A psychological horror novel about motherhood, guilt, and the dark sides of grief. The tension builds slowly, creeping under your skin. Deeply unsettling and emotionally raw.

I picked up Mothered not expecting it to get under my skin the way it did, but wow—this one creeped up on me slowly and then hit hard. Grace’s strained relationship with her mom felt so raw and claustrophobic, and there were moments I had to pause just to catch my breath. Even with the intensity, I appreciated how it explored grief, guilt, and loneliness in such a uniquely unsettling way.

A truly disturbing read, am torn between whether I enjoyed it, or just felt compelled to know how it ended, uniquely done.

This had all the makings of a tightly wound psychological thriller—grief, isolation, family tension, and the slow unraveling of a woman stuck in a pressure cooker with her mom. And for a while, it really worked. The atmosphere was claustrophobic in the best way, and the tension between Grace and Jackie felt raw and real. But as things escalated, the plot started to feel a little too chaotic, like it was trying to juggle too many threads (grief, guilt, catfishing, trauma, maybe ghosts?). Instead of a sharp descent into madness, it kind of blurred into confusion. Still, there were definitely chilling moments, and fans of domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators might enjoy the messy, dark ride. It just didn’t stick the landing for me.

This book delves deep into the complexities of motherhood, isolation, and identity. This was written during the pandemic and there's a lot of mention of the same, can be triggering!!
One of the standout features of Mothered is its exploration of the often fraught and complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.
Grace's struggle to assert her own independence while dealing with the constant presence of her manipulative mother is both heartbreaking and haunting.

Grace also cannot differentiate between what is really happening and her dreams.
Overall I would give a 2 stars only

Zoje Stage delivers another chilling psychological thriller with Mothered, a gripping, claustrophobic descent into paranoia, trauma, and mother-daughter dysfunction. This book had me hooked from the very first page and didn’t let go until the unsettling final moments.

The story follows Grace, a woman who, out of financial necessity, moves in with her estranged mother during the COVID lockdown. What starts as an uneasy reunion quickly spirals into a nightmarish psychological battle as long-buried tensions resurface, reality blurs, and Grace begins questioning everything around her. The novel expertly balances real-world anxieties with a creeping sense of dread, making it impossible to tell whether the horror is external or purely in Grace’s mind.

Stage’s writing is razor-sharp, perfectly capturing the suffocating tension between mother and daughter while slowly unraveling the disturbing layers of the story. The pacing is relentless, and the psychological unraveling is masterfully done—every page brims with suspense, making it impossible to put down.

Dark, unsettling, and deeply immersive, Mothered is an absolute must-read for fans of psychological horror and domestic thrillers. If you love books that keep you questioning what’s real until the very end, this one is for you.

It has been 2 years since the publication of this book, and I can't stop thinking about it still. The utter horror with which Stage weaves this tale of frustration between mother and daughter is masterful. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to stomach a book that took place during the pandemic, but the feelings of isolation and worry evoked by the setting only added to the eeriness of the story. I am very much looking forward to her next release (soon, I hope!)

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

A weird read set in a COVID like pandemic. I struggled with the pace of this one and the plot. It was a slow burn and I was left at the end feeling like nothing really happened.
I was anticipating some big plot twist but was left feeling empty and disappointed. Interesting concept but lacking in execution.

Title was archived before I could download, but borrowed on kindle unlimited to listen and review. Will update once I've finished.

Gave this book a try but overall didn’t enjoy it. Wasn’t able to get into the story as much as I wanted to.

This was a tense thriller that will mess with your mind! This is a psychological thriller about mental health and the insane reality that was a pandemic and quarantine.

An anxiety filled, claustrophobic novel which takes place during the early days of COVID lockdown. The interpersonal tensions between Grace and her mother are multiplied by the stress of the pandemic. The loneliness and isolation of Grace’s childhood is replaying. Much of the novel is about what is real, what is just a dream, and the cost of rediscovering our memories.

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.