When Sally unexpectedly becomes a mother at twenty, she tries her best to build a stable life for her son, Morgan. But the sleepless nights, over-whelming isolation, and relentless cries wear her down until she breaks, and in a moment of desperation, she does the unthinkable: she shakes her baby. Consumed by guilt and fear, Sally buries her actions beneath a facade of normalcy, but the cracks are beginning to show.
Enter Alyssa, the teenage babysitter, who is left in charge the night after the incident. As Morgan’s condition deteriorates, Sally’s partner, Charles, grows increasingly concerned. A series of alarming doctors’ visits spiral into a nightmare when authorities are alerted and fingers start pointing at Alyssa. Will Sally come forward and risk losing everything, or will she try to maintain the illusion of being a perfect mother—even if it means someone else takes the blame?
Shaken explores the intense, often unspoken, struggles of new motherhood and the complexities of human fallibility, raising an unsettling question: Does one irreversible mistake define you forever?
Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Jewell, and Freida McFadden.
“A raw, unflinching look at the highs and lows of motherhood, exposing the unspoken taboos with piercing honesty. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page.” — Caitlin Weaver, bestselling author of Such a Good Family and Things We Never Say
“Both heartbreaking and riveting, Shaken announces Chafin as a tour de force novelist with a keen eye for the emotional gut punch.” — Michael Keenan Gutierrez, author of The Trench Angel and The Swill
“The story’s embedded themes of guilt, loneliness, new motherhood’s pressures and a terrible choice over moral and ethical behavior and the consequences of breaking down makes for a shocking, revealing, complex read that is well-written, more than believable, and nearly impossible to put down.” — D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Available March 18, 2025 from Amazon, Vine Leaves Press, and your favorite book retailer.
About the author
Jill Amber Chafin holds an advanced diploma in creative writing from Te Pūkenga (New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her work has appeared in The Personal Story Publishing Project and Motherfigure. Shaken is her debut novel, inspired by her insights into human frailty and resilience. Chafin lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and two children.
Book info
Title: Shaken
Author: Jill Amber Chafin
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
ISBN: 978-3-98832-137-4
Price: $17.99 paperback / $5.99 eBook
Contact info
Name: Jill Amber Chafin
Publisher: [email protected]
Author: [email protected], 919-259-2687
Social media: @jillamberchafin
Country: United States
Website: https://www.jillchafin.com/
Media ContactCompany Name: Literary TitanContact Person: Jill Amber ChafinEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.jillchafin.com/
