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Mothers and Other Strangers: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26For fans of Claire Lombardo and J. Courtney Sullivan, a moving and surprising story about two women, best friends since childhood, who reunite as expectant mothers after a mysterious falling out between their mothers (also best friends) keeps them apart for years—and who must finally contend with the secrets between them.
When Sydney and Mae meet on the playground as toddlers, it seems like kismet. Even their very different mothers—the type-A Beth Ann and the free-spirited Joni—agree the girls are made for each other, and it's not long before even the mothers become inseparable.
Then a falling out draws them apart, and decades later, the loneliness still lingers for the newly pregnant Sydney. Adrift in the absence of her closest friend, Sydney has been drawn into a Multi-Level Marketing scheme, exacerbated by the demands of her inflexible mother, Beth Ann, whose constant scrutiny seems reserved only for her daughter.
Across the city, Mae is stunned to find herself single, pregnant, and still haunted by the loss of her mercurial late mother, Joni, whose mysterious death holds as many unanswered questions as Mae does herself. Mae is an artist who has lived under the shadow of the one painting (of two girls) that made her famous years ago, the success of which confines as much as it defines her.
When Sydney and Mae find themselves back in one another’s lives, each with a baby girl on the horizon, it once again seems like destiny. Each begins to pull the other away from the coercive influence of outsiders—mommy groups, marketing schemes, artistic pressures, and ex-boyfriends. But the two women will soon discover that it’s not destiny that has drawn them together this time, but a devastating secret at the center of their orbits—a truth that finally will bind them or shatter them, for good.
An intimate and searing novel about mothers and daughters, and destiny and desire, MOTHERS AND OTHER STRANGERS takes a full-hearted look at those relationships in life that are as impossible as they are utterly essential.
When Sydney and Mae meet on the playground as toddlers, it seems like kismet. Even their very different mothers—the type-A Beth Ann and the free-spirited Joni—agree the girls are made for each other, and it's not long before even the mothers become inseparable.
Then a falling out draws them apart, and decades later, the loneliness still lingers for the newly pregnant Sydney. Adrift in the absence of her closest friend, Sydney has been drawn into a Multi-Level Marketing scheme, exacerbated by the demands of her inflexible mother, Beth Ann, whose constant scrutiny seems reserved only for her daughter.
Across the city, Mae is stunned to find herself single, pregnant, and still haunted by the loss of her mercurial late mother, Joni, whose mysterious death holds as many unanswered questions as Mae does herself. Mae is an artist who has lived under the shadow of the one painting (of two girls) that made her famous years ago, the success of which confines as much as it defines her.
When Sydney and Mae find themselves back in one another’s lives, each with a baby girl on the horizon, it once again seems like destiny. Each begins to pull the other away from the coercive influence of outsiders—mommy groups, marketing schemes, artistic pressures, and ex-boyfriends. But the two women will soon discover that it’s not destiny that has drawn them together this time, but a devastating secret at the center of their orbits—a truth that finally will bind them or shatter them, for good.
An intimate and searing novel about mothers and daughters, and destiny and desire, MOTHERS AND OTHER STRANGERS takes a full-hearted look at those relationships in life that are as impossible as they are utterly essential.
512 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 31, 2026
6 people are currently reading
9203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 31, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 31, 2026.
3.5 stars
An interesting story of two intertwined families, Sydney and Mae meet as small children, then their mothers, Joni and Beth Ann become best friends, as you do and then their families of three begin doing everything together.
Cut to many years later. There has been a terrible falling out between the families. Joni has died in mysterious fashion. Sydney and Mae are in their thirties. Sydney and Beth Ann have become involved with a MLM scheme. What has lead the families here and what is to become of them?
I liked this, even if I didn’t quite buy it all. I especially wasn’t sure how Sydney became the woman she became. Good read, though. I kept turning those pages.
3.5 stars
An interesting story of two intertwined families, Sydney and Mae meet as small children, then their mothers, Joni and Beth Ann become best friends, as you do and then their families of three begin doing everything together.
Cut to many years later. There has been a terrible falling out between the families. Joni has died in mysterious fashion. Sydney and Mae are in their thirties. Sydney and Beth Ann have become involved with a MLM scheme. What has lead the families here and what is to become of them?
I liked this, even if I didn’t quite buy it all. I especially wasn’t sure how Sydney became the woman she became. Good read, though. I kept turning those pages.
November 9, 2025
“Blessings don’t look like blessings until you look through the right lens.”
We love a messy family drama, especially one that crosses generations and inherited trauma! Everyone is gonna read this. Trust. This one is special for 3 reasons.
1. It’s solely focused on the women. BethAnn and Joni. Their daughters Sydney and Mae. Finally Sydney and Mae’s daughters in the 3rd act.
2. It is incredibly well written. The paragraphs that you’ll re-read. An adult debut, this is a skilled writer tackling deeper issues. Secrets will be uncovered, and our characters are flawed while likable and relatable. These women will sometimes make the reader angry, sometimes heartwarming, always becoming more real by the minute.
3. The nuances of characterization through scenes that are about connection and disconnection. Traditions and family values that don’t always serve us.
Here is an example;
“Whoever ordered first ordered the least caloric thing she could find, and the one who ordered next would find a way to make her dish even more spare, even less filling. Sydney found herself doing it with other people too, but they didn’t play the game like Beth Ann did. So the other woman would order a burger and Sydney would order leek soup and feel incensed.”
Relatable.
Lastly, I do love to hate on MLM culture, so we get some of that too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and company for the ARC. Book to be published March 30, 2026.
We love a messy family drama, especially one that crosses generations and inherited trauma! Everyone is gonna read this. Trust. This one is special for 3 reasons.
1. It’s solely focused on the women. BethAnn and Joni. Their daughters Sydney and Mae. Finally Sydney and Mae’s daughters in the 3rd act.
2. It is incredibly well written. The paragraphs that you’ll re-read. An adult debut, this is a skilled writer tackling deeper issues. Secrets will be uncovered, and our characters are flawed while likable and relatable. These women will sometimes make the reader angry, sometimes heartwarming, always becoming more real by the minute.
3. The nuances of characterization through scenes that are about connection and disconnection. Traditions and family values that don’t always serve us.
Here is an example;
“Whoever ordered first ordered the least caloric thing she could find, and the one who ordered next would find a way to make her dish even more spare, even less filling. Sydney found herself doing it with other people too, but they didn’t play the game like Beth Ann did. So the other woman would order a burger and Sydney would order leek soup and feel incensed.”
Relatable.
Lastly, I do love to hate on MLM culture, so we get some of that too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and company for the ARC. Book to be published March 30, 2026.
September 20, 2025
This was a beautifully written story about the complexities of life - friendships, motherhood, relationships, grief. The timeline jumps from past to present to develop the history of the women. How they met as children was fun but the way the reader sees the complex dynamics between the mothers and the daughters makes everything come into focus for the rest of the book. This book is a real and raw literary treasure. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2025
Reading this book was like unwrapping a multi-boxed present and discovering surprise after surprise.
Talk about a messy and complex and dysfunctional family (or families, I should say), Corey Ann Haydu gives us two of them, and they are so intricately intertwined, that sometimes we find ourselves wondering...now which one was that or who did that?
Meet Barrett, Beth Ann, and their young daughter, Sydney, residing in the idyllic suburb of Sommersette. Enter Graham, Joni, and daughter, Mae, who arrive to Sommersette when both girls are three. By a "happenstance" meeting at school pick up followed by a playdate at a nearby park, Sydney and Mae are on their way to becoming best friends at a mere three years old. The moms - Beth Ann and Joni - couldn't be any different. Beth Ann, in trying to escape her own Stepford wifedom, gets caught up in a pyramid or Ponzi scheme trying to "find herself." Jonie is a free flowing artsy hippie. Yet, not only do the girls become best friends, the wives also do (or try to), and the families vacation together every summer.
The book is told in an efficient now and then format, which works so well for all of the secrets that are revealed. If you enjoy reading family saga stories about friendship, secrets, searching for happiness, and finding oneself, look for this one that hits shelves March 31st.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for this novel that delves into the question - how well do we really know our own family? This new release would make for excellent book club discussion.
Talk about a messy and complex and dysfunctional family (or families, I should say), Corey Ann Haydu gives us two of them, and they are so intricately intertwined, that sometimes we find ourselves wondering...now which one was that or who did that?
Meet Barrett, Beth Ann, and their young daughter, Sydney, residing in the idyllic suburb of Sommersette. Enter Graham, Joni, and daughter, Mae, who arrive to Sommersette when both girls are three. By a "happenstance" meeting at school pick up followed by a playdate at a nearby park, Sydney and Mae are on their way to becoming best friends at a mere three years old. The moms - Beth Ann and Joni - couldn't be any different. Beth Ann, in trying to escape her own Stepford wifedom, gets caught up in a pyramid or Ponzi scheme trying to "find herself." Jonie is a free flowing artsy hippie. Yet, not only do the girls become best friends, the wives also do (or try to), and the families vacation together every summer.
The book is told in an efficient now and then format, which works so well for all of the secrets that are revealed. If you enjoy reading family saga stories about friendship, secrets, searching for happiness, and finding oneself, look for this one that hits shelves March 31st.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for this novel that delves into the question - how well do we really know our own family? This new release would make for excellent book club discussion.
November 12, 2025
Haydu gives us the perfect book club novel for 2026! A tale that winds through mothers and daughters, and best friends and sisters, and back to mothers again, following four women throughout their lives and their relationships to each other. A rare literary glimpse into motherhood, especially NEW motherhood, when everything is raw and messy and relationships often form in unexpected places. Joni and Beth Ann become mom friends when their daughters become best friends and the story starts from there...but does it? Or did it start way before that? When Mae and Sydney grow up and become first-time moms at the same time, it's another round of strange dependence on the "fellow mom" relationship. There are secrets and tragedy, infidelity and grief, and the question of "more". Like shouldn't women want to "have it all?" A career and children and a husband and power and success and loyalty?? Sydney and Mae have different views on what "success" looks like as a woman, and the theme of MLMs and their predatory aspects is fabulous. When women build relationships on the basis of selling items to other women, is this support or ambition or some combination? Haydu also captures the characterization of an artist and how creating art for a living can be a series of fortunate accidents, while also a struggle to maintain inspiration as daily life overwhelms you. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for advance copies of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 3, 2025
This was a beautiful and very twisty novel about two women who grew up as best friends and meet again as adults after an estrangement when they are both, improbably, pregnant at the same time. The story unfolds in two timelines. In the past, we see Sydney and Mae's friendship bloom in a way that entangles the lives of their parents together forever: playground playdates, summer family beach trips, and a casual intimacy that blurs the boundaries of each parent. In the present, we see each woman transition into motherhood, try to repair their relationship, and discover deeply buried family secrets. The perspective jumps around quite quickly, sometimes even in the same scene, from one character to another. At first, I found it a little distracting -- but once I got used to it, I loved the immersive feeling of big scenes. The twists and turns are so shocking. I never could have imagined how the book turned out...believe me, when you read this book, you will be on the edge of your seat once you get to the last 20% of the book. I've loved Corey Ann Haydu's YA novels for years. And I was so delighted to read this adult debut. I hope there are more!
Thanks to Netgalley for offering me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for offering me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mothers and Other Strangers is a beautifully layered and emotionally honest story about friendship, motherhood, and the secrets we inherit without ever choosing them. Corey Ann Haydu moves into adult fiction with confidence, crafting two flawed but compelling women whose lives were shaped by a childhood bond that never really loosened its grip.
I loved following Sydney and Mae as they reconnect just as they’re both expecting major life changes—literally and figuratively. Their shared history feels tender and complicated, and Haydu captures that strange mix of nostalgia and unease that comes with confronting the past. The dynamics between mothers and daughters are especially vivid here, full of quiet tensions, unspoken expectations, and the kind of love that sometimes hurts as much as it heals.
The book shines in its emotional depth and character-driven storytelling. The pacing is steady, and while some moments feel intentionally subtle, the payoff comes in the unraveling of the central secret that binds these two women in unexpected ways.
Overall, this is a thoughtful, intimate novel about identity, legacy, and the friendships that shape us long after childhood. A strong and heartfelt read that lingers.
I loved following Sydney and Mae as they reconnect just as they’re both expecting major life changes—literally and figuratively. Their shared history feels tender and complicated, and Haydu captures that strange mix of nostalgia and unease that comes with confronting the past. The dynamics between mothers and daughters are especially vivid here, full of quiet tensions, unspoken expectations, and the kind of love that sometimes hurts as much as it heals.
The book shines in its emotional depth and character-driven storytelling. The pacing is steady, and while some moments feel intentionally subtle, the payoff comes in the unraveling of the central secret that binds these two women in unexpected ways.
Overall, this is a thoughtful, intimate novel about identity, legacy, and the friendships that shape us long after childhood. A strong and heartfelt read that lingers.
November 7, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!*
WOW.
This book was incredible, and reminded me so much of why I love reading and writing in the first place. The story of Mae and Sydney and their moms and their dads and the complicated relationships between people was page-turning, realistic, and fascinating. I want to avoid spoilers at all costs, because I really do feel like it would be best for fellow readers to go in to this blindly, but I will say I loved the reality of how each character's life turned out and the patterns that repeated themselves.
The only thing I didn't love was a reveal toward the end that felt a little TOO convenient, and I do believe the story could've survived had that element not been part of the plot. However, the more I think about it, the more it gives Joni all the more reason to move to Sommersette in the first place, so I don't know if it's too much after all.
I will be recommending this book to everyone. It is truly such a cautionary and special tale about the way we view our mothers and how we become them, whether we want to or not.
WOW.
This book was incredible, and reminded me so much of why I love reading and writing in the first place. The story of Mae and Sydney and their moms and their dads and the complicated relationships between people was page-turning, realistic, and fascinating. I want to avoid spoilers at all costs, because I really do feel like it would be best for fellow readers to go in to this blindly, but I will say I loved the reality of how each character's life turned out and the patterns that repeated themselves.
The only thing I didn't love was a reveal toward the end that felt a little TOO convenient, and I do believe the story could've survived had that element not been part of the plot. However, the more I think about it, the more it gives Joni all the more reason to move to Sommersette in the first place, so I don't know if it's too much after all.
I will be recommending this book to everyone. It is truly such a cautionary and special tale about the way we view our mothers and how we become them, whether we want to or not.
November 27, 2025
Mothers and Other Strangers is a then-and-now story of two mother-daughter pairs, best friends until they’re not.
Mae and Sydney meet on the playground as three-year-olds. Their immediate best-friendship forces their mothers, Joni and Beth Ann, into a best-friendship of their own. In short order, the two families become enmeshed—more of a family than friends.
In the “now” portion of the book, Mae and Sydney are thirty-three, pregnant and not speaking. We know things went adrift, and the “then” portion, slowly moving forward “now” is the explanation as to why.
I struggled with this book. I liked the writing, but loathed the characters, finding them all weak and insipid. Ultimately, their personalities and behaviors made this book somewhat intolerable—despite my enjoyment of the prose and curiosity about how things would unfold. I am sure some people will enjoy this anyway, maybe even relate to the characters and their internal dramas, but I couldn’t. Do not recommend, 2.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mae and Sydney meet on the playground as three-year-olds. Their immediate best-friendship forces their mothers, Joni and Beth Ann, into a best-friendship of their own. In short order, the two families become enmeshed—more of a family than friends.
In the “now” portion of the book, Mae and Sydney are thirty-three, pregnant and not speaking. We know things went adrift, and the “then” portion, slowly moving forward “now” is the explanation as to why.
I struggled with this book. I liked the writing, but loathed the characters, finding them all weak and insipid. Ultimately, their personalities and behaviors made this book somewhat intolerable—despite my enjoyment of the prose and curiosity about how things would unfold. I am sure some people will enjoy this anyway, maybe even relate to the characters and their internal dramas, but I couldn’t. Do not recommend, 2.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Full disclosure - I received a free, advanced readers copy of this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. This is an uncompensated review
This was an interesting and complicated book about complicated female friendships and (to some extent) generational trauma. I began it with some trepidation, because I've also dealt with complicated and traumatic female friendships. As I got through it, I admitted that the entanglements in the book were even more complicated and traumatic than my own.
This is a book about why friendships are worth it, about walking away and coming back (not all of them but the point is made). About daughterhood and, a little bit, about motherhood. About hope and potential 'not lived up to', and a recognition that you live up to yourself, not 'potential'. About early talent, and mother-daughter competition. About cultish devotion. About curating life for social media.
About secrets and lies, and things coming out after they've had time to really fester. About when to tell your children the difficult truth. About making a child your secret keeper.
About sudden, unexpected death and leaving big messes for your children to figure out.
This was an interesting and complicated book about complicated female friendships and (to some extent) generational trauma. I began it with some trepidation, because I've also dealt with complicated and traumatic female friendships. As I got through it, I admitted that the entanglements in the book were even more complicated and traumatic than my own.
This is a book about why friendships are worth it, about walking away and coming back (not all of them but the point is made). About daughterhood and, a little bit, about motherhood. About hope and potential 'not lived up to', and a recognition that you live up to yourself, not 'potential'. About early talent, and mother-daughter competition. About cultish devotion. About curating life for social media.
About secrets and lies, and things coming out after they've had time to really fester. About when to tell your children the difficult truth. About making a child your secret keeper.
About sudden, unexpected death and leaving big messes for your children to figure out.
December 1, 2025
Maybe 3-1/2 stars? Not a must read, but a solid novel that addresses the complexities of some of the most complex relationships ever -- mothers and daughters and best friends. Sydney and Mae meet in daycare when they are three and become fast friends. In short order, their moms become close friends as well and over the years, their families also become intertwined. There are, of course, rivalries between the girls and moms -- but a serious tragedy and a grand betrayal of an untold secret sever the relationship. In their 30s, Sydney and Mae reconnect as expectant moms. It's hard to know how much of Sydney's motivation in reaching out is to reconnect with Mae because she misses her and how much is desperation to get someone, anyone into her multi-level marketing pashmina business. But there is one more big bomb of a secret that gets exposed in the final chapters that is so self-serving and indulgent. I kind of would have liked if the book explored that fallout further instead of the somewhat trite ending that quickly followed.
Read
November 17, 2025Two mother and two daughters find themselves connected through happenstance. When the daughters find themselves expecting daughters of their own, secrets from the lives of their mothers and fathers change things.
It took me a few chapters to figure out which daughter belonged to which mother, but once I got it, I enjoyed this book immensely. I wish I hadn't seen the plot wist coming, so maybe it would be better if the conception of one of the daughters stopped being referred to as a "miracle" when it was, because it made the plot twist reveal less satisfying.
I've been a fan of Corey Ann Haydu for years. Many of my favorite authors have added adult works to their YA catalogs, and they've yet to let me down.
It took me a few chapters to figure out which daughter belonged to which mother, but once I got it, I enjoyed this book immensely. I wish I hadn't seen the plot wist coming, so maybe it would be better if the conception of one of the daughters stopped being referred to as a "miracle" when it was, because it made the plot twist reveal less satisfying.
I've been a fan of Corey Ann Haydu for years. Many of my favorite authors have added adult works to their YA catalogs, and they've yet to let me down.
January 4, 2026
This is a story about friendships that women have with other women once they become mothers, where the friendships are usually developed by the children. Sydney & Mae become friends at preschool and through this budding friendship, their mothers become best friends as well. The two families even start taking vacations together. Then all of a sudden a “secret” surfaces that fractures the whole friendship. This was very much a character-driven story. The characters were complicated but very well-developed. I was very invested in seeing how the story fleshed out.
Thank you to NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
December 11, 2025
Sydney and Mae became best friends after their Moms became best friends, too. Everything seemed mapped out for them to live idyllic, intertwined lives forever...Until tragedy and secrets unraveled the world as they know it.
Loved the way Haydu introduces punch after punch in this story. Whenever you think you have something figured out, in comes another blow. Told in past and present POVs, this story will make it hard for you to look away.
If you love deep and messy friendships between women, read this!
Thank you to Little, Brown & Company and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
Loved the way Haydu introduces punch after punch in this story. Whenever you think you have something figured out, in comes another blow. Told in past and present POVs, this story will make it hard for you to look away.
If you love deep and messy friendships between women, read this!
Thank you to Little, Brown & Company and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
November 15, 2025
Can I give this book more than 5 stars?! I absolutely loved every minute of this book and had to pause towards the end because I didn’t want to finish it and leave the world of Mae and Sydney. A beautiful and intricate story with so many layers and secrets that get dished out cleverly. Mothers and Other Strangers is a book about motherhood, female friendship, grief, loss, parenthood, life. A must read.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2025
I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher for review in ALA's Booklist magazine.
This novel was so compelling, exploring the relationships between mothers and daughters, mothers and mothers, and daughters and daughters. All four women--Joni and Mae, Beth Ann and Sydney--felt real to me. Even in such a literary novel, there is also an element of suspense that keeps the story moving. I think this would be a great choice for book clubs.
This novel was so compelling, exploring the relationships between mothers and daughters, mothers and mothers, and daughters and daughters. All four women--Joni and Mae, Beth Ann and Sydney--felt real to me. Even in such a literary novel, there is also an element of suspense that keeps the story moving. I think this would be a great choice for book clubs.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this read - it kept me interested and I generally cared about the characters and what happened to them. Some of what was revealed by the end could have seemed contrived, but somehow it didn't. That said, the first ~60% or so was quite character-driven and less heavy on plot, which felt slow at times.
And, I have to say, I was left a bit unclear whether the whole MLM through-line was meant to be satire or completely serious.
And, I have to say, I was left a bit unclear whether the whole MLM through-line was meant to be satire or completely serious.
January 3, 2026
I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book sucked me in immediately, I couldn’t put it down. Mother daughter relationships, friendship, lying, secrets… it had it all. I loved Mae and wish Sydney had been more likable in the end and distanced herself from Beth Ann. The MLM stuff took up a little more of the story than needed. But overall such a great read.
This book sucked me in immediately, I couldn’t put it down. Mother daughter relationships, friendship, lying, secrets… it had it all. I loved Mae and wish Sydney had been more likable in the end and distanced herself from Beth Ann. The MLM stuff took up a little more of the story than needed. But overall such a great read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An intimate portrait into 2 families who become entwined. The daughters & mothers become best friends, and the story follows the daughters lives as they eventually become mothers themselves. A, well written, literary novel about growing up & deciding which path to follow in life.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really think this is a very good book that has a very poor editor. Thats my honest opinion.
Its a shame.
Its a shame.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book in the giveaway. It is really good.
December 26, 2025
Mothers and Other Strangers is an engrossing family drama. Mae and Sydney meet as three-year-olds and become instant best friends. Their mothers are then kind of forced into a friendship, and the two families become enmeshed as the girls move through childhood and adolescence. There are secrets that break the girls' friendship apart, and the beginning of the book is when they meet again as adults, both pregnant with daughters of their own. The timeline shifts between the past and present day, and the family secrets are slowly revealed. It's very well-written. The complicated relationships, situations, and dialogue feel very authentic. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews