This book was a challenging read for various reasons. The concept of separating Mother and Child for the length of time that this storyline did made this seem too harsh to be realistic. Mother’s Guilt is a thing, and I felt this book heightened this immensely, playing on the concept people often struggle with trying to be the “perfect parent”, and if they don’t reach that perfectionism, they will be labelled as “bad parents.” I’m all for educating parents, and for some, maternal instincts are not a given, but this read made me feel uncomfortable. The plot was distasteful and not to my personal preferences at all.

Some readers may find this incredibly triggering, and there are references to lots of sensitive subjects. Please do your research before reading.

Actual rating 4.5.
This book is depressing. Especially when you're a mother. Just bear that in mind when you pick it up.
But also this book is brilliant. But mostly depressing.
Highly recommend.

I really wanted to enjoy this book as the write up on the back made it sound intriguing and fun to read, however I was deeply disappointed when I got into. The story was just all over the place which made it difficult for me to enjoy.

Frida Liu is a single mother struggling to work & bring up her daughter Harriet. After a few nights of next to no sleep with a needy toddler she decides to 'nip out' for a few moments. Two hours later she receives a call from the police to say they have her daughter. But for Frida there no slapped wrist & visits from social services. Instead she is dent to a residential school to make her into a 'good' mother.

I hadn't realised that this was a dystopian novel & if I had it might have taken me less time to buy into the idea of this 're-education' of Frida. It is a difficult book to review because I found it quite hard to buy into the story. At the same time I really wanted to know what happened. I was left feeling saddened by the end of it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This was a really fun and unique read. It was also really deep and touching. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

This was definitely the most unique book I've read so far this year. The premise of the plot is so different and I really enjoyed it.

The main character is really well written and I enjoyed her growth in the book. The camp part of the book in particular was excellent.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, having a keen (though critical interest) in feminist dystopia. The resounding effect it had was quite underwhelming, partially because I was conflicted about whether to empathize with the protagonist after what was factually child neglect - maybe the messaging about losing one's personhood after motherhood and how punitively mothers are scrutinized would have had a sharper effect if that wasn't the resounding thought in my mind as I read. I did get a proper sense of the anxiety of being under surveillance and feeling herself being slowly pushed out of her child's life and I did get a sense of the unfairness of how she was treated after her indiscretion - But the focus being so heavily on how she perceived things and not so much on the harm she'd nearly caused, on her daughter's development and the impact of everything on her - it left a lot to be desired on my end. It also lulled quite a bit in the middle of the book and was near impossible to find the motivation to get through at times.

Really enjoyed this book sometimes I felt it was very far fetched at times but totally believable on the next page I couldn't work it out but saying that I could not put it down, thoroughly enjoyable read.

While I felt that this book had a lot of value in terms of its critique of how society views mothers and places at times unrealistic expectations on them, I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped to. (I think that the slow-burn, character driven style was the main problem for me.)

Still, I cared for Frida and found myself moved to tears at times as she struggled with the decisions made for her from those closest to her as well as complete strangers who never saw her as anything more than a "bad mother."

All in all, this was a strong and largely realistic story about motherhood and the way that it could be policed in the future.

Again, it wasn't as thrilling as I was expecting and I really would have liked to see the AI child angle played out a little longer if only to see those in power held accountable for their own abuses but ultimately what Chan brought to the table here was emotional, relatable and moving.

Disturbing.
I did not realise this novel was almost sci-fi, that accounts for the unbelievable elements.
Looked at dispassionately how would funding be approved to lock up women for a year on scant evidence of a biased social worker?
The judgement of the men and women held in the facility is remarkably different.
Briefly Frida has a bad day as a single parent, putting baby Harriet in danger. Although she has the support of her ex-husband, his new partner and a solicitor she is reported and found guilty of being a bad Mother, here the story moves to fantasy as the punishment is incarceration for a year with the odds stacked against the Mothers to have their child returned to them. Cruelty and competition as well as kindness come from the women, just cruelty and discrimination from the staff.
Well written with good character insights. just very dark and disturbing.

I thought this was going to be funny and much more, but sadly, I didn’t enjoy it. I found it really sad that Frida was struggling so much, juggling work, parenting, her husband having an affair. That she slipped up with daughter on one occasion and the whole world turned against her.

Yet, the husband with his new partner seemed to have a charmed life.
I found the book frustrating that Frida had to attend a school to become a good mother and there were so many negatives. It isn’t a book that has stayed with me and I wouldn’t recommend it. The storyline wasn’t nice at all.

This book was one I struggled with. As a Mum myself I am not perfect by any means, but there is no way I would leave my child alone for several hours at home, This is what Frida does and it is made even more odd by the fact she has a job so could presumably afford a child minder, or ask for help? When she looses custody she has a year to prove she's a good mother. The book then got very repetitive and I struggled to read it, The ending also left a lot to be desired, and I felt that it feel flat.

I really wanted to like this book because it seemed so unique, but it just didn't click with me. The story revolves around a mother leaving her baby home alone while she goes to work to pick up some files she's forgotten. I was prepared for that (it's in the blurb) but I just wasn't prepared for how stressful it was to read about it. That, coupled with the character of the passive aggressive father of the baby just left me feeling fed up and I struggled to finish it. The writing was good, the story powerful, and the characters fully formed but it just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Jessamine Chan, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

amazing female dystopian
Frida was such an amazing main character, and was written in a way where you connect with her so deeply.
Kinda wish we had a lot more info on how the government got to the point of this technology and power over parents. It was very interesting to read but I kinda wish the sci-fi element was ramped up a bit.
despite this I am still OBSESSED with the book.
it discusses so many important topics within our society and I urge everyone to read it.
I honestly find it hard to believe this is a debut novel!
4.5stars

I enjoyed this, though took awhile for me to really get into it. A story centred around Frida, a single working mother struggling to juggle what life throws her, and how after making a mistake of leaving her child alone at home, her world crumples and the world of reform school starts. It’s thought provoking intense read. Frida’s character and her struggles to become a better mother are easy to empathise with. The story brings out society’s judgments on parenting.

The premise sounded so good I expected this book to have me on the edge of my seat but something didn’t quite click for me. Maybe the writing style didn’t gel with my brain but I really had to push to finish it. Sorry

It’s very difficult to put this book into words. Especially without spoilers. A lot of this story made me angry. So angry. Not at the author, at the characters. Humans make mistakes. They’re not perfect. But it felt like the standards expected of the mothers in the school were somehow above the average human. Some mistakes are dangerous, some actions are abusive, but I honestly believe in a persons ability to change and do better (more so for the less serious incidents than the serious ones). Especially when we’re talking about a child who is loved immensely. Putting the women through the wringer makes sense. They’ve done bad things. Though it’s debatable whether some of them should be *so severely* punished for their actions. Context is everything. So many things matter in evaluating a persons ability to be a parent. I feel like the school and the judicial process in the story misses so much of this (though I think that’s the point). I was intrigued by the differences in the mothers and fathers schools. There is so much I wish could have happened in this story, so much I wish didn’t happen, yet I did enjoy it. I enjoyed learning about this concept of such an intense school for parenting. The only reason I didn’t mark it a 5 is because of what I feel is missing from the story. Justice? A righting of a wrong? Of a world that doesn’t consider that everything isn’t black and white? I don’t know exactly. But part of me wants a sequel to see what could change…

I actually think this would make a brilliant film! I’d love to see how it would be reimagined on the big screen.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I'm so glad to have read this book. I stayed up late to finish it because I just could not put it down. Whether you think mothers should be punished for the kinds of transgressions depicted in this book, I don't think anyone would agree that this was the way to do it. The narrative is by turns heartbreaking and thought-provoking, particularly in the stark differences between the way the bad mothers and bad fathers are treated, and forces you to contemplate how motherhood is viewed and upheld in our societal norms, and what we could do better. There's also sustained commentary on race and class, and how these factors play into both motherhood and the criminal justice system. Chan is one to watch.

I really enjoy a good dystopian book. This one was ok. I thought that the storyline was very unique and the ideas behind it were very good. I however found it to be rather slow and dragged a little bit in places. But it was ok.

Dystopian is not a genre I would have chosen to venture into until I read The Handmaid's Tale a couple of years ago; and then when I read the blurb for this, Jessamine Chan's debut novel, I was really intrigued.

The story had some similarities to THT with the government always watching, mothers having their children taking away...

And all that had to occur for that to happen was the mother had to take one simple action that could be deemed as bad - although in the MC Frida's case, it was a bit of an extreme - and they had the opportunity to attend a one year government programme to make them "good" again. If they failed - parental rights terminated.

It was a very Big Brother-esque novel, with the women in the programme under constant watch, even down to cameras in the dolls that were their "children" for the duration.

I think it could have been a really good novel but it fell flat in places. I feel the writing was very factual, matter of fact and blunt; it didn't really stir an emotion in me other than the upset of Frida's daughter. And the ending was a bit of let down - I would have liked at least an epilogue.

Although I could see improvements, I would recommend having a read - I think it would make a good book club discussion.

3.5⭐

Frida must learn how to be a good mother again after leaving Harriet at home. The court's order her to learn to become a better mother so she's sent away to learn how to become a better mother.

We feel for Frida as she doesn't live up to her Chinese parents expectations and watch her on this journey to gain her daughter back.