This book pulls you right in from the start and doesn't let go, I couldn't put it down once I started. Looking forward to more from the author.

This book was a wild ride! From the prologue that creeps you out and pulls you in, to the intense climax and ending. This book was so frustrating and anxiety inducing.

𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒏-𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚.

Maeve and Andrea grew up in a cult of mothers, but it is their bond that has provided the only love and nurturing in their lives. Maeve’s whole life has revolved around Andrea, even more so in the aftermath of a dark night, when the two are ripped apart. Maeve’s act of bravery, or betrayal to the cult, is the catalyst for the ruin of their life together. Maeve is adopted by a kind, older couple and eventually overcomes her own trauma, wondering forever what happened to Andrea. Now both adults, they find each other through a DNA website, but Andrea doesn’t want to dwell on the terror of the past. Maeve is an editor, mostly in fiction, always loving escapism. It is other people’s stories that have always interested her and she longs to know all about Andrea’s life since they’ve been separated. Andrea has risen above being unwanted as a child, in and out of foster homes, used her business degree to create her own company, starting out as a life coach. She is the CEO of “NewLife”, dazzling with it’s cutting edge technology. Hot with the Silicon Valley crowd, and married to Rob, a ‘Groundbreaking Vigeneros Tech’, her life seems far more adult than Maeve’s. She and Rob have suffered a deep loss together, but have made peace with it. There is nothing Andrea has wanted more than a family and finding Maeve ‘feels like a gift from the universe.’ Both their lives are about to change, this time through unification.

Maeve is still living her single days, not interested in having children, the opposite of Andrea’s entire purpose. She is surprised Andrea, who has been living a life filled with travel, great success and excitement, could ever miss her. She promises Maeve, you never lose who you were as a child, and she has always loved her, they are family and that’s a strong bond. It’s time she lets someone in, and no one is closer to her heart than Andrea. She is on her way to their home in the Catskill Mountains, where she will soon be immersed in their lives, being around her business partner Emily (who is worshipped even more than Andrea by Silicon Valley), joined by her husband and young son. She is out of her comfort zone, and the product Andrea is testing (more of a cause) leaves her unsettled. Is technology used to heal grief a good idea? She can’t deny her cousin, she owes her for upending their lives all those years ago. She swears to do whatever Andrea needs. Rob and Andrea’s friends can’t understand why Maeve doesn’t want children, it’s ‘unnatural’ to their way of thinking. Then Andrea makes a request, it is too much to ask, despite wanting to please her cousin. The ties of family are knots that aren’t so easily undone.

The story gets much more complicated and darker from there. As present and past collide, the reader learns the terror and cruelty of their early childhood and just how it has left its mark on them both. The mothers weren’t so nurturing, it was a sick, twisted cult. It’s creepy, it’s about trauma, grief, loneliness, and how misguided and brutal ideas can be. What a strange novel, I keep thinking ‘someone will make or movie out of this.’

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire

Just Like Mother delivers on all the creepy vibes oozing from its cover.

Since she escaped from the cult she grew up in, Maeve has built a fortress of walls around her. One of the only people she lets marginally close is her casual boyfriend.

Maeve’s quiet life gets disrupted when her long lost cousin Andrea, who grew up in the same cult, contacts her. Maeve learns that Andrea has made a successful career for herself in the lifestyle and tech industry. Soon, Maeve spends most of her time at Andrea and her husband’s historic estate, despite the general disapproval of Maeve’s single life from Andrea’s inner circle.

I can’t say much more than that, except things start getting super creepy and snowballing out of control for Maeve.

Suspension of disbelief is a must when reading this book. The plot gets pretty wild and makes one wonder how someone can be so oblivious. I don’t mind books that lean toward the dramatic side, so it didn’t take away from enjoyment of this novel.

The writing style is very engaging, making this a quick read. Maeve’s voice instantly captured my attention.

A heads-up that this book has a lot of spice and open-door scenes.

Overall, I had fun with this one and will definitely read future books by the author.

CW: for everything associated with cults.

As a total aside: this book reminds me of Cher’s iconic 90s interview.

Jane Pauley: “You said, ‘a man is not a necessity. A man is a luxury.’”
Cher: “Like dessert, yeah. A man is absolutely not a necessity.”
Jane Pauley: “Did you mean that to sound mean and bitter?”
Cher: “Not at all! I adore dessert, I love men. I think men are the coolest. But you don’t really need them to live. My mom said to me, ‘you know sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man.’ And I said, ‘Mom – I am a rich man.’”

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

In Mothers house there’s a locked door, and when it gets dark at night and the lights are out you hear the sounds: Scratching and moaning. Terrifying things.

Are you brave enough to find the key and look inside?

You were born under a bad sign. All the Mothers know it. It’s what lead you to run away with Boy in the middle of the night and not look back. What tore your family apart.

For two decades you’ve looked for a connection to the cult you were born into. For your cousin, your best friend.

When a match shows up on a genealogy website, and you’re reunited it’s like no time has past. You’ve both put that time behind you and she’s so well adjusted and successful and wonderful.

As you forge a new relationship, as you meet her friends and coworkers, you begin to sense something is off with your cousin. That you have something inside you that your cousin desperately needs, and nothing will stop her from taking it from you.

As a childfree-by-choice person this book made me super uncomfortable. I don’t know if I’ve read something that so accurately describes the feeling of being shunned for your decision to not procreate so adeptly.

While the story felt relatively on the tracks, I enjoyed how dark it got, and the realistic animatronic baby dolls were just a truly creepy element. I really connected with Anne Heltzel’s writing voice and couldn’t put this one down. You need to grab this one if you enjoy stories of characters post-cult. My only complaint for this one is that I wanted more of the origins of the cult.

Thank you to TorNightfire and NetGalley for a galley of this title.

I’ve never read anything by this author before and immediately liked her writing style. This book is fast paced and was a page turner. Unfortunately in the end it didn’t work for me though. The overall premise is an interesting one and I usually Enjoy a good cult thriller. There are characters that held no value in the end and some plot holes. And where we did end up getting The Who and what’s answered by the end, the how’s we’re left unfulfilled and I really Enjoy knowing HOW something was done especially in a thriller with reveals meant to be twists. Overall I think the author has potential if some of the fluff was removed and there was more focus on explaining some of the details.

I found this story to be disturbing. Cults are always creepy, but the insane obsession with motherhood was hard to believe. I’ve read and enjoyed other creepy books such as Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. That one was believable. Just Like Mother left me shaking my head and dismissing the plot as too far fetched.

The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything—and everyone—at a safe distance.

When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry—baby fever comes with the territory.

The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come…




My Thoughts:


Just Like Mother seemingly portrays the renewed life of Andrea, a former cult child, after her escape years before. She presents as a life coach, but the shrine of motherhood does send up red flags for Maeve, who grew up with her cousin in that same cult and is doing everything in her power to put those values behind her. So when Andrea invites her cousin to stay with her after she loses her job, helping out financially, it seems like generosity. And caring.

But soon Maeve begins to wonder about things she is seeing and hearing at the huge estate. Then Andrea’s strange request definitely arouses Maeve’s worries. Suddenly very odd events begin happening, and just when Andrea decides to move back to the city, she finds herself helpless to leave. Intense and very frightening moments are terse reminders of the nightmares of their past. By the end, we are not sure who will walk away and who will remain. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came to me from the publisher via NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley, Anne Heltzel, and MacMillan/Tor Forge for the eARC of this book.

TW: child abuse (mental, physical), cults and manipulation, sexual assault

I had pretty high hopes for this book when I first read its summary. The fact that I requested it at all says as much because I'm not generally interested in the psychological thriller sort of drama. So how did this book meet my expectations?

It didn't.

I didn't like it. Normally I try to find the silver lining in books I dislike and focus on that, but this book? 90% boring with 10% shock factor. The opening of the book was pretty interesting, but as soon as we flashed forward to adulthood, it just became boring and repetitive. If this book had any bigger point it was trying to make, I clearly missed it. Rather than watching Maeve develop as a character, I felt like I was watching a dog chase its tail. Round and round and round. You get the point.

I wouldn't call the book awful. The writing style itself was fine. I just wish I felt like the book actually had a point. Not every book needs to change your view on life, but it should at least leave you with some sort of message. The only message I got from this was "don't try to connect with relatives you met through a DNA test website." Probably solid advice, but not particularlly speaking to my more emotional expectations.

I loved this book!! This a creepy and unsettling novel that has you questioning everything. I fully recommend this novel for horror, thriller and mystery fans! Go ahead and put this book in your wishlist or cart.

𝐀 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚
𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞
𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚

This was one creepy read. As a young teen, Maeve escaped the compound run by The Mothers so she could seek help for Boy. Much like the Amazons from Greek mythology, the Mothers had no use for boys. But helping Boy meant leaving behind Andrea, her cousin.

Maeve has tried hard to have a normal life. She doesn't speak of the compound and keeps all of those memories safely stored away. After years of not knowing what happened to Andrea, she suddenly reappears in Maeve's life just as tragedy strikes. With the loss of her job, home, and companion, she is grateful for Andrea's insistence that she spend time with her and her husband at their remote estate in the Catskills.

Maeve is disconcerted to learn that Andrea has made a fortune in the fertility business with the production of life-like dolls. I'm not dropping spoilers on what the dolls are for, but know that it's creepy as hell.

This book had all the elements that freak me out...a cult, creepy dolls, A NEST OF SPIDERS, and a creepy house, Be aware of a sexual assault scene that was pretty graphic. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for this early read.

This was a solid 4 star read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A suspenseful plot, fast paced, and I read it in a few days. The main character was a little annoying and unlikeable to me which is what kept it from being 5 stars. But overall I would recommend it! It was very predictable, but in a good way- I was on the edge of my seat wondering when the main character was FINALLY going to figure out what was going on. Even the ending was predictable, but in a good way. I think I would have been disappointed if it hadn't ended the way that it did. Overall a solid read and gave me a nice break from all the one star books I have read lately! I would be interested in reading other books by this author!

Just Like Mother is such an interesting book. I loved the writing, the chapters set in the past were written in a stilted way that was very jarring and definitely made you feel uncomfortable with what was going on. While I did find a lot of this book predictable, I think it was done in a way where it didn't matter to me. Throughout the novel I felt unsettled but in the best way. I would really recommend this book to thriller lovers who want aspects of horror throughout!

Is it me or have horror novels been given a resurgence in mainstream publishing? I have definitely noticed my interest growing in this genre. This book is so hard to rate because the ending is literally one of the BEST ENDINGS OF ALL TIME. Just Like Mother kind of reads like a season of American Horror Story, but much more in depth. It's hard to explain this book without giving away any spoilers, but just know that this cult-driven dialogue is at the core of the story.⁣
⁣
Our protagonist Maeve and her cousin Andrea are two women battling the pain and torture of a cult that has affected their adult lives. As the two forge relationships after being estranged since their escape, we see how two women have taken this trauma and shape their experiences in their everyday life. However, when Maeve begins spending more time with Andrea and her wealthy friends, Maeve starts losing the progress she's mad since those dark days. As memories of her childhood begin to come to the surface, Maeve soon realizes that things aren't always what they seem.⁣
⁣
I literally can't say anything else than that synopsis brief. It's so hard to really go into detail without spoiling, so go into this book with zero expectations. Go into this book knowing that it's a character-driven story more than anything. Anne Heltzel, as mentioned previously, I award you with best ending of a novel of the year, if not ever. I am excited to see what sinister things you have up your sleeves.

This is the cult book I have been looking for and devoured it in 24 hours. Just the right amount of current day creepiness mixed with flashbacks to the disturbing past. The only reason why it isn’t a 5 ⭐️ is because I figured out one of the big plot twists pretty early on, although I definitely did not have all of the ending figured out and it took me on a wild ride.

The last time Maeve saw her cousin Andrea was the night she escaped the cult that they were raised in. Now 20 years later they find each other and start to rebuild the connection they had all those years ago. Maeve soon realizes that maybe Andrea isn’t who she thought she was and the picture perfect life she has made for herself isn’t all that it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A girl would be such a blessing.

If you like cults and creepy baby dolls I think you’ll like this one. Started off super slow the first half and I could tell what was low key going on the entire time but it was still super enjoyable with a creepy undertone the entire time. The second half really starts to get wild and I binged it. Totally satisfied my cult trope loving self and I’m so happy that I ended up really enjoying this one.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“A girl would be such a blessing…”

Maeve (one of my favorite names, btw) and Andrea are cousins who were raised in an all-female cult until Maeve escapes in the middle of the night and things change forever. For her and Andrea. One was adopted while the other was left in the foster care system until 18. One became a wealthy CEO with a husband and the other is a publishing editor barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. When they reunite after 25 years, Maeve hopes they can rekindle their once strong bond.

WHEW. I had a good feeling that this one would be good and creepy! I binged this book and knew halfway through that it would be a favorite of 2022, no doubt. Even though parts were predictable, the story was done well and the predictability did not take away from the creepiness AT ALL.

I could easily do a book report on this book but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone! I can’t even put into full sentences what I’m really thinking so here are words I want to use to describe this book:
* cult
* haunting
* disturbing

Anyways… this book is out on May 17th. READ THIS BOOK!

trigger warning: rape, extreme gaslighting
content warning: graphic content and intrusive thoughts

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF'd this at about 40% despite wanting to know how it ends. Why did you do that? you might be asking, and reasonably so. This book contains A LOT of straight up misandry and sexist attitudes about women. Now, I'm not calling out the author, she was obviously including these ideas for a purpose. I think I'm just lacking the smarticle particles (to quote Jack Edwards) to get it. Despite the legitimately engaging and creepily atmospheric writing, I just found myself not WANTING to read it, if that makes sense.

What I'd really like is for someone who's read this to message me and spill the tea about how it ends. Kthanksbye.

Who doesn’t love a book about cults!? This one is hard to read, and scary as heck because it could happen. The steps these people went through to make their goals.. whoa. Tons of trigger warnings (rape/gore)

CONTENT WARNING
This book contains child abuse and sexual assault on an adult. Both subjects are not treated lightly. I believe both were handled appropriately.

TL;DR

Anne Heltzel’s Just Like Mother follows Maeve as she attempts to reconnect with her cousin years after escaping a cult of motherhood. As expected, growing up in a cult has affected Maeve’s adulthood. She’s built a life for herself, but as she find Andrea, she learns how that cult continues to affect her life. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

atching my wife go through pregnancy, birth, and now parenthood has been enlightening. The whole thing has been much more difficult and complex than either of us expected. Getting and being pregnant isn’t easy for everyone, and sometimes it seems divine intervention is needed. There are so many experts out there providing advice and help. Some is excellent; some is just weird (such as eating McDonald’s fries to help with pregnancy). The tougher it is to get pregnant, the more desperate people get. It’s easy to see pregnancy and conception as a mystical process. Add to this the religious beliefs of “go forth and multiply,” one could see how motherhood could become a religious devotion in and of itself. In Anne Heltzel’s Just Like Mother, Maeve survives such a cult. Eventually she reconnects with her cousin from the cult. Her cousin is a life coach for people trying to get pregnant and dealing with the loss of children. Maeve, because of her childhood, doesn’t want children. Will Andrea accept Meave’s decision?

Maeve escaped a cult as a child. In doing so, she gained a freedom to live the life that best suited her and, at the same time, lost a cousin, who was her confidante and only true friend. This cult dedicated itself to the idea that motherhood was the highest ideal of humanity. Women’s role in life was to have children. Men were tools to facilitate pregnancy. When Maeve escaped, the cult fell. Her and her cousin, Andrea, were separated and placed into the foster care system. Maeve has built a life for herself in New York. She’s an editor at a publishing house, living on her own, and has a regular hookup. Like most people in publishing, Maeve works long hours, too many long hours. Also, her trauma has made her reticent to have many friends. The scars of the cult never left her. Neither has the trauma of being separated from her cousin. Maeve has spent her adult life searching for Andrea. One day, thanks to a genetics website, the cousins find each other. They make a date to meet and fall back into the easy relationship they had in the cult. Except Andrea doesn’t want to talk about the past. It’s as if their lives pre-rescue never happened. Andrea has a career as a life coach and head of a start up company. Her and her husband just moved to upstate New York in a huge, secluded house. Maeve is invited to the house to reconnect with Andrea and meet her husband. Maeve soon learns that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The joy of Andrea’s return is quickly balanced by Maeve’s life taking a turn for the worst. She loses her job. Her hook up dies. She can no longer afford to live in New York City. Maeve begins to rely more and more on Andrea to support her through this tough time. She spends an increasing amount of time outside of NYC and isolated from the few friends she does have. Maeve struggles with depression throughout and as the novel progresses, she continues deeper into a depressive state. Andrea and her husband provide a space for Maeve to recover; yet, they are very controlling in how she recovers. It quickly becomes clear that Andrea has ulterior motives when it comes to Maeve. Or has Maeve’s past in the cult made her too suspicious?

Just Like Mother is a third person, close point of view novel following Maeve’s life. It features a mostly linear narrative with a few flashbacks to Maeve’s life in the cult and as a foster child. Heltzel does a good job making everything just a bit odd and a little sinister. While I was able to guess the direction things were going, I was surprised by how it got there and how Heltzel ended the novel.

The Cult of Motherhood

Heltzel writes the cult of motherhood quite well. And by well, I mean terrifying. She’s taken something wonderful – child bearing – and extended it to a religious, almost divine, act. The women subject to this cult believe that there is no higher calling for a woman. This ability elevates women over everyone else who are incapable of bearing children. (There are concerning real world corollaries – see Josh Hawley defining women as those who give birth and Madison Cawthorn labeling women as “earthen vessels.”) For these people, procreation is the purpose of life, and anyone who rejects that life is a ‘Bloody Mary.’ Women, like Maeve, who choose to live a childless life, betray their sex, betray humankind, and are simply selfish. (Again, the real world has many, many examples of this as well.) Now, there would be nothing wrong with this philosophy IF it is freely chosen. But once it is impressed upon someone, it is a tyranny of biology. A person should be able to choose their own path in life. That is freedom. When forced to parent against their will, a person is no longer free. Thus, this philosophy is not about parenting or children and the joy they bring, it’s a philosophy of power and control. Period. Controlling the female body is what anti-choice, pro-forced birth activists want. (Even to the point of being anti-contraceptive, but that’s beyond the scope of this review.)

Heltzel approaches this difficult subject well. Maeve doesn’t want children, but she interacts well with the sole child in the book. She’s happy for anyone who gets pregnant in the novel. She’s also made up her mind about her own reproductive future and wants that decision to be respected. Heltzel captures the pressure from others to become parents. In Emily – an employee/client of Andrea’s – Heltzel portrays the complexity of motherhood as well. Sometimes, women don’t connect to their kids or sometimes they feel forced into a pregnancy. But in our society, we don’t talk about this enough, or at all.

You See It Coming, You Can't Stop It

At no point was this story ahead of me as I read. I guessed what was coming, and that was part of the horror. I saw where Maeve was headed, but I couldn’t stop her from going there. Her reactions to the situation make the book hard to put down. Maeve continued to walk deeper and deeper into the horror plot. Her decisions and reactions were understandable, believable, and, yet, still wrong. It was like watching her struggle in quicksand. Each action pulled her deeper and deeper towards an unhappy ending.

A Binary View of Birth?

To be fair to Heltzel, I want to put this in here. For much of the book, it seemed as if Just Like Mother was dedicated to a binary view of parenting. Women were mothers, and men were the tools through which women became mothers. In terms of dealing with a cult dedicated to motherhood, this makes sense. Since Just Like Mother deals with the aftermaths of this cult, that simplistic view pervades the novel. But, late in the novel, Maeve makes the realization that the cult of motherhood excluded many people, including trans people. The cult enforced a binary view, but it wasn’t a binary view of biological sexes. It was a binary view of those who could give birth (superior) and those who couldn’t (inferior). In today’s world where trans people are increasingly visible and simultaneously increasingly bullied, it’s important to note that Heltzel does acknowledge them in relation to her world. Based on real world corollaries for the cult of motherhood, it makes sense that those involved would be hostile to, or, in this case, dismissive, to the point of ignoring, of trans people, the same way that anti-choice people tend to be hostile to trans people. However, that is the view of the book, and I don’t ascribe it to that of the author.

Conclusion

Anne Heltzel’s Just Like Mother is a slow burn horror novel that doesn’t disappoint. I couldn’t tear myself from the page wondering what would happen to Maeve next and how she’d get herself out of it. Come for the horror; stay for the woman extracting herself from the cult of motherhood.

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel is available from Tor Nightfire on May 17th, 2022.