Member Reviews
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced readers copy of this publication.
I have have read a few of this authors other novels and was excited to read her newest release. It was well written and kept my attention. I would recommend this to anyone in the mood for a quick paced drama with a great ending. Enjoy your read.
<b>Like Mother, Like Daughter</b> is a crackling thriller from Kimberly McCreight, the author of - among others - "Reconstructing Amelia". Having read that one made me want to read more of her work, and while this one had some cringe factor and moments, it does delivery on the thrill factor.
Cleo and her mom Kat have a difficult relationship, that has been further complicated by Cleo's last boyfriend and her Mom's past actions, some of which may have come back to haunt her, but we don't know for sure. The story uses the - now a bit overused - parallel narrative approach, with one strand of storytelling leading us to the event of Kat's presumed disappearance - told from Kat's perspective, and the other strand is from Cleo's perspective as she goes looking for Kat - starting right after the disappearance is first discovered by Cleo.
There is some self-flagellation and half-reflections on the past, numerous leading statements, and quite a few red herrings. There are twists and reveals, and for the most part the story manages to avoid hyperbole or paranoia. Neither Cleo nor Kat are especially likeable, and I believe that's intentional, and well done. Some parts do seem a bit drawn out and repetitive, I'd even qualify one or two instances as outlandish, but ultimately you are rooting for the duo to get together - even while knowing fully well that there is a distinct possibility Kat may not be alive anymore. For all her flaws, Cleo does really miss her mom and just wants to get one more chance to tell her that. We get to see her diffident and troubled personality, and while listening to Kat's storyline we get to know where all that apathy comes from.
All families are difficult. Families with secrets are even more difficult. Depicting complex relationships in storytelling is never an easy feat, and while the book never takes you deep under the layers of those foibles, it manages to skim just enough of the complexity to make it interesting and easy to read and to like.
The two strands might have ended up gimmicky in the hands of a lesser talented author, but Ms. McCreight is able to embellish her story with enough soul and sincerity that by the time we reach the conclusion of the book, the parallel storylines disappear and you don't even notice.
Thanks to the author, Knopf and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and original review.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Kimberly McCreight
July 30, 2024
This off-kilter story of Cleo and her mom who have hit the point in their lives where neither are happy with each other. Kat is a high priced attorney that specializes in fixing problems that develop with the firm's clientele. Her husband, Aiden has his own issues with his ecological filming. There is never enough money and he feels his wife should support him. In the midst of it all, Kat asks Cleo come home to spend time with her so they could have a discussion over dinner. Aiden is out of the country filming so it could be a good time to work out troubles between them.
Late as usual, Cleo arrives at home trying to call her mom to let her in. She has forgotten her keys yet when she tries, the door it is open. Entering, the house is in disarray. Items are strewn throughout the home and Kat is nowhere to be found. She calls her dad concerned that something has happened to her mother.
Like Mother, Like Daughter will be published by Alfred A Knopf of New York on July 30, 2024. I was able to read and review McCreight’s latest novel via NetGalley. I found it fascinating although with several characters evolving in the legal firm’s business, as well as Cleo’s half-hearted friendships from college there were times I had trouble following the plot. An interesting suspense piece nonetheless and I encourage readers to delve into this interesting yet chaotic journey.
This kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea what was going to happen, but I loved that the daughter stuck up for her mother! This was the ultimate mother/daughter redemption story! One of my favorite McCreight books (Nothing will top Where They Found Her, though!)
3.5 ⭐️
Cleo is a college student who has a rough relationship with her mother. After months of not speaking to her mom, she comes home to have dinner/potentially repair their relationship when she realizes her mom is missing. The story switches between Cleo’s POV after her mom goes missing & her mom’s POV leading up to her becoming missing.
This was slow to start with a lot of moving parts and character names. At times, I had to really think back to who a character was and what part they played in the story. There was just a lot going on, like unnecessarily. I feel like a few of the storylines could’ve been cut out — they were there for twist purposes but you like already knew it wasn’t that outcome so it didn’t really execute a twist well.
I did enjoy this though and would probably read a novel from this author again!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
"Like Mother, Like Daughter" by Kimberly McCreight is an electrifying thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. When Cleo finds her mother missing and clues of a violent struggle, she plunges into a frantic search, unraveling the hidden depths of her mother's life. McCreight masterfully weaves a story of suspense, revealing the secrets and lies that can exist even in the closest of relationships. This novel is a gripping, emotional rollercoaster that explores the fierce love and resilience between a mother and daughter. A fantastic read, highly recommended
Another well-written, engaging story by this author. Everything I’ve read by her as has been wonderful. This will make a great summer read when it’s released in July. If you can’t wait check out her book A Good Marriage.
#LikeMotherLikeDaughter #NetGalley
I really liked this book. It was well written and the story was thoroughly engaging. I just had to. know how it ended so I didn't stop till I finished it .
I liked this but didn't love it. There's a LOT going on- multiple perspectives and multiple timelines. Especially by the end, when there's almost TOO much going on. I would have preferred a more linear plot. I also think the title of the book gave away the ending for me relatively early, which was too early for my liking.
I honestly cannot decide if I will recommend this to others, but would probably lean negative.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC!
Wow! There was a lot going on in this book. I feel like my head is awhirl. But with that said, I think I was able to keep things straight so kudos to the author for being able to control such a busy narrative. Cleo, who lives in a dorm, receives a text from her mom, Katrina. Katrina wants to talk to her about some things that she had done that would affect Cleo. Cleo agreed to come home for a visit although she does not get along with Katrina and her controlling ways. When Cleo arrives home there is blood on the floor and Katrina is nowhere to be found. Cleo runs across the street to the neighbors for help. They have been family friends from the time Cleo was a little girl. The police come to investigate, as does Aidan, her father. Turns out Cleo did not know this but her dad had moved out. He was having an affair. He also needed almost 3 million dollars from Katrina for a film he was making. During the investigation it comes out that Cleo was helping sell drugs, Katrina was a "fixer" in a law firm and there is a messy law suit with a pharmaceutical company. Not only this but Katrina has a past that is causing her to get blackmailed. This was a quick read--kind of hard to believe--but one you won't be able to put down once you start it. The farfetched plot makes this a 3 star book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the digital ARC. This review is entirely my own opinion.
I personally had an extremely hard time following this story. I feel like I had to reread a lot of things in the beginning, and I had to try reading it again after nothing really grabbing my interest in this story. It might be the way the author writes but I was not a huge fan. It was a fine book, but I have read so many thrillers and seem to be picky when it comes to reading & reviewing them. I know that so many people have loved this book, but it was not for me. Thank you for this ARC!
I loved this book!! The characters are well developed and likeable. I think I thought each of the charachters was guilty at some point during the book. So many twists and turns. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you for the ARC! This book was just what I was looking for this summer. It was fast paced, kept me guessing, and the characters had depth and seemed realistic. I loved the NYC /Brooklyn setting and the twists and turns. The element of giving each other grace because we don’t know everyone’s history was a good reminder in the midst of this thriller. Highly recommend!
Cleo can't get along with her mom now, but agrees to meet her for dinner at her childhood home. She comes home to burning food and a missing mom. Cleo doesn't know who to trust or who to lean on during this time. It seems that everyone is a suspect. This has so many twists and turns and will definitely keep your attention.
My first read by this author. Personally, I like stories told from different perspectives. There was just a lot going on and it became confusing for me.
A fast-paced, twisty mystery that digs into the complicated relationship between mother and daughter. Cleo returns home to find her estranged mother missing and evidence pointing to the worst. As she races to find out what happened, she learns more about her mom, and herself, than she ever expected. The story is told from dual POVs - Cleo, in the hours and days following her mother, Kat's, disappearance, and Kat, in the 8 days leading up to her disappearance. There's a lot going on in this story, making you wonder what's relevant to Kat's disappearance and who could be involved. It did feel a little too busy at times and was a little bit hard to follow all the plot lines at the beginning. It did all come together in the end, although maybe a bit beyond plausible. The character and relationship development was well done. Overall, a quick, entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advance review copy.
CW: drug use, suicide mention, sexual assault
I’ve enjoyed a few other of McCreight’s books in the past but I found this one way too convoluted and complicated. I think the idea of mother and daughter both having secrets, the mother going missing, both of them uncovering these secrets all could have been good. But I had a hard time following all the plot threads - the affairs, the drugs, the men, the job, the murder (murders?), etc. I also just generally hate the amateur sleuth trope where the police are idiots and the amateur just happens to stumble on all the helpful clues all by herself. So, not my favorite of McCreight’s books but I would definitely try her again!
I really really really enjoyed this book. It kept me hooked with the POV of the mom and daughter - the multimedia (newspaper releases, text messages, transcripts, etc.) the twists were twisting, and I thought I had it all figured out.. but, I was wrong. I binged this in less than 6 hrs, because I couldn’t put it down. Really hoping #botm comes through, so I can grab a physical copy lol
Chloe, a college student who is exploring her choices and feelings, her parents’ failing marriage, her father’s questionable actions, and her mother’s old and new secrets are all explored in this well developed and interesting book. Like Mother Like Daughter definitely held my attention throughout
I very much enjoyed this read! So many suspects with a completely unexpected ending. Deception around every corner.