Her One Regret - by Donna Freitas (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From the international bestselling author of book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood. When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy's best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy's life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: she regretted becoming a mother, so much that she'd fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life? Bestselling author Donna Freitas has drawn from ground-breaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten-the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake"--

Book Synopsis

From the author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano comes a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood.

When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy's best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy's life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: She regretted becoming a mother, so much that she'd fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life?

Donna Freitas, author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, has drawn from groundbreaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten: the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake.

Review Quotes

Praise for Her One Regret

"This book manages to be simultaneously a page-turning crime thriller and a deep exploration of one of the ultimate mothering taboos--regret. Absolutely extraordinary."
--Emily Oster, bestselling author of Expecting Better

"A lively and fast-moving novel about women and the complexity of their interior lives. There is not enough literature about motherhood regret and Donna Freitas has done something unique and brave--opening up the topic in a courageous, unique, passionate way through this suspenseful story of Lucy, Michelle, Julia and Diana and countless other women."
--Emma Gannon, author of Olive and Table for One

"As she did in The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, Donna Freitas proves she can 'say the unsayable' and weave thorny, important questions about women's lives into a compelling, entertaining, and provocative suspense novel. Her One Regret is bound to spark conversations about motherhood and marriage while keeping readers guessing about the disappearance at the heart of this subversive mystery."
--Andromeda Romano-Lax, author of The Deepest Lake

"Smart, addictive, utterly compelling and shockingly honest--a page turner with a deep, emotional core. So many brilliant observations about women's lives--this book made me feel so seen, while it kept me guessing."
--Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable and Careering

"Immensely powerful. Expertly written. Shocking time and time again . . . A great choice for book groups."
--First Clue Reviews

"[A] deeply felt feminist thriller . . . This rivets."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Donna Freitas is the author of a number of award-winning, critically acclaimed books, including the novel The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano (published in twenty languages), the memoirs Consent and Wishful Thinking, and over a dozen novels for children and young adults. She has a PhD in Gender Studies and Religion, and teaches creative writing. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sunday Times, and many other newspapers and magazines, and she has been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN, and All Things Considered. A native Rhode Islander, she splits her time between the US and Barcelona.