I really liked almost all aspects of this book. I love stories about complicated family dynamics, especially those between mothers and daughters. This very character driven novel was full of family drama. The author unpacks tons and tons of baggage between family members, siblings, and couples.

The story is broken into three parts…three generations of women. The first part is about Lila, the second part is Grace (Lila’s daughter) and the third part is about Zelda (Lila’s Mother). Lila was raised by an abusive father who had her mother committed to a mental institute when Lila was 2. He later told her that her mother died. Lila, stubborn and determined, ended up being an incredibly successful editor at the Washington Globe. She marries a wonderful man and has three daughters. The youngest, Grace, spends her entire life vying for her mother’s attention and searching for why her mother couldn’t love her better. .

These characters are so well written. They are complicated, flawed and have loads of emotional depth. It was hard to be angry at Lila. Was she mother of the year? Absolutely not, but I do believe that she did her best. She loved the best she could. She was honest about her inability to mother to social standards. She was complimentary of her children, made sure they were provided for and was never cruel or abusive. Zelda on the hand was hard to like. I get it. I get that her situation was unfortunate and that she was broken by it but it is hard not to feel complete disdain for her and the choices that she made.

The only part of this book that I did not like is the constant infusion of what I can only assume are the author’s political viewpoints. I am not a fan of discussing politics in general but forcing your political opinions onto readers. There was a very obvious similarity between President Webb and President Trump. Had the politics been left out of the story, this probably would have been a 5 star read for me.

If you can get past the politics and you like stories heavy on family drama and complicated mother-daughter relationships, then I highly recommend this one.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger is an engaging and thought-provoking story about three generations of strong women that are navigating their complicated relationships and family secrets. Spanning many decades, we meet Lila and her daughters, Stella, Ava and Grace. Lila’s mother Zelda plays an important role in the story, too. The story begins in Detroit in 1960. When Lila Pereira is just two years old, her abusive father has her mother committed to an asylum and she is never heard from again. Lila overcomes all odds to eventually become the powerful executive editor of The Washington Globe. She is married to her job and leaves the parenting of her three daughters to her saintly husband, Joe. The two oldest daughters move on together and create a new life in California. But the youngest daughter, Grace, feels totally abandoned by her mother. Always resentful, Grace writes a best-selling book obviously based on her mother’s life. The book’s publication reveals a myriad of secrets from the past and an unsolved mystery that could change the lives of the whole family. I enjoyed this multi-generational story of motherhood, sisterhood and family secrets that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. The story touches on a lot of themes that would be a great stating point for book club discussions. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

my favorite book influencer said this is an absolute must-read. i do not share the same sentiment. the novel is written almost entirely in dialogue. unrealistic dialogue, at that. there’s a plot that could be there in this story about a daughter’s auto fiction of the suspected abandonment of her mother’s mother. the format just made the story bounce around too much & there was far too much fluff. i found myself subconsciously editing entire passages out. there were a lot of whip smart lines, so maybe it was just the heavy dialogue that made this one drag on for me.

As this multi-generational story begins, its central character, Lila Pereria, has passed away, soon after retiring from her powerful position as the executive editor of the Washington Globe. In addition to her husband Joe, she has left behind three daughters including her youngest, Grace, who has just published a novel based on Lila's complex life. Through narratives in the past and present, it's revealed that Lila, her sister and brother were raised by their abusive father and were told that their mother Zelda had died in a mental institution. Lila overcame her difficult upbringing by rising to the top of her profession, but she was a distant parent, leaving most of the children's upbringing to Joe. As Grace grew, she grappled with her own relationship issues. And she was determined to learn whether her grandmother actually died in the asylum or managed to run away and escape her abuse.

Susan Rieger's Like Mother, Like Mother is a complex tale of family, especially motherhood. A large cast of characters illustrate how despite the scars and trauma caused by absent or difficult parental relationships, the love and support from extended family, close friends, and associates can create special bonds that can help compensate for the lack of traditional family. The author's sharp, clever dialogue provides a good balance with the story's intensity. It's a good choice for book clubs as there's lots to discuss.

4.25 stars.

I usually like reading women-centered books about several generations of a family. Although this one started strong for me, the shift in time periods didn't work as smoothly as in other books I have read. All the characters were interesting and the storyline gave the book a unique twist but the book was choppy at times. Definitely lots to discuss in this book.

When she was very young, Lila’s abusive father commits her mother to an asylum. She never sees her again. Lila has always been determined and through her hard work she becomes editor of the Washington Globe. But for all her success, Lila has never been able to take on the task of finding out what really happened to here Mom. She passes that task on to her youngest daughter, Grace. The reader follows Grace as she matures and finally works up the nerve to find out what really happened to her elusive grandmother.

While I did finish this book I often found it difficult to stay engaged. Many times I found myself wondering the significance of what I was reading. I know this book has gotten numerous good reviews. This usually means that while the book is very well written, it was just not a story meant for me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

I love a generational family drama and themes of motherhood, so I was super excited to read this one. I liked it, but it fell a little flat for me.

Riger introduces us to three generations of women—Zelda, Lila, and Grace. Each is powerful, strong-willed, and fiercely independent. Brilliant in their own ways, they’re all on a quest - whether it’s for a better life (Zelda), workplace dominance (Lila) or answers about her family’s past (Grace).

The most interesting part of the story (the thing that kept me reading at times I kind of lost interest…) was the mystery surrounding Zelda’s story. The characters were intriguing, with plenty of depth and complexity, but the dialogue felt unnatural and weirdly formal/robotic.

I can’t explain it, but I often forgot I was reading a story that took place in the 2020s… if it weren’t for modern political and pop culture references this story could’ve easily taken place in an earlier decade.

Speaking of politics - there’s lots of it (Lila works in DC as a journalist).

Read if you Like:
• Family drama
• Motherhood and marriage (not the lovey dovey kind)
• the world of Journalism
• Feminist stories
• Politically-charged storylines
• Slowwww burn
• Genealogy testing/ ancestry

Like Mother Like Mother is about three generations of women with secrets long kept and long avoided. I found the description of the book interesting, but had some difficulty with the book. The characters felt underdeveloped and not relatable or likable. The bulk of the story consisted of conversations between characters that never rose to the level of the intimacy and depth. The characters felt narcissistic and although very adept with their successful careers, lacking in relationship beyond the surfaces. As a result, for me, the pacing was slow. The ending worked for the story, but it took awhile to get there. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and I was very excited about it. It sounded like exactly the kind of story I enjoy most with its focus on the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. It delivers on its development of that relationship, but it falls short for me because of its political discourse and awkward dialogue.

At the start of this book, I was loving it. Lila is an interesting character who endured a very difficult childhood and came through it strong and resilient. Her approach to marriage and motherhood makes for an intriguing and complex storyline. The book focuses most on her relationship with her own mother and with her youngest daughter, Grace. The book switches between different perspectives as it progresses, which allows the reader insight into all the main characters.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of political opinion in this book that is unrelated to the relationship theme. The main characters are in the news business, so there are a lot of references to past and current events. I found it distracting from the main storyline. It just felt out of place in a story about family dynamics. I also found the dialogue of certain characters to be stilted and a bit unrealistic, at least in my experience.

Overall, I feel this book could have been a five star book for me if the writing had been a bit different. I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy this kind of family drama and do not mind having politics injected into the story.

This is an immersive family story, connecting generations of women with complicated relationships with motherhood, family, and career. It's impossible to not get invested in their stories, and this should be an excellent book for book club discussions.

When Lila was 2 her abusive father committed her mother to an asylum and then her father informed her of her mother’s death in the asylum 8 years later, no funeral and no additional information. Lila escaped her terrible childhood and grew up to be a wildly successful newspaper editor but a less than successful mother to her three daughters. Her youngest daughter, Grace, doesn’t like Lila’s delegation style of parenting (even though she delegates the mothering to Grace’s father) and ends up writing an unflattering book about Lila that hypothesizes that Lila’s mother didn’t die in the asylum. Maybe the women in the family can get some closure (and learn why there hasn’t been mothering for at least 2 generations) if they could just figure out what happened to the woman in the generation before.

I am very torn as to how to discuss and rate this novel. While reading I loved the quippy dialogue, but then I learned that interwoven throughout the novel are quotes taken from other authors and rather than credit them within the text, the author posted a social media acknowledgment catch all (which was not in my ARC but will be in the final novel). In this post, she acknowledges some authors (but not the specific texts she borrowed) and then says if you find any I missed, let me know. It left an odd taste while I continued to read. That being said I was still enjoying the novel and its storyline as well as the lively conversations with friends that it ignited. The book takes a look at motherhood and what society believes a mother is; nature vs nurture, and gender social construct. It is also a multi generational family drama which looks at inherited trauma while taking the concept of unconditional love and twisting it uncomfortably.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Grace, daughter of Lila and granddaughter of Zelda opens the Pandora's box of her family's past when she writes a book about her mother. This is a tale of women, of mothers and daughters and the changing views of women. Zelda was sent to a mental health facility by her abusive husband. Lila becomes a driven career focused publishing executive, and Grace well Grace feels she missed out on the childhood she should have had. There's anger here as well as humor. These are privileged women (and some of that might grate) but you also might well recognize their feelings. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting read.

Grace is a character that I was a bit ambiguous about. I didn’t really feel sorry for her but I understood her needs. I am sure this is a design by the author. I did feel her sisters were cold and distant, like her mom, Lila.

Lila is a strong woman. Lila rises to the pinnacle of American media as the powerful, brilliant executive editor of The Washington Globe. But she had a terrible childhood. She was told her mother died in an asylum and she was abused by her terrible father. So, I believe she could not mother her children the way most mothers do. But her husband was able to step in a take up the slack. Needless to say, Grace wanted more.

There is quite a bit that I enjoyed about this tale. I enjoyed the hunt for Lila’s mother. And no, it is not what you think. I also enjoyed Lila. No, she is not the mother she should have been. But, I truly believe her past is the reason why.

Need an intricate family tale which will have you passionate for all involved…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

First thank you to random house and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: in 1960s Detroit a family is struggling among abuse when the mother disappears after being committed by her husband. The oldest daughter Lilia strives to the top and has daughters of her own. Dies she make the same mistakes with her children that she experienced and will she look forward and forget about the past?

What I liked: this was a beautiful written book and I loved the family dynamics. There were a lot of characters so the family chart at the beginning was very helpful. Lilia is a very interesting character in that she comes from a very rough background to raise up to the top of the editor of a top newspaper and blends in with top politicians. She is a go-getter and is going to let anything stop her. She has children but still works and has her husband Joe do most of the child rearing. Grace her youngest writes a friction book based on her that is the talk of the town. Grace also pushed to find out what happened with her family. It was tough to read some parts but overall well done. I could see this being made into a limited series for sure.

Ruth was my favourite, but she was a side character. Not one of the three main characters in this multigenerational family drama could I say really "stood out" to me that i felt connected to.
Things felt somewhat unbalanced? Inconsistent? I'm not sure which would be the better word, but this just wasn't a hit for me - I can though acknowledge the writing was great and the story was intriguing for me to finish it. Part 3 was the best, I enjoyed the genealogy discovery/tie together.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher & Author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Like Mother, Like Mother started out strong and had an interesting premise but ultimately this book was not a winner for me.

It’s a multi-generational story that starts in the 1960s in Detroit, where young Lila’s mother is committed and sent away by her terrible father. Lila never sees her mother again.

Lila works hard, rising in the ranks to become editor of a powerful Washington D.C. paper. She gets married and has 3 daughters, but puts work above all else including family. Her youngest daughter, Grace, feels neglected and resentful of her (lack of) relationship with Lila. Grace also pursues a career in journalism and publishes a well-received fictional account of Lila’s life. This then prompts a quest to find out what really happened to her grandmother, Zelda.

I did not find Lila particularly likable, realizing she was likely intentionally written this way. Despite not caring for her as a character, I strongly preferred her portion of the story to Grace’s, and didn’t care for Grace much either. I also felt like there was a lot of time in the story spent on Ruth, Grace’s college roommate, and I’m not sure why so much of this was included, at least to the extent it was.

Like Mother, Like Mother had all the makings of stories I’m drawn to — family drama, a multi-generational family saga, and a a strong corporate atmosphere at parts, but I did not connect with it like I hoped to. I don’t need to like the characters in a story to enjoy it but these characters were a struggle for me and the length of the story felt too long.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing / The Dial Press for an eARC♥️♥️♥️


I'm utterly obsessed with 'Like Mother, Like Mother'! As a huge fan of family sagas, this novel captivated me with its intricate web of secrets, heartache, resilience, and legacy.
Lila's story, marked by the traumatic loss of her mother, unfolds like a wounded flower blooming into a powerful force. Her daughter Grace struggles to find her place, craving connection and answers about their family's past.
This masterpiece explores the complexities of family bonds, the weight of inherited secrets, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. I laughed, cried, and cheered for the Pereira women as they navigated love, loss, ambition, and forgiveness.
'Like Mother, Like Mother' is a testament to truth's transformative power, a tribute to forgiveness's healing balm, and a celebration of love's unwavering strength. As a family saga enthusiast, I devoured this book.
If you're drawn to stories of family dynamics, ambition, and forgiveness, you'll love this novel. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Favorite quote: 'The stories we inherit shape us, but the lies we tell ourselves set us free” ♥️

Like Mother, Like Mother displays the complexities of motherhood as we follow three generations of intricate yet strong-willed women in today's political climate. The story is very character-driven and I appreciate how multilayered and multidimensional the characters are, especially the women in this book. I loved how Rieger explores generational trauma and its effects on families. It made me wonder what it means to be a mother and how family dynamics affect who we become.

There are a lot of different subjects covered in the novel, including social commentary, journalism, and politics. While I enjoyed the topics of journalism and the social commentary on motherhood, there were a few political topics that I wasn't familiar with, so it was more difficult for me to follow along with the story. One element that I also had a hard time digesting was the timeline as the novel often jumps across time, making the storyline confusing for me. While it was helpful to have the list of characters at the beginning of the book, there were a lot of characters to keep track of and to understand how they all relate to one another.

That said, I could easily see this become adapted into a film because of how well-developed the characters are, and how unique the concept is.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Like Mother, Like Mother.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I did enjoy some aspects of it – for instance, some of the sardonic humor – I didn’t really like majority of the characters (except for Ruth, who was pretty much the only character I was able to connect with). I had initially picked this one up because I thought the premise was interesting, for one, and two, stories about mother-daughter relationships (especially multigenerational ones) are very much up my alley – given both these factors, I definitely thought I would take to this one more than I did. Overall, I found this book a bit difficult to get into, which is probably why it took me so long to finish it – I kept putting it down after several pages and didn’t really feel compelled to get back to it (though I forced myself to finish this weekend so I could move on to the rest of my teetering TBR pile). Perhaps because I couldn’t relate to most of the characters, or maybe because the plot revolved too heavily around politics (a topic I hate discussing in real life, let alone reading about in books), I just felt like this was a tedious read from beginning to end. The ending was also predictable as well, which wouldn’t really be a problem given that this technically wasn’t a mystery / suspense novel anyway, but it did make me wonder what the point of the story was, especially with some of the characters being so unlikeable.

In any case, I don’t regret reading this one, since, as I mentioned earlier, I did enjoy some parts of it, but unfortunately, the “dislikes’ outweigh the “likes” in this case, plus the timing was bad. I would actually recommend that if you do decide to pick this one up, probably do it after the election, especially if you’re the type (like me) whose anxiety is through the roof right now just thinking about the state of our country and the political implications depending on the outcome...

Received ARC from Dial Press via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this immersive story about three generations of women with a messy, family history. There’s excellent character development and a compelling plot with a well executed ending. The main character is Lila. At the heart of the story is a speculative novel by Lila’s daughter about what really happened to Lila’s mother who had disappeared when she was very young. Another plot line is how Lila’s high powered career as Senior Editor of a major, daily newspaper affects the family dynamic. The story moved me from antipathy to empathy. Secondary characters are also well drawn. Some became my favorite people, some not, but the plot is moved more by rich people behaving well than rich people behaving poorly. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. of #LikeMotherLikeMother. This is my objective review.