A review by hannahmarkezich
The Mothers, by Brit Bennett
5.0
This was...perfect?
I know that's a big claim for a debut book, but...wow. Bennett can write.
Let's start off with the characters. This book follows Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke for a number of years, from the end of high school through college and marriages and drama and loss. Each character was so well-formed. They were easy to sympathize with, but I also felt like giving them a stern talking-to sometimes. They make choices that are so natural and understandable but so frustrating because, as the reader, you can see exactly how they're harming themselves and others. They grow and they fail. They feel real, which makes the story that much more compelling.
Bennett also employs another perspective every once in a while - the mothers. They narrate the book as an "us." They're the old women of the church. The ones with wise advice but also the ones who are judgmental and gossipy. They serve as guiding figures, but some of their beliefs are obviously antiquated and frustrating as well. Seeing the story from their perspective as church elders and outsiders was riveting.
I also loved the plot. It's not a thriller or a fantasy, and I'm normally never that drawn in by the plot of contemporary/non-magical novels, but the fate of these characters still left me on the edge of my seat. I wanted them to end up in a good place, but I knew, with all of their poor choices, something was going to hurt about the ending of the book. It did hurt, but in a good way. Bennett doesn't wrap everything up in a nice little bow (thank goodness). It's a very real ending to a story of friendship, love, family, death, and betrayal. It's natural yet satisfying.
I got everything I wanted - a story that kept me hooked, characters that stole my heart, and a realistic look at the tragedy and difficult choices that come with being a human. Highly recommend.
I know that's a big claim for a debut book, but...wow. Bennett can write.
Let's start off with the characters. This book follows Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke for a number of years, from the end of high school through college and marriages and drama and loss. Each character was so well-formed. They were easy to sympathize with, but I also felt like giving them a stern talking-to sometimes. They make choices that are so natural and understandable but so frustrating because, as the reader, you can see exactly how they're harming themselves and others. They grow and they fail. They feel real, which makes the story that much more compelling.
Bennett also employs another perspective every once in a while - the mothers. They narrate the book as an "us." They're the old women of the church. The ones with wise advice but also the ones who are judgmental and gossipy. They serve as guiding figures, but some of their beliefs are obviously antiquated and frustrating as well. Seeing the story from their perspective as church elders and outsiders was riveting.
I also loved the plot. It's not a thriller or a fantasy, and I'm normally never that drawn in by the plot of contemporary/non-magical novels, but the fate of these characters still left me on the edge of my seat. I wanted them to end up in a good place, but I knew, with all of their poor choices, something was going to hurt about the ending of the book. It did hurt, but in a good way. Bennett doesn't wrap everything up in a nice little bow (thank goodness). It's a very real ending to a story of friendship, love, family, death, and betrayal. It's natural yet satisfying.
I got everything I wanted - a story that kept me hooked, characters that stole my heart, and a realistic look at the tragedy and difficult choices that come with being a human. Highly recommend.