Reviews with content warning for Violence - Just Like Mother

I found this book very predictable, but oddly enough, I think it had a positive effect on the reading experience. It’s like I know what’s going on, you know what’s going on, everybody knows what’s going on except our main character, Maeve, whose desperation for love and belonging along with recent tragedy are clouding her judgement to a severe degree. I thought the “twist” ending (meh) was a bit much, though.

It would have been much better if it had been subtler, rather than essentially confirming the reader’s suspicions about the adoptive mother being involved with a cult. I think that about a lot of horror with a “bad ending,” though. Sometimes less really is more and a vague ending is more sinister and disquieting than spelling it all out for the reader.

Content Warnings

amsswim's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

More of a 3.75 to me but I still enjoyed this book a lot. For people looking for a cult story this is for you. Warnings for SA and pregnancy horror though because it is heavy in that.

Predictable I'd say but not in the worst way, almost a sad and pitying way. The main character being blinded by so much.

Not fir everyone but a good horror read

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stocker09's review

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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lilacs_book_bower's review

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Check the content warnings on this one! I don't want to spoil but rape and pregnancy/fertility are heavily featured. Our main character Maeve was a child when she escaped a cult that worshipped Motherhood, and lost all her family. Years later, her long lost cousin shows up, rich and powerful, wanting to connect, and VERY interested in babies, fertility, and motherhood. Maeve is excited to re-connect. The more I think about this book, the more ridiculous it gets. I think with a book like this you probably know what you are getting yourself into, and it held my attention certainly. But the main character makes some of the dumbest decisions; I would be here all day if I were to list them all. She has people who are determined to control aspects of her life to get what they want, but she really isn't as powerless as she thinks she is. She acknowledges the red flags and then just breezes past them. There are also some dangling plot threads or holes that don't get resolved.

The mother that looks most like Amanda and Maeve is maybe A's mother, but since they are cousins, where is M's mother/the other Mother's sister? And if adult Susie looks a lot like they do, isn't she probably a half-sister or cousin? Surely, the other mother should still be around in the cult? And if Susie looks similar, although not as identical as A and M, why not just use her for having another baby? She is there and willing, unlike Maeve. Babies don't always look exactly like their mothers. Also, good grief, why did Maeve think she could wait 4 months to have an abortion? Make that conditional on your cooperation. That is not something you can wait out.

The end is an appropriate "gotcha!" thriller ending, so I will give credit for that. The baby dolls are supposed to add a creep factor, but I thought they just felt random and didn't especially affect the main plot. This was an entertaining way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but it will just leave me with an impression of ridiculousness.

Content Warnings