Stacy (Gotham City Librarian)'s Reviews > The Unmothers

A new favorite! I absolutely loved this. I tried not to read it too quickly, but it was honestly such a joy that I kept going back to it. I feel like no matter what I write in this review it's not going to do the book justice, and I also don't want to spoil anything, so I'm probably going to keep it sort of brief.

The writing is just so good. This is a book in which every paragraph is carefully crafted, and there is zero filler. You are immediately pulled into this atmospheric world, full of dread and death. Marshall, the reporter, is a main character you can root for. The small town feels frighteningly familiar and claustrophobic, and from the moment Marshall gets there the danger is palpable. This is the sort of place that knows everybody’s business but will typically turn a blind eye even if someone is desperate for help. The further I read, the more I found myself thinking, “Boy, I sure hope this turns out okay, somehow.”

There are many alternate POV chapters, (bordering on too many but Anderson is capable), and the characters that she chose to follow surprised me a little bit. You will get to know a LOT of people. Anderson does something I really admire, which is show me a person that first comes across as very unlikable and then later reveal another, more personal side of them that completely changes my perspective. For a little while I did have some trouble remembering who everyone was because there were so many townspeople involved, but eventually I had it all straight. Rather than do first person perspective she also opted for third person, so it feels more like the camera just follows one character for a few minutes and then smoothly shifts over to another.

The way Anderson describes horses and how magical they seem to little girls is powerful. If you are a fan of horses I think this book will resonate with you specifically, though please be aware that awful things also happen to horses in this story so it is a double edged sword of the most literal kind. I don't want to say too much about this novel, because I want people to read it and enjoy it like I did. But there are several complicated themes that are handled, such as Grief, Motherhood/Pregnancy (both wanted and unwanted), and Addiction. It’s absolutely horror, but it’s also a crime/mystery story. I would maybe call it a little bit of a slow burn, but it’s not boring in any way. I couldn't really guess where things were heading, nor did I want to try. It's one of those books with A24 vibes. Bizarre and creepy and surprising!

There were a couple of things about the town lore that I found a little confusing, but it was still so weird and interesting to me that I was completely on board. And by the end, I had a pretty good grasp on it. I think Anderson is extremely talented both as an author in general, (that prose!), and as a creative storyteller. If she releases another horror novel I will be first in line to read it.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Animal death (violent), Substance abuse, Racism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal Ideation, Mention of Miscarriage