The novel’s structure, fittingly, is portioned out in six acts like a play, alternating between both women’s perspectives over several decades. That approach can be a bit jarring at first, galloping through time and shifting perspectives in every chapter. But its complexity sneaked up on me, as the portraits of these two women start to deepen and ramify ... Reimer writes well about the inherent resentment between mothers and daughters, which is only heightened when one of those people is making money off content inspired by the other.
It's an enthralling and believable story. Unfortunately, author Heidi Reimer relies too much on stereotypes and ciphers, in a novel that demands strong, original, full-fledged characters ... Reimer, a writing coach and essayist, does an excellent job of interweaving the nonlinear timelines and alternating narrators. There are also fascinating insights into the art of acting.
A propulsive and affecting mother-daughter story ... Reimer’s insights on art, feminism, and motherhood add to the intrigue. This is worthy of a standing ovation.
Sadie’s brand of feminism wears thin pretty quickly (we get it—you think Shakespeare is a misogynist), and the story of her life is not nearly as gripping as Jude’s. That being said, readers who are in the acting world will rejoice at Reimer’s hyperspecific theater references... and all readers will get lost in Reimer’s gift for writing heart-wrenching, multidimensional relationships.
