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A review by me_alley
All the Mothers by Domenica Ruta

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

10/10 one of my best books of 2025 - contemporary literary fiction. 

Sandy hasn’t had the best luck in love.  A ten year relationship with a man who wouldn’t commit, another man she really didn’t love but still made her feel insecure.   She finds herself pregnant with a guy who she doesn’t like all that much that she met on a dating app.  She has a beautiful baby girl then finds out her child’s father has another child to a different woman.  

Because we have way too much information available to us all the time, she cyber stalks the other woman, Stephanie.  As she is pumping her breast milk, she accidentally hits follow.  Steph sees the follow request right away, which changes both of their lives forever.  

This is 2025’s heartwarming message fiction of the year.  Like Margo’s Got Money Troubles, we find ourselves empathetic and fiercely protective of a single mom, and cheer on her best efforts.   The men in this book are disappointing, particularly Justin, her baby’s father.   But for all his faults, Justin does bring together a family despite himself and his weird codependent relationship with his mom.  Sandy’s pre-mom friends also are caricatures of an unsupportive “friend” who is more self-centered.  

But over the course of the book Sandy discovers the real meaning of love, connection, and family.  

These CHARACTERS.  They are so well fleshed out, so complicated and compelling. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Madison at Random House Marketing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.   I was unfamiliar with the author and hadn’t seen any marketing for this book, special thank you to the team who made this book available to me. Book to be published May 6, 2025.  This review is uncompensated.