Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

82 reviews

sillyslicker's review

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

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Abortion, and Infertility

Moderate: Suicide

iheartapolloxxi's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Abortion, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Infertility, Sexual violence, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

amandalorianxo's review

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

4.0

A lot of storylines, characters and grey morality woven into complex people yet you are still engaged throughout the entire story. We meet Luke and Nadia, two young adults who are going through their own traumas in life. Nadia’s mother had committed suicide & it’s caused Nadia to find ways to soothe her pain by participating in risky activities. Being with Luke in secret was one of them, until the two find out Nadia is pregnant. Luke’s mother takes care of it with a simple gesture, causing their assumed problem to be fixed. Nadia befriends Aubrey, a girl who is living with her sister and is fleeing abuse from the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. The story is told from the POV’s of Nadia, Aubrey as well as The collective mothers of The Upper Room church. We are entangled in the lives of these people and their decision making, no judgement cast just a fly in the wall. This raises a lot of questions, especially in the framework of black eyes in a black community. Well done and we’ll delivered. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Infertility, Alcohol, and Sexual assault

f_amiliar_happine_ss's review

challenging emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

(coming back to review later)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, and Suicide

Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity

Minor: Car accident

beccabookworm's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide

Moderate: Infertility and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse

lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Abortion

Moderate: Infertility

hcasasca's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Abortion, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

lindsloveslit's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

QOTD: Have you read more than one book by an individual author this year?
AOTD: This is the second Brit Bennett book I've read this year (The Vanishing Half was the first) and wowowowowowowow. The emotional toll BOTH of her books have had on me won't be forgotten. 😅💔 In both, she's able to write about deep, important subjects that HURT to read, but she does it with so much care.

"The Mothers" showed how one secret can grow throughout a community, and the impact a mother has on a child. It touches on many different topics including love, loss, religion, pride, secrets, race, grief, and adultery. The content was heavy, but still very readable! The amount of quotes I wrote down dang near made my hand hurt. 🤣

The only reason it wasn't a five star read is because it's was hard for me to follow all the different narrator voices and the time line confused me. This is a ME problem though - as I have this issue with most books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, and Abortion

Moderate: Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Infertility

my_plant_library's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, and Suicide

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault, and Infidelity