Zoje Stage is an auto-buy author for me. Ever since her debut, Baby Teeth! Every one is amazing. This one bringing in the Covid aspect really worked for me. Some won’t like that part. But give it a try!

Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.

But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.

When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

This was a tense thriller that will mess with your mind! Trapped at home with her estranged mother during a pandemic, Grace descends into paranoia. I loved the unreliable narration and the creepy vibes. It was a quick read that I definately recommend!

I absolutely love psychological thrillers, this book falls right into that category. It kind of hit close to home because I lived with my mom during the pandemic but my mom and I get along very well.
I was intrigued, wanted to keep reading and loved the style of writing.

This was a crazy ride of a book! It really wasn't a big favorite of mine and unfortunately, I found it very repetitive.

Grace allows her mother to move back in with her during the pandemic to make ends meet and keep a newly purchased house. Throughout the book we see how mentally straining it is for her and her reality becomes mixed with vivid nightmares that are flashbacks of her childhood.

The way this story slow burned was ok, but not something I was investing in as it was central based on the pandemic and I really couldn't get into that and it seemed to be consumed with that being everything. If you can get passed that, then it was an alright read, but nothing I would recommend.

2.5 stars rounded up

I honestly should have DNF this at 50% when nothing of note had happened yet. Instead, I stuck it out and got roped in by one reveal that finally happened at 65%. Unfortunately, that reveal was the last exciting thing about this story. Perhaps this one just wasn't for me... But I didn't care for the main character and her never ending thoughts.

From a startlingly amazing Reader's Hook (startling because one is left in a state of "Whaaaat did I just read?"😳), MOTHERED engrossed me and I found myself racing to unfold all that this novel held for me. Set at the onset of a Viral Pandemic and all its subsequent fears, anxieties, and crumpling of societal routines [social distancing, anyone? Quarantine-at-home? Overpacked hospitals?], we recognize recent history and relate according to our own varied Pandemic experiences. A rough childhood and a twisted version of that quintessential relationship--child to mother/mother to child--moves to the front burner as workplace closures stifle Grace's income and self-esteem, and health issues for her mother result in Mother taking up residence with Daughter [after Grace has lived nearly two decades on her own]. Mother gets healthier and really assertive; Daughter declines mentally and physically. This is NOT a good look or a good status for anybody.

Oh boy! Get ready to relive the anxiety and uncertainty of Covid lock down. Throw in some heavy mother-daughter tension and you've got yourself a book that is unputdownable. Is that a word? If not, I just made it a word. I can't stand to let my own mother down, so enduring Jackie's moods and disappointment had me feeling like a little girl, which made me read faster trying to figure out how Grace could appease Jackie. I wanted so bad for their living arrangement to work out and envisioned lots of great bonding time for the two of them. But then this wouldn't be classified as a thriller if that were the case. I both loved and hated Grace's twin sister, Hope. I can't decide what this says about me. No matter what, I'll be considering the details of this book for days to come. Hopefully not in my dreams!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This one kind of felt flat for me . I would give it 3.5 out of five stars. Unfortunately the writing style I didn't care for and at times I felt it was a bit slow. I would recommend it and will try to read another book by this Arthur.

Mothered is a psychological thriller about mental health and the insane reality that was a pandemic and quarantine.

Anyone who has grown up in a not so great relationship with their mother would feel as claustrophobic reading this book as the main character Grace.

Having lost her job and her mother losing her husband, the two join households and thus the misery starts.

The book was written well and written to make you want to crawl out of your skin with uneasiness.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

This was such a good book!! I could not put it down and read it in one sitting!! It was definitely an on-the-edge of your seat book! I will definitely recommend this book.

"Mother" is a psychological thriller novel by Zoje Stage. The story revolves around a mother named Suzette who becomes increasingly concerned about her young daughter, Hanna, as she begins to exhibit disturbing behavior. As Suzette struggles to understand and control Hanna's actions, she realizes that there may be something sinister at play. With its tense atmosphere, unreliable narrators, and exploration of mother-daughter dynamics, "Mother" is a chilling and unsettling read that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Good, but not as good as Baby Teeth. I Keep reading though, hoping one day one of her books will live up to to it. 3.5 rounded down.

I’m a big fan of psychological thrillers. Stage has the perfect voice for this genre. This is the best kind of psychological thriller because it takes you along on the mental journey and as the book goes on, you’re not sure whether you’re sympathizing with the mother or the daughter. I felt like the book was satisfying overall but I have read others like it, and I was ultimately wanting a little more, I think ultimately in this genre, I expect a big twist or bang at the end if you will, and this book did not satisfy that. I do think I would read other books by this author, but I would not purchase this for my library simply because I serve high school students and there are some parts that I think would resonate better with an adult audience.

3.5 stars

This book was weird, but I couldn't stop reading it. Zoje Stage can write some twisted stories, and this was no exception.

What I liked: the unlikeable characters, demented storylines, strange humor

What I disliked: the dream sequences, chaotic timelines, and too much COVID plot

I didn't know what to think about this book overall. It was one of the strangest books I've ever read but I kind of enjoyed it!

Wow what a nail-biting read the book is fantastic and keeps you hooked from the very first page and you will find it had to put down once you start.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC! I wanted to love this but it just left me confused. The delirious feeling throughout and growing sense of confusion was actually cool… but the ending raised more questions than it answered.

This one was just ok for me. It was a little slow, and i had a hard time keeping my focus to finish it. We follow Grace, who has begrudgingly allowed her estranged mother to move in with her during the pandemic. You start to get a peek into her childhood as she descends into a level of madness. It makes you question how truthful her own memories are at times.