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Little Disasters
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A new thought-provoking novel exploring the complexity of motherhood and all that connects and disconnects us.
You think you know her…but look a little closer.
She is a stay-at-home mother-of-three with boundless reserves of patience, energy, and love. After being friends for a decade, this is how Liz sees Jess.
Then one moment changes everything.
Dark thoughts and carefu ...more
You think you know her…but look a little closer.
She is a stay-at-home mother-of-three with boundless reserves of patience, energy, and love. After being friends for a decade, this is how Liz sees Jess.
Then one moment changes everything.
Dark thoughts and carefu ...more
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Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Published
April 2nd 2020
by Simon & Schuster UK
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Sep 15, 2020
Melissa ~ Bantering Books
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review of another edition
Shelves:
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on-my-kindle
3.5 stars
I’m not gonna lie.
Motherhood is hard. It’s stressful. It’s chaotic. It gives no rest to the weary.
It. Is. The. Most. Trying. Challenge. Of. My. Life.
But never would I wish to change a single thing about it.
And when I think back to the “baby years” with my two boys, I smile with love and fondness at the memories. But I also shudder. For I remember --
The never-ending sleepless nights and debilitating fatigue.
The irrational fear and anxiety.
The feelings of isolation and sadness.
The unc ...more
I’m not gonna lie.
Motherhood is hard. It’s stressful. It’s chaotic. It gives no rest to the weary.
It. Is. The. Most. Trying. Challenge. Of. My. Life.
But never would I wish to change a single thing about it.
And when I think back to the “baby years” with my two boys, I smile with love and fondness at the memories. But I also shudder. For I remember --
The never-ending sleepless nights and debilitating fatigue.
The irrational fear and anxiety.
The feelings of isolation and sadness.
The unc ...more

This is a fast paced drama/mystery which I tore through pretty quickly. Ms. Vaughn writes a heartbreaking story with humanity, realism and characters that I grew to understand and care for.
Jess is a mother of three, her youngest Betsey, 10 months old, is not at all like her two older boys. She is a baby who is often inconsolable and requires a lot of holding, nursing and attention and Jess has felt overwhelmed pretty much since her birth. She felt as though she had things under control and organ ...more
Jess is a mother of three, her youngest Betsey, 10 months old, is not at all like her two older boys. She is a baby who is often inconsolable and requires a lot of holding, nursing and attention and Jess has felt overwhelmed pretty much since her birth. She felt as though she had things under control and organ ...more

How far you may go to make your children safe and give the care, comfort they need? A mother’s job is looking after them, feeding them, keeping them healthy, happy, fulfilling all their mental and psychical needs but what happens to all those caring and sacrificing mothers when they get exhausted, all alone to achieve their best and when the time comes, they find out their best is not a great option for their kids!
This book is not a thriller or mystery, this is though-provoking, questioning an ...more
This book is not a thriller or mystery, this is though-provoking, questioning an ...more

When Jess Curtis brings her crying baby girl to the emergency room, she’s confident everything will be alright. And why wouldn’t she? Her friend Liz is the pediatrician on duty. Of course she’s in good hands. So how did everything spin so horribly out of control, even requiring the involvement of Police?
Could Jess have possibly harmed her own baby? After all, she’s been having those dark thoughts about doing exactly that. But did she actually take the next step and act them out? She’s just been ...more
Could Jess have possibly harmed her own baby? After all, she’s been having those dark thoughts about doing exactly that. But did she actually take the next step and act them out? She’s just been ...more

**3.5-stars rounded up**
Liz, a pediatric doctor, is surprised when one of her closest friends, Jess, arrives at Emergency Services one night with her baby, Betsey.
She is even more surprised once she discovers Betsey has suffered severe head trauma, to the point of cranial fracture.

Making matters worse, when Liz questions Jess about it, she is quite dodgy with her story. She tells Liz she wasn't even aware Betsey had a head injury.
She claims after Betsey vomited in her crib, her husband insisted ...more
Liz, a pediatric doctor, is surprised when one of her closest friends, Jess, arrives at Emergency Services one night with her baby, Betsey.
She is even more surprised once she discovers Betsey has suffered severe head trauma, to the point of cranial fracture.

Making matters worse, when Liz questions Jess about it, she is quite dodgy with her story. She tells Liz she wasn't even aware Betsey had a head injury.
She claims after Betsey vomited in her crib, her husband insisted ...more

May 03, 2020
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice*
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
EXCERPT: She risks glancing down. Two eyes stare back. Please don't cry, please don't cry, the plea is automatic. The baby's bottom lip quivers and the uneasy quiet is broken with a bleat. Great gulps of rage soon drown out the heavy lullaby. Please be quiet. Just be quiet. Be quiet, won't you? Just be quiet, for God's sake!'
It's no good. The walls push in; the heat bears down and the noise - the terrible crying that has been going on for three hours - engulfs her. Her eyes burn and she feels li ...more
It's no good. The walls push in; the heat bears down and the noise - the terrible crying that has been going on for three hours - engulfs her. Her eyes burn and she feels li ...more

I was a fan of The Anatomy of a Scandal, so I was curious to see what Vaughn would write this time around. Liz is a pediatric doctor, who has drawn the short straw and is working Friday night when a friend, Jess, brings in her ten month old baby to the ER. The mother’s story isn't consistent with the head injury. As much as Liz doesn’t want to, she’s forced to get social services involved.
We hear from both women, in a nonlinear fashion. The women have vastly different lives. Jess is a stay at h ...more
We hear from both women, in a nonlinear fashion. The women have vastly different lives. Jess is a stay at h ...more

Sarah Vaughn has done it again! This is another book that is impossible to tear yourself away from. This is a very emotionally charged psychological drama that is beautifully written. The central premise being the difficulties of parenting especially the early months when your baby may not settle and nothing you do stops the crying or even worse, the screams. Liz is a paediatric doctor and is called to A and E when baby Betsey, daughter and third child of her friend Jess, is brought in with a su
...more

Mothers have a biological imperative to nurture their offspring. In humans, this generally amounts to providing food, clothing, shelter, and a safe and loving home. On occasion, however, things go wrong, and mothers think of harming their children. In this book we meet an array of mothers, some more capable than others.
Liz, Jess, Charlotte, and Mel met in prenatal group ten years ago, when each woman was expecting her first child.

The mothers remained friends ever since, though life's responsibi ...more

I've been on such a great run of amazing reads - unfortunately, this book ended that run. It's not that it is an awful book, but it is touted as a psychological thriller, but it is NOT in any way a thriller - it is more of women's fiction/domestic drama. If I had known that going into it, I may have had different feelings about the book, but I kept waiting for things to happen that just didn't.
The book begins with Liz, a pediatrician, who is suddenly faced with an ethical and personally difficu ...more
The book begins with Liz, a pediatrician, who is suddenly faced with an ethical and personally difficu ...more

This is the second book I have read by this author and once again she has incorporated a tough subject into the story. It was an uncomfortable read but I say that as a positive thing. The way she handled the material made me appreciate this more as a straight fiction read rather than one in the mystery or thriller genre. For me it was a compelling story without the twists or turns.
Liz first met Jess years ago while they were both pregnant and attending birthing classes. Liz is a doctor at a hosp ...more
Liz first met Jess years ago while they were both pregnant and attending birthing classes. Liz is a doctor at a hosp ...more

I was misled by all the claims that this is a mystery or a thriller. Okay so we do have to find out who dropped the baby and part of the book works around this, but a far greater part is spent on social issues surrounding post natal depression, relationships, and the need for more support for vulnerable new mothers. This is not a bad thing but it is not my thing and I was not the best audience for this book.
Nevertheless I can see it is a good book, well written and dealing with important social ...more
Nevertheless I can see it is a good book, well written and dealing with important social ...more

I wish to express my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of Little Disasters in return for an honest review.
The book was well written and the characters well developed. I regret to say that this book was just not for me through no fault of the author’s literary abilities. I mistakingly thought from its description it would be a medical mystery, but instead found a grim, gut-wrenching tale of family dysfunction, mainly emphasizing postpartum anxiety and depress ...more
The book was well written and the characters well developed. I regret to say that this book was just not for me through no fault of the author’s literary abilities. I mistakingly thought from its description it would be a medical mystery, but instead found a grim, gut-wrenching tale of family dysfunction, mainly emphasizing postpartum anxiety and depress ...more

Liz thinks she knows Jess all too well. They’ve been friends for years, and she can’t imagine anyone more patient and loving with her kids. In one split moment, everything Liz thinks is blown apart.
The pacing here is strong, and I read Little Disasters quickly. I have to say this story did a number on my heart because it’s so emotional. I love the twists, and my favorite aspect was the characterization. Overall, I think Little Disasters is an intriguing, character-driven mystery that’s also thou ...more
The pacing here is strong, and I read Little Disasters quickly. I have to say this story did a number on my heart because it’s so emotional. I love the twists, and my favorite aspect was the characterization. Overall, I think Little Disasters is an intriguing, character-driven mystery that’s also thou ...more

Jul 12, 2020
Sharon
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020-reading-challenge,
arc,
5000-2020,
ucorrected-proof,
mystery,
thriller,
sent-by-publisher,
own-read
Liz Trenchard works long and tiring hours as a pediatrician. When she is called into the ER to attend to a ten month old baby, Liz wasn’t expecting to discover her friend Jess waiting in the room with her daughter Betsey.
After examining Betsey, Liz is concerned that Betsey has suffered some sort of head trauma. Liz speaks with Jess about what happened, but what Jess is telling her is not adding up and Liz has no choice other than to contact family services.
Little Disasters is a fast paced, hea ...more
After examining Betsey, Liz is concerned that Betsey has suffered some sort of head trauma. Liz speaks with Jess about what happened, but what Jess is telling her is not adding up and Liz has no choice other than to contact family services.
Little Disasters is a fast paced, hea ...more

When pediatrician, Liz Trenchard is called into ER by a junior doctor she is surprised to see that the baby daughter of her friend Jess is the patient. Jess says the baby has been crying all night and then started vomiting but when Liz examines her she finds a head injury that Jess can't adequately explain. However, Liz knows that Jess, stay at home mother of three, is the perfect mother all other mothers are jealous of, so what happened for baby Betsey to have a head injury?
This tale of mothers ...more
This tale of mothers ...more

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
For Dr. Liz Trenchard, it's supposed to be a typical January night in the ER, but when her friend Jessica Curtis arrives with her youngest child, Betsey, Liz can immediately see that something is not right. Betsey has severe injuries that don't match up with Jess's narrative. Why won't Jess just tell Liz or anyone else at the hospital what happened? As the police and the social workers get involved, so do Jes ...more
For Dr. Liz Trenchard, it's supposed to be a typical January night in the ER, but when her friend Jessica Curtis arrives with her youngest child, Betsey, Liz can immediately see that something is not right. Betsey has severe injuries that don't match up with Jess's narrative. Why won't Jess just tell Liz or anyone else at the hospital what happened? As the police and the social workers get involved, so do Jes ...more

This is a sad and engrossing tale of motherhood.
First thing to know is that this is not really a mystery or a “domestic thriller” - I went in expecting that, and found more of a Big Little Lies type story of a group of friends with a focus on one particular family. If you are expecting a more traditional thriller just know that this is not that book.
Despite that, the book was engrossing. There is a mystery of sorts in the book - how did mother Jess’ child get seriously injured? Jess’ friend, a ...more
First thing to know is that this is not really a mystery or a “domestic thriller” - I went in expecting that, and found more of a Big Little Lies type story of a group of friends with a focus on one particular family. If you are expecting a more traditional thriller just know that this is not that book.
Despite that, the book was engrossing. There is a mystery of sorts in the book - how did mother Jess’ child get seriously injured? Jess’ friend, a ...more

Aug 10, 2020
Julie (JuJu)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arcs,
2020-reads
An honest, raw and tragic portrayal of motherhood and post-partum depression.
On the surface, Jess is one of those perfectly-organized mom's that can do it all....and make the rest of us feel inadequat. Her house is spotless, her children are always clean and fed. Her family life is structure...serving dinner on time to her working husband, who is seldom home to offer assistance.
But underneath, Jess is an overwhelmed and sleep-deprived mother, trying to do everything perfectly and hold it toget ...more
On the surface, Jess is one of those perfectly-organized mom's that can do it all....and make the rest of us feel inadequat. Her house is spotless, her children are always clean and fed. Her family life is structure...serving dinner on time to her working husband, who is seldom home to offer assistance.
But underneath, Jess is an overwhelmed and sleep-deprived mother, trying to do everything perfectly and hold it toget ...more

Jul 09, 2020
Erin Clemence
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle,
first-reads
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: August 18, 2020
Liz is a pediatrician and has spent the last few years working long hours in the ER, seeing horrible tragedies befall children and their families. Her friend, Jess, is a stay-at-home mom of three children, who, on the surface, seems to be a loving, caring mother. When Jess brings her infant daughter Betsey into the hosp ...more
Expected publication date: August 18, 2020
Liz is a pediatrician and has spent the last few years working long hours in the ER, seeing horrible tragedies befall children and their families. Her friend, Jess, is a stay-at-home mom of three children, who, on the surface, seems to be a loving, caring mother. When Jess brings her infant daughter Betsey into the hosp ...more

This is a book about the complexities of motherhood. Four women meet at a birthing class, so at least their firstborns are all about the same ages. There is Liz, a doctor, who’s slightly less successful because her superior doesn’t appreciate her taking maternity leave for two kiddoes. There is Jess, who seems to be the perfect stay-at-home mom with a wealthy husband. Mel has two kids and when the novel starts, her husband has just left her for a much younger assistant. And there is Charlotte, w
...more

Apr 03, 2020
Gloria Arthur
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
the-bookshelf
Little Disasters is a thought provoking read into the dark side of motherhood
Here we have a group of mothers who bond at their local prenatal classes for their first-borns and become long time friends.
Old friendships are stretched to breaking point when one of the mothers, Liz a paediatrician doctor finds herself attending to one of her friends injured baby at the Hospital Accident and Emergency Department where she works and is given a story that just doesn’t add up. Suspicions arise and Liz ...more
Here we have a group of mothers who bond at their local prenatal classes for their first-borns and become long time friends.
Old friendships are stretched to breaking point when one of the mothers, Liz a paediatrician doctor finds herself attending to one of her friends injured baby at the Hospital Accident and Emergency Department where she works and is given a story that just doesn’t add up. Suspicions arise and Liz ...more

Sometimes what you see on the outside isn't the true picture of what's happening on the inside ...
An extremely thought provoking and authentically raw look at motherhood. Well written, great character development and a plot that will have you feeling ALL the emotions.
Liz and Jess have been friends for years, and she thinks she knows her friend well but a trip to emergency after a blow to Jess's daughters head has Liz questioning if she really knows Jess at all.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schu ...more
An extremely thought provoking and authentically raw look at motherhood. Well written, great character development and a plot that will have you feeling ALL the emotions.
Liz and Jess have been friends for years, and she thinks she knows her friend well but a trip to emergency after a blow to Jess's daughters head has Liz questioning if she really knows Jess at all.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schu ...more

Apr 18, 2020
Mandy White (mandylovestoread)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
z-read-in-2020,
net-galley
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan is an emotional and traumatic look at motherhood. It is not always the easiest story to read with some parts coming rather close to home. Once you pick it up you will want to keep reading so be warned. The author looks at mental health and anxiety in mothers from all angles and treats the subject respectfully. This book made me cry, imagining how these poor women were feeling and what they went through.
The women in this book have been friends since their first ...more
The women in this book have been friends since their first ...more

3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved Sarah Vaughan's first book, Anatomy of a Scandal. This book was good, but a little slow and tedious. ...more
I loved Sarah Vaughan's first book, Anatomy of a Scandal. This book was good, but a little slow and tedious. ...more

3.5 stars
This book explores the consequences of postpartum depression in a character driven story that alerts the readers to the various ways in which new mothers often find themselves after having a new child in their midst.
Charlotte, Mel, Liz, and Jess are friends having met in a prenatal class. In this book, Jess is the main protagonist and the mother of three. She has a good husband, but he works constantly so she can be a stay at home mom. Jess is a perfectionist and is troubled by dark dre ...more
This book explores the consequences of postpartum depression in a character driven story that alerts the readers to the various ways in which new mothers often find themselves after having a new child in their midst.
Charlotte, Mel, Liz, and Jess are friends having met in a prenatal class. In this book, Jess is the main protagonist and the mother of three. She has a good husband, but he works constantly so she can be a stay at home mom. Jess is a perfectionist and is troubled by dark dre ...more

Just one moment can change your life in a heartbeat. This book brings emphasis to how one event can change you, how people perceive your, and affect you so dramatically you may not recover from it. Jess is a mother of three. She is a great mother who take care of her children, has lots of energy and patience with them. Then something happened that changed everything. Jess's friend Liz begins to question whether there is a problem. Something is definitely not right.
This is a heartbreaking story t ...more
This is a heartbreaking story t ...more

Liz adores her job as a paediatrician but does not enjoy the night shifts that come hand in hand with the role. As she begins another, her own children tucked up in bed, she is called for a second opinion. Upon entering the room she recognises her friend Jess. She has bought her baby to the emergency room claiming she is unwell. When Liz begins to investigate she notices things aren’t adding up. The accident isn’t matching the injury and the timeline is off. But this is Jess. Super mum Jess. A f
...more

Jun 18, 2020
Brooke - One Woman's Brief Book Reviews
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
read-reviewed-2020
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan. (2020).
A mother in crisis. A doctor's duty. What is the truth about that night?
Liz and Jess have been friends for 10 years since meeting at a prenatal class. But how well do they really know each other? When Jess arrives at Emergency with her baby girl and a story that doesn't add up; Liz is the doctor on call. Jess has devoted her life to family and home, but she is hiding so many secrets. As the tr ...more
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan. (2020).
A mother in crisis. A doctor's duty. What is the truth about that night?
Liz and Jess have been friends for 10 years since meeting at a prenatal class. But how well do they really know each other? When Jess arrives at Emergency with her baby girl and a story that doesn't add up; Liz is the doctor on call. Jess has devoted her life to family and home, but she is hiding so many secrets. As the tr ...more

Sep 21, 2020
Kristy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley,
read-in-2020,
arc,
mystery,
thriller,
ebook,
swapped-back-on-pbs,
atria,
emily-bestler
A compelling and emotional thriller about motherhood
Liz and Jess have been friends since they met in a prenatal group over ten years ago. So Liz, a doctor in a pediatrics hospital ward, is of course anxious when Jess brings her youngest daughter, baby Betsey, in with a head injury. But the worry turns to further concern when Betsey's injury appears suspicious and Jess's explanations of how it occurred are insufficient. The incident in the ward sets off a series of events that will change the two ...more
Liz and Jess have been friends since they met in a prenatal group over ten years ago. So Liz, a doctor in a pediatrics hospital ward, is of course anxious when Jess brings her youngest daughter, baby Betsey, in with a head injury. But the worry turns to further concern when Betsey's injury appears suspicious and Jess's explanations of how it occurred are insufficient. The incident in the ward sets off a series of events that will change the two ...more
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Challenge Corner: Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan --> Starting August 3rd, 2020 | 7 | 9 | Aug 04, 2020 05:04PM | |
YA Buddy Readers'...: Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan - Starting August 3rd 2020 | 1 | 10 | Aug 03, 2020 12:11AM | |
Play Book Tag: Little Disasters / Sarah Vaughan. 4 stars | 1 | 8 | Aug 01, 2020 12:55PM |
Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to be a journalist. After training with the Press Association, she worked for The Guardian for 11 years as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her 3rd novel, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, a Sunday Times top five bestseller, a kindle number 1
...more
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