Motherclown: A Novel

by Harriet Alida Lye

Indigo’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026 CBC Books Spring Fiction List 2026 CBC Books Canadian Fiction Bestseller

A dual coming-of-age story about performance—both public and private—sexuality, envy, and grief. Motherclown explores the most fundamental and potentially explosive of human that of a mother and her daughter.

In the wake of her father’s death, twenty-one-year-old Elise leaves her boyfriend, mother, and hometown of Niagara Falls to move to Paris. She’s earned a place at Chevalier, an elite physical theatre school with a focus on clown. Not “clown-clown,” but the pursuit of an inner child. At Chevalier, they don’t follow scripts—they follow their souls. The school is merciless, and it is the best.

Left behind, Elise’s mother, Catherine, is unravelling. At first she feels irritated, as if she’s just been from wife to widow, mother to empty-nester. She longs for the creative life she lost when she became pregnant, and in the quiet of the empty house, she becomes haunted by regret, and a secret she never told her daughter. When Elise disappears into Paris, Catherine follows.

But Elise, awakening to her own creative power, feels ambushed by her mother’s arrival. As Paris works its spell on them both, old wounds surface and resentments ignite. Can Elise hear her mother without losing herself? Can Catherine face the real reason she followed her daughter to Paris, or is she there—as Elise believes—to swallow her daughter whole?

Motherclown is an electric novel about art and inheritance, desire and devotion, and the ferocious, vulnerable love between mothers and daughters.

Genres: Fiction, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT, Canada, Queer Lit, Adult

Audible Audio

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Harriet Alida Lye is the author of four books: two novels, one memoir, and one children's picture book. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Globe & Mail, The National Post, The Happy Reader, Hazlitt, Vice, Catapult, and more. She founded the literary magazine Her Royal Majesty, which ran for six years and republished the first ever short story by Alice Munro. She teaches Creative Writing at the University of Toronto. She lives in Toronto with her partner, their two children, and two dogs.

Reviews

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

i forever have a special place in my heart for mother/daughter dynamics

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story of a complicated mother daughter relationship that equally celebrates the kitschy-ness of Niagara Falls and the beauty of Paris.

I never thought I’d become so engrossed with a book about a woman who runs off to go to Clown school but this book explores relationships, sexuality and identity SO well!!

I especially enjoyed the endometriosis rep and the way both women grow as artists (the mother with her painting and the daughter with her performance skills). It was also great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Heather O’Neill.

[Julia Moraes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who began reading this book the day she returned from her dream trip to Paris, I was immediately immersed in this story. The author really managed to capture the Parisian vibe, culture and atmosphere so well, and I later found out that she herself had lived there for many years (I am in a book club and she was kind enough to send videos of herself answering some of our discussion questions on her novel). This book felt like such a breath of fresh air—contemporary and relevant, but addressing timeless issues of family dynamics and the struggles that women grapple with as pregnancy-capable individuals in pursuit of their own independence, ambitions, and connections. I appreciated the dual perspectives that we, as readers, were able to gain insight into, as it allows us to empathize with and understand both Elise and Catherine as they navigate those challenges. I also loved that there was a queer love story in the middle of all this and the exploration of one's sexuality without making that the sole focus of the book. This novel and its author have definitely increased my interest in reading more stories from local writers! As a Toronto girl and as someone who has always wanted to be an author, I appreciate it when stories captivate me in this way and feel close to home. Thank you Harriet!

[Nicole M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motherclown surprised me with how deeply it captured that feeling of being lost between who you are and who you thought you'd become. There was one quote that really stood out to me: “I missed my calling.”
“Are you kidding? You have your whole life ahead of you.”

On the surface, it's a reassuring response. But what struck me was the narrator's reaction: "Which was true. But that's not how it felt." That tension between what we know logically and what we feel emotionally is something the book explores beautifully.

This story isn't just about motherhood—it's about identity, expectations, regret, and the constant process of reinventing yourself. I found it funny, vulnerable, and painfully honest at times. It reminded me that having your whole life ahead of you doesn't always feel comforting when you're grieving the version of your life you imagined.

This was a thoughtful and relatable read that will stay with me.

[Maddie Chyczij · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a freaking juicy read!

I gotta say, as someone who went to theatre school and took clown class, I’m triggered 😂. You don’t think of clown school and think of what it really is. The amount of times Elise had to explain what she was really doing at the school actually had me giggling. Very relatable.

I definitely fell in love with Harriet Alida Lye reading this. You know when you find an author and their writing just absolutely stuns you to your core, without feeling pretentious? The last author I had that truly happen with was Lily King, and I wouldn’t be opposed to comparing them as authors.

Lye’s writing was so beautiful, and so intelligent. The way she delved into her characters’ emotions and complicated feelings just blew me away. While the mother/daughter dynamic in this wasn’t necessarily relatable to me in my personal life, I felt so immersed and invested in it. And yet, of course I instantly did recommend this book to my mother 😅. The little parts that felt true to my life I grasped onto so easily. Not just the theatre school aspect of it, but the need to find your own way and process your traumas in your own way was really compelling. Even not being a mother myself, I found myself relating Catherine and her need to hold onto the relationship she has with her daughter. Both of these characters truly made so many mistakes, and didn’t do so many things right, but it was so clear that they were trying their best. It was just beautiful.

I already know this is a book I could see myself rereading one day, because there’s so much to analyze and talk about. I wish I’d read it for some sort of book club or something. I can’t wait to see the author at the Toronto International festival of authors, coming up next month. She’s now bumped up to one of the most exciting authors I’ll be seeing because of this book.

[Sam · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Lower end of 3.5⭐️
Really beautifully written but I felt like I lost interest in the middle of the book.
I felt more sympathy for Mom Catherine than I expected I would, I think the characters were really well conceptualized, but the text was just a bit slow!

[Danielle Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: I felt very immersed in this book while driving. Really good portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship. Certain parts towards the end were cliche and there were times where I felt pushed to foreshadow too hard (like obvi what was coming next) but it’ll receive a 4 since I did overall enjoy it and would recommend it

[Shannon Lough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a complex, compelling, and heart wrenching relationship between a mother and daughter on the cusp of change. After her father passes suddenly, Elisabeth moves to Paris amid her grief to attend a unique “clown” theatre school. There, she discovers her undeniable attraction to a female bartender, Ava, and begins to find herself in Paris. She’s challenged by her classes that push her to explore performance and how she can embody it.
But, in the rise of her independence, her mother decides to join her in Paris on a whim and the fissures in their relationship crack and spread.
Her mother, Catherine, we discover, has her own demons to face, and in the meantime moves through the muck of trying to be the creative she once was, and a supportive mother.

The story was so beautifully written. Scenes were immersive and I felt like I was there, experiencing the story as it unfolded.

[sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

cried, laughed, loved it. really fantastic look at grief, mother-daughter relationships, aging, life, love, and change. also just an easy & enjoyable read <3 (and it’s not about clowns, thank god)

[Hannah Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW FOR KATE (cl*wn content) - very real depiction of mother daughter dynamic and the plot twists were fun. I didn’t really like the constant re iteration of thoughts forcing me to feel a certain way. i liked the description of clown… kinda fun sry again Kate i love u.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

drama school scaries, but gorgeous storytelling - book club book #3 🫶 really enjoyed this

[Maggie Ghobrial · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read 😭 held onto every last beautiful word

[Demetria King · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

“It is one of the great tragedies of motherhood, Catherine realizes in that moment, that for all the best bits of a child's life, it is only the mother who will remember them. On the mother's shoulders, it becomes almost a burden to constantly have to remind the child: No, no, you were happy, no, no, we once had fun. Yes, yes, we were in love.”

Picked up this book because of the clown school plot line but this book ended up being so much more than that.

Stories about having a complex relationship with one’s mother isn’t new but I’m appreciative of stories that acknowledge how mothers are also their own people with their own complex pasts.

I wasn’t expecting myself to like a book that is so much about motherhood but I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time.

[Megan Mikhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy this book! It captures the intricacies of the mother daughter relationship perfectly. It also really made me think about how there are endless different paths our lives could take and we all have to make choices along the way that shape what our lives become, for better or for worse.

[Ingrid Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motherclown captured me from the first page. Told through the alternating perspectives of a mother and daughter, their strained relationship feels intensely real.

Catherine became a mother very young and carries the ache of a life she imagined but never lived. When her daughter Elise gets the chance to move to Paris to attend clown school, Catherine is both impressed and unsettled. She follows, hoping to reconnect with Elise and perhaps reclaim something of herself along the way.

Harriet Alida Lye weaves together suspense, a beautifully rendered sensual relationship between Elise and a young Parisienne, and themes of midlife identity, sex and power, lost potential, and the complicated tension and love between a mother and daughter.

Beautifully written and hard to put down, this is a novel you’ll want to add to your must-read list for 2026.

[sydney | books + cats || thebookishcatmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to PRH Canada for this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I totally requested this thinking it was a horror novel and I was completely wrong; not to say some aspects couldn't be described as horrific in certain ways, it just wasn't what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad at all.

Actually, it was significantly moving! This novel explores SO MUCH: identity, familial relationships, sexuality and even more.

The author writes in a way that doesn't stunt the meaning of her sentences, each one is truly explicit in what it means and makes the reading experience easy.

I did cry / tear up a couple of times connecting to the mother-daughter aspect that fully encompasses this book. There were some really intense moments and feelings expressed in this novel that didn't affect me per se, but may affect others so I highly recommend checking trigger warnings.

All in all it was a solid read!

[Karenmeg1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems a litmus test for a higher rating from me involves unexpected plot twists or something makes me cry.

I took my daughter to Paris for her grad trip this past May, so the description of this book appealed to me on many levels.

A complex story of motherhood and sacrifice/ lost opportunities; trying to find yourself mid life (although Catherine is a young mom to a 20 year old Elise)… grief, juxtaposed with a young person, Elise, flexing independence resenting parental presence. How your kids don’t see you as individuals, how easy it is to lose yourself in the role of mother, and how you don’t have lose yourself forever. I was annoyed at Catherine on behalf of Elise… but a big part of me knew what Catherine was going through.

the final few chapters of the book brought tears to my eyes; there was such beauty in the descriptions, mother daughter love during this specific time of life of needing yet not needing each other, loving but not always liking each other, and never quite understanding each other… it was an easy 5 stars for me.

[Kristi Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how lucky we would be if more books could be like this one. Not only does this book have a plot that grips you with its secrets and surprises but it then holds you in awe with its emotional depth and astute writing. Plus, as a bonus, it is primarily set in Paris (and it also boasts Canadian characters with some fun Canadian references). Does it get any better?! I truly got lost in this book and Harriet’s singular writing style.

The story revolves around a mother-daughter relationship and the delicate, and tumultuous, push and pull of that unique dynamic. In this case, we are introduced to a family whereby the father has recently passed, the mother is both a newfound widow and empty nester as her daughter, an only child, heads off to a Parisian clown school (not silly clown, inner spirit clown—trust me, it is not weird). So much unfolds as mother and daughter process their loss, head in new directions and come to terms with the nature of their own relationship.

This was such a beautiful story—I highly recommend it. I am now in love with Harriet’s luscious prose so I will be seeking out more of her work!

[Morgan Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book up at my local shop & I’m so glad I did. I have never related to a book so much in my life - the push and pull of a mother/daughter relationship and all the love and pain that comes with it. The author tells such a beautiful, raw and unique story. I could not recommend this book more.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book about complicated mother/daughter relationships and this one was really beautiful. We see a lot of coming of age stories of protagonists in their early adulthood striking out on their own and figuring things out, but rarely do we see a portrayal of a middle aged woman starting over and returning to something she once loved.

[Mic • wellred_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO GOOD! Will fly under the radar. A must read.

[Chelsea Stratton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Chanel Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

She went to Paris to find herself. Her mother followed.

[Jill Dewes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love. It felt dramatic but pragmatic. Complicated but simple. Made me smile and made me cry just a little bit at the end. Also - loved how Rossi was a minor influence.

[Carly Basch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, stunning, heartfelt. Bravo Harriet!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Liv Eckstein · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

“Mothers and daughters. I try not to get involved.” (20)

Motherclown hits the heart and soul of many mother-daughter dynamics. The all wondering questions of: Who am I without you, who are you when you’re with me, and who are you when you’re on your own?

While the style of writing is not my favorite, I appreciate the how Lye writes and contains the fluid relationship of Elise and Catherine.

How do you feel when the things you want for yourself were enjoyed by someone before you? Do we inherit our worst traits from our parents — or our best? How do you hear someone’s reasons with an open ear when you’ve already made a biased assumption?

I definitely had my qualms with the novel; including the almost too predictably-cheesy-but-we’re-toeing-the-line previous “art history in paris” lore drop from Catherine about her own time in Paris and how that plays into the story.

Bottom line, it covers the ideas of identity, familial hardships, complicated suffocation from love, choosing motherhood and how, as well as the idea that we hate seeing our own faults reflected back at us from someone we love.




Additional quotes I found interest in:

“It’s hard to see yourself reflected in your child.” (20)

“She starts to cry, as if this is an active choice, not something that happens to her. She wants to finish off the cry that got interrupted at school, but she also cries because she wants to call her mother, because Elise wants to tell her mom what it’s like here, that she's sad but also happy, and isn't that a miracle. To be both. She cries because she knows she won't call her mother, because even if she did, she could never convey the fluidity of this feeling. She cries because something has shifted inside of her, something important, and this is how her body responds to change.” ( )

[Lauren Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell yeah books about dead dads AND miscarriage (TWs but extremely well treated) AND mothers and daughters AND art AND Paris! This book checked a lot of my boxes: omniscient but close POVs, some cute young romance and spice, but especially, a middle age crisis novel and a coming of age novel, all in one.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique and beautifully written story about motherhood and the complexities of parent-child relationships. A new favourite.

[Margaret McGraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful novel about the relationship between mother and daughter, navigating grief, and discovering who you are as a young adult and as a mother.