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But Won't I Miss Me: A Novel
Set in an alternate reality where pregnancy endows women with exceptional powers, one new mother uncovers terrifying truths about herself and life in this philosophical and propulsive tale of a woman and mother in crisis.
In a world where drastic measures have averted the global environmental crisis, humans too are now subject to great transformation.
Vivi should be happy she’s pregnant. But she’s troubled by a looming reality that seemingly bothers no one having a baby also means birthing an identical, nearly indestructible self who will eat her and take her place. “Rebirth” is simply a fact of life—nature’s way of equipping women for the challenges of motherhood. But as Vivi’s unborn child develops, so does her fear.
In a rare turn of events, Vivi emerges from rebirth weakened rather than strong. When her husband cannot tolerate her defects, they divorce and Vivi relocates to the country with her baby to work for her old boss.
Chronically exhausted, mentally struggling, and on her own, Vivi must move on—for her own and her son’s sake. But just as with her failed rebirth, swapping old for new isn’t as straightforward as it seems. When Vivi finally discovers what went wrong during childbirth, it will rewrite her life future, present, and past.
An inspired blend of Nightbitch and The Substance, as enthralling and incisive as The School of Good Mothers and The Need, But Won’t I Miss Me is a gripping and profound exploration of the physical and psychological tolls of motherhood, with a speculative horror spin. Tiffany Tsao imaginatively reveals the macabre hidden in the mundane and asks us to consider what we lose of ourselves when we leave our broken parts behind.
In a world where drastic measures have averted the global environmental crisis, humans too are now subject to great transformation.
Vivi should be happy she’s pregnant. But she’s troubled by a looming reality that seemingly bothers no one having a baby also means birthing an identical, nearly indestructible self who will eat her and take her place. “Rebirth” is simply a fact of life—nature’s way of equipping women for the challenges of motherhood. But as Vivi’s unborn child develops, so does her fear.
In a rare turn of events, Vivi emerges from rebirth weakened rather than strong. When her husband cannot tolerate her defects, they divorce and Vivi relocates to the country with her baby to work for her old boss.
Chronically exhausted, mentally struggling, and on her own, Vivi must move on—for her own and her son’s sake. But just as with her failed rebirth, swapping old for new isn’t as straightforward as it seems. When Vivi finally discovers what went wrong during childbirth, it will rewrite her life future, present, and past.
An inspired blend of Nightbitch and The Substance, as enthralling and incisive as The School of Good Mothers and The Need, But Won’t I Miss Me is a gripping and profound exploration of the physical and psychological tolls of motherhood, with a speculative horror spin. Tiffany Tsao imaginatively reveals the macabre hidden in the mundane and asks us to consider what we lose of ourselves when we leave our broken parts behind.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2026
About the author
Tiffany Tsao
18 books277 followersTiffany Tsao is a novelist and a translator of Indonesian literature. She holds a PhD in English from UC-Berkeley and now lives in Sydney, Australia, on Gamaragal land.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first time reading what I would consider to be speculative horror, although it was often toeing the line between horror and scifi. The best part about the horror elements of this story is that they’re subtle and not gratuitous. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a main character that’s put in a horrifying situation while seemingly no other character is bothered. The difference here is that the world inhabited by Vivian, the FMC, and her son, Cloud, is not particularly dystopic or horrifying. Life is continuing as usual, although with a lot of considerations for climate change that don’t currently exist. The only real difference is that women are expected to quite literally die during childbirth as a routine practice and be taken over by a better version of themselves.
I admit I’m not a mother, have never wanted to be, and don’t intend to ever be. I have heard second hand how difficult the judgment is from other mothers about how a mother should act, how she should parent, even how she should feel about being a mother. Despite having no interest in having kids myself, this story did an absolutely stunning job of showcasing exactly how that judgment, that comparison and that shame burrows inside you. What if instead of having to strive to be the perfect mother, it was something granted the day you gave birth? What if you could inhabit a new body that doesn’t have fatigue, that’s stronger, that’s perfectly in tune with your child and their needs?
All you have to do is die.
The second half of the book takes an abrupt turn, but I enjoyed it just as much. It’s too difficult to discuss without spoilers, just know that the story has much more to say than what I’ve gone over in my review. Overall a very enjoyable read and I’m glad I requested it.
This was my first time reading what I would consider to be speculative horror, although it was often toeing the line between horror and scifi. The best part about the horror elements of this story is that they’re subtle and not gratuitous. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a main character that’s put in a horrifying situation while seemingly no other character is bothered. The difference here is that the world inhabited by Vivian, the FMC, and her son, Cloud, is not particularly dystopic or horrifying. Life is continuing as usual, although with a lot of considerations for climate change that don’t currently exist. The only real difference is that women are expected to quite literally die during childbirth as a routine practice and be taken over by a better version of themselves.
I admit I’m not a mother, have never wanted to be, and don’t intend to ever be. I have heard second hand how difficult the judgment is from other mothers about how a mother should act, how she should parent, even how she should feel about being a mother. Despite having no interest in having kids myself, this story did an absolutely stunning job of showcasing exactly how that judgment, that comparison and that shame burrows inside you. What if instead of having to strive to be the perfect mother, it was something granted the day you gave birth? What if you could inhabit a new body that doesn’t have fatigue, that’s stronger, that’s perfectly in tune with your child and their needs?
All you have to do is die.
The second half of the book takes an abrupt turn, but I enjoyed it just as much. It’s too difficult to discuss without spoilers, just know that the story has much more to say than what I’ve gone over in my review. Overall a very enjoyable read and I’m glad I requested it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Starred review in the April 2026 issue of Library Journal
This book is WOW! Great title too. Disorientation of the title, the confusion, is perfect for the story
Three Words That Describe This Book: maternal/body horror, slightly askew to our world, discomfiting
Other words: compelling from the first page, huge twist, visceral, original, thought provoking, intense, honest, "rebirth."
Draft Review: The very best speculative fiction takes readers out of their world, telling a story meant to help them grapple with the important questions staring them in their real world faces. Tsao demonstrates this in her alternative reality science fiction-body horror-thriller, asking readers to contemplate how society fails mothers, the horror of following the status quo, and most provocatively, what happens when you are your own victim? Vivi, a Chinese-Indonesian living in Australia lives in a world where human mothers not only birth a child, but they also experience their own visceral rebirth, an event that will shock and trouble readers, but here it is seen as necessary to give mothers the super human strength they need to raise children. Vivi’s rebirth had complications leaving her alone, exhausted, and with a baby to care for. Readers hang on every detail, falling easily into the world, and its complex, flawed, but sympathetic characters, never able to shake the unsettling tone set by the title, not even close to ready for the twist when it drops. A master class in storytelling that will leave readers, if not reborn, forever changed for the experience.
Verdict: Tsao gives readers a terrifying, raw, and honest look at motherhood in the vein of horror titles like Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moutlon, Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Push by Ashley Audrain.
Before I get to the set up and how the story is told I need to applaud the author and editors here. The author, for writing a story about postpartum life -- even if you don't sink to depression-- and how being a new mother is disorienting, how it changes your body, and how it can change who you are-- to yourself and others.
The editor for NOT giving in to the urge to make this book easier on the reader. So many books I read have a "prologue" or let out key details too quickly because editors (and authors) do not trust readers to let the author tell the story and have the story come to you. This book withholds key details from the start, but they are doled out slowly. But there is always enough to keep the reader going here, even when they are not sure where the story is leading them.
This book has a huge and satisfying twist that is the level of mind-blow as Gone Girl was back in 2015 -- a different twist but on that level. And it allows everything to fall into place after.
There is a coda that the book needs. I saw it as a chance for Vivi's son to heal and understand, yes, but more importantly, for readers to also process everything they just read and all of their feelings about the book, the slightly askew world it presents, and how that makes you think about motherhood right now, in our world whether you are a child or a mother. You need a moment to reflect about everything in this book-- from the literal plot to everything it is saying about how the world treats mothers. Without that buffer/coda/space, this book would not land as well. I should be clear, it is not a sappy coda, and it DOES NOT tie up all the loose ends-- in fact it leave a huge one dangling-- but it is there to bring the reader back down and allow them to emotionally reset. Phew. Really brilliant.
Now as a horror novel-- wow! This takes the body horror of pregnancy and child birth to a whole new level of horror.
The less you know about this book going in the better but know that this book is visceral and honest. It uses a speculative alternative reality to our world to
It is all told from the perspective of Chinese- Indonesians who have emigrated to Australia. The cultures of all 3 are discussed. That frame was very specific and yet the story is universal.
A great question here besides what do we owe mothers, how can we help them, how society fails them. Tsao also asks readers to contemplate-- What happens when you are your own victim? What is the price of blindly doing things the way every one does them? How hard it is to question the status quo.
Another brilliant thing about this book-- the main characters here-- none of them are all good or all bad. They are VERY morally gray and yet readers will sympathize with them all. That is hard to do.
The set up-- the less you know the better. This is an alternate reality to ours -- not near future-- parallel. In this world human mothers, after they give birth to a child, experience a rebirth. (But that rebirth is a horror story all onto its own.) The rebirth gives new mothers the super strength they need to raise new humans. They can do it all-- no sleep, no strollers. They can carry and juggle it all at once. Our protagonist and narrator Vivi well she had a "hitch" with her rebirth and it did not take. She is a disabled new mother and society has not time for that. She is our window into this world. We hear her story beginning when she leaves her husband and starts over with the help of an old family friend.
As we follow Vivi, details about this world and what she specifically went through are slowly doled out-- but not so slowly that you want to stop reading. Rather, it is just the right amount sot hat you get to know Vivi and her 2 year old son Cloud. Also it is the right speed of all of the details so that you have time to get settled into this world that is slightly family but not completely. We get flashbacks to gain more understanding. But even as things are explained, it doesn't feel 100% right. We are missing something. What is it? Ahh, once that info is dropped-- the rest of the book falls into place and you will race to the end to finish it.
I cannot stress enough how visceral and troubling the "rebirth" is both on a gross out level but also on a psychological and societal level.
For readers of raw, visceral, physically and emotionally upsetting, thought provoking, and honest dark speculative fiction about motherhood such as Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moutlon, Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Push by Ashley Audrain.
This book is WOW! Great title too. Disorientation of the title, the confusion, is perfect for the story
Three Words That Describe This Book: maternal/body horror, slightly askew to our world, discomfiting
Other words: compelling from the first page, huge twist, visceral, original, thought provoking, intense, honest, "rebirth."
Draft Review: The very best speculative fiction takes readers out of their world, telling a story meant to help them grapple with the important questions staring them in their real world faces. Tsao demonstrates this in her alternative reality science fiction-body horror-thriller, asking readers to contemplate how society fails mothers, the horror of following the status quo, and most provocatively, what happens when you are your own victim? Vivi, a Chinese-Indonesian living in Australia lives in a world where human mothers not only birth a child, but they also experience their own visceral rebirth, an event that will shock and trouble readers, but here it is seen as necessary to give mothers the super human strength they need to raise children. Vivi’s rebirth had complications leaving her alone, exhausted, and with a baby to care for. Readers hang on every detail, falling easily into the world, and its complex, flawed, but sympathetic characters, never able to shake the unsettling tone set by the title, not even close to ready for the twist when it drops. A master class in storytelling that will leave readers, if not reborn, forever changed for the experience.
Verdict: Tsao gives readers a terrifying, raw, and honest look at motherhood in the vein of horror titles like Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moutlon, Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Push by Ashley Audrain.
Before I get to the set up and how the story is told I need to applaud the author and editors here. The author, for writing a story about postpartum life -- even if you don't sink to depression-- and how being a new mother is disorienting, how it changes your body, and how it can change who you are-- to yourself and others.
The editor for NOT giving in to the urge to make this book easier on the reader. So many books I read have a "prologue" or let out key details too quickly because editors (and authors) do not trust readers to let the author tell the story and have the story come to you. This book withholds key details from the start, but they are doled out slowly. But there is always enough to keep the reader going here, even when they are not sure where the story is leading them.
This book has a huge and satisfying twist that is the level of mind-blow as Gone Girl was back in 2015 -- a different twist but on that level. And it allows everything to fall into place after.
There is a coda that the book needs. I saw it as a chance for Vivi's son to heal and understand, yes, but more importantly, for readers to also process everything they just read and all of their feelings about the book, the slightly askew world it presents, and how that makes you think about motherhood right now, in our world whether you are a child or a mother. You need a moment to reflect about everything in this book-- from the literal plot to everything it is saying about how the world treats mothers. Without that buffer/coda/space, this book would not land as well. I should be clear, it is not a sappy coda, and it DOES NOT tie up all the loose ends-- in fact it leave a huge one dangling-- but it is there to bring the reader back down and allow them to emotionally reset. Phew. Really brilliant.
Now as a horror novel-- wow! This takes the body horror of pregnancy and child birth to a whole new level of horror.
The less you know about this book going in the better but know that this book is visceral and honest. It uses a speculative alternative reality to our world to
It is all told from the perspective of Chinese- Indonesians who have emigrated to Australia. The cultures of all 3 are discussed. That frame was very specific and yet the story is universal.
A great question here besides what do we owe mothers, how can we help them, how society fails them. Tsao also asks readers to contemplate-- What happens when you are your own victim? What is the price of blindly doing things the way every one does them? How hard it is to question the status quo.
Another brilliant thing about this book-- the main characters here-- none of them are all good or all bad. They are VERY morally gray and yet readers will sympathize with them all. That is hard to do.
The set up-- the less you know the better. This is an alternate reality to ours -- not near future-- parallel. In this world human mothers, after they give birth to a child, experience a rebirth. (But that rebirth is a horror story all onto its own.) The rebirth gives new mothers the super strength they need to raise new humans. They can do it all-- no sleep, no strollers. They can carry and juggle it all at once. Our protagonist and narrator Vivi well she had a "hitch" with her rebirth and it did not take. She is a disabled new mother and society has not time for that. She is our window into this world. We hear her story beginning when she leaves her husband and starts over with the help of an old family friend.
As we follow Vivi, details about this world and what she specifically went through are slowly doled out-- but not so slowly that you want to stop reading. Rather, it is just the right amount sot hat you get to know Vivi and her 2 year old son Cloud. Also it is the right speed of all of the details so that you have time to get settled into this world that is slightly family but not completely. We get flashbacks to gain more understanding. But even as things are explained, it doesn't feel 100% right. We are missing something. What is it? Ahh, once that info is dropped-- the rest of the book falls into place and you will race to the end to finish it.
I cannot stress enough how visceral and troubling the "rebirth" is both on a gross out level but also on a psychological and societal level.
For readers of raw, visceral, physically and emotionally upsetting, thought provoking, and honest dark speculative fiction about motherhood such as Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moutlon, Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Push by Ashley Audrain.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to HarperAudio for an Advanced Listener's Copy in exchange for an honest review
★ 3.62 stars ★
Wow, what a novel. Make no mistake, this isn't a classic horror novel although it was horrifying... just not in the ways I expected.
As I read this novel, I realized that I am likely not the target demographic, or at least not the type of reader whom this book will reasonates with the most. Not that that was a bad thing. The author still wrote a succesfully engaging novel. I just think that it will really hit close to home for those expereincing/experienced in the things the author layed out.
But for those who aren't women, pregnant or come from asian heritage, this novel is still worth a read.
I do want to preface for readers that this is not a horror novel. While I agree with the comparisons to movies like The Substance, this novel weaves it's tale by focusing more on speculative and philosophical horrors like the nature of life and existence than outright gore (although there is some).
Additionally, this novel chooses to walk us alongside the characters for their long journey. Where some horror novels introduce cardboard characters to be chucked into horrifiic situations with no development, shredded like old papers, But Won't I Miss Me follows the same character and her circle across several years, a style which is always satisfying in the end even if it takes time.
So, no, this novel is by no means a horror novel. Nor is it very science fiction-y. Again, those elements are present but this novel is more of a tapestry of life than it is a novel meant to scare.
The questions asked of the characters, and thus of the reader, were incredibly fascinating ones relating to motherhood, birth, bodily autonomy, and existence itself. The book did a good job exploring these ideas but I felt as though only the surface were scratched.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why but it felt like scratching an itch but only just slightly. I wanted more from these fascinating ideas. I wanted to sink my teeth into them.
All that being said, I was by no means left unfulfilled. There was a plot twist I did not see coming and an ending that wrapped up the narrative nicely.
Honestly, my only real complaint was more of a formatting thing. With multiple perspectives and time jumps, it is paramount that the reader is able to, somewhat quickly, orient themselves to time and place. This book really struggled with that. Every time there was a jump to a different character's perspective, it took me several pages worth of reading to figure out when we were and I had to then go back and reread with that perspective now in mind.
Something as simple as [Character Name], 5 months ago would've been so helpful.
But all in all, a great novel! Definitely worth a read when it releases in May!
------
good to know i'm not the only one who kept calling this book But I Won't Miss Me instead of it's actual title But Won't I Miss Me... the narrator literally used the wrong title at the end too lol
-------
i mean... i already think normal nonfiction pregnancy is horrifying and am shocked and amazed (and grateful) that women go through it. soooo... this is sure to be absolutely horrifying
★ 3.62 stars ★
Wow, what a novel. Make no mistake, this isn't a classic horror novel although it was horrifying... just not in the ways I expected.
As I read this novel, I realized that I am likely not the target demographic, or at least not the type of reader whom this book will reasonates with the most. Not that that was a bad thing. The author still wrote a succesfully engaging novel. I just think that it will really hit close to home for those expereincing/experienced in the things the author layed out.
But for those who aren't women, pregnant or come from asian heritage, this novel is still worth a read.
I do want to preface for readers that this is not a horror novel. While I agree with the comparisons to movies like The Substance, this novel weaves it's tale by focusing more on speculative and philosophical horrors like the nature of life and existence than outright gore (although there is some).
Additionally, this novel chooses to walk us alongside the characters for their long journey. Where some horror novels introduce cardboard characters to be chucked into horrifiic situations with no development, shredded like old papers, But Won't I Miss Me follows the same character and her circle across several years, a style which is always satisfying in the end even if it takes time.
So, no, this novel is by no means a horror novel. Nor is it very science fiction-y. Again, those elements are present but this novel is more of a tapestry of life than it is a novel meant to scare.
The questions asked of the characters, and thus of the reader, were incredibly fascinating ones relating to motherhood, birth, bodily autonomy, and existence itself. The book did a good job exploring these ideas but I felt as though only the surface were scratched.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why but it felt like scratching an itch but only just slightly. I wanted more from these fascinating ideas. I wanted to sink my teeth into them.
All that being said, I was by no means left unfulfilled. There was a plot twist I did not see coming and an ending that wrapped up the narrative nicely.
Honestly, my only real complaint was more of a formatting thing. With multiple perspectives and time jumps, it is paramount that the reader is able to, somewhat quickly, orient themselves to time and place. This book really struggled with that. Every time there was a jump to a different character's perspective, it took me several pages worth of reading to figure out when we were and I had to then go back and reread with that perspective now in mind.
Something as simple as [Character Name], 5 months ago would've been so helpful.
But all in all, a great novel! Definitely worth a read when it releases in May!
------
good to know i'm not the only one who kept calling this book But I Won't Miss Me instead of it's actual title But Won't I Miss Me... the narrator literally used the wrong title at the end too lol
-------
i mean... i already think normal nonfiction pregnancy is horrifying and am shocked and amazed (and grateful) that women go through it. soooo... this is sure to be absolutely horrifying
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'But Won't I Miss Me: by Tiffany Tsao is set in an alternate reality where new mothers are granted exceptional skills and enhanced physical strength, for the purpose of making them the best possible primary caregivers a child could ever have. But these gifts come at a price....
I would describe this book as Literary Speculative Fiction/Horror/Thriller. With the exception of the rebirthing' process new mothers must go through, it is not hard to envision a near-future like this. One of my criteria for a great book is "tell me a story I haven't heard before." This is one of the most original stories I've read in years, yet it is very relatable. The character development is exceptional, including that of minor characters. I felt like I was reading about real people, a rarity with speculation fiction, which tends to heavily focus on world-building. The human condition remains central.
This book is exceptionally well researched, In coming to know the protagonist Vivi, I learned about subjects I want to delve further into, including the origins of the May 1998 riots in Indonesia, and anti-Chinese violence in general. Great books make you think and expand your worldview.
This book is cleverly plotted and well-structured. The plot twist left me speechless. The first half of the book was intriguing. but once the narrator shifted to Nina, it became.a real page-turner, and it did not let up. I was shallow breathing and close to heart palpitations. The shift to Iwan as narrator in the last 10% of the book had me in tears. "Be worth what they went through broke me wide open. I'm crying again just thinking about it. This book took me through a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It was cathartic, in the best possible way.
The book was beautifully-written, yet straight-forward and easy to read. In addition to being an author, Tiffany Tsao is a literary translator who has won a PEN Translation Prize.. As a reader, it feels like she is channeling/translating for her characters, bringing them to life on the written page. It made for an immersive reading experience.
I selected this book because the synopsis sounded interesting. I thought it would be a fun read. It far exceeded all expectations. For me, reading "But Won't I Miss Me" was an incredibly moving, profound, life-changing, and impactful experience. It's a painful reminder of how we as a society cannibalize the mothers of young children, expecting them to sacrifice an essential part of their being, in service of the new life they have created.
"But Won't I Miss Me" is for everyone who has ever had a mother. It will be available for purchase on May 5. 2026. Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 10th. Personally, I can't think of a more appropriate gift...for all the mothers in our lives.
Thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary DRC of "But Won't I Miss Me. All opinions are my own.
I would describe this book as Literary Speculative Fiction/Horror/Thriller. With the exception of the rebirthing' process new mothers must go through, it is not hard to envision a near-future like this. One of my criteria for a great book is "tell me a story I haven't heard before." This is one of the most original stories I've read in years, yet it is very relatable. The character development is exceptional, including that of minor characters. I felt like I was reading about real people, a rarity with speculation fiction, which tends to heavily focus on world-building. The human condition remains central.
This book is exceptionally well researched, In coming to know the protagonist Vivi, I learned about subjects I want to delve further into, including the origins of the May 1998 riots in Indonesia, and anti-Chinese violence in general. Great books make you think and expand your worldview.
This book is cleverly plotted and well-structured. The plot twist left me speechless. The first half of the book was intriguing. but once the narrator shifted to Nina, it became.a real page-turner, and it did not let up. I was shallow breathing and close to heart palpitations. The shift to Iwan as narrator in the last 10% of the book had me in tears. "Be worth what they went through broke me wide open. I'm crying again just thinking about it. This book took me through a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It was cathartic, in the best possible way.
The book was beautifully-written, yet straight-forward and easy to read. In addition to being an author, Tiffany Tsao is a literary translator who has won a PEN Translation Prize.. As a reader, it feels like she is channeling/translating for her characters, bringing them to life on the written page. It made for an immersive reading experience.
I selected this book because the synopsis sounded interesting. I thought it would be a fun read. It far exceeded all expectations. For me, reading "But Won't I Miss Me" was an incredibly moving, profound, life-changing, and impactful experience. It's a painful reminder of how we as a society cannibalize the mothers of young children, expecting them to sacrifice an essential part of their being, in service of the new life they have created.
"But Won't I Miss Me" is for everyone who has ever had a mother. It will be available for purchase on May 5. 2026. Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 10th. Personally, I can't think of a more appropriate gift...for all the mothers in our lives.
Thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary DRC of "But Won't I Miss Me. All opinions are my own.
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May 7, 2026
The premise of this pulled me in immediately. Full stop. I had to know more about “Rebirth.”
Can I willingly create a replacement version of myself knowing it will consume me? Could a society truly normalize that? Remove the fear from it? Where does self-preservation go?
Those questions sit underneath everything in this story.
We follow Vivi through this dystopian alternative world, watching her struggle through motherhood, identity, exhaustion, and the quiet horror of feeling disconnected from herself. The speculative elements are strange and unsettling, but the emotions underneath them feel painfully real.
I saw someone else mention this is a hard book to rate, and I understand why. The ending leaves behind unresolved feelings. Not in a frustrating way, but in a way that clashes with your own sense of self, choice, and what it means to survive change.
There’s a lingering ripple to this story. A feeling that Vivi’s choices will continue impacting this world long after the final page.
An excellent exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, societal expectation, identity, and the parts of ourselves we’re told to leave behind.
A special thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Can I willingly create a replacement version of myself knowing it will consume me? Could a society truly normalize that? Remove the fear from it? Where does self-preservation go?
Those questions sit underneath everything in this story.
We follow Vivi through this dystopian alternative world, watching her struggle through motherhood, identity, exhaustion, and the quiet horror of feeling disconnected from herself. The speculative elements are strange and unsettling, but the emotions underneath them feel painfully real.
I saw someone else mention this is a hard book to rate, and I understand why. The ending leaves behind unresolved feelings. Not in a frustrating way, but in a way that clashes with your own sense of self, choice, and what it means to survive change.
There’s a lingering ripple to this story. A feeling that Vivi’s choices will continue impacting this world long after the final page.
An excellent exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, societal expectation, identity, and the parts of ourselves we’re told to leave behind.
A special thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 15, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
Dystopian mommy horror thriller that’s better in concept than execution.
Pre-reading:
Love mommy horror.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
I'm not sure how I won't compare this to Nightbitch or Girl Dinner or Trad Wife. They’re such big names in the genre. (It’s the way Blake left so much room for other authors and they still can’t compare to her.)
The two parallel lines to mean pregnancy test and a new road is so good, but the phrase does just trigger the Noah Kahan song in my head.
This isn't bad, but it is fucking slow so far.
I'm bored.
Like it’s a good exaggeration of postpartum depression, but I’m bored.
Title drop
Oh shit! That was absolutely a twist, but I don’t know about trans villain/queer couple being baby snatchers. That seems like bad optics. (Don’t read books half asleep, kids. I was like OMG that’s why she always wears makeup, and wears baggy clothes to hide her figure, and she has a manly jaw. She’s not his niece. She’s his girlfriend!)
Update: so it is not that. I’m very thankful. She’s not in drag, she’s just in disguise. Crazy that you wouldn’t recognize yourself though. (Would a jaw implant heal fast enough? You can cry dystopian medical advancement, but I think it’s wild that plastic surgery is still a thing when people are taking 30 minutes for toast.)
Women’s healthcare is abysmal! Go off, book. (I thought we were going somewhere about medical waste and miscarriages. We were not.)
You know this was really slow. I was like this is commentary we’ve seen before, and now I’m back in. Save the mother or the mother is crazy. (It’s always painful when I go back and edit, and I see that past Sam had such genuine hope for a book.)
The pacing of this is so slow, and now it’s just a flashback to stuff we already read. There’s nothing particularly insightful or different from what you would assume as soon as you learn the twist, so it’s kind of 100 pages of nothing.
This book is just ignoring the option of adoption. Like what about all the same-sex couples or IVF? There’s a lot of missing commentary. I don’t need you to touch on everything. We’d be here forever, but do a couple!
You don’t have to give birth to have children, and I wish more people would recognize that.
That’s it? That’s the ending? Jesus.
Post-reading:
A horror book shouldn’t be bland. I wanna be anxious or disgusted or at the very least unsettled. I shouldn’t leave it unaffected, especially when you’re using a dystopian to make social commentary. Unfortunately, this book’s pacing and structure ruin any chance of it having tension. It just feels like a slog. It wants to examine the mistreatment of postpartum mothers, but the scope of its argument is so shortsighted that you’re not gonna be able to focus on anything other than the gaps in it.
Mommy horror is easily predisposed to exclusionary and gender normative behavior. I myself am struggling a bit with pronouns here because I want to use inclusive language, but I also don’t want this review to get painfully repetitive. Can we stick with mommy, and if you like a different word better, you can sub that in because I want you under the umbrella too? K? Cool. But all of this is to get at the fact that authors who tackle the subject of motherhood need to work even harder to recognize that parenting comes in all shapes and sizes and orientations. You can’t throw me into a futuristic dystopian where climate collapse necessitates a more eco-conscious way of living, but then fail to even give me a one off sentence about birth limits. Your characters are Chinese, and you’re talking about historical mistreatment that they as a people have endured, and you’re not even gonna acknowledge this giant social rule that caused so much impact? That’s beyond negligent to me. Beyond a singular quip that the behavior is considered “odd,” homosexuality may as well not exist in this world. That’s not fair. That’s not right. You’ve set your story in Australia where gay and trans rights are very much a thing. You can’t just ignore them because they’re uncomfortable to talk about.
Which leads me into one of my biggest complaints with this story, the concept of adoption is never broached. I’ll suspend my disbelief that birthing mothers pop out a clone that eats them, but you’ve gotta do me a favor and at least cover the basics. We know episiotomies are a thing but what about C-sections? What about IVF? Are people struggling with fertility? What happens to women’s immature eggs when they’re reborn? Like I have so many standard questions about this subject that the book fails to answer, but don’t worry, we’ll take the time to mention that the world has developed GMO rice because for some reason exotic food porn has been mistaken as cultural diversity touchstones. And don’t get me wrong, food is absolutely a part of culture, but when the only aspects of representation in your novel are pork belly and red envelopes, we’ve got a problem. The dystopian world is incredibly isolated. We have no idea what’s happening in other countries. They have limited internet access, but we have no idea if rebirth is a globally accepted practice. We have The Wiggles, but we don’t know what the porn industry is like. And if you’re like Samantha, that’s a little out-of-pocket, you’re so right, bestie, but the postpartum return to sex is such a staple in mommy horror that its absence is glaring here. There’s just so little for the audience to go on, and you’re expected to just roll with it.
And if you do, you’re not exactly rewarded. You’ll get the typical mommy guilt musings that you’ve read before. The idea that postpartum depression can be deadly especially when a woman doesn’t have support isn’t exactly a new topic. And there’s no nuance to this. The book had me strapped in, ready to hear something new when it took the classic save the baby or the mother ethical dilemma that expecting parents face and spun it on its head to save the mother or the mother. Brother, I thought that shit was gonna be gorgeous. I thought it had something to say. I don’t think the book even recognized that that was within it. Instead of a juicy, layered argument between do you save the woman before the baby or the woman after, we used it as a cheap twist for a domestic thriller. Are you kidding me? And credit where credit is due, I did not see that twist coming. I thought we were headed down a much more toxic route of queer partners baby snatching which would’ve been a whole different can of fuck no. I’ve never been so thankful to be wrong about a book’s direction.
So after the first half lulls you into a numbed glaze, you’ll snap back to attention for the twist, just for the book to kill every ounce of its momentum that it finally created when it time skips into the future so it can flashback to part one with a new perspective. You know, the exact act you just snoozed through. And it’s a total waste of time because the shift in perspective doesn’t offer any new insights that you wouldn’t just assume upon learning of the twist. As soon as you learn her real identity, your brain is already changing how it was viewing their prior interactions. I didn’t need an exact play-by-play. Trust your audience for the love of god. We can understand that 2+2 = 4!
So cool, you make it through act one again, and you’re like OK. The book has to go somewhere from here. They’re reuniting and- Everybody’s dead. What’s the point of the reunion if you immediately kill them off? We don’t sit with any sort of emotion. They get blown up. Do you know how pointless that feels? Then we dither around for a few chapters in the son’s perspective to what? Show he tolerated racism to use a rich friend’s resources? Brother in this economy, I too would do nasty things for a chest freezer and a half a cow. His big driving modus operandi is advocating for birthing women’s rights, but then somehow he’s married and impregnated a woman who doesn’t share his beliefs, and he just feels entirely neutral about this? It doesn’t make any sense! There’s a her body her choice token line thrown in that feels incongruous with the core of his character’s morality. If he truly believes women die when they give birth and that copies aren’t the same as the originals, how can he possibly be okay with his wife’s looming death? And the book ends before we confront this! The book is so determined to undo any positive content that it generates. And now I feel blah leaning cranky about it.
One last thing, because I’ve ranted enough about this book. I’m a STEM girlie. I’m a little too invested in women’s health. I don’t expect the average person to know about epigenetic differences or fetal chimerism or teratomas. But I damn well expect the dystopian women’s healthcare author to at least give it a cursory Google, considering there’s scientific phenomena that closely mirrors the magic of her book. It’s lazy. The whole book is lazy. And while that’s not a damning enough sin to go on my do not read list considering the other titles on there, I don’t think you should pick this up. I think there’s so many other authors doing this schtick better. I’d give her another try if I heard great things about her next book, but this simply wasn’t enough to make me see her out again on my own.
Who should read this:
Mommy horror fans
Climate dystopian fans
Ideal reading time:
New Year’s
Do I want to reread this:
Nope
Would I buy this:
Nope
Similar books:
* Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder-lit fic, mommy horror, magical realism, social commentary
* Wife Shaped Bodies by Laura Cranehill-dystopian, mommy horror, social commentary, queer
* Shark Heart by Emily Habeck-lit fic, dystopian, magical realism, degenerative disease horror, family drama, social commentary
* Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake-lit fic, dark academia, mommy horror, family drama, social commentary, queer
* Normal Women by Ainslie Hogarth-lit fic, psychological, mommy horror, domestic thriller, social commentary
* Deliver Me by Elle Nash-lit fic, psychological horror, mommy horror, family drama, unreliable narrator, queer, social commentary
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dystopian mommy horror thriller that’s better in concept than execution.
Pre-reading:
Love mommy horror.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
I'm not sure how I won't compare this to Nightbitch or Girl Dinner or Trad Wife. They’re such big names in the genre. (It’s the way Blake left so much room for other authors and they still can’t compare to her.)
The two parallel lines to mean pregnancy test and a new road is so good, but the phrase does just trigger the Noah Kahan song in my head.
This isn't bad, but it is fucking slow so far.
I'm bored.
Like it’s a good exaggeration of postpartum depression, but I’m bored.
Title drop
Oh shit! That was absolutely a twist, but I don’t know about trans villain/queer couple being baby snatchers. That seems like bad optics. (Don’t read books half asleep, kids. I was like OMG that’s why she always wears makeup, and wears baggy clothes to hide her figure, and she has a manly jaw. She’s not his niece. She’s his girlfriend!)
Update: so it is not that. I’m very thankful. She’s not in drag, she’s just in disguise. Crazy that you wouldn’t recognize yourself though. (Would a jaw implant heal fast enough? You can cry dystopian medical advancement, but I think it’s wild that plastic surgery is still a thing when people are taking 30 minutes for toast.)
Women’s healthcare is abysmal! Go off, book. (I thought we were going somewhere about medical waste and miscarriages. We were not.)
You know this was really slow. I was like this is commentary we’ve seen before, and now I’m back in. Save the mother or the mother is crazy. (It’s always painful when I go back and edit, and I see that past Sam had such genuine hope for a book.)
The pacing of this is so slow, and now it’s just a flashback to stuff we already read. There’s nothing particularly insightful or different from what you would assume as soon as you learn the twist, so it’s kind of 100 pages of nothing.
This book is just ignoring the option of adoption. Like what about all the same-sex couples or IVF? There’s a lot of missing commentary. I don’t need you to touch on everything. We’d be here forever, but do a couple!
You don’t have to give birth to have children, and I wish more people would recognize that.
That’s it? That’s the ending? Jesus.
Post-reading:
A horror book shouldn’t be bland. I wanna be anxious or disgusted or at the very least unsettled. I shouldn’t leave it unaffected, especially when you’re using a dystopian to make social commentary. Unfortunately, this book’s pacing and structure ruin any chance of it having tension. It just feels like a slog. It wants to examine the mistreatment of postpartum mothers, but the scope of its argument is so shortsighted that you’re not gonna be able to focus on anything other than the gaps in it.
Mommy horror is easily predisposed to exclusionary and gender normative behavior. I myself am struggling a bit with pronouns here because I want to use inclusive language, but I also don’t want this review to get painfully repetitive. Can we stick with mommy, and if you like a different word better, you can sub that in because I want you under the umbrella too? K? Cool. But all of this is to get at the fact that authors who tackle the subject of motherhood need to work even harder to recognize that parenting comes in all shapes and sizes and orientations. You can’t throw me into a futuristic dystopian where climate collapse necessitates a more eco-conscious way of living, but then fail to even give me a one off sentence about birth limits. Your characters are Chinese, and you’re talking about historical mistreatment that they as a people have endured, and you’re not even gonna acknowledge this giant social rule that caused so much impact? That’s beyond negligent to me. Beyond a singular quip that the behavior is considered “odd,” homosexuality may as well not exist in this world. That’s not fair. That’s not right. You’ve set your story in Australia where gay and trans rights are very much a thing. You can’t just ignore them because they’re uncomfortable to talk about.
Which leads me into one of my biggest complaints with this story, the concept of adoption is never broached. I’ll suspend my disbelief that birthing mothers pop out a clone that eats them, but you’ve gotta do me a favor and at least cover the basics. We know episiotomies are a thing but what about C-sections? What about IVF? Are people struggling with fertility? What happens to women’s immature eggs when they’re reborn? Like I have so many standard questions about this subject that the book fails to answer, but don’t worry, we’ll take the time to mention that the world has developed GMO rice because for some reason exotic food porn has been mistaken as cultural diversity touchstones. And don’t get me wrong, food is absolutely a part of culture, but when the only aspects of representation in your novel are pork belly and red envelopes, we’ve got a problem. The dystopian world is incredibly isolated. We have no idea what’s happening in other countries. They have limited internet access, but we have no idea if rebirth is a globally accepted practice. We have The Wiggles, but we don’t know what the porn industry is like. And if you’re like Samantha, that’s a little out-of-pocket, you’re so right, bestie, but the postpartum return to sex is such a staple in mommy horror that its absence is glaring here. There’s just so little for the audience to go on, and you’re expected to just roll with it.
And if you do, you’re not exactly rewarded. You’ll get the typical mommy guilt musings that you’ve read before. The idea that postpartum depression can be deadly especially when a woman doesn’t have support isn’t exactly a new topic. And there’s no nuance to this. The book had me strapped in, ready to hear something new when it took the classic save the baby or the mother ethical dilemma that expecting parents face and spun it on its head to save the mother or the mother. Brother, I thought that shit was gonna be gorgeous. I thought it had something to say. I don’t think the book even recognized that that was within it. Instead of a juicy, layered argument between do you save the woman before the baby or the woman after, we used it as a cheap twist for a domestic thriller. Are you kidding me? And credit where credit is due, I did not see that twist coming. I thought we were headed down a much more toxic route of queer partners baby snatching which would’ve been a whole different can of fuck no. I’ve never been so thankful to be wrong about a book’s direction.
So after the first half lulls you into a numbed glaze, you’ll snap back to attention for the twist, just for the book to kill every ounce of its momentum that it finally created when it time skips into the future so it can flashback to part one with a new perspective. You know, the exact act you just snoozed through. And it’s a total waste of time because the shift in perspective doesn’t offer any new insights that you wouldn’t just assume upon learning of the twist. As soon as you learn her real identity, your brain is already changing how it was viewing their prior interactions. I didn’t need an exact play-by-play. Trust your audience for the love of god. We can understand that 2+2 = 4!
So cool, you make it through act one again, and you’re like OK. The book has to go somewhere from here. They’re reuniting and- Everybody’s dead. What’s the point of the reunion if you immediately kill them off? We don’t sit with any sort of emotion. They get blown up. Do you know how pointless that feels? Then we dither around for a few chapters in the son’s perspective to what? Show he tolerated racism to use a rich friend’s resources? Brother in this economy, I too would do nasty things for a chest freezer and a half a cow. His big driving modus operandi is advocating for birthing women’s rights, but then somehow he’s married and impregnated a woman who doesn’t share his beliefs, and he just feels entirely neutral about this? It doesn’t make any sense! There’s a her body her choice token line thrown in that feels incongruous with the core of his character’s morality. If he truly believes women die when they give birth and that copies aren’t the same as the originals, how can he possibly be okay with his wife’s looming death? And the book ends before we confront this! The book is so determined to undo any positive content that it generates. And now I feel blah leaning cranky about it.
One last thing, because I’ve ranted enough about this book. I’m a STEM girlie. I’m a little too invested in women’s health. I don’t expect the average person to know about epigenetic differences or fetal chimerism or teratomas. But I damn well expect the dystopian women’s healthcare author to at least give it a cursory Google, considering there’s scientific phenomena that closely mirrors the magic of her book. It’s lazy. The whole book is lazy. And while that’s not a damning enough sin to go on my do not read list considering the other titles on there, I don’t think you should pick this up. I think there’s so many other authors doing this schtick better. I’d give her another try if I heard great things about her next book, but this simply wasn’t enough to make me see her out again on my own.
Who should read this:
Mommy horror fans
Climate dystopian fans
Ideal reading time:
New Year’s
Do I want to reread this:
Nope
Would I buy this:
Nope
Similar books:
* Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder-lit fic, mommy horror, magical realism, social commentary
* Wife Shaped Bodies by Laura Cranehill-dystopian, mommy horror, social commentary, queer
* Shark Heart by Emily Habeck-lit fic, dystopian, magical realism, degenerative disease horror, family drama, social commentary
* Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake-lit fic, dark academia, mommy horror, family drama, social commentary, queer
* Normal Women by Ainslie Hogarth-lit fic, psychological, mommy horror, domestic thriller, social commentary
* Deliver Me by Elle Nash-lit fic, psychological horror, mommy horror, family drama, unreliable narrator, queer, social commentary
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The setup for this book is that, in this world, every woman gives birth to her replacement at the same time she has her child. That replacement then eats her and obtains strength and patience and dashboard abs as a result. The world does not blink as the moms, wives and mothers are replaced each time they give birth. Vivian is terrified of the rebirth and does not want it to happen. From that body horror setup comes a story that deftly explores the impossibly high standards put on new mothers and competition among women in chauvinist societies. The fact of the rebirth also lays bare what exactly women are valued for. But this also a heartfelt story of two women who are trying to feel their way through this process when they do not fit the mold and need extra help. Many of the passages feel familiar to anyone who has experienced new motherhood. I think the ending was a bit odd, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 5, 2026
"...mothers giving birth to mothers, mothers eating themselves."
Australia - Vivi, a Chinese-Indonesian woman lives in an alternate reality where people experience 'rebirth', in which the new mother consumes her old body.
If you're a mother feeling like failing and losing it, this book will highly resonate. BUT WON'T I MISS ME provides a raw look at motherhood, revealing how motherhood can be monstrous and dark. By incorporating elements of horror and body forms, the societal commentary and examination of gender roles and marriage are sharply done, offering an uneasy food to digest. In this, our feelings (harmful thinking and frustration) are much valid and we're not alone in the darkness.
This book questions the life's purpose while exposes evolution x extinction. It reverberates sensorial, visceral and psychological vibes, making it an unsettling read that also acquires layers by touching immigration and culture. The solid characterization does a decent emotional damage and I would have loved a deeper touch on the culture and better tie up of the loose ends (the ending is well done).
This harrowing speculative fiction isn't limited to mothers in crisis, but for anyone trying to survive in their own ways. It's thought-provoking and I think Tsao nailed at delivering the purpose.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Harpervia Books . All opinions are my own ]
Australia - Vivi, a Chinese-Indonesian woman lives in an alternate reality where people experience 'rebirth', in which the new mother consumes her old body.
If you're a mother feeling like failing and losing it, this book will highly resonate. BUT WON'T I MISS ME provides a raw look at motherhood, revealing how motherhood can be monstrous and dark. By incorporating elements of horror and body forms, the societal commentary and examination of gender roles and marriage are sharply done, offering an uneasy food to digest. In this, our feelings (harmful thinking and frustration) are much valid and we're not alone in the darkness.
This book questions the life's purpose while exposes evolution x extinction. It reverberates sensorial, visceral and psychological vibes, making it an unsettling read that also acquires layers by touching immigration and culture. The solid characterization does a decent emotional damage and I would have loved a deeper touch on the culture and better tie up of the loose ends (the ending is well done).
This harrowing speculative fiction isn't limited to mothers in crisis, but for anyone trying to survive in their own ways. It's thought-provoking and I think Tsao nailed at delivering the purpose.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Harpervia Books . All opinions are my own ]
January 12, 2026
if "nightbitch" and "the substance" had a terrifying, philosophical baby!
this book was such a trippy, unsettling read. tiffany tsao takes the concept of "losing yourself" in motherhood and turns it into a literal, biological horror story. the world-building is fascinating; the idea that pregnancy results in a superior, indestructible version of yourself that literally replaces you is such a visceral metaphor for how society expects women to disappear into the role of a mother.
Vivi was a compelling, if deeply stressed, protagonist. i loved the "glitch in the system" aspect where her rebirth didn't go as planned, leaving her to navigate a world that has no room for "broken" versions of women. it definitely reminded me of weird momhood litfic with its focus on the grotesque and the physical transformation of the female body. i loved philosophical questions about identity and what we owe to our past selves were the strongest parts for me. it’s propulsive and moves quickly, though at times it felt a bit heavy-handed with the metaphors. still, it’s a gripping speculative tale that will make you look at the "mundane" parts of parenting in a much darker light.
definitely worth a read if you like feminist horror that makes you think. i enjoyed it so much.
4 ⭐️🫶🏼
thank you HarperVia!
this book was such a trippy, unsettling read. tiffany tsao takes the concept of "losing yourself" in motherhood and turns it into a literal, biological horror story. the world-building is fascinating; the idea that pregnancy results in a superior, indestructible version of yourself that literally replaces you is such a visceral metaphor for how society expects women to disappear into the role of a mother.
Vivi was a compelling, if deeply stressed, protagonist. i loved the "glitch in the system" aspect where her rebirth didn't go as planned, leaving her to navigate a world that has no room for "broken" versions of women. it definitely reminded me of weird momhood litfic with its focus on the grotesque and the physical transformation of the female body. i loved philosophical questions about identity and what we owe to our past selves were the strongest parts for me. it’s propulsive and moves quickly, though at times it felt a bit heavy-handed with the metaphors. still, it’s a gripping speculative tale that will make you look at the "mundane" parts of parenting in a much darker light.
definitely worth a read if you like feminist horror that makes you think. i enjoyed it so much.
4 ⭐️🫶🏼
thank you HarperVia!
Did Not Finish
June 15, 2026DNF 22%
I don’t like stories about motherhood, and I don’t know how many times I have to DNF one to get that through my thick skull.
I don’t like stories about motherhood, and I don’t know how many times I have to DNF one to get that through my thick skull.
May 28, 2026
"I reflect on how unhealthy it is to have my feelings so bound up with what my almost two year old decides to consume."
"This is mostly how I experience the joy of motherhood these days, secondhand, as if watching ourselves in a mirror, pleased in the reflection of our smiles".
WOW WOW WOW. This book took me on a wild ride for sure. I was entertained, grossed out, appalled, amazed, mind-blown, sad and probably a million other things.
I loved the diversity and many themes captured here regarding motherhood, the village that it takes to raise a child, the racial themes across Indonesia and Australia. What a unique premise and book.
I loved it on audiobook with incredible narration by Siho Ellsmore.
"This is mostly how I experience the joy of motherhood these days, secondhand, as if watching ourselves in a mirror, pleased in the reflection of our smiles".
WOW WOW WOW. This book took me on a wild ride for sure. I was entertained, grossed out, appalled, amazed, mind-blown, sad and probably a million other things.
I loved the diversity and many themes captured here regarding motherhood, the village that it takes to raise a child, the racial themes across Indonesia and Australia. What a unique premise and book.
I loved it on audiobook with incredible narration by Siho Ellsmore.
June 24, 2026
I want to give this book 4.5 stars, it does a lot of things right and I love how it tackles subjects like childbirth and postpartum depression but with a sci fi horror twist! I really enjoyed the overall premise, and although the ending was a little abrupt, I think the author accomplished what she wanted to say. I am currently pregnant with my first child and felt like this book kinda tackled some of the anxieties I have myself on the topic, and I appreciated the honest and gritty portrayal of motherhood. We ladies all need grace and support, and trying to tackle the identity change that comes with being a new mom shouldn't be taken lightly. Support your local women everyone!
Want to Read
March 12, 2026This sounds completely creepy and uncomfortable and I can't wait to read it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
April 24, 2026
This book was gifted to me by the publisher.
Who am I, if I’m not myself?
A grisly commentary on what it means to become a mother and bring new life into this world. In Tiffany Tsao’s “But Won’t I Miss Me,” embracing motherhood comes with another benefit - birthing a new you that consumes the old you.
Once Vivi is expecting her first child, she is panicked at the idea of rebirth. While those around her don’t see what there is to worry about, Vivian asks “But won’t I miss me?”
Touching, brutal and thoughtful - I couldn’t put this one down. It is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year so far.
Who am I, if I’m not myself?
A grisly commentary on what it means to become a mother and bring new life into this world. In Tiffany Tsao’s “But Won’t I Miss Me,” embracing motherhood comes with another benefit - birthing a new you that consumes the old you.
Once Vivi is expecting her first child, she is panicked at the idea of rebirth. While those around her don’t see what there is to worry about, Vivian asks “But won’t I miss me?”
Touching, brutal and thoughtful - I couldn’t put this one down. It is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year so far.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In a world where freshly postpartum women replace their old body with a new and improved version to more efficiently undertake their new role of mother, Vivi is consumed with anxiety about her impending matrescence. Then the day comes and unlike basically every other mother in the world, her new form is a diminished version of herself and her struggles only grow alongside her son.
This is exactly what I’m looking for when I say I enjoy stories about motherhood. I enjoyed how much time we spend in our main character's head throughout the book, really feeling her anxiety grow and seeing her perspective juxtaposed with the responses of everyone around her- "well everyone else does it why are you struggling so much." I enjoyed the commentary on motherhood the book posits. There was one part where I was so surprised by the turn I squealed and could not put the book down after that. I finished it a little after 2am this morning and had to come talk about it right away. This was unhinged and bizarre but at the same time felt so familiar and as someone who also had a tumultuous matrescence, this really hit a sweet spot for me.
Thank you to Net Galley, HarperVia, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the book early. All opinions are my own.
This is exactly what I’m looking for when I say I enjoy stories about motherhood. I enjoyed how much time we spend in our main character's head throughout the book, really feeling her anxiety grow and seeing her perspective juxtaposed with the responses of everyone around her- "well everyone else does it why are you struggling so much." I enjoyed the commentary on motherhood the book posits. There was one part where I was so surprised by the turn I squealed and could not put the book down after that. I finished it a little after 2am this morning and had to come talk about it right away. This was unhinged and bizarre but at the same time felt so familiar and as someone who also had a tumultuous matrescence, this really hit a sweet spot for me.
Thank you to Net Galley, HarperVia, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the book early. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2026
But Won’t I Miss Me | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 | Literary Thriller & Horror | 320 Pages | ARC EBook
This is an incredible dystopian-like thriller about the horrors of motherhood and the extremely high pressures put on women in our society.
“Re-birth” is a process where the pregnant mother delivers not only the baby, but a small slug-like object that unalives the mom, eats her whole and then becomes a stronger, slimmer, “better” version of the original mother.
“It’s nature’s way.” - But should it be? And what happens when the status quo is challenged?
This is the kind of story where you don’t want to immediately start a new book because you’ve got to process what you’ve just experienced. But Won’t I Miss Me takes a haunting look into how we view women and that sometimes as mothers - we just don’t feel like we’re ever good enough.
Highly recommend! For any little fic or horror friend.
This is an incredible dystopian-like thriller about the horrors of motherhood and the extremely high pressures put on women in our society.
“Re-birth” is a process where the pregnant mother delivers not only the baby, but a small slug-like object that unalives the mom, eats her whole and then becomes a stronger, slimmer, “better” version of the original mother.
“It’s nature’s way.” - But should it be? And what happens when the status quo is challenged?
This is the kind of story where you don’t want to immediately start a new book because you’ve got to process what you’ve just experienced. But Won’t I Miss Me takes a haunting look into how we view women and that sometimes as mothers - we just don’t feel like we’re ever good enough.
Highly recommend! For any little fic or horror friend.
December 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC!
Vivi is a new mother who is struggling with her postpartum self. But how could she be? In a world of rebirth, new mothers are expected to become borderline superhuman. So what went wrong? Her marriage falls apart, and she soon has no choice but to get her old job back, and start life anew.
Three words I’d use to describe this book: beautiful, devastating, and uncomfortable. I loved the multicultural experience this book offers. It takes place in Australia and Indonesia, with characters from various cultures, united over their roots and work. Descriptions were very vivid, very engaging, and I found myself coming up with images in my head nonstop. Always fun when books tap into your imagination.
Main story wise, i had complicated feelings for the main character, Vivi. Sometimes I’m feeling empathetic, sometimes i find myself losing patience with her. I love that layered personality that really came with every recurring character. Even till the end, I wasn’t sure how I truly felt.
The horrific bits though really does cement my choice to be childfree. I know this is fiction, but let’s not pretend mothers have it super easy in real life either. Even though I’m not a mother, I have compassion and I felt terrible for the women in the book. The price you pay to give birth… how much sacrifice is considered adequate? Can you live up to expectations? Do you lose yourself? And is that what you truly want?
Absolutely recommend this book to everyone.
Vivi is a new mother who is struggling with her postpartum self. But how could she be? In a world of rebirth, new mothers are expected to become borderline superhuman. So what went wrong? Her marriage falls apart, and she soon has no choice but to get her old job back, and start life anew.
Three words I’d use to describe this book: beautiful, devastating, and uncomfortable. I loved the multicultural experience this book offers. It takes place in Australia and Indonesia, with characters from various cultures, united over their roots and work. Descriptions were very vivid, very engaging, and I found myself coming up with images in my head nonstop. Always fun when books tap into your imagination.
Main story wise, i had complicated feelings for the main character, Vivi. Sometimes I’m feeling empathetic, sometimes i find myself losing patience with her. I love that layered personality that really came with every recurring character. Even till the end, I wasn’t sure how I truly felt.
The horrific bits though really does cement my choice to be childfree. I know this is fiction, but let’s not pretend mothers have it super easy in real life either. Even though I’m not a mother, I have compassion and I felt terrible for the women in the book. The price you pay to give birth… how much sacrifice is considered adequate? Can you live up to expectations? Do you lose yourself? And is that what you truly want?
Absolutely recommend this book to everyone.
November 28, 2025
But Won’t I Miss Me by Tiffany Tsao takes places in an alternate reality where women get super powers after childbirth when they go through a process called “rebirth.” This book follows Vivi who has gone through the process but something went wrong and she is struggling to keep up with her young child. This is not normal in this reality so she feels judged by all those around her. Will she hit a breaking point?
I need everyone to put this book on their radar because it was so good! The commentary on how society treats women, especially women going through postpartum depressions is searing. This also deals heavily with how women change after childbirth and become a new person and how some women struggle to juggle everything.
There is a mystery throughout this book that kept me flying through the pages. There are also some horrific moments that actually made me stop reading and stare at a wall for a little while. I can see this book being very well received by the right audience so I’m hoping people read it. I know I will be highly recommending it!
I need everyone to put this book on their radar because it was so good! The commentary on how society treats women, especially women going through postpartum depressions is searing. This also deals heavily with how women change after childbirth and become a new person and how some women struggle to juggle everything.
There is a mystery throughout this book that kept me flying through the pages. There are also some horrific moments that actually made me stop reading and stare at a wall for a little while. I can see this book being very well received by the right audience so I’m hoping people read it. I know I will be highly recommending it!
June 28, 2026
The slump that i was in before this book needs to be studied. I completely adore how this book was written and the concept, it had me wanting to tear up I’ll be honest. It really brought light to the societal pressures that women / mothers go through. I found myself laughing out loud in a very bitter and real way.
This book is set in an alternate reality where after women give birth their former self gets replaced, in an horrific way, with a stronger “better” version of themselves. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I truly felt like i related to this book more than other “motherhood” books I’ve read (especially being a mother myself).
The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is just based off pacing and the slight confusion I had over the different POVs — but I also see how it was relevant to the story so I still would 100% recommend.
You’ll go through many emotions when reading this and your heart will break. I wanted to annotate many parts but found myself highlighting the whole book ngl. I recommend going into this one with no idea at all, like i did, it’s the best way imo.
My new auto buy author fr.
This book is set in an alternate reality where after women give birth their former self gets replaced, in an horrific way, with a stronger “better” version of themselves. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I truly felt like i related to this book more than other “motherhood” books I’ve read (especially being a mother myself).
The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is just based off pacing and the slight confusion I had over the different POVs — but I also see how it was relevant to the story so I still would 100% recommend.
You’ll go through many emotions when reading this and your heart will break. I wanted to annotate many parts but found myself highlighting the whole book ngl. I recommend going into this one with no idea at all, like i did, it’s the best way imo.
My new auto buy author fr.
June 5, 2026
Going into Tiffany Tsao’s But Won’t I Miss Me, I didn’t know how disturbed I was supposed to be by the plot line. Set in a world I hope never comes to be, pregnant women not only give birth to their child, but also a stronger, more resilient version of themselves who consumes the mother literally, taking her place to raise the baby. The process is called Rebirth, and it is most certainly chilling right down to the bone.
Pretty wild concept, right? I thought so too, which is why I was disappointed when this novel kept losing me throughout part one, which follows new mother Vivi whose Rebirth went wrong - she was not consumed. Instead she is left to raise her baby Cloud as the weak and tired version of herself, and she finds herself failing miserably when compared to other mothers. There were some gripping chapters in part one of this novel, but I felt that it cycled quite a bit. I just wasn’t quite invested and couldn’t figure out where this book was trying to go or what it was trying to be.
However, that soon became clear after I fell into part 2, and after that, I was hooked. In part 2, all begins to make sense and I was able to see why I felt so confused and disconnected with the first part of the story. Tsao has cleverly crafted a twist that I did not see coming, and I love the dynamics that unfolded because of her sleight of hand.
Well done. A murky, yet secretly slick, look at what it means to be a mother.
Pretty wild concept, right? I thought so too, which is why I was disappointed when this novel kept losing me throughout part one, which follows new mother Vivi whose Rebirth went wrong - she was not consumed. Instead she is left to raise her baby Cloud as the weak and tired version of herself, and she finds herself failing miserably when compared to other mothers. There were some gripping chapters in part one of this novel, but I felt that it cycled quite a bit. I just wasn’t quite invested and couldn’t figure out where this book was trying to go or what it was trying to be.
However, that soon became clear after I fell into part 2, and after that, I was hooked. In part 2, all begins to make sense and I was able to see why I felt so confused and disconnected with the first part of the story. Tsao has cleverly crafted a twist that I did not see coming, and I love the dynamics that unfolded because of her sleight of hand.
Well done. A murky, yet secretly slick, look at what it means to be a mother.
June 24, 2026
Ambientada en una realidad alternativa donde el embarazo otorga a las mujeres poderes excepcionales, la historia sigue a una mujer llamada Vivi. En este mundo, el renacimiento es un hecho biológico: tener un bebé implica dar a luz a un 'yo' idéntico y casi indestructible que consume a la madre original para ocupar su lugar. Sin embargo, Vivi emerge de su renacimiento debilitada en lugar de fortalecida. Tras divorciarse y mudarse, debe afrontar la maternidad mientras descubre verdades aterradoras sobre lo que salió mal durante el parto; un hallazgo que transforma por completo su vida.
Me fascinó la forma en que este libro subvierte el concepto de la maternidad. Pone de relieve la presión social por ser una 'supermamá' y explora la sensación de fracaso cuando el proceso no se desarrolla según lo previsto.
Me fascinó la forma en que este libro subvierte el concepto de la maternidad. Pone de relieve la presión social por ser una 'supermamá' y explora la sensación de fracaso cuando el proceso no se desarrolla según lo previsto.
April 12, 2026
But I Won’t Miss Me is an incredibly unique and deeply dark story that explores complex thoughts and themes surrounding motherhood. While I can appreciate the ambition and originality of the storytelling, the narrative itself felt a bit strange at times, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with.
I received an advance listening copy of the audiobook from HarperVia, and I did overall enjoy the audio presentation.
I received an advance listening copy of the audiobook from HarperVia, and I did overall enjoy the audio presentation.
May 29, 2026
I knew this was going to be a 5 star read within the first 20%. The way motherhood and childbirth are portrayed in this story.....wow. I felt extremely seen. The gruesome gore was very well written. Horrifying 100% The unfolding of the mystery and thriller portions had me hooked!! Absolutely highly recommend!
May 11, 2026
4.25 ⭐️.. very creative story. The second half really tied it up for me..
May 13, 2026
(4.5) the first part lost me a bit as it went on, but the second half was just (devastatingly) wonderful
May 14, 2026
unsettling, uncomfortable, incredible reflection on motherhood and female identity. I gotta stare at a wall for a bit.
May 31, 2026
This story cleverly personifies the often painful transformation a woman undergoes after giving birth.
Did Not Finish
June 29, 2026Dnf 23%
June 2, 2026
The idea of an alternate reality where women are capable of a rebirth, where you can give birth to a better version of yourself and then your new self / baby eats the old you?
Sold. I had anticipated this book to be one of the coolest books I’d read.
This concept was definitely giving The Substance.
Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with the execution.
I think I was a little bored with the first half and struggled to connect with the story.
It was heavy on the internal monologue style rather than letting you flow through on your own, which tends to disconnect me from a story.
That being said, this could absolutely be a me problem, and I wish that I would have loved this as much as I know so many people will!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this arc.
May 11, 2026
4.25
This book completely caught me off guard in the best way. The concept alone is fascinating, but what really made it work for me was how much emotional depth sat underneath the science fiction and horror elements.
There’s a lot happening here thematically. Motherhood, identity, exhaustion, sacrifice, the pressure placed on women to seamlessly transform themselves while continuing to hold everything together.
And that twist? Absolutely incredible. I did not see it coming at all, and it completely reframed the story for me in a way that made the entire book even stronger in retrospect.
I also have to mention the title because it’s honestly brilliant. It ties so perfectly into the emotional core of the story and the fear of losing yourself to the expectations of motherhood and reinvention.
Overall, this is smart, disturbing, emotional, and incredibly memorable. It’s one of those books that lingers in your brain long after you finish it, and I’ve already been recommending it to basically everyone.
This book completely caught me off guard in the best way. The concept alone is fascinating, but what really made it work for me was how much emotional depth sat underneath the science fiction and horror elements.
There’s a lot happening here thematically. Motherhood, identity, exhaustion, sacrifice, the pressure placed on women to seamlessly transform themselves while continuing to hold everything together.
And that twist? Absolutely incredible. I did not see it coming at all, and it completely reframed the story for me in a way that made the entire book even stronger in retrospect.
I also have to mention the title because it’s honestly brilliant. It ties so perfectly into the emotional core of the story and the fear of losing yourself to the expectations of motherhood and reinvention.
Overall, this is smart, disturbing, emotional, and incredibly memorable. It’s one of those books that lingers in your brain long after you finish it, and I’ve already been recommending it to basically everyone.
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