This multi-generational family drama is more than the glowing blurbs promise. It has the old and the new, the heartbreaking and the hopeful – in short – “all the things.” As the title indicates, this is the story of a mother, and her mother, and her daughter. Lila is the central character, daughter of a mother who wasn’t there when she was growing up in Detroit. She has a fighting spirit, surviving her abusive father, graduating college despite the lack of funds and support. Lila meets the ideal husband (and father), gains the best possible mother-in-law, and has three daughters of her own while becoming the prestigious and powerful executive editor of the quintessential Washington, D. C. newspaper, known to and respected by all the powerbrokers in politics. Yet – she is not the conventional mother the youngest of her three daughters, Grace, wants.
In an interview, Rieger says that while Lila “…is the beating heart of the book, the pulse of the book is her daughter Grace.” Grace becomes a young author, writing thinly veiled autobiographical tale of growing up with her mother who never made her lunches, went to PTO meetings, or picked her up from dance class. Grace’s dad, a marvel of a minor character if there ever was one, who does or arranges for those tasks. Lila does give Grace purpose – in the form of a charge – to learn what happened to Lila’s missing, presumed dead, mother. This challenging journey reflects the changing times despite cultural expectations, and reveals some twists you might not see coming. Like Mother, Like Mother is in development for a television series.
Rieger, a graduate of Columbia Law School, has worked as a residential college dean at Yale and as an associate provost at Columbia, as well as taught law to undergraduates at both schools. Her two previous novels are The Heirs and The Divorce Papers.

This is a multigenerational story of 3 women-Zelda, the missing mother, who was institutionalized by her abusive husband; her daughter Lila, raised by her father and becomes a powerful journalist and detached mother of Grace, who was mostly raised by her father as well. Grace writes a book about her mother and also tries to find out what really happened to Zelda. The narrative is a bit uneven--at times, I couldn't put the book down and other times, I struggled to focus on the page. But overall, I enjoyed this one much more than I thought I would.

A compelling family saga that explores the complexities of family dynamics, ambition, and the secrets that shape our lives. The writing is crisp and evocative painting a vivid picture the characters struggles and triumphs. I found the story thought provoking.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I truly disliked the mother character, Lila, so much in the beginning of this book that by the time it got to the political crux of the storyline, I immediately put this book down and decided not to finish. Not for me.

While I believe this was a well written story, the genre was not my cup of tea. Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the advanced copy!

"Like Mother, Like Mother" is a captivating exploration of generational secrets, familial bonds, and the complex dynamics between mothers and daughters. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Detroit and the cutthroat world of American media, the novel masterfully delves into the life of Lila Pereira, a woman who rises to the top by sacrificing everything, including her relationship with her daughters. The author skillfully weaves a narrative about ambition, power, and the hidden truths that shape the paths of three generations of women, each struggling to reconcile their past with their future.

The novel shines with its well-developed characters, particularly the poignant portrayal of Grace, Lila’s youngest daughter, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery while grappling with the legacy of her mother’s choices. The complex emotional landscape explored in "Like Mother, Like Mother" invites readers to reflect on identity, family history, and the weight of secrets that are passed down through the generations. This thought-provoking and richly layered story is an unforgettable tribute to the complexities of family and the forces that define us.

“Like Mother, Like Mother” by Susan Rieger is the story of three generations of women. Lila was brought up believing her mother (who had been committed to an insane asylum by her abusive husband) had died. As an adult, she focused only on work, leaving the childraising to her (sainted!) husband. Her youngest daughter writes a fictional account of her mother’s life, and speculates that her grandmother Zelda didn’t die all those years ago and went on to live a different life.

There were parts of this novel I found to be really fascinating and parts I thought that dragged a bit. I didn’t find the characters to be all that appealing, to be perfectly honest. I think I liked the premise of the store more than the actual story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC of this novel. My opinion is my own.

This story is so immediately engrossing. I’ll never forget the character of Lila. She is so fully drawn - brash and unapologetically herself. I enjoyed the multigenerational plot. It was fascinating to watch Grace examine and wrestle with the lives of her foremothers and what the past will mean for her future. I appreciate that the characters are messy and real, but also easy to empathize with.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Like mother, like mother was an excellent read. I loved the writing and it was propulsive. Great character study. I would read more from this author.

I sadly did not enjoy this book! I thought the premise was super interesting but the story was very slow for me and I never wanted to pick it up after finishing a chapter. It wasn’t awful but I am excited to be done with it.

I love a good multigenerational family drama and this book did not disappoint. I loved the exploration of motherhood and how Lila's decisions affected her marriage, her relationship with her children, and her career. This is the perfect book to just sit back and go along for the ride as we learn about each of the characters and their lives. Powerful, well-written, and thought-provoking.

Like Mother, Like Mother covers three generations of women and how their lives were intertwined as mothers and daughters. Lila had risen to the top of the journalism world in Washington D.C. as an ambitious journalist at the cost of her family life. She had three daughters with Grace, the youngest, wishing her mother was like other mothers by joining the PTA and watching after school activities. Grace is curious about her mother's life growing up. There was always a question about what happened to Lila's mother, which Lila had not explored. Grace is curious and wants to learn more about the mysteries and secrets about her family. Like Mother, Like Mother is fast-moving with a lot of complicated relationships and not so perfect people, but reinforces the importance of our families.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of Like Mother, Like Mother.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I think I really like family dramas. I right away was engaged and loved following the main character. I lost a little focus in the middle and didn't love some of the supporting characters-it didn't feel as exciting, but the ending made up for that. This book left me thinking and reflecting which I always love! I would definitely read more from this author.

One of the best I’ve read this year. I liked the writing… the conversations were deep, philosophical, and down to earth. The characters were interesting and the story of a lost mother and how it affected the children was intense.

I feel like I’m doing something wrong here. Only 32% in on my kindle and I have zero desire to read and/or finish. This one has gotten rave reviews from people I respect as readers so tabling this for another time.

I really enjoy multi-generational stories and Like Mother, Like Mother was a very interesting look at how trauma shapes a family.

Lila Pereira is very young when her mother is sent to an insane asylum and eventually dies. Or so she is led to believe. Zelda's absence from her life shapes Lila into a high-powered and successful newspaper editor. But her success comes with a loss and that is her relationship with her husband and three daughters. Lila's daughter, Grace, resents her mother's absence which moves her to do her own research about the family. In the end, she discovers things about her family and herself that helps her resolve her issues with her mother.

This was an interesting read - there is a lot of dialogue and a lot of "she said" and "he said." The quick banter back and forth between characters reminded me a lot of an Aaron Sorkin show. At times the story felt unnecessarily long, but it was a good read that made me think.

TL;DR: When Ann Napolitano’s editor tells you to drop what you’re doing and read a book, you listen. And I’m glad I did, because Susan Rieger’s LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER is one of the loveliest surprises of the fall. Without spoiling or sharing my full review (yet), I fell head-over-heels in love with this multigenerational story about a family of strong, complex women, in particular matriarch Lila Pareira, a switchblade carrying badass mom and journalist who actually dies in opening of the book (not a spoiler!), but whose force of nature personality hangs heavy over the other characters in the book and leaves an indelible mark on readers (I’d like to think she would have approved of today’s outfit choice!!). This is emotional and funny and sharply-written and perfect for fans of Napolitano, Claire Lombardo, and Meg Wolitzer. It feels especially timely given the recent headlines about prominent newspapers avoiding endorsements. As if I wasn’t already struggling to narrow down my TOP TEN books of the year, this one just made it a little bit tougher.

Like Mother, Like Mother is a fierce, intergenerational saga that explores the complexity of family, ambition, and hidden secrets. At the heart of the story is Lila Pereira, the youngest of three siblings, who grew up with the trauma of an abusive father and the mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance. As Lila claws her way to the top of The Washington Globe, leaving her role as a mother in the “optional” column, the story weaves through the lives of three generations of women. There’s a quiet tension between what Lila’s daughters, especially Grace, feel about her absence and how it fuels Grace’s eventual bestseller about her mother. The novel delves into the powerful, sometimes painful, ways family traits and regrets are passed down, and the generational impact of secrets that can rewrite lives.

What really captured me was the rich character development and compelling dialogue that kept me hooked throughout. I was always eager to pick up the book again to keep following their stories. At the center of this tangled web is Zelda, the grandmother whose life was erased but whose presence lingers, unforgotten. This novel is a gripping look at family dynamics, personal ambition, and the truths that shape us, even when we try to bury them

This was a very special book about family and how the apple does not fall to far from the tree. Three generations of women tied together by the goings and comings of life, all interconnected in an unpredictable way. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.