The Better Mother
- Judith D Collins
- Dec 7
- 7 min read
Narrator: Xe Sands
Dreamscape Media
ISBN: 9798892424028
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: 02/10/2026
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
TOP DEBUT OF 2026
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
Photo credit: Heaqther Reagan Photography
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.
Connect with Jennifer:
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
Exceptional Authors.
Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW
Coming February 2026
an Elevator Ride with debut author, Jennifer van der Kleut,
and her highly anticipated thriller, The Better Mother.
My Review
Jennifer van der Kleut's electrifying debut, THE BETTER MOTHER, is an addictive, gripping psychological thriller that plunges readers into a whirlwind of emotions and suspense.
The story follows a woman whose life is turned upside down by an unexpected pregnancy resulting from a casual fling. What begins as a moment of joy quickly spirals into a harrowing and dangerous confrontation with the father's ex-girlfriend, a woman with sinister intentions who seeks to claim the baby as her own.
INTENSE! Oh, my, this is like Fatal Attraction and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle on STEROIDS, infused with a contemporary twisty vibe that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down—I absolutely LOVED IT! Without a doubt, it's the top debut of 2026!
About...
After a devastating breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has a brief fling with a man named Max and discovers she is pregnant, a shock as she previously thought she couldn't have children.
When Savannah informs Max of the pregnancy, he reveals he has gotten back together with his wealthy (and manipulative) ex-girlfriend, Madison, and needs time to tell her.
Surprisingly, Madison appears excited about the baby and offers to help. However, her efforts quickly become unsettling, involving uninvited visits and attempts to control Savannah's pregnancy and lifestyle.
When Savannah tries to set boundaries and stand up for herself, Madison's behavior turns from subtly cruel to openly dangerous. Madison employs intense gaslighting, stalking, and hacking to sabotage Savannah's life, leading to the loss of a job promotion and ruined finances.
Then Madison announces a baby shower for herself as the "mother-to-be," on social media, suggesting Savannah is a surrogate. When confronted, someone is injured, and Savannah is framed for the assault.
Savannah is arrested and becomes the subject of a police investigation for the disappearance of a good friend, all while facing potential custody loss of her unborn child due to Madison's allegations with Children's Services.
In a fight for survival, as her due date approaches, Savannah must race against time to uncover the truth about Madison's deadly obsession and clear her name, fighting for both her and her baby's lives.
It becomes clear that Madison never intended to co-parent; she planned to take the baby as her own in this devishly wicked tale of obsession.
My thoughts...
WOW! THE BETTER MOTHER is an exhilarating rollercoaster thrill ride—WILDLY INTENSE and intricately twisty! From the very first page, the author ensnares you in a web of suspense that refuses to let go, leaving you frantically flicking through the chapters as you delve into this wickedly obsessive tale.
In this stunning narrative, THE BETTER MOTHER incisively probes the shadowy corners of motherhood, illuminating the suffocating grip of obsessive control, the chilling subtleties of psychological manipulation (gaslighting), and the insidious ways societal expectations of the “good mother” can be weaponized against women.
The novel offers a profound exploration of the raw emotions and relentless pressures of motherhood—particularly the extraordinary lengths women will venture to conceive or protect a child and the complex standards that determine what defines a "good" or "better" mother.
THE BETTER MOTHER masterfully distorts the contemporary notion of co-parenting, transforming it into a "taut, sinister game" of survival. The arrangement, initially intended to foster collaboration, evolves into a harrowing battleground of control and competition.
This gripping narrative artfully examines several potent themes:
~Motherhood
~Obsession & Control
~Gaslighting & Psychological Manipulation
~Weaponizing Societal Expectations
~Entitlement and Class Differences
~The Dark Side of Co-Parenting
~Trust & Betrayal
The title alone evokes the immense pressure and relentless scrutiny surrounding motherhood. Madison exploits Savannah’s perceived shortcomings—like her casual fling and her initial lack of the “ideal” family unit—using these judgments to cast herself as the more stable and “better” potential mother. The legal and social services systems fall prey to Madison’s manipulative narrative, highlighting how societal bias can be wielded as a weapon to diminish a woman’s autonomy over her child.
Madison's actions, ranging from unwelcome intrusions into Savannah’s life to her attempts at imposing rigid control over Savannah’s choices, represent a brazen violation of personal and bodily autonomy—a deep-seated fear shared by many women, especially during pregnancy.
Jennifer expertly cultivates an atmosphere thick with suspense and tension, weaving elements of creepy stalking and invasion of privacy into the pages. The intense gaslighting elevates the air of unease and dread, leading readers through a harrowing journey complete with a heart-pounding climax. Savannah is perpetually under surveillance, and the high-stakes struggle over her unborn child amplifies the tension palpably.
Madison emerges as a truly chilling character —calm and composed on the surface, yet wholly menacing beneath. The reader is left constantly questioning just how far she will go. As Savannah approaches her due date, the impending sense of urgency acts as a ticking clock, building to an explosive confrontation that readers will not want to miss.
This phenomenal psychological thriller is utterly unputdownable, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any thriller enthusiasts out there! The author artfully showcases a nightmare scenario that taps into the primal fears of an expectant mother, yielding a narrative that feels hauntingly relatable.
Hollywood, take note, THE BETTER MOTHER would make an electrifying addition to the screen, whether big or small—and I want a front-row seat! This immensely talented author has rightfully earned a place on my favorite author list.
Feb Featured QA: Lit Lift Mini Author Chats...
Stay tuned for my delightful #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats with Jennifer on her pub date, Feb 10, 2026, as we dive deeper into the book and unearth more about this talented author. So excited.
Recs…
For those who reveled in the themes of obsession, psychological manipulation, and the darker nuances of motherhood in THE BETTER MOTHER, I highly recommend diving into the works of these authors, who deliver a similar blend of suspense and domestic tension: Liv Constantine, Kaira Rouda, Freida McFadden, Alice Feeney, Mary Kubica, BA Paris, Ashley Audrain, and Nora Murphy.
Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for graciously providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Feb 10, 2026
