Thirteen-year-old Michael Parsons is under a lot of stress. He cares for his younger brother and sister while his mother works double shifts to make up for the fact that his scheming, deadbeat step-dad contributes almost nothing financially to the household. Michael has anger problems that have gotten worse since his father died. It seems likes he’s always in trouble at school. Then, one day he wakes up to discover that his mother is missing. She has been replaced with an exact replica. No one else seems to notice that this woman is not his mother. Michael needs to find out what this other mother has done with his real mother. He can’t tell anyone because he knows they’ll think he’s crazy.

Michael clearly has some sort of behavior disorder, although a specific diagnosis is never given in the book. He meets with the school counselor daily to help develop coping mechanisms for his anger. Because he has outbursts at school, he doesn’t have any friends. His inner thoughts reveal some of the causes of his behavior but it confuses him almost as much as it confuses the people around him. Matthew Dicks has a real insight into the minds of troubled people and Michael’s inner thoughts are authentic and revealing. I felt such empathy for him, my heart hurt while reading this book.

There are bright spots for Michael. Sarah, the prettiest girl in school, happens to live next door. When Michael’s little sister invites her to go fishing with them, Sarah and Michael hit it off and become fast friends. She’s only the second friend Michael has ever had. Michael also meets a woman on his paper route who knew his dad when they were kids. He enjoys hearing stories about when his dad, who he misses terribly, was younger. Michael has to decide if he trusts either Sarah or the woman enough to tell them that his mother is missing.

Dicks wrote Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, which is one of my all-time favorite books. I’m happy to say that The Other Mother is in league with that book. Highly recommended.

Even though the title brings Gaiman's Coraline to mind, this book isn't horror. The protagonist has Capgras Syndrome and thinks his mother has been replaced by an imposter. First of all, a very unique premise and one that sent me a-searching, which was how I found out about Fregoli Syndrome. Just thinking about the confusion, anxiety, and pain that people who have either of the syndromes must be going through makes me beyond sad!

Secondly, the book was written from the POV of a teenager. The way they describe their daily schedule, how they must see the school counselor each day, and the realization of their own shortcomings when it comes to emotional cues and responses -- all of it was done so well.

Thirdly, as I read, I hoped that the protagonist's broken family would get a happy ending. They do but I found it too sweet and unrealistic.

To sum up, I really enjoyed this story and the emotional rollercoaster ride it took me on!

I read about 1/4 of this book and stopped because it was not catching my attention. I think that it was tailored younger than I expected. I think that I could give it another try later on and maybe enjoy it but it was not what I was looking for in a read right now.

The title of this book may be working against it. The book is about Mike/Michael a young teenager that is having some mental health issues after the death of his father. The poor boy has basically every weight of the world on his shoulders and he doesn’t know how to deal with any of it.

Matthew Dicks does a good job at bringing all of the characters to life while keeping the reader interested. At first I was unsure about this book because Michael isn’t an easy character to empathize with in the beginning, but it worked out well over the course of the book. The writing is very heartfelt.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during that 2nd attempt, I have only managed to make it halfway through so I'd rather stop here and state that this book just wasn't for me.

I was happy to receive this NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press because I loved Matthew Dicks’ previous novel Twenty-one Truths About Love. I was a little surprise because this one is completely different, and I love when this happen.
It is a sweet story of Michael, a teenager, who find himself in an exceedingly difficult moment his already complicated world. I loved how the author well described Michael daily life and his thoughts.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC copy.

This book is quite unusual. I can't quite put into words what I'm feeling upon finishing. It's definitely a coming-of-age tale about a thirteen year old named Michael Parsons. However it's so SO much more than that. I really don't think I could do The Other Mother any justice if I tried. You really need to read this one.. so what are you still doing reading my review?! Go get it!

I was hooked from the first page! Michael is the 14 year old narrator, trying to navigate life after the unexpected death of his father. He is burdened by a secret that is causing trouble in all of his relationships. Or, as he says, is making him feel “full,” a combination of angry and sad and embarrassed and sometimes other stuff, too,” Well written. Highly recommend.

I was given this book by Netgalley in return for a review – thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and the author.

I requested this book because I had read – and adored – the author’s previous book: Memoir of an Imaginary Friend. In fact, I would say that is one of the best books I’ve ever read and is definitely one of my favourite books.

With this book, Dicks again explores the world through the eyes of a slightly unusual character: a young man with a disorder than means that he looks at his mother but believes she is someone else. With references to ‘voices in his head’ it is clear that this character may have tendencies to schizophrenia, but it is a gentle and empathetic portrayal of a troubled young man. The insight Dicks has into the teenage mind is truly remarkable and I would urge everyone to read this, to understand how young men think and feel.

The book takes place over two days and explores how Michael, the protagonist, deals with the shock of finding that the person who should be his mother is no longer his mother. The distress he feels at this event, whilst his stepfather, brother and sister seem unaware of the change is the spur to the action in the novel. Leading him to confront the grief he feels at the recent death of his dad.

Michael is a character with a troubled past, he has a ‘behaviour plan’ as he has been known to punch students and teachers, ‘flip desks’ as he frequently tells us and ‘gets full’ of all the feelings he can’t control. However, a popular girl who lives next door to him is open to making friends with him and he is able to show that beneath the naughty boy image there is a depth of character and warmth to him. What I really appreciated here was the realistic ideas he has of his own limitations, although perhaps rather negative, he seems to be aware that he might not be the most attractive prospect to a teenage girl and rather than being upset about it is able to deal with it and rationalise it. His relationship with his siblings though impresses her as well as his ability to open up to her, and he confesses how he now sees his mother.

As a teacher myself, part of the climax of the novel was very revealing to me: the relationship between Michael, his teacher and the rest of the class felt realistic and had me asking myself how I would act in a similar situation, both as a teacher and pupil.

Clearly, I enjoyed this novel, and if it weren’t for the amount of swearing in it, I’d be very keen to teach this in a classroom. However, there were a few issues that let the book down. First, the novel just ends so abruptly leaving many loose ends that are just very frustrating. Even an epilogue would be better than the way it ends. For example, we know that Michael is facing a big day at school the next day and we never even seen as a glimpse of this. His disorder is likely diagnosed by his mother/friend but rather than facing a medical intervention it is swept under the carpet and not really addressed. This feels like a real let down – what is the point of the question about his disorder if it is not actually be addressed? It almost reads as though the writer hadn’t done enough research to find out how the medical establishment would treat a persons with this kind of mental health disorder. The main thrust of the story is about dealing with grief but the thing that makes this book special (and gives it its title) is the fact that he sees his mother as another person – this issue really needs to be dealt with!

Overall this is a very positive book and I feel positive about it. I would just like a bit more, more of detail about how Michael’s life will go on and a few answers to the questions. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone and will recommend it to young people with mental health issues that I come across during my work.

This is an interesting look at an intelligent teenage boy dealing with his anger. After the death of his mother, 12-year-old Matthew is convinced his mother is an imposter. He’s left along caring for his younger siblings because his mother is always working. His stepfather is a deadbeat. It’s a touching coming of age story.

Other Mother
Matthew Dicks
Fiction
Nancy (NancysBookNook, found on Facebook)
4

Fourteen-year-old Michael is stunned to find that the woman cooking breakfast in their kitchen is not his mother, but an almost-convincing imposter, one who is real enough to fool his younger brother and sister, although Charlie (as always) has his nose buried in some doomsday book and Julia is focused on their mother’s laptop screen. At least it’s the weekend so that she didn’t need to change clothes over and over until her outfit pleased her. Michael is all-too-familiar with the anger consuming him until he is full, and despite his one-word list (Don’t), to deal with these moments, it’s almost impossible to tamp down the rage that his mother’s disappearance is one more thing he has to deal with: school, where he’s facing three detentions next week alone, the plan he has to humiliate Mr. Morin, his meetings with Mrs. Newfang (whom he loves, it’s just that seeing the school counselor is one more thing that makes him different), the secret paper in the yellow envelope hidden under his mattress, being the caretaker for Charlie and Julia, hating his stepfather (the asshole), his father’s death, and now, this.

Michael is just so worn down with everything, with life, with always, always, being so alone, his secrets weighing on him, that it seems only natural to him to throw desks, to beat up the bully harassing Julia, to be “that kid” in school. Now his mother is missing and on top of that, Sarah Flaherty, the prettiest girl in school, has moved in next door and has accepted Julia’s invitation to go fishing with them. Matthew is in trouble and knows it.

No one gets inside the head of an adolescent boy like Matthew Dicks; The Other Mother rings with the truth of growing up.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Meet 13 year Michael. He's got a lot going on in his life - his father died, his younger siblings drive him crazy, his stepdad is a jerk, the girl next door "likes likes" him and oh yeah, his mom has been replaced with someone who looks like his mom but is not his mom.

This is a heartfelt coming of age story that deals with mental health, family dynamics and all the awkwardness that comes with growing up in a real and honest way. You can't help but root for this underdog!

I've been a fan of Matthew Dicks work since I read his book "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend"
I really reading "tThe Other Mother" as it captures the same charm!

I was provided an advanced digital copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes, all opinions are my own.

I'm always impressed when an adult can write from the perspective of a child in such a flawless way. This novel broke my heart and then put it back together again.

The Other Mother by Matthew Dicks is a novel centered around a troubled teenage boy, Michael, who experiences mental health issues as he tries to cope with stressors such as the death of his father, a new step-father, and the absence of his mother due to work. Michael's delusion manifests when he believes his mother has been replaced by the "Other Mother" after she leaves for an extra shift at work. His condition causes him extreme distress as his siblings fail to notice that their mother has been "replaced". As his neighbor tries to help Michael see he has Capras delusion syndrome, Michael struggles to believe him. However, through his experiences Michael learns he can love and trust those around him in this coming of age novel.

This was a very unique read sharing a condition I have never heard about previously. The author does a great job writing a voice reflective of a young boy who is relatable even with this unique plot. I do wish there would have been additional information on some of Michael's relatives such as his dad and his aunt so we could understand Michael and his responses a bit better since this is a character-driven novel. The ending was a bit quick but was wrapped up positively for those enjoy a positive ending. Overall this was not my usual type of novel but the premise was very unique. I recommend this book for those wanting to learn more about mental health struggles, grief, and growth from a teenage boy perspective.

Many thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Michael is 13-years-old. He has had anger issues and has been diagnosed with ADD. Every day at school, he sees Mrs. Newfang, the school psychologist, who helps him plan his day and keeps him on the right path.

Michael’s father died of a heart attack a couple of years ago leaving the family grieving. His mother works long hours as a nurse and he has a younger sister and brother. He is often tasked with looking out for them. Michael is upset that his mother has now married Glen, a loser whom he cannot stand. The man is lazy and doesn’t earn any money as he’s always looking for a get rich scheme.

Today, Michael sees his mother in the kitchen and is totally convinced that even though she looks like his mother, he knows she is an imposter and calls her the other mother.

This story follows Michael through his days at school and how he is seen by others. He tries to fit in, but it’s very difficult for him. His next door neighbor, Sarah, is in his classes at school. She is very pretty and he likes her a lot. In this story, she is a very astute young girl who seems to understand Michael when others don’t. I liked Sarah and I know any mother would be proud to have a daughter like her. Michael often gets into trouble at school mostly because he says things he shouldn’t even if they’re true.

I enjoyed reading about Michael and the problems and secrets that troubled him. I just wanted to give him a hug. Children like this need lots of understanding and they need someone they can trust to open up to. I predict that Michael will be an outstanding man when he grows up. An unusual story but one I think many parents can connect with.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Move over Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, any and all teenaged beloved teenaged male characters: Mike is here.
Starring the uniquely gifted Michael Parsons, THE OTHER MOTHER by Matthew Dicks is intelligent, heartfelt, funny and tragic and real -- as deeply engaging, affecting, and memorable as anything I have ever read before.
Starting the morning that Michael believes his mother has been replaced by another identical mother, the story continues through the terrifying and typical passages of growing up along with the particular challenges unique to this loving, bright, and honest young man.
The novel is immediately engaging, well-paced, and deeply involving -- in other words, the perfect escape into the heart and mind of another person. Every sentence is perfectly pitched and offered with the evolving wit and skill of the eminent storyteller Matthew Dicks.
You owe it to yourself to read THE OTHER MOTHER whether you are a passionate reader or a person who picks up a book now and again -- it is that good, that transformational a read.
I deeply appreciate the gift of an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

I'm so glad I read this book. I truly am.

"Everyone can use one less asshole in their life."

Michael is the kind of boy who'd tell his little sister she looks amazing no matter how ridiculous her outfit is because (see quote above); he'd go through fire if he knew his little brother is being bullied although he is annoying as hell. But when he's "full" he punches and shoves and through things because Michael isn't without troubles of his own. Battling ADD and the trauma of a recently departed parent, a lazy stepdad, an absentee mother, bullies at school in the form of peers and teachers, Michael always lands into trouble. He is the most responsibly irresponsible boy you might ever come across.

But one day, Michael wakes up and finds his mother has been replaced. The woman cooking breakfast might look like his mother, act like his mother, even talk like his mother, but something about her is "slanted". While he tries to figure out the secret, a heartwarming story unfolds about how adults inadvertently push children who are mentally fragile to the limit.

I loved how the writing handled the POV of a fourteen-year-old. It all sounded so real. Michael's mental condition was handled with depth but also without exaggeration. The novel that spans a couple of days is written without any fluff. It lurches a bit in the beginning, but once I got into Michael's head , it was a smooth sail from there.

Again, I'm so glad I read this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC.

Loved every second of this wonderful book! Matthew struggles to come to grips with the many changes in his teenage life as well as the appearance of the other mother; don’t miss the chance to read this book and find out just what happens.

Michael is convinced his mother has been replaced. She looks and talks like his mother, but she isn’t his mother. He’s not sure why his brother and sister don’t see it, but he wants to uncover the truth. Michael is incredibly insightful. I highlighted so many things he said or thought, and I think his insight will stick with me for a long time. He’s also very clever, and he makes for a good main character.

When I read the blurb, I immediately thought of Coraline. But we didn’t get that at all with this, and that’s okay. This is definitely more a book about Michael’s hardships, of struggling with loss and keeping secrets. He has a lot of responsibility, and sometimes it’s too much for him. Let’s be honest, his mother was less than stellar, and that didn’t help his anxiety at all. I feel the author rushed the ending. We spent all of this time watching Michael, convinced in his beliefs, to have it wrap up too quickly at the end. I would have liked to see that fleshed out a bit more.

I appreciate that the author included so many real-life issues in the story, including bullying, suicide, and mental health. Michael is a very special young man. Overall, The Other Mother is a quick and enjoyable read. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along.