If you thought your pandemic experience was hell....well, just be thankful you didn't have to go through what Grace and Jackie did.

Mothered is a claustrophobic and very confusing novel set during the early days of the pandemic when everything was much more uncertain and chaotic and we follow our protagonist Grace as she copes with losing her job, becoming financially unstable and then having her estranged mother Jackie move in with her.

I have very mixed feelings about this novel because on one hand it was well written and had some great creepy scenes and the basic idea was interesting enough, but to be completely honest the good writing couldn't save a drawn out plot that bored me to tears for nearly 75% of the book. I am not opposed to a slow burn story that will take its time to develop in order to lead up to a big reveal, but this one took ages to get to something exciting and when it did get there I couldn't help but be disappointed in how incredibly predictable and dull it ended up being. I really think this book could have been a novella length book and it might have come across being a little more exciting and cohesive without all the drawn out stale bits. It suffered from leaving the most exciting part of the novel until the literal bitter end which if done well could have been interesting, but this one felt rushed and lackluster.

I do find the trope of 'is it a dream or real life?' a bit tired, and I was disappointed to find that trope applied quite heavily to this story. The present time story line and the bits with Grace's deceased twin sister Hope were so disorientating and confusing that at about midway through the book I just gave up trying to understand it all because the story simply lacked the content to make any proper theories as to what was going on. It felt like the author spent an exorbitant amount of time on plot points that had zero bearing to the endgame of the novel and not enough on the points that would have added to much needed context to the story and much of her hard work was ignored in my reading because I simply just didn't care at that point. I do think the stronger parts of the novel were the flashback scenes with Grace, her sister Hope and their childhood - that was the content I wanted desperately from the entire novel. I wanted those unsettling and creepy vibes like I was promised, but alas the present day stuff was lacking in some proper spooky moments other than the odd offhanded moment. I desperately wished I cared about any of the characters, but Grace and Jackie especially were just SO unlikable and uninteresting that it made it hard to try to immerse yourself in their story because I just didn't care about what would happen to them - and in a slow story like this you need to at least connect with the characters to keep yourself interested enough but...alas.

Overall, I felt like there just wasn't enough exciting or interesting moments that happened between Grace and her mother for my interest to be piqued and excited about the book and honestly if it weren't for those flashback scenes I probably would have given up on finishing this. This book is being marketed as a horror and I would digress and say that it is more of a psychological thriller and barely that. The few moments that could be called creepy or spooky were so far and in between that it would be a hard sell to say it was scary. I guess the setting of the book being set during the pandemic could be horror enough if you want to think about it that way.

I don't think this book was for me and it lacked the things I would have wanted to see in this book based on the description given, but I could see others enjoying it for what it is. However, I think this book will be very forgettable and not one I would revisit in the future.

Special Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of Mothered in exchange for my honest review!

Mothered
Zoje Stage
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is majorly slow going, I was looking so forward to this book but this book just didn’t do it for me! It was completely strange from the beginning and hard to keep up with!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.

I am not an avid reader of the horror genre, and my rating/appreciation for this book is likely a result of that. For me, this read was a bit disconnected and I found the storyline confusing at times - it was hard to discern whether it was dream or reality, which I believe may have been purposeful on the part of the author. However, for me, that aspect prevented me from connecting with any of the characters and becoming invested in what happened to them. That being said, I still plan on reading more of Zoje Stage!

This was a great story and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. I promise you that you will be in a state of constant confusion, but in a good way. I don’t like a book that’s predictable and this was anything but predictable.

Boy when they say that this book is a claustrophobic psychological thriller, they weren't kidding! Half the time I was reading so fast because I couldn't devour it quick enough and the other half I would have to stop because I felt like I couldn't breathe in the best possible way. I love books like this, Zoje Stage is one heck of a story teller.

Thank you #Netgalley for this arch!
Mothered
by Zoje Stage
Pub Date: 01 Mar 2023

I really enjoyed reading this book. At no point could I figure out what was happening, which was different since thriller/suspense/horror books are my go-to genre. I didn't think I was ready to read a book about the pandemic, but the way Zoje Stage uses it as a plot point was unexpected and well done. Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, the story would go in the opposite direction. Even now I'm still not sure what actually happened. The interweaving of dreams and reality throughout the book was jarring, just as I imagine it would have been for the main character and really pulled you into the story. As a reader, you truly felt like you were losing your sanity and doubting your own memories in real time with the main character. Similarly, the way the sister became as much a character in the story as any one else despite being dead was intriguing. This is definitely a book I will be thinking about for a long time and I highly recommend going in blind.

I had read Baby Teeth by Zoje so I was very excited for Mothered. She definitely dabbles in the spooky/macabre in her writing. Grace is a woman who during the pandemic, has her mother Jackie come and live with her. Trying to navigate the living situation while also dealing with her past and horrific nightmares, Grace has a lot going on. I liked this book, especially as a Fall read due to its horror like tendencies. I rated it 3/5⭐️S.

I was bothered by some of the choices the author made about a character with cerebral palsy.

The book reads like a mad fever dream once the action kicks off, and that coupled with the sense of dread of the pandemic and quarantine was extremely unnerving.

There are some unexpected twists and one hell of a crazy ending.

However, what kept me from completely loving this book was the way the character with cerebral palsy was written. **SPOILER ALERT**

I did not have any issues with making the disabled character evil, but I felt like the character was too one-dimensional and that her physical disabilities (the way she moved and ate mostly) were focused on too much. I love that the author chose to use a disabled character, but I just wish she would have had more character development.

Wow. I have rarely been so wrapped up in a story. It has everything you want from a psychological horror: suspense, doubt, truth bombs. I find the author really cued in on that covid era sense of insecurity and incertitude - beautifully done. Along with the added drama of Mommy dearest, which is an added element of mystery and torment. Overall, I think this is a masterfully written novella.

My fatal flaw is reading books a year before they are published! But..... anything by Zoje Stage is going to grab my attention. The thrills in this book start immediately. I'm talking the very first page. This novel is nothing less creepy and terrifying.

This story is about the pandemic. But that isn't the theme of the book. Main character Grace is quarantined, but she has her mom to keep her company. The longer Grace cohabits with her mom, the more uncovered trauma haunts her. Grace didn't exactly have the easiest childhood, and was often neglected for her sister who had cerebral palsy. Grace's mom also didn't treat her the best. Grace begins to have very vivid nightmares about her childhood, and it gets to the point where she can't tell what was real and what wasn't.


Loved this one.

It is the beginning of Covid19 in April 2020 and Grace and Jackie are living together. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space, especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids.
This book was a slow burn but turned into a nightmare towards the end. Grace just purchased her home and is not sure how to make ends meet with just losing her job. Her mother, Jackie, just lost her husband and Grace is going mental and doesn't know what is real or not real. It definitely is a crazy time for all. If you like books written during Covid 19, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a copy for an honest review.

Well well well.... I still have a little look of confusion on my face after finishing this last night but I also think I really liked it! *I think*. Starts off innocent enough with Grace's mother, Jackie, moving in with her during the pandemic where it's become difficult for Grace to continue being a hairdresser. Money is tight, but Jackie's lips certainly are not. I personally love pandemic books and MOTHERED certainly gives us a stark look about how we all deal with confinement and limited social interaction in our own ways. From employment, to our own health and the health of our loved ones, to too much time on hand to overthink every single thing. Yada, yada, yada.....

Now, if you already had a tumultuous relationship with your mother, then maybe you already know what to expect when she moves in with you. Maybe she's a different person now and possibly YOU are a different person as an adult thus giving way to something new and more positive. Or maybe the ghosts from the past come for a visit and you're forced to reconsider the past as you know it. While this is definitely a bit of a slow burn, I was intrigued as to where the story was going to take us. Little nuggets of distraction had me thinking perhaps it is *this* or *that* causing some of the issues that Grace begins to have. What is real and what isn't? And how did it escalate all the way to where it did?!

From the pacing at the beginning to the in-your-face pa-pow of the end... well, I think I'm more befuddled than Grace ever was. And yet... I liked it. I still have questions that need answers though. Pandemic, catfishing, sleepwalking, lasagna making, hair cutting, sisters, best friends and a mother ... I mean, there's a lot here and some paths I felt were there just for confusion and never led to anywhere but then again.... maybe all of the insanity was because we were fully immersed in Grace's head and well, she definitely seemed confused most of the time.

A mother-daughter troubled duo stuck togethet in a pandemic... yup count me in! What got me intetested in wanting to read this book firstly was it's synopsis! Whilst I did enjoy the whole premise of the book. i did feel like certain things were lacking. For one, I feel like we weren't given a full explanation or reason behind the main problem of the story. I dont know, it kinda felt 'unfinished' to me, if that makes sense. I was left kinda wanting more. But other than that, I did enjoy reading this psychology thriller & will be recommending it to others. Thank you Netgelley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Mothered" by Zoje Stage is an unsettling psychological thriller that puts a twist on the idea of family bonding during a pandemic's isolation period. Instead of quality family time, Stage shows how too much time together in confinement can turn an innocently dysfunctional family into a dangerously twisted mess.

Out of sheer desperation, Grace reluctantly accepts her mother's invitation to move into her house. Giving up her independence is a hard bargain, but one she cannot afford now that she's without a job due to the pandemic. Grace needs the financial help her mother can offer, but it comes at a higher cost than her own home: her sanity.

The longer Grace and her mother are stuck inside, the more reality begins to unravel until it becomes clear the true test of isolation is not to wait out the pandemic but to survive the slow descent into madness.

"Mothered" definitely takes the cake for unexpectedly creepy. Stage lulls the readers into a tranquil, peaceful atmosphere as Grace conducts her normal routine with only the mild, slightly annoying disruption of her mother who tends to overstep. Yet, it's not long before there's this subtle, uncomfortable warning that something is off with Grace's mother and the tension between the two does not add up.

Stage does a brilliant job at keeping readers in suspense, only giving a few subtle clues interspersed throughout the story, always keeping readers on edge as they try to anticipate what will happen and why Grace and her mother are so estranged. Not only is the suspense and mystery done extremely well, but the deep psychology behind the two characters and their behaviours are incredible. It's impossible to predict the outcome until it happens and when it does, it feels as though the story needs to be reread and the clues picked up all over again to truly understand the signs Stage has hidden throughout the pages.

While I truly enjoyed this novel, I found my true interest was truly encaptured by Grace's sister and the strange memories/dreams that plague Grace. There is something so deeply fascinating about the visceral macabre scenes that unfold whenever Grace's sister appears that it's impossible to put the book down. Even though I was deeply disturbed by some of these scenes, I was also completely enthralled and questioning the truth behind these memories and dreams, which made me question Grace's sanity ... and then my own.

I found Grace's life almost too mundane for me to connect with her or want to carry on with her story. I think if it weren't for the gory aspects that came along with her sister, and the twisted sense of something malicious behind her existence, I don't know if I would've been as invested in the story. There wasn't enough happening between Grace and her mother until later in the story for me to be confident that I would've stuck out the story.

Readers who love psychological thrillers with a high, suffocating atmosphere will be immensely satisfied with Stage's story. I think for everyone who loves a good puzzle, a good mystery to put together and solve, Stage has done a wonderful job with Grace and her mother. Scattered throughout the book are a variety of clues that only those with the sleuthiest of skills like Sherlock Holmes will be able to gather to uncover the truly twisted and morbid ending of "Mothered" before the final page has been flipped.

Look for "Mothered" on its expected publication date of March 1st, 2023 and add it to your reading lists!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

The concept of the mother-daughter relationship and mommy issues was a very intriguing topic for me and it was actually the reason I requested a copy of this book. However, I find the execution to be so long-winded and sometimes just too long before landing on a point. Grace is such a fucked up character and I find her interesting at first ever since reading about her online dating activities, but as the story progress, she lacks the charisma and personality of a main character whom the readers would want to continue following.

So many interesting books about the pandemic have come out. This book. is Mind blowing and twisted. Such a great read!! I couldn’t put it down!! During the pandemic Grace finds herself between jobs, her mother moving in and having some bizarre dreams. As the story progresses each dark twist has you glued to the page waiting to see what new twist will develop.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

I am once again sorry that I really just do not enjoy This author’s writing. I feel like the conversations are simple and almost juvenile and this one just became awkwardly & uncomfortably unbelievable. Don’t wanna give away any spoilers but the lead character’ and her mother felt like completely cartoonish people. Laughable, actually. And I’m not really sure what happened to them ultimately. Im lost here. Maybe im tired; maybe pandemic talk has jumped the shark for me; I really don’t know but I really did not like it. 2.5 so I rounded to 3-but it was less than average.

Wow, what a ride! I really enjoyed Mothered and read it in 2 days. I felt a little unsatisfied at the end, which is exactly how I felt about Baby Teeth too. I think books that leave me questioning are just hard for me to accept, I want to know all the answers and I finished this thinking What the heck?! But, Zoje Stage is an amazing writer and the nightmare scenes in Mothered were amazing.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC!

Not sure what I just read. But I didn’t love it. The macabre aspects were cool, but to be honest, I don’t want to read about pandemic lockdowns, masks, intubations, and testing positive. It’s too soon. We just lived it. And the storyline was muddled.

I really wanted to love this book, because I loved Baby Teeth so much. But the flashback to the pandemic was horrible. There was nothing compelling or exciting about Grace, and it was so annoying to hear her drone on about pandemic restrictions and her job and her boring life. I had to stop reading this book because I was so bored, I didn't even care who the murderer was.