There is no other way to say - I simply adored this book. It hit all my sweet spots - a mother daughter dilemma (several!), a mystery at the novel's core, strong Jewish characters (and how they interact with characters of several different faiths in this fraught and polarized world of ours), an inside look at the newspaper profession, and I could go on and on. I adored Rieger's two previous novels (The Heirs, and The Divorce Papers) but this is now officially my favourite. Come for the family drama, stay for the humor, wry social commentary, and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Lila was only 2 years old when her mother is committed to an asylum. She grows up and rises to a successful career in journalism.. Still livng in the household with her husband and three daughters, her career essentially becomes her asylum. No one feels the abandonment more strongly than her youngest daughter, Grace. Grace, a successful reporter, publishes a best selling book about her mother. This sends her on a mission to find her grandmother and discover other mysteries of her past.
As the story unfolds, the need for family and roots becomes evident, as does the strengths and weaknesses within these roots.

This multigenerational family drama explores motherhood, marriage, trauma, family dynamics, sisterhood, impacts of career focused individuals and many other smaller themes. I found because of the varied themes and some of which being very intense I both really enjoyed this book and found it overwhelming at times.

There are three parts to this book, each focusing on a specific character. The first part is all about Lila, her difficult childhood trauma, her marriage, her dynamics with her children and her career. The second is about Grace, her life, living with her mother, his missing grandmother and figuring out her life. And the third is about Lila’s mother.

For me, reading Lila’s story/perspective was by far the most enjoyable. Learning about her life with Aldo, her choices since then and the impacts of those choices on those around her was fascinating. Many parallels could be drawn between her and her daughter Grace and so much perspective gained.

I did find Grace’s section to have so much information, which I didn't think was entirely necessary. Admittedly, I did skim through her section a little bit. But the final part did wrap up nicely. Again providing thoughtful insights to the choices you make.

At the beginning of the book, there is a character guide which is very helpful. I did find the number of characters and really the amount of information (there are many themes explored) to be at times overwhelming. It’s almost like the author got really excited about what could be explored and shared all the ideas.

Overall, though, this is good. It’s a book you should sit down to read with a purpose. And anyone who enjoys family dramas and gaining perspective on life choices will enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It is a hard one for me to review. While I enjoyed it, I didn't particularly like the writing style and unfortunately, I can't exactly pinpoint why.

This is a complicated, character-driven family drama with a bit of a mystery. Even though there were a ton of characters the author did a good job of keeping me from getting confused (a list of characters at the beginning was helpful). I enjoyed the many strong female characters, but found the Starbirds (virtual twins) to be very annoying and unrealistic.

Where this book fell flat for me was that I feel like there was just way too much going on. There were major parts of the book that were unnecessary, particularly the political parts. I found it very odd that she talked about Clinton, Gore, Obama and other real life figures, but then veers off and creates a fictional presidential race. This was just odd and added nothing to the story. (Maybe this is because I am not a political person and am totally overwhelmed with all of the election drama going on right now.)

I enjoyed the mystery element of the story and thought it was all wrapped very well in the end.

A powerful and interesting generational story following three generations of women. I enjoyed how strong and ambitious each was and how they all grappled with the past. I found it very captivating and really enjoyed the family even with their difficulties.

This is a story about Zelda, Lila, and Grace. Zelda is Lila’s mother, and Lila is Grace’s mother. And as you’ll come to find…like mother, like mother. There’s generational trauma, hardships, interesting family dynamics, strong female leads, and frustration with many of the characters. But most importantly, there’s a feistiness that I so loved.

I was a bit intimidated by the cast of characters in the first pages of the book, but was able to settle in pretty quickly as the characters were so well developed. Before the end of the story I wanted to be part of this family.

What will stick with me is the characters… What they meant to each other and who they were at their core. This is a family I won’t easily forget.

I loved this book! The pacing of the story was perfect, where the story didn’t feel rushed but we also saw enough of each character to really connect to them. This book encapsulated motherhood and girlhood in general in such a unique way that kept me hooked throughout the entire novel. I found myself reaching for this book but also trying to read it slowly and savor the experience because I loved it so much. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends/followers and purchasing a physical copy for myself once it’s released!

This book has given me a lot to think about. What does it mean to be a mother? How much are we supposed to give of ourselves to our children? How much are we supposed to sacrifice?

This book made me feel a lot of things. I liked following Lila, Grace, Ruth, and Zelda. The author introduces us to a character in the present and then takes us back for her backstory and I found each one engrossing. The dialogue is snappy and easy to read. Side characters like Joe, Frances, and the Starbirds are great additions.

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was an easy book to read (tw: abuse), but I found myself loving it all the same.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As an adult Grace searched for answers to burning questions and discovered much more than she bargained for . . . the shocking truth of all that came before her.
This novel is a family saga. Lila and Joe took the next logical step in their marriage, as many did and still do in expanding their happy union to include children. Lila is a fiercely driven professional and never claims to be otherwise. At first, Lila is stunned at the prospect of raising children, referencing her traumas of youth and upbringing. She eventually softens to the idea and is willing to give Joe the offspring he so desperately wants. Lila makes Joe fully aware that nurturing is not something she has the capacity for and he must be willing to provide the lion’s share of all ongoing care and supervision.

It’s not so much that Lila is cold to her children, she loves them as much as she can love. Lila’s actions are fear-driven, avoiding any damage she might inflict somehow, the worry that the abuse she suffered would somehow affect them too. Lila’s thought process has some merit and gives weight to the compelling argument of motherhood . . . for and against. Which does more damage . . .  to be present and cause physical and psychological harm or to be absent and possibly still cause harm to the child’s psyche? The reality is that once you become a parent, your life is not completely your own, the ripple effect of some decisions could spill onto your offspring and the next generation. In my circle, this always sparks a discussion of the roles of nature and nurture . . . which will have more influence on us as children and the adults we become? I believe that healing old wounds is of utmost importance before passing along our DNA. I'm sure Lila's daughter Grace would agree.

Be warned that this author delves into politics as part of Lila’s journalistic journey and that the plot is moved along by the characters in a slow reveal fashion. I recommend this book for fans of domestic drama and multigenerational stories of resilience and survival,

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Like Mother, Like Mother for my unbiased evaluation.  3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I can appreciate the intrigue of the story - a multigenerational journey of Zelda, her daughter Lila, and Lila's daughter Grace. After Lila passes away, she posthumously sends Grace on a journey of finding out what happened to Zelda. There was witty quips and interesting dialogue. I did appreciate the list of characters and the families they belonged to in the beginning. To me, this story felt dry - there wasn't anything that really grabbed me to make me feel invested in the story. Rated three stars because this book might just not be for me!

Like Mother, Like Mother is a deeply engrossing multi-generational story that explores themes of ambition, legacy, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. The novel introduces us to Lila, a formidable figure who rose from an abusive childhood to become one of the most influential newspaper editors in Washington, D.C. The narrative shifts from Lila’s early death and legacy to the lives of her youngest daughter Grace, whose so-called “novel” stirs tension as it draws heavily from Lila’s life. As the story unfolds, we delve into a mystery about Lila’s mother, Zelda, whom Lila had believed died in a mental institution—a revelation that adds layers of intrigue without becoming the exclusive focus.

The novel begins with Lila, but gains significant momentum when Grace’s perspective takes center stage. The relationship between Grace and her college roommate, Ruth, feels especially captivating. Their conversations are an absolute highlight, offering beautiful, in-depth portrayals of genuine, soul-baring dialogue. Through these conversations, we see two women push each other to think critically about their lives, creating a bond that feels authentic and transformative. Ruth’s background—growing up poor in the South, raised by her mother and grandmother—provides a stark contrast to Grace’s privileged upbringing, and yet their friendship feels real and deeply moving.

The character of Ruth poses a bit of a challenge for me. She works hard, but her life unfolds in a straight line—she never experiences setbacks or stumbles. Everything she puts her mind to happens without issue, leading to her wild success in every area—career, relationship, mentors and friends—with her magnetic personality drawing everyone in. This level of perfection stretches the limits of believability and leaves me wondering how some friction (maybe Grace starts to resent her friend’s perfection?) might have offered something interesting.

Lila, on the other hand, is a complex figure. Her choice to be an almost entirely absent mother, leaving most of the parenting to her husband Joe, is both revolutionary and frustrating. Lila’s refusal to engage in any self-examination, which the novel emphasizes repeatedly, makes her fascinating, but also leaves her feeling somewhat flat, though I think that is by design. She’s larger than life, but that same grandeur prevents her from becoming fully dimensional.

The same can be said of the rest of Grace’s family, particularly her older sisters, the “Starbirds,” who remain somewhat caricatured throughout the novel. Grace more than any other character feels fully fleshed-out, though even she doesn’t always reckon with her choices in a way that feels entirely satisfying.

That said, Like Mother, Like Mother is a thoroughly engaging story. Despite the underwhelming resolution of the mystery and a rather abrupt ending, I found myself unable to put it down. It’s not an epic, nor is it a fully satisfying meal of a book, but it’s still a wonderfully compelling slice of life that blends family drama with a dash of political intrigue. Fans of complex character studies and strong female friendships will find much to enjoy here.

Detroit, 1960. Lila Pereira is two years old when her angry, abusive father has her mother committed to an asylum. Lila never sees her mother again. Three decades later, having mustered everything she has—brains, charm, talent, blond hair—Lila rises to the pinnacle of American media as the powerful, brilliant executive editor of The Washington Globe. Lila unapologetically prioritizes her career, leaving the rearing of her daughters to her generous husband, Joe. He doesn’t mind—until he does.

But Grace, their youngest daughter, feels abandoned. She wishes her mother would attend PTA meetings, not White House correspondents’ dinners. As she grows up, she cannot shake her resentment. She wants out from under Lila’s shadow, yet the more she resists, the more Lila seems to shape her life.

This is three interwoven stories in one tome. While slow at times, I really enjoyed the overall message of this book. I felt the middle lagged, but I'm glad I stuck with it. If you enjoy multi-generation stories centered around women, you'll enjoy this!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Like Mother, Like Mother is an enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past.

I found the writing style not to be to my preference, but the story was interesting.

This is a multigenerational story of one family.

This is a complicated story, though the characters are well developed and each with their own story to tell, I found it difficult at times to keep track of who was who and how they were all related to each other and then through in the friend Ruth`s story as a side.

Lila and her siblings are abandoned by her mother when her father has her mother institutionalised when Lila is a young child. Jump forward 30 years — we focus on Lila her marriage and children — then later her daughter Claire as well as Lila`s sister Grace as Claire writes a book about her Grandmother Zelda .

There is a lot of politics and religion mentioned throughout which is not something I enjoy being threaded into a novel at such a heavy amount.
I found the writing style and non-linear writing interesting but confusing from time to time as mentioned — I had a hard time relating to any of the women’s situation except Ruth the friend and her side story. I think this book was a hit or miss in many aspects and will work for some people and not others, but the ending on figuring out about Zelda was the most interesting part of the book for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Starting out, I wasn't sure I was going to like this story but I was wrong! The cast of characters at the beginning of the book made me question what I was getting into but the list turned out to be helpful. Part one of the book features Lila, the mother of Grace who is featured in part two. Lila is a determined newspaper journalist and later editor. She grew up without a mother. Her father was abusive. She knows she's not mother material but marries Joe who she knows will be a great father to any children they would have. They have three daughters, Grace is the youngest and feels the most disconnected from her mother. Grace ends up writing and publishing a book that is semi-autobiographical where she sheds her mother in uncomplimentary light. Part 3 deals with Grace pursuing the truth in finding out what happened to Lila's mother. Great family story.

2.5 very generously rounded up to 3...
Okay the problem with this novel is that I didn't believe any of it. I didn't believe the plot, I didn't believe the dialogue between the characters, and I didn't believe any of the however-brief internal monologue included. The dialogue was written so choppy and oftentimes, the characters weren't responding to each other. And because I didn't believe any of their conversations, I didn't like any of them. Not a one. It is really difficult to get through a novel in which you find no redeeming characters. And it also made the (very anti-climactic) ending all the more difficult to swallow.
I was hopeful in hearing this was a multi-generational story but in the end was really disappointed. I know the book was split into '3 parts' but the chronological order was all over the place and not in a way that made any sense. Safe to say this one wasn't for me.

This book started really slow for me. However once it hit Part 3 I couldn’t out it down as all the stories came together.

Lila is a famous reporter whose job means everything to her. She’s not a motherly person to her three girls, the older two collectively called The Starbirds (which just annoyed me) and her youngest Grace.

Grace writes a novel that is essentially all about growing up with a never present mother like Lila. The book looks back on Lila’s life growing up with an abusive father and a mother, Zelda who was also absent. Grace becomes obsessed with Zelda’s story.

This is a character driven family saga that reminded of books like Hello Beautiful and Tom Lake so if you liked those maybe this one will appeal to you. These books are not for me and unfortunately neither was this one. I was not invested in these characters. I would say I was bored for the majority of the book. The ending got slightly more interesting but the other 90 percent of the book did not make up for it. The main character was fairly unlikable even though parts of her seem relatable as a former working mother myself. I still couldn’t bring myself to like her.

Pick this up if you loved Tom Lake and Hello Beautiful.

This is a story about mothers and daughters. Lila's father was abusive and had her mother put in a mental institution when she was two. He told her and her siblings that their mother had died. Since her mother was gone her father was abusive to the children. Lila took the brunt of this to save her siblings. She does not think she can ever be a mother. She has three daughters and rises to the top of her career becoming executive editor. Grace is her youngest daughter and feels like her mother does not love her and writes a best selling fictional story about her mother.

This book is done in three sections. The first is Lila's story from her childhood until her death. The second part is Grace's story. It is about being Lila's daughter. When Lila dies she leaves a note for Grace to find out what happened to her mother. This is the last section of the book. The story is about mothers and daughters and how our mothers shape our lives. It is a story of family dynamics and what happens when we don't know the truth.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #SusanRieger, and #RandomHouse for a copy of this book.
#LikeMotherLikeMother

Lila Pereira is a personality, a superhero whose strengths are her ability to unmask coverups in write ups, and to cut the crap. Her hard-won status as the executive editor of the Washington Globe comes with a hefty price tag: strained relationships with the people she loves. The reader learns quickly that Lila unapologetically pays any price for the things that she wants, and will be the first to remind her loved ones that she warned them.

Grace is Lila's youngest daughter, the one who shouts to the skies how much she needed a mother, shouts to everyone who will listen that her mother failed her, and writes a novel as a means to broadcast the message to the world.

Zelda is Lila's mother, who was committed by her husband, Aldo, to the Eloise Asylum when Lila was a toddler. According to Aldo, Zelda died at the Asylum. Lila and her two siblings grew up in Eight Mile, Detroit, under the very heavy hand of Aldo. Lila only ever speaks of her childhood in a flat voice.

The novel moves fluidly between these three characters, finally circling back to Grace as she works on making a sort of peace with the hand she's been dealt.

It's a hard book to put down. The characters come alive so quickly, I had to go back to see how Rieger introduced them to make sense of it. She sets crumbs for the reader to gobble up as the pages turn; for example, the novel begins with obituaries, and the reader finds out that Lila began her journalistic career in writing obituaries. When we get to read about Grace, we already have her mother's story as a backdrop to her Gen-Z/Millennial struggles. As a result, I struggled in turn to empathize with a character who had been given so much, who rages against her perceived abandonment yet spouts off wonderful Lila-isms right and left. I'm thankful that Rieger ends the novel with Grace reflecting on Lila and Zelda as an older, wiser person.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to the ARC. Opinions stated here are my own. I don't receive any compensation for my review.