Three women, Lila, whose mother supposedly died in a mental hospital when she was two, her daughter Grace, mostly raised by her father while her mother rose up the news ladder and Lila's mother, all cut from the same cloth, so alike in many ways. The three women have to navigate their lives and their emotions. They have loving but yet cold relationships. They are all no-nonsense and it can be off-putting at times but it works for all of them and for the story.

All of the characters are fully formed and they all meld together perfectly. Motherhood with all it's ups and downs. Some are cut out for it and others are not. Does that mean that Grace will be as cool as her mother? Nurture or Nature? I think that is the main question here.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy for review.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

This book was a mixed bag for me. It took about 40% of the book for me to finally get into it and be intrigued. There were so many characters that it was difficult to keep them all straight…there was a reference guide at the beginning.

I finally found the plot interesting and enjoyed the journey most of the characters went on, but it was also very grim and I haven’t completely decided if I cared for it overall.

Susan Rieger's novel LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER delves into the intricate tapestry of mother-daughter relationships, exploring the themes of abandonment, survival, and the enduring impact of familial bonds. The story follows Lila, a successful media executive who, despite her professional triumphs, grapples with the shadows of her past and the choices she makes as a mother.

Lila's journey is a poignant reflection of the sacrifices and decisions made in the name of survival and ambition. Her character, though flawed, is portrayed with a depth that invites readers to ponder the societal expectations of motherhood. Rieger's portrayal of Lila challenges the conventional narrative, presenting a woman whose approach to motherhood is unorthodox and unrepentant, yet undeniably human.

The novel's pace and structure allow readers to immerse themselves in the multigenerational saga, with each character's imperfections adding to the richness of the narrative. Rieger's skilful writing ensures that the characters' hardships resonate with authenticity, particularly in the depiction of domestic abuse. The author handles these sensitive topics with care, bringing them to the forefront and compelling readers to confront the harsh realities faced by the characters.

One of the most captivating aspects of the book is the mystery surrounding Lila's mother. This element serves as a subtle yet persistent force driving the narrative forward, culminating in a conclusion that, while not providing all the answers, mirrors the often-unresolved nature of real-life family dynamics.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER reflects the complexity of human relationships and the resilience of the spirit. Its narrative invites introspection, asking readers to consider the multifaceted nature of motherhood and the indelible marks it leaves on both the giver and the receiver of that profound love. Rieger's novel is a compelling read for anyone interested in the nuanced portrayal of family, identity, and the enduring question of what it means to truly understand one another.

Lila was raised by an abusive father who put her mother in a mental hospital. Lisa marries Joe who is an A+ husband–he agrees to raise the kids while she follows her career as a journalist to eventually become the editor of a major newspaper. She has three kids; the youngest Grace is the image of her dad but the personality of her mother. She writes a book that is not flattering. Her mom dies at 65 and leaves her daughter a letter asking her to find out what happened to her mother, Zelda. Grace finds out that Zelda ran out of the home, changed her name, moved and eventually remarried and had two more kids. They connect thru a genealogy website. Like her mother, Grace has a skyrocketing career as a journalist, marries a wonderful man and has a child at the end. There’s lots of stray threads that could easily have been omitted–the Jewish traditions, her roommate Ruth's “progeniture” both are distractions. I also don’t know the rush to kill off Lila since she dominates the story, beginning to end. The other lose end is the lack of development of the men–Joe is a lawyer but that’s about all we know. Grace interviews Aldo, her grandfather and he is as nasty as Lila described him. I liked the book despite the transgressions. It shows that nature wins over nurture as Zelda, Lila, and Grace are all fiercely independent, motivated, and non-nurturing women who leave the children to be raised by their fathers in a gender swapping role. I don’t know if it will be any different with Grace. Her ending feelings are that her mother and grandmother did what they had to do–not much closure there since both ended up and should have been happy.

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of mother-daughter relationships across generations. Rieger’s sharp wit and keen observations make for a compelling read as the story unfolds through multiple perspectives. The characters are well-drawn and deeply relatable, with their struggles and secrets adding layers to the narrative.

3.5 Stars

This novel touches on several themes: family, marriage, ambition, motherhood, and mother-daughter relationships.

When Lila Pereira is two years old in 1960, her father Aldo has his wife Zelda committed to a mental institution. Lila never sees her mother again as she is told that she died. An ambitious woman, Lila eventually becomes executive editor of a major newspaper. Though she has three daughters, Lila prioritizes her career, leaving her husband Joe to raise the girls. Grace, the youngest child, feels abandoned by her mother though she becomes a successful reporter. Whereas Lila never questioned her father’s version of events, Grace has her doubts about Aldo’s story, refuses to live with ambiguity, and sets out to confirm what happened to her grandmother: Did Zelda really die while in the psychiatric facility?

Zelda, Lila, and Grace are the central women; each is the focus of one of the novel’s three sections. Strong-willed, ambitious, and intelligent, they have similar personalities. One difference is that Zelda and Lila look forward into the future, not back into the past, while Grace wants to uncover her grandmother’s past. Though she is certainly flawed, I liked Lila. She is open and honest from the beginning about her career ambitions and about not wanting to be a conventional mother. I found Grace annoying; she is selfish and resentful and desperate for attention. Instead of appreciating what she has – a truly privileged life – she takes petty revenge on Lila by writing a book about her. Her father tells her she’s self-absorbed, “’stuck in adolescence,’” and her aunt tells her, “’You’ve got to grow up.’”

There is a large cast of characters, but I never found myself confused because they are sufficiently differentiated. (There is a chart at the beginning to help if needed.) An issue, however, is that some of these characters (Joe, Frances, Ruth, Kathy and Richard Goldsmith) are almost too good to be true. And as soon as Nicholas and Alexander were introduced, I guessed what roles they would be given. The ending is also a bit too much like that of a fairy tale: everyone finds true love, and has a successful career with financial stability.

The novel jumps back and forth in time and from one character’s point of view to that of another. My issue was that this approach sometimes led to repetition. An event is mentioned and then detailed later. The pace is also slower because of this.

I was confused by the political rants. Real political figures are mentioned (Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden) but then there’s a fictional president, Charles Webb, who is definitely modeled on Donald Trump. Webb is portrayed as a villain so the author’s political views are obvious. Though I agree with her, I found some of these rants out of place since they are not relevant to the book’s themes.

The book is entertaining and inspires thought about the complexities of families, marriages, and parenthood and about how the past informs the present.

Interesting characters but I didn’t really love any of them except the Grandmother Frances. The story started out strong for me and then I found it hard to keep my interest. I liked the resolution in the end but overall I couldn’t understand or embrace the mother/father/husband dynamic.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I struggled to connect with this book at first. Lots of name and lots of self-important, big words. The legend of 20+ characters to memorize at the beginning really didn’t help.

But overall, it’s a lovely generational story of strong women. If you enjoy family sagas, this one might be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

3.5 stars rounded up

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Susan Rieger is a compelling exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and the complexity of mother-daughter relationships. The story follows the lives of a mother and daughter who are bound by both love and tension, navigating their differing views on life, relationships, and identity. Rieger’s writing is sharp and insightful, drawing readers into a world where loyalty and misunderstandings clash. While the pacing can feel a bit slow at times, the emotional depth and character development keep you invested. A thought-provoking read for anyone interested in nuanced family dramas!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGally in exchange for my honest review

Three generations of strong women make their way in this novel of family, love, motherhood, marriage and ambition. Like Mother, Like Mother is complicated and will make for great discussion.

Thanks to @thedialpress and @netgalley for the electronic copy.

I recently finished “Like Mother, Like Mother” by Susan Riger, and it truly captivated me. The novel delves into the intricate dynamics of motherhood and the generational ties that shape our identities. Riger’s characters are beautifully crafted, each facing their own challenges and desires, which made their stories feel incredibly relatable.

What struck me most was how Riger captures the unspoken expectations placed on women, weaving a narrative that is both poignant and insightful. Her prose is lyrical yet sharp, making me reflect on my own experiences with family and legacy. Overall, it’s a heartfelt read that resonated deeply with me, and I found myself thinking about it long after I turned the last page.

Excellent story. It's a multi-generational story about strong women, found family, family legacy. Plenty of secrets. I loved the structure and the way the characters talked to each other. The ending is very satisfying as is the entire novel. Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the advanced copy. Highly recommend.

A friend recommended I request this book and I am so glad she did. I loved the intergenerational family drama. I enjoyed the character development over the decades of time. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending but the more I think about it, them ore I understand it.

An interesting story of multi-generational family relationships and trauma. There's a good mystery towards the end and an intriguing look at a cast of characters spread across decades. For anyone who likes big-picture stories that cover long time spans and those that look at the same dynamic from multiple viewpoints.

This book centers around Lila, a strong-willed matriarch who rises from an abusive childhood to be the editor of a powerful newspaper and mother to 3 daughters. Her story is told and then her daughter Grace’s life is followed as she grants Lila’s dying wish to find out the truth about Lila’s missing mother. This book has a lot of symmetry throughout - the older sisters who are nearly twins and lead parallel lives, Grace and her best friend Ruth’s life paths, and the similarities between Lila and Grace. I found it an interesting but a bit too long. It’s about the importance of family, secrets, and understanding. Thank you Net Galley!

"He looked at her closely. "You're not Irish, are you." he said. "Obituaries are the Irish sports pages, the first section in the paper they turn to in teh morning. Who beat the reaper, who didn't." Susan Rieger, Like Mother, Like Mother

Thank you @netgalley and @thedialpress #partner for this advance reading copy of:

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger
4 1/2 stars

HAPPPY PUB DAY - October 29, 2024

A family story of multiple generations of mothers and children, how each saw the story just a bit differently and the generational trauma that each one experienced.

This is a family drama of 3 generations of women, all dysfunctional. I had a few issues with the stories and characters themselves but overall, it was a good book. One odd aspect, rather than a lot of character self-reflection, other loved ones did character dissections of them. Because of the lack of self-reflection, there was no true change from generation to generation of a certain “trait”.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

Side note – I’ve been sick and just getting out of a reading slump. Both of those might issues have affected my review.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed it. It gave me the same feelings as when I was reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. My favorite parts of the story were the beginning about Lila and the ending about Frida. From the title of the book I thought the main characters were going to be motherly. I would definitely recommend this story and read more books by this author.

3.5 stars. This book was certainly well-written, but I found myself struggling to feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. I was still entertained by it, but it was hard to find myself really caring about anyone involved. I don't know if the issue was that some of their actions/dialogue felt unrealistic to me or if it was something else I can't pinpoint. I do think this was an interesting book that tells a thought-out multi-generational story.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER centers around a daughter, mother, and the grandmother of a family and uncovering the truth of what happened to the grandmother after being admitted into a psychiatric institution. I liked the premise but didn't find myself really getting into the story or caring for the characters in the story. I did however find it interesting to see how the parenting (or lack there of ) changes and how it differs and affect the following generation and the complexities of family relationships and dynamics.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.