Mother-daughter relations

The theme of mother-daughter relations is important to The Five-Star Weekend as the protagonist struggles to navigate motherhood as a widow. At the start of the novel, Caroline cannot abide her mother. In front of all of Hollis’ guests, she declares, “My mother’s life always looks good from the outside. It’s the only thing that matters to her” (98). Caroline’s comment makes Hollis feel awful as she imagines her relationship with Caroline to be beyond repair. Caroline’s outburst conveys her immaturity and wounded pride at not being the center of her mother’s world.

Hollis grew up motherless—something which Caroline forgets until Dru-Ann reminds her. Caroline wonders, “Hollis kept up with the friend drama, the boy drama, the academic drama. Hollis was her every day. Hollis was her unconditional. How had Hollis known how to be a mom? Thinking about it...