I loved this horror book, I was actually creeped out and couldn't read it every night! I have recommended it for purchase at our library system!

I DNF"d this one. It was interesting and is a book that has a lot to say and I did enjoy seeing the exploration of mother and the trauma that they can give. I just don't enjoy short stories and I was hoping I'd be able to move past that with this. I couldn't.

Mother Knows Best; an anthology of horror stories that all involve mothers.
If you have any mommy issues- and I think most of us do, you will really enjoy this collection of twisted, scary, insightful tales.

A brand-new anthology of original stories and poems inspired by the scariest monster of them all—our mothers—from some of today’s fiercest women in horror—just in time in time for Mother’s Day 2024!

New and exclusive short stories and poems inspired by bad mothers from some of today’s fiercest women in horror. Featuring Rachel Harrison, Gwendolyn Kiste, Kristi DeMeester, and Kelsea Yu, edited by Lindy Ryan with a foreword by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann.

From mama trauma to smother mother, this all-new women in horror anthology features stories about the scariest monster of them all—our mothers.

This is an excellent collection that kept me up late reading. One of the most intersting selling points is that all the stories are written by women. Is there a more complkicated relationship then between and daughter and her mother? There are stories here that made me laugh, made me shake my head, made me see my self and a glimpse of my own mother. I highly recommend this collection.
It's the perfect Mother's day gift! Just be sure your mom has a sense of humor.

Published by Black Spot Books and will be released May 07, 2024

Thanks to @NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Mother Knows Best is collection of chilling horror stories and poems. They show how relationships in life can be complicated and scary. It's written by very talented women writers. Horror fans will enjoy this one.

Recently, I heard a reader point out that horror may be the most mother-centric genre. A mother has such control over our lives and horror offers the opportunity to see what happens when that responsibility is twisted, abdicated, or perverted.
Enter Lindy Ryan, compiling 27 stories and poems from an all-woman cast of modern horror all-stars that explore all the things that can go wrong after a human brings another life into this world. Truly, the star of the show was how Ryan curated the book, staggering longer stories, flash pieces, and poetry so there's no tedium in approach to subject matter, style, or length. It makes the book immensely readable, and deserves recognition.
As with any anthology, there are pieces that resonate, pieces that entertain in the moment, and pieces that simply didn't hit me the way I believe they will hit other readers. Though attempting to dissect 27 pieces is over the top, some of my favorites included entries by Rachel Harrison, Stephanie Wytovich, Lee Murray, Meg Hafdahl, Brooke McKenzie, and a fantastic, almost Velkwood-adjacent closing number from Gwendolyn Kiste.
Tuck into these stories and get ready to have a bad time.

Mother Horror should be a sub genre. I find being a mother and having a mother can sometimes be horrific. These are tales about the complicated relationship between child and mother and how it can go morbidly wrong.

My favorites:

Oh What a Tangled Web by Tanya Pell
Marnie is her mother’s caregiver and things go wrong when she can’t find the milk her mother loves. Things get even more weird when the cops show up and Marnie invites them in.

The House Mother by Kristi DeMeester
Marion is the new house mother for a sorority and takes her pledge very seriously. Is it weird that she tried to get a bid to the same sorority and didn’t succeed? Maybe. Is it weird that she find a secret hole to spy on the sisters? Most definitely.

Never Love, No Room for Monsters by Jill Baguchinsky
A monster story with actual monsters under the bed. But the real monster is the mother who refused to help her daughter overcome the monsters, in order to make her strong. Love the ending!

Great stories! Perfect for Mother’s Day.

This is a nice collection of mother centered horror stories. All the stories were on point with the theme. While reading I could see a lot of unprocessed emotions and each story had a different take on mothers. There is nothing quite like the mother/child relationship whether good or bad, and some of these stories, murderous. If you are looking for a quick read that will creep you out and keep you wondering about your own relationship with your mother, then this is the book for you. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a great collection of horror stories and poems about dear mother by some stellar female authors. They were unsettling, macabre, and at times, gruesome. I also loved that some of the stories dealt with real life issues with abusive mothers-munchausen by proxy, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, gaslighting, etc. Some were just straight up squeamish horror at its finest. All touch a nerve for mother and daughter alike. I would highly recommend this novel to any horror enthusiast. 4.5 stars.

This was a unique collection of mothering horror stories full of talented authors. From the editor of Under Her Skin, I was already anticipating the best selected stories for this collection and I was not disappointed. I wanted to leave a spoiler free review on this book so that others may read it with that Suspense of not knowing what's going to happen next, but I will be posting my spoiler filled review on my site and over social media. A highly recommend Anthology for moms, moms to be, and anyone with a mother or mother figure.

_Mother Knowns Best: Tales of Homemade Horror_ is a collection of short stories that are dark, nightmarish, and evocative. Included are works that describe the mother characters as evil and vile (such descriptors that normally do not accompany a usually loving word). Horrible creatures disguise themselves as mothers, a phantom mother haunts their living child, and abusive mothers push their grown children to their breaking point. Written by female horror authors illustrating the epitome of bad mothers, these tales often leave the reader disturbed.

A very special thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy of Mother Knows Best: Tales of Homemade Horror, an anthology of short stories and poems written by female authors!
This is an incredible, diverse selection of tales and prose focused on mothers, motherhood, and interpersonal relationships between mothers and daughters. While some stories were unnerving, others served a different purpose in its examination of the relationships between mothers and their offspring – whether it be through grief, trauma, or genuine depression.
Mother Knows Best is a sincerely beautiful and haunting collection that was a privilege to read, it will be released on May 7th of this year – just in time for Mother’s Day!
Also, a special acknowledgement and shout out to Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann who pens a thoughtful, poetic forward to the anthology! Absolutely check this one out.

I always find it harder to talk about anthology because it usually has lots of hits and misses.

The concept for this one was intriguing since most people have their own horror stories with their own mother but somehow it’s still frown upon talking about it.

This book has different kind of stories (poems, short stories, essays-like stories) and for me that helped a lot in having a breather between stories.

Curiously, even tho I finished this one awhile ago, two of the stories that stuck most with me was at the very beginning: the foreword written by Sadie Hartmann, where she talks about how suffocating motherhood can be, and So lovely in the dark by Jessica McHugh, with a narrative that I found gripping and a plot that made me curious phrase after phrase.

I definitely want to read more of Kelsea Yu.

"Mother Knows Best," edited by Lindy Ryan, is a chilling anthology that delves into the theme of bad mothers, showcasing short stories and poems by some of today's most formidable women in horror. With a stellar lineup including Rachel Harrison, Gwendolyn Kiste, Kristi DeMeester, and Kelsea Yu, this collection explores the complexities and terrors of maternal relationships.

The anthology's strength lies in the diversity of narratives, each offering a unique perspective on the theme. From tales of mama trauma to the unsettling concept of a smother mother, the stories unravel the darkest corners of motherhood, portraying the scariest monster of all—our mothers. The contributors skillfully navigate the horror genre, weaving together atmospheric and suspenseful tales that leave a lasting impact.

Lindy Ryan's editorial curation shines through in the cohesive yet varied selection of stories, maintaining a thematic thread that connects the pieces. The anthology successfully explores the multifaceted nature of horror, from psychological terror to supernatural elements, providing a well-rounded experience for readers.

I rated "Mother Knows Best" 4 stars because of its ability to capture the complexity of maternal relationships within the horror genre. The anthology is a gripping exploration of fear and familial ties, showcasing the talent of women writers who excel in crafting spine-chilling narratives. It is a must-read for horror enthusiasts seeking fresh perspectives on the darker side of motherhood.

A raw compilation of short horror stories and poems written by female authors about mothers and motherhood. But of course with a horror spin.

This is a great collection of stories about fears, doubts, traumas, disappointments and all the things we have felt especially as teenagers. A lot of the themes that have some horror or fantasy elements added to them, are things that we as females can relate to.

But also male readers will be able to enjoy these stories and poems since the main protagonist here is our mothers. That mother figure that we as children and teenagers consider immortal, wise and our mentor.

In these stories we will discover the types of relationships, experiences and traumas that can build around our mothers.

This was an absolute gem! The tales and poems of maternal horror, of shocking atrocities, had me hooked with every piece. Some were more entertaining than others, but overall this was an extremely enjoyable anthology!

“Come face my monsters with me, Ma. I duck under the bed and drag my mother with me.”

Lindy Ryan brings a unique collection of poems and short stories centred around difficult mothers. This features works from several female horror authors.

Each work is as unsettling as the next. In their own way they paint a picture of the darkest and unbelievable parts of what defines a mother. Through several varying perspectives, mothers of all kinds are represented in their cruelest and troubled forms.

Many authors were familiar to me such as Rachel Harrison, Kristi DeMeester and Kelsea Yu. It’s also a great way to discover new authors which I already have a list that I want to explore further.

“Mother Know’s Best” is a creepy collection that I would recommend.

I was foaming at the mouth for this book after I figured out Rachel Harrison had a story in it. Seriously I love my girl, and if y’all haven’t read anything by her you’re missing out.
This was a good horror anthology and a nice mix of shorts and poetry, but I honestly wish it was a little more terrifying.
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Spot Books for this ARC! It’ll be out in May!

Wow!

Everything I want in a book is here. The thrill, the emotions, character development, the pacing and the well-drawn out twist!

Kudos to the author!

This horror anthology has all it takes to become a classic: top names, great editing, awesome stories, and a theme to die for. How can you not enjoy stories about the horrific aspects of that person most familiar to each one of us? The one we trust the most? Each tale shows a different manner to deconstruct that icon of love: manipulation and control, violence of all kinds, obsession, the bitterness of betrayal, plus some really creepy horror. I loved Caitlin Marceau's story, had some trouble understanding Rachel Harrison's contribution, but overall I ended up realizing how easy it is for a child's unease and domestic horror to imbue their life with sadness and toxic silence. Most of these stories should be taught and analyzed in a psychology class, perhaps, or even in schools. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing to me read this gem before publication!

What a fun anthology! I really enjoyed the collection of authors, as well as the different topics around horror and motherhood covered in this book.