There are so many things I loved about this book that I don't know where to begin.

Understanding that blood doesn't necessarily define family is something many of us learn later in life; however, it just so happens that Eva finds this out as a child. On searching for the truth that she knows in her heart to be accurate, but no one will confirm, she finds out that motherhood, friendship and womanhood all have essential roots in the backbone of society.

While it takes a moment to get into the book, once you hit the point of no return, you will want to finish it in a single sitting to learn how it ends for Eva. Does she find out about her family's past? Do her friends stay in her life forever? What colour is awarded to the next person in her life?

I was in constant awe of her resilience and the characters around her in the face of the unknown, which is something we could all use a little bit more of.

I give this book 4 stars.

‘Sometimes you can’t solve the problems you’ve helped to create.’

On the day that Eva Martínez-Green started school at St Hilda’s in London, two important things happened: first she met Bridget Blume; and secondly she was introduced to a book called ‘The Rainbow Rained Us’. Bridget becomes Eva’s friend, and the book has such a profound impact on Eva, that she asks her father to buy her a copy. Ms Feast, the class teacher, reads the book to the school. And from the story Eva realises that there are many different types of mothers. But somehow, Eva and her mother do not match. There are gaps in Eva’s life and questioning her parents does not help fill in these gaps. Eva wonders where she belongs.

Eva’s story unfolds over the next thirty years in London and in Spain. Her parents separate and a tragedy in Bridget’s family sees Bridget and her family move to Israel. Eva feels this loss more keenly as, for a while, she lived with the Blume family and experienced their acceptance and love.

What can I tell you about this novel, about the pain of searching for truth, about wondering who your parents really are and why you did not grow up with them? Or about growing up in a dysfunctional home, where truth is hidden (or ignored)? Eva’s journey is challenging and complicated. She observes (and experiences) different models of mothering during her quest. This is a novel about life, about belonging, and about mothering. Along the way, Eva meets several women who will have an important influence on her life. Not all are positive.

I was drawn into Eva’s story, and desperately wanted her to find the answers she was searching for. This is a beautifully written novel: painful in some parts, joyful in others.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I was eager to read Joanna’s latest book as her previous one, The Other Half of Augusta Hope, was met with such great acclaim and I really enjoyed it. This one is likewise inviting but for different reasons.

‘Some days heaven touches Earth.
And do we notice it at the time?
Or do we know it later - when heaven is snatched away?’

The story centres around Eva from her early years through to adulthood. Eva always feels that something does not quite sit right and spends time trying to discover the truth, not only about herself but also about origins and meaning for a person. Joanna is always upfront with her character's emotions, and here you will see Eva be both strong yet also fall apart. At times she may self-destruct and come across as hard to like but that is what adds depth and realism to the story.

‘If it’s meant to be, it will work,’ I said, thinking that, although people said this a lot, it really was a load of crap.’

Yes, this is a journey of self discovery, however the themes run much deeper than that. It really is about life and how often things can come full circle to find yourself right back where you figuratively started. It is a story for females - girls, women, friends, mothers - this story sets out to investigate it all.

‘A joy not often talked about, the joy of expertise.
I recommend it.
Finding your thing.
Your place in the scheme of things.’

At times I struggled with this book - it can read slowly with nothing appearing to be happening. I am also unsure about the constant sharp, clinical writing style that, whilst providing the desired impact, lost something through its regular use providing a lack of fluidity.

‘How do we make happiness?
Is it by loving other people?
Is that how it works?’

This book will make you think and carefully consider your own female relationships - many readers are deeply moved by Eva’s journey. It is not an easy read with the complicated emotions and hesitancy, however, the fierceness of her devotion is something one cannot help but admire in Eva.





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

All my Mothers is a story about a daughter and her “mothers’ during her life.
Eva is an only child and lives with her mother and mostly absent father, she lives in a nice house in a nice town and goes to a nice school, but her mother is very cold towards her, and it seems she can never do anything to make her happy. While at school she is asked to bring a photo of herself as a baby and wonders why there are no photos of her in the house as a baby. Her parents are quite elusive about this and her suspicions thrive as she has always wondered why she does not look like either of her parents.
When she is older her parents separate and her mother is unwell so she goes to live with her best friend’s family. They give her love that she has never experiences and she becomes somewhat of a surrogate child to Bridget’s family. This sets her on a journey of discovery and takes her to Spain so she can find her roots.
There is romance along the way, but the biggest drawcard is finding out where she has come from. She meets many more ‘mothers’ along the way to discovering where she belongs.
This was such a lovely novel full of adventure, friendship, a bit of romance but overall a journey of discovery. Eva was such a strong woman, and I was entertained constantly by her adventures and the people she met.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and would recommend it to readers of family stories and contemporary women's fiction. Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. 5*

This is the story of Eva Martínez-Green, from the day she began school, and for the next 30 years of her life. It's a story about mothers - for anyone who has been a mother, has had a mother, wants to be a mother, or even just knows a mother. It's a totally immersive story, at times painful and at others joyful, that had me ugly-crying for the last two chapters. I loved it.

On the day Eva starts school at St Hilda's in London, two life-changing things happen. Firstly, she meets Bridget Blume, the vivacious Jewish girl who will be her best friend forever and ever, and secondly she is introduced to a book called The Rainbow Rained Us. Listening to Miss Feast read the book to her class, Eva is struck by the thought that there are many different types of mothers in the world, and by its follow-up, that she and her own mother Cherie did not match. It is such a revelation that she asks her father to buy her a copy of the book. At around this time she also begins writing her own book, a notebook/journal really, of her quest to find out who she is. The Quest Book.

Over the years Eva has many important women in her life. Many are positive influences, such as Bridget's mother, M, and Sister Ana in Córdoba, but others are less positive. Eva realises that all of them can teach her something. Christine Orson, mother of Eva's teenage boyfriend Michael, is such an example. This is a woman who gave up her high-powered career to steer her 3 boys to their best lives, and who actually makes notes about questions to guide mealtime discussions. At Eva's first meal with the family, Christine asks them all what they consider to be their guiding principle for life. Eva's response is something she's instinctively known her whole life, but perhaps only crystallises at that point - longing. Convinced she was abducted from her home in Spain as a toddler, Eva has always longed for a loving mother, her real mother.

This is a book of two halves, with the first half set in London for Eva's childhood. At about the halfway point, when Eva is at university, the story relocates to Córdoba. For me, the pace really picked up at that point, but that's not to say I enjoyed the first half any less. It's a slow burn. The London section was all about development of character and motivation, while in Spain the focus turns more to the plot. Covering such a long timespan, I appreciated the way the author mentioned current events every now and then (the funeral of Lord Mountbatten, the popularity of Mamma Mia the Musical, 9/11), providing an anchor to the context of the times, whether or not they directly influenced the characters.

I missed the author's debut novel when it was originally published, but I'm going to remedy that very soon. If it's half as good as this one, it will be wonderful.

A very moving book, full of joy, sorrow, hope, heartbreak and love. Beautifully written in a unique style. Loved every word, and it will stay with me for a long time.

All my mothers by Joanna Glen is a book I won’t forget for a long time. It is set in England and Spain and tells the story of Eva and the feeling she doesn’t belong anywhere . It’s a coming of age story in some ways, and equally a story about motherhood and friendship. I absolutely loved the way it was written , the characters and the storyline and was sobbing by the end . Cannot recommend it highly enough ! Thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins for and ARC to read and review .