Mothersick: A Novel

by Lottie Hazell

From the acclaimed author of Piglet (“luscious and propulsive,” Catherine Newman) comes an expansive intergenerational drama about the making and breaking of families, for readers of Paul Murray and Claire Lombardo.

When their parents’ marriage abruptly imploded, sisters Mara and Nell made a no husbands, no babies, and no repeating their parents’ mistakes. But when Mara unexpectedly falls in love and becomes a mother just as Nell’s life is spiraling out of control, they find themselves at cosmic forks in the road. Their pact is officially broken, and their once unshakable bond is fractured beyond recognition.

As motherhood cleaves Mara in two, Nell throws herself into a relationship with a dreamboat of a man she barely knows without asking whether they really want the same things. Meanwhile, just when they need her the most, their mother moves halfway around the world, leaving her sister, Jean, to pick up the pieces. Jean holds the delicate balance of this family in her hands, but as old scars from a childhood tragedy resurface, the secrets they’ve all been keeping are soon impossible to ignore.

A profound and stylish modern family story, Mothersick traces the lives of four fierce women—two sets of sisters across two generations—exploring the enduring and infuriating spell of sisterhood and the beauty, captivity, and optimism of family in its many forms.

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 1, 2027

About the author

Lottie Hazell is a writer, contemporary-literature scholar, and board-game designer living in Warwickshire. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Loughborough University and her research considers food-writing in twenty-first-century fiction.

Lottie’s first novel, Piglet, will be published by Doubleday (UK) and Henry Holt (US) in early 2024.

Reviews

[Olga Maxwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m surprised this book is so highly rated. This book is about generational trauma and every female character had their own tragedy related to motherhood. The only likable character died at the end. It was difficult to read and took me over 2 weeks to finish. I was hoping it would get better towards the end but it did not.

[Natalie]

I have finished and am now grieving.

I will return later today or perhaps tomorrow to rate and review this so . . . brb.

On second thought, I am going to whine for just a quick moment to say that the downside of this being an earc is that I can't quote all the gorgeous lines (yet). Yes, you should feel very bad for me.

-----------------------------
Just got approved for an eARC of this and am beyond excited.

I know what I'm reading on vacation this weekend!
(This. I am reading this book. Just in case that was in any way unclear.)

[Stephanie Peterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was SO thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Lottie Hazell's newest novel from netgalley –– i really enjoyed the gorgeous prose and themes in Piglet, so i had a feeling this one would also blow me away and i can honestly say it did. another tragically beautiful story, this one about how two sisters navigate their mother's abandonment, exploring generational trauma and the guilt, shame, and frustration many women experience with motherhood in all its forms and at every stage in life. the book alternates between POVs from sisters Mara and Nell and their aunt Jean – a queer, foodie and obsessive gardener (who reminded me SO much of Piglet) – slowly incorporating their mother Andy's perspective for context. my only nit is that Jean's death felt a bit too rushed. i had to go back and reread several chapters before i realized what had happened. otherwise, a solid 4.5 star read.

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a character driven novel that fully pulls you into the orbit of the characters. This gives you a little bit of a mystery to chew on, while you get to know them. Mothersick is a really emotion-packed read, showcasing a range of different relationship dynamics within one family.

Sisters Mara and Nell made a pact to never get married or have children. Seeing their parents' marriage fall apart scarred and shaped them as girls. Now as adults, the pact has been broken and the strain on the sisters' relationship pulls more taut. There is a level of judgement between the sisters that I think comes from a good place. The both struggle with expectations and purpose and it shows in the relationships they have with friends and family.

When you zoom out a little and begin to get the bigger family picture, you start to understand the complexities of their motivations and choices. This is full of heart and I really enjoyed it.

[Snarky Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of an ARC from NetGalley. I enjoyed some parts of this book, like the deep dive into psyches of multiple female characters. I especially enjoyed the character of Jean, the backbone of the family who keeps everyone connected. There was an element of suspense and unrevealed secrets, which kept me reading.

I found two aspects of the book difficult. First, the writing was hard to follow at times. Multiple exceedingly long sentences, coupled with British slang and idioms made it hard to follow. It was often unclear which female characters was being referred to in long, ambling sentences discussing multiple of the characters. I wish the different characters had more distinct voices. Second, it was a sad book, but not enjoyably sad. So much dysfunction and estrangement between mothers and daughters. Just kind of a downer.

[James B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ebook. When their parents abruptly divorce, daughters Mara and Nell make a pact to never marry and never have kids. Cut to the present day in this domestic epic of a story, where Nell has basically put her artistic work on hold for her newborn son and Mara is being pressured to have children by the man she thought would be the ideal spouse. It’s a great book for showing the day to day agonies of relationships, but even better at slowly revealing the hidden secrets that actually pull the strings of our behavior.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was impossible to put down. Marriage, motherhood, family drama, it has it all. The characters each have their own unique but relatable qualities and issues and I loved how the chapters jumped between each character. As the story unfolds and secrets are unearthed I was so nervous what would happen to next. Once I finished, I already wanted to go back in and spend time with these women. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book. It will not be for everyone, but it was so well-written and I appreciated the character development over plot development. It's hard to be a mother, a sister, a woman, and someone who is good to their family and upholds its values and this book encapsulates that. I havent' read any of the author's books before and am excited to read more of her work!

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Brittani Roudybush · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautiful story of motherhood told from many different angles. The prose is a dream, and the way the author describes various scenarios is so spot on real it’s actually kind of spooky. I think this will be relatable to you no matter your relationship with motherhood and it will certainly make you feel something. Brilliantly done.

[Kim Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book relatively blind and absolutely LOVED it. The characters were so well-drawn and rich. It's a beautiful look at sisterhood, family dynamics, and motherhood. There is love and estrangement and discovery. I just loved it. I hadn't heard of this author before and am now off to read her first book.

[Ronnica Fatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always in for a story that speaks to the difficulties of early motherhood, but this is more than that. Through this family we also see the struggles to mother or not, and to be there (or not) for your family, in full complexity.

[Elizabeth Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. Character driven, slow burner that, for me, was the right book at the right time

[arielle]

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

RTC.