Love, Mom was a mixed bag for me. It’s a psychological thriller that had a super intriguing premise: Mackenzie, daughter of a famous thriller author, starts getting mysterious letters after her mother’s sudden death. Secrets about her mother’s past—and her real identity—start unraveling fast. I loved that this was a book about books and authors, which is always a bonus for me. Mackenzie was a solid main character—smart, determined, and not overly gullible, which I appreciated.
But while the first half pulled me in, the plot got wildly convoluted in the second half, especially once the cabin storyline kicked in. It was definitely entertaining, but if you looked too closely, a lot of it just…didn’t make sense.
Plot Summary:
Mackenzie Casper is a college student still reeling from the recent death of her mother, Elizabeth Casper—a famous thriller author known as E. V. Renge. Mackenzie begins receiving mysterious letters containing pages from her mother’s secret diary.
As Mackenzie digs deeper into her mother’s past, she uncovers dark secrets, old betrayals, and hidden connections that shake everything she thought she knew about her family. Caught between grief and curiosity, Mackenzie races to untangle a web of lies, identity, and danger—only to discover that the truth might be more shocking than any thriller her mother ever wrote.
What I Liked (No Spoilers)
Mackenzie: A strong and likable main character. She’s not whiny, and she keeps pushing forward to find the truth.
Books About Books: I love thrillers that revolve around writers and hidden manuscripts. This scratched that itch.
Short Chapters: Made it an easy, fast read—even if I didn’t love every part.
Mysterious Letters: The “Love, Mom” letters kept me hooked for a while, wanting to piece together the mystery.
What Didn’t Work For Me (No Spoilers)
Over-the-Top Plot: Once we hit the cabin part of the story, things became super far-fetched and messy.
Writing Quality: The writing felt like it could have used more editing. Dialogue was choppy, characters lacked depth in some scenes.
Cheesy Dialogue: Especially between Mackenzie and EJ. Their interactions were awkward and lacked believable chemistry.
Hot-and-Cold Pacing: Some parts were gripping; others dragged and felt repetitive.
Final Thoughts
Love, Mom was a fast read with an intriguing premise and some juicy secrets. But it ultimately felt like it needed more polishing and tighter plotting. It’s fun if you’re in the mood for something dramatic and twisty—but don’t go in expecting realism or super strong writing.
If you love books about books/authors, secret identities, and thrillers with plenty of chaos, this might still be worth a try. Just be prepared for a very wild (and slightly soap opera-ish) ride!
Trigger warning: The story includes mentions of sexual assault, child abuse, and other heavy topics—not graphic, but significant to the plot.