Doing It All by Ruby Russell, published by Basic Books/Seal Press, deeply resonated with me, especially as a single mother—a role I did not choose. This book goes beyond simply discussing the difficulties of single parenthood; it highlights how society is not designed to accommodate families like ours, often making us feel like outcasts. This portrayal doesn't reflect the reality of single parenthood in the slightest.

I appreciated how the author weaves in facts, politics, and political theory, presenting them in a direct, no-nonsense way that is so necessary. Some phrases struck a chord with me, such as "carrying the sexual mental load" and "these days, most of us are women who detonated nuclear families we couldn’t tolerate." Other points that resonated include:

"Mothering in a dysfunctional partnership, and redefining my motherhood beyond it, made me rethink deeply held assumptions about love, sex, relationships, family, autonomy, dependence, responsibility, and care."
"We need a post-nuclear family revolution on a societal level," emphasizing the need to bring societal infrastructure to the forefront.
I absolutely loved this book—it made me feel seen and heard. I’ll carry with me this powerful line: "Single-minded isn’t precisely what mothers don’t get to be. Our attention split, our identities kaleidoscoping."

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Basic Books/Seal Press for providing this advanced reader copy. I hope it reaches the audience it deserves.

This was a very interesting read. Gave me a lot to think about when interacting with single mothers that are part of my life.

Journalist Ruby Russell brings the highs and lows of single motherhood to life in her latest book. Rejecting the negative stereotypes and misconceptions of modern single motherhood, Russell instead roots this book in activist, feminist theories and deep historical roots beyond the last half-century. A description of single motherhood and a critique of the systems which do not support women, this book reimagines single motherhood in the public consciousness as a source of strength and pride and its stigmas as rooted in a state-wide failure and a cultural prejudice. Supported by recent and relevant facts and figures, Russell bases this book in her own experiences and the experiences of other single mothers in her social group, all of whom have different lived experiences and challenges as single mothers. With straightforward prose and a clear narrative, Russell’s book is engaging, informative, and relevant to her readers. By combining multiple narrative structures (personal and scholarly), Russell can reach multiple audiences and convey critical events and information to her readers. An excellent work of narrative nonfiction with a great writing style and an important topic, this book is a powerful and socially relevant read about modern single motherhood for modern women and for scholars in sociology and gender studies.

This is a great book for any woman who is doing it all. Single parent by choice? Single parent not my choice? Doing things out side what society expects of you? Read this book!