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Mothered
A claustrophobic psychological thriller about one woman’s nightmarish spiral while quarantined with her mother.
Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.
But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.
When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.
Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.
But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.
When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2023
3928 people are currently reading
31982 people want to read
About the author
Zoje Stage
15 books2,757 followersZoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,673 reviews
October 18, 2022
One of my most highly anticipated books this year and I liked it, but didn't love it.
When Grace finally purchases her first home it comes right as the pandemic is set into motion. Thrilled to finally be a homeowner she is then let go from her hairdressing job when her boss lets her know she is closing the doors for good. Now she's panicking on how she is going to make her mortgage payments when her mom, Jackie, gives her an idea. Why doesn't she move in with Grace? Now that her second husband has passed away and left her some money she would be able to help pay the bills relieving some of Grace's stress.
While the current timeline plays out we go back to the past when Grace was a child left to care for her twin sister, Hope, who had cerebral palsy while Jackie worked to support them as a single mother. Hope has a dark side though and liked to torment Grace. Meanwhile Jackie doted on Hope and made sure Grace knew who her favorite daughter was.
Now mother and daughter are quarantined together pitting them against each other once and for all. Who will be the victor and who will be the victim? You'll have to read this to find out!
Such a great premise but it utilized one of my biggest pet peeves in books - dream sequences. I don't like the whole: Is she dreaming? Is she awake? Is this for real or is this all make believe? That is so frustrating to me. There were times I felt as confused as Grace did and I didn't particularly enjoy it. I also wasn't comfortable with the portrayal of the disabled sister being a villain in the story.
On the plus side there are some well done creepy scenes that will give you shivers. I liked Grace for the most part and despised Jackie - or did I? Who can really be trusted? I'm still not sure. If you can get past the pandemic side plot then I do believe there will be an appreciative audience that will admire what Stage has done. I'd say give it a shot if it sounds intriguing to you. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
When Grace finally purchases her first home it comes right as the pandemic is set into motion. Thrilled to finally be a homeowner she is then let go from her hairdressing job when her boss lets her know she is closing the doors for good. Now she's panicking on how she is going to make her mortgage payments when her mom, Jackie, gives her an idea. Why doesn't she move in with Grace? Now that her second husband has passed away and left her some money she would be able to help pay the bills relieving some of Grace's stress.
While the current timeline plays out we go back to the past when Grace was a child left to care for her twin sister, Hope, who had cerebral palsy while Jackie worked to support them as a single mother. Hope has a dark side though and liked to torment Grace. Meanwhile Jackie doted on Hope and made sure Grace knew who her favorite daughter was.
Now mother and daughter are quarantined together pitting them against each other once and for all. Who will be the victor and who will be the victim? You'll have to read this to find out!
Such a great premise but it utilized one of my biggest pet peeves in books - dream sequences. I don't like the whole: Is she dreaming? Is she awake? Is this for real or is this all make believe? That is so frustrating to me. There were times I felt as confused as Grace did and I didn't particularly enjoy it. I also wasn't comfortable with the portrayal of the disabled sister being a villain in the story.
On the plus side there are some well done creepy scenes that will give you shivers. I liked Grace for the most part and despised Jackie - or did I? Who can really be trusted? I'm still not sure. If you can get past the pandemic side plot then I do believe there will be an appreciative audience that will admire what Stage has done. I'd say give it a shot if it sounds intriguing to you. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
July 6, 2022
This book blew my mind! I eagerly devoured it in one sitting. The fallout from the pandemic is something everyone can relate to and the author captured this perfectly adding a supernatural twist. The entire time I was reading I couldn’t definitively decide on the mental state of the main character Grace and I loved it! It was creepy, claustrophobic, atmospheric, and by the end my mind was twisted into a pretzel.
Grace is learning to navigate life after the pandemic when her elderly mother asks to move in with her. The two have had a strained, tumultuous relationship and Grace immediately regrets her decision when she says yes to her mothers request. She decides to look at the glass half full, and hopes that their relationship will be different.
Things take a drastic turn after her mother Jackie moves in. Jackie is critical, passive aggressive, and judgmental. Grace also begins having disturbing dreams about her deceased twin sister Hope who suffered from Cerebral Palsy. As Grace’s dreams intensify, she begins to question reality. After a disturbing accusation from her mother sends her off the deep end, an act of revenge changes Grace’s life forever.
Mothered is available February 14,2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2022
She’s a 10 4, but she reads ARCs for books that won’t be released until 2023 rather than the billion that have already been published and remain unread on her Kindle . . . .
Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened. Shelby sent me a text that Mothered was a Read Now on NetGalley and I snatched it up lickity split before the offer expired. I didn’t intend to read it right away due to that FEBRUARY pub date, but since I looooooved Baby Teeth this sucker just kept screaming to me . . . .
After reading Zoje Stage’s take on a “bad seed” devil child, I couldn’t wait to see what she had to offer when it came to mommas.
A note to anyone who found the pandemic extremely traumatizing: this is NOT a book for you. It takes place in the height of panic where lockdown restrictions are just easing up a titch, but well before the vaccine was invented. You literally get locked in with Grace and her mother Jackie. Claustrophobic is a very apt description of how this book reads. It won’t be for everyone, but man oh man this was a slow burn of psychological fuck-up-edry that I read cover to cover one night after work.
Once again I broke my own rule of not reading the author note and took a gander at this one. I am so sorry for the author’s loss, but holy moly do I appreciate a brain that can turn the grieving process into something so delicious. I also couldn’t imagine quarantining in total isolation. While I tout my hermitlike lifestyle on the regular, at least I have other people who live in my house with me and who I like to talk to every once in awhile ; )
Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened. Shelby sent me a text that Mothered was a Read Now on NetGalley and I snatched it up lickity split before the offer expired. I didn’t intend to read it right away due to that FEBRUARY pub date, but since I looooooved Baby Teeth this sucker just kept screaming to me . . . .
After reading Zoje Stage’s take on a “bad seed” devil child, I couldn’t wait to see what she had to offer when it came to mommas.
A note to anyone who found the pandemic extremely traumatizing: this is NOT a book for you. It takes place in the height of panic where lockdown restrictions are just easing up a titch, but well before the vaccine was invented. You literally get locked in with Grace and her mother Jackie. Claustrophobic is a very apt description of how this book reads. It won’t be for everyone, but man oh man this was a slow burn of psychological fuck-up-edry that I read cover to cover one night after work.
Once again I broke my own rule of not reading the author note and took a gander at this one. I am so sorry for the author’s loss, but holy moly do I appreciate a brain that can turn the grieving process into something so delicious. I also couldn’t imagine quarantining in total isolation. While I tout my hermitlike lifestyle on the regular, at least I have other people who live in my house with me and who I like to talk to every once in awhile ; )
March 1, 2023
2.5 stars
It's the pandemic and Grace's mother, Jackie moves in with her. Grace knows it is going to be uncomfortable. She and her mother don't have the best relationship and Grace enjoys her privacy. But the mortgage must be paid, and relationships need to be mended.
Grace is having vivid nightmares about her sister, Hope, and she also has some online habits that her mother does not approve of. As the past and present collide, things get tense.
This book was a slow burn which I do not care for. I struggled with this one. I finished this just to see how it was doing to end. There is also a HUGE element of “is this real?”. Is this a dream/nightmare? I know exactly what this is - Bizarre. But I have to give the author big props for an original plot.
This one just didn't light my fire. Too slow and not enough to fully win me over. Baby Teeth was a 3 star book for me and this I enjoyed less. Perhaps I am not the reader for her books.
Other readers are enjoying this book and I encourage you to read their reviews as well.
#Mothered #NetGalley
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
It's the pandemic and Grace's mother, Jackie moves in with her. Grace knows it is going to be uncomfortable. She and her mother don't have the best relationship and Grace enjoys her privacy. But the mortgage must be paid, and relationships need to be mended.
Grace is having vivid nightmares about her sister, Hope, and she also has some online habits that her mother does not approve of. As the past and present collide, things get tense.
This book was a slow burn which I do not care for. I struggled with this one. I finished this just to see how it was doing to end. There is also a HUGE element of “is this real?”. Is this a dream/nightmare? I know exactly what this is - Bizarre. But I have to give the author big props for an original plot.
This one just didn't light my fire. Too slow and not enough to fully win me over. Baby Teeth was a 3 star book for me and this I enjoyed less. Perhaps I am not the reader for her books.
Other readers are enjoying this book and I encourage you to read their reviews as well.
#Mothered #NetGalley
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 20, 2023
As Zoje Stage remarks in her acknowledgments, “Mothered is a batshit crazy book.”
“Cat. Fat cat. Cat with a rat. Hickory dickory f*ck, the mouse ran out of luck. The clock struck two, the mouse got the flu, hickory dickory f*ck.” 🤣
It’s the dreaded lockdown of 2020, and Grace just lost her job as a stylist at Barbara’s beauty salon. Never mind that she just moved into her first house the day lockdown began. How is she going to pay her bills? When her mother, Jackie, threatens to move in with her, Grace isn’t sure it is a good idea. However, Jackie agrees to pay rent and stay out of her way.
“Agreeing to this arrangement was something a Good Daughter would do. But was Grace a Good Daughter? For that matter, was Jackie a Good Mother?”
Will they survive Covid, the lockdown, and living with each other?
Mothered is the second book that I have read from Stage, and I’m still not sure what to think about her writing. It’s kind of like watching a car crash, you just can’t look away. She really captures the claustrophobic atmosphere, fears, and anxieties about Covid and the very dysfunctional relationship between Grace and Jackie. Didn’t we all go a little stir crazy too?
I wasn’t really sure where this plot was headed throughout most of the book, which kept me reading. However, the second half of the book became very repetitive and didn’t include any plot twists. Unfortunately, I was also left with a few lingering questions.
I’m sure this was a difficult book to write so soon after Stage’s own mother died from Covid-19.
Read this: If you are looking for a book about the Covid-19 pandemic
Skip this: If it’s still too soon for you
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 3/1/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer publishing for the ARC of Mothered in exchange for an honest review.
“Cat. Fat cat. Cat with a rat. Hickory dickory f*ck, the mouse ran out of luck. The clock struck two, the mouse got the flu, hickory dickory f*ck.” 🤣
It’s the dreaded lockdown of 2020, and Grace just lost her job as a stylist at Barbara’s beauty salon. Never mind that she just moved into her first house the day lockdown began. How is she going to pay her bills? When her mother, Jackie, threatens to move in with her, Grace isn’t sure it is a good idea. However, Jackie agrees to pay rent and stay out of her way.
“Agreeing to this arrangement was something a Good Daughter would do. But was Grace a Good Daughter? For that matter, was Jackie a Good Mother?”
Will they survive Covid, the lockdown, and living with each other?
Mothered is the second book that I have read from Stage, and I’m still not sure what to think about her writing. It’s kind of like watching a car crash, you just can’t look away. She really captures the claustrophobic atmosphere, fears, and anxieties about Covid and the very dysfunctional relationship between Grace and Jackie. Didn’t we all go a little stir crazy too?
I wasn’t really sure where this plot was headed throughout most of the book, which kept me reading. However, the second half of the book became very repetitive and didn’t include any plot twists. Unfortunately, I was also left with a few lingering questions.
I’m sure this was a difficult book to write so soon after Stage’s own mother died from Covid-19.
Read this: If you are looking for a book about the Covid-19 pandemic
Skip this: If it’s still too soon for you
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 3/1/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer publishing for the ARC of Mothered in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2023
EXCERPT: Given how the evening was progressing, Grace was starting to think he was taking advantage of the situation. He hadn't even asked what medications "Miss Jacquelyn" was on when she requested a teensy refill and he splashed more wine into her glass. It was a fraction of what he and Grace had consumed - she had a cheap shiraz on hand that they dived into after finishing Miguel's much better merlot - but, his conversational efforts were revealing a mischievous undertone: she got the feeling he was plying her mom with alcohol.
His questions played into Jackie's worst social tendency to spin a funny tale - often at someone else's expense to make herself look witty. Miguel made it almost too easy, focusing on Grace's awkward elementary school years; he asked what sorts of hobbies she'd had, if she'd sung in the choir or played any sports. The less drunk part of her thought that he was probably hoping to hear Jackie boast about Grace's early talents, and maybe he was ready with supportive retorts, "She always loved a good karaoke night!", or "So that's how she learned to crush her opponents!" (Miguel believed she was too competitive when it came to board games.) He might also have been digging for more details about Hope.
'Can we do something else now?' Grace asked, lifeless. The school assembly memory was all the more bitter for being one of the few times her mother had been in attendance. Grace had been so excited, so nervous.
Miguel blew her a kiss and she read in his expression This will be over soon, which made her feel a smidge better. Maybe this was good, give Miguel a hearty dose of Brassy Mommy - which was a better match to Grace's descriptions than the Jolly Chef or Carefree Hostess he'd witnessed for most of the evening. Maybe Jackie hadn't really changed as much as it sometimes seemed. Her stresses were different now and her culinary skills improved, but perhaps underneath she was still the poisonous viper from Grace's youth, waiting to lash out.
ABOUT 'MOTHERED': Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.
But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.
When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.
MY THOUGHTS: Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today ; When I came home last night at three. The man was waiting there for me.
- William Hughes Mearns
Reading Mothered by Zoje Stage is a similar experience.
The author herself described Mothered as 'batshit crazy'. I have to agree. I have no idea how to describe what I have just read.
I loved parts of it. I hated parts of it. Overall I fall somewhere in the middle.
⭐⭐.5
#Mothered #NetGalley
I: @zoje.stage_author @amazonpublishing
T: @zooshka @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #mentalhealth #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Zoje Stage lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Mothered by Zoje Stage for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
His questions played into Jackie's worst social tendency to spin a funny tale - often at someone else's expense to make herself look witty. Miguel made it almost too easy, focusing on Grace's awkward elementary school years; he asked what sorts of hobbies she'd had, if she'd sung in the choir or played any sports. The less drunk part of her thought that he was probably hoping to hear Jackie boast about Grace's early talents, and maybe he was ready with supportive retorts, "She always loved a good karaoke night!", or "So that's how she learned to crush her opponents!" (Miguel believed she was too competitive when it came to board games.) He might also have been digging for more details about Hope.
'Can we do something else now?' Grace asked, lifeless. The school assembly memory was all the more bitter for being one of the few times her mother had been in attendance. Grace had been so excited, so nervous.
Miguel blew her a kiss and she read in his expression This will be over soon, which made her feel a smidge better. Maybe this was good, give Miguel a hearty dose of Brassy Mommy - which was a better match to Grace's descriptions than the Jolly Chef or Carefree Hostess he'd witnessed for most of the evening. Maybe Jackie hadn't really changed as much as it sometimes seemed. Her stresses were different now and her culinary skills improved, but perhaps underneath she was still the poisonous viper from Grace's youth, waiting to lash out.
ABOUT 'MOTHERED': Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.
But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.
When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.
MY THOUGHTS: Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today ; When I came home last night at three. The man was waiting there for me.
- William Hughes Mearns
Reading Mothered by Zoje Stage is a similar experience.
The author herself described Mothered as 'batshit crazy'. I have to agree. I have no idea how to describe what I have just read.
I loved parts of it. I hated parts of it. Overall I fall somewhere in the middle.
⭐⭐.5
#Mothered #NetGalley
I: @zoje.stage_author @amazonpublishing
T: @zooshka @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #mentalhealth #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Zoje Stage lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Mothered by Zoje Stage for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 6, 2023
In the midst of the pandemic, Grace is not particularly thrilled when her mother, Jackie, moves in with her. But Jackie has recently lost her husband and been ill and Grace is unemployed and could use help with her mortgage. Soon, though, stuck in the house with her mother, Grace feels claustrophobic, flashing back to her unhappy childhood with her mother and her late sister. She starts having horribly realistic nightmares and clashing with her mother over her hobbies, which oddly include catfishing people online. As things come to a head, Jackie accuses Grace of something unspeakable, and Grace feels unable to delineate her dreams from reality.
Ugh, I had to slog through this one. I didn't really realize it was written with a pandemic setting and wow, it's fully pandemic-centric, with COVID playing a central role. I don't mind pandemic books, but I just did not feel like reading a gloomy book about sad, depressing pandemic themes and unhappy, mean characters.
Even worse, MOTHERED took the unreliable narrator trope too far for me. Between Grace's nightmares and Jackie's passive aggressive anger, I couldn't tell what was happening and wow, that got annoying really fast. The book moves so slow--Grace and Jackie fight, Grace has bad dreams that may or not be real, and then it repeats. There's a weird side plot with Grace catfishing women that does not really make sense, as well as pieces about Grace's missing dad. Then there's the focus on her deceased twin sister, which is central to the plot, but almost seems grotesquely portrayed at times (Hope was disabled) and done in poor taste.
I just wanted to get to the end, but then there was no real payoff that explained things. Ugh! Overall, MOTHERED just annoyed me.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
Ugh, I had to slog through this one. I didn't really realize it was written with a pandemic setting and wow, it's fully pandemic-centric, with COVID playing a central role. I don't mind pandemic books, but I just did not feel like reading a gloomy book about sad, depressing pandemic themes and unhappy, mean characters.
Even worse, MOTHERED took the unreliable narrator trope too far for me. Between Grace's nightmares and Jackie's passive aggressive anger, I couldn't tell what was happening and wow, that got annoying really fast. The book moves so slow--Grace and Jackie fight, Grace has bad dreams that may or not be real, and then it repeats. There's a weird side plot with Grace catfishing women that does not really make sense, as well as pieces about Grace's missing dad. Then there's the focus on her deceased twin sister, which is central to the plot, but almost seems grotesquely portrayed at times (Hope was disabled) and done in poor taste.
I just wanted to get to the end, but then there was no real payoff that explained things. Ugh! Overall, MOTHERED just annoyed me.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
July 8, 2022
The first thing that I love about this book is the cover! Cover. Love. On this one! They say never judge a book by its cover, but I’m so glad that I did with this one. This was my first Zoje Stage read, and I cannot wait to read her very popular Baby Teeth next.
Mothered took place during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Even though we are not totally out of the woods yet with Covid, it just seems like so long ago that the whole world was practically shut down. Many of us may have been stuck at home or sheltering in place with someone who we may might not have been very close with- as was the case in Mothered. Grace and her estranged mother Jackie, were in lockdown together. It was during this lockdown that strange occurrences started to happen, especially for Grace. Grace started having weird dreams and nightmares, sometimes not being able to tell the difference between real life or the dream…
Grace also had a twin sister named Hope, who passed away. Will Grace’s mother,Jackie and her dreams help her remember what really happened to her sister?
The ending of Mothered had a nice little surprise ending that I did not see coming. I also enjoyed the Epilogue very much, as it will leave you with something to think about for some time afterwards.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: February 14, 2023.
Mothered took place during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Even though we are not totally out of the woods yet with Covid, it just seems like so long ago that the whole world was practically shut down. Many of us may have been stuck at home or sheltering in place with someone who we may might not have been very close with- as was the case in Mothered. Grace and her estranged mother Jackie, were in lockdown together. It was during this lockdown that strange occurrences started to happen, especially for Grace. Grace started having weird dreams and nightmares, sometimes not being able to tell the difference between real life or the dream…
Grace also had a twin sister named Hope, who passed away. Will Grace’s mother,Jackie and her dreams help her remember what really happened to her sister?
The ending of Mothered had a nice little surprise ending that I did not see coming. I also enjoyed the Epilogue very much, as it will leave you with something to think about for some time afterwards.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: February 14, 2023.
July 20, 2022
3.5 Stars
In the height of the pandemic, Grace finds herself out of a job as all of the hair salons have either shutdown or scaled back. Unfortunately, she had, just months prior, purchased her first home and is not sure how to make ends meet with the lockdowns. Her mother, Jackie, just lost her husband and needs a place to stay. They have a completely strained relationship but this arrangement in the end would help both women. As the days and weeks carry on you can see the strain wearing on Grace mentally. She is having vivid nightmares to the point she doesn't trust what is real vs what is a dream or possibly flashbacks to her childhood. This is where the book got completely creepy, even as a reader I couldn't tell exactly what was true and what wasn't and was falling into that spiral with her. These were written really well and at times made my stomach turn at how descriptive they were. The only quibble I have is I felt it got a bit slow in the middle however this is more of a slow burn so kinda makes sense.
As I mentioned this book takes place completely during the pandemic with Grace and Jackie pretty much in isolation. If you want an escape from anything COVID pandemic related this will not be that. However, I think that's what made this book even scarier! As I got to the end, I found myself a little confused but if what I think was the root of everything then that is absolutely terrifying!
Normally I don't take time out to read Acknowledgements but in this instance I did and can see how the author's personal experience could be seen throughout the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy
In the height of the pandemic, Grace finds herself out of a job as all of the hair salons have either shutdown or scaled back. Unfortunately, she had, just months prior, purchased her first home and is not sure how to make ends meet with the lockdowns. Her mother, Jackie, just lost her husband and needs a place to stay. They have a completely strained relationship but this arrangement in the end would help both women. As the days and weeks carry on you can see the strain wearing on Grace mentally. She is having vivid nightmares to the point she doesn't trust what is real vs what is a dream or possibly flashbacks to her childhood. This is where the book got completely creepy, even as a reader I couldn't tell exactly what was true and what wasn't and was falling into that spiral with her. These were written really well and at times made my stomach turn at how descriptive they were. The only quibble I have is I felt it got a bit slow in the middle however this is more of a slow burn so kinda makes sense.
As I mentioned this book takes place completely during the pandemic with Grace and Jackie pretty much in isolation. If you want an escape from anything COVID pandemic related this will not be that. However, I think that's what made this book even scarier! As I got to the end, I found myself a little confused but if what I think was the root of everything then that is absolutely terrifying!
Normally I don't take time out to read Acknowledgements but in this instance I did and can see how the author's personal experience could be seen throughout the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy
May 14, 2025
She was Contagious...
MOTHERED
by Zoje Stage
5 stars. Psychotherapist Silas Torrance loved a good puzzle. What turned a person into a monster?...
Take the mystery of...
... his new patient, Grace. How could someone so frail kill her mother so brutally then live with the stench of her two week old corpse?...
Yes, Silas loved a good puzzle...
He savored his role in uncovering their motives... it was like mastering the art of trespassing...
Grace was sharing her home with her mom Jackie during the Covid pandemic of 2020...
She was a hair stylist who had just recently bought her own home and hated giving up her privacy to live with her judgemental mother...
Grace had a disabled twin sister, Hope, who was clearly mom's favorite, and when Hope died, mom was anxious to leave Grace behind and restart her own life...
Now that the two women were forced to live together again, Grace saw that her frail mom...
Was sneaky...
Incapacitated when it suited her but agile and sly when she thought no one was looking...
There was also the mystery of the small, wooden box mom had squirreled away in her closet...
To which Grace couldn't find the key...
When Silas asked Grace why she did it, Grace told him her mother permeated her house with her foul, festering sickness...
I had to do it...
She was contagious...
This was a true 5 star story, and it was a story that I couldn't put down.
I believe it will resonate more with women than men and it wasn't a supernatural or horror story, if that's what you're looking for, rather, it's a classic tale of women (mother/daughter or any other two women) who hate each other.
I found the story to be insightful, and I could relate to almost all of the experiences (except murder).
Great story from start to finish!
MOTHERED
by Zoje Stage
5 stars. Psychotherapist Silas Torrance loved a good puzzle. What turned a person into a monster?...
Take the mystery of...
... his new patient, Grace. How could someone so frail kill her mother so brutally then live with the stench of her two week old corpse?...
Yes, Silas loved a good puzzle...
He savored his role in uncovering their motives... it was like mastering the art of trespassing...
Grace was sharing her home with her mom Jackie during the Covid pandemic of 2020...
She was a hair stylist who had just recently bought her own home and hated giving up her privacy to live with her judgemental mother...
Grace had a disabled twin sister, Hope, who was clearly mom's favorite, and when Hope died, mom was anxious to leave Grace behind and restart her own life...
Now that the two women were forced to live together again, Grace saw that her frail mom...
Was sneaky...
Incapacitated when it suited her but agile and sly when she thought no one was looking...
There was also the mystery of the small, wooden box mom had squirreled away in her closet...
To which Grace couldn't find the key...
When Silas asked Grace why she did it, Grace told him her mother permeated her house with her foul, festering sickness...
I had to do it...
She was contagious...
This was a true 5 star story, and it was a story that I couldn't put down.
I believe it will resonate more with women than men and it wasn't a supernatural or horror story, if that's what you're looking for, rather, it's a classic tale of women (mother/daughter or any other two women) who hate each other.
I found the story to be insightful, and I could relate to almost all of the experiences (except murder).
Great story from start to finish!
September 11, 2022
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, Zoje Stage and Netgalley.
I didn't finish this book. Crikey! It seems that Zoje and I just don't get along!
I read Baby Teeth and hated it! But, I sometimes try another book from blah, blah, and blah!
Unreliable narrator's tend to annoy the absolute crap outta me! Soon as I saw where this was going, I quit!
I know plenty of peeps will love this book. Not me.
I didn't finish this book. Crikey! It seems that Zoje and I just don't get along!
I read Baby Teeth and hated it! But, I sometimes try another book from blah, blah, and blah!
Unreliable narrator's tend to annoy the absolute crap outta me! Soon as I saw where this was going, I quit!
I know plenty of peeps will love this book. Not me.
October 22, 2022
There is a slow burn and then there is a book where nothing actually happens for almost all of it. This, sadly, is the latter.
Most of the time it is unclear what the conflict is, what the horror is, why the cover is so menacing when the book is so bland. Things are going badly for Grace, badly enough that she accepts her estranged mother's offer to move in and help Grace pay her mortgage, but much of what they experience is pretty garden variety parent/child conflict. It doesn't even rise to the level of dysfunction much of the time. The only thing remotely horror-y are the dreams Grace is having, about her twin sister who died when they were young. I will accept a good dream sequence, a couple of them are effectively grotesque or frightening, but after a while it becomes rather ho hum, ah yes, another dream.
On top of all this, the sister character is disabled, with Cerebral Palsy that kept her in a wheelchair. Grace always sees her sister as a real person, she knows Hope is smart and fun and capable, and that is sadly hard to come by in fiction. But she also sees her sister as manipulative, sly, and conniving. Of course we should have disabled people be villains. But this is delicate ground and there were a few times I wasn't all that sure that Stage was managing it all that well. Even if a scene worked and presented Hope as a full character, the plot itself (once you actually get to it) has more than a whiff of ableism. According to Grace, their mother Jackie only ever cared about Hope, which could give us some interesting character stuff to dive into but the book never does. It presents this dynamic of the unbalanced family unit that has to focus so intensely on a disabled child's needs, but its view of that dynamic is quite shallow.
When we finally do get some plot it is not all that much and it comes so late that we don't even get to spend all that much time with it. The entire book takes place during a Covid-like pandemic (not Covid, Stage points out in her foreword though honestly it is basically indistinguishable so it might as well be) and we don't get to really do much with Grace and Jackie's isolation. Grace faces significant financial hardship and yet that never feels like a real plot point anyway, Grace worries but she doesn't change her habits or deal with the very real stress that unemployment can give, we never get a real idea of what this all means for her really. Again, we stay on the surface and never dive in. Grace's life sucks, yes, but it never feels tense. It never feels like there are real stakes, except for the risk of illness from the pandemic around them.
If I hadn't enjoyed some of Stage's previous novels I wouldn't have stuck with this one. But it was a real disappointment.
Most of the time it is unclear what the conflict is, what the horror is, why the cover is so menacing when the book is so bland. Things are going badly for Grace, badly enough that she accepts her estranged mother's offer to move in and help Grace pay her mortgage, but much of what they experience is pretty garden variety parent/child conflict. It doesn't even rise to the level of dysfunction much of the time. The only thing remotely horror-y are the dreams Grace is having, about her twin sister who died when they were young. I will accept a good dream sequence, a couple of them are effectively grotesque or frightening, but after a while it becomes rather ho hum, ah yes, another dream.
On top of all this, the sister character is disabled, with Cerebral Palsy that kept her in a wheelchair. Grace always sees her sister as a real person, she knows Hope is smart and fun and capable, and that is sadly hard to come by in fiction. But she also sees her sister as manipulative, sly, and conniving. Of course we should have disabled people be villains. But this is delicate ground and there were a few times I wasn't all that sure that Stage was managing it all that well. Even if a scene worked and presented Hope as a full character, the plot itself (once you actually get to it) has more than a whiff of ableism. According to Grace, their mother Jackie only ever cared about Hope, which could give us some interesting character stuff to dive into but the book never does. It presents this dynamic of the unbalanced family unit that has to focus so intensely on a disabled child's needs, but its view of that dynamic is quite shallow.
When we finally do get some plot it is not all that much and it comes so late that we don't even get to spend all that much time with it. The entire book takes place during a Covid-like pandemic (not Covid, Stage points out in her foreword though honestly it is basically indistinguishable so it might as well be) and we don't get to really do much with Grace and Jackie's isolation. Grace faces significant financial hardship and yet that never feels like a real plot point anyway, Grace worries but she doesn't change her habits or deal with the very real stress that unemployment can give, we never get a real idea of what this all means for her really. Again, we stay on the surface and never dive in. Grace's life sucks, yes, but it never feels tense. It never feels like there are real stakes, except for the risk of illness from the pandemic around them.
If I hadn't enjoyed some of Stage's previous novels I wouldn't have stuck with this one. But it was a real disappointment.
February 5, 2023
Horrible! Present, delusion, dream,delusion, past,present. Are you dizzy yet? This was one of the worst written books I’ve read in such a long time. It’s nothing like the synopsis. I didn’t know what the heck was happening. I really wish I could go back in time and not have read this book. It was just that bad.
Want to read
February 7, 2023Looking forward to more from Zoje Stage. Not all of her work has been perfect for me, but I always admire her creativity and writing ability.
ARC received. Thank you, Thomas Mercer!!
ARC received. Thank you, Thomas Mercer!!
February 1, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 1, 2023
Grace is finally living the independent life she dreamed of after purchasing a house of her own. But when her aging mother is suddenly widowed, and Grace loses her job as a result of the pandemic, Grace is forced to take her mother, Jackie, into her home. Since the death of Grace’s disabled twin sister years ago, Grace and Jackie have grown farther apart, but Grace is hopeful that living together will force the two to reform their bond. But the pandemic stress only serves to add to the tensions brought up by old wounds and then Jackie accuses Grace of the unforgivable- killing her sister. Although Grace is certain Jackie’s accusations aren’t true, she has her doubts, but one thing is for certain- both of them will resolve their differences, or one of them will die trying.
Zoje Stage knocked my socks off with “Baby Teeth”, with its dark, deeply disturbing subject matter and psychologically deranged plot. Although I haven’t had the chance to read another Stage novel since, I was so fascinated with her debut that I was ecstatic to get the chance to read “Mothered”.
This novel is delectably twisted and uncomfortable, taking pandemic fear and dysfunctional relationships to a new level. “Mothered” was hard to get into, as Stage’s writing style took some adjusting, and the story was initially confusing. The plot did sort itself out, however, and once it did, I was hooked. There are so many mysteries to be solved in this novel (the biggest one being who is the one doing the gaslighting) and not all of them find resolution, but the quest to the end was satisfying.
Grace’s dreams are next level creepy, literally leaving me with goosebumps. Jackie, too, has her moments, where she teeters back and forth between sane and not quite so, tossing blame around and emotionally manipulating her only surviving daughter.
The story is narrated by Grace in the present, with smaller sections representing Grace’s recollections of past events, so the reader only experiences Grace’s side of the story intimately. Stage telling the story this way makes the reader question reality, and it is so unsettling (in the best way). After reading the prologue, hints are given toward the ending, and there are enough teasers to attract attention, without giving away the final moments.
“Mothered” is not for the faint of heart, and it will definitely creep out even the most experienced horror reader. But those who are willing to take a chance on a uniquely bizarre story with a twisted plot won’t be disappointed.
Expected publication date: March 1, 2023
Grace is finally living the independent life she dreamed of after purchasing a house of her own. But when her aging mother is suddenly widowed, and Grace loses her job as a result of the pandemic, Grace is forced to take her mother, Jackie, into her home. Since the death of Grace’s disabled twin sister years ago, Grace and Jackie have grown farther apart, but Grace is hopeful that living together will force the two to reform their bond. But the pandemic stress only serves to add to the tensions brought up by old wounds and then Jackie accuses Grace of the unforgivable- killing her sister. Although Grace is certain Jackie’s accusations aren’t true, she has her doubts, but one thing is for certain- both of them will resolve their differences, or one of them will die trying.
Zoje Stage knocked my socks off with “Baby Teeth”, with its dark, deeply disturbing subject matter and psychologically deranged plot. Although I haven’t had the chance to read another Stage novel since, I was so fascinated with her debut that I was ecstatic to get the chance to read “Mothered”.
This novel is delectably twisted and uncomfortable, taking pandemic fear and dysfunctional relationships to a new level. “Mothered” was hard to get into, as Stage’s writing style took some adjusting, and the story was initially confusing. The plot did sort itself out, however, and once it did, I was hooked. There are so many mysteries to be solved in this novel (the biggest one being who is the one doing the gaslighting) and not all of them find resolution, but the quest to the end was satisfying.
Grace’s dreams are next level creepy, literally leaving me with goosebumps. Jackie, too, has her moments, where she teeters back and forth between sane and not quite so, tossing blame around and emotionally manipulating her only surviving daughter.
The story is narrated by Grace in the present, with smaller sections representing Grace’s recollections of past events, so the reader only experiences Grace’s side of the story intimately. Stage telling the story this way makes the reader question reality, and it is so unsettling (in the best way). After reading the prologue, hints are given toward the ending, and there are enough teasers to attract attention, without giving away the final moments.
“Mothered” is not for the faint of heart, and it will definitely creep out even the most experienced horror reader. But those who are willing to take a chance on a uniquely bizarre story with a twisted plot won’t be disappointed.
February 28, 2023
Apron strings, hanging empty crazy things
My body tells me, I want someone
To tie to my apron strings. *
"I wasn't always there for you when you were little. I didn't mother you. And maybe you don't want my mothering now, but . . . I can try, Grace."
This is pure psychological horror with a claustrophobic vibe as the Covid-19 lockdown forces a troubled daughter and her estranged (and strange) mother together in a small Pittsburgh dwelling. It's a bit slow moving, but the tension is almost nerve-racking at times, and though the ending was expected, it still packs a punch.
I'd consider this the perfect read for anyone who's ever been forced to share living quarters with someone they don't completely trust.
*by Tracey Anne Thorn and Ben Watt
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the read.
My body tells me, I want someone
To tie to my apron strings. *
"I wasn't always there for you when you were little. I didn't mother you. And maybe you don't want my mothering now, but . . . I can try, Grace."
This is pure psychological horror with a claustrophobic vibe as the Covid-19 lockdown forces a troubled daughter and her estranged (and strange) mother together in a small Pittsburgh dwelling. It's a bit slow moving, but the tension is almost nerve-racking at times, and though the ending was expected, it still packs a punch.
I'd consider this the perfect read for anyone who's ever been forced to share living quarters with someone they don't completely trust.
*by Tracey Anne Thorn and Ben Watt
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the read.
August 24, 2023
The cover is a 10...but the story inside was lacking.
I really don't think many people are going to vibe with this. Especially people who do not want to read about the pandemic, or who may have lost someone during it. There's a lot of detail about the effects of the pandemic and the mc's friend who gets hospitalized because of it.
There were elements in the book that I enjoyed. For one I could relate to the premise of the book where the main character does not want to have her mother move back in with her. I can totally relate to the invasion of your personal space and how that feels. I also liked the aspect of the unreliable narration (although that did become tedious over time).
One glaring critique I had was that I never found the mother character to be that weird, creepy, scary, annoying, or toxic as the main character seemed to want us to believe. Even by 50% in to the book it still felt like the main character was just being immature. The mother only had one moment of really being bad in my opinion (letting the cat out) and nothing else was a red flag. I was REALLY expecting to be creeped out by the mother figure and it never came.
Also the dream sequences become very tedious to read about. There are points where you are reading about a dream within a dream...which is honestly completely unnecessary.
I also don't know if the disability rep is great *cringe face*...the fact that she's kind of represented as a monster ya know.
The ending was also sorely disappointing. I was very confused WHY and also was there an implication that one of them was infected by something that makes them tell the truth? Like what is that....it was so random and just thrown in off hand.
Sadly, this book was lacking in execution despite it's intriguing concept.
I really don't think many people are going to vibe with this. Especially people who do not want to read about the pandemic, or who may have lost someone during it. There's a lot of detail about the effects of the pandemic and the mc's friend who gets hospitalized because of it.
There were elements in the book that I enjoyed. For one I could relate to the premise of the book where the main character does not want to have her mother move back in with her. I can totally relate to the invasion of your personal space and how that feels. I also liked the aspect of the unreliable narration (although that did become tedious over time).
One glaring critique I had was that I never found the mother character to be that weird, creepy, scary, annoying, or toxic as the main character seemed to want us to believe. Even by 50% in to the book it still felt like the main character was just being immature. The mother only had one moment of really being bad in my opinion (letting the cat out) and nothing else was a red flag. I was REALLY expecting to be creeped out by the mother figure and it never came.
Also the dream sequences become very tedious to read about. There are points where you are reading about a dream within a dream...which is honestly completely unnecessary.
I also don't know if the disability rep is great *cringe face*...the fact that she's kind of represented as a monster ya know.
The ending was also sorely disappointing. I was very confused WHY and also was there an implication that one of them was infected by something that makes them tell the truth? Like what is that....it was so random and just thrown in off hand.
Sadly, this book was lacking in execution despite it's intriguing concept.
August 4, 2022
I am drawn to psychological thrillers that revolve around mothers. I identify with the plot personally. So, naturally, i had to read this. I was so pleased with this book's prologue as Silas s a man after my own heart--a psychotherapist who sees murder cases, killers, and the identities and mental illnesses and back stories of killers as puzzles. Macabre puzzles. Grace fascinated me in that way--a macabre puzzle. She has unpacked baggage from her childhood, poor adult relationships, multiple online identities which she uses to catfish needy women, and during the pandemic, lock down, she reluctantly invites the mother she can barely converse with over the phone to move in with her. I was hooked from the start.
Reality is blurred with the past, with dreams--nightmares. Is it somehow her mother behind it, who seems to bounce from one mood the next. Or is it Grace? Has she gone mad? Insane?
The story fell apart a bit in the last 20% or so. There was a lot of unnecessary stuff that was so nonsensical it didn't add to or forward the climax. It could have been significantly shortened and therefore had a much more impactful punch.
Reality is blurred with the past, with dreams--nightmares. Is it somehow her mother behind it, who seems to bounce from one mood the next. Or is it Grace? Has she gone mad? Insane?
The story fell apart a bit in the last 20% or so. There was a lot of unnecessary stuff that was so nonsensical it didn't add to or forward the climax. It could have been significantly shortened and therefore had a much more impactful punch.
March 15, 2023
Took me almost a month, but I finally finished this book. I liked it in the beginning and wanted to love it by the end, but I’m not quite sure what I read and the ending left me so unsatisfied.
The whole time I was questioning what’s real and what isn’t…
I like weird, but this was too weird for me. I wanted less fluff in the middle and more to the point, too.
I still want to read Baby Teeth by this author.
The whole time I was questioning what’s real and what isn’t…
I like weird, but this was too weird for me. I wanted less fluff in the middle and more to the point, too.
I still want to read Baby Teeth by this author.
December 4, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up. I read and enjoyed BABY TEETH, so maybe the problem lies with me. I feel like I wasn't smart enough to understand this book!
MOTHERED is set during the pandemic, but I had no problem with that. Grace has just bought a house shortly before the world shut down. She's not able to work as a hair stylist, and she's worried about paying the mortgage. Her mother Jackie asks to move in as she's getting up in years and is worried about the isolation of being alone. Grace has never had a great relationship with Jackie, but she reluctantly agrees.
There are two weirdly compelling back stories in this book; one, Grace catfishes people online to the extent that she keeps notebooks to keep all of her personas straight. In a way she's helping vulnerable people work through issues, but the whole idea was just unsettling. Then the other...Grace starts having vivid nightmares about her disabled twin when Jackie moves in. Tensions between mother and daughter mount until Jackie finally accuses Grace of the unthinkable. Plagued by night terrors and insomnia, Grace has trouble differentiating reality from nightmares. Is she responsible for her sister's death, or has her mother accused her for her own sick reasons?
I had no idea what was going on half the time, and just like Grace, I had trouble telling the truth between reality and hallucinations. Maybe that was the whole point, and I just wasn't the target reader for this book. I did appreciate the atmosphere of dread that permeated the entire book, but I wasn't a fan of the unsettled, confused feeling. MOTHERED will publish March 1, 2023. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this early read.
MOTHERED is set during the pandemic, but I had no problem with that. Grace has just bought a house shortly before the world shut down. She's not able to work as a hair stylist, and she's worried about paying the mortgage. Her mother Jackie asks to move in as she's getting up in years and is worried about the isolation of being alone. Grace has never had a great relationship with Jackie, but she reluctantly agrees.
There are two weirdly compelling back stories in this book; one, Grace catfishes people online to the extent that she keeps notebooks to keep all of her personas straight. In a way she's helping vulnerable people work through issues, but the whole idea was just unsettling. Then the other...Grace starts having vivid nightmares about her disabled twin when Jackie moves in. Tensions between mother and daughter mount until Jackie finally accuses Grace of the unthinkable. Plagued by night terrors and insomnia, Grace has trouble differentiating reality from nightmares. Is she responsible for her sister's death, or has her mother accused her for her own sick reasons?
I had no idea what was going on half the time, and just like Grace, I had trouble telling the truth between reality and hallucinations. Maybe that was the whole point, and I just wasn't the target reader for this book. I did appreciate the atmosphere of dread that permeated the entire book, but I wasn't a fan of the unsettled, confused feeling. MOTHERED will publish March 1, 2023. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this early read.
March 10, 2023
Well, I guess if you want to know what it feels like to go insane this is the way to go, but whatever there was to get from this book besides— I didn’t get it.
Grace was haunted by everything; nothing seemed real; her sister Hope and her mom messed her up bad.
I was confused, then I thought I knew what was going on, and now I just don’t even care anymore and I’m glad it’s over. Good grief!
Yes, there was the whole thing that it happened early pandemic but that seemed to be a side note to all the important stuff w the characters. Just. Argh 😖
Grace was haunted by everything; nothing seemed real; her sister Hope and her mom messed her up bad.
I was confused, then I thought I knew what was going on, and now I just don’t even care anymore and I’m glad it’s over. Good grief!
Yes, there was the whole thing that it happened early pandemic but that seemed to be a side note to all the important stuff w the characters. Just. Argh 😖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2022
Well well well.... I still have a little look of confusion on my face after finishing this last night but I also think I really liked it! *I think*. Starts off innocent enough with Grace's mother, Jackie, moving in with her during the pandemic where it's become difficult for Grace to continue being a hairdresser. Money is tight, but Jackie's lips certainly are not. I personally love pandemic books and MOTHERED certainly gives us a stark look about how we all deal with confinement and limited social interaction in our own ways. From employment, to our own health and the health of our loved ones, to too much time on hand to overthink every single thing. Yada, yada, yada.....
Now, if you already had a tumultuous relationship with your mother, then maybe you already know what to expect when she moves in with you. Maybe she's a different person now and possibly YOU are a different person as an adult thus giving way to something new and more positive. Or maybe the ghosts from the past come for a visit and you're forced to reconsider the past as you know it. While this is definitely a bit of a slow burn, I was intrigued as to where the story was going to take us. Little nuggets of distraction had me thinking perhaps it is *this* or *that* causing some of the issues that Grace begins to have. What is real and what isn't? And how did it escalate all the way to where it did?!
From the pacing at the beginning to the in-your-face pa-pow of the end... well, I think I'm more befuddled than Grace ever was. And yet... I liked it. I still have questions that need answers though. Pandemic, catfishing, sleepwalking, lasagna making, hair cutting, sisters, best friends and a mother ... I mean, there's a lot here and some paths I felt were there just for confusion and never led to anywhere but then again.... maybe all of the insanity was because we were fully immersed in Grace's head and well, she definitely seemed confused most of the time.
Now, if you already had a tumultuous relationship with your mother, then maybe you already know what to expect when she moves in with you. Maybe she's a different person now and possibly YOU are a different person as an adult thus giving way to something new and more positive. Or maybe the ghosts from the past come for a visit and you're forced to reconsider the past as you know it. While this is definitely a bit of a slow burn, I was intrigued as to where the story was going to take us. Little nuggets of distraction had me thinking perhaps it is *this* or *that* causing some of the issues that Grace begins to have. What is real and what isn't? And how did it escalate all the way to where it did?!
From the pacing at the beginning to the in-your-face pa-pow of the end... well, I think I'm more befuddled than Grace ever was. And yet... I liked it. I still have questions that need answers though. Pandemic, catfishing, sleepwalking, lasagna making, hair cutting, sisters, best friends and a mother ... I mean, there's a lot here and some paths I felt were there just for confusion and never led to anywhere but then again.... maybe all of the insanity was because we were fully immersed in Grace's head and well, she definitely seemed confused most of the time.
August 14, 2022
There's been a few book written about the pandemic at this point, but this one really nailed it! Whereas the pandemic is a backdrop in most stories, it's central to the plot in this one. We have a situation that is already brimming with tension, unease and claustrophobia magnified to epic proportions. An estranged mother and daughter thrown together, attempting to coexist while also coming to terms with a terrible tragedy they both blame each other for. It's a powder keg and it's bound to end in complete disaster.
This reminded me of What Lies Between Us by John Mars. The culmination of fears, quiet resentments and repressed guilt was unsettling and disorienting. Throw in some wild and intense dream sequences, and it made the stories that much more disorienting.
There are so few female writers in the horror genre, and Zoje Stage is really killing it! I'm looking forward to reading all her books for years to come.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This reminded me of What Lies Between Us by John Mars. The culmination of fears, quiet resentments and repressed guilt was unsettling and disorienting. Throw in some wild and intense dream sequences, and it made the stories that much more disorienting.
There are so few female writers in the horror genre, and Zoje Stage is really killing it! I'm looking forward to reading all her books for years to come.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
Reading Mothered was an interesting read for me. Reading about the Pandemic so soon after #PandemicLife has been such a prevalence in all of our lives seemed like both a daunting and inviting thing all at the same time. Especially since everyone’s experiences were the same, and yet different.
Putting expectations aside, I found the first half of the book slightly challenging as it was almost just “another pandemic story” until I started thinking about what would it be like to move your mother into your home, after tons of tragedy and hurt in the past. To be stuck and having to quarantine in place after an exposure. To be stuck with all the pain and angst that had years to fester, and nowhere to go to escape it. The whole world falling apart, scary, unfamiliar, and yet thrust back into the familiar “mothered” situation from a mother determined to make you see all your mistakes, while simultaneously taking over what life you have left.
Oh yes, therein lies the horror. From about the midway on, things start happening. And by happening, I mean they take off in crazy directions. Ones you won’t see coming. The potential loss of a best friend, who has potentially exposed you to COVID, and the murder that follows. Whoa!
This was a 3/5 star read for me. While I didn’t love it, I found I liked it, and liked where the author went towards the end. Just buckle in for the pandemic rehash at the beginning and you will also enjoy how this crazy tale pans out… and be glad you weren’t also … mothered!
A big thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an electronic copy of this pandemic nightmare in exchange for my honest opinions. You too can read this on it’s release date in March of 2023!
A full review will be available on my blog, OceansOfBooks.com on release date to further whet your reading whistle!
Happy reading my friends! 😊
Putting expectations aside, I found the first half of the book slightly challenging as it was almost just “another pandemic story” until I started thinking about what would it be like to move your mother into your home, after tons of tragedy and hurt in the past. To be stuck and having to quarantine in place after an exposure. To be stuck with all the pain and angst that had years to fester, and nowhere to go to escape it. The whole world falling apart, scary, unfamiliar, and yet thrust back into the familiar “mothered” situation from a mother determined to make you see all your mistakes, while simultaneously taking over what life you have left.
Oh yes, therein lies the horror. From about the midway on, things start happening. And by happening, I mean they take off in crazy directions. Ones you won’t see coming. The potential loss of a best friend, who has potentially exposed you to COVID, and the murder that follows. Whoa!
This was a 3/5 star read for me. While I didn’t love it, I found I liked it, and liked where the author went towards the end. Just buckle in for the pandemic rehash at the beginning and you will also enjoy how this crazy tale pans out… and be glad you weren’t also … mothered!
A big thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an electronic copy of this pandemic nightmare in exchange for my honest opinions. You too can read this on it’s release date in March of 2023!
A full review will be available on my blog, OceansOfBooks.com on release date to further whet your reading whistle!
Happy reading my friends! 😊
October 6, 2022
It's the time of the pandemic and Grace's mom Jackie's second husband has passed away. Jackie asks if she can move in with Grace. The salon that Grace works at is not going to reopen, so she thinks maybe her mom can help with her rent if needed. Grace is really NOT happy though to have Jackie moving in. Once she does move in, Grace starts having strange dreams and many are about her sister Hope that has passed away.
This was a slow burn, super creepy book. I liked Baby Teeth and thought I would give this a try. I really was unsure if some of her dreams were real or not. But I did think the book ended well. I recommend MOTHERED to those that like Horror/Thrillers.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a slow burn, super creepy book. I liked Baby Teeth and thought I would give this a try. I really was unsure if some of her dreams were real or not. But I did think the book ended well. I recommend MOTHERED to those that like Horror/Thrillers.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2023
“It wasn’t an emergency. I didn’t want to bother anyone.”
Grace had everything going for her until the pandemic. She worked at a great salon and had just purchased a house before “2 weeks to slow the spread.”
Her workplace closes for good and though she can pick up work at a chair here and there, she’s going to need some help with the bills.
Funnily enough, her estranged mom Jackie needs somewhere to heal while she’s on the mend from an injury, plus she’s lonely because her husband died. Grace reluctantly agrees, thinking maybe things can be different now that so much time has passed and she’s on her own turf.
Things start off fairly well but take a sharp turn downhill quite suddenly, as Jackie reveals herself to still be the mean-spirited woman who raised Grace and her now deceased twin sister Hope. Optimistic names for children doomed to grow up in dysfunction. With the pandemic and lockdowns straining their already feeble mental health and grasp of reality, we start to see that not everyone will make it out of this alive.
I’m torn on this! It had a lot of dream sequences and I don’t really like that or to feel tricked. Let’s be real: No one wants to hear about your dream. Someone had to say it. Any dream stories need to be pretty short. While I’m not a big fan of it, it did take you inside the mind of Grace as she’s slowly losing it in this pressure cooker environment. It took me back to those hazy days of early 2020 when none of us knew what was going on.
Being cooped up with someone you love is hard enough, let alone a narcissist mother who wears you down. Grace was an interesting, complex, and flawed character. I like that there weren’t too many characters to learn and it was fully driven by the main character.
This was unique, original, and made me feel something. This is a great piece of pandemic fiction and this author continues to surprise me with her bizarre situations!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
Grace had everything going for her until the pandemic. She worked at a great salon and had just purchased a house before “2 weeks to slow the spread.”
Her workplace closes for good and though she can pick up work at a chair here and there, she’s going to need some help with the bills.
Funnily enough, her estranged mom Jackie needs somewhere to heal while she’s on the mend from an injury, plus she’s lonely because her husband died. Grace reluctantly agrees, thinking maybe things can be different now that so much time has passed and she’s on her own turf.
Things start off fairly well but take a sharp turn downhill quite suddenly, as Jackie reveals herself to still be the mean-spirited woman who raised Grace and her now deceased twin sister Hope. Optimistic names for children doomed to grow up in dysfunction. With the pandemic and lockdowns straining their already feeble mental health and grasp of reality, we start to see that not everyone will make it out of this alive.
I’m torn on this! It had a lot of dream sequences and I don’t really like that or to feel tricked. Let’s be real: No one wants to hear about your dream. Someone had to say it. Any dream stories need to be pretty short. While I’m not a big fan of it, it did take you inside the mind of Grace as she’s slowly losing it in this pressure cooker environment. It took me back to those hazy days of early 2020 when none of us knew what was going on.
Being cooped up with someone you love is hard enough, let alone a narcissist mother who wears you down. Grace was an interesting, complex, and flawed character. I like that there weren’t too many characters to learn and it was fully driven by the main character.
This was unique, original, and made me feel something. This is a great piece of pandemic fiction and this author continues to surprise me with her bizarre situations!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
March 4, 2023
Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. It reads like a descent into madness and normally I love that! But I was so confused about the ending and what was really happening that it became a let down for me. I don’t want to HAVE to research explanations for books I read but it feels like something I’ll need to do for this one. Is it a genetic family trait? Is it COVID? Is it cabin fever? Are we meant to not know as readers? There are just too many questions rolling around in my head and that makes me feel quite indifferent. Not only that, at the beginning of the book and the end we “meet” a therapist who is working with her. But we only get a few pages of his GLEE that he has a case like this. It would have been really cool if this was integrated more in the story. I think it would have made it feel so much more tense and suspenseful to have his thoughts thrown in. Just being in the prologue and epilogue seems senseless. Finally, this book doesn’t read like a horror novel or even a suspense novel. It felt more like a psychological drama to me.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐
February 16, 2023
This book was as boring as it is when people tell you a detailed synopsis of their dreams. This is exactly what this book is, a collection of weird dreams and nightmares this character has. No real plot. A whole chapter of a dream ends, and you're happy we're finally back in reality, and then it turns out the following chapter is just yet ANOTHER dream. It took me almost 2 weeks to get through but I kept going in hopes that there would be something decent at the end to at least allow me to give it a 2-star rating. The ending was predictable and anti-climactic. The way the mother, Jackie, seemed completely normal throughout the whole book and snapped into a nutcase at the very end didn’t flow well. I also did not care for the main character/protagonist, Grace - her whole catfishing trope was so bizarre and had literally nothing to do with the story. Thank God this book was free. I have had Baby Teeth on my list for a while but going to take it off to save time and money.
February 18, 2023
This book was the biggest waste of 2023 so far. Half of it was a dream sequence and entirely predictable.
April 11, 2024
Probably the most claustrophobic book I’ve ever read. I felt everything Grace felt - and now I’m worried about my mental health 🤣
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