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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Though I’m not usually a big reader of speculative fiction, I really enjoyed this book. It helped me reflect on the unrealistic standards that our society puts on mothers, amplified by social media and all of the other mediums of parenting advice. The story also highlighted the spectrum of expectations and consequences based on race, gender, etc.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I think I like dystopian novels?? In 2025??
I found this really hard to put down. The protagonist is flawed from the start but you really warm to her. The book is full of diverse perspectives and complex characters. Would have been nice to see some of the social workers/school workers show some warmth or empathy because they were quite black-and-white 2D authoritarian etc without showing much humanity.
I also wish Meryl’s death was more of a big deal in the story though, it seemed quite rushed and glossed over towards the end of the book, when she was actually a very prominent character in the story.
I found this really hard to put down. The protagonist is flawed from the start but you really warm to her. The book is full of diverse perspectives and complex characters. Would have been nice to see some of the social workers/school workers show some warmth or empathy because they were quite black-and-white 2D authoritarian etc without showing much humanity.
What the fuck.
One thing I will say, I loved the style of writing. Everything was perfunctory. The long chapters flew by. I ate this book UP once she got to the school. I could imagine everything playing out the way that it did even though this book shouldn’t feel realistic. Motherhood is so complex. Our government having a hand in all things women’s bodies and children’s lives is so fuckedddddddd up. I hope Harriet finds peace and happiness
One thing I will say, I loved the style of writing. Everything was perfunctory. The long chapters flew by. I ate this book UP once she got to the school. I could imagine everything playing out the way that it did even though this book shouldn’t feel realistic. Motherhood is so complex. Our government having a hand in all things women’s bodies and children’s lives is so fuckedddddddd up. I hope Harriet finds peace and happiness
Well-written and compelling, but so grim that I enjoyed not a single second of it.
Yes, this book is dystopian. BUT, as someone who was a foster mother and who sat in family court several days so I could testify FOR the mother whose children were in my care, it also rings true. I couldn't put this book down because I had to know what happened to Frida but this book kept me awake for hours after I finished it. Because I fear that we aren't far from parts of this book coming true. BUT the writing was incredibly engaging and the characters were well written.
Didn't finish. Read up to chapter 5 but couldnt get into it
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to say that my opinion may very well be refined by the smart perspectives offered by my book club beloveds, and I'm not a mom, so that could also make my experience different, but as of right now, I am pretty frustrated with this book.
I do not believe a book is successful if every one of my critiques feels like it has to be followed with "but maybe that was the point." It was very hard to get to know Frida as a character - by the end, I didn't know if I could trust her as a reliable narrator. but maybe that was commentary on how society views and reduces mothers . I hated the way race was described and used. The author is a woman of color, but it felt like she (and by extension, Frida) was aware of any critiques that may come down on one (racialized) version of motherhood, so she had to constantly reference other women of color, either in their own asides or in Frida's observations and experiences of anti-Asian racism. It just made all the side characters come off as cariactures. but maybe that was the point .
Overall, I am sad to say that while this idea had great potential, it all felt half-baked. The ending was tragic and obviously Frida was doomed by the narrative, but it failed to elicit emotions in me that felt genuine and specific to this story, and not just the narratives of motherhood I am already familiar with.
I do not believe a book is successful if every one of my critiques feels like it has to be followed with "but maybe that was the point." It was very hard to get to know Frida as a character - by the end, I didn't know if I could trust her as a reliable narrator. but maybe that was commentary on how society views and reduces mothers . I hated the way race was described and used. The author is a woman of color, but it felt like she (and by extension, Frida) was aware of any critiques that may come down on one (racialized) version of motherhood, so she had to constantly reference other women of color, either in their own asides or in Frida's observations and experiences of anti-Asian racism. It just made all the side characters come off as cariactures. but maybe that was the point .
Overall, I am sad to say that while this idea had great potential, it all felt half-baked. The ending was tragic and obviously Frida was doomed by the narrative, but it failed to elicit emotions in me that felt genuine and specific to this story, and not just the narratives of motherhood I am already familiar with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Abandonment