If thinking about the covid19 pandemic and lockdown is traumatizing to you, I'd recommend you not read this book. Taking place during the height of the pandemic, Mothered, finds Grace and her recently widowed mother Jackie quarantining together in Grace's home. Grace isn't thrilled about living with her mother, but after the loss of her job, she needs help to pay her mortgage. Being so close again with her mother sends Grace into thoughts and dreams of her childhood and her twin sister Hope who had cerebral palsy. She has trouble distinguishing reality from memories and is truly starting to spiral. After an accusation from Jackie really sets Grace off, will her life be changed forever? This is a creepy, claustrophobic slow burn of a thriller! Highly recommend if you can handle the reminders of quarantining!

Having read Baby Teeth, I expected this one to revolve around a messed up mother-daughter relationship. And Zoje delivered with an absolutely incredible story about a woman whose mom moves in during a pandemic, which ultimately leads to an uncomfortable exploration of their shared past, plus all the awful and relatable aspects of the pandemic.

I liked the way the characters were written; the small cast worked well in creating a sense of isolation. The plot was paced a lot by dreams, and it led to scary sequences and a neat way to explore the unreliability of the narrator. However, it sometimes took me out of the story.

Overall, this is a rock solid psychological thriller that gave me a lot to think about. The horror elements were apparent and incredibly effective where used.

This book was really strange, but in a good way. Not a great way. I liked Grace, the main character, and how she was difficult and a puzzle of some sort. The way we couldn't relly on her helped the development of the story; the way the macabre and the thriller are mixed in the plot works very well. The ending wasn't as good as the beginning and the middle. It felt unnecessary and, therefore, send the book downhill when it could've been great. But I still enjoyed a lot, and will totally recomend it!

This book was bananas in the best way. If you enjoy a claustrophobic book full of nightmares and family issues then I have the right one for you. The dreamlike state this book left me in was kind of hazardous for sleeping but I was thoroughly entertained. I loved Zoje Stage's BABY TEETH and GETAWAY and highly recommend those.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Zoje Stage for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This one unfortunately was not for me, and I ultimately chose to DNF. I just couldn't connect to the story or any of the characters.

NetGalley is the only platform I will be leaving any sort of review, as I don't feel it's fair to review books on consumer sites if I don't finish them.

I would like to thank NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is something else. Like it screwed with my head, giving me a headache trying to figure out who did what and what was true. Like they both had their reasonings but that still doesn't make it any less messed up.

I thought Grace was a very normal individual during the whole beginning of the book. Like I know she had family issues with both her mom and her sister, Hope. I believe Hope was like the biggest problem in this whole thing. Though she was disabled, she still used it as a way to use Grace and torture her because she knew her mom would believe her before Grace. Grace was like the runner up in everything it seemed. So I perfectly understand her not wanting he mom back in her life.

Honestly, I believe her mom was the biggest issue as well. For she, brought up these past memories and "issues." Like I think Jackie was way too pushy with things around Grace's home. Like taking over the kitchen and reorganizing everything.

Maybe they both have the same hallucination and nightmare problems. Like they both are still haunted by Hope and her memory that it still scars both of them even after some many years.

But the other thing that gets me is would a normal person be able to live with the smell of a dead body? Because that's what Grace did like she waited until Miguel was out of the hospital before calling the cops. Like how to you just deal with it? Like your mom's dead on your kitchen floor and you continue to clean and try to make your life a little normal? That gives me unstable vibes, but she also wanted to make sure Coco was able to go back home at the same time. She fought able the situation until she finished up any responsibilities she had left.

In general, this novel gave me a suffocating feeling. Like I just couldn't quite catch me breathe
Like the walls were moving in on me.

I don't know. This novel messed with my head. Perfect novel if you want to be absolutely confused on what is going on.

It's lockdown in 2020 and Grace just lost her job as a stylist in a beauty salon. She also just moved into her first house the day lockdown began. Grace is worried about how she is going to pay her bills when her mother, Jackie, threatens to move in with her. Grace isn’t sure it is a good idea. However, Jackie agrees to pay rent and stay out of her way. How could she say no?!

Reading this book is kind of like watching a car crash, you just can’t look away. She really captures the claustrophobic atmosphere, fears, and anxieties about Covid and the very dysfunctional relationship between Grace and her mother.

I wasn’t really sure where this plot was headed throughout most of the book, which kept me reading. However, not much happened in the second half of the book which left me disappointed and with a few questions.

This book was just okay for me. I read Baby Teeth by this author so I was pretty excited for this book. This book wasn't bad but I just didn't connect with many of the characters. I thought the writing was done well.

1.5 ⭐️ rounded down for goodreads

My second attempt at a Zoje Stage book & although I was able to finish this one, clearly this author is not for me…

Did not like the characters, did not like the storyline, did not like reading about the pandemic, overall just did not enjoy this one.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It sounded interesting, and it didn't bother me that it is set during the pandemic. However, I had a hard time with my comprehension and understanding throughout the book. I know that was the way it was intentionally written, but I didn't like not being able to distinguish between reality and "fantasy." I do think there is a specific audience for this book, I was just not it. Thank you for providing me with an arc copy in return for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 1, 2023
Grace is finally living the independent life she dreamed of after purchasing a house of her own. But when her aging mother is suddenly widowed, and Grace loses her job as a result of the pandemic, Grace is forced to take her mother, Jackie, into her home. Since the death of Grace’s disabled twin sister years ago, Grace and Jackie have grown farther apart, but Grace is hopeful that living together will force the two to reform their bond. But the pandemic stress only serves to add to the tensions brought up by old wounds and then Jackie accuses Grace of the unforgivable- killing her sister. Although Grace is certain Jackie’s accusations aren’t true, she has her doubts, but one thing is for certain- both of them will resolve their differences, or one of them will die trying.
Zoje Stage knocked my socks off with “Baby Teeth”, with its dark, deeply disturbing subject matter and psychologically deranged plot. Although I haven’t had the chance to read another Stage novel since, I was so fascinated with her debut that I was ecstatic to get the chance to read “Mothered”.
This novel is delectably twisted and uncomfortable, taking pandemic fear and dysfunctional relationships to a new level. “Mothered” was hard to get into, as Stage’s writing style took some adjusting, and the story was initially confusing. The plot did sort itself out, however, and once it did, I was hooked. There are so many mysteries to be solved in this novel (the biggest one being who is the one doing the gaslighting) and not all of them find resolution, but the quest to the end was satisfying.
Grace’s dreams are next level creepy, literally leaving me with goosebumps. Jackie, too, has her moments, where she teeters back and forth between sane and not quite so, tossing blame around and emotionally manipulating her only surviving daughter.
The story is narrated by Grace in the present, with smaller sections representing Grace’s recollections of past events, so the reader only experiences Grace’s side of the story intimately. Stage telling the story this way makes the reader question reality, and it is so unsettling (in the best way). After reading the prologue, hints are given toward the ending, and there are enough teasers to attract attention, without giving away the final moments.
“Mothered” is not for the faint of heart, and it will definitely creep out even the most experienced horror reader. But those who are willing to take a chance on a uniquely bizarre story with a twisted plot won’t be disappointed.

Grace agrees to let her newly-widowed mother stay with her as Covid cripples the world, but past wounds come back to haunt her nightmares, raising questions about the past and causing tensions to rise.

The prologue blew me away. As the story developed, the line between Grace's dream state and her childhood memories blurred, and it was unclear what was actually going on. I found those scenes the most disturbing and could relate to having nightmares early on in the pandemic, which made the book all the more dark for me. Grace's relationship with Jackie, her mother, was very uncomfortable and I often found myself jumping back and forth between feeling sorry for them while also suspecting each of them of the younger sibling's murder. The flashbacks of psychological abuse and emotional neglect Grace endured at the hands of her mother were awful however, the fact that Grace was so unreliable threw her recollection of the past into question, right up to the last chapter. The pace of the story was steady, the suspense slower than I usually read, but the characters were fleshed out and flawed making it interesting to delve into. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Grace and her friend, Miguel. The action in the prologue kept me turning the pages until the end, determined to find out how it all played out.

There are a few scenes that stick out to me but one of the worst was of Grace's dream/flashback (I still don't know) in which she returns home with her sister, Hope, after being injured playing on the street with the neighborhood kids. Jackie comes out to greet them, sees Grace bleeding, and completely ignores her needs focusing on Hope instead. After which she leads Hope inside, closing the door on Grace in her time of need. This is one of the more subtle examples of abuse that really got under my skin and I felt terrible for the main character.

3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recommend to readers who enjoy slow-burning suspense, family secrets, and dark psychological vibes.

This book was so much fun to read! I have only read Baby Teeth by this author, which I also loved, so when I saw the author had a new book out I wanted to read it (and was lucky enough to get an ARC!!). It is the only book I have read so far that is set during the pandemic. Where the pandemic is a tangible thing and is what we all lived and are living through. At first I thought that might be a bit much for me to read, do I really want to go back to those early days and relive them? Plus I still am very cautious, but it was the perfect setting for this story. The story of Jackie and Grace, mother and daughter who do not really have a good relationship.

When Jackie moves in with Grace she seems to be trying. Trying to be nice. Trying to be good. She is not the same mother that Grace remembers. As things are slowly revealed and as Grace starts having these dreams that feel so real it can be hard for her to tell reality from her dream world. Add in the stress of living together for the first time in forever, the pandemic, worries about work and being able to afford everything, it is the perfect storm for things to go a bit sideways. I loved this story and how everything worked out. The ending was perfect and really put the whole book into a new perspective. I loved this story and now I can't wait to go read the rest of the author's books.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

To say I’m still processing the “hickory dickory duck” craziness that I just read would be the understatement of the century. Zoje Stage’s latest psychological thriller, Mothered is a twisted, distorted story of one woman’s descent into feverish madness when her mother comes to live with her.

Grace and Jackie have a turbulent relationship that ended in their parting of ways after Grace’s twin sister Hope passed away tragically years ago. With the rise of the pandemic and unforeseen obstacles presented to both women, Grace accepts Jackie’s offer to come live with her in her new home and help split the cost of living. Things soon take a weird turn when Grace begins having feverish, frighteningly real dreams about events in her past. Soon it takes everything in her power to separate dream from reality, while at the same time her fragile relationship with her mother takes a foreboding turn.

Stage incorporates elements of horror and mystery into this psychological thriller and it is crazy and dark as heck. Written during the pandemic, Stage makes it clear there was inspiration from her own experience with the effects the virus had on her own life. While certainly not a duplicate of our own times, there is a definite parallel to the struggles, fear, despair and madness people were forced to deal with during that time. Grace’s point of view becomes increasingly unreliable and as you read, you keep waiting in agitation and suspense for the ball to drop. This is a dark, frenzied read with drawn out moments of suspense that leaves you confused and spiraling. Reminiscent of the craziness you’d find in other dark thrillers (like a Gillian Flynn) you’re sure to be left with more questions than answers, wondering what the actual f you just read and at the same time having enjoyed every second of the delirious madness.

4- 4.25⭐️

This claustrophobic psychological thriller set in covid lockdown is my first read by this author.

Grace finally got her first home just as covid struck, she lost her job and is worried about managing the mortgage. Her mother Jackie wants to stay with her, she reluctantly agrees as she is desperate. But there’s plenty of bad feeling and history between them, so you just know things aren’t going to go well with them both in an extended lockdown.
Strange things start happening Bringing a sense of suspense.
The dream sequences blur reality and fiction leaving the reader wondering what is happening, some are totally bizarre and I found them irritating.
The tension is ramped up well towards the end. The reader is still not sure how things were going to turn out.
I enjoyed the ride. I didn’t know how the cards were going to fall right up to the end. I’ll have to read baby teeth now!

Zoje Stage has been on my authors to read list for a long time with the high profile of Baby Teeth.

Mothered is an unusual psychological thriller, focussing on a mother / daughter relationship and the strain on their lives and mental health while living together during Covid isolation.

Widowed mom Jackie moves in with daughter Grace, and the strain starts to show immediately. As well as adapting to life in a pandemic, Grace starts to have weird dreams and nightmares.

I loved how the dreams are handled, blurring lines between real life, dreams and nightmares. Frequently shocking and disturbing, it's as unsettling for the reader as it is for Grace.

I appreciated the flow and the pace and found this to be a very entertaining book to read.

Recommended if you want something a little bit weird and unsettling, and definitely read the author's note at the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

I keep trying each new release from Zoje Stage, but they just don't live up to Baby Teeth. I have to move on at this point.

Our unreliable main character, Grace, has a lot going on. The pandemic has hit, she's starting a new job after being unemployed because of the pandemic, she's catfishing multiple women and trying to keep her multiple identities straight and now her estranged mom Jackie is coming to live with her.

Grace has her guard up well before her mother arrives. When Jackie does come, things aren't as bad as they seemed. Sure she's annoying, but they're actually getting along.

Jackie's presence brings a constant, painful reminder of how she treated Grace as a child and of her twin sister Hope, who Grace was a caretaker for until she passed away. Grace starts having traumatizing dreams, leaving her on edge.

When Jackie tries to tell Grace how Hope really died, things take a turn for the worse. The dreams get worse, they aren't getting along and Grace is left questioning what really happened to Hope as well as reality.

You really get into Grace's head in Mothered. I love psychological twists and this one has plenty. I did feel like it was building up for some big revelation at the end, but I ended it a bit confused when it was all said and done. I think that was the point? Regardless I enjoyed it. Many thanks to Zoje Stage, NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my ARC. Mothered will be published 3/1.

In the midst of the pandemic, Grace is not particularly thrilled when her mother, Jackie, moves in with her. But Jackie has recently lost her husband and been ill and Grace is unemployed and could use help with her mortgage. Soon, though, stuck in the house with her mother, Grace feels claustrophobic, flashing back to her unhappy childhood with her mother and her late sister. She starts having horribly realistic nightmares and clashing with her mother over her hobbies, which oddly include catfishing people online. As things come to a head, Jackie accuses Grace of something unspeakable, and Grace feels unable to delineate her dreams from reality.

Ugh, I had to slog through this one. I didn't really realize it was written with a pandemic setting and wow, it's fully pandemic-centric, with COVID playing a central role. I don't mind pandemic books, but I just did not feel like reading a gloomy book about sad, depressing pandemic themes and unhappy, mean characters.

Even worse, MOTHERED took the unreliable narrator trope too far for me. Between Grace's nightmares and Jackie's passive aggressive anger, I couldn't tell what was happening and wow, that got annoying really fast. The book moves so slow--Grace and Jackie fight, Grace has bad dreams that may or not be real, and then it repeats. There's a weird side plot with Grace catfishing women that does not really make sense, as well as pieces about Grace's missing dad. Then there's the focus on her deceased twin sister, which is central to the plot, but almost seems grotesquely portrayed at times (Hope was disabled) and done in poor taste.

I just wanted to get to the end, but then there was no real payoff that explained things.

I wouldn't call this one a thriller per se, but a really intense drama about a woman whose estranged mother moves in with her at the start of a pandemic. You know from the beginning that one of them kills the other at the end, so most of the book is spent building up that suspense and casting suspicion on each character as they grow annoyed being cooped up together. It was a little gory for my taste (talk of chopping off ears and running hamsters over) but I was very invested in the story. I didn't care for the dream sequences (which were important to the story but I just don't like dreams in books or movies) but overall a good read!