A review by nomonbooks
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Daymn this book is dark. It is fantastically written, and haunting. For me, the first 33% of the book preyed on fears that already exist about the childcare system. That’s basically my only bugbear with the whole thing – that the childcare system is used to make the author’s point about society in a space where pre-existing thoughts on social workers/ care etc are just being replicated. I was a bit moody with the book on that basis, until the mothers actually got to the school. I wondered what the book was doing that was new/ showing me / teaching me up until that point. 
For me, upon arrival at the school is where the story really started and I literally couldn’t put it down. The double standards here (and throughout, to be fair) were palpable and entirely reflective of society. The character of Gust was so well written, and he’s so sickly sweet. I felt like I understood Frida and felt for her throughout. The relationships were real and the picture built up of each individual character was believable. Reading this was an experience. The cruelty, the relationship between Frida and Emmanuelle, the impossible jigsaw and framework of what it takes to be deemed a good mother. How hard it is for society as a whole to view anyone as that. So much commentary on motherhood, womanhood, girlhood, plus those things set against fatherhood and boyhood in some respects; yet, at the same time a completely engaging read. I’m really glad I read this but it is not a light read! And maybe not the BEST book to pick up immediately after you’ve had a child, like I did!

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