Just brilliant! Loved, loved loved this amazing book. Could not put it down. Highly recommend it to all.

What did I just read? To say I would have never guessed the ending is an understatement. Definitely enjoyed the book and it kept me guessing until the end. So many twists and turns. It was hard to know who to believe. The story completely turned into something I wasn't expecting. Not sure I would have ever married Roly after meeting Margaret. I would have changed the locks on the house and never gave her a key. Isobel would always be second to Margaret. Having your child kidnapped is one of the scariest things imaginable, something I would never want to experience. Does it seem like Isobel and Roly are doing everything they can to get Lola back? No!!!! With all their money and influence you would think more would be happening. Why isn't Lola's face plastered everywhere as a missing child? Then there's Emma. I immediately thought of her as an unhinged child stealer. She's so delusional she actually thinks Lola is her child, even after the DNA tests came back. The time she spent in the mental institution didn't help her at all. The real victim throughput all this is Lola. The ending was the best part. So unexpected. None of these people are who I thought they were. So many lies and secrets.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a good mystery/thriller and kept me guessing until the end. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'I'm Her Mother' by Lauren North.

Yet another thrilling and twist packed psychological thriller from the absolutely fantastic author Lauren North! This storyline was absolutely ram packed with hair raising action which kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. The book was filled secrets, shock, family, lies, heartache, suspense, drama, tension and twists to keep you on your toes. I love the fact that there were multiple protagonists telling us their stories which gives the reader a massive insight into everything that was going on but without giving away too much. The storyline includes a mother's worse nightmare with their child being taken and I wanted to make future readers aware of this as it may be unsuitable and/or upsetting for some readers. This book takes the reader straight into the action leaving them constantly wanting to know what happens next from the very first page until the last!! This book started straight into the action and continues on a rollercoaster ride of twists, turns, shocks and surprises all the way until the cliff hanger ending which I absolutely loved and would have never seen coming. The other thing I would never have seen coming is all the twists and turns!! Just when I thought the storyline could not get any more shocking there was another twist and then another until I was reading this with my jaw dropped open in disbelieve!! I have read thousands of psychological and crime books so it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but Lauren managed it hook, line and sinker over and over so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Lauren!!!
There isn't much worse in a book than than guessing who did what when your not even half way through a book but there's no worry of that here. Lauren's absolutely fantastic emotive and evocative descriptions will have your heart racing and filled with suspense and tension along with Emma and Isobel in each and every chapter!! I could not put this book down as every single time I even thought about it something else would happen until I just had to read one more until this happened so much I had devoured it in one sitting of a few hours so make sure you clear your schedules before starting!! An absolutely unputdownable addictive page turner!!. Needless to say this would make an absolutely epic movie!!!

Clear your schedules before you even turn a single page on this epic psychological thriller as you will not be able to put it down!!

This is one of those books where it is extremely difficult to say much about the characters without giving any of the storyline. Our main protagonists consist of Isobel whose daughter Lola is taken from her when she is in the toilets of a service station and she will do anything to get her back. Emma has Lola and is determined that she is her daughter and that she needs to keep her safe and away from Isobel as well as several other characters we meet in this book. Lauren has done an absolutely fantastic job of weaving each of the protagonist's chapters together in a way where she drips feeds us exactly the right amount of information at the perfect timings. My opinion changed on the characters throughout the books so it is hard to say how I felt about them now knowing the truth but there was definitely a mix of feelings and I went from feeling sorry for one character to absolutely hating them, the complete opposite for another character, my heart went out to another character but to which ones? Well, grab your copy of this page turner and discover for yourself today!! What I will say is that this is a book filled with some very unlikeable characters that you have no idea who is telling the truth, who is hiding what and why they are doing certain things. Lauren's fantastic evocative writing skills ensures each one of them come to life in front of your eyes and that you can see, feel and hear everything that they are while turning the pages. Lauren has done an absolutely fantastic job of creating several complex characters each with their own unique personalities and mixing them into a storyline that has an ending you will never see coming!! However, regardless of how you feel about any of the characters they each play their part perfectly bringing out each and every one of your emotions throughout this action packed, addictive page turner!!

Well done Lauren on yet another fantastic, gritty and unputdownable success!! This is the reason you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success!!

Overall a heart racing, action packed, page turning must read with twists you will never see coming!!

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This addictive psychological thriller literally had my mind wondering who Lola’s mom was. As the story unfolded, both women seemed reliable. There’s also much more going on, which is obvious from the supporting cast. No one is who they seem, leaving you wondering who to trust right until the end! I read this in a day and really enjoyed it!

Thank you, Lauren North, Bookouture, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

God, it was a good Theakstons Crime Festival in Harrogate this year. The panel discussions ranged from insightful to hilarious, the crime writers' confessions were hysterical, the Saturday night quiz hosted by Mark Billingham and Steph McGovern (in the absence of the much beloved Val McDermid - wishing you all the best for your forthcoming operation, Val, and hope to see you again next year) and the sun didn't so much shine as turn the grounds of the Old Swan Hotel into a subtropical paradise. Perhaps that's at least part of the reason for me - I think - being personally responsible for drinking the bar dry of Theakstons pale ale before the last evening.

Best of all though is the chance to mingle with readers and authors, ranging from the debutante to the best-selling, all of whom are there because they also WANT to meet other readers and authors. Meeting Madeleine Black and the award-winning Jo Callaghan for the first time was wonderful, as was having dinner with John Sutherland - a former police negotiator, and a fascinating man. But it was equally wonderful to catch up with, amongst others, Jamie-Lee Brooke, Abigail Osborne, Carla Kovach and Donna Morfett, all of whom are not only authors but now also friends, and to meet other readers whom I haven't seen, or spoken to since last year's festival and immediately feel as though we hadn't been apart. And I just hope I didn't put the fear of God into Jenny Morris by running after her like some crazed stalker to get her to sign an advance copy of her debut novel that's due to be published in January.

One author that I sadly didn't get to meet, however - and despite trying to look out for her - was Lauren North. This was a shame for three reasons. First because it's the second year in a row that we've managed to miss each other. Second because I'd have liked to apologise in person for promising to review her latest book, I'm Her Mother, on Saturday 20th July. I fear only I could have failed to notice that the dates clashed. And thirdly, and most importantly, I'd have loved to have chatted to her about said book.

Because, oh, holy cow, it's a page-turner. It takes the epitome of a tense storyline - that of a child abduction - and steers it in a whole new direction. Not only are we given the initial horror, turning to panic, turning into unbearable tension as Isobel realises that her three-year-old daughter, Lola, is missing despite having been out of her sight only for a matter of seconds - and whoever criticised this part of the book for being slow, it isn't, it's authentic. If that were ever, God forbid, to happen to you, I'll bet that every minute would feel like an hour - but we are also given something else to fear.

Because we know precisely where Lola is, and who she's with. Another woman called Emma, who also claims Lola is her daughter. But what we don't know is who to believe, or how such a situation is possible. Both 'mums' tell such convincing stories that I had no idea who, if either, was telling the truth. I didn't know whether to feel devastated for Isobel or whether to despise her. I didn't know whether to cheer Emma for her resourcefulness and determination, or fear for Lola's life.

I almost don't want to say any more, because I think you really need to read the book knowing as little as I did in order that you too are puzzling throughout. I must just mention though, what an ending. And even more what an epilogue. Like everything that led up to them, only even more so, they manage to be uplifting and chilling almost at the same time. They're fantastic.

My only criticisms are over small details that probably only I would be annoyed by. Some of the twists have clues that I didn't see the significance of, and that's great. But there's at least one development that we really aren't given any clues for. One or two of the situations that Emma finds herself in and then manages to escape from, whilst not totally unbelievable, seemed improbable enough for the plot to feel just a little bit forced. I liked that part of the story takes place in the beautiful town of Bridgnorth, which I know quite well, but was irritated to see it mis-spelt - it's not 'Bridgenorth'. And a police caution is used that's at least 30 years out of date. Given that Bookouture also publish the hugely successful police series by Angela Marsons and Carla Kovach, someone really should have thought to take all of 30 seconds to check this in an internet search engine.

Let's be honest, though. You'd be mad to care about this. Because overall - provided you're not in Harrogate over one particular weekend in July, obviously - this book really is the addictive, nail-biting thriller that its blurb claims it to be.

Thank you to Bookouture for my inclusion on the blog tour, and to Netgalley for the digital ARC. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon, my personal blog and associated social media pages.

This was the first book I have read by, Lauren North, but will not be the last. I rate this 4 1/2 stars, which is quite high for me. Lots of twists and turns throughout the book. Took a while to reveal who the mother was and what happened. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another scenario that had me questioning myself. If you like to play detective while reading psychological suspense books, this one is for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Lauren North books, as well as books told from different perspectives and the reader has to decide who they believe...
I knew I would love this one within a few minutes of starting to read.
The pace is relatively fast, but the selling point for me, has to be the plotting. North has crafted a clever thriller, so the reader changes their mind as the story continues and the clues unravel.
The epitome of an unreliable narrator!
A really fun book, and one I would definitely recommend.

Isobel and Emma say that Lola is theirs but who do you believe it’s a very clever story Rory and Isobel stop for a toilet break Lola wants to go in the cubicle on her own but when Isobel comes out Lola has disappeared and nowhere to be found the story is a frantic search for her with so many twists and turns you just don’t who to believe like all Lauren’s books is very tense and a very good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC

I've read and enjoyed several of North's thrillers prior to reading I'm Her Mother, so I knew exactly what to expect. It didn't disappoint.

Wowsers, this one certainly gets you thinking doesn't it? Did you work out who the real mother was? I had no idea, but it certainly left me questioning actually how well I actually know someone.

It's a slow burning thriller that's super suspenseful and packed with red herrings, twists and everything designed to throw you, the reader off kilter.

I really enjoyed it and found myself racing through the pages.

I'm Her Mother is a highly enjoyable, entertaining thriller and I have no qualms in recommending both the book and the author.

I loved this book from page one to the very end. It was intense and so very twisted. It had lies, secrets and betrayal. It was a bit of a guessing game but with each new twist I knew I was wrong again. It's a true page turner and almost impossible to put down. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this thriller. Now I must add Lauren North to my favorite author list.

This book was constantly keeping me guessing who was behind this kidnapping. I just HAD to keep reading to figure out what was going on, I was literally carrying around my kindle 24/7 in hopes to get a few more pages in whenever I had a few seconds. The plot was… *chefs kiss* constantly was growing and constantly evolving into more organized chaos! 5 stars from me!

"I'm Her Mother" was a captivating read, filled with unexpected twists and turns, culminating in an ending that was completely unforeseen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This was an excellent read. Near to the end, it was hard to put down. Very clever indeed. I’ll certainly keep looking out for this author’s books.

You have 2 women saying that the daughter is theirs. 1 of them is lying.
On the way home from vacation Lola is taken and the parents are devastated. Who would do this? Where is she?
I did not like the husband in this book and especially not his mother. She was the MIL from hell. He was to secretive in my opinion.
I read this book in 1 day and could not put it down. I had to find out who was lying and why.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC to review

Two women claim to be Lola's mother - you will not guess what is really going on until the very end. Fast and fabulous read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Such a scary position to find yourself in, you let your 3 year old daughter use the toilet cubicle next door to you at a service station, you come out and she's gone...
A criminal lifestyle where money is no object and what you want you can buy whatever the cost
Told from two points of view Emma and Isobel, "Two mother's" trying to protect their daughter. One mother is lying and the other telling the truth, who will be believed. Which one would succeed?
Some great twists and another enjoyable read from Lauren North.
Thank you Bookouture, Lauren North and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I'm Her Mother by Lauren North was a great read!
From the start, this was a gripping and intriguing read and I couldn’t wait to find out how the story was going to unfold.
An absolutely thrilling, addictive, suspenseful story. Full of twists that I did not see coming.
The premise of the story was interesting and I liked how everything tied together at the end.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4 year-old Lola is abducted from the toilets of a service station whilst her mum Isobel is in the next cubicle. Emma, the woman who has abducted Lola claims to be her mother. Only one woman can be telling the truth but which one?

The story is told from both mothers POV’s, Isobel’s whilst her and her husband Roly search for Lola and Emma whilst she tries the make it to Liverpool to catch a ferry to Belfast. As the plot unfolds the reader finds out the two women share a history and both have secrets.

The book was well told and I was completely surprised at the ending, I thought I had it all figured out and then there was more to be revealed. I enjoyed the cat and mouse chase throughout and the way the ending unfolded.

I’m Her Mother is another really good read by Lauren North. I did find it a tad slow to start but my goodness when the pace picked it really did pick up. I found myself frantically turning the pages to find out how it all would end up. I enjoyed the way each chapter alternated between the two ‘Mothers’ and I really found it difficult to know who was telling the truth at times. It’s one of those nail biting books packed with tension, twists and a few red herrings. A great cast of characters some nice and others not so. The ending in my opinion was brilliant.

This is one of the twistier thrillers I’ve read in a while! Because of that, I can’t give away anything but the synopsis: Isobel and Roly were on a trip with their three-year-old daughter, Lola. They stopped for a bathroom break, and Lola took the stall next to her mother. When Isobel comes out, her daughter is gone.

The woman who took her is named Emma, and she’s been tracking this family for a while now. She has been waiting a long time to find her daughter Lola, and she got the chance in that bathroom. Before Isobel was pulling up her pants, Emma and Lola were already gone.

Soon, you’ll realize that both women have many secrets - and you’ll find out their secrets! You’ll learn about their pasts, their mental states, their relationships and even who the actual mother is. You’ll find out everything, with a ton of twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

You’ll need to suspend reality a bit, but this is a very suspenseful thriller that didn’t get convoluted as the cross-country adventure got more and more intense. The intensity is there from page one, and most psychological thriller readers should like this one! 4.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Lauren North and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 18, 2024.)