Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth is a tale about a woman who wants to curate the picture perfect life with her husband. The only hold up is her mother-in-law passes away in a grotesque way and she's not letting go of her husband in the afterlife. Before she can find ways to be the perfect wife and mother, she has to rid her house of a nasty spirit before it's too late.

I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this story. The title is truly eye-catching and I definitely loved the cover. The plot is filled with dark humor and ghostly sighting and it's a great story to read before all your spooky festivities. We follow Abby as she's trying to grip with keeping up her domestic persona while also dealing with her husband Ralph, who has unresolved mommy issues. After his mother, Laura, dies in a traumatic way, Abby hopes that she can swing things back to norman without any worries. But Ralph stops going to work, doesn't even acknowledge his own wife, and claims that he sees his mother. So Abby is forced to choose between her own sanity or saving the love of her life from her monster-in-law.

I have to say while I enjoyed reading the story there were moments that were too drawn out. Abby is a complex character with her own set of issues but I feel like we dived too deep in to them. It go to the point where I was wondering when the hauntings were going to happen. There is also a cut to different writing styles as some chapters contain script writing in them. I didn't entirely mind that aspect but I don't really think it added anything to the story. It was more of telling me rather than showing me. All in all I liked the plot and the characters but the story felt too long at times without anything substantial happening.

Honestly not sure how I felt about Motherthing. That cover! It really is to die for and between the artwork and the synopsis I was dying a bit for this. In reality it’s an interesting story told in a very different writing style. Each paragraph feels like you have to reread each word to make sure you have grasped every careful selection the author made. It’s interesting and experimental, but I don’t think I quite connected with it. It’s not something I found easy to sit down and just read, more a book to read a chapter or two and then reflect before continuing later.

Wow! Do me a favor a read this terrifying book with the lights on. I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with the arc of this book. I knew immediately from the cover it was going to be something to remember.

I devoured this book in one sitting, it has a lot of aspects that made it so unique and absolutely terrifying. At first I truly believed it would be a horror comedy story, but this wasn't the case and I loved every minute. We meet Abby, she is married to a wonderful man named Ralph, but Ralph's mother is completely and utterly evil. She disproves of Abby and loves controlling Ralph. When Laura commits suicide, the couple's troubles seem to dissappear. That is until Abby starts noticing some weird activity going on around the house.

Whispers, inanimate objects move by themselves and Ralph's bizzare behavior start to test her sanity. Also Abby had an extremely rough upbringing by her promiscuous mother. Definitely read with caution since it touches sensitive topics like rape, domestic abuse, child abuse, and psychological issues and suicide. I believe this book under the appropriate director would make an incredible movie.

Ainslie Hogarth has written a wonderful, darkly comedic tale of grief and love and what to expect if you take a ring that isn’t yours. Motherthing grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final page. Yes it’s spooky. Yes it’s funny. And yes it’s gory. But it’s very human. Loved it. One of my all time favorite books. I cannot wait for Hogarth’s next novel.

Abby Lamb and her husband Ralph have moved in with Ralph’s mother, Laura, a very, very difficult woman, who makes no bones about the way she feels about her daughter-in-law through subtle digs and not-so-subtle insults hurled in Abby’s direction. Ralph is the ultimate mama’s boy and Abby does her best to survive this thruple she finds herself living in and justifies everything she has to put up with by reminding herself how great Ralph is. Abby, who has had a troubled relationship with her own mother is searching for a mother figure. She works at a long-term facility and has bonded with a patient there. Ralph’s mother, Laura, suffers from depression and when a suicide attempt takes a dark turn, Abby’s believes that she and her husband can finally move forward independently and work towards having the baby they always wanted. But the ghost of Laura remains in the house, affecting the couple in different ways. This book is both gothic and filled with dark humor, sometimes scatological in nature. It’s a book about loyalty and mental health struggles and the narrator’s reckoning with her relationship with her own mother. Perhaps Ralph’s mother alive was the tripod they needed in their relationship after all, and without her there, who will fill her wicked shoes? I read this in one sitting, I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror novel with so much heart and humor. Can you tell that I really loved this book? If you’re looking for an off-kilter spooky read, if you enjoyed An Elderly Woman is Up to No Good, then I think you will enjoy this book! I know I will be thinking about Abby and Laura and Ralph for a long time to come. Thank you to Vintage and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Hilarious, gross, fun, eerie, and wacky. This book has it all. I both laughed out loud and gagged while reading… is there a better combo?

My interest was piqued by the synopsis and great cover, but the writing was superb and truly sold me on the story. Abigail was fantastically weird character to be in the mind of and I particularly enjoyed her and Ralph’s relationship. This book was less horror that I anticipated and more focused on mental illness and generational trauma. However, Hogarth writes on these topics in such a humorous way that some heaviness is lifted. While I never lost interest, the first half of the book had me fully immersed and started to lose its grip on me towards the end… those who finish the novel will likely understand why. I didn’t hate the direction it took, just didn’t keep me engaged the way the earlier sections did.

Oh dear. I love a good horror/mystery book. If only this had been one.

We immediately meet Abby, her husband Ralph and her recently deceased Moher-In- Law, Laura. Laura has committed suicide and Ralph is, understandably, destroyed by this. So, I think the stage is set, Laura will be haunting Abby and Ralph, let the frights begin! And I waited, and I waited...

It didn't take long for me to really dislike the character of Abby. She is self-centered, clingy, needy and devious. And whips out one-liners at the most uncomfortable of times, thinking she is being funny. She is not. Ralph comes off as a wishy-washy Momma's boy. We see Laura only through Abby's eyes and of course, she is painted as overbearing and demanding (the usual mother-in-law trope), but not really evil or creepy.

Then there is the writing style. The majority of this novel is a soliloquy by Abby, with an occasional paragraph or two of dialogue. Then there are the 'dream' sections written in the style of a play:
"Abby: Ralph?
Ralph: (Leaning against the doorway without turning around) Hmm?
Abby: I wasn't going to say anything quite yet, just to be sure, but...
(He knows what she's going to say, he turns around, his smile about to crack his face in half.)
Abby: Yeah. (Nodding, smiling) I'm pregnant."

No. Please, write a book or write a play, don't do both at the same time. I didn't think it was as cute as the author seemed to think it was.

To recap, I did not like the characters (any of them), I did not like the writing style, and there was next to zero horror/mystery. But that could be blamed on the marketing, which lead me to believe this would be a horror/mystery.

Might appeal to some, but it was not for me.

I loved this book! The protagonist is funny, complex, sympathetic, and at times, frightening. This book has genuinely funny moments that never undercut the tension and horror, which is a difficult balance to manage. I couldn't wait to see where the story was going and how it would play out. Now I just need it to come out so I can talk to other readers about it!

This is one of those self-aware, witty horror novels that seem to be coming into fashion at the moment. I enjoyed this a lot - though I preferred the first half, and found the second half lost its way a bit.

((4.5 stars))

Motherthing is a novel living at the intersection of trauma, mental illness, and motherhood. The story begins with the suicide of Ralph Lamb’s mother, Laura, and is told through the lense of Ralph’s wife, Abigail Lamb. And Ralph’s wife is exactly what she is. In Abby’s own words, she is nothing; she is a blank canvas for Ralph to make something out of. Abby’s dedication and devotion to caring for Ralph and building a family with him drives her every action throughout this novel.

The trauma inflicted through abusive mothering is apparent in this novel as not a single character has a healthy relationship with a maternal figure. While the surviving Lambs are haunted by Laura’s ghost, turning their lives on their head and threatening their ability to carry on as expected, Abby goes to unimaginable lengths to save her husband and their chance at parenthood. Abby carries her trauma through her every relationship, mothering as her only steadfast goal in life. She seeks a child in an attempt to save her younger self from the abuse she experienced, promising to be a better mother. This is shown through her relationship with her “baby,” an elderly woman she cares for at the nursing facility she works at, and her undeterred desire to birth her own child and save her family.

Hogarth’s narrative style is engaging throughout and kept me wanting to know more until the very last page. Every sentence seems purposeful as I found myself remembering small details from earlier in the novel as they came into play later. This novel is smart, provocative, disturbing, and downright funny.

Abby’s inability to self reflect takes the reader on a wild ride submerged in the disintegrating psyche of a woman with a derailed one track mind. This novel is the perfect blend of humorous and horrifying.

Perfect for fans of Nightbitch and Boy Parts.

What a strange book this ended up being! More psychological drama than horror, especially the first half, although the ending was definitely horrific. The focus was more on the trauma of mental illness than on the supernatural aspect of a mother-in-law haunting her daughter-in-law. I did really enjoy the author's writing style, which was very humorous for such a dark book. That aspect brings this read to 3 stars.

Weird and wonderful!
I was drawn in by the cover art—a retro style ala 1960s pulp fiction look. After reading the book, I have to say that the choice of cover art was genius, perfectly complimenting this unique, macabre tale.

Motherthing is both a discourse on motherhood and mental illness. Hogarth’s writing strikes just the right (and alarming) chord, speaking truths to both with an edginess made more palatable by her audacious humor. Not for everyone, but a great read for those with an open mind.
Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read Motherthing.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4925760537

Dark, disturbing, bleak, psychologically scary, and, most importantly, funny. Hogarth touched on so many difficult themes, like really difficult, and handled it with such wit. I had a grimace on my face just about as often as I was busting up laughing. The last couple chapters were especially macabre and my jaw literally hit the floor at the graphic detail of one particularly gruesome situation. At its core, Motherthing is about desperately seeking unconditional love after a lifetime of parental abuse and loneliness. The ways we change ourselves to hold onto it once we find it. The main character Abby was absolute gold and her inner dialogue was hilarious, but also heartbreaking when we find out what she’s been through. Same for her husband Ralphie, who is not only coping with his mother’s suicide but also has had a tough upbringing and poor mental health. Overall, a fantastically unique read that will appeal to a very particularly, twisted audience. I do wish it was a bit more paranormal but I loved the blurred reality feel of it. Probably best to check out trigger warnings if you’re a sensitive reader because this has a mountain of them. Don’t let the cover fool you because I totally thought this was set in the 1950s but it’s actually modern day. I really loved the writing and I look forward to reading Hogarth’s other books. Domestic horror is a seriously underrated sub-genre and I’ll definitely be seeking out more!

I will pass on the Chicken à la King🤢.

Ainslie Hogarth explores the human desire to be loved and mothered in this dark domestic horror novel. In Abby’s search for unconditional love, she must figure out what it means to be a good woman.

Ralph and Abby Lamb are a happy, married couple until they move in with his demanding and overly critical mother, Laura, a former 911 dispatcher. She has been feeling unwell and guilts Ralph into returning home to help.

“He could be good enough to save her.”

Abby takes this as an opportunity to get to know the mother figure she has always desired. However, Laura has Borderline Personality Disorder and is very depressed. When she commits suicide, Ralph slowly falls into his own deep depression and suffers from auditory hallucinations.

Is Abby losing Ralph to his mother’s ghost?

What will Abby do in order to prevent being abandoned again? Well, of course! She consults the ultimate instruction guide to being a good woman. It is found in the Secrets of a Famous Chef, a cookbook from 1930. The Chicken a la King recipes are written by mothers and claim to be the spells for a long happy life.

While working at the Northern Star retirement home, taking care of her favorite patient, Mrs. Bondy, and preparing to mother her own child, Abby vows to find a way to save her marriage at all costs.

“He’s not like his mother because he has me, and I will save him. We’re special, Ralph and I…I can cure Ralph. Because it’s what I was born to do. Remember that, Abby, vanquishing this depression is your true calling as a wife.”

An opal ring, jellied salmon, creepy mystics and loving couches…

Motherthing is a highly original, deeply thought-provoking novel that will appeal to those who enjoy psychological horror at its best. Readers must do a deep dive analysis into this sad look into the dark side of human nature. What will one do in order to be loved? In a world where mother substitutes just won’t suffice, Abby is consumed with an unfulfilled need to be mothered.

“All a person really needs is to feel unconditionally loved,” he said. “It’s built into our programming, a biological necessity, the species couldn’t survive without it. If it weren’t built in, we’d all be monsters, filled with pain and trying to inflict it on everyone else.”

“A Good Woman recognizes that you can be good and bad at once. A Good Woman can acknowledge your humanity while recognizing the fact that you also need to die. That’s why it’s hard to be A Good Woman. That’s why we’re not all good women, are we…?”

Dark and disturbing, this book will not appeal to everyone. If you are easily triggered, please take note.

However, this one of my favorite reads this year! I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy psychological horror.

5/5 stars

Expected publication date: 9/27/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the ARC of Motherthing in exchange for an honest review.

I truly wanted to love Laura and Ralph and their trials and tribulations after the death of Ralph’s mother. Instead I found myself unsure of what I was reading and how it related to the synopsis.

On the surface, and based on the synopsis, it sounded as if we would be following Laura as she tries to win over her mother (monster) in law after years of not getting along. Instead we meet Laura and Ralph in the hospital after Laura has died.

The style of this novel reminded me of the movie Sorry For Interrupting. Not totally sure what’s real what’s inner monologue or what’s fantasy. If you enjoy books that challenge reality and make you question the characters this is for you. Sadly I assumed this was going to be more of a horror novel based on the cover and did not jive as well.

On the off chance you enjoy following the turmoil of a relationship and getting to the sight ghostly moments being halfway through this may be for you.

I am extremely thankful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you net galley for providing me with a free copy of Mother thing in exchange for a honest review.

Utterly shocking, disturbing, crude to the point of disgusting at timed yet hilarious and meaningful, Motherthing is definitely not a book for everyone, it was however the book for me. With well balanced out comedy yet analysis on social issues such as women getting by men, depression, abusive parents, death and trauma Motherthing manages to capture the reader from page one, shocking them until the end with twists.


The only thing I could ask for to make this five stars would be more Paranormal additions but other than that this book didn't lack of anything. An addictive binge worth reading I'd definitely recommend.

I went into this thinking it was a horror novel but it’s a little bit more than that. It’s not so much horror but more psychological with possibly some paranormal. there’s a line between the two which is hard to tell what is real and what’s not so I thought that was pretty cool. It’s almost like a contemporary horror which is a genre I can get behind.

I really enjoyed the read, I was very entertained throughout the book. There’s a lot of dark humor and no shortage of WEIRD. I look forward to see whatever Ainslie Hogarth writes next and may even see what she has published in the past.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This one took a bit to get into, like over fifty percent in. The way this story is told is tough, every chapter is formatted differently and my brain had trouble adjusting. Once I got in, I was hooked! Abby's head isn't a great place to be but I was intrigued with her past and why she was having a tough time in the present. Each glimpse into the past gets darker and each present chapter was filled with dread and I was impressed! I do wish the beginning was a bit smoother but I may get more from it the second read.
Thanks NetGalley!

Have you ever tried Aspic, or are you instantly grossed out by the idea of savory jellies? The gelatinous vessel of meats and vegetable. A sensory trick, as your brain overcomes the texture and flavour combination. Is this good? A thing I could like?

Motherthing is an acquired taste. A sublimely weird story of desire for connection as a survivor of parental abuse. It’s about being deeply, tragically lonely and sad sad sad. And the masks we slip on for a semblance of normalcy. The weight of synthetic happiness.

As a person who has no desire for motherhood, I wondered if this book would be for me. I can say that there definitely is a lot to enjoy even without that connection. Take your time with it and savour the jellied salmon.

Thank you to @netgalley and @vintagebooks for an arc of this title. Motherthing comes out September 27th.

Wow! Crazy, dark and funny, I really enjoyed this book. It’s hard to describe, certainly there is a bit of a horror theme but it’s mostly about bad mothers and what it does to their children; so a domestic horror/comedy, I guess. The narrator, Abby appears normal until the end of a paragraph reveals something outrageous. She is determined to look after her husband, Ralph and rescue him from his own darkness (and his mother’s ghost!). An entertaining read.