A review by morganjanedavis
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

5.0

Abby longs for a good mother. Her own mother is out of
the question and her mother in law has been nothing but
cold and callous. Ever changing moods, passive aggressive
tendencies, and genuine disdain for Abby has driven them
apart. Until Lauren dies. A new chapter is waiting for Ralph
and Abby now. A fresh start. Abby needs this, this
opportunity to be a functional family and ultimately, to be
mother (NOT A MOTHERTHING), a good mother, a great
mother. Her plan is put into place and seems to be
working…but a mother(THING)'s love knows no bounds.
Lauren is back. Driving Ralph into a dangerous depressive
state, driving Abby to madness. Abby has to act. She has
to stop Lauren, this MOTHERTHING, from destroying her
chance at normalcy; not every mother knows best.

Motherthing is contemporary horror. Sharp, unsettling
energy and visceral imagery guide you on a slow and
steady creep towards insanity.
Hogarth's writing style is hypnotic: I couldn't unpeel myself
from Motherthing. I'm in awe of her ability to articulate the
most mundane events in a way that adds layers of emotion
EVERYTHING adds to the plot so that it becomes heavier,
thick, more pointed as each chapter passes.

The love/bond/wrath of Motherthing is inescapable and
although that feeling is there from the beginning, it festers
and morphs into an oozing (mother) THING that is
smothering, all-encompassing, horrific.

Total annihilation
feels inevitable, and it is.
Motherthing is perfect, a perfect baby. Read it please.

Thank you so much @netgalley & @doubledaybooks for
approving me for one of my fave reads of the year!