A review by mialicia
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.25

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I think it's the fastest I've read one of its length? The premise is intriguing, the idea of the school and how mothers are scrutinized very Handmaid's Tale-esque. Almost like a prequel to it. I was beyond frustrated the entire time reading it; for the mothers, for Frida, for everyone except the men, really. It was all completely unfair and cruel, what these people were doing. How it was so obviously wrong. I wanted to learn more about the world at large, the dolls, what happens next. I won't ever read it again because it's too depressing and heart-breaking, but the writing was excellent, and the idea of love presented in such a visceral way.