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ghetto_femme_fatale's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this book.
The writing was beautiful and I felt like this story could definitely be relatable to many young girls out there.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.
The writing was beautiful and I felt like this story could definitely be relatable to many young girls out there.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Grief
bites_of_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
What I enjoy the most about Bennett's novels is the writing style. The perspective of this book starts from that of a group of older women who attend church and are always keeping tabs on what's happening in their community. A bit of gossip yes, but also that introspective moment when they start to remember what it was like to be a young woman falling in love, making mistakes, and always reacting to what the church would think of those actions.
At its core, this book is about motherhood, all viewed from the perspective of two young women, Nadia and Audrey, who don't have their mothers in their lives anymore. There are also other mother figures, such as Audrey's sister and her partner, the women at the church who try to give guidance in their own way, and even people at clinics who hold hands and give advice when needed.
Nadia, Audrey, and Luke are three young people whose lives are intertwined throughout the book, they will fall in love, be protective of each other, hold resentments, and even hurt each other as they try to find ways to live their own lives. The influence of their parents, the church, and society weighs heavy on them and they really are only trying to find some kind of happiness in the best way they can.
If you like contemporary stories that take a hard look at the influence of a community on young people, this is a great book to read. It's a heavy book with a lot of sadness and loneliness throughout so do read carefully.
At its core, this book is about motherhood, all viewed from the perspective of two young women, Nadia and Audrey, who don't have their mothers in their lives anymore. There are also other mother figures, such as Audrey's sister and her partner, the women at the church who try to give guidance in their own way, and even people at clinics who hold hands and give advice when needed.
Nadia, Audrey, and Luke are three young people whose lives are intertwined throughout the book, they will fall in love, be protective of each other, hold resentments, and even hurt each other as they try to find ways to live their own lives. The influence of their parents, the church, and society weighs heavy on them and they really are only trying to find some kind of happiness in the best way they can.
If you like contemporary stories that take a hard look at the influence of a community on young people, this is a great book to read. It's a heavy book with a lot of sadness and loneliness throughout so do read carefully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
stacylaughs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism
namii's review against another edition
1.5
i hated reading about luke i hated all the men in this book i hated how they talked about abortion.
Nadia made awful choices that i don’t understand but i get that i’m not really supposed to understand most of those choices that just felt harmful to everyone including herself.
It’s like instead of choosing something easy she decided to torture herself.
Nadia made awful choices that i don’t understand but i get that i’m not really supposed to understand most of those choices that just felt harmful to everyone including herself.
It’s like instead of choosing something easy she decided to torture herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Sexism, Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
jaja_1212's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The characters felt realistically flawed in their own ways and I enjoyed the writing metaphorical and intimate writing style, which kept me going even although the narrative voice took a while for me to get used to.
After getting such a deep, intimate look into the lives and minds of these characters the ending felt a little too abrupt, I can see why the author might want to end it at that point in their lives though.
After getting such a deep, intimate look into the lives and minds of these characters the ending felt a little too abrupt, I can see why the author might want to end it at that point in their lives though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Car accident, Alcohol, and War
bbonaguro'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
4.0
really great book, definitely reflective and pulled at the heartstrings interesting way the story was told from the mothers perspectives and also by Aubrey, Nadia, and Luke. Challenging topic but great book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Abortion, and Pregnancy
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Really interesting story! My only complaint is I’m not sure how I feel about the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I was heading for a bit of a slump, luckily Brit Bennett’s debut sailed in and saved the day! I read The Vanishing Half when it came out, loved it, then in classic fashion, didn’t get round to the author’s debut for 3 years. But The Mothers is definitely worth the wait, I may even have enjoyed it more than The Vanishing Half, can’t quite decide!
It’s only 280 pages or so, but it has the richness of a novel twice that length. It follows the impact of a decision made by a 17 year old girl that reverberates through her life and the lives of those around her. It includes a perspective we don’t often hear from when it comes to abortion, and to me it felt thoughtfully done. Bennett navigates the ups and downs of a teenage friendship through to adulthood, and I think everyone did genuinely feel like they’d grown up - so often characters in their twenties are written to behave like 16 year olds.
There are quite a few questionable decisions made throughout this book, which honestly I always love lol. Can’t be dealing with drama in real life but I love my books with plenty of messiness. If you enjoy a good drama centred on friendship rather than family, I’d def recommend giving this one a go!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse and Rape
sparklefarm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don't know how to review this book. I've been sitting with it two days after I finished. I read Bennett's The Vanishing Half first, and found it arresting and unputdownable, which was not necessarily the case for The Mothers, although I truly enjoyed it. I think when reading books I tend to want them to have "a point," or a true conclusion. The Mothers didn't; it had the literary equivalent of a song fading out. No less effective, but it left me wanting. I wanted to know the details about whether our characters were okay, did they heal, did they find what they were looking for? But I suppose that's also the hallmark of a good book. I've kept thinking about Aubrey and Nadia and Luke, because Bennett made them feel real. She's so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Abortion
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Medical trauma