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Motherclown
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 relationships: 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 demoted: 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.
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 demoted: 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.
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Harriet Alida Lye
7 books102 followersHarriet 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 7, 2026
i forever have a special place in my heart for mother/daughter dynamics
June 2, 2026
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.
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.
June 22, 2026
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.
“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.
June 19, 2026
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.
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.
July 24, 2026
a must read 😭 held onto every last beautiful word
June 20, 2026
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.
“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.
June 29, 2026
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.
May 28, 2026
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!
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!
June 14, 2026
SO GOOD! Will fly under the radar. A must read.
June 14, 2026
Beautiful, stunning, heartfelt. Bravo Harriet!!!
June 24, 2026
The complicated relationship between mother and daughter, the grief of losing a husband and father, the challenging path of womanhood and motherhood, the exploration of artistry and sexuality, the nuanced feelings of figuring yourself out both as a young and older woman, the vulnerability of truth and facing dark corners of your mind. I thought this novel was stunning, the writing itself is so delicate and immersive, leaving the reader feeling like they are right there with the characters exploring their complex situations in the new streets of Paris. Highly recommend if you like any of the above mentioned themes!
June 10, 2026
I picked up this book because the mother-daughter dynamic sounded familiar. I had to stop after a few chapters because — oof — the mother-daughter dynamic was TOO familiar.
But after a short reprieve, I dove back into this book and finished it off in a couple of sittings. A narrative that explores art, performance, being perceived, and finding oneself — I ultimately really liked this book.
In many ways, this book read to me like a tragedy. I'm not sure that this was the author's intention — but this book reads like a warning manual for young women who centre men, marriage, and motherhood and expect their children to provide them the fulfillment, connection, and relationship they lack on their own...and how that ultimately leads to codependence and a lack of differentiation in the parent-child relationship.
But after a short reprieve, I dove back into this book and finished it off in a couple of sittings. A narrative that explores art, performance, being perceived, and finding oneself — I ultimately really liked this book.
In many ways, this book read to me like a tragedy. I'm not sure that this was the author's intention — but this book reads like a warning manual for young women who centre men, marriage, and motherhood and expect their children to provide them the fulfillment, connection, and relationship they lack on their own...and how that ultimately leads to codependence and a lack of differentiation in the parent-child relationship.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
"Motherclown" successfully reveals the two opposing characters' personalities and inner emotional turmoil with ease, while addressing the complex narrative of motherhood and the fraught relationship found between mother and daughter in this novel.
The writing easily holds the reader's interest (I turned the pages quickly and remained engaged until the end), while also speaking to larger themes of aspirations, art, creativity, sexuality, motherhood, grief, and the fight for asserting identity and autonomy in the face of life-altering events and expectations from others, even oneself.
While the above is what made the book enjoyable and easy to read, I found the characters, while depicted easily according to the roles they played in the novel, to not have revealed more depth of character that I had hoped to come to know. While they themselves may not have been superficial, they were written in such a way that I longed to know more.
While I tried to empathize with both main characters, I found the mother needy and the daughter, petulant, and their inner and outer world, a little self-absorbed—perhaps this was intentional?
So not to reveal any spoilers, I found both mother and daughter, in their self-absorption to reveal an emotional immaturity I would not expect, of characters of their age and their privilege. But that's just me. How I wish I could afford an open-ended trip to Paris with some form of security, let alone opportunity.
If you enjoy an easy read, are creatively inclined, love the arts, and have a volatile relationship with your mother and/or motherhood, then yes, this book can offer you a great story.
But, if you require lyrical language that leads to meaningful, revelatory, universal truths, more depth of character without self-absorption and vague, overreaching inner POV that almost make these characters and their experiences borderline cliché, and more movement and complexity of plot—well, you'll need to keep searching the shelves.
An enjoyable, easy read that attempts to complicate the already complex narrative of motherhood, grief, and relationship. Where the book's success and movement lay in the inner dialogue of its main characters, it is the same inner dialogue that also made the characters and their story seem somewhat petulant and self-absorbed with unfortunately, too easy of an ending that left me with wanting a little more.
Overall, an enjoyable read by a personable author who I was privileged to meet at her launch that took place at Alison Milne Co. Gallery recently.
The writing easily holds the reader's interest (I turned the pages quickly and remained engaged until the end), while also speaking to larger themes of aspirations, art, creativity, sexuality, motherhood, grief, and the fight for asserting identity and autonomy in the face of life-altering events and expectations from others, even oneself.
While the above is what made the book enjoyable and easy to read, I found the characters, while depicted easily according to the roles they played in the novel, to not have revealed more depth of character that I had hoped to come to know. While they themselves may not have been superficial, they were written in such a way that I longed to know more.
While I tried to empathize with both main characters, I found the mother needy and the daughter, petulant, and their inner and outer world, a little self-absorbed—perhaps this was intentional?
So not to reveal any spoilers, I found both mother and daughter, in their self-absorption to reveal an emotional immaturity I would not expect, of characters of their age and their privilege. But that's just me. How I wish I could afford an open-ended trip to Paris with some form of security, let alone opportunity.
If you enjoy an easy read, are creatively inclined, love the arts, and have a volatile relationship with your mother and/or motherhood, then yes, this book can offer you a great story.
But, if you require lyrical language that leads to meaningful, revelatory, universal truths, more depth of character without self-absorption and vague, overreaching inner POV that almost make these characters and their experiences borderline cliché, and more movement and complexity of plot—well, you'll need to keep searching the shelves.
An enjoyable, easy read that attempts to complicate the already complex narrative of motherhood, grief, and relationship. Where the book's success and movement lay in the inner dialogue of its main characters, it is the same inner dialogue that also made the characters and their story seem somewhat petulant and self-absorbed with unfortunately, too easy of an ending that left me with wanting a little more.
Overall, an enjoyable read by a personable author who I was privileged to meet at her launch that took place at Alison Milne Co. Gallery recently.
June 20, 2026
- “Death can happen to anyone at any time”
- “Paris was out there, life was out there”
- Mommy/daughter issues in Paris
- The meaning of family (who is family to you?)
- The descriptions of Paris, the people living in it, and life in the city were so vivid
- Life being made up of the things you create (your art, and your children)
- Elise’s relationship with Catherine made me think of the saying “it’s your parents’ first time living too.” And while I agree with that sentiment, I also don’t think it justifies Catherine’s narcissistic tendencies (e.g. following her 20 year old daughter to Paris unannounced and without permission, the “I can’t do anything right” guilt trip, showing up unannounced and without permission to her daughter’s school on the morning of her daughter’s big project/performance, making everything about her daughter about her (“now your hair looks like mine”), “how could she not let me stay with her when he gave her shelter for 20 years”, etc. That being said, Catherine had a pretty traumatic and hard launch into motherhood after having gotten pregnant by her professor only for him to use then effectively discard her. She probably didn’t really have time to find herself as an adult before having to become someone’s mom. Seeing her own daughter at the age she was when all that happened also was probably hard
- “Paris was out there, life was out there”
- Mommy/daughter issues in Paris
- The meaning of family (who is family to you?)
- The descriptions of Paris, the people living in it, and life in the city were so vivid
- Life being made up of the things you create (your art, and your children)
- Elise’s relationship with Catherine made me think of the saying “it’s your parents’ first time living too.” And while I agree with that sentiment, I also don’t think it justifies Catherine’s narcissistic tendencies (e.g. following her 20 year old daughter to Paris unannounced and without permission, the “I can’t do anything right” guilt trip, showing up unannounced and without permission to her daughter’s school on the morning of her daughter’s big project/performance, making everything about her daughter about her (“now your hair looks like mine”), “how could she not let me stay with her when he gave her shelter for 20 years”, etc. That being said, Catherine had a pretty traumatic and hard launch into motherhood after having gotten pregnant by her professor only for him to use then effectively discard her. She probably didn’t really have time to find herself as an adult before having to become someone’s mom. Seeing her own daughter at the age she was when all that happened also was probably hard
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2026
I love Tandem readalongs because I'm exposed to books that normally wouldn't be on my radar.
MOTHERCLOWN is one of these! Focusing on the complexity of the mother-daughter bond, we follow Elise as she escapes to "clown school" in Paris shortly after her father's death.
Before she's able to settle in, her mother, Catherine, with whom she has a somewhat strained relationship, arrives too. As Elise struggles with the feeling of being suffocated by her mother's presence in Paris, we slowly begin to see that Catherine is wrestling her own demons. While initially I was frustrated with her, as the book progressed, my heart began to hurt for Catherine, and I think Lye has written a beautifully realistic look at motherhood. It's poignant and heart wrenching at times, but as we are taken on a journey that explores relationships, sexuality and identity, Lye shows us that as women, we are never one-dimensional; there are many facets that make us who we are.
I truly cannot recommend this book enough; it's one that I'll be thinking about for a long, long time. Whether you're a mother, a daughter, both or neither, this is an exquisite piece of Canadian literature!
Huge thank you to Tandem Collective Global and McClelland & Stewart for the opportunity and my gifted copy of this book.
MOTHERCLOWN is one of these! Focusing on the complexity of the mother-daughter bond, we follow Elise as she escapes to "clown school" in Paris shortly after her father's death.
Before she's able to settle in, her mother, Catherine, with whom she has a somewhat strained relationship, arrives too. As Elise struggles with the feeling of being suffocated by her mother's presence in Paris, we slowly begin to see that Catherine is wrestling her own demons. While initially I was frustrated with her, as the book progressed, my heart began to hurt for Catherine, and I think Lye has written a beautifully realistic look at motherhood. It's poignant and heart wrenching at times, but as we are taken on a journey that explores relationships, sexuality and identity, Lye shows us that as women, we are never one-dimensional; there are many facets that make us who we are.
I truly cannot recommend this book enough; it's one that I'll be thinking about for a long, long time. Whether you're a mother, a daughter, both or neither, this is an exquisite piece of Canadian literature!
Huge thank you to Tandem Collective Global and McClelland & Stewart for the opportunity and my gifted copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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.
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.
June 14, 2026
This was another great Tandem Readalong with a lot of really lovely people. Both Elise and Catherine had interesting storylines and I felt drawn into both. I think a bigger message for me in regards to how the clown school worked into the novel was the movement they both made to Paris and why they each did it. I think relationships between mothers and daughters are a very complex thing and there isn't really any right way to approach it except with grace and humility. I can see this book being a big hit in the future.
July 4, 2026
I think Harriet Alida Lye is a talented emerging writer. This book was a step above popular fiction or romance and an enjoyable read. I think the character of Catherine could have been more developed - as she was, I found her annoying and a bit pathetic. I liked the depiction of Paris outside the touristy areas and inside the clown school, the hammer and the tiny apartments. Lye does a good job with description of surroundings and sensory experiences. There is sadness and a mix of emotions in this novel, but it rang true.
June 15, 2026
This book healed something in me. This is for the girlies with complicated mother-daughter relationships. I related to the FMC so much but this book also made me relate with the mother character, as frustrating as she could be at times.
On the surface this is the story about a young woman trying to find her way, herself and her independent with a mother who is afraid to let go and is afraid she will lose her daughter if she gives her too much space, while going about it all the wrong ways. The other layers and dynamics of this story made it feel so unique, rich and emotional. It was a great surprise. A great piece of female contemporary fiction.
On the surface this is the story about a young woman trying to find her way, herself and her independent with a mother who is afraid to let go and is afraid she will lose her daughter if she gives her too much space, while going about it all the wrong ways. The other layers and dynamics of this story made it feel so unique, rich and emotional. It was a great surprise. A great piece of female contemporary fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An emotional telling of a mother daughter relationship, this book captures some of the subtle nuances of wanting to be closer with your daughter while struggling with past trauma. The audiobook is a joy and is incredibly moving. Highly recommend !!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was beautifully written, both main characters compelling, relatable, and interesting. The mother, daughter dynamics were so real and heartbreaking. The author described the setting of the novel perfectly. I was captivated. What a wonderful read - highly recommend!
June 30, 2026
I liked the scene (Paris!) and the tension (demented mother/daughter dynamics!) but sometimes the interiority of the daughter felt downright histrionic. Babe! We get it — you’re a student of the theatre.
June 5, 2026
A captivating story, very well written. Powerful and evocative.
June 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
June 21, 2026
Well-written. Interesting setting and dynamic between parent and child. I connect with a lot of the themes.
July 9, 2026
Beautiful examination of mother/daughter dynamics
July 12, 2026
Loved the start, some great passages, but the storylines became too parallel /obvious, too much telling, too much 'beautiful' - everything and everyone in Paris is beautiful, just didn't work for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
i will forever have a special place in my heart for mother/ daughter dynamics.
July 23, 2026
There’s a special place in my heart for mother/daughter dynamics and this book knew where to find it.
July 29, 2026
☆ 3.5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews