⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Book Review: Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora
Wow—what a gripping read! Good Bad Mother is a psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. This was my first book by Anya Mora, but it definitely won’t be my last.

The story follows a woman who appears to have the perfect life—until secrets from her past start catching up with her. The writing is immersive, the pacing is perfect, and the twists? Absolutely mind-blowing! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story threw me in another direction.

Mora masterfully weaves suspense with emotional depth, making me question every character’s intentions. The protagonist’s inner turmoil was so well written that I felt her fear, desperation, and determination firsthand. I love thrillers that make me think and keep me on my toes, and Good Bad Mother did exactly that.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend Good Bad Mother to thriller lovers—it’s one you won’t want to put down!

Some thrillers grip you. Some thrillers shock you. And then there are those rare books that completely consume you, pulling you into a world so unnerving, so cleverly constructed, that you can’t stop reading until you’ve unraveled every last secret. Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora is one of those books.

I picked it up this afternoon, thinking I’d read a few chapters—and before I knew it, the hours had vanished, and I was still sitting there, utterly transfixed, racing through the final pages, jaw dropped, mind spinning.

At the heart of this gripping story is Amelia, a woman with a past she never speaks of and a present that is growing more suffocating by the day. From the outside, her life on the ultra-exclusive Cutter’s Island appears picture-perfect—wealth, luxury, a beautiful home, a seemingly privileged marriage. But beneath the carefully curated exterior is a woman who does not belong in the world she’s married into, and no matter how hard she tries, she knows it.

The Sterling family—her husband Timothy’s parents, Alexander and Isabelle—practically hum with quiet menace. They don’t want her there, and she knows it. But they have to keep her now—at least for now.

And then her worst nightmare happens. She wakes to find her baby, Clover, gone. The panic is visceral, the tension unbearable. But the terror of that moment is only the beginning. Because nothing in this book is what it seems.

The secrets, the mind games, the shocking truths lurking in the shadows—every time I thought I knew where this story was going, Anya Mora pulled the rug from under me. It’s rare for a book to truly outmaneuver me, but this one did, brilliantly so. The layers of deception are masterfully woven, making you question everything and everyone.

The writing is cinematic—so vivid that I could see every chilling interaction, feel Amelia’s growing sense of unease, hear the whispers of a past she has tried so desperately to bury. Mora’s ability to build atmosphere is stunning; there’s an almost claustrophobic intensity to the way Cutter’s Island is portrayed. It’s not just a setting—it’s a cage, a place where wealth and influence can conceal a multitude of sins, and where the people who hold the power will do anything to keep it.

But what truly sets this book apart is the way it plays with perception. It’s the kind of story that makes you second-guess everything—not just what you’re reading, but even your own instincts as a reader. When the truth finally came to light, I actually had to pause for a moment to take it all in. I wanted to flip back through the pages, retrace my steps, see where I had been so expertly misled. In fact, now that I know how it all unfolds, I’m tempted to reread it immediately just to pick up on all the clever breadcrumbs Mora scattered along the way.

I went into Good Bad Mother expecting a gripping thriller, but what I got was something so much more. It’s psychological suspense at its finest—intelligent, utterly immersive, and with one of the most satisfying twists I’ve read in a long time. If you love books that play mind games with you, that make you question every assumption, that leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the final page—this is an absolute must-read.
But trust me: don’t assume you know where this book is going. You don’t. And that’s what makes it brilliant.

✨ Unmissable. Twisted. Addictive. Highly, highly recommended. ✨

This is my 8th book by Anya Mora.
I felt so bad for the main female character in this book.
This one is a fast paced psychological thriller which has so many twists that i loved.
This was a quick read for me.
I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. Overall 4 stars.

First, I want to thank Anya Mora, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Anya Mora brings her fans a psychological thriller packed with suspense in Good Bad Mother. Instantly, Anya grabbed a hold of my heart strings missing baby Clover but then in a split second a roaring fire rips through the house. At this point my heart is literally beating out of my chest as I wonder what in the world is going on and where is the sweet little baby! Yes, this was the hook I needed to continue to read the book.

Anya, would like to dedicate this book to her sister, Alessandra. She is always reminding her that she is a good mom-especially when she needs it the most.

I could feel something was off about Amelia due to why she didn’t want to be a part of her husband’s family picture. I understand not everyone is a selfie queen like I am but being in this was making her physically sick. Why didn’t she want her picture taken?

Is Amelia the person everyone thinks she is? What secrets has she been hiding? You need to go pick up the book to find the answers.

We all have a past. And sometimes as adults we want them to stay the past. But sometimes they refuse.
This book was written really well. With short sharp chapters it meant you were almost jumping from point to point. And it kept the flow and pace. You.were almost tumbling over to read the next one. It also meant you kept telling yourself "No, I can't stop there...one more!"
Right until the end I had questions. I had thrill. I jad suspence. It was so good at holding me and my attention the whole way through.

Good Bad Mother is a thrill ride packed with twists, secrets, and edge of your seaf heart pumping adventure. The central theme focuses on how family dynamics and two split second decisions altered the life of two sisters, Hazel and Meadow. The characters were relatable with a top notch plot with a few Easter eggs sprinkled in. It had all the elements of a perfect psychological thriller. If you enjoy thrillers with engaging character, edge of your seat thrills, amazing plot lines, twists, secrets, lies, manipulation,and hope for a better life outcome this is a great choice. Anya Mora is now one of my top thriller authors. I’m sitting here patiently waiting for you to go preorder this amazing 5 star book.
*Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free eARC!

This was a fun little read, that had a pretty annoying couple of main characters. The whole story could have been avoided if the FMC was up front with the MMC. The story was gripping and fast moving, but by the time you got to the end, it could have all been avoided with a simple conversation. This is probably more of a me problem than anything. There’s nothing wrong with the writing itself. The book kept me hooked the whole way through and I finished it in just a few hours. Will definitely read more from Anya Mora!

Wow, Wow, Wow! This book is absolutely fantastic. I was completely hooked and spent hours staying up to read this as I needed to know what was going to happen. Full of twists and suspense.

Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora

AD/PR - Out 17th February 2025

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨

I wake up in my beautiful bedroom and instinctively feel for my husband. But the silk sheets are cold—he hasn’t come home. Reaching for the baby monitor on my nightstand, I scan the screen for the familiar shape of my sleeping daughter. But she’s not there….my baby is gone.

As I collapse onto the carpet, I smell smoke. And when I turn to see flames licking at the banister, I know this is my fault. I am paying for what happened that night all those years ago…

Because I am not a perfect wife.

I am not a good mother.

But I am the perfect liar.

Thoughts :

This was my first book by this author but it certainly won’t be my last, because I loved this one! After a heart stopping prologue, the story slowly unravels and never lets go! It’s told from a dual-timeline, switching between ‘Then and Now’, with characters trying to keep their secrets hidden from the past! This writing style was easy to follow and the short chapters kept me glued to the pages wanting to find out more!

What I also loved about this book was the writing. It was fantastic at being so descriptive, but was also beautiful and felt emotional. 🥲 It explored the themes of motherhood and sisterhood, and what it means to be a good mother with a bad past! There were plenty of twists too that I didn’t see coming, and one of them gave me goosebumps! 😯

At times I did find that it became a little confusing for me with the amount of characters. I struggled to keep up with how each of them were related to each other. It was still a really enjoyable read though! Everything is pieced together well at the end and it wraps up nicely. I loved the heartwarming epilogue too! 🥰

Highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to @bookouture @netgalley for the advanced e/book copy.

Anya Mora’s Good Bad Mother is a masterfully twisted psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge with its unexpected turns and deeply buried secrets. The novel unravels a tangled web of deception, where every character holds a hidden truth, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, Mora delivers another shocking revelation.

The pacing is gripping, with tension building steadily until it reaches a breaking point, plunging the characters—and the reader—into utter chaos. Mora excels at creating complex, morally gray characters, making it difficult to determine who can truly be trusted. The emotional depth woven into the narrative adds an extra layer of intrigue, ensuring the story lingers in the mind long after the final page.

For those who love psychological thrillers filled with dark secrets, unexpected twists, and explosive climaxes, Good Bad Mother is a must-read. Anya Mora has proven herself as an author to watch, and I’ll definitely be following her future work.

Thank you NetGalley! This is my first book by this author and I was blown away. I was pulled in from the very beginning with the prologue and could not put it down. I finished it in one day

Amelia Sterling is a new mother, loving wife and harboring a dark secret. She lives with the guilt of the death of 2 people but everything is not what it seems. After she and her family are featured in a local story, she begins to receive anonymous notes threatening to reveal her secrets.

This was a fast paced novel , It was very repetitive and the plot twist wasn’t so unexpected

Good Bad Mother focuses on Amelia, a new mother who marries into a wealthy family. While her life seems perfect on the outside, she has a dark secret, and unfortunately, she will not let you forget that. Not for a single page.

Listen, I like what this book is going for, but the repetition drove me insane. Throughout the first half, the narrator’s self-loathing became so unbearable that I almost noped out of this book, but I trudged on because, clearly, this secret HAS to be juicy.

Then the twists began to pile on, and it turns out that her deep dark secret is… pretty uninspired. Yes, there’s a little more nuance to it than I’m letting on, but I found the finale to be passively entertaining at best and downright corny at worst. Most of the characters’ motivations seemed bizarre, and it felt like everything could have been solved with some antidepressants and a mature conversation.

I appreciate Anya Mora’s passion for motherhood, but clearly I’m not the right audience for this book.

In "Good Bad Mother," the narrative follows Amelia, a spouse and mother residing in the affluent community of Cutters Island, whose seemingly idyllic life experiences a profound disruption as her meticulously curated existence begins to unravel. While she presents the façade of the quintessential wife, hidden beneath her polished surface is a troubling history that she is determined to conceal. One fateful night, she awakens to discover her daughter is missing and a fire endangers her home, igniting fears that her buried secrets may finally resurface. I was drawn into the plot as Amelia begins to experience emotional upheaval and increasing tension due to the overbearing expectations of her in-laws and husband. She also begins to receive threatening anonymous letters. It is a fast-paced story that will keep you guessing. It embodies the themes of family dynamics, trauma, and trying to outrun one’s past.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was suspenseful and interesting, but did start off slow. The ending tied everything up perfectly, which I liked. I couldn’t stand the Sterlings and their superiority. The twist at the end was not what I was expecting at all! Overall, a great book!

🔹 My take - 2.25/5

This book had so much potential and the start really had me gripped. The problem I saw was that the beginning was engaging and there were some good twists but they were thrown at the very end. Also the end was quite rushed. The majority part of the book was very repetitive just talking about the nervousness of the MC. If the twists could have been interwoven at regular intervals rather than all at the end and if breadcrumbs were thrown over the different chapters, it could have lead to a 5 star read. Unfortunately this book did not work out for me since I was at my wit’s end nearly halfway as to nothing much was happening.

Thanks to @bookouture and @netgalley for sharing the DRC in exchange for honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Anya Mora does it again! and you can read it February 17, 2025!

What a read!! Anya sure knows how to tell a story and knows how to hook you from the beginning.
I have to say at first, I was like this is the same old story. Poor girl gets married into a life a luxury and hides her past from her husband. Then I was like WOW! I loved Amelia but sometimes felt a little distant from her. I actually found her to be quite annoying at times. Like if your baby won't stop crying you should put her on top the washing machine. The doctor said she was fine but you said she had colic. But, in the end the author took me for a spin myself and I totally didn't see that ending coming. The dual POVs were amazing because they only confused the reader a little more each time.
In the end this was a great read.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Good Bad Mother was an addictive thriller following a mother who’s been haunted by lies from her past that’s affecting her future she’s carefully crafted. After receiving threatening letters, Meadows seemingly perfect life she’s built gets upended and the lies start unraveling. How far will she go to keep her secrets and how far will someone go to expose her??I could NOt stop reading this!!! Very well written where it keeps you hooked from page one! If you struggle with feeling like you’re a good parent, this gives some insight on the struggle of new parents and the stresses of trying to be perfect. High paced, action packed and just enough clues to keep you guessing. Would you keep the biggest lie of your life going to protect someone who was supposed to be close to you?

I love Anya Mora books! Amelia wakes up to find that her husband hasn’t come home and her baby is gone! Then she smells smoke….,Has the past come back to get her?
This was a fast paced thriller that was filled with suspense!
Release date February 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc

One of the main reasons I keep coming back to Anya Mora’s books is her ability to make you care deeply for her characters. I always find myself rooting for the protagonist, but what surprises me more is that I occasionally end up empathising with the antagonists as well. I also love how descriptive her writing is—it always leaves me with a vivid picture of the characters' surroundings.

I’m happy to report that Good Bad Mother is another book by Anya Mora that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really liked the main character, Amelia, and as a mother myself—having gone through some of what she was experiencing—I felt a strong connection to her. Motherhood is such an important part of my life; it’s a terrifying, challenging journey, but also one filled with love, and this was portrayed perfectly in the book.

Good Bad Mother doesn’t have the huge twists and turns that some psychological thrillers have, but I never really knew who to trust. When the reveal came, I was genuinely surprised. In a story full of mistrust and deceit, I experienced a wide range of emotions toward the characters—some were completely infuriating, while others were kind and gentle, which often provided a welcome relief.
The writing is beautifully descriptive, and I felt as if I had visited the estate where the story is set and met the people who live there. I’m often critical of endings, but I enjoyed this one.

I gave the book a slightly lower rating not because I didn’t enjoy it (because I did), or because I couldn’t relate (I could), or because the ending was unsatisfying (it wasn’t), but because at times, I felt there was some unnecessary repetition. The story occasionally felt like it got stuck, not quite sure how to move forward. Another reason for my rating was that I didn’t feel completely gripped by the storyline. While I certainly enjoyed reading it, I was able to put it down and take breaks. The book took me about four hours to read, and I finished it in four sittings.
Overall, I’m glad to say that my enjoyment of Anya Mora’s books continues! I would recommend this to any mums who would like a relatable protagonist (though being a mother isn’t a requirement to enjoy this book) or anyone looking for a short but enjoyable read with simple yet effective writing.

Once again, thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture, and @anyamora for this ARC.