It is difficult knowing where to begin, but I am so happy with my decision to know very little about the plot going into the book. I knew there was a new government facility where “bad mothers” go to be transformed into “good mothers,” but beyond that I knew zilch. And that made it all the thrilling and, at times, shocking. 

I do not think Chan could have written a better main character for us to follow. Her demeanor with the other mothers, and her internal thoughts and feelings, felt authentic and palpable. I knew Frida as a human being through and through by the book’s close. I genuinely *weeped* with 20 pages to go. The tears burred my vision so much at one point that I had to pause my reading! I felt extremely invested in Frida, along with the mothers she grew to see more than just allies but as a vital support system: Lucretia, Meryl, Beth, Linda, and Roxanne. Speaking of the other women, I appreciated the diversity among them, not just in race, but in age, sexuality, transgressions that led them to the school, and past traumas. The one perspective I wish I had seen represented was that of the adoptive mother. Unless I missed its mention, the universal mother represented was the biological kind. My own mother was adopted, and the older I get, the more I personally prefer the idea of adoption if I ever become a mother, so I would have liked to see how Chan included this voice among the many that were already present. 

With that said, I suppose every mother was forced to participate in a quasi-adoption when it came to the dolls. I found myself creeped out by Emmanuelle and the other children’s existence at times, but also touched when an intimate moment is shared between Frida and Emmanuelle. I also appreciated the social commentary on the different pressures and expectations that society has for mothers versus for fathers, and Chan does a wonderful job depicting this. So much happens in the narrative that I almost forgot that the reason Frida and Gust get a divorce (by his choice and to her dismay) is after Frida discovers that Gust had been cheating on her with Susanna…dating back to when Frida was nine months pregnant. And yet Gust always appears to be a great guy – such a good father – to anyone looking in on their family. This infuriated me! But it also did not surprise me.