But Won’t I Miss Me by Tiffany Tsao takes places in an alternate reality where women get super powers after childbirth when they go through a process called “rebirth.” This book follows Vivi who has gone through the process but something went wrong and she is struggling to keep up with her young child. This is not normal in this reality so she feels judged by all those around her. Will she hit a breaking point?

I need everyone to put this book on their radar because it was so good! The commentary on how society treats women, especially women going through postpartum depressions is searing. This also deals heavily with how women change after childbirth and become a new person and how some women struggle to juggle everything.

There is a mystery throughout this book that kept me flying through the pages. There are also some horrific moments that actually made me stop reading and stare at a wall for a little while. I can see this book being very well received by the right audience so I’m hoping people read it. I know I will be highly recommending it!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC!

Vivi is a new mother who is struggling with her postpartum self. But how could she be? In a world of rebirth, new mothers are expected to become borderline superhuman. So what went wrong? Her marriage falls apart, and she soon has no choice but to get her old job back, and start life anew.

Three words I’d use to describe this book: beautiful, devastating, and uncomfortable. I loved the multicultural experience this book offers. It takes place in Australia and Indonesia, with characters from various cultures, united over their roots and work. Descriptions were very vivid, very engaging, and I found myself coming up with images in my head nonstop. Always fun when books tap into your imagination.

Main story wise, i had complicated feelings for the main character, Vivi. Sometimes I’m feeling empathetic, sometimes i find myself losing patience with her. I love that layered personality that really came with every recurring character. Even till the end, I wasn’t sure how I truly felt.

The horrific bits though really does cement my choice to be childfree. I know this is fiction, but let’s not pretend mothers have it super easy in real life either. Even though I’m not a mother, I have compassion and I felt terrible for the women in the book. The price you pay to give birth… how much sacrifice is considered adequate? Can you live up to expectations? Do you lose yourself? And is that what you truly want?

Absolutely recommend this book to everyone.

"But Won't I Miss Me" by Tiffany Tsao is a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking novel that will linger in your mind long after you finish reading it! 🌟 The story follows a complex and troubled protagonist as she navigates a web of secrets, lies, and identity in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Tsao's writing is lyrical and immersive, perfectly capturing the protagonist's inner turmoil and emotional journey. The characters are complex and nuanced, with motivations that are both believable and unsettling. The plot twists are expertly done, with a few surprises that will leave you questioning everything.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Tsao's exploration of the themes of identity, trauma, and the search for self. The writing is evocative and engaging, making it easy to become lost in the world of the story.

The pacing is deliberate and measured, allowing the story to unfold at a hypnotic pace. The atmosphere is haunting and unsettling, with a sense of unease that permeates every page.

Overall, *"But Won't I Miss Me" is a gripping and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of literary fiction and psychological thrillers*. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your perceptions and stay with you long after you finish it, look no further! 👍

Rating: 5/5 stars

This is one of those books that you have to sit with when you’re done. Tiffany Tsao has created a work that is paradoxically both terrifying and touching.

Vivian is a new mother in an alternate world where women who give birth to babies also give birth to a fetus-sized “clone” of themselves. The “new” mother grows rapidly and eats the birthing mother and takes her place - physically stronger and better equipped to be a successful parent. In this novel, the process is called “Rebirth.” Something seems to have gone wrong with Vivian’s “Rebirth” because she’s exhausted all the time, has a hard time carrying her son, Cloud, and she doesn’t seem to have the instincts and patience new mothers are supposed to have. What unfolds is a story of Vivian’s relationship with Cloud, what happens when her husband wants her to change, and how Vivian finds her own path forward.

This story was depressing. And I’m okay with that, and here’s why. It’s divided into three sections: one from Vivan’s perspective, one from her friend Nina’s perspective, and one from Cloud’s perspective. And the way the book unfolds, we learn so much more about what happens when we lean into the different points of view. As I was reading through Vivian’s section, yes I felt so bad for her for so many reasons, but I’ll admit it seemed to drag from time to time. But when we move into Nina’s section, everything in Vivian’s made so much more sense. This was such a powerful way for Tsao to tell the story, and it makes me want to read it again - knowing what I know now. The horror here is the struggle of just existing every single day in a world where you’re not enough if you’re not the perfect mother.

If you’re a fan of The Substance and The School for Good Mothers - and you’re interested in reading about the debilitating toll motherhood takes on a person, But Won’t I Miss Me is for you. 4.5 stars for me.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first time reading what I would consider to be speculative horror, although it was often toeing the line between horror and scifi. The best part about the horror elements of this story is that they’re subtle and not gratuitous. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a main character that’s put in a horrifying situation while seemingly no other character is bothered. The difference here is that the world inhabited by Vivian, the FMC, and her son, Cloud, is not particularly dystopic or horrifying. Life is continuing as usual, although with a lot of considerations for climate change that don’t currently exist. The only real difference is that women are expected to quite literally die during childbirth as a routine practice and be taken over by a better version of themselves.

I admit I’m not a mother, have never wanted to be, and don’t intend to ever be. I have heard second hand how difficult the judgment is from other mothers about how a mother should act, how she should parent, even how she should feel about being a mother. Despite having no interest in having kids myself, this story did an absolutely stunning job of showcasing exactly how that judgment, that comparison and that shame burrows inside you. What if instead of having to strive to be the perfect mother, it was something granted the day you gave birth? What if you could inhabit a new body that doesn’t have fatigue, that’s stronger, that’s perfectly in tune with your child and their needs?

All you have to do is die.

The second half of the book takes an abrupt turn, but I enjoyed it just as much. It’s too difficult to discuss without spoilers, just know that the story has much more to say than what I’ve gone over in my review. Overall a very enjoyable read and I’m glad I requested it.

This is a sharp, unsettling, and deeply imaginative piece of speculative literary horror that takes the emotional reality of postpartum transformation and pushes it into something mythic, monstrous, and painfully recognisable.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read But Won’t I Miss Me in advance! I’m really grateful to have had the chance to experience this story early!

What stayed with me most was how unsettling and thought provoking the premise is. The idea of literally being replaced after giving birth is such a strange concept, but it raises some genuinely interesting questions about identity and how much of yourself can change during pregnancy and motherhood.

I especially appreciated how the story explores those fears through Vivi’s experience. Even with the unusual concept, the emotions underneath feel very real, and I think a lot of readers will find themselves reflecting on the themes.

Thank you again for sharing this story! I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and review it, and I wish you all the best with the release and your future work!