A review by lilacs_book_bower
Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

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. 
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