AUDIOBOOK REVIEW and BLOG TOUR - First-Time Mother

DESCRIPTION:

My family say I’m unwell. They think I can’t care for my baby. But they’re lying. Who can I really trust?

My delicate newborn, Lola, is just perfect. Seeing her gorgeous little face look up at me, I know the difficult birth was worth it. And I swear I’ll never let anyone hurt her.

My stepchildren say they love their new little sister, and my wonderful husband Max is so happy. He reassures me that the blackouts I’m having are normal: I’m sleep-deprived, and I just need help.

Accidents keep happening around the house. Max and his children look at me pityingly. I know what they’re thinking. She can’t cope. But why can’t I shake the feeling something else is going on?

Then one day I go to check on Lola and what I see changes everything…

Because my baby isn't there.

An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, Jeneva Rose and The Girl in Seat 2A. Prepare to stay up all night reading!

Title:  First-Time Mother

Author:  AJ Campbell

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC

Narrator:  Tamsin Kennard

Length:  8 hrs 9 mins

No. of Pages:   324

Date of Publication:   April 14, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Annie’s life takes an unexpected turn with a new marriage, a baby, and two teenage stepchildren. Adjusting to these changes proves to be more challenging than she anticipated, leaving her feeling fatigued, uncertain, and overwhelmed. Although certain that her husband, Max, only wants the best for her, Annie struggles to cope with the daily fumbles and uncertainties that plague her. While Annie loves her new baby, Lola, and has embraced the role of stepmother to her stepchildren, she can’t help but wonder why she’s struggling so much. But with little sleep, even that love is questionable. 

The twists and turns in this book, expertly narrated by Tamsin Kennard, keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Some of the events are cringeworthy, as it’s impossible not to empathize with Annie’s pain and uncertainty. Is she unwell or being gaslit? What about Max’s first marriage? Did he treat his first wife the same way he’s treating Annie?

As I began listening to this book, I couldn’t help but notice several familiar tropes: a new marriage, stepchildren, a new baby, a baby with colic, baby blues, gaslighting, and more. However, AJ Campbell’s storytelling is so compelling that I found myself thoroughly enjoying the shocking surprises along the way. This book will be with me for a long while.

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

AJ Campbell is an Amazon bestselling author of six psychological suspense novels and promises stories full of twists, turns and torment. AJ self-published her first six books before joining the Bookouture team. Her fourth book, The Phone Call, topped the Amazon charts for several months and was shortlisted for the Adult Prize for Fiction at the Selfie Book Awards 2023.

AJ draws inspiration for her stories from seemingly unbelievable situations in which ordinary people find themselves. She creates compelling characters that resonate with her readers. AJ lives in the UK on the Essex / Hertfordshire border with her husband, sons, and cocker spaniel, Max. She is a dog lover and Netflix addict, and either reading, watching TV, or writing, AJ enjoys nothing more than getting stuck into a twisty story!

 

Website

https://www.ajcampbellauthor.com/

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/AJCampbellauthor

Instagram URL

https://www.instagram.com/ajcampbellauthor/

Twitter URL

https://twitter.com/AuthorAJC

Goodreads URL

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20511525.A_J_Campbell