Katie Sise | WE WERE MOTHERS

Plot (via Goodreads):

A scandalous revelation is about to devastate a picturesque town where the houses are immaculate and the neighborhoods are tightly knit. Devoted mother Cora O’Connell has found the journal of her friend Laurel’s daughter—a beautiful college student who lives next door—revealing an illicit encounter. Hours later, Laurel makes a shattering discovery of her own: her daughter has vanished without a trace. Over the course of one weekend, the crises of two close families are about to trigger a chain reaction that will expose a far more disturbing web of secrets. Now everything is at stake as they’re forced to confront the lies they have told in order to survive.

Review:

There are so many feelings you can experience with reading. For me, reading a book is like going on a vacation. You have what you liked, you have what you remember the most, what didn't work for you (or what you would change), and you have that one last feeling right before it's over. Whether you're finally ready to come back home, whether it's a bittersweet tug at your heart right before you get on the plane, or a moment where you are just in the moment and what happened yesterday and what happens tomorrow just don't matter - because that moment is all you care about. That is what We Were Mothers by Katie Sise felt like for me. And yes - I read it on vacation; and it was perfect. 

I want to preface this review with the fact that one of my other friends Stacey, who is a blogger (shout out to @prose_and_palate) recommended this book to me and the synopsis resonated with me. It seemed like a light read that I could enjoy the week of my vacation/staycation. So, I gave it a try. I brought this book with me when I rented a cabin in the woods through a company called Getaway House. My plan was simple - I wanted to unplug from social media, relax, and of course read. Now, I wasn't about to bring any Silence of the Lambs-type novels with me so this one seemed like the perfect choice to take. I could have been awaiting surgery and this would have been the perfect choice. So thank you, Stacey. And thank you Little A Publishing for getting this copy to me at the most perfect time. 

When I opened this one, I just completely found it riveting from the first page. I mean, it's not like its a huge shocking opening. It's a birthday party for children, but yet Katie Sise made me just really do some circles around that group of people. I found myself questioning some people, laughing (in the woods by myself like a lunatic) at others, and downright inquisitive about every single one of them the entire time. Beginning this novel, I was shocked at how much I liked something that wasn't necessarily crime fiction or a dark thriller/suspense novel. This novel is much about the journey of the characters that are so generously written that I'm kind of bummed I can't invite them to my next birthday party. Katie Sise, you however are totally welcome! 

Okay, back to the plot. So, what I really liked about reading this novel was that it kind of starts off lighter and more of what I was expecting with this type of story. It kind of gives off a Desperate Housewives vibe, which really worked for me as a reader. There was intrigue, comedy, and a dash of drama. Sise really takes her time introducing you to a plethora of people and letting you get to know them before the novel really takes off, which again - really worked for me. It wasn't slow or boring, but more toned down during Part One. The reason I like a novel that takes this approach is because you can almost tell what the characters reactions are going to be and it's easy to pick a side at the first sign of conflict because you can be like "Cora is right, what you did was wrong!" Well, once I got to know these characters, my bubble of light reading burst and released a downpour of phenomenal storytelling.

Before I get to Part Two of this novel, I want to go deeper in with the character development with this one. This novel is told from the perspectives of four very unique and fantastically written women. I loved getting to know Cora, Jade, Laurel, and Sarah and enjoyed each one of their arcs in this novel. Without spoiling too much, there is a bigger story this novel represents, but what was most enjoyable for me were the four other storylines blend together in the grand scheme of this explosive novel. I really enjoyed how on the outside, their lives seemed different than what was going on behind closed doors. Getting a sneak peak into their lives was not only addictive, but kept me engrossed the entire time. With Part Two of this novel, I really felt like Sise sped up the pacing and I was floored by how quickly this novel was going by. I was stuck at a crossroad. Do I savor what I have in front of me a little longer or do I hit the gas an keep going? Well, with the second half of this story I didn't have much of a choice. The chapters were flying by for me and the revelations were swinging left and right. As for the twists and turns of this novel, they didn't come off cheesy or out of left field, but I just kept reverting back to previous things mentioned and details that were sprinkled throughout that I now realize was just a prime example of brilliant foreshadowing. As for the ending to this novel, it was not only explosive, but beautifully executed. This is the kind of novel that you close when you finish and cling to your chest - it's not only gorgeously written, but suspenseful and engrossing. 

So there you have it - I am a fan of Katie Sise and this novel was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had the pleasure of diving into. Perfect for fans of Desperate Housewives, Big Little Lies, and The Perfect Mother. A tale of motherhood, friendship, and secrets that is dangerously sharp and stunning in its delivery.

Special thanks to Little A and Amazon Publishing for this copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: 5/5