Sally Hepworth

A Novel

The Mother-in-Law

brie

I was certain this book would receive 3 stars by the time I got roughly to the middle but it turned around for the better. I really liked how the author developed the relationship and perspectives of Diana, the mother in law, and Lucy, the wife. From the beginning almost until the middle, you're antagonistic towards the mother in law. It is deliberately set up that way, even in the synopsis, but by the time you realize, she becomes your favorite character. 

I also really liked how the author developed the family dynamic, motherhood, grief, and the complexities in what it means to be born with a silver spoon, and the ideal of privilege. It was skillfully done and in a way that situated you directly within the world of the characters where you felt what they were feeling and empathized even in circumstances where you wished you did not. 

The mystery aspect however, was a tad obvious but that still did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. I am not sure whether I would read another book of hers but I would certainly be willing to give her another chance if the mood strikes.

Good mystery but started out slow. I did like the surprise ending and multiple perspectives 

Zoey Novak

Cheri McElroy

Lucy has had a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana. But she certainly didn’t want her to take her own life. And she definitely didn’t kill her, did she?

This is a literary thriller that explores complicated family relationships and explores how our prideful secrets can become our undoing. I loved learning about the complex lives of these characters.

• "Deliciously entertaining!" —People Magazine's "People Pick" • Entertainment Weekly's "MUST List" • O Magazine’s "15 Best Beach Books of the Year So Far" • Bustle "Best Book of April" • Refinery29 "Best Book of April" • Cosmopolitan "Best Book of April" • Woman's Day's "27 Fiction Books of 2019 to Add to Your Reading List ASAP" • BookBub's "Biggest Books of April" • PopSugar's "30 Must-Read Books of 2019" A twisty, compelling new novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in death... From the moment Lucy met her husband’s mother, she knew she wasn’t the wife Diana had envisioned for her perfect son. Exquisitely polite, friendly, and always generous, Diana nonetheless kept Lucy at arm’s length despite her desperate attempts to win her over. And as a pillar in the community, an advocate for female refugees, and a woman happily married for decades, no one had a bad word to say about Diana...except Lucy. That was five years ago. Now, Diana is dead, a suicide note found near her body claiming that she longer wanted to live because of the cancer wreaking havoc inside her body. But the autopsy finds no cancer. It does find traces of poison, and evidence of suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead? Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her children, and their spouses? And what does it mean that Lucy isn’t exactly sad she’s gone? Fractured relationships and deep family secrets grow more compelling with every page in this twisty, captivating new novel from Sally Hepworth. Praise for Sally Hepworth: “With jaw-dropping discoveries, and realistic consequences, this novel is not to be missed. Perfect for lovers of Big Little Lies.” —Library Journal, starred review "Hepworth deftly keeps the reader turning pages and looking for clues, all the while building multilayered characters and carefully doling out bits of their motivations." —Booklist

Catelyn Evans

Celeste Richardson

This book has been and will continue to be a hit for many readers. However, I am not among them. While there was a lot to be said for how well-peopled this family drama was, and how narrative maintained its mystery until the last 10% of the book, it relied heavily on a couple of tropes that I simply cannot stand. I hate when so much of a plot relies on miscommunication. I will never understand why people don’t just talk to each others. Relationships can’t help but wither when those involved aren’t open and honest. I know it’s an oft-used trope for a reason, but it drives me bonkers. 

I also loathe when infertility is pretty much a character’s entire personality. Yes, it sucks no to be able to have a child. I say this from experience. But there is so much more to life than the things you cannot have, no matter how desperately you might want them. You do yourself and those who love you a huge disservice when you can’t see past what you don’t have to appreciate what you do have. Had I known this would play such a large role in the book, I would never have picked it up.

There was a solid foundation here, but The Mother-in-Law just wasn’t for me.

ariah 

I have nothing to say about this book other than how let down I feel after being really excited to read it. Slow plot, unlikeable characters and twist that didn’t make the read worth it. The only thing it had going for it was the mystery of what happened to Diana that kept me actually reading it. 

Nash

"𝑨 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕" - 𝖲𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖧𝖾𝗉𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗁 


*says in Niklaus Mikaelson voice* 
This family makes me want to murder people…


WHAT A DYSFUNCTIONAL FREAKING FAMILY. 
JESUS FREAKING LORD!!!


When I tell you that I was mad the whole two days that it took me to read this, I’m not even kidding. We have to applaud Sally Hepworth for creating these absolutely horrifying and hateful characters. From the beginning you can tell what a shit show it is going to be. It will not disappoint you, I can guarantee that. The fact that they all looked at Lucy when the question “Who would want mom dead?” came up, it was incredibly annoying. I never thought it was her who did it. This mother in law is the definition of a nightmare. I know old women that they literally think their way is the only way. They may have the best intentions but they always come as imposed and rude as fuck. The hospital scene was very well deserved. I can understand Lucy desire to please what can potentially be a mother figure in her life but, oh my god. What a nuance! I don’t care about the amount of charity work she was doing. Family is more important than anything… Overall, it’s a very good story specially with the way it makes you feel.

chloe mcpherson

There are two types of mothers-in-law you can get, the one where they welcome you with open arms and the other where they don't.
Lucy was looking forward to having a mother-in-law, finally having a mother figure in her life, unfortunately she was not that lucky.
Diana seems to lack interest in anything, coming across as a hard woman, refusing to help her own children when they are in need.
It comes as a shock when the family finds that Diana has breast cancer, what comes as more of a shock is when Diana is found dead, first thought is suicide but when the autopsy reveals there was no cancer and there was foul play in her death, the whole family is filled with suspects, everyone had their reason for wanting Diana dead.

this story is told from Lucy and Diana's perspective from past and present. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would, getting to know Lucy and Diana's characters especially Diana's story from the past. I wasn't able to guess who the killer was which is what made me enjoy the book even more.

Lauren Attaway

As a person who has never not gotten along with a new relative, I had to suspend reality to understand this book. Kidding. I immediately felt for Lucy, but I was surprised how much I came to understand Diana. In-Law relationships are tricky, and the book has a perfect quote that sums up why-we care too much. This was not really a thriller, so much a family story with thriller elements in it to me. Still, I could not put it down, and wanted everything to work out for this family.

Karen Shimek

Luna

who decided this was a thriller?? this was just 300+ boring pages of people saying women only exist to make babies, all women have to have babies, and then getting mad at a woman who can’t have a baby. 

literally nothing happened. no mystery, no anticipation, no excitement, no characters finding out what’s going on ... nothing. a very bad contemporary about rich people who pretend being poor is fun and also call out other people for being sexist when they’re very clearly sexist themselves.

Ruth Parker 

I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages and when it was reduced for kindle (I succumbed to the love of ebooks for my birthday and now I’m addicted...) I bought it the second I could! 

I am so glad I did but it. In fact, I’m a little annoyed at myself for waiting so long. I will probably but a paper copy as well, I enjoyed it so much. 

This isn’t a typical thriller. It has twists and turns but it isn’t like anything I’ve read before. I found myself filling with dread every time I turned a page, worrying what was going to happen, what terrible things the characters were going to do and have done by each other. But instead of dread, I found it replaced by sadness, grief at the pains of the characters and understanding at how things turned out between the daughter in law and mother in law.

The twist at the end was brilliant. I enjoyed this book so much.

Lauren Lopez

3.5 stars - the story is slow moving for the first 3/4 of the story as we are given details about the past through Lucy’s perspective and her mother-in-law’s perspective. You slowly get details about the family dynamic and what makes Diana (the MIL) the way she is. It’s interesting to see how Lucy’s and Diana’s actions can actually be misinterpreted by one another, and I think this is something that will be relatable to many DILs and MILs. 

The last 25% of the book is very fast-paced and the chapters become very short, which helps drive you toward the end and the big reveal. 

The only thing keeping this book from a 4 star rating is the slow moving beginning because I was surprised by the ending and I liked how everything was wrapped up. 

I also listened to the audiobook when I wasn’t able to read the physical book and the narrator was enjoyable.

Zoe Smolen

This was a such a fun thriller! As someone who is about to get married, this was a great book based on the tension that can happen between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. The character development was excellent and it felt like the characters actually head depth. I loved reading the story and guessing where it was going. I was definitely caught off by the ending, and was glad it kept me on my toes. Though, I did think the ending was a little rushed and I would have liked a few extra chapters - I definitely could have kept reading. Overall, a great read. I highly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Leprich

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so much potential to me and for a majority of this book I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. I actually finished this in less than 12 hours, I was that into the story. And then I got to about the last 30 pages and it completely tanked for me.

Diana has raised two wonderful kids, Ollie and Nettie, with her amazing husband and is living a very privileged life. Even though the past still comes back to haunt her occasionally she has her family and her loving husband by her side. When her son Ollie brings home his girlfriend, Diana isn't a huge fan of her at first and then Ollie and his girlfriend Lucy decide to get married. Diana tolerates her new daughter-in-law and the feeling is mutual but then Diana's husband Tom dies and Diana is sucked into a state of depression. She contemplates suicide but then changes her mind about it but yet Diana still ends up dead and it doesn't look like it was the suicide that it was staged to look like.

I was really enjoying this book until about 80-90% of the way in. I loved all of the family dynamics in this book and how Lucy and Diana finally put their differences aside and became close. And then the big "bombshell" dropped on who actually killed Diana.

*SPOILER ALERT*

First off a little back story. Every member of the family was looked at and questioned for her murder. Ollie because his company was tanking bad and he needed money, why not kill off his rich mom since he assumed the money was going to him and his sister? Lucy was looked at because of the assault that took place in the hospital after Tom accidentally drops his granddaughter and Diana just wants to smooth it over and move on. But lo and behold in was Nettie that killed her mother, all because she wouldn't give her any money to help her have her own baby. I honestly cannot say how mad I got when that was revealed, that was the whole reason she died? Because her daughter's obsession and madness about having a child of her own went that far and her mom wouldn't help her so she killed her? I understand Nettie felt like her mom had never been there for her and or didn't pay enough attention to her when she was younger and I understand the mental hit that women go through that can't have a baby but really, REALLY?

I loved this book so much up until then which is the only reason I'm giving it a 3 star review. The characters were great and the storyline was gripping up until the ending but the truth behind the murder is what really killed it for me. I will more than likely try to read other books by Sally Hepworth but this was a disappointing book for me.

Anna Adams

I loved this book and resented time I had to spend away from reading it. It's always about family and how we love each other best and hurt each other most--usually without meaning to.

Jan Talkington

I liked how the characters evolved over the narrative and seeing both sides of the mother/daughter-in-law relationship. One of the few books that I didn't really focus on who had done it, but just sat back and took in the story.

Jolie

Lucy and Diana’s relationship has been tumultuous since they met. Diana has always kept Lucy at arm’s length, never letting her get close. In turn, Lucy imagined that Diana thought that she wasn’t good enough for her son. Their relationship is kept at a friendly stalemate.

Then came the day when the police showed up at Lucy and Oliver’s house. The day that they found out that Diana was dead with a suicide note near her body. But an autopsy shows that she was suffocated. And then there is the shocking news that Diana changed her will. Who could have wanted Diana dead?

A word of warning to those that think this book is going to be a psychological thriller. It isn’t. Not even close. It is a mystery, though. I did think that the mystery part of this book was very well written. The author did a fantastic job at keeping who killed Diana under wraps. I did think it was another person until the chapter where the murder was seen through the killer’s eyes. Who the killer was surprised me. Why that person killed Diana didn’t.

I loved watching Lucy and Diana’s relationship evolve. While Diana was standoffish at first, I did wonder how she felt about Lucy as the book went on. My questions about her feelings were answered when the author started writing the chapters from her perspective. The author did a fantastic job of showing how complex a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship was. It also showed how a bad relationship can turn good.

When Lucy was first introduced in the book, she rubbed me the wrong way. She wanted an instant, loving relationship with Diana. Which I thought was ridiculous. She read into situations with Diana the wrong way and assumed things. But, it was after that confrontation at the hospital that I started to like her. My liking of her grew with what she did at Tom’s funeral. The secret she carried about Diana was a huge one. In the end, though, Lucy was the one who kept Diana’s dreams alive.

I did think that Diana came across as cool, calm and not that interested in Lucy. Her words during the dress fitting were cruel. But once the author started writing from Diana’s POV, I understood why she acted the way she did. I did think that she overstepped her bounds a couple of times (I mean, who brings a raw chicken to a nursing, new mother???). But her heart was in the right place.

I did think that Diana’s relationship with her children was odd. She did love them but believed in tough love. Her kids were not allowed to borrow any money (for anything). Even when they were drowning in debt or needed it for IVF. I do think that her tough love approach put a big rift in her relationship with her kids.

The end of the book was shocking. I was surprised at who killed Diana and why. But, at the same time, my heart broke for that person. The very end of the book, which takes place 10 years after the fact, was eye-opening. I liked seeing what happened to the main characters after the story ended.

I gave The Mother-in-Law a 4-star rating. This is a gripping mystery that explores family bonds and secrets. The characters were relatable. The plot lines were well written. My only issue with the book was with who killed Diana and why. But, it was more of a personal bitch than anything. It didn’t affect my rating.

I would give The Mother-in-Law an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is mild violence. There is language. There are triggers. They would be the h of a parent, death of a spouse, forced adoption, ALS, assisted suicide. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Mother-in-Law. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Mother-in-Law.

All opinion stated in this review of The Mother-in-Law are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

 Bruna Acioly Leão

3.5 stars


A fun and fast-paced read, with an interesting mystery plot and interesting discussions on familial interactions.

Some things about the ending and the final resolution bothered me (it all felt a little too neatly tied up), but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Similar vibe to that of books like Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere (although I have loved these two a lot more).

The Mother-in-Law A Novel

Reviews