Title: While My Baby Sleeps
Author: Natali Simmonds
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Sofia Zervudachi
Genre: Family Drama
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Pub Date: February 7, 2025
My Rating: 2.6 Stars
Pages: 341

Lu Smith and Tony Baker were friends helping out each other; they became loves and now are parents to an eleven month-old son, Riley.

Motherhood is not easy for Lu, baby Riley does not sleep the 22 hours a day mother’s hear about- in fact, he is up most of the night crying. Lu is getting next to no sleep. She doesn’t have any help nor does she ask Tony for help. Taking care of an infant is far more difficult than she imagined.

One morning, Lu wakes up on her front doorstep with blood on her hands- with no memory of what happened. When she finds out her obnoxious neighbor – the one she has complained about for playing his music much too loud has been killed - she fears she may be the person responsible. ~ She loves her son but is sleep deprived and wonders if that may be a reason for her memory loss.

Most mothers who read this remember the sleepless night but memory loss and killing someone seems far-fetched! I felt sorry for Lu as I knew she was having a serious case of post-partum Depression and/or a mental breakdown. However, it was a struggle listening to what was going on. Plus-I am never pleased with hearing excessive profanity – I hung in there as I was curious and the narrator is excellent in her performance of the characters.

I enjoy psychological thrillers – find them entertaining. This however was depressing.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 7, 2025.

This book shows the hard parts of early motherhood. Natali isn't afraid to say the hard things. Everything about those days are hard. I could see myself in the main character so often while listening to this book. It was hard to get through some parts, but I'm glad I read it after I got through those days of my own motherhood. This thriller was done in a wonderful way. I couldn't figure out which parts were real and which were not. It was all wrapped up nicely at the end though.

Lu is exhausted and has an 11 month old son, Riley. Her husband-to-be/father of Riley, doesn’t help much and works a lot. Due to her constant sleep deprivation, she can’t think straight and her sleepwalking outside in the middle of the night adds problems!

Maggie, her neighbor Jim’s sister, befriends her after seeing her sleepwalking one night. She pushes herself on Lu and starts helping her take care of Riley. Quickly, things start to get confusing and Lu never knows if she is awake or asleep or if she even knows what is real from day to day. The neighbor she doesn’t like ends up dead and all she remembers is that she was sleepwalking the night he died!

This book is a thriller with great promise and a good plot however, I had a hard time with the constant confusion on Lu’s part. If she would have had some lucid thoughts at least part of the time, I would have enjoyed it more. An unreliable narrator is one thing but just pure confusion can be frustrating.

This story also has some trigger warnings that should be noted: explicit thoughts of harm to a child and domestic partner. Trying not to give spoilers.

I did think the narrator did a great job and had a pleasant voice. She nailed it with how I think Lu would sound!

I love Bookouture books and their authors are all so good. Natali Simmonds is an author I will look forward to again. I am glad I listened to it as I now have another thriller author to add to my list. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to Natali Simmonds, NetGalley and Bookoture Audio for an Audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A solid 4 star for me! As a mum of 7, I have had MANY years of sleepless nights which I will telly you can lead to some scary thought patterns. This book shone a spotlight on the depths of darkness that prolonged sleep deprivation can take you to. It's something that is ofter overlooked, not talked about or understood - this book helps bring to the forefront all the struggles new mothers often face even though they are well beyond the newborn stage.

In this book the author is not afraid to give us a glimpse into the FMC's mind and the dark often disturbing thoughts she has. We are led to believe that these thoughts are not the FMC's true nature but simply brought up in her mind due to her exhaustion and lack of support systems in all area of her life (her partner, lack of friendships and lack of family support). This book alone, highlights how this leevel of sleep deprivation is not something that can simple cured by taking a nap but that mothers (or primary care givers) need long term support in multiple areas of their life so that they can stop living in survival mode and truly thrive in motherhood.

The narrator Sofia Zervudachi was very easy to listen to making this book even more enjoyable - a good narrator truly can make or break an audio book! I'll be keeping an eye for more books narrated by her in the future!

This novel explores motherhood, mental health, and questioning your own ability to be a mother. Lu, the main character, is sleep deprived and left alone with her thoughts. This book kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment she woke up outside her door with blood on her hands until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a wild ride to be honest. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book but then it started to be a bit too much so I had to read a few chapters of romance book here and there. I would definitely recommend going into this one blindly but please check trigger warnings. I am not a mother and this book was truly hard to read.
It’s written in first person and the audiobook was amazing.

Natali Simmonds' book My Daughter's Revenge was outstanding, so I was very excited about this book. I appreciate the fact that this author does not shy away from difficult topics. I also enjoyed the ever-mounting suspense throughout the book. I love a good unreliable narrator, and the switch between what was reality and what wasn't kept me guessing up until the very end. The plot was clever, and there were lies and With that being said, I found this book to be somewhat repetitive, and I felt that this story could've been slightly shorter.

The narrator, Sofia Zervudachi, did a phenomenal job bringing all of the characters to life and building the mounting suspense as the story developed.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

While My Baby Sleeps definitely keeps you guessing what’s going on! It will have your emotions running high as you ponder while trying to figure out what is truly happening. The narrator did a great job bringing Lou’s character to life.

Lou and Tony have just moved into their new home. The stresses of getting acclimated to their new surroundings, dealing with a needy toddler, a noisy neighbor, and an insensitive husband eventually takes a toll on Lou’s mental health. She gradually treads on the line between reality and her illusions leaving us wondering what’s true and what’s not.

Overall, a solid read that I recommend simply to fully learn the extent of what’s happening throughout the story, as well as for the satisfying twist at the end.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐⭐⭐



* Trigger warning - postpartum depression, family drama , psychological thriller .



* lu was a new mother who suffers with sleep deprive and fatigue . It goes to show to postpartum depression as she is getting annoyed with other people aswell including her neighbour . She kind of making a way to relieve a way for her to become a great mum by making a person who is trying to help her. ( make any sense?) Nope? You better read the book as it was highly addictive. May trigger some peope.

*it was a predictable ending when it comes to chapter 7 as you can recognise what is happening to her . The ending was a good to end things and nt to add more in to the series.

* thankyou bookouture for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.



⭐shaye .reads

Just when I thought I’d guessed the twist…. It surprised me again! I struggled to put this one down I had to know what was happening!!! Definitely a must read!!

Leaving your job and moving to a new neighborhood would be hard for most people-- and Louise is already adjusting to the consistently sleepless nights of life with a newborn. With her husband working overnights to support them and not a lot of friends to rely on, Louise is already exhausted so when her neighbor is murdered and she's dragged into the police investigation, her already thin grasp on things begins to slip even further.

This one is definitely a very slow burn. I love a story that isn't afraid to be blunt about how difficult life is with children. As a mother who had health complications and also social stress (from the pandemic) in my son's newborn stage, I appreciate the author pulling no punches when it comes to how desperately sleep deprived you can be, how frightening it can be, and how much of a toll it takes on your mental health. I love to read fiction that touches on real life problems. The only thing I didn't love is that it took a very long time to get where it was going. I was almost 40% of the way through the book before the pace picked up and if I didn't have a particular interest in the new mom struggle situation I definitely would DNFed because it was dragging and a bit repetitive.

That being said, the back half of the book was well paced and while I predicted the twist pretty early, it was still entertaining and held my attention consistently (and would have even without a personal interest).. I liked the way it all played out, though the end seemed to fall into a pretty optimistic resolution which surprised me because of how dark "My Daughter's Revenge" was, but I still enjoyed it. Overall I would definitely keep reading more from this author I just preferred her previous book.

I related so much to this book, having had a difficult infant myself. It is entirely possible to lose your grip on your mental health when entirely sleep deprived. Is that what happened to this mama? Enjoy the ride.

“While My Baby Sleeps” by Natali Simmonds is a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. From the very first page, I found myself questioning what was real and what was a delusion. The author masterfully blurs the lines between reality and perception, creating an atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty that had me hooked. As I read, I couldn’t help but feel the protagonist’s confusion and paranoia, which made the twists and turns of the plot even more gripping. Just when I thought I had figured things out, a new revelation would throw me off, making it impossible to predict what would happen next.

What really sets this book apart, though, is how the author handles the theme of postpartum issues. The portrayal of the protagonist’s mental and emotional state felt incredibly authentic and relatable. Simmonds doesn’t shy away from the complexities and struggles that come with new motherhood—especially the darker, often unspoken realities of postpartum anxiety and depression. It was both enlightening and heartbreaking to see these experiences explored in such a raw, compassionate way. As someone who could relate to the challenges of new motherhood, I found the depiction to be not only insightful but also deeply moving.

Overall, “While My Baby Sleeps” is a gripping, thought-provoking read that masterfully combines psychological suspense with an honest portrayal of postpartum struggles. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing and stories that delve into real-life emotional experiences, this one is definitely worth picking up.

— Ugh! I need 1/2 stars - 3.5 Stars —
Okay…..where do I start? Admittedly, this one started slower than I prefer but it DEFINITELY earns its pages!!

Louise (aka Lu) is a new mom, in a new city and she is not adjusting well. She. Is. Tired. Nothing quite makes sense, she’s missing gaps of her memory….and people are dying. But there’s hope.

Maggie, a neighbor, shows up just in time to give the help Lu is struggling to ask for. But who is Maggie? Why is she here? Why does she care so much for a stranger?…and what are her motives?

This book is a slow burn but stick with it. The twist and turns really have you (as the reader) questioning what’s real and what’s a manifestation of her own mind.

Additionally, it is a glaring glimpse into the realities of sleep deprivation and motherhood. Where we can all argue that Lu should’ve been more diligent in expressing her need for help we have to also take care of those around us. It’s a conversation that needs to be had more.

Natali Simmonds delivers a psychological thriller that is as gripping as it is unsettling in While My Baby Sleeps. This novel is an intense, heart-pounding exploration of motherhood, trauma, and the darkest corners of the human mind.

From the very first chapter, Simmonds masterfully builds suspense, pulling readers into a narrative that keeps them second-guessing every character and every moment. The story is laced with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. The tension is palpable, and for those who experience heightened emotions while reading thrillers, this one will certainly get your pulse racing.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its psychological depth. Simmonds doesn’t just rely on shock value; she crafts a haunting atmosphere that seeps into the reader’s psyche. The protagonist’s journey is filled with paranoia, dread, and moments of sheer terror, making her struggles feel alarmingly real. As a listener, the audiobook experience adds another layer of intensity, amplifying the eerie and unsettling nature of the story.

What truly sets While My Baby Sleeps apart is its ability to make readers question their own instincts and judgments. Just when you think you have it figured out, Simmonds throws in a twist that makes you doubt everything. The slow-burn suspense is expertly paced, ensuring that every chapter leaves you desperate for more.

Overall, While My Baby Sleeps is a masterfully executed thriller that keeps readers on edge until the very last page. Natali Simmonds has crafted a chilling, anxiety-inducing story that lingers long after it’s over—making it a must-read for fans of dark, psychological suspense.

Wow! This is twisty and so sad. I was both expecting the ending and absolutely not expecting it. What a crazy book! The narration was wonderful.

Really great psychological thriller. This one will make you lose sleep at night. I had a hard time not finishing it in one listen. Great suspense. Great narration.

My goodness i am EXHAUSTED!

While my baby sleep is following exhausted mother Lu who just cant seem to get any rest. Its even worse because her partner Tony is not being supportive and her parents and her brother just think she is overreacting and are doing nothing to help.
She just wants to get some rest but her neighbour will not stop blaring his music and its keeping her up further. When she wakes one night at her doorstep all bloody and finds out that her neighbour has been killed. Lu cant remember a thing, but surely she is not a killer right?

Sleep deprived mothers gather here! This book was so claustrophobic and stressful, i started to question my own sanity! I was feeling so bad for Lu and i wanted to smack every other character in the book for not noticing the obvious signs that she was clearly struggling.
The twist took me by surprise and the ending was a corker!
The narration was absolutely phenomenal and you really could feel all the anguish and emotions that Lu was trying to express.
Very impressed and will be checking out this authors backlist :)

While My Baby Sleeps is an intense psychological thriller that grips you from the first page with its chilling premise and unreliable narration. Natali Simmonds captures the overwhelming exhaustion of new motherhood, blending it with a suspenseful murder mystery that keeps you questioning what’s real and what’s the product of sleep-deprived paranoia.
While some plot points feel slightly predictable, the atmospheric writing and emotional depth make up for it.
A solid read for fans of psychological thrillers with a maternal edge—this one will leave you second-guessing everything.

I enjoyed this book….. I really did but not sure how much!

I felt engrossed by the events and the struggles facing this new mother, but the story seemed to just go on and on forever, without nearing the conclusion.

I felt the ending came abruptly and whilst I loved the twists and the emotional fight, I did feel a bit let down by the ending.

Overall I would say the book is filled with suspense and good twists but just too long and drawn out.

I listened to the audiobook which was read fantastic by Sofia Zervudachi which took my review from 3.5 stars to 4!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc