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abbutterflie's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it. And interesting thoughts on what it means to be a mother and a daughter, even if your mother is not around and your child is never born.
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sad in a truthful way. This story highlights how imperfect we all are on the inside, no matter how we might look to outsiders. It shows how you can’t really know someone fully, unless they allow you to and how even if you think you know someone, they could be hiding any number of terrible things to protect you or themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
lexxsavage's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The weight of what had been lost was always heavier than whatever was gained.” Brit Bennett’s The Mothers hit home for me in so many ways. At its core, it’s a story about how motherhood—whether chosen, forced, or lost—can change a woman forever. Nadia chooses herself over having a child, while her mother, Elise, lost herself completely after becoming one. Elise’s battle with depression shows that even when you have people around you, you might not get the support you actually need. That contrast between mother and daughter made the story feel even more real.
The book also calls out the hypocrisy of the church in a way that felt too familiar. Luke’s parents, instead of taking the “Christian” route, just made his problem disappear to protect their reputation. Meanwhile, the church mothers reminded me of the ones I grew up with—always watching, sometimes protecting, sometimes judging. And that friendship between Nadia and Aubrey? Whew. The weight of that secret—finding out not only that Nadia and Luke had history but that they were supposed to have a child together—made everything more intense.
What I loved most is how this book shows that secrets never stay buried. They shape people, even when they think they’ve moved on. Bennett’s writing is so good at showing how the past lingers, how choices follow you, and how even when you try to escape, some things never really let you go. Easily a five-star read for me!
crisscrossedshelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
susanehc's review against another edition
4.0
2018 Read Harder Challenge - a cover you hate. It wasn’t that I hated the cover I just went through my “to read” list and picked a cover I thought was ugly.
sjfarrell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
mlefever1's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed listening to this as I walked. The cross generation connections, the parent-daughter relationships and the role of the community all combine in a well written story.