A harrowing cleverly woven story based around male toxicity, how someone can become involved in it and how it manifests as appealing when ‘sold’ to those seeking ‘the best life has to offer’ and are drawn into it and once there, even with reservations, find it hard to leave it

The story is set at a Summer camp where our main character ( working there ) wakes to find herself in a terrible predicament and not knowing who had caused it….her brother and his ‘friends’ are also at the camp, what happens next is a tense, quick moving tale involving ‘Mum’, the Police and Spider ( another worker at the camp ) all very diffetent characters but all central to the story

Its such an involving read, a buzzing hard hitting start that really didn’t let up and although I say this regularly this is my new fav by the author

I liked the ‘non easy approach’ to everything involved in the story, its so easy to write about a subject that is horrific without looking into the issues around it, why it seems glamorous and why the vulnerable are intoxicated by it and the role Social Media plays

And also any book that mentions Nescafe, Silk Cut and Joan Collins in one sentence ( offering light relief in a serious book ) has to be a winner

Superb again from S E Lynes

How far will a mother go to protect her child? Melissa is so terrified that something will happen to one of her children that she has pre-empted and prepared for a number of scenarios! That does nothing to prevent the horror and fear when the call she is dreading comes through. Her daughter, Casey, who has taken a summer job at a camp, has been found in a tent, in a state of undress and with no memory of what happened.

Told from multiple perspectives and in the run up to the incident as well as afterwards, the story explores the key character's behaviours, particularly the young males, the rich kids and the peer pressure that impacted the behaviour of Melissa's children.

It was a slow burn of a read, which is different to other books I have read by this author and then the ending was an absolute rollercoaster of twists and turns as the truth was revealed - I had to sit for a minute to calm my racing mind after it all unravelled!

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, S. E. Lynes and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

I devoured this book in one short sitting, I couldn't put it down. The writing and story line hooked me right from the very start and held my attention hostage until the very end. The pacing and tension was perfect and the characters were really well developed and I was so invested. I loved it.

Holy moly, she’s done it again! Susie Lynes knows exactly how to tap into your fears and mess around with your mind and in Every Mother’s Nightmare, she executes her skill exquisitely! When Melissa receives a call at work informing her that her daughter Casey is in hospital I got that rush of fear, the call that every mother/parent dreads!
We’ve all been there, when your kids start taking those first steps to independent living, you want to hold them back or at least wrap them in bubble wrap before they step out into the big bad world. Melissa’s wracked with guilt following the incident, she blames herself, she shouldn’t have let her go to the camp…she should have been able to afford the lifestyle her daughter’s friends had…so many relatable themes in this book.
However, it soon becomes clear as you turn the pages that not everyone or everything is at it seems. Told from three points of view, Melissa, Casey and Dan (her brother) doubt starts to creep in at every turn, each of them seems to be keeping a secret and it’s killing them. The dual timeline worked perfectly, effortlessly weaved together and never confusing.
The story is very relevant in today’s world of toxic masculinity and filtered lives played out on social media. It was easy to see how young men can get themselves caught up and trapped by extremely skilled manipulators who play on the insecurities of others. There is also the world where our young people live their lives comparing themselves to others and their filtered lives on screen and left feeling isolated and insecure. My loathing was real as Lynes fictional versions of the Tates played out on the pages, my skin crawled and my rage intensified. It’s a scary world out there and Lynes cuts to the heart of a world where social media feeds the insecurities of our youth making them ripe for manipulation.
Once again she poses the what if and what would you do questions, which draw the reader into the heart of the story and the lives of the characters making you question yourself; me I was yelling, I hear ya sister to Melissa every step of the way!
As always, Lynes paces to perfection; she doesn’t write wham bam thank you mam style, it’s not what her books are about. Rather, they are about exploring some of our deepest fears, insecurities, they are about the what ifs and the realisation that her characters are all people we know, or perhaps they are even us; they are about firmly placing yourself in the heart of the story, you become an actor in it, making for a completely compelling and engrossing read.
The connection to the characters for me is what makes Lynes a master storyteller, their lives are relatable and their fears are our fears too. Once again she nailed it.
This book is way off the “it’s a belter” scale…go buy it now, you won’t be disappointed!

it was okay. at first it was fast and easy to read, but the second part really slows down and i'm not sure that helps the story. dan's chapters often felt like instagram infographics which i get, raising awareness of redpill dudes is a good intention, but the way it was written was not natural. the way in which we learn new info was also odd to me, and the twists were kind of predictable.

This was a tense, emotionally layered read that pulled me in right away. As a mom—and especially as a mom of a daughter—this one hit close to home. I felt such a connection to the mother in this story. The way she steps in at the end? Total momma bear moment. I honestly can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same.

Byrne Sharp is exactly the kind of man you hope gets what’s coming to him, and watching it all unravel kept me turning the pages. Every character felt believable (who hasn’t met a Byrne?), and while the UK phrasing slowed me down just a bit, it didn’t take away from the story. I even found myself reading parts in my best British accent—take that as you will! There is a twist that was unexpected and a fun surprise there at the end!

If you like stories where justice is served and moms don’t mess around, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: July 8, 2025
Author: S.E. Lynes
Publisher: Bookoture

⭐️⭐️⭐️

pre-read ‧₊˚⋅♡𓂃 ࣪
This book sounds like it’s right up my alley. I’m excited for a twisty thriller!!

Every Mother’s Nightmare

The writing didn’t really work for me—some parts felt dragged out and a little clunky—but the story itself was tense and twisty enough to keep me reading. It’s told through three perspectives, which helped build the suspense and slowly reveal the truth behind a seriously disturbing situation. There’s a dead body found in the woods, a missing teenage girl who’s later found alone in a tent and hospitalized, and a mother who’s completely unraveling but determined to protect her kids at all costs. The characters weren’t super deep, but the plot had enough going on to make up for it. Not amazing, but definitely kept me curious.



Thank you to Netgally, Bookoture & SE Lynes for this early edition!

The book is written before and after the event. The background is the backdrop of the story.
Melissa is a single mum to Dan and Casey, money is tight so but they survive.
Dan works in a bar and he begins to listen to Byrne, a motivational professional.
Casey has just finished her A-levels and finds a job in a holiday camp for young people; where her wealthier will be attending.
Dan, Byrne and friends arrive at the camp and when Byrne meets Casey the story begins.
A book that keeps you guessing!!

As good a read as all the previous books the author has written!

S E Lynes books are always immaculately written and provide depth and insight to unimaginable situations.

Picking up a new book by this author is always a treat to savour which when over always leaves me feeling bereft until the next release!

As recommended as always!

Enjoyed this book! Parts of it were slightly predictable, but other parts were not. I was really interested to know more throughout and I connected with the main characters. I also thought it addressed some really current important issues and it gave me a feeling of dread and familiarity in my stomach (in a good way) I liked how it all came together in the end. Would definitely be interested to read more if this authors work!

Definitely every mother’s nightmare. Mum gets a call as her daughter is working over the summer.
Terrifying thought of this happening.
The family are close and when the worst happens they close up.
But what would you do if you got that call?
I know what I’d do, everything to help. But does Melissa? You never know what anyone’s actions will be.
Excellent story, lots of secrets & what is going to happen next.
Expect nothing less from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

A mother receives a call while at work that her daughter is in the hospital with no memory of what occurred to her.

This book gives multiple perspectives and time lines. There was some shock factors, but I was hoping for more. It was an enjoyable read

Every mother’s nightmare a perfect title to this story and thanks again Bookouture for another good read. Some parts of the book were uncomfortable to read and anxiety driven. Especially the scenes with Byrne. The book did drag on in a few places. When you reach towards the ending, the twist appears and another twist appears!

Every Mother's Nightmare by S.E. Lynes offers a truly unsettling premise, and I found myself consistently drawn in by the short chapters. This structure was fantastic for maintaining a quick pace and building suspense, making it easy to devour large chunks of the book in one sitting. Each chapter ended on just the right note, urging me to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. However, despite the compelling plot, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. While their individual struggles and motivations were clear, I found it difficult to empathize with them on a deeper level. This distance prevented me from becoming as emotionally invested in their journey as I would have liked, which ultimately impacted my overall enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published July 2025.

This was an absolutely gripping read! Every Mother’s Nightmare is a twisty, emotionally charged thriller that taps into every parent’s worst fear. From the opening chapter, I was pulled in by the tension and urgency.

Told from multiple perspectives, the story paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of a mother’s anguish when she receives a call her duughter is in hospital and can’t remember what happened. One of the things I loved most was the constant suspense throughout which kept me turning the pages until late at night. The twists genuinely caught me off guard which I always love in a thriller.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fantastic thriller I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this pre-release copy.

Susie Lynes is one of my go-to authors for when I want a guaranteed enjoyable read, and this one did not disappoint.

The title is very accurate because, as the storyline unfolds, it really is every mother's nightmare!

Casey and Dan are very close siblings. They look out for each other and enjoy each other's company. Dan's friendship with the (controlling) Byrne rings alarm bells from the get-go, and rightly so. The more we learn about him as the story progresses, the more you dislike him. As events unfold, you find out what a horrible person he truly is.

The writing is very well done and really gets across the feelings of anxiety and panic as the severity of events and potential for what could happen to Casey and Dan unfolds.

I enjoyed the way the book was written, where each chapter is from one of the three main protagonists view; Mel (mum), Casey, and Dan. I think this makes the story more three-dimensional as it's not just from one person's viewpoint.

I felt that the character of Spider had more potential, and he could have been a more significant character than he turned out to be.

Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-crafted story, with a compelling narrative and engaging characters whose relationships feel authentic and layered. From the outset, the book lays a solid foundation, and I appreciated the gradual unfolding of the story behind the central events.

While I was anticipating impactful plot twists—and they did arrive—they didn’t quite deliver the shock value I was hoping for. The surprises are there, but they’re more subtle and introspective than jaw-dropping, which might not meet the expectations of readers looking for dramatic reveals.

That said, it was still an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. One of the most intriguing aspects was how the author portrayed Byrne’s charm and manipulative influence over others. His ability to captivate those around him was disturbingly believable, raising uncomfortable but important reflections on how similar dynamics play out in real life.

Another standout element was the portrayal of the mother’s emotional landscape. The fear and helplessness she feels in knowing the different dangers her children will face based on their gender was depicted with sensitivity and nuance. It added depth to the narrative and made her character especially relatable.

Overall, I genuinely liked the book. It didn’t quite deliver the shock factor I had hoped for, but it made up for it in subtle tension, psychological insight, and emotional honesty. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a reflective tone.

ppphhh did i just dive into this one. from the blurb i was excited as where this book and could and the suspense even from reading the very first pages had me hooked and wanting to know more. because it surely would make every mothers nightmare to get a call that your daughter was found scared, confused and not knowing what had happened to her. and what comes next is taught with both brilliant writing, plot and character portrayal. i couldn't put this book down. i had to know both what happened story wise but also if the characters were going to be ok. i needed to know this ending!]
their are some major and relevant themes covered in this book and Lynes does a super job of writing them to the way in which they should be. its not held back on and neither should it be. the darkness of certain things underlying mens behaviour needs to be talked about and this thriller covers that toxicity brilliantly. for this is about a brother and sister who are entwined around a summer camp and an event that will bring their mother to the rescue but also us wondering what a mother would do to protect their child. and actually who is it here that need protecting?
this book was non stop, need to read this now, next page please reading. i loved it. it felt perfectly paced and getting to know the story from the different pov only added weight and tension to what we were learning along the way. and each time you get to the end of one chapter your left with more element to just where this might be going, but often your not quite sure until you get fed the next part and boy are you hungry for it which each passing chapter.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to give my review.

This is a suspenseful story revolving around single mother, Melissa, and her son, Dan (23) and daughter, Casey (18). Dan and Casey decide to attend a Summer Camp, and that’s when things start to go downhill. Melissa receives a phone call informing her that Casey has been found disoriented, with no memory of what happened, and is being taken to the hospital. What happened to Casey at Summer Camp?

This story has a lot of twists and turns, keeping the reader constantly guessing. When you think you have it figured out, you don’t! S.E. Lynes is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine!

S.E. Lynes is back at the top of her game!
After feeling slightly let down by The Perfect Boyfriend, I was delighted to read this gripping tale that reaches out to every mother — parent — who fears that phone call telling them something has happened to their child. I've been there myself, and the sheer, stomach-churning terror will never leave me (it all turned out OK, I hasten to add).
The book opens with divorced mum Melissa on the receiving end. Something has happened to her daughter, Casey, although the details are initially sketchy. What ensues is a carefully crafted story that examines the toxic traits present in some young men, who can at the same time earn the admiration of their peers.
Piece by piece, we learn what happened, but the author keeps us on our toes, never quite sure till the final pages.
As always, I noted down some memorable lines:
'With these guys, humour is a test, something to withstand in order to prove yourself. Like a gun.'
'Richard, her ex, was only ever a passenger who turned into an annoyance.'
'How awful it was to know someone this well, to see through the perfect lawn of their once-adorable mannerisms to the earthworms writhing beneath.'
Highly recommended.