Three generations of ambitious, "I know what I want from life", and determined women makes a great story because it is tough to see three generations of those without someone breaking the chain at some point by trying to tie them down, break their will, or destroy their dreams. No one would try to do that to three generations of men, but women would always be scrutinized and called names for it.

Lila did not receive her mother's love. She was left with her abusive father. That destroyed any motherly instincts she might had. She did not want to be a mother when she did not have one to look up to herself. Instead she poured herself into her career. She gave a birth, not once but 3 times. However, just her mother did, she left them to their father to become the editor making waves. Grace felt the burnt of it, just like Lila did once. But she followed her mother's steps to become a successful journalist. She made it her life's mission to figure out what happened to her grandma because she was the beginning.

I want to give high five to every woman in this story for following what they cared for instead of what was expected of them. Instead of whining about the situation, they fought to find a solution. They did not care so much about the impact they were making on others but also would any man care? NOPE

Three generations of women and the long-term effects of parental abandonment is the theme of this family saga. Politics, modern culture and the Jewish experience in America are also themes throughout this story of the Pereria women. The main character in the story, Lila, is retiring from her position as executive editor at The Washington Globe when she becomes ill from lung cancer and dies. But Lila and her story continue on as the story as it goes back and forth over time to tell the readers about Lila's difficult childhood with a mother that was sent to an institution when Lila was two years old, and she was left in the care of her brutal and abusive father.

Lila is an unusual character and while I liked her ambition and attitude about not caring what other people think, I dislike people who ignore and dislike their own children. I understood Lila was this way because she suffered so much abuse from her father but the answer then is to either get extensive therapy or not have children. Lucky for Lila, her husband Joe was very happy to be a loving parent to their three daughters. Two scenes really stood out to me with Lila: when her daughter Grace is first born, Lila picks her up just once holding her at arm's length and like she never picks up her baby again. When Grace is in college, Lila thinks she heard a rumor her daughter might be engaged but decides she doesn't care enough to look into it.

The second part of the book is about Grace who suffers and is angry that her mother never loved her or paid attention to her. Grace's roommate Ruth also takes up a lot of space in the story as we meet Ruth and her mother and grandmother, both single mothers and Ruth's teacher and husband who took Ruth under there wings. Grace writes a book called "The Lost Mother" which is a thinly veiled book about the missing grandmother who always seemed to hover over their lives. The very end of the book finds Grace and her sisters looking for what happened to Zelda after she was sent away and find surprising results. I had mixed feelings about the novel as a whole. The characters were fascinating and I enjoyed the generational aspects of the story. But the story was very dialogue heavy and none of the characters spoke like real people as I don't know anyone whose conversations always include quotes by famous people.

<b>The Short of It:</b>

Mothers and daughters and the hard places in between.

<b>The Rest of It:</b>

Like Mother, Like Mother is an amazing read. The first half of the book is mostly about Lila and her rise to editorial glory. She is a powerhouse. She knows how to ask a question, knows how to get the story and her energy seems endless. But being successful comes with a trade-off. She told her husband Joe early on that if they had kids, they would mostly be his. His to raise, his.

This is absolutely the case. Grace and her two sisters did okay without Lila in their lives, because Joe was an amazing father. As the girls grew into women, it became clear, especially to Grace that Lila was a different kind of person. Not exactly dismissive of her children, but that she didn’t really know HOW to be a mother to them. Look at her own childhood. Lila’s own mother, was committed to an asylum but then disappeared. Could she have intentionally left her children to that horrible abusive man? Yes.

The story unfolds slowly as Grace begins to dabble in DNA testing. As you can imagine, this uncovers a few surprises. I liked how the author set this book amidst political upheaval but used a different President to illustrate society on the cusp of falling apart. So there is constant tension as Lila must endure a brutal political season before retirement.

This book is absolutely about mothers and daughters but really it’s about relationships. Lila’s upbringing affects her marriage, it affects Grace’s opinion of marriage and motherhood. The people they interact with and befriend are also affected by these relationships. What’s interesting is that although Lila really does her children wrong, I still had empathy for her because she didn’t have it in her to be the mom they needed and she knew it right from the start.

To Grace though, attending White House dinners over dinner with your own kids just doesn’t sit right. She wanted the mom that baked cookies and attended parent teacher conferences. Not the glittering, multi-faceted Lila. But what can you do? You can’t choose your own mother.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a little high brow, but deep and with plenty of flawed characters. I was pulled right into the story from the first few pages. You can’t say that about too many books. It would be a wonderful book to discuss in book club.

For more reviews, visit my blog: <a href="http://bookchatter.net">Book Chatter</a>.

An engaging story of women through generations (not just mother and daughter, but also sister, friends that become like a sister and the men that are foils for highlighting the roles these women have, the dynamics between them, their successes in business and failures in relationships. I enjoy reading books exploring family dynamics and dysfunction and I really enjoyed trying to understand, Lila whose mother Zelda disappeared and understanding Grace in the context of the impact these women had on her life. It’s a book about inspiring women and gives hints at what might have shaped them on their journeys.

I didn’t really enjoy this multigenerational novel about mothers, and daughters. The characters were complicated, but not appealing, and in the end I found it hard to finish the book.

A family history book, with the same basic events covered 3 times from slightly varying perspectives and with more or less background info. Kind of a scattered approach, but very readable. A fascinating depiction of a family, motherhood, what marriage has meant or required of women at different times in America and how women have (or have not) dealt with that. The cyclical, dialogue-light writing style will not be for everyone, and sometimes people use turns of phrases at times when they never would have, historically or at their ages, which I found distracting. Overly rosy view of journalism. Interesting/weird that every part of recent history is accurately reflected in this, except Donald Trump doesn't exist or something—I wondered about that decision, as it picks up around the other side of the first Trump presidency as if it never happened, but it never happening largely changed nothing.

Such a great story. I bought physical copies for my mother and sisters because I feel like everyone should read this gripping story

This story is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different woman across three generations, all of whom grapple with trauma inherited from the past. These women are fiercely independent, yet burdened with the weight of their experiences. I found myself deeply empathizing with the characters, and although they’re often unlikable, their backstories make it understandable—if not inevitable—why they are the way they are, which makes them feel more real and complex.

The narrative is largely character-driven, and while some parts feel a bit drawn out, I still found the story compelling and ultimately very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC digital copy of this book. I did not enjoy this book, I really tried to. I found it to be pretentious. There was too much effort put into being politically correct with quotes and statements that would not have been used in the era of time presented. The characters were unlikeable and uninteresting.

I heard a lot of hype about this book and was excited to read it, but I was rather disappointed.

Like Mother, Like Mother is a story of mothers, and such stories, at face value, usually call to me. Lila Pereira and her siblings grow up in Detroit, the children of an abusive father and a mother, Zelda, who is said to have had a tremendous bout with depression and is placed in an institution, where she eventually takes her own life. As the product of what some might call bad mothering, Lila is unable to mother in the traditional sense. While she loves her 3 daughters, she is not present, and it is her husband, Joe, who assumes the role of nurturer. Meanwhile, Lila becomes a famous, nationally known journalist.

Lila's youngest daughter, Grace, becomes obsessed with Zelda, and what might have really become of her,. When Lila dies, (and with Lila's blessing), Grace goes searching for information on Zelda, and the outcome is interesting, while not surprising.

There are a number of characters in this book, some of whom are well developed and life-like, and others, not so much. Lila is perhaps the most fascinating of all. The first third of the book held my attention, and middle third (and then some) had me quite bored, and the end ties the book together and is the most satisfying part.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

A riveting story of strong-willed women and their interactions. We follow three generations of women through family dramas with sometimes humor to guide us along the way. A good read to sink your teeth into! Thanks for the opportunity to enjoy this work.

This book had an interesting premise with a successful mother being the main character of this multigenerational family. I had difficulty getting into this book and it took me a long time to finish it.
The saga started in the 1960s in Detroit and introduced the family and the situation of their lives. Aldo, not only abused Lila, but committed her mother to a psychiatric facility, when the children were young, and claimed that she died there a few years later.
I liked Lila- the strongest character in the book, although she was a poor mother,(not having had an example), she was quite successful in her job and well grounded in her environment.
A secondary character in the beginning of the book, really developed some dimension in Parts 2 and 3 when she had more focus and a better sense of self. Although her part was tedious and slow paced, she was a clever interviewer, who pursued her story thoroughly. I thought there was too much backstory on Ruth, her college roommate that didn't add to the overall story.
I also though that the Charles Webb political campaign (so obviously modeled on Trump) was out of place.
Most of the characters were unlikable, and that politics was completely unnecessary to the story.
I did like the general story, even though the extreme abuse by Aldo was terrible (why wasn't child protective services called?).
The Third part was worth all the wading through the first part and I liked the ending.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House and am leaving this review with my opinions voluntarily.

I really enjoyed how Rieger captures the tension between generations and the way family history can shape who we are. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and I found myself really invested in their struggles. It’s one of those books that makes you reflect on your own family relationships and the things that get passed down. If you’re into stories about family, identity, and personal growth, this one’s definitely worth a read!

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger is the story of three generations of strong Jewish women who seem to defy the norm.

The story originally takes place in Detroit and segues to Washington, D.C., New York City, and LA, with Chicago and Tallahassee also having important roles. The story is told in three parts, all with interesting chapter titles. It is told first by Lila, then by Grace, her youngest daughter, and then by Zelda, Lila’s mother and Grace’s grandmother.

As this multi-generational story begins, its central character, Lila Perreria, has passed away, soon after retiring from her powerful position as the executive editor of the Washington Globe. In addition to her husband Joe, she has left behind three daughters including her youngest, Grace, who has just published a novel based on Lila's complex life. Through narratives in the past and present, it's revealed that Lila, her sister, and her brother were raised by their abusive father and were told that their mother Zelda had died in a mental institution. Lila overcame her difficult upbringing by rising to the top of her profession, but she was a distant parent, leaving most of the children's upbringing to Joe. As Grace grew, she grappled with her own relationship issues. She was determined to learn whether her grandmother died in the asylum or managed to run away and escape her abuse.

The characters are complicated and you can see the conflict between them from the beginning. I though Lila's parenting skills were to be desired. However, by the end of the novel, I understood Lila completely.

I thought the author was excellent in describing the character's emotions throughout the story. I especially loved Grace's character evolve with a new understanding towards her mother and grandmother.

If you like family sagas with an abundance of intrigue and drama, please do not hesitate to read this book!

This novel explores family dynamics and family cycles through the stories of three women/mothers. The story had me contemplating the impact mothers can have on their children, whether they are present or not, and had me reflecting on my own family. I enjoyed the sardonic humor and the story. Susan Rieger takes great care to show how and why her characters live their life, creating a sense of understanding, even if you do not agree with her characters' actions. And the title is absolutely brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press/Random House for the ARC!

This one held my interest all the through. A missing mother and her daughter who is seemingly not interested in mothering are two of the characters. The development of characters is skilled and you want to know what happens in this family network. I was impressed with the father who was very supportive of his children. All in all a very good read.

This is an interesting book about family dynamics and especially the relationship between mothers and daughters spanning three generations. I really liked Lila’s character. She knew what she was and wasn’t capable of and she wasn’t afraid to let others know either. Grace, on the other hand, drove me crazy.

I enjoyed the book. 3.75 stars

Some personalities are larger than life. What is life like for you when your mother is that type of personality? Lila Pereira is a fierce, powerhouse executive editor at one of the most influential media outlets in the U.S. and she has worked exhaustively to reach such a lofty position. Her childhood was horrible but she overcame her dysfunctional family dynamics and married a marvelous man from a prominent family. Thank God her husband knows how to be a good father. Grace is her youngest daughter and challenges the family dynamics Lila has established. Her older twin sisters flourish while Grace struggles. Lila is unapologetic in her lack of motherly instinct and affection. Unfortunately, Grace takes a path that brings her even more pain.

A story of three generations trying to navigate being a family, supporting each other and finding their own identities. Reconciling deeply embedded hurts across each generation becomes Graces focus and amazingly it comes at her mother’s request. Grace has so many unanswered questions on her quest to find peace with her mother.

Wonderful family drama. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you @netgalley for Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger. Lila, the mother of three women and editor of a big newspaper, has just died. Lila had a rough childhood, absentee mother, abusive father, and has left her past behind. She really didn’t want kids, but her husband did. So he has been the nurturing and loving parent, Lila was not there for her daughters. They are processing their grief, and trying to understand why she was the mother she was. We learn more about her childhood, and the daughters’ childhoods. This got a lot of critical acclaim, I liked it okay. Even though I love a family story, I think it was partly the unlikeable character that made it not a favorite for me. #likemotherlikemother #susanrieger #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #lovetoread #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #mothersanddaughters #takeapagefrommybook

3.5. I enjoyed this multigenerational saga, though the beginning was stronger than the ending was for me. It did keep me turning the pages and I wanted to know what happened, but I didn't connect with the book as much as I expected to.