A very thought provoking and mysterious novel.
Many thanks to Celadon and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not finish this one. I got about 45% through it and felt it was dragging. I had high hopes for it considering it was compared to Margaret Atwood, but I didn’t really get that from what I read of this.

I have never had a reading experience like this one. As I was reading, I really didn't think this book would be for me. However, when I finished it I loved the way the story came full circle. I looked up an interview with the author because there were some things in this book I wanted to hear her talk more in-depth about and I'm so glad I did. I ended up rating it 5 stars. The author wrote in such a melancholic manner and evoked a lot of emotion out of me. I'd say if you like speculative fiction and themes surrounding motherhood, pick this one up! It's one that will reveal itself to you drip by drip, but it's worth it.

Somehow I missed this book on my shelf. But, I’m always committed to reviewing things I have been given, so even though the title was archived, I went and got the library book. This book was very different from what I usually read. The first part I struggled with. The second part kept my interest enough to finish, but have to admit I found the whole thing bizarre in some ways, but creative in others. I didn’t see the author’s point in some of the raunchiness she felt the need to provide. But, I thought the premise had promise. . However, it took me way too long to finish but I still appreciate the opportunity by the the publisher.

This is clearly a commentary on motherhood. It’s not subtle. This theme definitely hits you over the head. In this isolated mountain town, sometimes mothers just vanish. The townspeople call it their “affliction” and try to rationalize it by saying the mother was parenting too much or too little. The mothers themselves are paranoid and worry if they are doing a good enough job so as not to be “chosen.” Once a mother disappears the townspeople burn or dispose of all her belongings, essentially erasing her from existence. Although this was beautifully written, I think it fell flat. It left me with a lot of unresolved feelings and had me asking “what did I just read?” I love the premise, but it was just missing something. Thank you @netgalley and @celadonbooks for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin is a moving work of speculative fiction. I have to be in the right headspace for this sort of writing, but when it hits, it is some of my favorite. This exploration of motherhood is certainly thought provoking.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this one with me. All thoughts are my own.

As to be expected, speculative fiction is certainly an acquired taste - one I sometime think I’ve acquired, and other times have clearly not. 🙃 while I appreciated the perspective of this novel and its reflections on motherhood, mothers and daughters - it just felt a little too all over the place at the beginning and by the time I was invested, I was already ready for it to be over. It’ll be for some readers, for sure, but it wasn’t really for me.

He didn't understand that a mother and daughter cannot be protected from one another, that the harms that pass between them cannot be mitigated because they are also expressions of love.”

A little bit of fantasy and a lot of heartbreak. I thought what this book had to say about the relationship between mothers and daughters was really compelling, but the fantasy elements didn't quite seize me. I found it a little hard to get through, though it was objectively lovely and sweet and sad.

Elsewhere is a great example of what I love in a dystopian. I love that this one is seen from a woman's perspective, and all the emotions that go along with being a woman, and a mother.

I get why some say this has vibes of the short story The Lottery. It definitely gave me those type of feels. I remember reading that short story in high school and absolutely loved it, so I'm not surprised I enjoyed this one so much.

I haven't read this author before, and I am surprised by that. I think this one would make a great buddy read, or book club pick, as there is so much to unravel within this short story.

Speaking of short, while this may not be very long, it's definitely not a fast read. I often found myself pausing to think about what Vera was going through and feeling. There is so much about what she went through, especially with motherhood, that just resonated with me.

This is definitely one I'm glad I snagged and one I recommend. I sincerely appreciate Celadon Books and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Elsewhere is a story that marries The Lottery with aspects of The Giver. This beautiful, dark look into the lives of a community sheds light on the role women often play in society whether as girls, mothers, women, or spinsters. The main character travels through these identities, holding on to each one. There isn't much to say without giving away major components of the book, but this read will stick with you well past when you finish.

I was fully in the wrong mindset for this book and didn't fully appreciate it. It's definitely a stick with you story if you're in the mood for it

This is a haunting and quirky novel about a town whose mothers simply "go" without any warning. Vera grows up knowing this as girls are encouraged to marry very young and have children even as they contemplate their own fate. When a strange woman comes to their village, Vera is entranced and becomes as "friendly" as she can with this odd woman who clearly is used to a different lifestyle but takes many photos which she brings to Vera's father's shop where Vera works. And then she leaves and Vera leaves. That's all you need. It's an apocalyptic look at the future of an odd village and It plays with your mind!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Vera lives in a small town where mothers disappear. Her own mother disappeared when she was younger. This has left Vera with a fear that this will happen to her as well. When the mothers disappear every trace of them is erased. All the people of the town know is that there is a place called “Elsewhere” where everyone else lives. One day a strange woman shows up in town and comes into Vera’s fathers store. Vera is immediately intrigued by this woman and wants to get to know her. Vera also feels like this woman is from Elsewhere,
As Vera grows up, she marries a good man and has a daughter. Her fear of disappearing becoming more prevalent as her daughter grows up. When she starts having little quirks that make her feel odd, her biggest fear may be coming true. Determined to see if she can stop the inevitable Vera sets out to do all she can to stop herself from disappearing, but will her plan work? Can Vera figure out how to stop the disappearing or will the inevitable happen as it has for years on end.
I will say this book was a bit strange, but I couldn’t stop reading to see what the outcome was. Thank you Celadon and NetGalley for this ARC.

I’m a huge fan of speculative fiction and this did not disappoint. Although I’m not a mother, the story centered around motherhood, love, and loss. This was a fantastic novel that really got me thinking and I love books that make me question our world and ourselves. I really liked the characters and world built by the author and would definitely read this author again.

Elsewhere is an interesting piece of speculative fiction about motherhood. The first third of the book is a bit sluggish however once I got into a rhythm I was completely invested. Though I do not have children of my own, I found Schaitki’s novel introspective. I found myself reflecting on how mothers judge themselves and how they can be judged by others. Elsewhere won’t be for everyone and that's okay! Speculative fiction is an acquired taste - I would recommend this one to those who have the patience for a character driven novel that takes its time.

I love it! It's like the show the yellow jackets. It's such an apocalyptic novel and it's very hard to put down.

Elsewhere is a speculative slightly dreamy tale on motherhood and community and loss. I adored the nonspecific metaphorical quality of the story and the way it was simultaneously nonspecific in it's world building and very emotionally pointed and specific in it's examination of family relationships. Highly recommend this lovely speculative fiction.

Elsewhere is a book that I still think about. I have a new list of books about the fate of mothers and daughters and this is at the head of it. The story about Vera, a young girl in a far off community, she is growing up to follow in the footsteps of the women in that community. The girls go to school, get married, have kids and then one day, something comes over them and they no longer exist. They have left everything behind and the community hours their loss by burning their belongings and never talking about them again. It happens to Vera’s mother. Many years after her disappearance, a stranger arrives in town. Vera is taken by her but eventually develops a bit of a love-hate relationship with this woman. She seems to challenge Vera’s world view like no one else. Strangers can’t stay forever and she too is made to leave and life goes on. Vera grows older, marries, has a daughter.

But something is different now that she is a mother. She wants more for her child. She wants more for herself and she makes the critical decision to see the world. She comes back one day though, hoping to reconnect with her daughter, and instead ends up understanding her own mother better.

Elsewhere is a story with depth and layers. There is so much that can be said about this hidden community, the role of the woman and the man, the hope of parents to want better for their kids and the cycles that they are stuck in. There were times when I didn’t want to read this book – I left it for weeks at time – but it kept pulling me back. As I get older, I am starting to realize that certain relationships that those of a mother and child, will make more sense to me when I have such a relationship. This is a book I hope to uncover more of when I am older.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy of this book via NetGalley. This review was first posted on Armed with A Book.

Alexis Schaitkin's writing is akin to the stylings of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and Ursala Le Guin's The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas; a utopian town that exists for and of itself and its people.

Schaitkin's prose is incredibly atmospheric; she makes you feel the dampness of the hovering clouds, you can feel the trepidation of the mothers. Schaitkin has this ability to push and pull the reader between being enchanted and repulsed by this world of innocence, perversion, and an ongoing state of mystification. As a reader, its is just as difficult and uncomfortable to stay in this world as it is to go elsewhere.

Hats off to Alexis Schaitkin for this incredibly haunting and preternatural story.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

I hate to give reviews like this.
I just did not enjoy this book at all. It starts out quite confusing and that is unusual for me. I can usually figure out what is happening while I am reading. This one is about girls. Women. Mothers. But not like I expected. It's just way too deep maybe for me. I got lost somewhere later in the story also. Maybe not really lost but lost interest and just picked it up a little bit at a time. It took me forever to finish.

I did not enjoy this book but do think it is for someone who likes this type of story.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is what I honestly thought about this story.

3 stars