When you’ve just become a mother and, on top of that, your husband has just passed away—like in Charlotte’s case—life can be overwhelming. And if you're expected back at work soon as well, you could definitely use some help.

Then suddenly, a gift from heaven appears at your door. Not a stranger you’d have to trust your house with, but your own sister-in-law Sophie. Amazing, right? Except for the fact that you’ve never met her before—let alone even knew she existed...

The story is mainly told through the eyes of Charlotte and Sophie, but there's also a mysterious “she” who adds her voice to the mix. Who is this person? That becomes clear bit by bit as the story unfolds.

The further the book progresses, the more the two women begin to distrust each other. Both are trying to catch the other hiding something, and both have only one goal in mind.

The author has written a brilliant masterpiece. The characters she created are perfect, and I found the manipulation and undermining between them to be sublime.

In the end, only one of them can come out on top—but will it be Charlotte or Sophie?

For me, this was a fantastic book with great twists, but also heartbreaking moments.

It reminded me a bit of the saying, “when two dogs fight over a bone, the third one walks away with it.” Here too, it was two “dogs” fighting over one “bone,” but it was one of them who struck at just the right moment.

I enjoyed it from the first to the last page. 5 stars.

Thank you.

Rate : 4.5
A mom who has a infant and it tired exhausted and a women shows up at the door saying she’s the paternal husbands sister and Ofcourse the mom doesn’t recall him having one but with the baby her having to work and provide a life she thinks that she just tired and allows this women in the house which she was supposed to be helping around the house but things take a turn , she won’t leave she always grabbing for the baby and now she’s in her room by picking the locks , things just don’t add up and I loved that since this isn’t like a true crime with different information be thrown out there she did something really cool she wrote a POV as HER , as were reading about this two women and who’s truth is who , and the story reveal we get a pov that tells us the story without letting you know who story it is so it different had me on the edge of my seat as what is and what isn’t . The only things I wish we got alil epilogue longer or maybe extra chapter idk I had so many questions lol , I like the ending but yeah ..


I don’t have kids but I do feel like she captured the role of a mom really good especially a new mom because of you being anxious or overthinking everything because you’re being protective over a lil human . DEFINITELY SHOULD READ .

WOW WOW WOW what a roller-coaster book this is. I absolutely loved this book and all the characters. Emily as always has written another brilliant book which leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat as you never can see the twists. Thank you Netgallery for letting me read this copy. And it's books like this that Emily Shiner is one of my favourite authors and I urge everyone to read it when it comes out. Brilliant writing again Emily x

Wow! I have to say that I definitely did not want to put this down. The short chapters made it so easy to chip away at and the back and forth just kept you guessing who was truly telling the truth and what the real story was.

There were a few spelling errors throughout and some inconsistencies with some "Her" chapters with most of them stating the time frame but occasionally they wouldnt list it and you had to guess. For me, I would rather they all have it - easier to paint the picture.

I really was on the edge of my seat for 90% of the book. I am not absolutely in love with the ending though, it felt too rushed and worked out too easy. I also don't know how I feel about Charlotte plotting to steal another baby. I really don't think after everything we learned about her (or didn't) that would be something in her character. I almost would have preferred Sophia to be the one to do that.

Overall though, I will definitely look to pick up more from Emily and can appreciate the addictiveness of this read. Thanks for letting me read this, NetGalley!

I really like and enjoy books by this author. So let's get into it. It's told by 2 perspectives. Charlotte and her sister in law Sophie. Since she was never mentioned before is it really a sister in law? 🤔 Both of them have secrets, both want them kept a secret. . Charlotte feels though that Sophie may want her daughter, Sophie feels that Charlotte isn't really a fit mom. They want to keep their own secrets yet try to find out the others. Could both be liars? Sure, but who is the real danger? Also just for fun how did her husband pass away? What is true and isn't true? This one was fast paced and an easy read. I really enjoyed it

As a new parent myself, I found this book both relatable and deeply unsettling. While there are plenty of authentic parenting moments that resonated with me—the exhaustion, the constant worry, the small joys—it also dives into every new parent’s worst nightmare.

The story kicks off with a pushy in-law who doesn’t just come for a visit, but moves in permanently. From there, the tension slowly builds as the lines between family, boundaries, and control begin to blur. The narrative alternates between the wife’s and the sister-in-law’s perspectives, which added depth and gave the story an interesting duality—each voice layered with emotion, history, and a growing sense of unease.

While I had guessed most of the twists early on, I still found the author’s writing style compelling and enjoyable. She has a way of pulling you into the characters’ world, making even the quieter moments feel charged.

The ending did fall a bit flat for me—I was hoping for more impact or resolution—but it still left me wanting to spend more time with these two women and their complicated dynamic.

Overall, it’s a tense, well-written domestic drama with an edge of psychological suspense. Definitely worth a read, especially for parents who can relate to the chaos and vulnerability of new parenthood.

Wow this book is amazing. Emily Shiner writes books that grab you in and won't let go. Do not start this book if you have anything else to do.

Emily Shiner has done it again!

What Every Mother Needs is a paced-paced, edge of your seat, and jaw-dropping psychological thriller.

It is told from the perspectives of two women, Charlotte (a newly widowed single mother of an infant) and Sophie ( a never before mentioned sister-in-law). Both women have secrets and are trying to keep them from the other, but greedy motivation from both women keep them trying to figure put each other's secrets.

You do not want to miss out on this fantastic gem that releases on May 30th!

Emily Shiner has done it again. Her latest What Every Mother Needs is a real page turned that had me gripped from the start. I could not put It down.

It centres around Charlotte a widowed mother who is struggling with her baby daughter. She welcomes her late husband's sister into her house to help her but both have secrets and agendas. Can they trust each other.
What Every Mother Needs is told from both women's perspective and is cleverly intertwined.

I love that Emily creates fast paced thrillers that keep you asking what's going to happen next. A real page turner right to the very end..

What Every Mother Needs will be available on 30th May. Be sure to get your copy.

This book was creepy and twisted, and I loved it! The plot twisted and turned, and each time I thought I had figured it out, I hadn’t.

There were many secrets, lots of secrets and it was gripping throughout. The characters of Charlotte and Sophie I had to work which of characters I disliked more it was definitely Sophie for a multitude of reasons!

This book was well written and had a great twist at the end! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

Emily Shiner has done it again!

This fast-paced page turner pulls you in from the first page and carries you on a roller coaster of twists and turns right through the end.

Loved the two different points of view from Charlotte and Sophie all throughout this book.

I just love Emily's books and am working my way to read all of them.


Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC.

Emily Shiner’s What Every Mother Needs is a gripping psychological thriller that I devoured in less than 24 hours—I simply couldn’t put it down. Centered around two compelling women, Charlotte and Sophia, the story weaves a web of secrets, shifting loyalties, and psychological tension that had me second-guessing every assumption.

What makes this book so addictive is the way it masterfully plays with perspective. Both women are hiding dangerous secrets, and I found myself constantly vacillating between siding with one, then the other. Just when I thought I had figured out who was telling the truth, a new twist or subtle clue would upend everything I believed. The dual viewpoints kept me on edge, questioning every interaction and wondering who was truly in control.

What’s more, it wasn’t until I finished the novel that I realized the third key character—the one who ties Charlotte and Sophia together—is only ever seen through their perspectives, including through flashbacks. The realization that we never actually met this man added an extra layer of brilliance to the storytelling and left me reflecting on how cleverly the narrative had been constructed.

Shiner delivers a suspenseful, character-driven story that’s perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with strong female leads, unreliable narrators, and complex emotional undercurrents. What Every Mother Needs is a psychological puzzle I won’t forget anytime soon—and one I’ll be recommending to fellow thriller lovers for a long time.

Amazing book! I read this entire thing in less than 12 hours (and that was with plenty of breaks during that timeframe). It was so gripping, I had to finish it as quickly as possible! Emily is definitely one of my very top favorite authors. Her books never disappoint me. This book roped me in from the very beginning, and it had plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very end! I thought this book was fantastic, and I believe other readers will enjoy it as well!