A true gut-pinch of a book, Just Like Mother is a body horror focused on birth and motherhood. Years ago, Maeve escaped the cult where she was born, leaving behind her cousin Amanda. When Amanda wants to reconnect, Maeve jumps at the chance, spending more and more time in Amanda's huge home in Upstate New York. Nothing is quite right here, as Amanda and her friends obsess over motherhood and birth while more of Maeve's connections disappear from her life. Utterly terrifying, with the worst horrors reserved for scenes that are, for women, all too real. Creepy dolls, claustrophobic nightmares, murderous cults, and societal expectations: what could be scarier than that?

I will admit it was the cover of this book that made me request it and it did not disappoint. Maeve and Andrea are cousins, both lived with their 'Mothers' in a cult like complex, some of what happens at the complex and how Maeve brought it to an end is told in flashbacks. Maeve is living in New York working for a publisher and having occasional get togethers with a bartender and she's actively looking for Andrea whom she has not seen since the night she shut the complex down. She eventually makes contact through a genealogy website and eagerly agrees to visit Andrea's house in the Catskills area. It's a large old mansion and Maeve quickly realizes that Andrea is loaded as the owner of a company that provides expectant and new mothers support in the form of (really creepy) lifelike dolls that behave almost like real babies, they cry, need to be breastfed, need to be held (a lot) and are intended to help mothers bond with their baby. At first things between Andrea and Maeve go well, until Andrea makes a request of Maeve that she's not willing to grant. Then things start to go really bad for Maeve, to say more would be a spoiler, I did read this book very quickly. I would recommend, it is a very good read. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Nightfire for the ARC.

First and fore most let's talk about the creepyiness of this cover?? The cover is what made me really want to read this book. Why Yes, I did judge this one by its cover.

Now... This book is a about a crazy motherhood cult that despises men and the children who survived it.. or they thought! Maeve is the child in question, she thought she was moving on with her life when suddenly she realizes that her cousin is trying to reach her through one of those ancestry type sites. Excited by the possibility of having family around, Maeve allows herself to be swallowed whole by her cousin and her upscale lifestyle.

Parts of this book were disturbing to say the least.. you have rape, kidnapping, child abuse, gaslighting, suicide, murder, and creepy little life like dolls. The author real went above and beyond to make this one trigger happy.

I personally was not a huge fan of the main character, she was sheepish and naive. The supporting characters were terribly manipulative and condensing from the very beginning of the book. I felt like the plot was predicable and it just made me sad.

Okay y'all, best fasten your seat belts for this one - JUST LIKE MOTHER is a messed up, thrilling ride.

Although I loved this one, it is definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It deals with a lot of heavy topics (specifically around motherhood, child loss and reproductive rights) Even though I am happily #childfree this one got me in the feels and brought out a lot of resentment towards the characters in the book (which, I'm sure, was the author's intention.)

Full of twists, backstabbing and a great ambiguous ending, JUST LIKE MOTHER will delight fans of twisted, psychological horror.

Thank you to Netgalley for my #arc

Horror, psychological thriller, gaslighting – this one has it all! Maeve reunites with her cousin Andrea after a 20-year hiatus when she escaped the cult, they were both raised in. Since that time, Maeve has built a safe, normal life in New York City. Andrea was the only friend Maeve ever had, and even though Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry, Maeve is happy to be spending time with her in her estate in the Catskill mountains. Then Maeve begins having flashbacks of her time in the cult, and the terror of those times may be the only way she will survive Mother, as Andrea is now called. A chilling story about women, expectations, and nightmares.

Anxieties around motherhood creep into horror from many different angles. Nightmares about birth, for example, appear in horror literature and films such as ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE BROOD. Newer novels like THE PUSH and BABY TEETH, and films like THE BAD SEED, highlight the fear of raising manipulative, sociopathic children. Even stories like PSYCHO, CARRIE, and MOMMY DEAREST feature monstrous mothers as the main focus. One concept not yet thoroughly explored appears in Anne Heltzel's upcoming book, JUST LIKE MOTHER, where the societal pressures to pursue motherhood serve as the primary horror and manifest in the form of a literal cult.

Mauve and her cousin, Andrea, grew up as close as sisters until the cult that raised them collapsed. After this separates the cousins, Mauve tries to build a new life in New York City as an editor, but, due to her traumatic past, continues to distance herself from friends, family, and romantic partners. Two decades later, a DNA search reunites Mauve and Andrea, pulling the two closer to each other and their shared past.

Suddenly spending more time at her cousin's remote mansion in the Catskills, Mauve becomes immersed in Andrea's life, meeting her pregnant friends and learning more about the fertility tech company that made her rich. Motherhood falls in the center of everything, and Mauve— single and without intentions of changing that anytime soon—begins feeling isolated from the life she built back in the city. Soon, Andrea's life and devotion to motherhood starts to consume Mauve who must look to her past to break free from her current nightmare.

JUST LIKE MOTHER gives us a unique type of horror with a page-turning plot. I heard Heltzel's social message loud and clear, finding myself engaged by her creative, critical, and creepy expression of motherhood as a cult. The book pretty directly calls attention to the harm caused by the exclusionary, essentialist ideology that often grounds the view that only motherhood gives women their power or that womanhood equals motherhood, which I had never seen in horror fiction before reading this book. This message combined with uncanny AI babies, feelings of confinement, and the presence of cults makes for a gripping take on the horrors of motherhood as a concept rather than only its tangible, messy realities.

I do wish we learned more about the cult that raised Mauve and Andrea, but understand that giving us deeper descriptions of it would probably impede the forward-movement of the plot. I also wanted more scenes with creepy babies, but again, I think I'm just greedy for a good scare.

In summary, readers who want a new twist on the horrors of motherhood with social commentary will get that all in a fast-paced package with JUST LIKE MOTHER. But, as a heads up, this book focuses heavily on pregnancy and infertility so if you are sensitive to these topics you may want to pass.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Tornightfire for the electronic advanced reviewer copy! Keep an eye out for JUST LIKE MOTHER, scheduled to release on May 17, 2022.

The only thing I can say is… why did I read this book so quickly!

Anne Heltzel is an author to keep your eye out for!

This story sucks you in from the very first page and doesn’t spit you out until you’ve been left shocked and wanting more.

There were moments of wanting to shake the book because of the rollercoaster ride that you’re on. Even if you could predict what was to come the author finesses it in such a way that has your jaw drop.

Everyone feels suspicious to you and I couldn’t help shake the eerie feeling.

The author did an incredible job creating this smart, well-written, page-turning thriller and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Wow, what a disturbing and creepy read! The many twists really kept the momentum of the story going. There were a few stomach churning scenes which aren't for the faint of heart. The ending was perfect.

I am sorry that I could not finish this book -- there was a trigger that showed up at the very beginning and it was a little too horrific to handle! I like horror, but am very touchy about child abuse. Thank you very much to the publisher and the writer for allowing me the opportunity to give this one a chance.

Please note: I am not a fan of the horror-genre and was accepted for this ARC prior to realizing what I'd requested. That being said, I worked my way through this = and enjoyed the experience.

This book is so twisty and intense, it made me regularly have to take breaks. That being said, the writing was superb, the plot overall was really well laid out, and the depth of the characters was apparent. Again, if I was a fan of horror, perhaps I would give this a 5 star, but as I'm not its a solid 4, and I would recommend it. Please note if you have issues surrounding motherhood = this book is ABSOLUTELY not for you. The cult aspects were fantastic and I enjoyed the glimpses we got into the past just after Maeve was adopted.

Thank you to the publishers at Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for this ARC of Just Like Mother.

Just Like Mother is the type of horror that can be found behind any unsuspecting door, or flaunting itself wildly in front of everyone without a single bat of any watching eye.

Growing up amongst a cult, Maeve now lives a fairly normal life. She’s an editor for a book publisher, and while she’s single and childless at the age of 33, she’s okay with that. Ever since what happened on her 8th birthday though, Maeve has been searching desperately for her cousin, Andrea, until one day, after entering her DNA into a genealogy website years prior, a match appears, and suddenly, there she is. She almost can’t believe her luck. When they get together, it’s as though no time as passed between them.

As Maeve and Andrea reunite, Maeve begins to realize just how flawless Andrea’s life has been compared to hers. Feeling just a tad jealous of Andrea’s perfect life, Maeve is nothing but shocked when she asks her for the most personal thing ever, claiming that Maeve “owes her.” Refusing, Maeve begins to question this newfound relationship with Andrea, but when unforeseen and unexpected life changes occur, Maeve has nobody but Andrea to turn to.

I really enjoyed this fast paced horror novel. I wanted to see a bit more of the cult side of things though. There was never a clear reason for why they did what they did, and what their plans for Boy were going to be. As a mother myself, it was hard to imagine that women could be so callous and cruel, especially to their own children, but it really added that creep factor to the story.

If you’re looking for a new cult book, check out Just Like Mother, releasing May 17th!

TW: Rape, murder, cults, child abuse, death of a child, drug use, attempted suicide, attempted abortion.

Dark and creepy...cults...brought up in the system and just a wild creepy ride!!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

There are not many thrillers that I wish I could read again with a fresh memory. Just Like Mother is one of them – with all the twist (even those I suspected would happen), I want to read and be surprised again! From the first chapter, I was fully in and could not put it down. Anne Heltzel is an author to watch out for, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
10/10 recommend picking this up when it is released.

Holy crow. This was one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read. I LOVED it.

I’ve been a horror fan all of my life. I’ve read, and watched, everything with Stephen King’s name even close to it. When I was 11 I watched the miniseries of “It” (yes, I’m old) and it freaked me out in a way that I’ve been chasing ever since.

Until now. It’s almost midnight and I can guarantee I won’t be able to sleep for a LONG time. That was honestly one of the most disturbing things I’ve read in a long time. Probably because many of the themes didn’t seem too far off from reality (reborn dolls, the way some women focus on motherhood like they can’t figure out why any woman wouldn’t want a child).

Thank you to NetGalley, Anne Heltzel, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Tor Nightfire for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Maeve grows up in a cult with her cousin Andrea, where a group of Mothers hold all the power, and being born male can be a death sentence. After they leave the cult behind, Maeve is adopted by a kind, older couple, while Andrea suffers through the foster system. As adults, they are connected by a DNA testing site. Maeve has a job where her hard work isn’t appreciated, few real friends, and she’s a casual relationship with bartender Ryan. Andrea, however, seems to have it all, she’s rich, successful, married, and has a well put together bestie. But there’s one thing Andrea doesn’t have, and only Maeve can give it to her.

JUST LIKE MOTHER was a bit bananas, and I was there for it. I liked the creepy cults, the disturbing dolls,and how the men were treated like fertile Ken dolls.

I felt for Maeve’s character even when I had to suspend disbelief at the forces that were at work behind the scenes. Like I said earlier, the book was bananas, but I kept turning pages even when things got a little hard to believe. I did like the resolution at the end of the story. And how elements mirrored events from Maeve’s time with the cult. The setting of Andrea’s big, old mansion that was built by a Freemasons added a great gothic feel to the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Nightfire, Tom Doherty Associates, and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC. for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Well, this one started with a bang! Two children, little girls, cousins, walk into the woods and one turns into something insane.

The last time Maeve saw her cousin Andrea was when she fled the weird cult they were being raised in. The police moved in pretty quick and arrested all of the ‘mothers’. And from there the girls’ lives took many different turns.

Maeve wants to forget. She has walls securely built and isn’t letting anyone in. And when Andrea finds her again, Maeve is conflicted but Andrea is the only family she has.

Andrea seems to have it all. The house in the Catskills, a perfect husband and a brand built on having babies. It’s almost cult-like followers are about as crazy as they come. And soon Maeve is bowing to the wishes of her cousin, and spending almost all of her time at her cousin’s house with a bunch of nuts.

All they talk about are babies. The only reason we exist. Helping women have babies is a noble cause but this is not that. As happy as Andrea seems, she can’t have the one thing she wants. A child. She expects Maeve to lend her an egg or two and that is when Maeve finds her spine and refuses.

The weirder things get, the more memories Maeve is finding. Of what their past was really like and what they hid behind locked doors. Will she make it out alive?

Talk about your scary reads! This was some seriously messed-up stuff that was going on in this book. And the ending was a bit shadowy.

NetGalley/May 17, 2022, Tor MacMillan Forge

The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in.
Andrea suddenly reappears. Maeve regains the only friend she had. The more Maeve gets into Andrea's world
the more she feels disconnected from her life back in the city.
This book is a bit twisted and the ending is not what I expected.
Definitely a domestic thriller book. This book was a little creepy as well.
I enjoyed it.
Thanks to MacMillian Publishing Group, Netgalley, and the author in exchange for a review.
Publishing Date May 17th 2022.

Just Like Mother (Anne Heltzel) does some back and forth in time to give the reader the backstory for Maeve and her cousin Andrea. We learn about the strange upbringing they both had. After years apart they reconnect. Andrea seems to have a perfect life and wants Maeve to share her good fortune. I want to thank NetGalley and Tom Donerty Associates for an early copy to review.

4.5 stars rounded down to 4!

With so many different cult-themed thriller and horror books coming out in the past few years it really takes a special something to stand out from the rest of them, and this one definitely did that for me! The creepy cover immediately sucked me in and left me with that uncomfortable feeling of dread throughout. To get an idea of the vibes for this one, think handmaids tale meets an exclusive women's cult in the woods. A story about uncovering the dark secrets of ones past in order to prevent an even darker future. This one really kept me invested throughout the story and was so unique, it will definitely be one I think about for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me with an ARC!

Looking for a creepy book. This is one for you. Predictable and not in the same breathe. Believable I hope not.