A review by binreads
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

dark funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this truly is the type of book that when you finish it, you think "what the heck did i just read?" I quite literally threw my book at the other side of the couch afterwards. 

i was expecting more of a ghostly and haunting type of horror book like it marketed as but it actually leans heavily towards a disturbing, psychological horror. i went back and forth whether i was rooting for Abby or hating her. she is WEIRD okay, sometimes i had to reread something she said because i was like "is this girl fr..?" but also she was funny, which is why i'd also be like "okay real"

by the end, I couldn't decide of Laura was a ghost, haunting them all along and purposely causing Abby slowly go crazy and

cause Abby to slice up Janet, which i still can't decide if it was real in the end..

or if Ralph was truly just dealing with the trauma of his mother dying, and began to spiral back into a depression. which then manifested onto Abby's possible delusions of her mother-in-law haunting them...it's all very interesting to think about. 

i keep wondering if this all would've happened if Abby hadn't of had STOLEN THE RING IN THE FIRST PLACE

not for those who get squeamish at bodily functions, gore, blood...things of those nature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Infertility, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy