This book is, no question, an academic book in the sense that it's a careful examination of mothers in literature. That said, it feels more like a coffee chat with an absurdly smart friend. It's not dry, and author is through without dragging chapters out longer than they need to be. Many include a brief synopsis of the book in question before delving into the topic which is helpful if the reader has not read the book in question or it has been a long time. A thoroughly engaging, thought provoking read.

The many different and varying looks at motherhood grabbed my attention, but I was a bit lost on what I went into the book expecting, and what I left with after reading. I don't feel my time was wasted at all by reading this, and I did enjoy it! I enjoyed reading about the different mothers in literature, since I had a base knowledge of a lot of the ones that were written about. All in all, I enjoyed the book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I picked this book on a whim because I love books about books and I too am a mother.

I enjoyed the author’s analysis of a handful of favorite/beloved mothers in literature. I have read most of the books she refers to but not all. I did not think this necessarily detracted from my appreciation of her critiques but I did notice that the analysis of the characters with which I was most familiar seemed to make the most sense to me.

The book was (rightly so) kind of a downer. The author obviously has a liberal bias which I’m fine with but some readers may not like. The book is a timely reflection on mothers in the workplace needing childcare; motherhood’s mental load; and abortion access among other issues - all things not going too well for women right now in history (if you agree).

I would have liked to know the author’s suggestions on where we go from here. What would her “ideal mother” look like in a book?

A book about mothers that begins by complaining that women can not legally kill a baby is not a book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this book.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. The prose was clean and clear and there were many insights about motherhood that had me evaluating and examining societal norms. The essays also had me taking a new look at the female characters in literature I've read many times before, like Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice. There were small injections of humour here and there that helped make the sometimes heavy topics more enjoyable. My only qualm with the book is with the title - it don't think it conveys the content of the book very well to the reader. Otherwise, an excellent read.