The Better Mother
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
ISBN: 9798892424028
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: 02/10/2026
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
FEB Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries QA
A woman ends up pregnant after a casual fling, but the father's girlfriend has much more sinister intentions in this plot-driven suspense debut.
A modern spin on Fatal Attraction meets The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, perfect for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Still recovering from a devastating breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has finally managed to put her life back together when she gets the shock of her life—after a brief fling with a man named Max, she is pregnant.
When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison, and he will need time to break it to her. Surprisingly, Madison isn’t upset—in fact, she’s excited, and wants to help.
Max insists Madison has the best of intentions, but Savannah finds her efforts—popping by uninvited, demanding lifestyle changes, and pretty much trying to take over the pregnancy—anything but helpful. When Savannah finally stands up for herself, Madison’s treatment of her goes from casually cruel to downright dangerous.
All Savannah wanted to do was form a friendly co-parenting relationship with the father of her child—but his new girlfriend obviously has much more sinister plans in mind.
She has no plans to co-parent at all.
About the Author
Jennifer van der Kleut (née McBride) is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications, including the D.C. affiliate of ABC7 News. A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. For nearly a decade, she was the lead singer of the Bay Area-based band SweetDuration, and performed with artists like Jason Mraz, Big Country, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Stabbing Westward. When she’s not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book. WEBSITE
Praise
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. Smart, shocking, and relentlessly suspenseful debut—I couldn’t look away. Motherhood has never been more dangerous.”
—Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Jill Is Not Happy and We Were Never Friends
“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
“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
