“Fans of Frieda McFadden, rejoice – a new thriller queen has entered the villa. The Better Mother, Jennifer van der Kleut’s debut, is a fast-paced, wild ride that kept me up way past my bedtime; once I opened it, I couldn’t put it down.”

– Liz Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of The Agathas series.

“A fling. A baby. A ‘helpful’ ex with chilling intentions. In The Better Mother, Jennifer van der Kleut takes the idea of co-parenting and turns it into a taut, sinister game of control and obsession. A smart, shocking, and relentlessly suspenseful debut—I couldn’t look away. Motherhood has never been more dangerous.”
— Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of dozens of thrillers including Jill Is Not Happy (2025) and We Were Never Friends (2026)

“The Better Mother is every expectant mother’s worst nightmare. Intense gaslighting, creepy stalking, and a heart-pounding climax combine to make this a compelling page-turner that will leave you wholly unsettled…and wondering who you can really trust.”

– Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told, adapted into a limited series for Apple TV+

“The Better Mother is what would happen if Knocked Up had been written by Mary Kubrica– engrossing, twisty, and totally unputdownable. Full of complicated characters, Jennifer van der Kleut’s debut is a masterclass in tension. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Laura Leffler, author of Tell Them You Lied

“Jennifer van der Kleut’s debut is impossible to put down. The Better Mother is a high-octane thrill ride that combines Single White Female vibes with gut-clenching domestic drama. Madison Clark is a mean girl for the history books.”
—Saratoga Schaefer, author of Serial Killer Support Group and Trad Wife

READER REVIEWS OF ‘THE BETTER MOTHER’

A sample taken from sites like Netgalley and Goodreads

Nilufer O., Goodreads

“Wow. There’s a new thriller queen in the house. This book is fast-paced, twisty, deeply unsettling—in the best, shout-into-a-pillow way—and impossible to put down. It reads like a treadmill set to sprint: heart-pounding chapters, razor-sharp cliffhangers, and just enough menace between scenes to make you demolish a family-size bag of popcorn. If you love the high-tension vibes of Freida McFadden, add this to the top of your list. And Hollywood, if you’re listening: please option this….” (continued)

Priya B., Goodreads

“Absolutely brilliant! The book is a near perfect thriller with a strong cast of morally questionable characters, an eerie vibe, fast pace, and the ending did justice to the entire ride. The execution is flawless…” (continued)

Carrie S., Netgalley

“Cry, beg, flail, and thrash around to gain early access to this one…The most fun I’ve had with a book in a while. It’s wild, unhinged in the best of ways, and downright scary…” (continued)

Heather C. (Librarian), Netgalley

“The Better Mother is an utterly captivating read that drew me in from the very first page. It’s one of those rare books where you tell yourself, “Just one more chapter,” only to realize it’s 2 AM and you’re still completely engrossed. I found it genuinely difficult to put down…” (continued)

Press/Reviews

2026 MOST ANTICIPATED LISTS

PRESS

EDITORIAL PRAISE FOR ‘THE BETTER MOTHER’

READER REVIEWS OF ‘THE BETTER MOTHER’

A sample taken from sites like Netgalley and Goodreads