Creeptastically unputdownable! Another thrilling and scary story from Zoje Stage. Quarantined with her mother, not for everyone, especially Grace and Jackie. A mix of horror and psychological suspense that will scare the shot out of you! So good.

4 stars

In this c-r-e-e-p-y novel, Stage presents yet another disturbing mother/child relationship (I'm looking at you, _White Teeth_), but this time the child is grown, and the tables are turned...or are they?

Grace, the m.c., is an adult who starts to have a lot of memories of her childhood with her twin, Hope, when her mom, Jackie moves in with her. That childhood seems...worrisome, to say the least. Hope, whom readers learn immediately has been dead for quite some time, was forced to rely on her sister and mother for her physical needs, but she has a clear grasp of her own seemingly disturbed mind. Stage challenges stereotypes with the portrayal of this character, especially, and this technique, along with Grace's sudden onslaught of horrific nightmares, Jackie's bizarre statements and behaviors, and the concurrent early stages of the pandemic lockdown make it impossible for both characters and readers to know what is and is not real.

Readers who dig an unreliable m.c. will LOVE much about this read. Stage expertly creates an environment of uncertainty that matches both Grace's childhood trauma and the communal trauma of a pandemic lockdown.

One guarantee? NO ONE will be left wondering if there's true horror in the world.

This is a sinister read with some grey areas, and readers who love this vibe in horror/thriller will speed through this one. I know I did, and I'm now about as excited to fall asleep next as I was after seeing the first _Nightmare on Elm Street_!

I am so so grateful for this ARC. I was so excited for this because I loved the author's other work, Baby Teeth. But this was too much. The constant back and forth tricks of "is this a dream/is it not" and then constant pandemic talk while I'm trying to block out the real world. It just wasn't for me.

Again, she's such a talented writer, but this didn't work for me at all. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it early.

Thank you very much for the arc. I appreciate it, and I tried my hardest to read this book, but I couldn’t get past the insufferable main character. She was completely rude and intolerable to her mother. It was just too much for me to handle. It’s a DNF for me. The writing was very amateurish and a sloppy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.

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Like a few others with middling reviews, I'll say I liked this but I didn't love it. The unreliable narrator aspect was almost well done, but the idea of a toxic mother-daughter relationship complicated things too much for it to be effective for me. I also really disliked the carrot-dangling of the introduction. I would rather the suspense build and continue to question what will happen, rather than have half of an answer from the start. And...dream sequences? Really? It's lazy to me. I hated both of the characters, and the convenient pandemic sideplot to throw them together just seemed like a cop-out. Meh.

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Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and twisted book. While I wasn’t sure about reading a book based in lockdown “times” I was quickly absorbed in this story and felt it added to the plot and lent well to the psychological thrill ride.

I felt as if this was a very typical read. While I didn't necessarily find anything wrong with it, per se, it just didn't capture me nor tell a story that was fresh in any way.

This book was a very dark read.

Grace had a twin sister who passed away. Hope had cerebral palsy and as a child Grace had to take care of her while her mother worked. Grace had a very dysfunctional upbringing with Hope and her mother Jackie.

Grace finally moved out on her own, working as a beautician she was able to purchase her first home. When the pandemic hit the salon shut down. Her mother Jackie, offered to move in with her to help with finances in hopes they can rebuild a relationship.

This arrangement sent Grace to a dark place.

Very enjoyable read for those that like a dark read.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy in return for my honest opinion.

I’ve noticed that newly published books have avoided the year 2020 in story timelines, and justifiably so. Most of us are still feeling the residual affects of the pandemic in some capacity, as a reader I appreciate authors understanding that most readers are not necessarily ready to have to relive their pandemic experiences in their books which they use to escape their daily reality.

With that being said I’d like to give many kudos to the author for approaching this story with respect and honesty that was completely relatable. I didn’t realize how much I needed to read a story that captured the essence of what it felt like to be in isolation due to the pandemic. The anxiety and anticipation of the unknown was deeply felt while reading this book-it was a bit cathartic in some regard and I appreciate the author's bravery and honesty in penning this story.

Mothered centers around our main character Grace and her mother Jackie, after years of estrangement, Jackie a recent widow decides to move in with Grace. Having recently lost her job, for Grace- the idea of her mother coming to live with her becomes a godsend in spite of her apprehension to have to co exist with a mother she no longer really knows. Throughout their quarantine long buried secrets start to surface and Grace finds herself quickly regretting her decision to have her mother come live with her.

What I enjoyed most about this story is how the author captured the monotony of quarantine life; the contained nature of the story could easily have gotten boring, but the story was never boring. I was very interested in every aspect of Grace and Jackie’s daily interaction and how each day peeled back another layer of their contentious relationship. And man that ending, it was actually a satisfying ending that you sort of can see coming a mile away. Not because the story was predictable but the tension building was very well done. And by the end you’re kind of left thinking, “well here goes”.

There were some underexplored things happening that I would have loved to see more of, as soon as it was mentioned in the beginning of the story my interest was piqued, but I feel like it kind of played a back seat to the story and I definitely think it would have elevated the story even more if it had played more of a part in the story line. Overall I would highly recommend, if you are a reader a bit nervous to read about the COVID pandemic I would have to say that I think this book handled the subject matter with sensitivity and with readers in mind. You should definitely check this one out.

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.

But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.

When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.

Grab yourself a copy of this book! I absolutely loved this! I read this book within a day, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters!

There was so much going on with this story. I typically shy away from pandemic books, because living through it, you want to escape reality by reading. This book has all of realities of living together with someone when you don't want to and all of the secrets that come out when you're forced to spend so much time with one person. Great story that sometimes will have you put the book down to think about what you just read!

Absolutely yes! I really enjoyed reading this novel. The characters were fun, it held my interest, and provided an escape from reality. I would definitely recommend!

DNF at 60 percent.

I really tried with this book. There was just too much problematic material in here for me to continue. Maybe it clears itself up by the end of the book. But I’ll never know. It is very very rare for me to stop reading an arc because I’m always so happy to get them but I couldn’t make it through this one.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book! How would it be having to be locked down with your mom during a pandemic, especially when you don't get along with each other. This book had me guessing back and forth on who was really the sick one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

Grace’s mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her after being widowed. Being stuck at home during the pandemic, and after losing her job, Grace needs help with the mortgage and allows her mother to move in. Quickly, things go from good to bad. Between nightmares, catfishing, and earth shattering accusations, Grace feels the walls closing in and her past comes back to haunt her.

I haven’t read any pandemic-centered books, but I’m glad I picked this one up. I’ve heard so much about Baby Teeth and was excited to give this a read. I think it perfectly captured the fallout of the pandemic and twisted it to every persons nightmare. The tension and feeling of being claustrophobic was strong while reading this. Be prepared.

Ooh, I love a story with a good unreliable narrator. Stage is a masterful storyteller and impressed me with her descriptions several times throughout. This was a total mess-with-your-head, befuddling plot that I’m still not sure I understand, but I was invested. The characters are interesting and capable of anything, it seems. Impressive book, one that I will think about for a while, especially when I think of my mother, lol. Thank you to NetGalley and Mercer and Sons for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've been dipping into the thriller genre a lot more often as of late and this was a great addition to the books that I've read recently. Mothered definitely kept me guessing up until the very end. At first I was sort of confused as to what Grace's biggest issue in her life was until I met her mother Jackie.

Grace and Jackie spend time I guess you could say getting to know each other again after so many years of being estranged after Grace moved out on her own at 18. Grace was once a twin , her name was Hope, and she passed when the girls were quite young. Jackie favored Grace's twin over her and made it something that was blatantly known. Watching their past unfold and meld into the present while the two are stuck together in quarantine due the pandemic was heart stopping. It was a read I could not put down or share my time with any other book until it was finished. Would definitely recommend to other readers.

What if COVID wasn’t the worst part of the pandemic?
Can you imagine being in lockdown with your mother? What boundaries would be overstepped by her, or by you? What secrets would be revealed?
Grace and Jackie have endured a strained relationship since the death of Grace’s twin sister. Grace has her version and Jackie has hers. Will the truth bring them closer together or rip them apart?
This gripping page turner will keep you guessing until the very end.

Mothered by Zoje Stage is about Grace, a woman whose widowed mother, Jackie, comes to live with her during the COVID pandemic. The relationship between the two women is fraught, strained, and the kind of stuff psychological thrillers are made of. This book stayed with me long after the “what just happened?” ending. And, to be honest, I still don’t quite know how much of what I read was actually happening or only in the main character’s head. This is a fun read, especially if psychological thrillers are your favorite.

This was a wild ride, one like a roller coaster where your heart beats fast and your hair sticks up. I could not read it fast enough! Grace was completely unpredictable and I couldn’t pinpoint the status of her mental state. I was an utter mess by the end.

Grace becomes locked in the house with her mother during the height of the pandemic. Talk about a slow slip in to madness, once Grace and her mother come together she starts losing it. She is having crazy dreams and nightmares about her twin sister who does when they were children and nothing is as it seems.

This story will leave you reeling as you try to unravel what’s going on in Grace’s head. My mind was complete mush at the end of the story and that makes for a great psychological thriller!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Zoje Stageand Thomas and Mercer for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish Date: 3/1/2023