What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mother Act
Set against the sparkling backdrop of the theater world, this propulsive debut follows the complicated relationship between an actress who refuses to abandon her career and the daughter she chooses to abandon instead.
Sadie Jones, a larger-than-life actress and controversial feminist, never wanted to be a mother. No one feels this more deeply than Jude, the daughter Sadie left behind. While Jude spent her childhood touring with her father’s Shakespearian theater company, desperate for validation from the mother she barely knew, Sadie catapulted to fame on the wings of The Mother Act —a scathing one-woman show depicting her maternal rage.
Two decades later, Jude is a talented actress in her own right, and her fraught relationship with Sadie has come to a head—bitterly and publicly. On a December evening in New York City, at the packed premiere of Sadie’s latest play, the two come face-to-face and the intertwined stories of their lives unravel. With years of love, resentment, and misunderstanding laid bare, the questions What are the costs of being a devoted mother and a devoted artist, and who gets to decide if the collateral damage is justified?
Compelling, insightful, and cleverly conveyed as a play in six acts, The Mother Act is equal parts stylish page-turner and provocative exploration of womanhood.
Sadie Jones, a larger-than-life actress and controversial feminist, never wanted to be a mother. No one feels this more deeply than Jude, the daughter Sadie left behind. While Jude spent her childhood touring with her father’s Shakespearian theater company, desperate for validation from the mother she barely knew, Sadie catapulted to fame on the wings of The Mother Act —a scathing one-woman show depicting her maternal rage.
Two decades later, Jude is a talented actress in her own right, and her fraught relationship with Sadie has come to a head—bitterly and publicly. On a December evening in New York City, at the packed premiere of Sadie’s latest play, the two come face-to-face and the intertwined stories of their lives unravel. With years of love, resentment, and misunderstanding laid bare, the questions What are the costs of being a devoted mother and a devoted artist, and who gets to decide if the collateral damage is justified?
Compelling, insightful, and cleverly conveyed as a play in six acts, The Mother Act is equal parts stylish page-turner and provocative exploration of womanhood.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2024
About the author
Heidi Reimer
2 books51 followersHeidi Reimer is a novelist and writing coach. Her front row seat to the theatre world of her debut novel, The Mother Act, began two decades ago when she met and married an actor, and her immersion in motherhood began when she adopted a toddler and discovered she was pregnant on the same day. Her writing interrogates the lives of women, usually those bent on breaking free of what they’re given to create what they yearn for. She loves smart, propulsive stories with complicated characters and deep exploration of the female experience.
Sign up for her biweekly newslettert for honest grappling with the creative process, insight and angst moving from process to product on the road to publication, and deep dives into mother-daughter relationships, maternal ambivalence, and feminist awakening. But in a fun way!
Sign up for her biweekly newslettert for honest grappling with the creative process, insight and angst moving from process to product on the road to publication, and deep dives into mother-daughter relationships, maternal ambivalence, and feminist awakening. But in a fun way!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 25, 2024
Pulsating, filled with tension... if you love mother-daughter relationships, this is the book for you!
Heidi Reimer writes a brilliant debut novel and I am not sure why more people are not talking about it. I flew this read because it was so well written and the theme explored is one of my favouite. The book opens with a daughter who is estranged from ther mother attending the opening night of her mother's show. They have had a very tumultuous relationship, a lot is left unsaid, there is a lot of hurt and no way forward.
Sadie Jones is an actress and feminist who grew up in a very conventional home. Her mom had over 8 children and when she was a teenager Sadie vowed to never give birth. She knew the life she wanted to live required her being child-free and she had this for a long time... until her husband came along. After having her daughter Jude, Sadie Jones left her with her father so she could go live the life she's always wanted for herself. With this decision comes a lot of resentment.
The book is told from the perspective of the mother and the daughter so we can a well rounded look into how each feel about their decisions. The author does a brilliant job of presenting the information and leaving it up to the readers to decide.
I LOVE this book and I cannot stop talking about it.
Heidi Reimer writes a brilliant debut novel and I am not sure why more people are not talking about it. I flew this read because it was so well written and the theme explored is one of my favouite. The book opens with a daughter who is estranged from ther mother attending the opening night of her mother's show. They have had a very tumultuous relationship, a lot is left unsaid, there is a lot of hurt and no way forward.
Sadie Jones is an actress and feminist who grew up in a very conventional home. Her mom had over 8 children and when she was a teenager Sadie vowed to never give birth. She knew the life she wanted to live required her being child-free and she had this for a long time... until her husband came along. After having her daughter Jude, Sadie Jones left her with her father so she could go live the life she's always wanted for herself. With this decision comes a lot of resentment.
The book is told from the perspective of the mother and the daughter so we can a well rounded look into how each feel about their decisions. The author does a brilliant job of presenting the information and leaving it up to the readers to decide.
I LOVE this book and I cannot stop talking about it.
April 2, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
In the beginning, this debut novel was a little slow, and it wasn't until I reached almost the 30% mark that I began to feel invested in the mother-daughter-centric tale. The book presents the chaotic mess of Sadie and Jude's complicated relationship through different points in time. Both women are very talented actresses, which only adds to the complexity of their bond.
I did appreciate how author Heidi Reimer weaves the theatre into both women's personalities and how it helps us see their character growth. I found Damian's character interesting as we see him through Jude's eyes for the first half of the book, and then through Sadie's eyes. This helped me to see his strengths and his flaws.
I have a feeling that this novel would be a good book club selection( Reese Witherspoon, are you listening?).
Why the 3 stars? Well, I have mentioned the slow start. I guess it was the ending, too. Hard to know where all the characters go from here. Liked it but didn't love it.
Expected Publication Date 30/04/24
Goodreads Review 31/03/24
In the beginning, this debut novel was a little slow, and it wasn't until I reached almost the 30% mark that I began to feel invested in the mother-daughter-centric tale. The book presents the chaotic mess of Sadie and Jude's complicated relationship through different points in time. Both women are very talented actresses, which only adds to the complexity of their bond.
I did appreciate how author Heidi Reimer weaves the theatre into both women's personalities and how it helps us see their character growth. I found Damian's character interesting as we see him through Jude's eyes for the first half of the book, and then through Sadie's eyes. This helped me to see his strengths and his flaws.
I have a feeling that this novel would be a good book club selection( Reese Witherspoon, are you listening?).
Why the 3 stars? Well, I have mentioned the slow start. I guess it was the ending, too. Hard to know where all the characters go from here. Liked it but didn't love it.
Expected Publication Date 30/04/24
Goodreads Review 31/03/24
April 20, 2024
It’s still quite early in the year, so this might be a tad premature, but I think I just found my favorite debut of 2024. The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer absolutely blew me away, friends! I could not put it down! It’s no secret that I love family dramas, especially ones with a strong focus on motherhood and marriage. This one checks all of those boxes, and then some. It really dives deep into gender roles and expectations, women’s choices and the sacrifices, weight, burdens, and consequences that all come along with it. The characters were all so wonderfully crafted, realistic, flawed, and deeply complex. The reader receives a “two for the price of one” character study with this mother/daughter duo. The format of the novel is pure gold, as it’s uniquely broken into six acts, and presented to the reader like a play. Very clever!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Drama, theater, and the arts
- Multiple perspectives and timelines
- Family drama, dynamics, and dysfunction
- Complex mother/daughter stories
- Feminist undertones
- Reflections on motherhood and marriage
- Epic love stories
- Character studies
- Strong and ambitious female characters
I really don’t want to say too much else about this fantastic novel. I want you to experience this thought-provoking and messy family drama all on your own. Heidi, your debut gets an enthusiastic “BRAVO!” from me, a huge round of applause, and even a standing ovation. I can’t wait to read more from you in the future. The Mother Act releases on April 30th, and I give it 5/5 stars!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Drama, theater, and the arts
- Multiple perspectives and timelines
- Family drama, dynamics, and dysfunction
- Complex mother/daughter stories
- Feminist undertones
- Reflections on motherhood and marriage
- Epic love stories
- Character studies
- Strong and ambitious female characters
I really don’t want to say too much else about this fantastic novel. I want you to experience this thought-provoking and messy family drama all on your own. Heidi, your debut gets an enthusiastic “BRAVO!” from me, a huge round of applause, and even a standing ovation. I can’t wait to read more from you in the future. The Mother Act releases on April 30th, and I give it 5/5 stars!
May 12, 2024
I don't know what it is about this year but it seems like 2024 is the year for FANTASTIC debut novels!!
I could NOT get enough of this debut about a complicated mother daughter relationship structured in acts with flashbacks we get to know extreme feminist Sadie who never wanted children and even tried to get her tubes tied in her twenties only for her to fall in love and consider motherhood later.
This book is an emotionally raw look at women's choices, the struggles of early motherhood and a celebration that not all women are made to be mothers and sometimes they have to make hard choices even when it hurts the ones they love.
Amazing on audio narrated by Beth Hicks and Lisa Flanagan, this book gives us insight into both the famous actress who abandoned her two year old child to chase her own dreams and that daughter who grew up living in her mother's shadow and yearning to be able to communicate just how much her mother's actions hurt her.
HIGHLY, highly recommended. This is one not to miss and will definitely end up being one of my favorite reads of the year!! I can't wait to see what this Canadian author writes next!!
I could NOT get enough of this debut about a complicated mother daughter relationship structured in acts with flashbacks we get to know extreme feminist Sadie who never wanted children and even tried to get her tubes tied in her twenties only for her to fall in love and consider motherhood later.
This book is an emotionally raw look at women's choices, the struggles of early motherhood and a celebration that not all women are made to be mothers and sometimes they have to make hard choices even when it hurts the ones they love.
Amazing on audio narrated by Beth Hicks and Lisa Flanagan, this book gives us insight into both the famous actress who abandoned her two year old child to chase her own dreams and that daughter who grew up living in her mother's shadow and yearning to be able to communicate just how much her mother's actions hurt her.
HIGHLY, highly recommended. This is one not to miss and will definitely end up being one of my favorite reads of the year!! I can't wait to see what this Canadian author writes next!!
May 8, 2024
Jude Jones-Linnen was raised by her British father Damian, traveling across the U.S. with his Shakespearean theater troupe. Actress Sadie Jones left her daughter and her marriage when Jude was a toddler. Sadie's one-woman play, The Mother Act, put her on the map. It was a shocking, autobiographical account of a woman who didn't want to be a mother. Years later, Jude found a copy of the feminist play and was devastated by it. Sadie eventually re-enters Jude's life on an occasional basis, but the damage has been done. Jude, however, never stops hoping to get close to her mother. Yearning for a true relationship and answers, adult Jude decides to accept her mother's invitation to attend Sadie's off-Broadway performance of a sequel to The Mother Act. The book is told in six acts, and we get the perspectives of both Sadie and Jude throughout the decades. We learn about Sadie's backstory including her hopes and dreams as a teenager. Jude's childhood is heartbreaking - filled with anger and feelings of abandonment leading up to adulthood and her own marriage.
The complexity of motherhood takes center stage in Heidi Reimer's impressive debut The Mother Act. Filled with angst and frustration, it addresses the basic need everyone has - to be loved by their mother. Is Sadie simply a self-absorbed woman who sacrificed the happiness of her child or was she entitled to pursue her own dreams? Not a light, comfy read but it will surely move you. Added appeal for fans of the theater.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The complexity of motherhood takes center stage in Heidi Reimer's impressive debut The Mother Act. Filled with angst and frustration, it addresses the basic need everyone has - to be loved by their mother. Is Sadie simply a self-absorbed woman who sacrificed the happiness of her child or was she entitled to pursue her own dreams? Not a light, comfy read but it will surely move you. Added appeal for fans of the theater.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
August 26, 2024
This book delves into a woman’s choice to remain child-free and focus on her acting career. However, it soon reveals that the woman in question, renowned actress and feminist Sadie Jones, actually has a daughter whom she abandoned. Sadie had written a play called The Mother Act, a biting one-woman show about motherhood.
Sadie’s daughter, Jude, is raised by her producer father and grows up to become a talented actress herself. Jude is reserved and prefers Shakespearean plays, where she can hide behind the words of others, keeping her own thoughts and feelings concealed.
The story takes a turn when Sadie and Jude’s paths cross. These two actresses, who share the love of one man and a blood connection, must navigate whether they can also share their experiences and words.
The Mother Act is a captivating and introspective novel, structured as a play in six acts, offering the perspectives of both mother and daughter. It also provides an insightful look into the world of theatre, production, and entertainment.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and believe it will spark many conversations.
If you loved Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah but you wanted more communication, more exploration, more nuance, The Mother Act is the book for you.
Sadie’s daughter, Jude, is raised by her producer father and grows up to become a talented actress herself. Jude is reserved and prefers Shakespearean plays, where she can hide behind the words of others, keeping her own thoughts and feelings concealed.
The story takes a turn when Sadie and Jude’s paths cross. These two actresses, who share the love of one man and a blood connection, must navigate whether they can also share their experiences and words.
The Mother Act is a captivating and introspective novel, structured as a play in six acts, offering the perspectives of both mother and daughter. It also provides an insightful look into the world of theatre, production, and entertainment.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and believe it will spark many conversations.
If you loved Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah but you wanted more communication, more exploration, more nuance, The Mother Act is the book for you.
May 27, 2024
I have a soft spot for books centered on motherhood. Sadie and Jude’s story became an instant favorite! Feminist actor Sadie abandons her daughter (and husband) when Jude is just a toddler. This multi-timeline story examines how that came about, and the path forward for each of these women as they reckon with Sadie’s decision and how to move ahead in their own personhood. The Mother Act is a layered, complex, and often messy dual character study. Highly recommend! The audio was beautifully narrated by Beth Hicks and Lisa Flanagan.
[Thank you Dutton Books and PRH Audio for the review copy and ALC. All thoughts are my own.]
[Thank you Dutton Books and PRH Audio for the review copy and ALC. All thoughts are my own.]
May 16, 2024
If you like the dynamic between Deborah and Ava on Hacks, you'll definitely enjoy this. It's less funny obviously but the relationship is very similar.
November 6, 2023
DO YOU LOVE COMPLICATED MOTHER/DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS?! Me too!
okay, this one was so good. I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Jude, the fact that she was raised by her father (so often fathers abandon the children) and her mother is so selfish and self centered that she can’t even comprehend why leaving her daughter was uncalled for. The story is written from Jude and Sadie’s perspectives, woven together until they meet in the present day. Holy cannoli- talk about a modern day stance on motherhood, empowerment, generational trauma, and the expectations put on us to be mothers.
Well written, easy read and just so so so well done.
okay, this one was so good. I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Jude, the fact that she was raised by her father (so often fathers abandon the children) and her mother is so selfish and self centered that she can’t even comprehend why leaving her daughter was uncalled for. The story is written from Jude and Sadie’s perspectives, woven together until they meet in the present day. Holy cannoli- talk about a modern day stance on motherhood, empowerment, generational trauma, and the expectations put on us to be mothers.
Well written, easy read and just so so so well done.
April 12, 2024
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! The Mother Act release April 30th
"No one's a villain, everyone's their own protagonist."
"This is real life. There's right and wrong. You can have empathy for another person's perspective, especially someone you've loved, but there comes a point where too much of it is destructive."
Honestly, both quotes are true at the same time. It is extremely difficult to write about two opposing people without villainizing either character. But Heidi Reimer takes it a step further and pushes us to understand both characters and how they perceive each other. Her dazzling debut novel, "The Mother Act" tells the story of an estranged mother and daughter over two decades, set against the backdrop of theatre. The novel is structured like a six-act play, alternating between the perspectives of mother, Sadie and daughter, Judith.
The book opens with Judith nervously deciding to attend her mother's one-woman show, 'The Mother Act' which was written about their relationship.
We are taken back to a young Judith's perspective. She's performing with her father's Shakespearean theatre group and is anxious about meeting her mother after a long hiatus, her mother who abandoned her as a child.
We also meet a young, Sadie Jones before she was Judith's mother. She is a raging feminist striving to make a name for herself in the theatre scene.
Despite sharing a passion for the performing arts, the two are opposites. Judith, an introvert by nature, finds solace in escaping into a new character. Meanwhile, Sadie's strengths lie in dramatizing fragments of her own life. But despite everything, do we ultimately become versions of our parents? Even when we intentionally try to move away from it?
Reimer has crafted a moving and empathetic story of mothers and daughters that leaves you reflecting on motherhood and relationships. What happens when a mother chooses to prioritize herself? Can a mother put her oxygen mask on first? How does that impact those in her life, especially her young daughter, Judith? Is it possible to "reinvent" what it means to be a mother? Can women subscribe to institutions of marriage and motherhood without feeling stuck? Maybe there are no definite answers.
Ultimately, Reimer acknowledges that we are all doing life for the first time and are prone to errors. There may be decisions you regret for how they impacted others but you can still understand that it was a necessary choice.
"No one's a villain, everyone's their own protagonist."
"This is real life. There's right and wrong. You can have empathy for another person's perspective, especially someone you've loved, but there comes a point where too much of it is destructive."
Honestly, both quotes are true at the same time. It is extremely difficult to write about two opposing people without villainizing either character. But Heidi Reimer takes it a step further and pushes us to understand both characters and how they perceive each other. Her dazzling debut novel, "The Mother Act" tells the story of an estranged mother and daughter over two decades, set against the backdrop of theatre. The novel is structured like a six-act play, alternating between the perspectives of mother, Sadie and daughter, Judith.
The book opens with Judith nervously deciding to attend her mother's one-woman show, 'The Mother Act' which was written about their relationship.
We are taken back to a young Judith's perspective. She's performing with her father's Shakespearean theatre group and is anxious about meeting her mother after a long hiatus, her mother who abandoned her as a child.
We also meet a young, Sadie Jones before she was Judith's mother. She is a raging feminist striving to make a name for herself in the theatre scene.
Despite sharing a passion for the performing arts, the two are opposites. Judith, an introvert by nature, finds solace in escaping into a new character. Meanwhile, Sadie's strengths lie in dramatizing fragments of her own life. But despite everything, do we ultimately become versions of our parents? Even when we intentionally try to move away from it?
Reimer has crafted a moving and empathetic story of mothers and daughters that leaves you reflecting on motherhood and relationships. What happens when a mother chooses to prioritize herself? Can a mother put her oxygen mask on first? How does that impact those in her life, especially her young daughter, Judith? Is it possible to "reinvent" what it means to be a mother? Can women subscribe to institutions of marriage and motherhood without feeling stuck? Maybe there are no definite answers.
Ultimately, Reimer acknowledges that we are all doing life for the first time and are prone to errors. There may be decisions you regret for how they impacted others but you can still understand that it was a necessary choice.
March 8, 2024
Firstly, I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. This review is my honest opinion and NetGalley did not censor it in any way before being published.
What shines brightest for me in The Mother Act is that it goes beyond the experiences of an ordinary mother and daughter dealing with how the role of motherhood affects them. In this story both mother and daughter are actors, therefore expressing emotions is both natural and unnatural for them. Acting has been passionately pursued and developed by one, raised on and conditioned into by the other. While it’s visceral for both, expressing themselves through a “character” is also how they preferably choose to navigate through life, and be the lens through how they wish to express themselves when being themselves is less appealing an option. The Mother Act spotlights the push and pull motherhood demands on Sadie Jones, a struggling actor and fervent feminist who’d only ever viewed it as a threat, and how her choices later affect her daughter Jude.
Our formidable Sadie, an unorthodox actor, wears her heart on her sleeve as she spouts enlightenment on top of her feminist soapbox. She is self-centered, selfish, a narcissist that’s hard to like even in the sections told through her perspective. I don’t think Sadie is meant to be liked and there isn’t any real evidence as to why Damian, Jude’s father, is drawn to her. She’s so assertive about her views it doesn’t even settle as overwhelming. Every single time she’s in a scene she mentions how the patriarchy is bad, how motherhood is entrapping for women, being a mother is the worst thing that could happen to a woman, ultimately women should want more for themselves. And I respect those views, however having it dialed to an eleven in every scene she is present in makes her---as one of the two leading characters---unreachable, unrelatable, and makes it hard to believe she has any allies.
Then there’s her daughter Jude, a more classically trained actor and while a gifted performer, timid, and overly cautious about letting anyone too close to knowing the real her. She’s Sadie’s foil in personality where she isn’t in appearance. While on the surface readers will want to side with her without much evidence, Reimer fleshes her out enough that while we don’t blindly accept why Sadie abandoned her, we do see her as flawed as her mother.
The experiences and traumas of their childhoods and the image of how motherhood is understood by the generation before them set the blueprint for how they will go forward in life.
One of the interesting things I enjoyed regarding the portrayal of acting was that both mother and daughter start with unconventional stages but over time explore other mediums of acting—traditional theater performances or film.
Another fun decision Reimer makes to showcase their dynamic is by setting the stage of her novel using a creative, theater-reminiscent, six act structure in lieu of chapters. We get large doses of the past interwoven through snapshots of the present, see-sawing from mother to daughter, offering perspectives from both. Altogether an excellent character study and enjoyable for anyone in or interested in the theater world.
Finally, I absolutely love a title that takes on multiple meanings.
What shines brightest for me in The Mother Act is that it goes beyond the experiences of an ordinary mother and daughter dealing with how the role of motherhood affects them. In this story both mother and daughter are actors, therefore expressing emotions is both natural and unnatural for them. Acting has been passionately pursued and developed by one, raised on and conditioned into by the other. While it’s visceral for both, expressing themselves through a “character” is also how they preferably choose to navigate through life, and be the lens through how they wish to express themselves when being themselves is less appealing an option. The Mother Act spotlights the push and pull motherhood demands on Sadie Jones, a struggling actor and fervent feminist who’d only ever viewed it as a threat, and how her choices later affect her daughter Jude.
Our formidable Sadie, an unorthodox actor, wears her heart on her sleeve as she spouts enlightenment on top of her feminist soapbox. She is self-centered, selfish, a narcissist that’s hard to like even in the sections told through her perspective. I don’t think Sadie is meant to be liked and there isn’t any real evidence as to why Damian, Jude’s father, is drawn to her. She’s so assertive about her views it doesn’t even settle as overwhelming. Every single time she’s in a scene she mentions how the patriarchy is bad, how motherhood is entrapping for women, being a mother is the worst thing that could happen to a woman, ultimately women should want more for themselves. And I respect those views, however having it dialed to an eleven in every scene she is present in makes her---as one of the two leading characters---unreachable, unrelatable, and makes it hard to believe she has any allies.
Then there’s her daughter Jude, a more classically trained actor and while a gifted performer, timid, and overly cautious about letting anyone too close to knowing the real her. She’s Sadie’s foil in personality where she isn’t in appearance. While on the surface readers will want to side with her without much evidence, Reimer fleshes her out enough that while we don’t blindly accept why Sadie abandoned her, we do see her as flawed as her mother.
The experiences and traumas of their childhoods and the image of how motherhood is understood by the generation before them set the blueprint for how they will go forward in life.
One of the interesting things I enjoyed regarding the portrayal of acting was that both mother and daughter start with unconventional stages but over time explore other mediums of acting—traditional theater performances or film.
Another fun decision Reimer makes to showcase their dynamic is by setting the stage of her novel using a creative, theater-reminiscent, six act structure in lieu of chapters. We get large doses of the past interwoven through snapshots of the present, see-sawing from mother to daughter, offering perspectives from both. Altogether an excellent character study and enjoyable for anyone in or interested in the theater world.
Finally, I absolutely love a title that takes on multiple meanings.
August 3, 2024
Wow, what a debut!
I'm a huge fan of family dramas, and The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer was one of the best I've read in a while. Set in the theater world over a series of three decades, Reimer explores mother/daughter relationships and all of the pressures and (sometimes very broken) promises they hold.
I loved seeing the story through multiple perspectives - both of Sadie, an actress and unwitting mother, and Jude, an aspiring actress and very let-down daughter. This would be a great book club pick as the book examines and dissects different aspects and perspectives of motherhood. You find yourself rooting for and deeply understanding these characters, while also admonishing them for making truly terrible decisions.
As a huge fan of Broadway, I loved the backdrop of the theater world and how it was a metaphor for showing up. The characters were rich and multifaceted. The plot was dramatic but never veered into melodrama. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!
I'm a huge fan of family dramas, and The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer was one of the best I've read in a while. Set in the theater world over a series of three decades, Reimer explores mother/daughter relationships and all of the pressures and (sometimes very broken) promises they hold.
I loved seeing the story through multiple perspectives - both of Sadie, an actress and unwitting mother, and Jude, an aspiring actress and very let-down daughter. This would be a great book club pick as the book examines and dissects different aspects and perspectives of motherhood. You find yourself rooting for and deeply understanding these characters, while also admonishing them for making truly terrible decisions.
As a huge fan of Broadway, I loved the backdrop of the theater world and how it was a metaphor for showing up. The characters were rich and multifaceted. The plot was dramatic but never veered into melodrama. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!
February 7, 2024
The Mother Act is a novel written as a six act play imbued with the atmospheric theater world. It is a compelling exploration of what it means to be a mother when you have aspirations to be and do so much more. What is the price of self-fulfillment at the expense of those you vowed to cherish and care for; or of abandonment and how that shapes self-image? And what happens, not only when you choose a path that is unconventional and hurtful to others, but you decide to share intimate details of that decision with the public?
My reaction when reading this book was physical. My heart was pounding as if I was reading a thriller. And a way this was. Family drama can sometimes turn into a symbolic blood bath — there are a myriad of ways to inflict harm on those we supposedly love. I clearly was on Jude, the daughter’s team. Sadie was a difficult person to connect with. But many of us have made concessions that she would not abide. Maybe Sadie, despite her often self serving behavior, was brave and we wished we had some of that bravado.
The story:
Sadie ran away from a traditional, religious family and their expectations when she was 17. She had a larger than life personality and fulfilled her dream to live large and out loud. She became an actress and controversial feminist. Sadie never wanted to be a mother. In fact, she went to great lengths to make sure this would never happen. But then she had a change of heart and Jude was born.
When Jude was two, Sadie left her with her father and never made an attempt to connect with her for six years. After that, there were sporadic, brief visits. Jude grew up with her actor father and spent her childhood touring with his Shakespearean company desperate for a real relationship with her mother. That was not to happen. Sadie becomes famous for her one woman play revealing her rage in caring for her baby. As an adult, Jude becomes a successful actress in her own right.
As you can imagine, there is a reckoning worthy of the two women.
The book raises issues of feminism, motherhood, self-identity, and ambition. There is so much to think about. I would highly recommend it as a book club pick.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this advance reading copy.
My reaction when reading this book was physical. My heart was pounding as if I was reading a thriller. And a way this was. Family drama can sometimes turn into a symbolic blood bath — there are a myriad of ways to inflict harm on those we supposedly love. I clearly was on Jude, the daughter’s team. Sadie was a difficult person to connect with. But many of us have made concessions that she would not abide. Maybe Sadie, despite her often self serving behavior, was brave and we wished we had some of that bravado.
The story:
Sadie ran away from a traditional, religious family and their expectations when she was 17. She had a larger than life personality and fulfilled her dream to live large and out loud. She became an actress and controversial feminist. Sadie never wanted to be a mother. In fact, she went to great lengths to make sure this would never happen. But then she had a change of heart and Jude was born.
When Jude was two, Sadie left her with her father and never made an attempt to connect with her for six years. After that, there were sporadic, brief visits. Jude grew up with her actor father and spent her childhood touring with his Shakespearean company desperate for a real relationship with her mother. That was not to happen. Sadie becomes famous for her one woman play revealing her rage in caring for her baby. As an adult, Jude becomes a successful actress in her own right.
As you can imagine, there is a reckoning worthy of the two women.
The book raises issues of feminism, motherhood, self-identity, and ambition. There is so much to think about. I would highly recommend it as a book club pick.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this advance reading copy.
July 22, 2024
Excellent. I adored everything about this novel, particularly the tennis match "back and forth" between mother and daughter's povs. It is hard not to feel so strongly about Jude's perspective on her mother's actions, but what Reimer does so beautifully is paint the full, complete picture of the moral questions and issues presented in the novel. I thought the penultimate chapter from Sadie's pov leading up to her abandonment of Jude was the absolute strongest in demonstrating the humanity in her convictions. Sadie's life as a mother is so strikingly written - the scenes leading up to the forest scene slowly suck all of the oxygen out of Sadie, leaving both her and the reader suffocated. Both characters are right and wrong about everything: abandoning your child may be wrong, but to parent a child is also to sacrifice everything about your life in service of someone else - do mothers not have an obligation to themselves as people in their own right outside of their child? Is it justified to resent your child? Have the expectations for fathers fallen so far that they can be present whilst parenting recklessly and still be praised while a mother who is methodical in her detachment will be villainized? I have a mental list that goes on for days of these questions that the book provoked, all of which have a barrage of answers. I loved this immensely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
3.5 stars
This book is well-crafted with a nicely paced plot. That being said, it doesn’t manage to do anything particularly new while simultaneously feeling like it’s trying to convince you of its groundbreaking-ness. Jude is an interesting character, but despite all the time we spend with her, she remains locked up as a character with limited growth. When she does grow, it is largely through telling and not showing that we learn this. Damian is perfect to the point of boredom, and Sadie is textbook loud, obnoxious second-wave feminist that manages to fall into every stereotype. Unfortunately, Vera is the most interesting character, yet we rarely see her outside of Sadie’s own extremely self-centered perspective.
Despite its pitfalls, this book is incredibly entertaining. It’s perfectly paced, and the plot is juicy without feeling like a soap opera. The descriptions of theatre were interesting and immersive. This book weirdly reminded me of Cleopatra and Frankenstein, with the somewhat flat characters but wonderfully done plot. I also like how this book does not expect you to forgive any character, only to understand how they got to the decisions they made. My one positive comment on Sadie’s character is how she is never written in a way to make you forgive her.
This book is well-crafted with a nicely paced plot. That being said, it doesn’t manage to do anything particularly new while simultaneously feeling like it’s trying to convince you of its groundbreaking-ness. Jude is an interesting character, but despite all the time we spend with her, she remains locked up as a character with limited growth. When she does grow, it is largely through telling and not showing that we learn this. Damian is perfect to the point of boredom, and Sadie is textbook loud, obnoxious second-wave feminist that manages to fall into every stereotype. Unfortunately, Vera is the most interesting character, yet we rarely see her outside of Sadie’s own extremely self-centered perspective.
Despite its pitfalls, this book is incredibly entertaining. It’s perfectly paced, and the plot is juicy without feeling like a soap opera. The descriptions of theatre were interesting and immersive. This book weirdly reminded me of Cleopatra and Frankenstein, with the somewhat flat characters but wonderfully done plot. I also like how this book does not expect you to forgive any character, only to understand how they got to the decisions they made. My one positive comment on Sadie’s character is how she is never written in a way to make you forgive her.
April 20, 2024
Thank you Heidi Reimer and Penguin Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange for honest review.
The Mother Act is a debut novel by Heidi Reimer and it comes packed with emotion, soul, and wonderful writing. Written in 6 Act play style (brilliant), it explores a complicated Mother daughter relationship with famous, boisterous Sadie Jones and quiet, reserved Jude, and their strained relationship through the years: Jude yearning for Sadie's approval and love, and Sadie dealing with her loss of identity when changing from Sadie Jones to Mom.
A beautiful tale through the years of both of their lives, their different perspectives on how it happened, woven together with heart, tales of feminism, and the struggle of motherhood and how society sees it (at least to Sadie). A poignant look through Sadie's eyes at the transition to becoming a mother when it's not really what you wanted for yourself.
Do yourself a favour and pick this up when it's out! 5 stars, highly recommend.
The Mother Act is a debut novel by Heidi Reimer and it comes packed with emotion, soul, and wonderful writing. Written in 6 Act play style (brilliant), it explores a complicated Mother daughter relationship with famous, boisterous Sadie Jones and quiet, reserved Jude, and their strained relationship through the years: Jude yearning for Sadie's approval and love, and Sadie dealing with her loss of identity when changing from Sadie Jones to Mom.
A beautiful tale through the years of both of their lives, their different perspectives on how it happened, woven together with heart, tales of feminism, and the struggle of motherhood and how society sees it (at least to Sadie). A poignant look through Sadie's eyes at the transition to becoming a mother when it's not really what you wanted for yourself.
Do yourself a favour and pick this up when it's out! 5 stars, highly recommend.
August 17, 2024
4.25/5.
Set against the sparkling backdrop of the theater world, this propulsive debut follows the complicated relationship between an actress who refuses to abandon her career and the daughter she chooses to abandon instead. As a childfree woman, this book is the reason why I know I made the right decision to not have children. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that I could ever be as selfish and self-centred as Sadie Jones, but this is a prime example of how some people are just NOT cut out to be parents. In my opinion, neither of the main characters are likeable in this book. However, since this story is based around complex mother-daughter relationships, this keeps the book interesting. I think this will stick with me for awhile - I really enjoyed reading this!
Set against the sparkling backdrop of the theater world, this propulsive debut follows the complicated relationship between an actress who refuses to abandon her career and the daughter she chooses to abandon instead. As a childfree woman, this book is the reason why I know I made the right decision to not have children. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that I could ever be as selfish and self-centred as Sadie Jones, but this is a prime example of how some people are just NOT cut out to be parents. In my opinion, neither of the main characters are likeable in this book. However, since this story is based around complex mother-daughter relationships, this keeps the book interesting. I think this will stick with me for awhile - I really enjoyed reading this!
August 2, 2024
oh my goodness, my heart is BROKEN. this felt like an alternate reality for me, if i, who has never wanted kids in her life, decided to have a child anyway. the hurt, the suffering on both ends, all the repercussions people rarely talk about. because women are always supposed to want kids. this novel is not just a novel but a cautionary tale. beautifully written - i won’t stop thinking about it for days.
June 7, 2024
I suppose it's hard for me to rate this book objectively as I have so many issues with my own mother, and I find both protagonists trying and annoying, but I suppose the story itself was well written (though I could have skipped the chapter that is literally someone chanting "I love my daughter" 153 times). I wish I was making that up.
August 6, 2024
I really like the part when Sadie was young. The older Sadie as seen through Judie was a bit too shiny pink nail polish. I could never quite put my finger on Damien. He never struck me as English I always imagined him as a bearded Eastern European.
May 23, 2024
Eu não sou uma mulher simples, mas este livro conhece os meus cheat codes.
-----Her body feels soft, like a bed I’m unused to sleeping in, comfortable but still alien.
“I have to sleep,” I say. “Everything will be better with sleep.”
“Yes. It probably will.” Her arms pull away from me. Then she waves and she’s gone, and I close the door and cry because my mother was here and because my mother is gone.------
-----Her body feels soft, like a bed I’m unused to sleeping in, comfortable but still alien.
“I have to sleep,” I say. “Everything will be better with sleep.”
“Yes. It probably will.” Her arms pull away from me. Then she waves and she’s gone, and I close the door and cry because my mother was here and because my mother is gone.------
June 12, 2024
Read my mini-review HERE.
June 13, 2024
We are so back!! I'm late to my summer reading grind but I'M IN IT NOW
August 9, 2024
I feel like everyone should read this before deciding to have kids
August 20, 2024
Complex story about motherhood and what it means to be a "good" parent. Super interesting dual perspective. The characters felt so REAL. Bravo
July 26, 2024
DNF at page 234 of 380. I tried to push through this because I like the premise, but the voice feels way too young for the subject matter. At points in the novel, Jude is a child, and it works, but her voice remains the same at every age, and the chapters from her mother’s POV feel equally juvenile. It might have worked if the plot wasn’t so adult, but I just couldn’t get into it
July 21, 2024
beautiful exploration of how complicated mother-daughter relationships can be. big fan of the nonlinearity and the changing points of view, but minus one star because the ending felt rushed
June 14, 2024
2.5 stars
“The language of Shakespeare is my mother tongue. My shredded shipwrecked dress is my dress. I am not playing Miranda. I am Miranda.” p. 55
Read this is you liked “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett and/or “Summer Stage” by Meg Mitchell Moore.
Both listened on @spotify while simultaneously reading the print version from @mysapl
This novel was a lot. The three stars are for the propulsive plot with all the drama, but zero stars for characters. Sadie is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read.
Without giving much of the plot away, here’s what this is. Dysfunctional family lit centered around all things theater and artistic lifestyle.
TW: rage level feminism, abortion, child neglect, some language and some sexual content.
If you love* dysfunctional family lit, then I would give this the old college try. If you do not, and you don’t like character driven novels, steer clear.
“The language of Shakespeare is my mother tongue. My shredded shipwrecked dress is my dress. I am not playing Miranda. I am Miranda.” p. 55
Read this is you liked “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett and/or “Summer Stage” by Meg Mitchell Moore.
Both listened on @spotify while simultaneously reading the print version from @mysapl
This novel was a lot. The three stars are for the propulsive plot with all the drama, but zero stars for characters. Sadie is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read.
Without giving much of the plot away, here’s what this is. Dysfunctional family lit centered around all things theater and artistic lifestyle.
TW: rage level feminism, abortion, child neglect, some language and some sexual content.
If you love* dysfunctional family lit, then I would give this the old college try. If you do not, and you don’t like character driven novels, steer clear.
November 6, 2023
DO YOU LOVE COMPLICATED MOTHER/DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS?! Me too!
okay, this one was so good. I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Jude, the fact that she was raised by her father (so often fathers abandon the children) and her mother is so selfish and self centered that she can’t even comprehend why leaving her daughter was uncalled for. The story is written from Jude and Sadie’s perspectives, woven together until they meet in the present day. Holy cannoli- talk about a modern day stance on motherhood, empowerment, generational trauma, and the expectations put on us to be mothers.
Well written, easy read and just so so so well done.
okay, this one was so good. I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Jude, the fact that she was raised by her father (so often fathers abandon the children) and her mother is so selfish and self centered that she can’t even comprehend why leaving her daughter was uncalled for. The story is written from Jude and Sadie’s perspectives, woven together until they meet in the present day. Holy cannoli- talk about a modern day stance on motherhood, empowerment, generational trauma, and the expectations put on us to be mothers.
Well written, easy read and just so so so well done.
December 3, 2023
Beautifully written story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews