie the best possible start in life, and the education that she never had. She hopes that by enrolling him to the over subscribed, elite local primary school that she is doing just that.

Rose knows that her family doesn't fit in with the School's 'ideal', but she is prepared to do anything to help Charlie fit in amongst the more affluent pupils. When she is invited to join 'the Circle' an elite group of beautiful, wealthy and connected parents, she can't believe her luck.

Soon her life and that of her family is on the up, they are seeming unstoppable. But there is something about the other members of the Circle, and their leader, the school's principal that doesn't quite sit right with Rose.

At first she thinks its because she doesn't fit in.. but she doesn't care, her social status is climbing, Charlie is settling in at School, and her self-employed husband has work suddenly pouring in. They say that things that seem to be too good to be true usually are.

By the time Rose realises that all is certainly not as it seems, its too late. They are all in too deep....

This novel pleasantly surprised me! I was quite enthralled, eager to see how things would play out and I really loved how the author didn't shy away from exposing Rose as a deeply flawed character. The childhood of neglect she experienced was evident in all of her close relationships and I found the first person account to be particularly powerful in this respect, with regards to her internal dialogue during interactions with her husband. Her ability to read people and understand how to use that to her advantage was so clear in every spousal interaction - it was both fascinating and disturbing.

Wow. This was such a good book. It started off not being my usual read but I was intrigued. There were twists and turns everywhere, not all of which I saw coming. I especially liked the ending, which is what really sent this over the edge of 4 stars into 5.

Helen Monks Takhar’s latest book, Such a Good Mother, tells the story of Rose, a determined mother willing to do anything to give her son a life she never had. She jumps at the opportunity to join The Circle, an exclusive group of affluent and powerful school mums, in hopes of having the right connections to make her dreams come true. Along the way, Rose discovers more than she bargained for: a complex hierarchy of powerful women, the Queen Bee, a struggling alcoholic, a social media star and a serial cheater – and the mystery surrounding the death of one of the group members.

This thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read will keep you glued to your seat from the very first page. The suspense and dark secrets lurking in The Circle are revealed in layers, and each one has an even more shocking outcome than the last. Helen Monks Takhar captures the complexity of motherhood with beautiful prose and intense dialogue that keep you engrossed until the very end. Such a Good Mother is a masterful story about the lengths a mother will go to protect her child, and a brilliant read that you won't soon forget.

This book started off well and I enjoyed it, but then it just got a bit silly. I did finish it but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this read.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, I enjoyed the setting and the backstory. However I felt the second half became a little contrived and the twist disappointed me, but I’m not a fan of that particular trope so I think it would be a hit for many others. The writing is good and the characters are well defined if mostly unlikeable.