"Adult Conversation" by Brandy Ferner is a refreshingly honest and often hilariously raw look into the realities of modern motherhood and the quest for identity beyond being a parent. Ferner’s wit shines through her writing, delivering laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly balance the heavier themes of mental load, marital strain, and the societal expectations placed on women. The protagonist's journey is relatable and insightful, providing a candid exploration of the challenges and absurdities that mothers face. While the narrative is engaging and the humor is on point, some readers might find the plot slightly meandering, with certain resolutions feeling a bit too convenient. Overall, "Adult Conversation" is a compelling read that offers both humor and depth, making it a worthwhile addition for those who appreciate a story that speaks to the complexities of adulting and parenting with a no-holds-barred approach.
3.5 Stars!

Overall a clever premise. I expected this to be funnier than it was (the MC was a little bit of a train wreck and after a while it became cloying), but understand the picture the author was trying to portray.

It was a bit hard to read because April struggled so much and June the therapist (see the irony there)?Was somewhat helpful. But Aaron was not. jeez.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, keeping me on my toes throughout. The storyline was written well and flowed seamlessly. I look forward to reading more by this author!

This is another one that I’m going to skip summarizing - the main character was a basket case, and it wasn’t in a charming quirky way. It was like a whiny, entitled way. Her sarcastic take on motherhood came out a lot more angry mom than snarky mom. I would pass on this if I were you.

Thanks to @NetGalley and She Writes Press for my ARC!

I should preface this review by saying I don't have kids and I don't plan to have kids. That said, I'm very much drawn to books that deal with motherhood--I find them fascinating. This one ended up being full of heart and humor. I really liked April's 'voice', and the writing flowed very well. I liked her friendship with June and thought it was hilarious that this referenced Marie Kondo's tidying up book.

I love that this book was about motherhood, finding a way back to yourself in the middle of all that motherhood entails, and friendship. I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.

Adult Conversation is a funny look at parenting in today's world. I remeber those days. My first baby was twins! I am so glad all three of my babies are young adults. Thinking back to those days after reading this book made me glad I am over it .lol. I really enjoyed thus book.

I can wholeheartedly say this book has some amazing imagery and details. At some points, our narrator would be describing the tantrums her offspring were throwing and I was physically tensing my body. It had that much of a reaction on me! I found myself being mad at my husband because the situations in the book made me mad! I'm so glad I do not have children. That being said, the writing struck many cords with me, and I really enjoyed the story of this poor mama finding her way out of the loneliness of being a stay at home mom.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I love stories looking at the role of motherhood and how to maintain ones self throughout that. This book had ups and downs for me - it felt hard to stay engaged with the main character. Some really great parts and other slower parts.

What a hilarious take on modern motherhood! April or A.B. is the seemingly typical modern mom who has to navigate being a stay at home mother to her kids, a partner and wife to her husband, and a woman all her own. The author perfectly delves into the shifting identity that comes when you become a mother and choose not to work outside the home.

I recommend this book if you ever have days when you want to get away from it all or wich the littles would just go ask the OTHER PARENT!

I am not leaving a review due to the fact that this book did not interest me enough to finish the story.

This is a hilarious portrayal of motherhood. This is a fast paced novel that made me appreciate that my own child is in his late teenage years. But I remember all of the events in the story like it was yesterday, those toddler years were draining.

Unfortunately, this just missed the mark for me. I just don't think there was a strong structure to the plot. I was looking forward to the narrative the summary promised, but it ended up not showing up until about 75% through the book, and then it was over and done within pages. The lead up was just a recount of the trials and tribulations of a stay at home mom as she wrestles with the blatant inequality and oppression that is inherent to modern day marriage and motherhood culture. And I get that, and I completely support this message. It is unfair that moms are made to feel guilty if they don't feel like motherhood is the most fulfilling thing in the world. I'm a mom too, I understand that and related to it in more ways than one. The mom-shaming, the lack of equal parenting roles, the expectations of moms to give up career ambitions, the stress on everyone fitting into this cookie cutter ideal of what a perfect wife and spouse - these themes were addressed again and again and I totally support that. But the execution in articulating it was just so overdone. The formula was practically beaten to death - something annoying happens involving her kids, snarky inner dialogue rant about motherhood, self-deprecating humor, maybe pop culture reference thrown in, and then observing the inequality in parental roles. This just repeats over and over again. It's fine, but formulaic and gets stale quick. And to top it all off I just didn't understand the message at the end of the day - you're angry and depressed and unfulfilled, but at least your husband doesn't hit you so count your blessings and move on?

The story and the message just felt jumbled, like it got away from itself and it all wrapped up too quickly for me to be satisfied that the build up was meant for anything.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Adult Conversation is an engaging and funny novel about a woman’s struggle with contemporary middle-class motherhood.

“Modern motherhood looked so much like anxiety, which was which?”

April doesn’t understand why she is finding full-time motherhood so difficult. She adores her children, eight year-old Elliot, and two year-old Violet, but is increasingly overwhelmed by her family’s endless demands on her time, energy and sanity. Desperate for advice she reaches out to a therapist who helps her to find some perspective

Ferner’s observations of motherhood are wry and honest. I well remember feeling exhausted, frustrated, and ‘touched’ out after a long day of caring for young children so I immediately empathised with April. Her concerns are so close to what my own were in the early years, and though the anxiety of wondering if you are doing it ‘right’ never goes away, thankfully time offers perspective.

April’s shift in perspective comes not only from the wise advice of her therapist to take time for herself without guilt, but an unlikely adventure in her company to Vegas. It’s perhaps a little absurd, with a rather shocking twist, but the trip is illuminating for April.

Told with wit and warmth I enjoyed Adult Conversations, I believe most mothers will relate with at least some aspect of April’s experience, and her desire to meet the needs of her family without sacrificing herself.

I think this book will appeal to lots of readers and there's definitely a great voice there. It took me a while to get into it - she just wasn't a character I wanted to spend time with - and it wasn't as funny as I'd hoped (could just be my humour and not a reflection on the book!) and the second half was a bit confused. However, there's loads of great writing in there, and it wouldn't put me off reading further titles by this author.

This book had me hooked from the first few lines. I loved it!! You will fall into the story and be sad when it ends.

Interesting read and my first from this author. It had funny moments and some more serious ones. Neither motherhood nor marriage is for the faint of heart. I liked the writing style but honestly it didn't feel like much was going on until the end. Regardless I will check out more from the author and rec it if you're wanting to read about a frustrated stay at home mom and all that entails.

Constantly striving to be the 'perfect' mum, the pressures and guilt begin to build. Every time April fails to buy organic it goes on her list of failures. Every time her husband texts to say he will be home late from work she feels more isolated by motherhood.

Infuriated by the impossible standards of being a mom, and her husband's refusal to see his "Dad Privilege", of not having to worry about childcare if he works late, because he has her - the unpaid servant of His Lordship and the fruit of his loins whilst being mostly oblivious to her struggles but also irritated when he is forced to accept that she has had a bad day.

Ultimately April wonders if there is something wrong with her. Is how she feels normal or is there a therapy or medication she needs to make her feel normal?

There is plenty to love about this book. It has light-hearted, funny moments that resonate with the horror stories I hear from other parents. April also has a quite moving personal development throughout and her whole package makes her an endearing character who is enjoyable to read about.

Where I am less keen is with the weird Thelma and Louise type relationship she develops with her therapist. The whole arc of this section is bizarre. The idea is for April to re-discover herself and forge some independence and separation so that she can have some time away - where she is doing her own thing once in a while. However, she ends up in a bizarre co-dependent friendship with her therapist.

I received a pre-release copy of #AdultConversation by Brandy Ferner for free from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Published by #SheWritesPress this book is available from 05/05/20.

Funny book about life in the mommyhood with a little Thelma and Louise mixed in for good measure. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found April to be an instantly unlikeable protagonist who does a disservice to contemporary moms everywhere by representing their fatigue and frustration in a consistently sarcastic, entitled, and judgmental fashion. She describes the typical daily activities of a stay at home mom in an angry, holier-than-thou tone. She further unabashedly paints her offspring and spouse as the villains while she herself is the virtuous martyr whose deep well of nurturing is under-appreciated and over-imposed upon.

***“I can’t regain my sanity as a mother because in my quest to get it back, I push it further away. Trying to make money to buy the help I need just makes me need more help.”***

Having gone through the stages of motherhood that April is experiencing, I know that she’s not even exaggerating. Sometimes the job is truly hard and you really wish someone else understood that. But, I just did not enjoy April at all. The first three quarters of the book was one long uninterrupted complaint.

Then, in the last quarter, the focus shifts from April to her therapist, June, who is having a marital crisis of her own. This well-timed but bizarre sequence serves to give April an opportunity to flex her independence and gain perspective on her own tribulations. This review earned one addition star, from “I forced myself to finish this” 2 stars, to “I liked it a little” 3 stars, because April demonstrated some growth in insight and acceptance in the final pages.

(NetGalley ARC review)