This book was fantastic.............. was a bit of a slow start for me but once it got going I couldn't put it down, plot characters and end was brilliant couldn't recommend this book enough!!!!!

My good god…. WHAT A BOOK! 😱🤩😍

I LOVED it all! The twists, the going back in time, seeing the story from all points of view…. Jeez it’s good! 🤩

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 🤩🤩🤩


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this, full of suspense and intrigue. I could not have predicted the ending and l will look out for more by this author.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. Read it over 2 nights, couldn’t wait to get back to it. For me a great style of writing, easy to read and a jaw dropping twist. Didn’t see that one coming!

I actually loved this book! The pace kept up all the way through, really likeable characters (apart from the baddies of course ;). And I definitely didn't see any of the twists coming - I normally do, honest!! I enjoyed watching Mackenzie and EJ's relationship change as the book went on. And lastly, I loved the ending! I do like a book that wraps everything up at the end and answers all the questions I had...and this did that for me.

I will definitely look out for more titles from iliana.

This was such a good read, l9ved the characters....Even the awful ones! It was twisty with a couple of surprises at the end - one I wasn't surprised by and the other I was. Exciting and easy to read, can't wait for more from this author!

This is a fantastic psychological thriller that kept me gripped to the final page. There are so many twists and turns in the narrative that truly left me speechless. The characters are so well drawn and downright despicable, they had me cheering for the heroine the entire way through and I didn’t see the final twist coming, although I sped towards it as this is truly a page turner of a book.
I lost sleep over Love, Mom reading it well into the depths of the night, I just couldn’t put it down. I’ll shout it from the rooftops that I. love. This. Book! Highly recommended and a definite 5 star read.
I loved the way the dad and grandmother were portrayed and hid their maliciousness so well and Tonya was so downright evil.
The final chapters, with Dianne and Grunger,'s revelations, felt like they were tacked on a little clumsily and caused the ending to drag a little for me. I feel they would have benefited from being incorporated into the main story. This small gripe aside, I absolutely adored this book.

I enjoyed this book so many twists and turns! It was intriguing it got to the point quick enough, it was a little far fetched but in a good way. My only complaint would be it ended too soon. Just as you realised what was going on, it pulled the rug out from you and finished!

Definitely read it, but I think it had potential to say more!

Love, Mom unfortunately wasn't the book for me. Whereas it was full of mystery that was slowly pieced together by our main character Mackenzie, I just didn't connect with the story or the characters. I think for me, the crux was that the whole setting revolved around the house and receiving the letters that helped develop the backstory of her mom - I was just itching to be shown rather than told and see more character development. But, that is not to say that this isn't a well written book because it has all the writing attributes of a great novel! - the prose flowed, the dialogue was smooth. I think ultimately the style, was just not for me. I feel that if you are a fan of Agatha Christie style mysteries where the reader reveals more and more little tiny jigsaw pieces as they go, then you will love this read. For me, I prefer a more fast-paced read, where you get almost whiplash from the reveal.

This was a really fun read, it kept me on my toes and kept me wanting to keep reading. A great read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review a copy of this book. Love, Mom, by Iliana Xander is a psychological thriller that grabs hold of you from the very first page and refuses to let go. It’s dark, twisty, and brimming with suspense—perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Riley Sager. The novel follows Mackenzie Casper, the daughter of a famous, bestselling author whose stories have always veered into the unsettling. When her mother dies in what appears to be a tragic accident, Mackenzie begins questioning everything—especially as investigators raise suspicions. Then, eerie letters start arriving, containing excerpts from her mother’s diary, each hinting at a long-buried secret. One message simply states: "Want to know a secret? Love, Mom."

From this moment on, Love, Mom escalates into an unstoppable spiral of revelations. The pacing is relentless, with short, punchy chapters that deliver shock after shock. There’s no time to catch your breath between twists, making it nearly impossible to put down.

If you love thrillers that keep you on edge, riddled with clues and unexpected turns, Love, Mom is a must-read.

This was neither suspenseful. thrilling or psychological....it was all just a bit flat.

Mackenzie Casper is 21...and her mother has just died. Her mum is the best selling author, Elizabeth Casper - AKA E.V. Renge. There doesn't seem to be anything suspicious about the death except there is an investigator still hanging around. Mackenzie doesn't feel sad at the death of her mum because they had never really got on with each other and her mum's agents has turned the funeral into a circus. Escaping back to her apartment for some peace and quite, Mackenzie finds an envelope on her car seat addressed to her and from her #1 Fan xoxo. Upon opening it, she finds some pages apparently from her mother's diary detailing her life before she had Mackenzie. It takes Mackenzie all the way back to when her Mum was a teenager and living in a care home and the horrible events that inspired her mothers first novel. As Mackenzie tries to unravel the mystery about her mother's past she begins to suspect that her mother based her murder books on events from her past life and this leaves her questioning how much she really knew her mother...

This is weak for a psychological thriller. The story is not suspenseful at all and most the twists and reveals were hinted at so obviously that by the time they were revealed to Mackenzie it felt too late. The characters are unfeasible and irritating - I am not convinced that a teenager would have a seizure and go to hospital, be diagnosed with a genetic condition and proscribed medicine without a parent being informed at some stage. The so called big reveal was not that big and again was very easily guessable.

Now I'm not saying it was all bad because it wasn't. There is good stuff here it's just in better hands it could have been an amazing story. Honestly, I think it fits better in a Young Adult category - it would have got more stars from me in that category as I think it's a good introduction to psychological thrillers because it isn't thrilling in any way. It's such an easy, unchallenging read that I burned through it in just a couple of days.

If, like me, you like your thrillers a bit more thrilling then this definitely isn't for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

The writing style was not my cup of tea unfortunately, the dialogue felt very stilted. I thought the big ‘twist’ in the middle of the book was really obvious and felt like the author had been leading us to make that conclusion quite heavily so there was no pay off for me. Too many inconsistencies and suspension of belief needed in the plot. 2.5 stars rounded up

Extremely enjoyed this book, so many twists and turns leaving my jaw on the floor at the end! Would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good suspense Thriller.

An absolutely fantastic book with the best twists that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed this book and already want to read it again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

College student McKenzie attends the funeral service for her mother, a world-famous author who has died suddenly. The author is mourned by her publisher, agent and adoring fans, but less so by McKenzie. After the funeral, McKenzie receives the first of several beyond-the-grave notes from her mother. Gradually, she realises they are pages from her mother's diary that refer to a dark secret from her teenage years. McKenzie and her best friend EJ, a handy IT expert, set off on a quest to discover the truth about her mother's past (though they seem less concerned about who is tracking McKenzie's every move and delivering the notes). The writing is pacy and fluent, and McKenzie is a rounded, engaging character whose search uncovers all kinds of craziness after the midpoint.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Upon publication, I will post my review on my blog and on GoodReads.

Love, Mom is a gripping psychological thriller that blends family secrets, suspense, and the unravelling of identity into a page-turning story that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Mackenzie Casper has never been able to step out from the shadow of her mother, a celebrated and slightly infamous thriller author. When her mother dies in what is presumed to be an accident, Mackenzie is not only dealing with grief but with the growing sense that something is very wrong. As investigators start to circle and a cryptic letter arrives—signed Love, Mom—the mystery deepens.

Iliana Xander weaves a compelling narrative, slowly revealing the twists and betrayals at the heart of Mackenzie’s family. The use of her mother’s diary extracts adds tension and a creeping sense of dread. Each letter uncovers another shocking layer, and Mackenzie’s desperate need for truth is palpable.

This book excels in building atmosphere. The pacing is tight, and the revelations are timed with precision. Mackenzie is a well-crafted lead—determined, grieving, and growing more suspicious as the truth begins to surface. The family dynamics are messy and real, which makes the mystery feel all the more personal.

Love, Mom is a darkly addictive story of legacy, lies, and the secrets we inherit. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers that dig deep into complicated mother-daughter relationships, it’s a chilling reminder that some truths are more dangerous than lies.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Wow, a brilliant hard to put down thriller.
Mackenzie Casper's mother is a best seller author, her books are scary, dark and ingenious. When her mother dies Mackenzie starts receiving mysterious letters written by her mother. As more letters come from an anonymous source, Mackenzie's suspicions surrounding her mothers death raises so many questions, so Mackenzie starts to investigate.
Delving into her mother's past brings proves there is more to her death than Mackenzie could ever have imagined.
This is a truly brilliant work of fiction. A true psychological thriller, from first to last page, totally gripping.

Psychological thriller author E.V. Renger (a chilling anagram for revenge) has just died. Her estranged daughter MacKenzie remembers her difficult personality as her fans mourn her. Then the letters start arriving. Can MacKenzie survive her mother's final thriller?

Told in three parts, this slow-burning psychological thriller touches on grief and guilt to deliver a page-turned packed with sharp tuns and shocking revelations. The twist was absolutely diabolical!

Gripping, atmospheric, and unforgettable!

This was a very twisted read told in three parts, the second of which really explains past events in great depth and adds some great additional personal viewpoints. Mackenzie was a great character and she had a great sidekick in EJ who totally understood just how messed up her family is although neither of them actually truly realised how messed up they actually were. There’s some good twists in this however I did kind of see the direction this was heading in so I guess that took some of the shock factor out of it but it’s still a chilling read with fascinating characters. 7/10