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sophiabenton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Cancer
Minor: Infertility
beccss_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicide, Cancer, and Medical content
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
amyford's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Cancer, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicide, Infertility, and Medical trauma
pkc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
This was such a charming but sad book, in the end. A gorgeous story of friendship, a celebration of found family and never giving up on what you want. Keep some tissues by you though. It is SAD at times. It’s also really funny in places too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Suicide, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Dementia, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Fatphobia
h_rg98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-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
5.0
Wow wow and wow. What a poignant read. This book had me laughing and crying throughout. The characters were so lovable and I found myself getting really attached to them. Following their journeys was so special. I'm so sad that I've finished this book but it's one that will always stay with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Grief, Suicide, Medical content, Dementia, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Infertility
bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Infertility, Suicide, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Medical content, Abandonment, and Dementia
an_emily's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book felt like the untangling of something deep unside my soul. I didn't feel like reading a story- i felt like experiencing this life story myself. I couldn't put All my Mothers down and at the same time i didn't want it to end.
It is incredibly beautifully written and full of wisdom. The story is told by Eva, a little girl at first always thinking a lot about everything. Reading you grow up with Eva and you grow with her. Through her struggles and her questions and her search for family, home and love. Eva's fuel is longing as she slowly uncovers and creates her own belonging.
The story is not only about motherhood, but also about friendship, complex emotions and becoming yourself. It is full of hope and felt like a loving hug I didn't know I needed.
It is incredibly beautifully written and full of wisdom. The story is told by Eva, a little girl at first always thinking a lot about everything. Reading you grow up with Eva and you grow with her. Through her struggles and her questions and her search for family, home and love. Eva's fuel is longing as she slowly uncovers and creates her own belonging.
The story is not only about motherhood, but also about friendship, complex emotions and becoming yourself. It is full of hope and felt like a loving hug I didn't know I needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Moderate: Infertility and Suicide
Minor: Fatphobia
nisanatreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
Find me on instagram @imthinkingaboutbooks
Favourite quotes:
'People don't know things unless you tell them.'
'Sometimes you can't solve the problems you've helped to create.'
Eva Martínez-Green, our protagonist, tells the story of her life, the story of searching for a mother, the story of longing for a family. As a child she discovers that there are no baby photos of her, her parents won't answer her questions about their life in Spain before they moved to London and she feels never loved her mother. Questions like 'Where am I from?' and 'What is true love?' will determine her whole life.
I read this book for the bookclub hosted by @hotgirlnovels Sadly I wasn't able to finish it in time for the discussion because I have no time managing skills whatsoever. Nonetheless I attended the meeting because I was curious about what others thought about the characters and I really don't mind spoilers. Turns out the discussion got me even more excited for the last half of the book so I finished it right after.
We talked a bit about the relationship between Eva and Bridget and I thought that it was quite interesting that we all thought it might turn out to be a romantic relationship because of how often they declare to love each other. Eva also makes this distinction of saying 'Love you' instead of 'I love you', and considering that she can't use the 'I' with her long term boyfriend but uses it with Bridget is a strong indicator for the strength of their friendship. I was thinking a lot about this because I wasn't sure if it might be some form of queer baiting to have us think like this. In the end I came to the conclusion that this book is as much about familial love as it is about platonic love and therefore the author must have decided to portray it as such. Also there are gay characters in the form of Billy and Lorenzo so no need to queer bait.
What I loved most about this book is how it introduces us to different archetypes of motherfigures in the form of a children's book. These archetypes stay relevant until the very last page and through Eva we meet different mothers who all in some way fit one of the archetypes. Ultimately we discover that these archetypes only describe the mothers on a surface level because there's so much more to being a mother than a child could ever know. I personally would've liked for the story to delve deeper into the backstory of each mother and show how they got to where we meet them. All things considered it's a very emotional but also heartwarming read that I would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs a bit of light reading with strong female characters
Favourite quotes:
'People don't know things unless you tell them.'
'Sometimes you can't solve the problems you've helped to create.'
Eva Martínez-Green, our protagonist, tells the story of her life, the story of searching for a mother, the story of longing for a family. As a child she discovers that there are no baby photos of her, her parents won't answer her questions about their life in Spain before they moved to London and she feels never loved her mother. Questions like 'Where am I from?' and 'What is true love?' will determine her whole life.
I read this book for the bookclub hosted by @hotgirlnovels Sadly I wasn't able to finish it in time for the discussion because I have no time managing skills whatsoever. Nonetheless I attended the meeting because I was curious about what others thought about the characters and I really don't mind spoilers. Turns out the discussion got me even more excited for the last half of the book so I finished it right after.
We talked a bit about the relationship between Eva and Bridget and I thought that it was quite interesting that we all thought it might turn out to be a romantic relationship because of how often they declare to love each other. Eva also makes this distinction of saying 'Love you' instead of 'I love you', and considering that she can't use the 'I' with her long term boyfriend but uses it with Bridget is a strong indicator for the strength of their friendship. I was thinking a lot about this because I wasn't sure if it might be some form of queer baiting to have us think like this. In the end I came to the conclusion that this book is as much about familial love as it is about platonic love and therefore the author must have decided to portray it as such. Also there are gay characters in the form of Billy and Lorenzo so no need to queer bait.
What I loved most about this book is how it introduces us to different archetypes of motherfigures in the form of a children's book. These archetypes stay relevant until the very last page and through Eva we meet different mothers who all in some way fit one of the archetypes. Ultimately we discover that these archetypes only describe the mothers on a surface level because there's so much more to being a mother than a child could ever know. I personally would've liked for the story to delve deeper into the backstory of each mother and show how they got to where we meet them. All things considered it's a very emotional but also heartwarming read that I would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs a bit of light reading with strong female characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Ableism, and Body shaming
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I have my very own memory palace in Córdoba too - a flower-draped patio, with a wagon wheel leaning against the wall and an ancient stone angel in the centre. I have a history. I am sombody. It's just I don't know exactly who. Not yet but I will find out."
As a child, Eva Martinez-Green feels lost. Her mother is emotionally distant and her beloved, Spanish father leaves and becomes physically distant. Both parents avoid answering questions about her birth and early childhood, leaving her yearning to know more. As Eva grows up she learns to find love, companionship and family in other ways, alway searching for a mother figure, but they never last. Whilst Eva experiences joy and a sense of belonging, it is fleeting, because all leave her or let her down, in one way or another. A partial photograph of herself as a baby is all she has to go on but, like so much in her life, it leaves her with saudade (longing) for who she was and could be. A visit to Córdoba in Spain, whilst at university, provides answers, but they may be different from the answers she has been seeking.
A vivid coming-of-age story, the focus is on Eva's experiences from primary school to graduating university. Peppered with humour, Eva's story is also frought with tragedy that had me crying tears for those she had lost and never known, as she learns that being a mother can mean many things. Initially set in London, it's Eva's longed-for stay in Córdoba that's most evocative and evidence of the author's experiences there; I began to feel the intense heat and smell the fragrant orange blossom! Eloquent, poignant and powerful, this is a wonderful book I am thankful to have immersed myself in. The author's debut novel, The Other Half Of Augusta Hope is on my TBR.
As a child, Eva Martinez-Green feels lost. Her mother is emotionally distant and her beloved, Spanish father leaves and becomes physically distant. Both parents avoid answering questions about her birth and early childhood, leaving her yearning to know more. As Eva grows up she learns to find love, companionship and family in other ways, alway searching for a mother figure, but they never last. Whilst Eva experiences joy and a sense of belonging, it is fleeting, because all leave her or let her down, in one way or another. A partial photograph of herself as a baby is all she has to go on but, like so much in her life, it leaves her with saudade (longing) for who she was and could be. A visit to Córdoba in Spain, whilst at university, provides answers, but they may be different from the answers she has been seeking.
A vivid coming-of-age story, the focus is on Eva's experiences from primary school to graduating university. Peppered with humour, Eva's story is also frought with tragedy that had me crying tears for those she had lost and never known, as she learns that being a mother can mean many things. Initially set in London, it's Eva's longed-for stay in Córdoba that's most evocative and evidence of the author's experiences there; I began to feel the intense heat and smell the fragrant orange blossom! Eloquent, poignant and powerful, this is a wonderful book I am thankful to have immersed myself in. The author's debut novel, The Other Half Of Augusta Hope is on my TBR.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Cancer
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
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