What a beautifully written novel. Katya Apekina's prose is stunning. I can't believe I've never heard of this author before. I will definitely be reading her previous work now. This novel focuses on generational trauma. I loved reading the great grandmother's backstory. It was so intriguing and intense. I loved the present time as well. I loved every character, and I loved how the main character was complexed and aggravating. Relatable characters and a wacky plot equals a brilliant novel from start to finish.

Thank you, Netgalley and Abrams for the digital ARC.

Mother Doll was written in a zippy, peppy, trying-to-please style that bodes well for its success but man I just could not buy into it, or into this story. I call this style ‘laddish’, and it works fine for almost every reader I know, and other authors who adopt this style (I’d include Patrick Dewitt and Kevin Wilson and Nathan Hill and Melissa Broder in the ‘laddish writing’ category) are beloved, but for me the danger in this style of writing is that it’s continually calling attention to itself, not in a showy literary way, but in an attempt-to-be-disarmingly vernacular way. The style is so few-shucks disarming that the story itself needs to be full of unexpected happenings but that mustn’t try too hard, or it gets twee. For me the balance here was off. Even so I’m amazed at how differently Apekina has told this story vs her debut and I remain a fan looking forward to reading what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of "Mother Doll”

This novel skillfully navigates the nuances of the human experience. "Mother Doll" is not just a story; it's a powerful examination of the lasting impact of our roots and the intricate threads that connect generations. A must-read for anyone seeking a profound and beautifully crafted narrative.

Just a really good book. The story was complex and even demanding at times, but I found it easy to lose myself in the writing style (that's not to say that it was simple; it just flowed perfectly). Also, look at that cover!

Apekina's debut novel The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish, was one of my top reads for 2019 (...and was just as good a second time around in a reread last year), and I was eagerly awaiting a follow-up - now that it's finally here (or almost - it won't be published till March 2024, but through the generosity of Netgalley and Overlook/Abrams, I was granted access to an ARC - with my heartfelt thanks!) ... it was definitely worth the wait.

Apekina's story this time is even more complex, but her prose is still compulsively readable - I read 60% of it just today, as I literally couldn't put it down. The synopsis above tells you all you really need to know about what it's about - but you really do get incredibly involved in these characters lives, tragedies and triumphs. I really hope it justifiably catapults the author into the top ranks of bestselling and prize-winning authors - it's just that good.

I absolutely loved this book. Family stories usually aren't the best fit for me, especially not when we're moving between timelines, but this one kept me captivated. The prose is beautiful, and the pacing is smart and sharp, I really appreciated how delicately and surprisingly the writer handled intergenerational trauma and abuse. Smart, compelling, and unique, this one feels like a book to be studied.

From the first paragraph until the end of the book I was intrigued with this story. It was way different than most books but I still enjoyed the experience of reading it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.