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sarahholliday's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bennett is able to tell stories in a way that feels so effortless—you could easily read The Mothers in a single sitting because it feels like an extended conversation, or a story being told to you by a friend over coffee.
Like in any story, things happen and events transpire, but emotions are the main star of this story—the healthy and unhealthy ways we deal with them, how complicated and layered they are, how they evolve over time as we grow.
I wouldn't have minded a little more meat to the final chapters of the book.To see how Luke and Aubrey put their life back together, what Nadia goes on to do with her law degree. I would've also liked to have seen some more intentional grappling with religion and its impact on the characters' lives, but I think that may be a desire informed by my own (white) evangelical upbringing. That kind of deconstructing may not be an accurate reflection of the black religious experience, given the ways the church is tied up in community and political activism.
All of those very small issues aside, The Mothers has proven my theory that Brit Bennett is an automatic-read author for me.
Like in any story, things happen and events transpire, but emotions are the main star of this story—the healthy and unhealthy ways we deal with them, how complicated and layered they are, how they evolve over time as we grow.
I wouldn't have minded a little more meat to the final chapters of the book.
All of those very small issues aside, The Mothers has proven my theory that Brit Bennett is an automatic-read author for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Grief, and Infidelity
lindseyas's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really love Brit Bennett, but it's particularly her characterization methods that get me going. She has the power to create such incredibly diverse, flawed and deep characters that are perfect for one another and the plot. Each of the people in this novel, whether they play big or small parts, has their own personal history that contributes significant amounts of knowledge to the nature of the book. They each embody the stresses of motherhood or friendship or femininity or life itself — there is no perfect way to be a mother, no perfect way to be a friend, no perfect way to live or love or be yourself. The different ways in which motherhood is described in the novel is paramount to audience understanding — there are bad mothers, there are good mothers, there are absent mothers and there are mothers who just aren't up to the job just yet. It just depends on who you are. Also, Go Blue, baby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
bandsophiesmom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Infertility
arminam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Suicide
aseel_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a good read, I really liked the exact amount of plot we were given, we got a good slice of life. Somehow managed to include loads of heavy topics without being too triggering.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Grief, Infertility, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
moriahleigh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Abortion, Infertility, Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed most of this but the ending just didn't hit right for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Suicide, Abortion, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
meggielb's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death of parent, Infertility, and Death
Minor: Murder and Racial slurs
sillyslicker's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"She wanted this baby and that was the difference: magic you wanted was a miracle, magic you didn't want was a haunting."
4.3 stars
Grieving the loss of her mother, Nadia begins to spiral. Spending time with Luke is a great distraction, until she gets pregnant, and an abortion puts an end to the relationship. Nadia never really regrets the decision, but the ripples from it are still felt, even years later. We follow Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey, and watch how their lives unfold after this, and how that decision still seems to affect their lives.
I thought this was a great book. Abortion can be a touchy subject, but the author did a very good job of showing how you can be glad that you did something, and yet, still have issues that arise because of it. I really felt for the characters, and enjoyed getting to know them. I love character-driven novels, and as I had trouble putting it down, I'd say this was a well-crafted, intricate story. Nadia's abortion is at the center, but I think it's more so about the impact that those closest to us have on our lives. The complexities of navigating different relationships, along with our own baggage can be terribly difficult, and sometimes, we mess them up. If you also enjoy slow, character-driven stories about different types of relationships, I'd definitely recommend this one.
Trigger warnings: sex, abortion, self-hatred, infertility, death, suicide, vaginal exam, adultery, lying, unlikeable characters, injuries
4.3 stars
Grieving the loss of her mother, Nadia begins to spiral. Spending time with Luke is a great distraction, until she gets pregnant, and an abortion puts an end to the relationship. Nadia never really regrets the decision, but the ripples from it are still felt, even years later. We follow Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey, and watch how their lives unfold after this, and how that decision still seems to affect their lives.
I thought this was a great book. Abortion can be a touchy subject, but the author did a very good job of showing how you can be glad that you did something, and yet, still have issues that arise because of it. I really felt for the characters, and enjoyed getting to know them. I love character-driven novels, and as I had trouble putting it down, I'd say this was a well-crafted, intricate story. Nadia's abortion is at the center, but I think it's more so about the impact that those closest to us have on our lives. The complexities of navigating different relationships, along with our own baggage can be terribly difficult, and sometimes, we mess them up. If you also enjoy slow, character-driven stories about different types of relationships, I'd definitely recommend this one.
Trigger warnings: sex, abortion, self-hatred, infertility, death, suicide, vaginal exam, adultery, lying, unlikeable characters, injuries
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Abortion, Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Infertility
spongebobbiii's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is a good book! And would definitely recommend. I personally just did not like it. Primarily due to some of the TW. This was a heavier book to read and maybe had I read this at a different time my rating would be higher. My rating I based off my enjoyment of reading it.
I’ve read The Vanishing Half, which was FANTASTIC, and wanted to give this a chance given I enjoyed her previous book so much. I will continue to read this authors books.
I’ve read The Vanishing Half, which was FANTASTIC, and wanted to give this a chance given I enjoyed her previous book so much. I will continue to read this authors books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Abortion, and Infertility
Moderate: Suicide