Thank you so much Thomas & Mercer and Zoje Stage for an advanced copy of Zoje Stage's book Mothered. While I don't personally like pandemic books - I do like Zoje Stage's writing being that she wrote one of my favorite books Baby Teeth. I was a little confused in parts where the lines of dreaming and reality where somewhat blurred but I'm "thinking" maybe that's what the author was going for. I love how Zoje writes characters - I loved the relationship that Grace and Miguel had - I would love a friend like Miguel - he was so fun and seemed free spirited and could always keep Grace in line. Grace and Hope - well that's another story and I'll keep it spoiler free and let you decide for yourself. Grace and Jacqueline what started as a seemingly normal mother/daughter relationship progressed into such toxicity - was it all Jackie? was it all Grace? who is to blame? Did being locked down intensify it? I look forward to hearing some other thoughts on the book from other readers
- I'm sure there are some things I missed that others didn't.

After reading Baby Teeth and finding it to be just a bit meh, I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one. I think everyone will be able to relate to the pandemic lockdowns, however in this book, I felt it just became low hanging fruit as opposed to using the isolation of the pandemic for creative purposes, or to create a more dramatic isolation between the mother and daughter. I really didn't like the use of sleep sequences. It doesn't allow for a sense of reality when it came to the characters. I do not mind being kept guessing with actions, however the characters never take any ownership of anything in the past. This one was just ok for me. This book did not have a resolution other than knowing about the killer. This did not work.

I put off reading this for longer than I should because I remember having a hard time getting through Zoje Stage's other book, Baby Teeth. But, as soon as I started this, I couldn't stop! I love a slow decent to madness and Zoje did it so well. I was constantly trying to guess what was going on and I was always surprised when I was wrong. I didn't love that the main character never knew what was real and what wasn't but the author did it so well that I was confused too. I regret waiting so long to read this and it has made me excited to go back and read the other books she published.

This book offers a rather peculiar but mostly enjoyable reading experience, set against the backdrop of the early days of the COVID pandemic. The narrative revolves around Grace, whose mother, Jackie, makes an unexpected return to her life after a long period of estrangement. However, the scars from their strained relationship remain unhealed, and their forced cohabitation during quarantine pushes Grace to her breaking point.

Grace narrates the story from her present perspective, interwoven with occasional recollections of past events, providing an intimate insight into her side of the story for the reader.

It’s worth noting that this book may not appeal to everyone and has the potential to unsettle some readers due to its peculiar nature. Personally, I found it engaging and look forward to discovering what the author has in store for their next work.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“‘ I’m just saying… maybe the perfect thing doesn’t come along. But maybe you look at who you have, and maybe you find a way to make that enough.’” -Mothered.

Mothered by Zoje Stage had the potential to be a thrilling psychological thriller, but it ultimately falls short of expectations. From the promising premise to the enticing cover art, the book had all the elements of a gripping read, but sadly, it fails to deliver.

One of the major letdowns of Mothered is its characters. While they initially seem intriguing, they quickly become one-dimensional and difficult to relate to. The protagonist lacks depth, and her actions often feel forced and unrealistic. This makes it hard to invest in her journey and ultimately hampers the overall reading experience.

The pacing of the novel is another issue. It starts off with a promising sense of suspense, but as the story progresses, it loses momentum. The plot meanders, and the twists and turns become predictable, leaving readers with a feeling of déjà vu rather than shock or surprise.

Furthermore, the writing style in Mothered feels disjointed and inconsistent. It veers between overly descriptive passages and abrupt, jarring transitions, making it a struggle to stay engaged with the narrative.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the book is its conclusion. After a lackluster buildup, the resolution is unsatisfying and leaves many unanswered questions, making it seem as though the author couldn't quite decide how to tie up loose ends.

In the end, Mothered by Zoje Stage is a book that fails to live up to its potential, earning it two stars. While it may have garnered attention for its premise, it ultimately disappoints with its underdeveloped characters, uneven pacing, and lackluster conclusion.

First off thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. And to Zoje Stage herself for her remarkable mind and story.<p>

Five out of five stars - colour me impressed.

Mothered is about a woman named Grace who, during the COVID outbreak is forced to have her ailing mother move in to help with finances during this time after losing her job and her mother losing her late husband. Join Grace on a journey of her life as a catfish as she tries to connect with the mother she felt she never had.

This. Wasn't like anything I've read before and now that I have I'm going to have to move onto Baby Teeth next. I was hooked the moment I picked the book up and started to read.

Fantastic modern writing with good structure and the ability to take you into a world eerily similar to our lives currently. Being stuck in the house a lot because your family and friends have covid and you don't want to get it - the fear of that is real.

I couldn't stop this to put it down and sleep, I read it through the night into early morning.

The characters are people you can connect with on both positive and negative levels. My favorite character was Miguel. I want him as my best friend!

All in all, this was a book I'd read again. An easy 5.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

After reading baby teeth I knew I had to get my hands on this one. Review copy, purchased copy it didn’t matter I needed it. Luckily I got a review copy and it did not disappoint

First line: Silas loved a good puzzle, especially if it involved the interlocking pieces of science and soul, the known and the unknown.

Summary: Grace had just bought her first home when the COVID pandemic hit, she lost her job as a hairstylist and now her mother wants to move in with her. They never had a great relationship and the hours spent together start to strain their nerves. Grace starts having nightmares about her twin who died when they were young and struggles to differentiate between what is real and what is a dream. And then her mother reveals a dark secret from their past but Grace cannot believe her. There is no way that things happened the way her mother claims. Is her mother trying to drive her mad? Who and what can Grace believe anymore if she cannot trust her own mother?

My Thoughts: This book was STRANGE! It was a fever dream almost literally. Grace tilts back and forth between moments of sanity and bouts of fear and nightmares. She is a very unreliable narrator. But really it is more like the book who is unreliable. So many chapters are dream sequences filled with Grace’s fears and memories. Everything seemed just so wild until I realized that it was another dream.

Neither of the main characters was very likeable but Jackie, Grace’s mother, was awful. She seems like the ideal mother who cooks, cleans and is sweet to your friends but she can quickly use guilt and manipulation. I kept waiting for her to crack and cause some harm to Grace or the cat.

The setting of isolation during the pandemic set the perfect atmosphere for the downward spiral of these two women. Luckily I was still able to work at times during the pandemic because I can see how it easy it would be to lose touch with reality being home bound for long periods of time. The beginning of the story dragged on a little after a catchy first chapter and then it picked up at the end as tensions finally reached a climax. This is not as a good as Baby Teeth but still a chilling WTF book.

I love books where there are evil parents or kids. Stage has proven to be the master of this with baby teeth and comes back in this title with the roles reversed. Slow burn but so so worth it. Loved this one

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After reading this book as well as the author’s other novel, Baby Teeth, I have come to the conclusion that this author is just not for me. I don’t enjoy the writing style and for that I feel like I can’t really give a well developed review. I unfortunately found the book to be slow and predictable. I liked the idea of a pandemic setting but it just wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. I did not connect with the characters and also found parts of the dream sequences to be confusing. I just overall wouldn’t recommend this book to any fellow readers with preferences similar to mine. .

This is a good read. It's also an unpleasant read.

These are some seriously damaged people in this book and, as you read, you realize that they are SO damaged that there's just no saving grace.

I didn't like our characters. I didn't like what happened to them. But...I liked the book as a whole.

I'm probably never going to reread it - I just don't want to be in that dark a place - but I'm glad I did read it (once).

This book seriously sucked. Horrible! Present, delusion, dream,delusion, past,present. Are you dizzy yet? This was one of the worst written books I’ve read in such a long time. It’s nothing like the synopsis.

I didn’t know what the heck was happening. I really wish I could go back in time and not have read this book. It was just that bad.

initial thoughts: not for me. this book left me extremely confused and still unsure of what I just read.🙃

What a solid post pandemic novel! I whipped through this one so fast and really enjoyed it. I felt like I was able to relate to the pandemic isolation and mental health issues that ensued. Very well done and a fast read.

Books where people have trouble sleeping always put me on edge somehow. The pandemic focus on this one also leaves me a bit... Uncomfortable, but not in a bay way. Still, I was confused for most of the time, hence the three stars.

There were a lot of aspects I loved about this book. It was creepy, I loved the dream sequences and the not knowing who the trust. I was a little turned off by the way the disabled sister was portrayed but I get why it was done and it worked I got the story okay. The only thing that brought it down a star was the side plot of the pandemic but it wasn’t enough to deter me from really enjoying this book!

This is the first book I’ve read from her and yes it was slow in the beginning. I generally like it though. I plan on collecting all of her books now!

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Difficult to follow at times and a little slow. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Reading Between the Wines book review #84/115 for 2023:
Rating: 1 🍷
Book: Mothered
Author: Zoje Stage
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: I read Baby Teeth by Stage and really enjoyed it until the end. The end was just so ugh that it dropped my rating by like 2 stars. Mothered was so all over the place and just never took off. It was so repetitive and the ending- what was that?! I wanted to give this author another chance but I just don’t think the style of writing for me. But I know there are many people who this style of writing is for and will enjoy it!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @ThomasMercer for an advanced copy of @Mothered.

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