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buckshelves's review against another edition
This book’s premise is f*ed. Should be shelved in Horror.
chrism11's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
couts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
life_full_ofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of the hardest books I’ve ever read. Dystopian isn’t really my genre, and I didn’t realize this was Dystopian until I started reading it. Mothers are judged so harshly in our society and this novel takes that and stretches it out in such a way that had me gasping and crying at times. My heart hurts for Frida and the rest of the mothers who were sent to The School For Good Mothers and were held to impossibly high standards. I was all set to give this 5 stars because I could not put it down and it had me feeling all the feels, but I ended up hating the ending. I feel the author could have done a little more to end it a bit more tidily.
stac_bend's review against another edition
4.0
This book was rough to read at times and truly made you hate social workers throughout most of the book. The whole concept and storyline was wild, but still very creative. As it escalated, it started to feel like I was reading an Ayn Rand novel or started to feel very The Giver-ish. The entire concept of The School for Good Mothers is mind blowing and a truly scary concept. Overall, I give it 4 stars because I felt I needed more from the ending after such a long, gut wrenching story.
naomikops's review against another edition
2.0
if you already know that women and POC are oppressed, you don't really need to read this unless you enjoy reading a book that never lets you feel an ounce of any positive emotion (i know yall are out there)
kimabill's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars. I tagged this book as sci-fi, but I'm not sure that is totally accurate, and if that turns you off from reading it, pretend I didn't say that. The book takes place in perhaps a near future or perhaps an alternate reality in which everything is pretty much the same except for some enhanced technology and enhanced government/authority intervention in people's lives. In the book, the main character Frida has a day of bad judgement where she leaves her toddler daughter alone at home for over two hours. When she is turned in by a neighbor, her custody of her child comes into question. Cameras are installed in her home observing everything she does while separated from her daughter, making sure she feels guilty enough, that she is spending enough time cleaning and cooking and showing what a "good mom" she can actually be. Eventually she is sent to the titular school where she has to spend a year with other "bad moms" learning how to be a perfect mother. The moms at the school (and at the separate, and of course, much less populated school for bad dads) have a curriculum where they learn everything from "motherese" to changing diapers to morality to protecting their children from molesters and car accidents, all while being 100% loving at patient at all times. There are penalties for not being perfect, and their performance in the school is what determines whether they will ever see their children again. It is an incredible depiction of the unreasonable expectations put on mothers to be perfect at all times, and the ambivalence that many parents feel towards parenthood. I recommend this one to everyone.
rockbottom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This reminds me of the handmaid's tale, so disturbing and sad!!!