For years, Lisa Marco has navigated the treacherous waters of the school mum clique, ever since her fallout with Christina Valdecchi, the mother of her daughter's best friend. Christina, the epitome of the fun parent, never misses a chance to remind Lisa of her perceived shortcomings.

Lisa firmly believes in making tough parenting decisions, prioritising her daughter's safety over popularity. While she acknowledges Christina's 'friendship parenting' approach as appealing, she remains steadfast in her commitment to responsible parenting, even if it strains her relationship with her daughter.

Their conflicting parenting styles come to a head when they receive the dreaded call every parent fears. Playground politics escalate to parental involvement, magnifying the complexities of their situation.

Despite their differences and subsequent fallout, the unavoidable bond between their daughters keeps them tethered. Christina's charisma often outshines Lisa's thoughtful approach, but when faced with adversity, both mothers find themselves in eerily similar predicaments.

As their story unfolds, readers are prompted to reflect on the intricate dynamics between mothers and daughters, questioning their place along the parenting spectrum.

Thank you so much to the author - Dawn Goodwin as well as Andrew and the team at Head of Zeus for running this book tour and allowing me the opportunity to take part!

3.5/5.

Lisa and Christina once friends and now barely talk to each other (apart from the odd snipes here and there!). So when they get a call that involves their daughters, they need to start facing some truths.

Both who have different lives, different parenting techniques, and complete opposites. What they do have in common in, neither is truly happy.

Lisa is desperate to keep her family on track, but with a husband who may also be keeping a secret, it all starts to unravel.

Christina comes across as a more carefree parent who wants to be friends more than a parent.

The daughters, once best friends, have also drifted apart but will a secret bring them together again? And is it all it seems?

I love the different timelines and POV from the characters. It brought the story and conclusion together really well. It shows you sometimes don't really know what is happening under your own roof. The plot has made me glad I have a boy!

Addictive binge read, and before you know it, you're finished.

I'm looking forward to reading more from @dgoodwinauthor

I appreciated the description of the Queen Bee mean mothers, wasn't a fan of the story that I found a bit too slow
There's potential but it didn't keep me hooked
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A good read
Told by the points of view of a few characters
Over two timelines
Will definitely have you hooked
Thanks NetGalley

I do like a book about school mums. Oh my goodness, these characters were so relatable. I did enjoy the way the book was told through a past and present timeline.

"THEY SAY THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE..."
...

When sculptor and single mother Christina moves to the area with her young daughter Sophia, she raises more than the odd eyebrow or two. Not only does she arrive at the school gates dressed as if she is off for a night out, but her steady stream of boyfriends often set tongues wagging too. Her approach to parenting is also very unique, as she seeks to be more of a friend and mentor for Sophia, rather than a strict disciplinarian who encourages educational achievement. When many of the other mums actively seek to avoid contact with Christina, Lisa finds herself reaching out to this woman who is in so many ways her polar opposite, even more so when her own daughter Emma declares that she and Sophia are the best of friends.

Lisa is as highly strung as Christina is laid back, so when a playtime experience at Lisa's house seems to go dangerously wrong for Emma, Lisa jumps to conclusions about Sophia, unaware until it is too late that Christina has witnessed her hysterical actions. As quickly as the friendship had begun, it is now over, with Lisa and Christina drawing the battle lines between them and forbidding the two girls to have anything more to do with one another.

However, Lisa's actions backfire on her and it is she who finds herself ostracised on the school runs. So, many years later when both girls are sitting their final exams which will determine their university placements and when she is forced to attend a school fundraising evening alone, as husband Ben has gone missing in action, Lisa finds herself seated on the same table as Christina and her latest boyfriend Colin, together with two other couples, known to both ladies. Much to the annoyance of his wife Lena, Owen, one of the other husbands, begins to take a rather unhealthy and unconcealed interest in Lisa and feeling abandoned by an increasingly remote Ben, she rather plays-up to his advances. When Ben arrives later, obviously and unusually for him, more than a little inebriated, he insists that all four couples continue to party at their house, despite Lisa's protests.

Unbeknown to the adults, their offspring, rather than cramming for those all important exams, have been making their own fun over at Christina's house, where Emma and Sophia have drawn an uneasy truce and aim to renew their friendship, although they agree that neither mother must ever know about it. Drink and drug fuelled events spiral out of control however and both girls, together with Lena and Owen's son Kai, end up doing things they will all come to regret and which have the potential for such far-reaching ramifications, that they will not be able to be kept secret. With social media playing such a prevalent role in all their lives and with the many still unsolved jealousies and disagreements which surround this group of eight adults and six teenagers, it is only a matter of time before things come to a head in the most dangerous and potentially life-threatening of ways.

When the chips are down and a life hangs in the balance, the youngsters turn the tables on their parents and decide to become the grown ups, in a situation which has reached crisis point and as they see it, truth and honesty is the only way forward!
...

Part dark domestic drama, part mystery, this punchy storyline does jump back and forth between timelines throughout. However, the chapters are short, tight and well-signposted, so there is never any confusion about how events are rolling out. I got to know early on who the victim was, although not all the details, which were tantalisingly dangled as clues before me, were not dovetailed or connected until the very end of the book. This story was definitely all about the journey, which had so many twists and turns and was wonderfully nuanced in the detail of the narrative and dialogue, being as much about what was left unspoken, as what was actually said.

There was a relatively small and nuclear main cast of characters in this storyline, comprising eight adults (four couples) and the six children they parent between them. All of the characters were authentic, well-defined and developed, although not very compelling; however I was probably able to personally relate to one parent more than any of the others. The family dynamics were tense, volatile and complex, making relationships strained and distant. It seemed as though the adults were trying to live the lives they craved but had never had, through their children.

The many domestic and social mores explored and discussed between the characters, were largely, as someone who has never had children of my own, way outside my paygrade as the saying goes and therefore I possibly shouldn't pass comment on them. However, it did seem to me that this was a group of parents who were far too busy talking at their children, rather than to them, making it almost impossible for them to listen or even hear the almost desperate pleas for understanding and support their offspring were craving. They also didn't appear able to communicate with one another, which made relationships and home life an almost impossible minefield to negotiate, when actions were completely misinterpreted and silence was automatically assumed to indicate guilt.

Arguments abounded over whether the correct style of parenting was that which Lisa adopted of strict regimes of study and revision in preparation for that all important place at university; or Christina's approach of being a friend and confidante to her daughter, working on the assumption that they would always have each other for company in their shared love of the arts and life. Although both women thought they were doing all the right things for all the right reasons, they were actually driving Sophia and Emma further away from them, to the point where Emma felt more able to confide in and be more open and truthful with, Christina, rather than her own mother.

With the ever increasing volume of cases of alleged sexual coercion in modern society, the storyline also dips into the difficult and highly emotional charged world of trying to ascertain what defines rape or consent, especially when revenge and jealousy are among the over-arching motives. And what happens when those terrible fears of the consequences become reality?

It feels as though it isn't until the youngsters decide to reverse the roles and adopt the position of adults in the consequent situation, that the lines become less blurry as dialogue is opened between them all, everyone's viewpoint and opinion are taken into account and considered outcomes are adopted, which helps to bring closure to past events and a combined will to move on to better understanding in the future.

A thought-provoking read about all those issues we hope never to have to deal with!

As a parent who has survived the challenging teenage years and come out the other side, I am all too familiar with parental guilt. Am I too strict, am I too lenient, should I be their friend or their parent - and how do I feel about other people’s parenting styles that are very different to my own?

All these issues - and more, including the complex dynamics of teenage friendships and playground politics - are tackled in Like Mother Like Daughter and with an added element of mystery as the story unfolds, it all makes for an entertaining and engaging read that I very much enjoyed.

Lisa and Christina were friends when their girls, Emma and Sophia, were young but after a falling out the relationship between both mothers and daughters became strained. But when they get a call any parent dreads telling them their daughters have been taken to hospital, the women find themselves thrown together - and we learn what led to falling out, as well as what has been happening in their daughters’ lives in the six weeks prior. Do Lisa and Christina know their girls as well as they thought they did?

Moving between past and present and told from multiple points of view, the story keeps you guessing as the truth is slowly revealed - and you are left reflecting on the complicated dynamics of families and of friendships, and how lack of communication can have such a huge impact.

This was a book that I went into completely blind. I had never read anything from this author before and I hadn’t heard of the book so I really didn’t have any expectations before I started reading. What I did know was that I have always enjoyed a thriller based around school relationships, whether that is children/students or parental relationships/friendships which take a sinister turn. There’s something about the school run that just perfectly lends itself to a psychological thriller IMHO.
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Like Mother, Like Daughter turned out to be crazily addictive to read, especially because of the dual timeline format which gradually told the story of an incident which ruined the friendship between parents Lisa and Christina several years earlier. In the present day narrative, the former friends daughters, Emma and Sophia have ended up in hospital. Nobody knows why or what injuries either of the girls are facing so the whole book leads up to a final reveal, where we learn the truth about both situations.⁣
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The characters and the relationships are so believable, in particular the harsh reality of the mother/daughter bond and how much we really know about our friends and family. The bitchiness, the trolling, the secrets, the resentment and the fear all come across incredibly strongly throughout the story. It was really interesting to see the same story through different viewpoints, as a parent myself it was very relatable and certainly filled me with dread at the thought of what I could possibly be facing when we hit the teenage years!

Lisa and Christina have been friends for a long time, their 2 girls Emma and Sophia are also life long friends and grew up together. Now fast forward a few years and Emma and Sophia are studying to take their exams. Their friendship has drifted slightly but so have their mothers.

One afternoon Lisa and Christina had a huge falling out, they don’t speak to each other, they don’t do anything together and they don’t want their girls to be friends either. Lisa and Christina are completely different, Lisa has rules, is firm whereas Christina is the fun mum.

Then one night Lisa and Christina get a phone call from the hospital both their girls are in hospital. Both mums rush up to the hospital to be with their girls and soon secrets are uncovered, some of which have been kept hidden for a very long time. Leading to both parents questioning how well do they really know their daughters.

I really liked the way this story was told from the point of view from different characters during different times of their lives. I found this helped keep a fast pace and kept the book interesting. I was constantly telling myself just one more chapter, just one more chapter. All in all a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

I love Dawn Goodwin books, they are always so full of suspense and this was no different. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and short chapters.
I did find Christina and Lisa annoying in parts but overall I did enjoy this and would recommend!

3.5 ROUNDED DOWN ⭐️⬇️
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Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to review this book.

I'd say this book is one of my favourites in the last few months. So much tension and suspense. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the multiple POVs. The relationships between mother and daughter, and also between friends, is widely explored here, and I think it is done really well.

The accident and everything leading up to it, are just so tense, I was anxious while reading and I also wanted to turn those pages faster than possible because I needed to know what was coming.

A fab read, my first book by Dawn Goodwin. I'll likely look up more of her work as this was great.

What do they say about when you assume?
You make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'.

Like Mother, Like Daughter is a great reminder about why you should stay open-minded, humble, and judgement free when it comes to your friends, and especially your family.

This dual-timeline, multiple POV novel takes place over a period of 6 weeks when former friends end up being the only ones who can help each other. Kids are mean, adults are worse. Gossip. Sex. Drugs. Alcohol. High school drama extends far outside the classroom but feels like the end of the world. While this novel is a work of fiction, it is such a 'real story' that is a great lesson in humility and honesty.

I enjoyed the read and the story, though I did feel the changes in direction, timeline, perspectives impacted the flow of the storyline. Overall, a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

I really really enjoyed this book.

It’s written in the point of view of a few characters. It is about the trails and tribulations of students who are about to take their A Level exams.

The expectations of two of the girls parents are totally different. Emma is a high achiever but is also a social outcast because of her achievements.

Then one night changes the direction of Emma’s life forever.

This is a book that makes you want to turn those pages faster to find out the outcome. I was gripped from the first page.

4.5 stars.

Lisa and Christina, two mothers of teenage daughters, fell out when there daughters were young. One night they receive the news that every parent dreads. As they are thrown together in a hospital waiting room, what exactly did happen all those years ago? And what has been happening in there daughters lives recently?

This is the first book I have read by Dawn Goodwin, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are believable. All humanely flawed, but for the most part, likeable. The story is told from many different perspectives, and across different timelines. This is something that is hard to do well, which is why I don't usually enjoy it. Goodwin masterfully weaves the whole tale together though. The twists and turns keep coming as we slowly find out the truth of the situation. It had me hooked throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like Mother Like Daughter is a strong reminder of how things can escalate out of control in the blink of an eye, the dangers of being too proud to admit you may have made a mistake, and a lack of communication between families.

School mums Lisa and Christina used to be great friends, and their daughters Emma and Sophia became best friends as well, spending every afternoon at Lisa's house, toddling around the garden or splashing in the paddling pool. One afternoon, Lisa and Christina had a huge falling out which meant that Emma and Sophia could no longer be friends. This has escalated over a decade into pretty much ignoring each other at secondary school, where they are facing exams and university applications. Lisa and Christina are still actively ignoring each other and loudly denigrating the other one to anyone who will listen.

The book moves between dual timelines- one present day, where Emma, Sophia and some friends have been in a horrific accident and are fighting for their futures, and the other going back just six weeks with a build up of all of the events that have led to the accident taking place, starting at a school quiz.

The story was well told and well structured; the characters were strong and their actions were believable, though I wanted to knock Lisa and Christina's heads together so that they could talk to each other rather than assuming the other one hated them. I felt sorry for the children, they have been drawn into an entirely avoidable falling out that has nothing to do with them- and they are juggling their family's wishes as well as trying to navigate the tricky teenage years.

This is an easy to read page turner with some tense dramatic moments.

I really enjoyed this twisty read from Dawn Goodwin! It is all about the darker side of parenting / friendships / toxic playground politics!

It is the story of 2 mums, and their daughters. The mums, friends turned frenemies find themselves if not united, then certainly both present at a hospital where the lives of their daughters hang in the balance!

While the reviews on this book thus far appear mixed, I absolutely enjoyed it and found myself utterly compelled to keep turning those pages!

Interesting characters, plot twists and a great ending - not much not to like in my opinion!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.

Katherine Hayward Pérez 's review Apr 16, 2024 · edit
it was ok
bookshelves: netgalley, thriller

I really wanted to like this, and the synopsis sounded so good. Dawn Goodwin is a new-to-me author. I found the characters were flat and I couldn’t even visualize the characters’ appearance or clothes, which I like to be able to do, as it helps me get to know them.

There were some visuals that were OK, like parties or Emma coming back home one night and the way she tricked her parents into thinking she was in bed asleep (that was good). It was interesting that Christina and Lisa had different parenting styles, but sadly I didn’t find their relationships with their daughters or their interactions vivid enough.

I feel the story was slow and I felt distanced from, and pulled out of, it when I so wanted to be engrossed in it.

The chapters were short but they didn’t help the pace for me and I felt confused as to where the story was going.

Sadly. Like Mother, Like Daughter wasn’t gripping at all for me.

Thanks to Dawn Goodwin and publisher for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

2 stars

This was a very interesting book showing the complexities of mother/daughter relationships and how to navigate through that and through complex friendships as well.

This easy to read thriller contains so many twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout the whole book, it was well written.

3.5 stars.*

Thanks to NetGalley and Head Of Zeus -- An Aries Book for a digital ARC copy.

#LikeMotherLikeDaughter #NetGalley

This is typically the kind of book that I like to read and I enjoyed the beginning.

However, I found the alluding to the big thing that happened in the past frustrating. Also the repetition of facts, sometimes numerous times. For example Christina and Sophie telling Lisa that Emma wanted to be a comic artist.

I think for me, it felt like story was misleading in that there was the suspicion of a big reveal by Ben, but actually it wasn’t credible.

There were quite a number of errors towards the end and I don’t know why these weren’t picked up when proofreading. It just felt rushed.

"Like Mother Like Daughter" by Dawn Goodwin is a rollercoaster ride through the world of competitive parenting. Lisa Marco's clash with the school mums, especially Christina Valdecchi,. As they face the dreaded call every parent fears, the real question is: Do mothers really know best?