Jewell highlights mother-daughter relationships throughout the novel as a motif that contributes to the theme of family relationships. Jewell includes four generations of Mack women in the novel: Laurel’s elderly mother, Laurel, Hanna and Ellie, and Poppy. As the protagonist, Laurel’s relationships with the other generations of Mack women change throughout the novel.

First, Laurel sees a positive side of her mother, who encourages Laurel toward happiness with Floyd in an uncharacteristic burst of optimism, and the two women share special moments together before Laurel’s mother eventually passes away.  

Next, Laurel’s relationships with her own two daughters are unbalanced—she prefers Ellie to Hanna and resents the fact that Hanna is the daughter who remains after Ellie disappears. Ellie is forever frozen in Laurel’s mind as the carefree, picture-perfect daughter, while she brands Hanna as the antisocial and cynical daughter that rejects a relationship with Laurel. However, by the end of the novel, Laurel realizes she misjudged Hanna. She eventually sees Hanna’s shining personality and recognizes that her own resentment led to the deterioration of their relationship. She makes things right with Hanna and is finally able to enjoy a meaningful relationship with her remaining daughter.