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The Other Mother
Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author “An atmospheric and harrowing tale, richly literary in complexity but ripe with all the crazed undertones, confusions, and forebodings inherent in the gothic genre. Recommend this riveting, du Maurier–like novel to fans of Jennifer McMahon.” — Booklist (starred review) From the author of the internationally bestselling The Lake of Dead Languages comes a gripping novel about madness, motherhood, love, and trust. When Daphne Marist and her infant daughter, Chloe, pull up the gravel drive to the home of Daphne’s new employer, it feels like they’ve entered a whole new world. Tucked in the Catskills, the stone mansion looks like something out of a fairy tale, its lush landscaping hiding the view of the mental asylum just beyond its border. Daphne secured the live-in position using an assumed name and fake credentials, telling no one that she’s on the run from a controlling husband who has threatened to take her daughter away. Daphne’s new life is a far cry from the one she had in Westchester where, just months before, she and her husband welcomed little Chloe. From the start, Daphne tries to be a good mother, but she’s plagued by dark moods and intrusive thoughts that convince her she’s capable of harming her own daughter. When Daphne is diagnosed with Post Partum Mood Disorder, her downward spiral feels unstoppable—until she meets Laurel Hobbes. Laurel, who also has a daughter named Chloe, is everything Daphne isn’ charismatic, sophisticated, fearless. They immediately form an intense friendship, revealing secrets to one another they thought they’d never share. Soon, they start to look alike, dress alike, and talk alike, their lives mirroring one another in strange and disturbing ways. But Daphne realizes only too late that being friends with Laurel will come at a very shocking price—one that will ultimately lead her to that towering mansion in the Catskills where terrifying, long-hidden truths will finally be revealed....
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2018
245 people are currently reading
6493 people want to read
About the author
Carol Goodman
35 books2,898 followersCarol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and The Night Visitors, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
January 19, 2018
4.5 stars! This was one crazy, twisty, confusing, wild ride! Wow – was it ever fun!
I was highly intrigued from the start – the characters were fantastic, the atmosphere was vivid and captivating, the plot was engrossing, unpredictable and addictive. This story had me glued to the pages, scratching my head in confusion (in a good way!) at the turn of each chapter. The journal entries were brilliant! The narration was outstanding! My brain was working double-time to try keep up with this clever and twisted tale.
The thing that took away from this gripping story was the ending. It was rushed, impractical and disappointing, especially after such a strong build up. Regardless of this, I still loved the journey this book took me on – it was an unforgettable and extremely enjoyable crazy ride! I look forward to reading more from this very talented author!
A big thank you to Edelweiss, William Morrow Paperbacks and Carol Goodman for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I was highly intrigued from the start – the characters were fantastic, the atmosphere was vivid and captivating, the plot was engrossing, unpredictable and addictive. This story had me glued to the pages, scratching my head in confusion (in a good way!) at the turn of each chapter. The journal entries were brilliant! The narration was outstanding! My brain was working double-time to try keep up with this clever and twisted tale.
The thing that took away from this gripping story was the ending. It was rushed, impractical and disappointing, especially after such a strong build up. Regardless of this, I still loved the journey this book took me on – it was an unforgettable and extremely enjoyable crazy ride! I look forward to reading more from this very talented author!
A big thank you to Edelweiss, William Morrow Paperbacks and Carol Goodman for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
January 13, 2018
3.5 A mental institution, journals and a reclusive author, sound intriguing, and this was, had atmosphere in spades. Raced through the first two thirds of the book, another one of those where you ask yourself, who to believe, what exactly is going on? Who is trust worthy, telling the truth? Where was this going?
As many thrillers as I read, it was bound to happen that I read two in a row that I could compare and contrast. That had some elements that were the same, but also many that were different of course. Still, an interesting mind game for me. Anyway, this was winning in the atmosphere, suspense game, both made my head spin. Then, however, came the ending, where this one lost a little ground. It was thrilling for sure, but it was rushed, and after that provocative beginning, this was jarring. Stood out like a sore thumb. I was clueless for one big revelation, one I particularly liked, but others had me shaking my head. Wondering how this exactly came together, just didn't quite make sense.
So this was good, could have been better, so let's just say, I loved the journey, more than the getting there. Still well worth a read for thrill readers, there is still much to like here.
,
ARC from Edelweiss.
As many thrillers as I read, it was bound to happen that I read two in a row that I could compare and contrast. That had some elements that were the same, but also many that were different of course. Still, an interesting mind game for me. Anyway, this was winning in the atmosphere, suspense game, both made my head spin. Then, however, came the ending, where this one lost a little ground. It was thrilling for sure, but it was rushed, and after that provocative beginning, this was jarring. Stood out like a sore thumb. I was clueless for one big revelation, one I particularly liked, but others had me shaking my head. Wondering how this exactly came together, just didn't quite make sense.
So this was good, could have been better, so let's just say, I loved the journey, more than the getting there. Still well worth a read for thrill readers, there is still much to like here.
,
ARC from Edelweiss.
August 21, 2023
A twisty psychological thriller that will leave you guessing all the way up until the end. Who should you trust? Who is our narrator, really? And what really happened in the past. In short (no spoilers), a woman is escaping her old life with a baby, going to take a job in a remote town as an archivist. But strange things begin to happen and you’re not sure who to trust! This was an interesting read with so many twists I thought I’d never trust anyone!
February 9, 2021
Audiobook, read by Nicol Zanzarella ( excellent voice narrator)
Daphne Marist was diagnosed with postpartum mood disorder—with creepy thoughts of harming her baby.
Worried her husband, Peter, would take her baby away — she flees with baby Chloe —after answering an add to work as a live-in employee -as an archivist having once worked as a child librarian—for an author named Schuyler Bennett (Sky), moving to Catskills (from Westchester)....
—in a fairytale type stone-mansion that’s eerie as can be—living in the tower on the grounds of an insane asylum—but not before taking over the identity of a friend, Laurel
Hobbes.
The story of Laurel
had me pondering mistrust just as every aspect of this novel did.
“The Other Mother” is harrowing.....
confusing.....
[I could not figure things out until the end]
This gothic psychological thriller gave me the creepy willies and scared my pants off.
It’s filled with secrets, betrayals, fears, greed, and manipulation—with twists that I never saw coming.
It deals with the madness of motherhood, psychosis and mental disorders....
There are:
...Two babies named Chloe....
...Diary entries....
...A housekeeper named Billie...
... untrusting spouses...
....Past history about the mental asylum which we know has ‘something’ to do with present day.
It’s one heck of an intriguing domestic - suspenseful mystery — I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride.
The unreliable characters really ‘are’ unreliable—
I didn’t know what to think - I My booties knocked off!!
Crazy - scary - nutty - twisty - engaging - intelligent puzzling storytelling!
but be warned- it deals with dark issues of mental illness.
Carol Goodman is a talented literary suspenseful author.
I hadn’t felt so scared, confused-yet glued to a book of this type in a long time.
4 to 4.5 rating. It was GOOD!
Daphne Marist was diagnosed with postpartum mood disorder—with creepy thoughts of harming her baby.
Worried her husband, Peter, would take her baby away — she flees with baby Chloe —after answering an add to work as a live-in employee -as an archivist having once worked as a child librarian—for an author named Schuyler Bennett (Sky), moving to Catskills (from Westchester)....
—in a fairytale type stone-mansion that’s eerie as can be—living in the tower on the grounds of an insane asylum—but not before taking over the identity of a friend, Laurel
Hobbes.
The story of Laurel
had me pondering mistrust just as every aspect of this novel did.
“The Other Mother” is harrowing.....
confusing.....
[I could not figure things out until the end]
This gothic psychological thriller gave me the creepy willies and scared my pants off.
It’s filled with secrets, betrayals, fears, greed, and manipulation—with twists that I never saw coming.
It deals with the madness of motherhood, psychosis and mental disorders....
There are:
...Two babies named Chloe....
...Diary entries....
...A housekeeper named Billie...
... untrusting spouses...
....Past history about the mental asylum which we know has ‘something’ to do with present day.
It’s one heck of an intriguing domestic - suspenseful mystery — I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride.
The unreliable characters really ‘are’ unreliable—
I didn’t know what to think - I My booties knocked off!!
Crazy - scary - nutty - twisty - engaging - intelligent puzzling storytelling!
but be warned- it deals with dark issues of mental illness.
Carol Goodman is a talented literary suspenseful author.
I hadn’t felt so scared, confused-yet glued to a book of this type in a long time.
4 to 4.5 rating. It was GOOD!
April 25, 2018
Should she really have done what she did? That seemed to be the only way to keep her baby.
Daphne married, had a baby, and had Postpartum symptoms that caused her to not be happy and have thoughts of harming the baby.
Daphne attended classes and met a friend, Laurel, in the class whose baby had the same name as her baby, and they became friends.
Their friendship was odd, though, because Laurel would tell stories about things that happened to Daphne and make them her own.
Her husband was supportive to a point, but then Daphne was worried he would take the baby away from her because he didn't think she was capable of taking care of their child.
Daphne had a plan where she decided pretending to be someone else to get a job would be the only way out, but was it really?
She took on the identity of her friend Laurel, met Sky and Billie, and lived in a tower on the grounds of an insane asylum to help Sky write her memoir.
The job's location was not the best place to be with her paranoia and the history of the mansion. Odd things would happen and strange sounds would occur that had Daphne second guessing her leaving. How Billie took over the caregiving of her daughter to the point of obsession was very strange.
THE OTHER MOTHER is not something I normally read. It actually was a bit bizarre, dark, and tense for me, but the twists and turns in the storyline and the pull-you-in writing kept me reading.
I always felt something sinister was about to happen, and was kept on edge and feared for Daphne.
There are many sneaky, conniving, untrustworthy, deceitful characters in THE OTHER MOTHER.
I would not recommend this book to women who have just had a baby and who might be having a difficult time.
This book also addresses suicide and Borderline Personality Disorder.
This DEFINITELY is a psychological thriller that at first had me second guessing why I was reading it, but then it all came together.
THE OTHER MOTHER had a pretty clever and brilliant storyline.
As you near the last pages of the book you will still be asking yourself "Just who is the other mother" and "Is anyone who they say they are?" 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Daphne married, had a baby, and had Postpartum symptoms that caused her to not be happy and have thoughts of harming the baby.
Daphne attended classes and met a friend, Laurel, in the class whose baby had the same name as her baby, and they became friends.
Their friendship was odd, though, because Laurel would tell stories about things that happened to Daphne and make them her own.
Her husband was supportive to a point, but then Daphne was worried he would take the baby away from her because he didn't think she was capable of taking care of their child.
Daphne had a plan where she decided pretending to be someone else to get a job would be the only way out, but was it really?
She took on the identity of her friend Laurel, met Sky and Billie, and lived in a tower on the grounds of an insane asylum to help Sky write her memoir.
The job's location was not the best place to be with her paranoia and the history of the mansion. Odd things would happen and strange sounds would occur that had Daphne second guessing her leaving. How Billie took over the caregiving of her daughter to the point of obsession was very strange.
THE OTHER MOTHER is not something I normally read. It actually was a bit bizarre, dark, and tense for me, but the twists and turns in the storyline and the pull-you-in writing kept me reading.
I always felt something sinister was about to happen, and was kept on edge and feared for Daphne.
There are many sneaky, conniving, untrustworthy, deceitful characters in THE OTHER MOTHER.
I would not recommend this book to women who have just had a baby and who might be having a difficult time.
This book also addresses suicide and Borderline Personality Disorder.
This DEFINITELY is a psychological thriller that at first had me second guessing why I was reading it, but then it all came together.
THE OTHER MOTHER had a pretty clever and brilliant storyline.
As you near the last pages of the book you will still be asking yourself "Just who is the other mother" and "Is anyone who they say they are?" 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 16, 2022
This is a Thriller. This was a hard book to read, but I liked it. I did find some parts of this book confessing. Overall this book is good but not great. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, and this review is 100% my own opinion.
April 10, 2018
Man this was a confusing read but I truly mean that as a compliment, I enjoyed every single page of this compulsive read! The confusion was the interesting kind, you know when you’re reading a book and you know the narrator isn’t reliable? It was that type of read, you’re endlessly questioning the characters, their motivations and their integrity.
Let me elaborate more on the confusion for you guys, this is told mainly from Daphne’s point of view both in a straightforward narrative in the present day and through journal entries from a few months ago. Daphne is a new mom suffering from post partum depression and she joins a support group where she meets Laurel. Their friendship is odd, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why at first, but you know something is off. It only becomes clear later that there are so many issues and backstories. In the present day Daphne is starting a new job working for a writer and the bulk of the novel is set at the authors house which shares grounds with a mental institution. Talk about a creepy and unsettling atmosphere! Combine that with Daphne’s delusions and paranoia and you have the perfect recipe for a highly entertaining page turner.
This was incredibly twisty, therefore difficult to review, especially in terms of the plot, but it was meticulously plotted and extremely well written. This read like a psychological thriller with an edge, it was sophisticated and refined and just so well done. Highly recommended by me!
The Other Mother in three words: Unnerving, Atmospheric and Polished.
Let me elaborate more on the confusion for you guys, this is told mainly from Daphne’s point of view both in a straightforward narrative in the present day and through journal entries from a few months ago. Daphne is a new mom suffering from post partum depression and she joins a support group where she meets Laurel. Their friendship is odd, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why at first, but you know something is off. It only becomes clear later that there are so many issues and backstories. In the present day Daphne is starting a new job working for a writer and the bulk of the novel is set at the authors house which shares grounds with a mental institution. Talk about a creepy and unsettling atmosphere! Combine that with Daphne’s delusions and paranoia and you have the perfect recipe for a highly entertaining page turner.
This was incredibly twisty, therefore difficult to review, especially in terms of the plot, but it was meticulously plotted and extremely well written. This read like a psychological thriller with an edge, it was sophisticated and refined and just so well done. Highly recommended by me!
The Other Mother in three words: Unnerving, Atmospheric and Polished.
April 15, 2021
(4.5 rounded up!) Now THIS is a psychological thriller! All twisty & unreliable narrator-ish.. & the characters!! So good!
April 9, 2018
When Daphne flees her home, taking very little but her six-month-old daughter, Chloe, she isn't sure what to expect. She's leaving everything behind (including her controlling husband) to work for one of her favorite authors, Schuyler, as an archivist. She'll be living in the shadow of a mental hospital, which Schulyer's late father ran for many years. Daphne hopes this will be a new start and a way to escape both her husband and the dark moods, diagnosed as postpartum mood disorder, she felt when Chloe was born. She'll also miss her friend, Laurel, with whom she formed a tight bond after meeting in a mother's group.
Get ready: this book is a crazy, bewildering ride. It will also always have the distinction of being the novel I was reading on an airplane trip to San Diego when one of my five-year-old daughters threw up. Twice. So it will be memorable in several ways. :)
If you're looking for an easy, linear psychological thriller, this one may not be for you. This novel is confusing and crazy and makes you question everything you're reading. But it's an exciting, twisty thriller and a great, fast read (and a welcome distraction from vomiting children). Most of it is told in current-day descriptions from Daphne, along with excerpts from her journal from her postpartum mothers group. As Daphne meets her new boss, Schuyler, and becomes fascinated with a patient of her father's, Edith, we also eventually hear from Edith and excerpts from Edith's journal, too. The entire result is a wonderful, twisted, tale that has you frantically turning pages, trying to work things out and figure out who is who and what the heck is going on.
I don't want to reveal too much, as it's best going in without too many preconceived notions. The novel has a bit of gothic in it, as many of Goodman's do, with the mental hospital looming in the background. The idea of postpartum depression and motherhood is a theme running throughout, as well.
Overall, even though I was sometimes frustrated as I tried to work through this one, I wound up enjoying it. I was impressed at how things came together and enjoyed the wild ride I was on. I've loved Goodman since The Lake of Dead Languages and find myself looking forward to each new novel she releases. This one was different, but I was quite caught up in its characters and dark themes. Definitely worth a read.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Librarything in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
You can read my review of Goodman's novel THE WIDOW'S HOUSE here.
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Get ready: this book is a crazy, bewildering ride. It will also always have the distinction of being the novel I was reading on an airplane trip to San Diego when one of my five-year-old daughters threw up. Twice. So it will be memorable in several ways. :)
If you're looking for an easy, linear psychological thriller, this one may not be for you. This novel is confusing and crazy and makes you question everything you're reading. But it's an exciting, twisty thriller and a great, fast read (and a welcome distraction from vomiting children). Most of it is told in current-day descriptions from Daphne, along with excerpts from her journal from her postpartum mothers group. As Daphne meets her new boss, Schuyler, and becomes fascinated with a patient of her father's, Edith, we also eventually hear from Edith and excerpts from Edith's journal, too. The entire result is a wonderful, twisted, tale that has you frantically turning pages, trying to work things out and figure out who is who and what the heck is going on.
I don't want to reveal too much, as it's best going in without too many preconceived notions. The novel has a bit of gothic in it, as many of Goodman's do, with the mental hospital looming in the background. The idea of postpartum depression and motherhood is a theme running throughout, as well.
Overall, even though I was sometimes frustrated as I tried to work through this one, I wound up enjoying it. I was impressed at how things came together and enjoyed the wild ride I was on. I've loved Goodman since The Lake of Dead Languages and find myself looking forward to each new novel she releases. This one was different, but I was quite caught up in its characters and dark themes. Definitely worth a read.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Librarything in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
You can read my review of Goodman's novel THE WIDOW'S HOUSE here.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
June 11, 2018
If you like well-done psychological thrillers, skip this one. This book could have been interesting; I liked the journal entry structure. However, the whole plot point that a children's author would help some random dude figure out if his wife was planning on leaving him by posting a fake archive position on a library job website was totally, stupidly farfetched and made absolutely no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
4 Stars
This non-stop psychological thriller earned four stars from me!
SUMMARY
This is one of those books that is more fun to read if you don’t know a lot about the plot before hand. All I am going to say is that this story is about two new moms, both suffering from postpartum depression, who become friends after meeting in a support group. But is it really healthy for them to hang out together, feeding off each other’s fears?
WHAT I LOVED
Wow! What a great plot! There is just sooo much packed into the 324 pages of this book. It never got dull.
There were some fantastic twists. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, it turned out I was wrong.
The characters were my favorite part of this story. Trying to figure each of them was all the entertainment I needed. It was so fun. The (clearly) unreliable narrator kept me off balance, I never knew whose reality to believe. LOVED that.
I loved the setting. It was so perfect for the story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
There were times when I found the order/ writing style confusing. But not horribly.
There were a few “coincidences” that were a bit much, but it didn’t ruin the story for me.
OVERALL
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves true psychological thrillers.
This non-stop psychological thriller earned four stars from me!
SUMMARY
This is one of those books that is more fun to read if you don’t know a lot about the plot before hand. All I am going to say is that this story is about two new moms, both suffering from postpartum depression, who become friends after meeting in a support group. But is it really healthy for them to hang out together, feeding off each other’s fears?
WHAT I LOVED
Wow! What a great plot! There is just sooo much packed into the 324 pages of this book. It never got dull.
There were some fantastic twists. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, it turned out I was wrong.
The characters were my favorite part of this story. Trying to figure each of them was all the entertainment I needed. It was so fun. The (clearly) unreliable narrator kept me off balance, I never knew whose reality to believe. LOVED that.
I loved the setting. It was so perfect for the story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
There were times when I found the order/ writing style confusing. But not horribly.
There were a few “coincidences” that were a bit much, but it didn’t ruin the story for me.
OVERALL
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves true psychological thrillers.
February 21, 2018
I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.
----
I give the author points for creating a complex plot and confusing the heck out of me at times. More than a few instances had me going "What the hell?" "Is she... isn't she?"
In general I didn't see some of the twists/surprises coming, but I did have thoughts now and then of "Wouldn't it be neat if this happened?" or "Hmm.. if it turns out this way.." A couple times I did guess right so that was fun.
This didn't grab me like another thriller I won off Goodreads last year but it intrigued me enough that I was curious how it would turn out. The suspense gets amped up sometime after but nothing that had me scrambling to finish it as soon as possible.
The ending after everything that had gone on was a bit of a letdown... it felt unfinished and abrupt. It did fix one final question but it felt like we were left dangling in a way too.
Writing: 4 stars
Characters and plot 3 stars (minus .5 for the ending)
3.25-3.5 stars overall
----
I give the author points for creating a complex plot and confusing the heck out of me at times. More than a few instances had me going "What the hell?" "Is she... isn't she?"
In general I didn't see some of the twists/surprises coming, but I did have thoughts now and then of "Wouldn't it be neat if this happened?" or "Hmm.. if it turns out this way.." A couple times I did guess right so that was fun.
This didn't grab me like another thriller I won off Goodreads last year but it intrigued me enough that I was curious how it would turn out. The suspense gets amped up sometime after but nothing that had me scrambling to finish it as soon as possible.
The ending after everything that had gone on was a bit of a letdown... it felt unfinished and abrupt. It did fix one final question but it felt like we were left dangling in a way too.
Writing: 4 stars
Characters and plot 3 stars (minus .5 for the ending)
3.25-3.5 stars overall
March 1, 2018
So I was just reading along, enjoying this story of two women who both recently had a baby girl, and both named them Chloe, when I realized that I completely didn't understand what was happening in this book. Man, was this hard to follow. And I really gave it my mostly full attention.
The story starts out interesting enough, and I was intrigued by the descriptions and symptoms of postpartum OCD, but so many things in this book were just too fantastical, too outrageous to really be believable. I think the author was trying too hard to make everything have a twist, and really lost sight of what good storytelling really is. If there would have been fewer "aha" moments, and a more simplified storyline and outcome I would have enjoyed this book much more. I won this book from LibraryThing.
The story starts out interesting enough, and I was intrigued by the descriptions and symptoms of postpartum OCD, but so many things in this book were just too fantastical, too outrageous to really be believable. I think the author was trying too hard to make everything have a twist, and really lost sight of what good storytelling really is. If there would have been fewer "aha" moments, and a more simplified storyline and outcome I would have enjoyed this book much more. I won this book from LibraryThing.
October 5, 2022
Daphne has taken her daughter, Chloe, and fled from both her husband and her old life for a fresh start in a rural location. For the time being, she will reside inside a crumbling stone mansion, home to one of her favourite authors and now her new employer. But the past does not seem so eager to be forgotten and details about all she is escaping from start to reappear, both in her present surroundings and in the ancient records she is uncovering in her new abode.
This entire book was seeped in mystery and continual new discoveries were consistently being made. Never was this so prevalent as in the last quarter, however. The rising tension and rapid pacing kept me hooked to the page as the increasingly staggering secrets were revealed, disproven, and new ones laid bare in their place. I never felt on equal footing and was kept guessing about the reliability of all the characters until Goodman chose to dispel the illusions surrounding them all.
This entire book was seeped in mystery and continual new discoveries were consistently being made. Never was this so prevalent as in the last quarter, however. The rising tension and rapid pacing kept me hooked to the page as the increasingly staggering secrets were revealed, disproven, and new ones laid bare in their place. I never felt on equal footing and was kept guessing about the reliability of all the characters until Goodman chose to dispel the illusions surrounding them all.
March 6, 2018
Too many twists and turns that made the story seem very unrealistic.
April 15, 2018
This was a mental twister! I found it a little confusing at times and I had to stop and really think about some parts of it which makes this brilliant. You won't know which way it's going. A whirl wind of complexities.
Novels & Latte
BookGypsy
Novels & Latte
BookGypsy
October 16, 2017
Daphne, a new mother, suffers from postpartum depression. She develops a friendship with Laurel, also a new mom, and soon their lives become irrevocably entwined.
This is a story of madness, mistakes and ultimately redemption. Carol Goodman draws a fine line between reality and delusion and throughout the book I wasn't quite sure which side of that line the characters stood. It is a unique, complex plot. I felt that while all the pieces came together in the end, it seemed slightly contrived. That was a bit of a let down.
I won The Other Mother in a giveaway. I would rate it at 3.25 stars.
This is a story of madness, mistakes and ultimately redemption. Carol Goodman draws a fine line between reality and delusion and throughout the book I wasn't quite sure which side of that line the characters stood. It is a unique, complex plot. I felt that while all the pieces came together in the end, it seemed slightly contrived. That was a bit of a let down.
I won The Other Mother in a giveaway. I would rate it at 3.25 stars.
November 13, 2023
Psychological thriller
Some kinds of love are as dangerous as hate.
The Other Mother is a psychological thriller about Daphne and Laurel. This story includes struggles of new mothers, mental issues, marriage, greed, friendship, envy, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. There are twists and tension, it kept me guessing throughout the story. Definitely plan to check out this author's other books as I enjoyed her writing and plotting.
Some kinds of love are as dangerous as hate.
The Other Mother is a psychological thriller about Daphne and Laurel. This story includes struggles of new mothers, mental issues, marriage, greed, friendship, envy, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. There are twists and tension, it kept me guessing throughout the story. Definitely plan to check out this author's other books as I enjoyed her writing and plotting.
October 9, 2019
RATING 3.5 STARS
2018; William Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
This is my second book by Carol Goodman, and she is officially on my must read list. I enjoy the psychological/domestic suspense in a character driven plot. Even when you start to unravel the mystery, you continue to race through the book to see how it all comes together. There were moments in this novel where I wasn't buying some of the things going on, but Goodman kept you caring about the characters and plot. While I have not had a child or suffered postpartum depression, Goodman seems to paint a realistic portrait though of course with some added drama. This novel read a bit like a gothic drama - like Rebecca - which kept the suspense heightened. I really enjoyed listening to this one on audio.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2018; William Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
This is my second book by Carol Goodman, and she is officially on my must read list. I enjoy the psychological/domestic suspense in a character driven plot. Even when you start to unravel the mystery, you continue to race through the book to see how it all comes together. There were moments in this novel where I wasn't buying some of the things going on, but Goodman kept you caring about the characters and plot. While I have not had a child or suffered postpartum depression, Goodman seems to paint a realistic portrait though of course with some added drama. This novel read a bit like a gothic drama - like Rebecca - which kept the suspense heightened. I really enjoyed listening to this one on audio.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
April 28, 2018
crazy awesome read!
December 17, 2017
**3 Goodreads Stars**
Carol Goodman's The Other Mother is a psychological thriller that explores the difficulties of two new mothers, Laurel and Daphne, who meet at a mother-baby group.
First off, I appreciate that Goodman warned readers at the beginning of the book that it contains discussions of postpartum depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder.
Laurel is glamorous, attractive, and seems to have it somewhat altogether after having her baby, Chlöe (with an umlaut over the "o"). Daphne, whose daughter shares Laurel's daughter's name sake (sans the umlaut), is, in many ways, the exact opposite. She's messy, overwhelmed by motherhood, and exhausted from lack of sleep. She has intrusive thoughts that make her imagine harming her baby, which she knows she won't do, but the feelings terrify and haunt her.
Both women seem to feed off of each other's fears. Laurel and Daphne have histories of depression and mental illness. They both worry incessantly about the safety and welfare of their newborns, and about their fitness as mothers. Daphne thinks Laurel seems to have it together, or, at least, more so than herself. She changes her appearance to look like Laurel, as well as starts to buy the same types of baby products (such as an expensive baby bag).
Both Laurel and Daphne's husbands seem unhelpful and unsupportive given Laurel and Daphne's unstable conditions. Both of them engage in somewhat suspicious behaviors, but it is unclear what their motivations are. Daphne ends up running away from her husband with baby Chloe in tow because she feels threatened by her husband. I can't say much more without giving away the plot.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but the twist of it was disappointing and left me somewhat confused. I finally saw where the twist was taking me, but it seemed so far fetched that I just couldn't get into it. The book had a lot of promise, but I just couldn't buy into the ending or the way things tidied up.
Thank you to the author, Carol Goodman, the publisher, HarperCollins, and Edelweiss + for an advanced reader copy of The Other Mother .
For more of my book reviews, check out my blog
I Dig Books (and Dirt).
Carol Goodman's The Other Mother is a psychological thriller that explores the difficulties of two new mothers, Laurel and Daphne, who meet at a mother-baby group.
First off, I appreciate that Goodman warned readers at the beginning of the book that it contains discussions of postpartum depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder.
Laurel is glamorous, attractive, and seems to have it somewhat altogether after having her baby, Chlöe (with an umlaut over the "o"). Daphne, whose daughter shares Laurel's daughter's name sake (sans the umlaut), is, in many ways, the exact opposite. She's messy, overwhelmed by motherhood, and exhausted from lack of sleep. She has intrusive thoughts that make her imagine harming her baby, which she knows she won't do, but the feelings terrify and haunt her.
Both women seem to feed off of each other's fears. Laurel and Daphne have histories of depression and mental illness. They both worry incessantly about the safety and welfare of their newborns, and about their fitness as mothers. Daphne thinks Laurel seems to have it together, or, at least, more so than herself. She changes her appearance to look like Laurel, as well as starts to buy the same types of baby products (such as an expensive baby bag).
Both Laurel and Daphne's husbands seem unhelpful and unsupportive given Laurel and Daphne's unstable conditions. Both of them engage in somewhat suspicious behaviors, but it is unclear what their motivations are. Daphne ends up running away from her husband with baby Chloe in tow because she feels threatened by her husband. I can't say much more without giving away the plot.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but the twist of it was disappointing and left me somewhat confused. I finally saw where the twist was taking me, but it seemed so far fetched that I just couldn't get into it. The book had a lot of promise, but I just couldn't buy into the ending or the way things tidied up.
Thank you to the author, Carol Goodman, the publisher, HarperCollins, and Edelweiss + for an advanced reader copy of The Other Mother .
For more of my book reviews, check out my blog
I Dig Books (and Dirt).
September 21, 2018
I read her book THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES years ago and absolutely loved it, so I went into this reading experience hoping and expecting to feel the same way. Nada. I did not like this book. Let me repeat - I did not like this book. Without giving anything away, it is about a woman with post-partum anxiety. At first it was interesting and I felt pulled along by the plot, but after awhile (about half way through) the plot was no longer interesting - it was convoluted, ridiculous, confusing, plodding (what other words can I come up with)??? I no longer cared to stress out my mind trying to figure it out. I was floating above the words, just trying to get through the book which was due at the library the next day. Ugh.
April 20, 2018
Eerie and atmospheric Gothic thriller about motherhood and madness with plenty of twists.
Carol Goodman hooked me years ago with her debut, THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES, about a girls' boarding school and the unsavory things going on there. And then I was mesmerized by THE GHOST ORCHID and still have images from that book lodged in my mind. So when THE OTHER MOTHER (William Morrow, March 27 2018) came to my attention, I knew I had to read it.
This one is all about postpartum psychosis, but there's more--it's about identity (mistaken, stolen?), motherhood, trust, love, and so much more. What Goodman excels at here (and perhaps in all her writing) is her ability to create atmosphere. Imagine a milk-white sky, toss in an old stone home with a tower set on a hill overlooking a mental institution, add a mother and child and reclusive author. Got it? See what I mean...
THE OTHER MOTHER explores an unsteady marriage--one that has justexperienced the birth of a new baby. It tackles, also, the bond of mothers in a 'new moms' group. Daphne Marist is one of those mothers. So, too is Laurel Hobbes. They both have infant daughters named Chloe. And yet neither one are essentially 'whole.' Both suffer from some form of postpartum depression/psychosis , yet the women are nearly polar opposites--Laurel is wealthy and sophisticated whereas Daphne is a little more bland and straight-laced.
Daphne (a former children librarian) is eager to get away from her controlling husband and establish a life on her own. She applies for a new job as an archivist with a famous author, Schuyler Bennett in the Catskills--under Laurel's name and credentials! She gets the job. She takes her baby and together, they help the author, (who also happens to be the daughter of the former medical director/psychiatrist of Crantham Mental Institution), organize old papers and write a memoir.
All of this seems fair game, right? But there are head spinning twists and a complex tale folded within these pages.At times, I felt the writing/plot a little confusing,leading not just to 'what happened,' but actual, true 'reader confusion.' I wasn't sure whom (or what) to believe, as everyone is an unreliable narrator. This type of character is usually fun and intriguing for me, but this particular execution made my head a little numb.
There are a good number of journal entries from three women and slips in time which make THE OTHER MOTHER a near-historical novel, but I felt frustrated, too. There wasn't one character or situation I felt strongly about one way or another. Plus, I found a good deal of parallels and coincidences that felt a little too contrived; I may be in the minority.
Still, I found the concept of THE OTHER MOTHER highly fascinating, and wished the author had gone just a touch deeper in developing the characters (the mood disorder is well done, but the characters themselves felt a little flat).
In terms of comps, THE MEDEA COMPLEX (Rachel Florence Roberts) came to mind as did WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND (Ellen Marie Wiseman) and a bit of THE YELLOW WALLPAPER.
Carol Goodman hooked me years ago with her debut, THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES, about a girls' boarding school and the unsavory things going on there. And then I was mesmerized by THE GHOST ORCHID and still have images from that book lodged in my mind. So when THE OTHER MOTHER (William Morrow, March 27 2018) came to my attention, I knew I had to read it.
This one is all about postpartum psychosis, but there's more--it's about identity (mistaken, stolen?), motherhood, trust, love, and so much more. What Goodman excels at here (and perhaps in all her writing) is her ability to create atmosphere. Imagine a milk-white sky, toss in an old stone home with a tower set on a hill overlooking a mental institution, add a mother and child and reclusive author. Got it? See what I mean...
THE OTHER MOTHER explores an unsteady marriage--one that has justexperienced the birth of a new baby. It tackles, also, the bond of mothers in a 'new moms' group. Daphne Marist is one of those mothers. So, too is Laurel Hobbes. They both have infant daughters named Chloe. And yet neither one are essentially 'whole.' Both suffer from some form of postpartum depression/psychosis , yet the women are nearly polar opposites--Laurel is wealthy and sophisticated whereas Daphne is a little more bland and straight-laced.
Daphne (a former children librarian) is eager to get away from her controlling husband and establish a life on her own. She applies for a new job as an archivist with a famous author, Schuyler Bennett in the Catskills--under Laurel's name and credentials! She gets the job. She takes her baby and together, they help the author, (who also happens to be the daughter of the former medical director/psychiatrist of Crantham Mental Institution), organize old papers and write a memoir.
All of this seems fair game, right? But there are head spinning twists and a complex tale folded within these pages.At times, I felt the writing/plot a little confusing,leading not just to 'what happened,' but actual, true 'reader confusion.' I wasn't sure whom (or what) to believe, as everyone is an unreliable narrator. This type of character is usually fun and intriguing for me, but this particular execution made my head a little numb.
There are a good number of journal entries from three women and slips in time which make THE OTHER MOTHER a near-historical novel, but I felt frustrated, too. There wasn't one character or situation I felt strongly about one way or another. Plus, I found a good deal of parallels and coincidences that felt a little too contrived; I may be in the minority.
Still, I found the concept of THE OTHER MOTHER highly fascinating, and wished the author had gone just a touch deeper in developing the characters (the mood disorder is well done, but the characters themselves felt a little flat).
In terms of comps, THE MEDEA COMPLEX (Rachel Florence Roberts) came to mind as did WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND (Ellen Marie Wiseman) and a bit of THE YELLOW WALLPAPER.
January 11, 2018
Daphne and Laurel are new mothers – both suffering from postpartum depression and a history of other mental illness in their past, or so we are led to believe. They meet at a group to help new mothers and even though the two couldn’t be more different they become close friends. Daphne idolizes Laurel and Laurel takes Daphne under her wings to help improve her. In the process Daphne looks and acts more and more like Laurel. The story is told in first person by Daphne and then with journal entries from Daphne, Laurel and Edith. The locale shifts from their home town to an old mental institution and the house that is on the same grounds. The story is a scary look at mental illness and how an already damaged mind is so susceptible to suggestion and how intrusive thoughts can really affect your hold on reality. While I eventually predicted a few of the twists I was taken totally by surprise by the ending. I think this is the first novel I have ever read with a warning at the beginning of the book that women with postpartum OCD and other mental disorders are advised NOT to read the book. But, now that I have read it I certainly understand why the warning was necessary!
November 30, 2017
Two women, Laurel and Daphne, with babies both named Chloe, meet in a support group for women suffering from postpartum depression. Their identities slowly merge and one is later found dead in her bathtub. One of them ends up at a mental hospital where she initially began work as an archivist and is later a patient claiming to be the one who is allegedly dead.
I found it very confusing to follow this plot and its alternating points of view from Laurel/Daphne. Adding to the necessary suspension of disbelief is the introduction of an elderly woman in the mental hospital whose history closely parallels the Laurel/Daphne story line. The conclusion defies logic.
March 18, 2018
“The Other Mother”
Written by Carol Goodman
I opened up “The Other Mother” during a sick day, gross with the stomach flu. At first, I thought I was really confused by the premise, because my head was foggy from fever, from chills, from the flu. After I became better, I still am not entirely sure what I read.
I am a fan of the book you don’t understand until the final twist, the book you have to read three times in a row to understand. This is reminiscent of “Shutter Island”, “A Cure for Wellness”, and I dunno, some other crazy books. We follow Daphne, who has brought her child with her away from her husband, to begin working as an archivist for her favorite author. However, Daphne is using false credentials from a mother she befriended in their post-partum mommies group.
After we get that far, I don’t know who from whom, what’s going on, who’s the villain, who’s innocent, who’s insane, and who’s perfectly healthy. We have about five different twists, and frankly, I wasn’t happy with the eventual explanation. The primary twist was okay, but predictable if you had put any thought into the book. The other twists were obvious at the beginning and seemed to disappear completely and then resurface at the end, after you think they couldn’t possibly have led to anything. The book is full of red herrings, but only 25% are actually included in the twist.
I liked the scenery, a big old creepy house with a tower and a beautiful library. My head was full of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” meets “Phantom of the Opera” meets “The Sixth Sense”. I wish this was more eerie and suspenseful, it just seems like a lot of: “Am I crazy? Wait, I can’t be crazy! I know this to be true and that to be true. Wait. Are you sure I’m the person I think I am? I hope I don’t hurt my baby!” I think this would be a fantastic play, but in book form, it seemed too drawn out and confusing.
I have some specific examples I’d like to include to further explain my thoughts on “The Other Mother”.
• Because we aren’t sure who is the true narrator, Daphne or Laurel, we have an unreliable, unlikeable narrator. I am not a fan of those narration types. I need to know everything that’s going on, as it’s going on. Yeah, go ahead and throw a spoiler twist at the end, but at least let me have a sane narrator for 80 percent of the book.
• I like that we have multiple narrative styles, even if they’re jumbled. We read through Daphne (???)’s first person, her and Laurel’s journal entries, and Edith’s journal entries.
• In the beginning, Daphne (???) is reading the patient files of her boss’s father, and it’s very creepy and eerie, similar to the case studies and journals of Dr. Jekyll, in “The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. The “Strange Case” book is my favorite classic horror book, so I was happy to draw the connections and enjoyed the parallels as I read.
• As I mentioned earlier, yes, the author did research into post-partum depression and psychosis, but since she did not experience it first hand, I wonder if she’s doing it a justice. I’m going to be researching into both, as well as intrusive thoughts. Coinciding with the intrusive thoughts, are experiencing Borderline Personality Disorder or is it a result of the plot twist? The resolution in this book is as clear as mud.
• Also, like I said earlier, I called part of the main spoiler by page 25.
• There’s a lot of weird pop culture references. For example, there’s a rambling thought about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West...
• “He said in a voice so low I could feel it rumble in my bowels”.
I recommend this if you like unreliable narrators with debatable depictions of mental illness.
I received a complimentary advanced reader’s copy from William Morrow.
Written by Carol Goodman
I opened up “The Other Mother” during a sick day, gross with the stomach flu. At first, I thought I was really confused by the premise, because my head was foggy from fever, from chills, from the flu. After I became better, I still am not entirely sure what I read.
I am a fan of the book you don’t understand until the final twist, the book you have to read three times in a row to understand. This is reminiscent of “Shutter Island”, “A Cure for Wellness”, and I dunno, some other crazy books. We follow Daphne, who has brought her child with her away from her husband, to begin working as an archivist for her favorite author. However, Daphne is using false credentials from a mother she befriended in their post-partum mommies group.
After we get that far, I don’t know who from whom, what’s going on, who’s the villain, who’s innocent, who’s insane, and who’s perfectly healthy. We have about five different twists, and frankly, I wasn’t happy with the eventual explanation. The primary twist was okay, but predictable if you had put any thought into the book. The other twists were obvious at the beginning and seemed to disappear completely and then resurface at the end, after you think they couldn’t possibly have led to anything. The book is full of red herrings, but only 25% are actually included in the twist.
I liked the scenery, a big old creepy house with a tower and a beautiful library. My head was full of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” meets “Phantom of the Opera” meets “The Sixth Sense”. I wish this was more eerie and suspenseful, it just seems like a lot of: “Am I crazy? Wait, I can’t be crazy! I know this to be true and that to be true. Wait. Are you sure I’m the person I think I am? I hope I don’t hurt my baby!” I think this would be a fantastic play, but in book form, it seemed too drawn out and confusing.
I have some specific examples I’d like to include to further explain my thoughts on “The Other Mother”.
• Because we aren’t sure who is the true narrator, Daphne or Laurel, we have an unreliable, unlikeable narrator. I am not a fan of those narration types. I need to know everything that’s going on, as it’s going on. Yeah, go ahead and throw a spoiler twist at the end, but at least let me have a sane narrator for 80 percent of the book.
• I like that we have multiple narrative styles, even if they’re jumbled. We read through Daphne (???)’s first person, her and Laurel’s journal entries, and Edith’s journal entries.
• In the beginning, Daphne (???) is reading the patient files of her boss’s father, and it’s very creepy and eerie, similar to the case studies and journals of Dr. Jekyll, in “The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. The “Strange Case” book is my favorite classic horror book, so I was happy to draw the connections and enjoyed the parallels as I read.
• As I mentioned earlier, yes, the author did research into post-partum depression and psychosis, but since she did not experience it first hand, I wonder if she’s doing it a justice. I’m going to be researching into both, as well as intrusive thoughts. Coinciding with the intrusive thoughts, are experiencing Borderline Personality Disorder or is it a result of the plot twist? The resolution in this book is as clear as mud.
• Also, like I said earlier, I called part of the main spoiler by page 25.
• There’s a lot of weird pop culture references. For example, there’s a rambling thought about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West...
• “He said in a voice so low I could feel it rumble in my bowels”.
I recommend this if you like unreliable narrators with debatable depictions of mental illness.
I received a complimentary advanced reader’s copy from William Morrow.
February 12, 2018
I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers and I was extremely happy to come upon this gem. I was very much into the book, but after the unexpected twist in the middle of the story - I was not able to put this book down.
After giving birth, Daphne Marist starts to experience postpartum depression. Her husband Peter suggest for Daphne to attend a support group for postpartum anxiety, that's where she meets Laurel. Two new moms find a bond and become very close friends. However, this does not last long. Daphne starts to notice strange things in her friend's behavior. She is trying to help Laurel, she even finds a great job that is a perfect for Laurel based on her job experience. However this effort is taken for granted, and even worse, Laurel breaks off their friendship. Things at home are not getting any better neither. Peter accuses Daphne of being an unfit mother and threatens to take her child away. Angry and afraid, Daphnes decided to take Laurel's identity, accepts the live-in job that she has found for her friend, and leaves her husband.
As days go by after Daphnie's arrival at Catskills, she starts to feel more relaxed in her new surroundings, she accustoms to her new role, her new job, and a new employer, Sky. Daphne also learns about an accident that took place many years ago in the tower, that is still a part of her employer's residence. The person who was involved in the accident happens to be a patient in the nearby psychiatric hospital, and a former patient of Sky's father. Daphne starts to notice too many coincidences in that particular case, and she begins the digging. This investigation takes her to the psychiatric hospital... where she is being admitted as a patient against her will. Intrigued yet? This is only the beginning!
People say that everything happens for a reason. Daphnie's capture in the psychiatric hospital is not accidental. It is a well thought thru plan. By the end of the book, you will learn how Daphnie and Sky are connected. "The Other Mother" is a twisted and complex psychological suspense novel. Even if you have excellent detective skills - you will be surprised by the turn of the events in this book. Thank you, Carol Goodman, for a thrilling read and Goodreads, for the complimentary copy.
After giving birth, Daphne Marist starts to experience postpartum depression. Her husband Peter suggest for Daphne to attend a support group for postpartum anxiety, that's where she meets Laurel. Two new moms find a bond and become very close friends. However, this does not last long. Daphne starts to notice strange things in her friend's behavior. She is trying to help Laurel, she even finds a great job that is a perfect for Laurel based on her job experience. However this effort is taken for granted, and even worse, Laurel breaks off their friendship. Things at home are not getting any better neither. Peter accuses Daphne of being an unfit mother and threatens to take her child away. Angry and afraid, Daphnes decided to take Laurel's identity, accepts the live-in job that she has found for her friend, and leaves her husband.
As days go by after Daphnie's arrival at Catskills, she starts to feel more relaxed in her new surroundings, she accustoms to her new role, her new job, and a new employer, Sky. Daphne also learns about an accident that took place many years ago in the tower, that is still a part of her employer's residence. The person who was involved in the accident happens to be a patient in the nearby psychiatric hospital, and a former patient of Sky's father. Daphne starts to notice too many coincidences in that particular case, and she begins the digging. This investigation takes her to the psychiatric hospital... where she is being admitted as a patient against her will. Intrigued yet? This is only the beginning!
People say that everything happens for a reason. Daphnie's capture in the psychiatric hospital is not accidental. It is a well thought thru plan. By the end of the book, you will learn how Daphnie and Sky are connected. "The Other Mother" is a twisted and complex psychological suspense novel. Even if you have excellent detective skills - you will be surprised by the turn of the events in this book. Thank you, Carol Goodman, for a thrilling read and Goodreads, for the complimentary copy.
April 23, 2024
Eagerly waiting for this to come out! Love Carol Goodman
July 2, 2018
What a roller coaster ride! I won’t rehash the plot because I would be afraid of giving away some of the plot twists by accident, and there are a lot of them. I was never quite sure what was going on, who was who, and who to trust. This book is the definition of a psychological thriller, given that part of it takes place in a mental institution. The narrator is the quintessential “unreliable narrator”...or is she? At some points you’re not quite sure who the narrator is.
The book is supremely atmospheric, the characters are fascinating in their unpredictably and the pages just turn themselves.
I have enjoyed all of Carol Goodman’s books, but this one was exceptional.
A definite recommend!
My only warning is that if you have ever suffered from postpartum OCD, you might want to skip this book. You might find it too disturbing.
March 24, 2018
After the birth of her daughter, Chloe, Daphne Marist began having intrusive thoughts about harming her. Diagnosed with Post-Partum Mood Disorder, she joined a mother's support group where she met Laurel Hobbes and became friends with her. A few months later, something caused Daphne to flee with Chloe. Using a false name and credentials (Laurel's) she accepted a live-in job located near an asylum... and hoped her controlling husband wouldn't be able to find her.
What I liked:
I spent a great deal of time being confused where Daphne and Laurel were concerned, especially at the end of Part One. A major bombshell is dropped at the end of that section that had me questioning everything I'd read up to that point.
The reader is made privy to diary entries made by both Daphne and Laurel when they were in the mother's support group. The entries made by Laurel were particularly interesting to me when they described events Daphne had also written about.
Another thing I found of interest was the mystery surrounding a patient at the asylum who jumped from the tower window in the house (and living quarters) Daphne would later live in. It ended up having deeper ramifications to the overall story than I expected it to have.
There are several twists in this novel, and I loved not knowing what would happen next! Any confusion I felt, every doubt I had, every new question that popped into my mind as a result of what I'd just read served to keep me firmly engaged throughout the book.
The ending was awesome! I absolutely had no idea things would play out the way they did, and it was extremely satisfying to this reader.
What I didn't like:
I can't recall anything I didn't like. (How wonderful is it to be able to say that?!)
Final thoughts:
If you have a fondness for psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators and unexpected twists, this book needs to be on your TBR!
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss.
What I liked:
I spent a great deal of time being confused where Daphne and Laurel were concerned, especially at the end of Part One. A major bombshell is dropped at the end of that section that had me questioning everything I'd read up to that point.
The reader is made privy to diary entries made by both Daphne and Laurel when they were in the mother's support group. The entries made by Laurel were particularly interesting to me when they described events Daphne had also written about.
Another thing I found of interest was the mystery surrounding a patient at the asylum who jumped from the tower window in the house (and living quarters) Daphne would later live in. It ended up having deeper ramifications to the overall story than I expected it to have.
There are several twists in this novel, and I loved not knowing what would happen next! Any confusion I felt, every doubt I had, every new question that popped into my mind as a result of what I'd just read served to keep me firmly engaged throughout the book.
The ending was awesome! I absolutely had no idea things would play out the way they did, and it was extremely satisfying to this reader.
What I didn't like:
I can't recall anything I didn't like. (How wonderful is it to be able to say that?!)
Final thoughts:
If you have a fondness for psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators and unexpected twists, this book needs to be on your TBR!
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss.
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