Matthew Dicks never disappoints.

I found this book both sweet and almost unbearably stressful. It transports you right into the brain of an anxious and possibly (probably?) depressed fourteen year old boy carrying secrets that push him nearly to the breaking point over two days of his life.

I follow the author on social media and have heard him tell many live stories via The Moth and I feel like a lot of familiar things about him come through in this story too. It felt very him. ( )

The title and the summary alone remind me strongly of "Coraline" or implies that this book would have supernatural or horror elements. To my dismay, this book involved none of these things. The book takes place over a span of two days, but the pacing made it feel like more time had gone by. The author did a really great job of making us feel what Michael is feeling, but Michael as a narrator often repeated himself and went off subject, which could become frustrating as a reader. There are also characters that felt underdeveloped and I wish would have been explored more. Also, I'm not sure what the age range is for this book. I can see it as a YA and an adult fiction book. There are some heavy themes discussed (bullying, mental health, suicide) and passages that are sometimes difficult to read.
This book had an interesting premise but ultimately failed to deliver for me. I kept waiting for a big twist to happen, and it fell short of my expectations. I was dissatisfied with the heartwarming ending and it came across as bizarre to the tone of the rest of the book. Maybe other readers will see something that I didn't see in this book. ( )

Capgras delusion is a psychiatric disorder in which a person believes that someone in their live has been replaced by an identical person. This becomes the premise for The Other Mother by Matthew Dicks. Given Michael's age, most of this book has a very middle grade / young adult feel. Part of me wants to reach in and give Michael a hug. Part of me wants to know what the adults in his life are doing.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/03/the-other-mother.html

Reviewed for NetGalley. ( )

Thirteen-year-old Michael Parsons is under a lot of stress. He cares for his younger brother and sister while his mother works double shifts to make up for the fact that his scheming, deadbeat step-dad contributes almost nothing financially to the household. Michael has anger problems that have gotten worse since his father died. It seems likes he’s always in trouble at school. Then, one day he wakes up to discover that his mother is missing. She has been replaced with an exact replica. No one else seems to notice that this woman is not his mother. Michael needs to find out what this other mother has done with his real mother. He can’t tell anyone because he knows they’ll think he’s crazy.

Michael clearly has some sort of behavior disorder, although a specific diagnosis is never given in the book. He meets with the school counselor daily to help develop coping mechanisms for his anger. Because he has outbursts at school, he doesn’t have any friends. His inner thoughts reveal some of the causes of his behavior but it confuses him almost as much as it confuses the people around him. Matthew Dicks has a real insight into the minds of troubled people and Michael’s inner thoughts are authentic and revealing. I felt such empathy for him, my heart hurt while reading this book.

There are bright spots for Michael. Sarah, the prettiest girl in school, happens to live next door. When Michael’s little sister invites her to go fishing with them, Sarah and Michael hit it off and become fast friends. She’s only the second friend Michael has ever had. Michael also meets a woman on his paper route who knew his dad when they were kids. He enjoys hearing stories about when his dad, who he misses terribly, was younger. Michael has to decide if he trusts either Sarah or the woman enough to tell them that his mother is missing.

Dicks wrote Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, which is one of my all-time favorite books. I’m happy to say that The Other Mother is in league with that book. Highly recommended. ( )

I had enjoyed another book by Matthew Dicks, Twenty-one Truths About Love, so I just dove into this one without reading the publisher synopsis ahead of time. I absolutely adored this book.
Maybe the main character, Michael isn’t for everyone, but man, I’m glad I got the chance to be part of his world for a bit.

Michael is a 13 year old boy and he's dealing with some stuff. One of his problems is he doesn't believe is mother is truly his mother. No, this isn't some adoption thing. Michael thinks that the woman at his home who looks like his mother and talks like his mother, is actually some type of imposter. I'm sure that sounds weird and confusing but that's due to my lack of writing talent. Just read the book and it will all make sense.

There was just something about this character that drew me in right away. To say I was emotionally invested in Michael is spot on. The story takes place over a short period of time and it's not an action filled plot. But there is so much substance and heart that it isn't some simple story, it truly was a worthwhile read.

I recommend checking this one out. Don't discount it just because the story is told from a child's perspective. It's kinda like watching the show, The Wonder Years, as you will probably appreciate it more because you are an adult.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ( )