Review - Mothered by Zoje Stage

Synopsis -

Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.

But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.

When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.

Review -

Mothered opens with a bit of a bang, with a therapist reading a file about a brutal murder. The expectation is that we are about to go on a thrilling ride, but instead, we get a slow burn read where you never really know what's real and what isn't.

This is a book that is sure to be divisive given it's slow and steady approach, but it's one that I'm glad I stuck with.

It's spooky to watch Grace's dreams filter into her real life, to the point where you are unsure of what you are reading is happening in the house or in her head.

Set during the pandemic and isolation, there is a real feeling of claustrophobia and the inability to escape the trauma you know is coming.

Mothered is certainly not for everyone, but I thought it was well written and was an engaging read. You can nab your copy by clicking HERE.

4 stars out of 5