Scan barcode
kiarra_s's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Reading this book felt like watching a stage play. The story is told from an interesting third-person pov. I appreciated how it was written though, especially with hard themes (suicide, abortion).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Infertility and Rape
courtneymig's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hnbates1's review against another edition
4.0
The Mothers…. My heart hurt for Nadia throughout this entire book. Great read, a lot of depth and emotion.
sagecannon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
brooksdac's review against another edition
1.5
This book wasn’t for me. I didn’t understand the draw of the love triangle and why everyone was so determined to hurt each other. I was bored and never connected to any character
lidia_ortizg's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
ronniefinley's review against another edition
5.0
FIVE STARS THROUGH AND THROUGH. both an easy read yet unpacks so many emotions/complexities of loss. this book perfectly explores the consequences of secrecy and the idea that grief is not linear; nor does grief only have to be the mourning of the deceased - you can grieve who you once were or what you never had etc. i’m blown away by how brilliant brit’s debut novel is - in fact i think it is much better than vanishing half (even though i really enjoyed VH), i feel that The Mothers is underrated. i got a bit teary at the end because it was just so beautifully written. and the story told from the POV of the mothers at the church? amazing.
charlottespiers's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gracelucy's review against another edition
4.0
Such a complex little book! It was slow to start but the last half was where the story became more developed & interesting.
vegantrav's review against another edition
4.0
Brit Bennett, with this debut novel, shows that she is an incredibly gifted writer. The Mothers is a story of love, lovers, friendship, and family that focuses on three young people--Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke--whom we watch grow and change as they are all moving from adolescence into adulthood.
Bennett shows us her characters as they face challenges that are not too different than those faced by many young people, but Bennett excavates far below the surface level. We come to know these characters intimately. The characterization is superb. While they may be fictional characters, they are completely realistic.
Bennett's talents are further on display as she strikes not a single false note in setting or tone. We readers are immersed in a suburban San Diego world that becomes our world as we are reading, and the mood and the emotions of the characters become our mood and our emotional state as we read. Bennnett has filled an ocean with her prose, and we swim easily and contentedly in it.
Now, this is a work of literary fiction. The novel is about the characters, not about the plot. We are here, in The Mothers, to experience the world of her characters. We're not here to be titillated or entertained. If you are looking for a plot-driven novel with a lot of action and suspense, this novel will not deliver. But it will deliver the fascinating stories of three people whose lives are average, not really abnormal at all. And in telling us such a good story about such ordinary people, Bennett announces herself as an extraordinary writer.
Bennett shows us her characters as they face challenges that are not too different than those faced by many young people, but Bennett excavates far below the surface level. We come to know these characters intimately. The characterization is superb. While they may be fictional characters, they are completely realistic.
Bennett's talents are further on display as she strikes not a single false note in setting or tone. We readers are immersed in a suburban San Diego world that becomes our world as we are reading, and the mood and the emotions of the characters become our mood and our emotional state as we read. Bennnett has filled an ocean with her prose, and we swim easily and contentedly in it.
Now, this is a work of literary fiction. The novel is about the characters, not about the plot. We are here, in The Mothers, to experience the world of her characters. We're not here to be titillated or entertained. If you are looking for a plot-driven novel with a lot of action and suspense, this novel will not deliver. But it will deliver the fascinating stories of three people whose lives are average, not really abnormal at all. And in telling us such a good story about such ordinary people, Bennett announces herself as an extraordinary writer.