I managed to finish this book, but just barely.

The story sounded interesting and I liked the first few pages, but when Grace's mother comes to live with her, they lost me.

This book is too "out there" for me. Not knowing if its reality or a thought, misdirections and dreams - its just not my thing.

I think this is a very good book for a specific audience and its not me.

“What made a human being turn monstrous? An error in prenatal development, a
misalignment of chemicals, an insufficient ability to adapt to misfortune, too much of one thing and too little of something else?”

This novel, set during the pandemic, had many elements— an overbearing mother, a dead sister, job loss, covid-19, a pregnancy scare, mental illness, online catfishing— combining to form a contemporary horror story, unsettling and insidious. The terror and confusion slowly built throughout the book until it was hard to discern what was dream and what was reality.

The conclusion felt a bit predictable and rushed for such a wild ride of a story. But I can honestly say I haven’t read anything like this book in recent memory.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was thrilled to be given a chance to review an advance copy of this novel (thank you to NetGalley and the publishers). I adored <i> Baby Teeth </i> and couldn't wait to delve into this novel about a mother and daughter - forced to quarantine together after years apart.

I found that <i>Mothered</i>, while deeply troubling and wildly on point when it came to the pandemic, was a bit too off base. The author wrote that this novel was written in a start-stop format and as a reader, I could feel that. There are parts of the novel that I felt could have been completely left out and the novel would have kept up pace (the catfishing, for example).

Overall, I wished for more out of this novel and think the plot could have taken better direction.

There's been a few book written about the pandemic at this point, but this one really nailed it! Whereas the pandemic is a backdrop in most stories, it's central to the plot in this one. We have a situation that is already brimming with tension, unease and claustrophobia magnified to epic proportions. An estranged mother and daughter thrown together, attempting to coexist while also coming to terms with a terrible tragedy they both blame each other for. It's a powder keg and it's bound to end in complete disaster.

This reminded me of What Lies Between Us by John Mars. The culmination of fears, quiet resentments and repressed guilt was unsettling and disorienting. Throw in some wild and intense dream sequences, and it made the stories that much more disorienting.

There are so few female writers in the horror genre, and Zoje Stage is really killing it! I'm looking forward to reading all her books for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.
While I found this book Uber creepy, it just did not work for me. Were her dreams real? Is her mother protecting her from the truth? You could question everything in this book. Was her sister real?
Hard to finish reading this book.
I did love how the pandemic was incorporated into this book, quarantine and all.
If you like twisted, horror books this is probably for you.
For me it fell flat and I wish I hadn’t read it.
Could not connect with any of the characters.
Really, the ending, did her therapist “ catch” what she had……..

This book was truly terrifying! It wasn’t long ago that we all had to quarantine, and I can all too easily imagine this happening! I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I also don’t want to ever quarantine again!

Started this right after I was approved, thanks NetGalley! Man, Zoje always writes the most wildest stuff. I love it. This is such a realistic take in the pandemic and what anxieties surround being in the same space with someone you don’t have a sturdy relationship with. I love that you’re never quite sure if the narrator is reliable, and what else feels contagious when you’re pushed to your limit.

I really wanted to like this book about a mother and daughter with a strained relationship who live together during a pandemic, but it was disjointed and all over the place. This novel was a quick read and had some thrilling moments, but there were so many different things going on that never quite clicked together in the end. I enjoyed Baby Teeth by this author, and had high hopes for this one, but in the end it just fell flat for me.

I was absolutely addicted to this book. It made me so uncomfortable and off kilter. Knowing Grace was an unreliable narrator and her knowing she was unreliable left me so unsure about everything I Was reading. She was so convincing it was happening and next she learns it is not.
I can see this being a hard sale for people because it so hard to explain what this book is about and also you end it without any real answers. I feel you are just left with my questions and uneasy.
The pacing was slow, but steady but I needed to know what happens next. I needed to know what is real and what wasn't.

An engaging book, I liked the short chapters - way easier to read. The plot and the action take on a disturbing turn early on - overall I'd say it's a great depiction of early pandemic life and the tumultuous mother-daughter bond, which takes on a dark turn. A slow-burn thriller following a riveting psychological journey, culminating in murder.

What will happen next? How will the mother and daughter live together? This is a book of mystery and intrigue...family dynamics...the past and the present...can the two manage to be under the same roof without the dynamics turning? This author is talented at writing a cannot put down novel. It does move slowly, at times, but comes to a resounding ending. This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy. It was just a little too much for me.

I wanted to really love this one so much and I did enjoy it and kept reading, eager to find out what happens. But it also just felt a little flat and I still don't really have a grasp on what was actually going on between Jackie and Grace.

This started off with a very well written message and continued to be a fascinating read. The story line got a bit confusing with jumping back and forth between dreams and reality. The storyline seemed to lose focus, that may have been intentional yet not necessary.

Filled with prickly, disquieting tension and mounting claustrophobia, each page posed a dark new question that I couldn't wait to learn the answer to. I flew through this completely original book with bated breath all the way to its shocking conclusion.

I love the premise of this book but because of the pacing of this story, this will be a DNF from me. I didn't find any of the characters to be captivating or likeable enough to continue. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and Grace’s estranged mother, Jackie, moves into Grace’s new home with her. With Jackie around, Grace begins to have strange dreams that make it difficult for her to differentiate the dream world from reality. Life also becomes difficult as Jackie learns more about her daughter’s life and the past becomes hard to ignore.

Mothered is a good example of early pandemic life and the troubled relationship between a newly reunited mother and daughter. The dream scenes are as disturbing and confusing for the reader as they are for Grace, as distinguishing dreams from reality is also difficult for the reader (which I loved!). Definitely a slow burn thriller, Mothered is a psychological trip for the reader nonetheless.

Enjoyed this book a lot. Takes place during the pandemic, which all of us had a hard time dealing with, so that hit close to home. The back and forth between the real and dream state really made ME feel like I was going crazy. Zoje Stage is such an entertaining author. Mothered was extremely enjoyable.

This book takes place at the beginning of the pandemic (2020) when most of the country all had to be on lockdown. Grace allows her elderly mother (Jackie) to move in because she just purchased a house and due to the pandemic she is afraid she won't be able to keep up with her bills. She and her mother have never been close so this is a recipe for disaster!
The story was interesting though it dragged on a few parts for me. It was confusing at times due to switching to a dream Grace was having without any warning. I'm still not completely sure what causes the dreams though the epilogue makes it seem like it could be a little supernatural? I would also have liked to see the reactions from the "damsels" after Grace came clean.
I'm also not quite clear on who was the crazy one (Grace, Jackie, or Hope) or if Grace actually did what her mother accused her of doing.
Overall it was a decent read.

Just wow! Zoje Stage does it again! This was a really deliciously dark and creepy read. I literally felt like I needed to peel my skin off! Gosh so intense an incredibly well written and executed. This one is not for sissies! Loved it.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

I knew Stage was good, but her newest novel show just how great of a writer she truly is.
Mothered by Zoje Stage is a masterful, compulsively gripping, chilling, and an absolutely unputdownable book.
This was difficult to leave alone once started. Stage's characterization is great; her characters are so realistic and raw. I believe this heart-racing story will appeal to many. Her writing drew me in from the first sentence.
Zoje Stage is a twisty, remarkable genius!
This book totally captivated me and had my complete attention right to the very end. I absolutely loved it!

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

Thomas & Mercer,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!