Little Disasters

Jess Curtis brings her 10-month-old daughter to the ER late one night with a head injury, leading her friend and pediatrician Liz Trenchard to suspect something is wrong. The incident forces both women to confront past traumas and buried secrets as the investigation into what happened to the baby intensifies. Liz finds herself caught between her duty as a doctor to protect children and her loyalty to Jess, a close friend she has known since their children were born. The story shifts between Liz and Jess's perspectives, revealing the complexities of motherhood, postpartum mental health, and the expectations placed on women to be perfect parents. Through the lens of this medical mystery, the novel examines how childhood experiences shape adult relationships and the ways trauma can echo through generations. The exploration of maternal anxiety, guilt, and the pressure to meet impossible standards raises questions about trust, judgment, and the darker aspects of mothering that often remain unspoken.

Readers describe Little Disasters as a slow-burning psychological drama that examines motherhood, mental health, and medical ethics. Many found the multiple viewpoint structure effective in building tension and presenting different perspectives on parenting. Readers appreciated: - Authentic portrayal of postpartum anxiety and depression - Medical details and hospital scenes - Complex female friendships - Ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare workers Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in middle sections - Some plot points felt predictable - Too many characters' viewpoints - Ending resolved too neatly Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (28,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (3,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 Sample reader comment: "The author perfectly captures the exhaustion and self-doubt of new motherhood. But the multiple POVs sometimes made it hard to connect deeply with any one character." - Goodreads reviewer "The medical scenes felt authentic but the plot twists were telegraphed early on." - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Sarah Vaughan worked as a journalist for The Guardian for 11 years before becoming a novelist, bringing her investigative skills to her psychological thrillers. 🔹 The author was inspired to write Little Disasters after experiencing postpartum anxiety with her second child and wanting to explore the complexities of maternal mental health. 🔹 Postpartum psychosis, a condition featured in the book, affects approximately 1-2 in 1,000 new mothers, making it a rare but serious maternal mental health condition. 🔹 The character of Liz, the pediatrician in the novel, was carefully crafted through extensive research and interviews with medical professionals to ensure accuracy in medical procedures and hospital protocols. 🔹 Little Disasters was selected as a Radio 2 Book Club Pick in the UK and received praise from fellow psychological thriller authors including Clare Mackintosh and Erin Kelly.