Thank you Netgalley and Louise for gifting us a copy to read and review.
I’ve made it no secret that I adore Louise’s fantastic books.
Contemporary family and friendship fiction with a surprise twist or two, her stories are consistently entertaining, intriguing and compelling.
A Mother’s Betrayal is another to add to her growing list of treasures.
Julia Hudson lives a busy life, commuting between Canberra and Melbourne for work and her husband Mike and adult twin daughters Flo and Ari stay at home living everyday lives.
Then tragedy strikes and Julia is in a car accident that puts her in a coma.
They wait for her to wake but they find out she has been keeping a secret.
As it slowly unravels, Julia is not the only person hiding something.
Everything comes tumbling down and it all shatters apart.
Can they stay strong as a family or is it too late……
Louise is so good at creating narratives about family relationships and all the drama, issues, lies, mystery and everything else that happens between them.
It’s such bliss, joy and a luxury to read Louise’s book, so very talented and i absolutely love her work.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re not reading Louise Guy where have you been and you need to change it now.
A story with emotion, secrets and the structure of family dynamics.

Wow, this was a lot! I loved the friendship between Ari and Flo. They truly had a great closeness as twins but also as friends. Their character development, along with their mother's (Julia), was a beautiful thing to watch unfold. There were so many twists and secrets that unfolded that it made me keep reading, as I was dying to know how it all played out for them. Ben truly was amazing about the whole ordeal. Loved the kiddos, too. Della was one sassy girl. It is such an interesting story of family, secrets, and relationships!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Julia Hudson is a strong-willed woman with a demanding job that takes her between Melbourne and Canberra. She is married to Mike, and they have identical twin daughters, Arabella (Ari) and Florence (Flo), along with a grandson named Kayden. Their lives take a dramatic turn when Julia is involved in a severe car accident, leaving her in a coma with critical injuries. As the family—Mike, Ari, Flo, and their grandmother Gigi—take turns at her bedside, they discover a shocking secret Julia has been hiding, which shatters their trust and alters the dynamics within the family.

The once-close relationship between Ari and Flo is strained further when it is revealed that Flo has been keeping secrets of her own. This revelation drives a wedge between the sisters at a time when they most need each other. The family, now in turmoil, turns to Julia's journals, kept over 32 years, hoping to find answers. However, instead of clarity, they uncover more lies and deceit, leading them to question whether Julia had been manipulating them for years.

The novel explores the complexities of family relationships, trust, and betrayal, all set against the backdrop of Melbourne's leafy streets. The story is gripping, full of unexpected twists, and challenges the reader to question the true nature of familial bonds. The characters are well-developed, adding depth to the emotional roller coaster of the narrative.

A gripping story.
Julia is a mother of adult twins Flo and Ari and is in a car accident near home and is in a coma, but she was supposed to be away with work and the twins want answers, but one of twins Flo has a son who falls ill and another secret is revealed.
Can the family stay together after all the secrets are revealed.
It keeps you in suspense, a good story.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

What a fantastic read. This is the first book I've read by this author and I absolutely loved it and I'll certainly be looking for some more in the future held my interest right from the first page some really interesting characters and so many twists and secrets that come out through the story I was gripped right to the end. The family unit certainly face some challenges in this really well written novel

3.5 stars rounded up

When Julia Hudson is involved in a near-fatal accident, the lives of her children - nurse Flo and her twin sister, high-flying lawyer Ari - are sent into free fall. As they sit vigil at their mother's bedside, the sisters discover that Julia, who has always preached unwavering principles and integrity, has been keeping a terrible secret. A secret that shatters everything they've ever believed about their family. But the twins have each other,,,, or do they? Because Julia is not the only one keeping secrets. With Julia in a coma and unable to answer the questions, her journals might provide the answers they seek. But Julia's journals reveal yet another dark secret. One that will make the sisters question every part of the life they've lived.

When Julia had her near-fatal accident, her twin daughters, Flo and Ari, find out that she was keeping a secret that would change everything. But Julia is not the only one keeping secrets. The story is told from multiple perspectives. The first few chapters introduce us to the characters and their relationships, until two separate emergencies unleash the secrets that have been kept for years. The family gets divided, Will they ever be able to get over the events?

Published 12th September 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LouiseGuy for my ARC of #AMothersBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.

Twin sisters who support each other and share everything and a mother who will do everything for them. An accident who will reveal secrets that will shock everyone. Will everything ever be normal again?
What a page turner, real emotions with events that can destroy or heal. Great author!

I really enjoyed My Sister's Baby and A Family's Trust. I couldn't wait for Louise's next book. A Mother's Betrayal is a gripping story about twin sisters, the complexities of family and secrets.

Arabella (Ari) and Florence (Flo) are really close. I liked witnessing their relationship. Flo's son, Kayden, is six years old and all of the characters are well fleshed out and realistic. I was concerned when Kayden was ill.

Julia, the twins' mother, works for the government and travels between Melbourne and Canberra. I've never been to Australia before. The scenery is very immersive. How will the family react when Julia has a car accident? What happened that day? Will she survive? She has a traumatic brain injury as well as a broken leg and other lacerations.

Are family always there? They go to the hospital, but will they really stick together after secrets are revealed for many of the characters. Flo, Ari and Julia all have hidden aspects of their lives. I was really looking forward to what I was going to discover.

As with Louise's other books I have reviewed, A Mother's Betrayal is very twisty and totally unforgettable. Louise Guy is always excellent at getting into peoples' personalities. The book is as immersive as the others I have reviewed.

Thanks to Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

An interesting story with many secrets. Julia is in a near fatal car accident which brings up many questions. Julia’s twin daughters, Flo and Ari, are questioning why their mother was in town when she was supposed to be away for work. The same day as the accident Ari has to bring her son to the ER where she learns he has a super rare blood type and needs a transfusion. Turns out the father is Ari’s ex husband. More secrets more lies more questions.
Decent book, slow and repetitive. Honestly couldn’t stand Julia in the beginning of the book and the fact that her daughters put up with it says a lot about their character

A woman's accident and the resultant impact on the lives of her twin daughters are at the heart of this story, which explores family relationships, the ties that bind, and how we deal with the situation when people are not who we thought they were. Especially when they are the ones whom we consider the closest to us...

Reading their mother's journals, Flo and Ari begin to realise just how deeply her influence has infiltrated their lives. But that is far from the only secret their mother has been keeping from them - and quite possibly, her husband too.

The apple, as they say, does not fall far from the tree - and this becomes increasingly evident as Flo and Ari begin investigating and discover, among other things, a set of secret siblings. This one will be a great hit with lovers of intergenerational family stories and women's fiction. It gets 3.5 stars.

New author for me but enjoyed the easy style of writing. A tale of family and 3 generations who were all affected by secrets and yet once the ties were broken and the truth discovered it was a story of love betrayal and rebuilding trust which was very moving. Really enjoyed this story and would highly recommend.

A Mother's Betrayal is a “you've got to be kidding me” novel written by Louise Guy.
The mom Julia works in neuroscience on top-secret information.
Julia has an intriguing life, has a loving husband, and has two daughters, a grandson, and her mom.
Now the roller coaster ride of their lives begins.
So many secrets, so much deception, did I say so many secrets??
Ttis book is fascinating, thrilling, terrifying and a family love story.
It was awesome!
5 stars from me!
#AMothersBetrayal
#LouiseGuy
#NetGalley

This was an interesting story. Julia had twin girls and documented everything about their lives including steering them in the direction she thought they should go in their careers and lives. When she has a near fatal accident, things started to come to light. A man says he is her partner - even though she has been happily married for years. Her husband is sure the man is lying, but can't prove it until she wakes up. The girls start investigating, which brings up even more questions. Then the father of Flo's son needs to show up which makes it more complicated as he is Ari's ex-husband. The twins are torn apart for awhile, but finally talk things out I loved the interaction with Flo's son and his father's your daughter. They were best friends immediately and were estatic when they found out they were siblings.
A book well worth reading.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I received a free copy of, A Mother's Betrayal, by Louise Gay, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Twins Ari and Flo mother is the hospital, recovering from an accident. They find out she is being keeping secrets, but secrets, but she is not the only one. There was to many lies and secrets in this book for me, and I did not care for Flo at all.

Julia the mother of grown up twin daughters is in a car accident. as the twins keep a vigil at the hospital, they discover a secret their mother has kept from them.

This is a book about secrets. Ari and Flo are twins and a deception almost breaks their bond as sisters. When their mother is in a car accident and is in ICU in a coma, more secrets are revealed. There are many twists and turns happening as these secrets are revealed.

I enjoyed the book but did think parts of it dragged on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood for the arc copy.

Three generations of women, discover who their family is after an accident, brings them all together. Julia, the mother of identical twins, Flo and Ari, was in an accident and is now in a coma. During this difficult time, Flo a nurse, and Ari a lawyer, discover something's about their mother, but also about each other. They have to face what they are learning, and what to do about it.
It is a gripping story that will keep you reading, until the very end. Louise Guy did an excellent job writing this story. Never did Flo and Ari think they would be where they are today. While their mother lays in a coma they discover, their mother had a secret life, that they knew nothing about. The twins also discover the secrets that they have been keeping, is about to come out. Their lives are unraveling, and as it does, they have to face what is happening, but also what life is doing to each one of them. We really don't know what life has in store for anyone, until it comes to light, then all you can do is figure out a way to move forward, That is what they are all doing, and we get to see how each one is facing what is happening, and what happens as they move forward
I started this book late afternoon, not expecting what I was reading. It was like I was stuck in the story and was moving along with them. I tried to put the book down, but couldn't do it. While I am reading in the middle of the night, we have a thunders storm with lightening, and heavy rain, which added to the intensity.
I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

Thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for my copy of A Mother's Betrayal by Louise Guy.
My usual reads are thrillers and gory serial killers but every now and then I need something gentler.
This book is not gentle, it rips your heart out and puts it back again.
Ari and Flo are identical twins and best friends who are there for each other every day of their lives, their bond is unbreakable.
Until their mother is in a car accident that leaves her in a coma.
Then all they thought they knew about their mother and each other is thrown into question.
What secrets and lies are everyone hiding?

** spoiler alert ** A well written story of a family and how lies, deceit and emotions are portrayed.

Twins, Ari and Flo are always in contact with each other. But what happens when the trust and emotions are pulled into it.

Add in an accident that leaves their mother in a coma and an unravelling of her life begins unbeknownst to her.

This story pulls on your emotions and plays a light into what can happen when lies are kept hidden and also when lies are made to cause more trouble and doubt amongst family.

I was given this book by #netgalley for an honest and free review of it.

Secrets and manipulation abound in this rather tedious and extremely trite book where the only characters who are interesting are two young children.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.