I never thought I would sympathize with the”evil” stepmother from Cinderella, and yet here we are.

An insanely good book with a strong FMC that did not let anything hold her down. It was so much more than another POV of Cinderella. At its core, it’s a story about womanhood. Woman are resilient, and no one is more resilient than a mother protecting her children. Lady Tremaine simply wants the best for her girls, and would do anything for them. It’s not her fault the ugly truths came out, if anything it only proves how much love she has for her girls and what she would do for them. She is not evil, she is a woman full of grief in a hard situation. I will never look at Cinderella the same.

Rachel Hochhauser is now on my radar, and she will not be going anywhere. I will immediately be buying and reading anything she puts out.

Lady Tremaine was one of those books that you just know will stick with you for a long time. I wasn't expecting to be wowed by this book but I can see myself reading it multiple times. I loved how all of the characters were so dynamic and how the story all tied together perfectly in the end. I would give more detailed praise but I don't want to give any of the plot away. Would definitely recommend this book.

I had (and still have) high hopes for this book. The first several chapters are intriguing, and the prose is solid.

However, the file was formatted in such a way that it made taking my usual accessibility measures for reading difficult, and I was not able to read more than a few chapters before the strain became too bothersome to continue. I'm not sure if this is an isolated incident, but I'll be keeping an eye out for an official e-book copy that will hopefully mitigate these issues so I can continue reading when this book is published.

I absolutely loved Lady Tremaine! From the very first page, I was swept into Etheldreda’s world—a twice-widowed mother clinging to the scraps of respectability left to her, fighting tooth and nail to protect her daughters in a society that would just as soon watch them drown. Rachel Hochhauser takes the “evil stepmother” of Cinderella and turns her inside out, showing us not a villain, but a flawed, fiercely determined woman doing the impossible to keep her family afloat.

Ethel is quick-tempered and resentful at times, but also deeply loyal, maternal, and achingly person. Her crumbling manor, the razor-taloned falcon at her side, the suffocating demands of society - it all felt so vivid and real. And when the royal ball offers her the chance she’s been waiting for, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The moral tension, the secrets lurking in the royal family, the gut-punch of her final choices… it all made for such a powerful, moving read.

What I loved most is how Hochhauser transforms a character we’ve all thought of as heartless into someone I’ll never see the same way again. This is as much a story about motherhood, resilience, and survival as it is a fairy-tale retelling, and it’s beautifully written without ever being overdone.

A quick but unforgettable read that left me emotional, inspired, and eager for more from this author. If you love morally complex fairytales that flip the script, Lady Tremaine is a must-read!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

That feeling when you crack open a book and without warning…it sweeps you into its world so completely you don’t want to come up for air. Every page pulls you deeper, leaving you insatiable, craving more. That’s THIS book! You can’t read fast enough, yet you want to savor every word and every emotion! An absolute brilliant book. I need more!!!

This was an interesting take on Cinderella, told from the stepmother’s point of view. I did like how Etheldreda was portrayed as more layered and resilient, but since I’ve always loved the original Cinderella story, I think I struggled with the big changes in this retelling. The prince having ulterior motives was an unexpected twist, but overall this one just didn’t fully click for me.

At first I wasn’t sure about it, it was the first 1/3, maybe slightly less, when we are getting to know Lady Tremaine and her backstory that it felt really slow to me but once they were invited to the palace ball and all the threads began to come loose, I couldn’t put it down. I’m not one for retellings, but I wanted to try something new, and I’m so glad I did. I’m so glad I told myself to keep reading because Oh, boy, was that a fun ride! I will definitely be checking out Ms Hochhauser’s future books.

This is a retelling of Cinderella told through the stepmothers eyes. You follow Etheldreda through both of her marriages and the aftermath after the death of each husband. This retelling does not follow the Cinderella story we are familiar with, in this story we see Etheldreda tries to do what is best for her daughters as well as her stepdaughter. While there is some resentment towards her stepdaughter, Elin, Ethel does show that she does care for her stepdaughter and tries to do what she can to protect all her daughters. Ethel has had to fight for what she has in life and is a resilient character. When the Prince enters the story, you learn he has ulterior motives and he's not so charming after all.

A fun and interesting retelling with no magic involved. A quick, entertaining read.

I was worried about two things going into this story.

1. Would it follow the Disney Cinderella story too closely?
2. Would it stray from the Disney Cinderella story too much?

The answer, to both questions, is no. It was done beautifully.

In it we meet Lady Ethel Tremaine and her daughters as they struggle to run a household & maintain appearances after Ethel is widowed for the second time. When word of a ball for the Prince spreads, Ethel aims to receive an invitation for all three of her daughters. But everything changes when the prince chooses her stepdaughter as his bride.

This book is for such a wide array of people. Those that love the traditional Cinderella story. Those that love Lady Tremaine from Cinderella. Those that hate Lady Tremaine. And everyone in between. It has strong Bridgerton vibes, and explores the power of a mother's love and the independence of women. The story also has one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a long time, but my favorite part was the brilliantly crafted nod to Lucifer the cat from the Disney movie.

What a clever retelling of the Cinderella story realistic in the telling and beautifully written. I was a bit leery at the start of the book by the unnamed character introducing the story, but once she was identified is was full sails ahead. I liked that Lady Tremaine was portrayed as neither cruel or sweet: she was just a mother trying to care for three girls. I liked the clever twists in the story and that tale was modern on some ways but still maintained a fairytale-like setting.

This is the story you know, but not exactly. After two sudden losses, Etheldreda is left with three children and no money. She hustles and schemes to maintain the façade of wealth, hoping to secure a future for her daughters in a world that doesn't place any value on just being a human being. When the prince takes an interest in her spoiled stepdaughter, it may be the way out of their mess.

This is a very engaging and well written retelling of Cinderella. I loved the focus on female relationships of many different kinds, and the way that women have to maneuver in the world to survive. The growth in Ethel is done very well, and I loved to read it. I enjoyed the remove from romance and the focus on solidarity, family, and what it means to be a mother. The fight scene towards the end was very well done. Love that for him.

What a great concept! A retelling of Cinderella from the POV of the evil stepmom. But is she really evil, or just looking out for the best interests of all her daughters? And what if the 'prince' is not all he's cracked up to be, hiding dangerous family secrets and ulterior motives?

Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley (what a name!), or just Ethel, twice widowed and burdened with a crumbling manor, two daughters, and a stepdaughter, she must navigate ruinous expectations in a society where respectability is her only safety net. When a royal ball offers the slimmest chance of redemption, Ethel is forced to choose between her daughters’ futures and the stepdaughter she never intended to love. Upon investigating a potential suitor, dark secrets are revealed, and Ethel must decide if this is the best course of action for her stepdaughter.

The author does a great job developing Ethel's character and crafts a sympathetic portrait of a woman overwhelmed by duty, loss, and impossible choices, with a feminist twist. It's a portral of motherhood, womanhood, and the persverance many of us have to go through in our day to day activities.

You'll be rooting for Ethel and all her daughters as the story progresses. Beautifully written and an amazing debut!

This book was a lot of fun - a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Charles Dickens - and a lot of original plot. You're so sure you know where the story line is going, and then a delightful twist. Besides who doesn't love a story about strong, resourceful women?

A very very good book. The hard work of motherhood and the growth of her children, it was all so beautiful. In the end, the main character also had a growth of character. The characters were all multidimensional. And it was good.

This was a really interesting take on the fairytale I thought I knew. Lady Tremaine in the fairytale is just ‘wicked’, and this delves into the woman behind the wickedness. I enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters, and the surprise twist of ‘the bad guy’ was interesting at the end. I love strong female characters and this story had them in spades.

Lady Tremaine is a reframing of the beloved story of Cinderella but told from the step mother's point of view. If you are expecting a retelling of the story you know and love but with an evil twist you will be surprised. This is a story of the strength and resilience of a mother and her children. And to show you that sometimes the happily ever after fairytale ending isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins, and Rachel Hochhauser for an early copy of this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

As someone whose all-time favorite Disney princess is Cinderella, I was ecstatic to see Rachel Hochhauser flip the script and hand the mic to the so-called “wicked” stepmother. Spoiler: she might not be wicked at all—just a fiercely determined woman doing whatever she can to protect her girls in a world that isn’t kind to women.

This isn’t your glass-slipper, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo Cinderella. There’s no fairy godmother magic, the prince isn’t exactly the charming dreamboat you remember, and the stepmother? She’s layered, complex, and maybe even the real hero here. I loved how this story gave her depth, humanity, and a backbone of steel while still weaving in all the courtly intrigue and drama I crave in a fairytale retelling.

Captivating from page one and brimming with female resilience and quiet rebellion, Lady Tremaine is a must-read for anyone who loves a clever twist on a classic. Five stars—my inner princess is very pleased. 👑✨

I love fairytale retellings, especially when it’s twisted and this retelling of Cinderella, told through the perspective of the wicked stepmother, was just that; twisty with great characters. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings.

A twisted fairytale retelling of Cinderella from the stepmothers pov. Maybe she isn't the villain of the story and is just trying her best to be a good mom. In this version of the story, the stepmom is truly trying to help all the girls, and you'll be surprised by how some of the characters are portrayed. I really enjoyed this version. ya appropriate.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. In this Cinderella reimagining, readers get the perspective of the mean step-mother. Etheldreda has been through life's downs, and is left to raise two complicated daughters on her own. She is stoic on the outside, clinging to her family's good name. Her wish is to see her daughters enter into families with money or prestige, but when a plan for the royal family winds up going the wrong direction for Etheldreda, she must choose between the wellbeing of her daughters or their security.

As a major fan of retellings, I can decidedly say that this book is on my list of some of my favorite retelling stories. I loved the perspective of Etheldreda - I loved that the author made her a strong woman, and a woman that any mother could also relate to. Etheldreda really is left to interpretation; she does make cutting moves, but there is a root to her actions and that root has a strong foundation. This is a great addition to any reader looking for new depth into Cinderella.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.