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alomie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
I thought this was a well paced book that hit some really hard topics.
In parts I felt for all the characters even if they were flawed and rubbish.
Hard to read in parts.
In parts I felt for all the characters even if they were flawed and rubbish.
Hard to read in parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
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
elissaoj's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75
Engrossing and thoughtful and heartbreaking. Wouldn’t have wanted to read sooner than now, the mother part would have been too hard. Made me reflect and think. Didn’t love the end, felt hurried and too unfinished. Can see Roxane Gay’s critique of the collective voice as forced, felt it in part but not all of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
charliebe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide attempt
matildacc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent
anh_off's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
hmih's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Grief, and Pregnancy
starstuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
I love Brit Bennett’s writing style, I adored The Vanishing Half, but this was not quite on the same level for me. What held me back from rating it higher was the not very nuanced conversation around abortion.
I feel like it was all one-sided: 17yo has abortion and then spends the rest of almost decade following that decision regretting it. The attitude of the other characters in the story also fell on the same side of the conversation: abortion is murder. Unborn fetuses being referred to as “babies” all the time didn’t help.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
mnerd63's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Death of parent
sarahrob's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.25
It took me a few sittings to get into Mothers, but once I did I was caught. The narration style was a bit frustrating in the opening chapters, I found it difficult to follow timeline and characters, however, grew to appreciate this voice as the book progressed.
This book is a thoughtful reflection on motherhood and mothering. Readers ache for the women in this story; Aubrey and her longing to become a mother and for Nadia and her decision to not. We see each character “mother” in her own way, from Mo protecting Aubrey, to Nadia eventually caring for her father. I found this to be a beautiful representation of mother as a verb and not simply a noun. That mothers hold families and communities alike together by both protecting them, and loving them.
The relationship these two women form is as tragic and it is beautiful. I loved the friendship while knowing that it would be torn apart.
We are hurt along with Aubrey when Luke and Nadia betray her, but also completely understand their need to explore the way they are interconnected.
As an agnostic, I sometimes found I had a hard time understanding the weight of some characters actions, but tried to understand them within the community of the Upper Room and their deep faith. But, in the same vein I really enjoyed reading a book that demonstrated a church community. As this is not a space I occupy, I found it enjoyable to peek inside and see the way they support each other, but also the insidious nature of secrets and gossip, and how The Mothers bring down the one thing they love most, Upper Room, because of this.
Overall I found this story to be thoughtful and engaging. It has me contemplating motherhood, relationships and race all at the same time.
This book is a thoughtful reflection on motherhood and mothering. Readers ache for the women in this story; Aubrey and her longing to become a mother and for Nadia and her decision to not. We see each character “mother” in her own way, from Mo protecting Aubrey, to Nadia eventually caring for her father. I found this to be a beautiful representation of mother as a verb and not simply a noun. That mothers hold families and communities alike together by both protecting them, and loving them.
The relationship these two women form is as tragic and it is beautiful. I loved the friendship while knowing that it would be torn apart.
We are hurt along with Aubrey when Luke and Nadia betray her, but also completely understand their need to explore the way they are interconnected.
As an agnostic, I sometimes found I had a hard time understanding the weight of some characters actions, but tried to understand them within the community of the Upper Room and their deep faith. But, in the same vein I really enjoyed reading a book that demonstrated a church community. As this is not a space I occupy, I found it enjoyable to peek inside and see the way they support each other, but also the insidious nature of secrets and gossip, and how The Mothers bring down the one thing they love most, Upper Room, because of this.
Overall I found this story to be thoughtful and engaging. It has me contemplating motherhood, relationships and race all at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, and Abortion