A review by t0ast_and_t3a
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a wild story. Unhinged, unstable, and unfiltered. There are times I literally said aloud, what the f*ck, but I couldn’t put it down. The main character is desperate to be loved and to love people the way she wasn’t when she was younger, and is willing to go to great lengths to attain this love. She’s functional, but we’re taken through her mental instability through her never-resting mind. It makes you question the reality of those around you and what exactly is going on in their heads.

The imagery and the way the author shows the MCs mental instability and obsessions is truly  intriguing. The language and voice are so well done, and the themes and overall plot are evenly balanced.  

Check your trigger warnings: mostly mental illness references and portrayals, but some mention of child neglect and rape (one scene where it’s on page and a couple references of memories).