Friday, April 11, 2025

Such a Good Mom

Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro
4/29/25; 304 pages
St. Martin's Press

Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro is a recommended domestic drama. It is a highly recommended, detailed account of postpartum depression which marginally includes a so-so murder mystery. Read it if you are interested in the deep dive into postpartum depression.

Romance author and Martha’s Vineyard resident Brynn Nelson and her husband Ross have a newborn son, Lucas. After having a c-section, Brynn is exhausted, sleep deprived, and struggling with the demands of constantly nursing and caring for a newborn, while at the same time Ross seems more distant and distracted.  When Brynn learns that Cecilia, a well liked waitress at the club the Nelsons frequent, is found dead she is shocked. Then Ross is arrested for the crime and she needs to uncover the truth, including a clue from Ross told her to look for "the orange sun."

First, Such a Good Mom is not really a summer beach read. It is at its heart and core is an emotional, realistic, and brutally honest description of postpartum depression. It must be said that Spiro did an excellent job describing the struggles of new mothers and postpartum depression. It's been awhile, but all those feelings and struggles came crashing back. Some of the emotional, descriptive passages capture experiences many will  understand and they may help others. Expect some social commentary along the way.

The murder mystery really feels like an afterthought in the plot and takes a backseat to Brynn's struggles with a newborn and her depression. It's not entirely believable that she would start any investigation. In summary, the mystery is rather simplistic, basic, and predictable.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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