The School for Good Mothers is a thought-provoking and unsettling exploration of the societal expectations placed on mothers and the extreme measures taken to enforce them. Through Frida's journey, Chan critiques the lack of support for mothers, especially those from marginalized communities, and the punitive systems that often fail to address the root causes of parental struggles

“‘Fix the home,’ she says, ‘and fix society.’”

And this, people, is why we don’t give government too much power. Jesus. What a terrifying thought! This @readwithjenna dystopian story reminded me of The Handmaids Tale and was such a terrifying prospect. With that being said I did have a hard time empathizing with Frida, who left her 18mo child home alone. ALONE. And then she spends the rest of the story justifying her actions to herself and absolutely shocked that her daughter was sent to live with her father and his new wife. Like hellloooo Frida. Anybody home?? Haha. I would have liked a little more character development from her with a bit more self awareness as she attended the school. At the very, very least.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the complimentary ARC.

~ ARC provided by NetGalley ~

"The School for Good Mothers" is a haunting debut that explores the complexities of motherhood, surveillance, and societal expectations. Jessamine Chan crafts a gripping and emotionally charged story that is both thought-provoking and deeply empathetic. With sharp prose and a dystopian edge, the novel challenges readers to consider what it truly means to be a "good" mother in a world where every action is scrutinized. It's a chilling, unforgettable read that lingers long after the final page.

The book was very difficult to read. The book is set in a dystopian reality where child services severely punishes moms who are "bad" - these crimes include being left home alone for a couple of hours, and mothering someone too much - and they are sent to a school where they are told they are bad mothers and that they are learning to be good. There is also a school for bad fathers but their punishments are nowhere near as brutal. The book was a rough read due to the punishments and how abhorrent this "school" was but I found it hard to have empathy with the main character - Frida.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

"The School for Good Mothers" by Jessamine Chan is a chilling dystopian novel that explores the complexities of modern parenting, surveillance, and the immense pressures placed on mothers. The story follows Frida Liu, a single mother who, after making a regrettable mistake, is sent to a state-run facility where women are retrained to be "good" mothers. What unfolds is a nightmarish yet eerily plausible exploration of a world where every maternal instinct is scrutinized, judged, and controlled.

Chan’s writing is sharp and unsettling, immersing readers in Frida’s anguish as she struggles to meet the impossible standards the authoritarian system sets. The novel paints a bleak but thought-provoking picture of a society that demands perfection from mothers while offering little understanding or support. Frida’s emotional journey—her love for her daughter, her guilt, and her desire for redemption—is heart-wrenching, making her both relatable and deeply sympathetic..

The School for Good Mothers is a haunting and timely novel that challenges societal norms and asks what it means to be a "good" mother. It’s perfect for fans of dystopian fiction with a sharp, feminist edge.

This was a tough read. I honestly almost wanted to DNF it a couple of times.

The story centers around Frida, the huge mistake she made as a mother and the extreme consequence of those actions.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was fiction, it felt that close to reality. It made me question a lot about the pressures mothers deal with (internal and external).

Read this!

This experience of reading this book was challenging. I enjoyed it, probably because the author was skilled in dealing with it, but it was uncomfortable to see how some of the mothers were treated.

An excellent story with a unique, scary story line that will terrify anyone who has had one of those "less than perfect" parental moments. Jessamine Chan skillfully tells us a story of a time we hope never comes.

Way ahead of the conversation re: how we talk about mothers, good mothers, and the moralizing of carework. Jessamine Chan is brilliant

The premise of Chan's novel is incredible: what if a far-reaching (over-reaching, in fact) government stepped in to "re-educate" mothers deemed not to be living up to adequate parenting standards? Within this, Chan examines the impossibility of parenting standards to begin with--particularly those placed on mothers, and particularly when compared to those placed on fathers. The novel also raises questions of punishment, motivation via carrot vs. stick, and what it even means to be a "good enough" mother in the first place. This is one I'll be thinking about for a long, long time.

Set in a near-future world where motherhood is scrutinized and regulated, the novel follows Frida Liu, a devoted mother who is sent to a rehabilitation center for failing to meet the strict standards of parenting. Through Frida's journey, Chan adeptly examines the pressures and contradictions inherent in modern motherhood, as well as the intersections of race, class, and gender. Through complex moral and ethical questions, readers are challenged to consider the true meaning of motherhood and the importance of individual agency. A powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a timely meditation on the bonds of family, the pursuit of perfection, and the resilience of the human spirit.

This book was so unsettlingly odd in the best way. You can really feel the tension and anxiety. If you weren’t afraid of big brother before, especially as a mother you will be now.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This book was not for me. I had high hopes based on recommendations from friends but as a mom it was difficult to stomach. The book would have been salvageable with some sort of a happy ending but instead it remained terrible

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Oh, this book was so not for me. I truly appreciate the social commentary the author was trying to make about the unrealistic, unobtainable pressures we place on women, but outside of that I just felt the whole plot to be frivolous and silly. Robot baby dolls with blue goo and the most repetitive writing style I’ve read in a minute. Just a very big “no thank you” from me.

I found this dystopian novel really disturbing; however, it does feel rooting in our current culture of judgement and "mom-shaming." Although the main character does engage in an act that potentially put her child in danger (and therefore some sort of monitoring seems appropriate), I found I had empathy for her for making a mistake that was not ok, but also understandable. This mother needed support, not punishment. Some parts of this book were difficult to read, and may be triggering for some. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review..

The School for Good Mothers was a story that has stuck with me ever since reading it. I've thought about it in so many varying situations and have recommended it many times to friends. I simply cannot wait to read more by Jessamine.

The School for Good Mothers begins as a fairly straightforward exploration of responsibility and expectations of motherhood and eventually becomes more dystopian as the narrative moves on. "The School" Frida finds herself at — after her very bad day in which she makes a mistake that endangers the safety of her daughter — is a Big Brother-like prison in which she and other mothers are meant to learn how to become not only good mothers but perfect mothers while being constantly surveilled and goalposts constantly moving. The offences committed by the mothers that find themselves there range from innocuous to violent, yet the curriculum is the same and the expectations they are to meet are often impossible by even the most devoted parents. Following Frida's perspective throughout is powerful and you feel her frustration and bouts of hopelessness. Somewhat slow to build, but a cleverly developed narrative.