Just Like Mother

Written by Anne Heltzel

Narrated by Elizabeth Evans

Spine-chilling and sharp, Anne Heltzel's Just Like Mother is a modern gothic from a fresh new voice in horror, and “is set to be one of the year's most talked about books” (Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author).

*A Most Anticipated Title by LitReactor, Bloody Disgusting, Book Riot, The Line Up, CrimeReads, Goodreads, and more!*

The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything—and everyone—at a safe distance.

When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry—baby fever comes with the territory.

The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come…

"A fierce, frightening novel."—Rachel Harrison, author of The Return and Cackle

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250856210

Anne Heltzel

Anne Heltzel was born in Ohio and earned her MFA from the New School. She's written two other novels: Circle Nine and The Ruining (published under Anna Collomore). Anne is a book editor who lives in Brooklyn. Visit her website at www.anneheltzel.com.

Reviews for Just Like Mother

[jessica3moffitt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's not often I wish a book was longer, but WOW. I could have spent weeks reading this. It does leave you wanting a little more, but it's one of the most unique story lines with so many twists and reveals throughout. LOVED IT.

[Anja Henriksen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm glad I gave it a chance though I was close to abandon it short in wow an incredible uncomfortable story

[Jennifer Hutcheson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ahhh this book was so good. The atmosphere was so creepy and I was so unsettled at parts. I felt for Maeve so much I just wanted her to be ok. The way the story wrapped up was fantastic, it had my jaw on the floor. I did feel like some of it was a little slow at parts. But overall a really good creepy book.

[Frankie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was bored most of the way through. The finale seemed rushed & thrown together. It wasn't that interesting of a concept in execution.

[Jay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"A girl would be such a blessing..."

???? ???? ?????? is a creeptastic thriller about the survivors of a cult of "mother-worshipers" that is disbanded by law enforcement and how each of these two young women's lives are shaped by this particular event and their lives before it.

I'm not going to lie, I figured this book out immediately, it was fun though going from point A to Z. There was action. There was drama. There was a crazy woman that wasn't so crazy and a mellow woman that was actually exceptionally psychotic. ?

I feel like I was reading a true crime novel and watching everything happen from the actual crime to the solving. There are some slower points in the story but it really doesn't hurt anything because it's needed to chop up all the dang "Oh my God!" moments. Sometimes you need a reprieve and this one definitely had a few.

Y'all know about me and descriptions, and this one wasn't trying to ram them down my throat but still got its point across.

I really don't know what it was about this book that made me stick with it. I've read getting out of the cult type books and I'm always annoyed. Maybe it was the feminist outlook that I wanted to see playout over the years of the kiddos and how it affected their lives differently (DRASTICALLY) and maybe it was the old school and new school outlook on motherhood. Some people think it's mandatory that women reproduce and it's selfish not to. Some thing they don't need it to feel whole or even on the flipside that its irresponsible to have kids when you don't want them.

I don't know for whatever reason I stuck through it and enjoyed it enough to give them 4.5 stars.

[1428elm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little predictable, but a fun, skin crawly ride nonetheless.