This book was purchased by Traveling With T for reading pleasure.

The Perfect Mother

Summary: An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.

They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.

When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.

Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

So, I was innocently strolling through Sam’s Club after taking my mom to one of her dr appointments and stopping by Sam’s Club to get gas. And then I saw this book and it flung itself in my shopping cart and well, I just HAD to get it right?

I’ve heard A LOT about this book. The Kerry Washington news was enough to get my interest up and I REALLY wanted to LOVE this book- but ultimately, it’s just ok and even “meh” at times. But I bet the movie will be good.

 

What I liked:

The cover. It’s really eye-catching.

Part of the mystery was really good and I liked the idea of May Mothers.

 

What didn’t work for me:

How darn preachy the emails were from The Voice newsletter. It was like getting constant letters from your judgey next door neighbor- it was exhausting.

The social commentary angle of this book. If this had been more about the mystery, this book would have rocked. But somewhere in the middle- it was like it took a dive into social commentary (what mothers should be doing) and the May mothers were a combo of rebelling, giving in, and trying to be the perfect mother type. I got the point of that part of the book- opening up a dialogue, maybe even reminding folks that just because you are a mom- you are still a person with dreams and desires of your own; but it just really went on too long.

The reveal. It was too fast- in that it was rushed and hurried. And seemed to come out of left field just for the sake of coming out of left field.

 

Bottom line: For me, this book had so much potential- but it just didn’t work.

 

*Traveling With T purchased this book for her own pleasure reading. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

 

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*Have you added The Perfect Mother to your TBR list?*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T