Thank you. Netgalley, for granting me the early access to this book.

However, as much as I want to like this one because of the premise, I couldn't. There's something missing from this book and I feel like I couldn't get almost 40% of it into my head and enjoy the book. Probably gonna re-read it to convince myself it might be an okay book for me.

I generally absolutely love books about female rage, empowerment, and motherhood, but unfortunately this book just did not hit that mark for me.

This book had amazing prose, and the discussions of invisible labor, and modern motherhood truly touched my heart. I felt for the FMC, Ava, rather intensely as she struggled with the rage she barely contained below the surface as she was expected to do it all while her husband held no burdens. The discussions of the patriarchy were length but very well done. The history of the Goddess was also well done and I loved how it was entwined with the story.

The story timelines alternating was what truly fell flat for me. The also completely unnecessary political rants just completely missed the mark and would be better suited for perhaps an article or blog piece, but not appropriate for the novel and what the premise was expected to be. I truly wanted there to be much more depth and understanding of Ava and Kasper's relationship. The ending also just left me grasping for straws.

I truly thank Alexis Landau, Knopf Pantheon, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This novel is a beautifully crafted exploration of human emotions, filled with vivid characters and emotionally resonant moments. The prose is both lyrical and sharp, drawing readers into the inner world of the protagonist with ease. Themes of identity, love, and resilience are woven throughout, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. Perfect for those who appreciate nuanced storytelling and deeply relatable experiences.

I was intrigued by the concept of a story alternating between the timelines of a modern art history professor and an ancient Greek woman, but I found the execution underwhelming

There are times when the disconnect between a book’s description and how that concept is executed ends up working really well for me as a reader… and then there are times when it just falls so far of the mark. Unfortunately, Alexis Landau’s recent novel, The Mother of All Things proved to be the latter. Looking to explore motherhood, femininity, and women’s roles in modern society with contrasts to those same elements in ancient Greece and Rome, the novel ultimately felt like it was trying too hard to tackle too many things and instead became a bit of a scattered mess. Too simplistic and preaching to the choir at many times, there were other moments when the attempts to connect to the ancient past felt incredibly forced and just didn’t fit as they tried too hard to be profound and instead interrupted what flow the main narrative managed to establish. The conclusion brought no satisfaction beyond being done – I don’t feel that any of the supposed growth of the characters stuck in a meaningful way or that any cohesive point was made.

When Ava’s husband, Kasper receives a huge career opportunity that takes him to Bulgaria for several months, she knows it means she’ll be on her own as far as their two children are concerned – in addition to her existing responsibilities teaching at the university and working on writing her book. Because she knew what she was getting into, she doesn’t feel like she can really complain but when summer vacation means traveling to Bulgaria to stay as a family near the production, Ava ends up reuniting with a former professor of hers and the frustrations she feels become more difficult to set aside. Finding and building a community of women helps Ava to confront some of the issues from her past as she struggles with how to raise her own daughter and how to approach writing her book.

The way that the description was written, I thought there would be a lot more balance between Ava’s part of the story and the sections from the book she’s supposed to be writing – that alternating between the two would be the main structure of the novel. Instead, the chapters from the book Ava is writing are sporadic and only sort of go along with her part of the story. It felt like the description is more what the original plan/outline for the book was supposed to be but then reading it, that’s not how the book ended up shaping up in the writing. Given my interest in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome (mostly focused on mythology and retellings that center the female figures from those myths), I was pretty disappointed by how that all played out in The Mother of All Things.

Similarly, I was let down by the way that feminism and women’s issues were approached in the story. At first, I thought my disappointment and frustration were because I tried to read The Mother of All Things too soon after I finished The Mother Act. But even as I set The Mother of All Things aside for a while and came back to it, the frustration remained. Ava’s diatribes come across as a lot of passive whining about the status quo and not a lot of trying to do anything about it. They’re not explored with much in the way of subtlety and the story jumps around in ways that don’t help things at all. I found it impossible to connect to either the characters or the plot so there just wasn’t enough to hold my interest or get invested in. Motherhood and the challenges surrounding that – particularly mothers and daughters as Ava struggles with Margot’s approaching teenager status – are (based on the title) supposed to be the main focus thematically but it’s handled in such a haphazard way that other elements overpower what I think the author was trying to accomplish and distract from rather than support the connections between Ava’s miscarriage, the celebration of Demeter and Persephone, and Ava’s relationship with Margot.

The novel’s conclusion felt sensationalized and failed to satisfy. The resolution didn’t really resolve much – and not in a way that the ending was ambiguous and thought-provoking either. It felt like things just ran out of steam. If I hadn’t received an advance copy, I’m not sure I would have bothered to finish it. If you’re looking for a dynamic and engaging exploration of motherhood, womanhood, and the unjust and often double-standards of society, I’d recommend The Mother Act over The Mother of All Things.

Nothing quite like modern female rage juxtaposed with ancient female rage and the reality that nothing really has changed for women since ancient Greece. Ava's story is relatable and darkly humorous, shedding light on the unusual setting of Bulgaria and what it means to be married to a movie producer.

I loved this book. Landau has a style of writing that is clean and efficient. This book will speak to the very soul of today's women who feel that no matter what they do they are never making any progress and are perhaps just reliving the life of every woman since history began. My only complaint is that I think she went soft with the ending and of course I would have appreciated an answer to the age old question of how to have it all!

What a raw story about the weight of motherhood and how to reclaim yourself and your identity. It is beautifully written and so glad I got the opportunity to read

This story captures the weight of motherhood and the power of reclaiming one’s own identity. Powerful.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

i think the writing style was interesting, alongside the subject matter and themes; that being said, this was quite frankly boring.

I had an extremely hard time clicking with this book. Neither of the two timelines were of interest to me, and the lack of plot made it even more difficult to connect with the characters.

Alexis Landau’s "The Mother of All Things" is a story that will easily resonate with any mother and describes the emotions and experiences many of us face while attempting to raise our children. While I agree with many other reviewers that this title dives into patriarchal belief systems spanning thousands of years, I struggled to connect with Ava, the main character. Ava felt always one step away, as her inner rage was, as rage tends to do as an emotion, often misguided. I sympathized more with her husband, who bumbled his way through existence and tried to provide for his family as best as he knew how. It frustrated me how rarely Ava used her power and the power of her voice in a modern marriage, which led to me ultimately keeping her at an arm's distance as a character. Would I recommend this book to a friend or colleague, definitely. I would also advise you to draw your own conclusions on Ava, and examine what preconceived notions you have about being a mother as you dive into this book.

I enjoyed every second of this book. The Mother of All Things is mostly about motherhood from the perspective of Ava, a woman in her thirties that has put herself and her career on hold to be a "good enough" mother for her two children, feeling like a widow even though her husband is very much alive and well. I'm not a mother myself but I can relate how easily as women we can get trapped in the domestic loop and the rage that comes with it when we don't feel seen by our partners. This book also talks about the rituals women have had for thousands of years and the patriarchy has shut down to control women. It was very eye opening to read that many of the struggles we have now have existed for so long, the pressure we feel to be perfect mothers and partners is taught and it's an impossible task. Thanks to this book I'm reassured of the type of mother I want to be someday.

Alexis Landau’s "The Mother of All Things" is a captivating novel that brilliantly interweaves the contemporary challenges of modern womanhood with the profound depths of ancient female rites. This story is a powerful exploration of female rage, grief, and creativity, making it a deeply resonant and thought-provoking read.

Landau’s writing is evocative and immersive, seamlessly drawing readers into both the present-day narrative and the ancient past. The novel excels in making these two worlds reflect and illuminate each other, highlighting the continuous thread of female strength, wisdom, and resilience across time. Ava’s journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, as she learns to balance her responsibilities to her family with her need to honor her own identity and passions.

"The Mother of All Things" is more than a story about a woman finding herself; it is a celebration of female wisdom and the sacred nature of the feminine experience. Landau’s portrayal of Ava’s internal struggles and external adventures is both relatable and inspiring, making this novel a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of womanhood and the transformative power of reconnecting with one’s essential self.
Alexis Landau delivers a deeply moving and insightful novel that resonates on multiple levels. "The Mother of All Things" is a testament to the enduring power of female connection and the importance of reclaiming one’s voice and agency. It serves as a powerful reminder that the journeys we undertake, both physical and emotional, are integral to our growth and understanding of ourselves and the world around us. This book is highly recommended for its compelling narrative, profound themes, and the beautiful intertwining of past and present, making it a standout work in contemporary fiction

DNF at 40%. There are parts to this story and points the author is making that I really appreciated. However the execution of the story isn’t keeping me compelled enough to finish. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Maybe it’s just me, but female empowerment is in the zeitgeist right now! I absolutely loved this dual-timeline exploration of women claiming their voices and being heard and seen in their world. I learned so much about the Ancient Greek view of women, and I deeply resonated with the tired mom who is ready to be a full self, not just a facilitator for her husband and children’s dreams. I especially enjoyed how the author integrated the mother-daughter relationship into the narrative, illustrating how personal healing expands into relational healing. So good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for giving me advanced reader access to this title in exchange for an honest review! This title published last Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

This was a DNF for me around 30%. I thought the writing was alright and the characters felt real and not like caricatures. But I just wasn't excited to pick this book up. I thought the feminist messaging was a bit too on-the-nose and I felt drenched in it most of the time I engaged with it. And then the jumping back to 415 BC Greece and the poetry-esque storytelling just removed me immediately from the narrative.

Based on previous reviews, it appears I'm in the minority, so I hope if the premise sounds intriguing to readers they still pick it up! This, unfortunately, just didn't work for me.

Landau's writing in this book is very good. I enjoyed the subtly of the writing and how when mixed with the more direct parts of the book it created a space for readers to make their own judgements of what could have been, who these characters are, and what is happening in the world around them. I love books that focus on the development of a character and seeing Ava's though patterns, actions, rational, and personality allowed for me to see a well rounded person that I got to experience the ups and downs of her life with.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Mother of All Things follows mom Ava as the full brunt of raising a family falls solely on her while her husband spends all his time shooting a film in Bulgaria.

I feel like I want to call this book essentially Midsommar for literary moms, except that feels a little misleading in that the brunt of this book is about both contemporary and ancient women, their lives, and their internal struggles, and only a tiny bit of it involves doing a bad thing to a man. This book is slow, takes its time to get to all of its points, and is very decidedly not about the plot at all. Rather, this felt like a careful dissection of Ava, of the space she occupies, and of the spaces we all occupy as women. Though I cannot pretend to relate to a lot of the topics explored here -- most notably, I am not a mother -- I will say that this book was incredibly thought-provoking. Ava grapples with her own identity, with the disconnect between who she is, who she used to be, and who she might become, in ways that I think are worth talking about, because even if our journeys don't look like Ava's (especially the academia of it all) I think the difficulty of these kinds of changes -- and the inherent loneliness women often experience as a result of them -- are in many ways universal.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to everyone. I think you've really got to be one of those people who doesn't mind slogging through a lot of internality, who likes a slow-paced lit fic book, but readers who thrive on this kind of fare will find a lot here to love.

Thank you so much net galley for allowing me this opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange of an honest review