I absolutely loved this book. I've been raving about it not just to bookstore customers, but to friends and family, and have even purchased hard copies as gifts for them. I've been reading and re-reading a lot of "motherhood" books recently - Nine Moons by Gabriela Weiner, Linea Negra by Jazmina Barrera - and Matrescence is a standout. I loved how Jones wove together her own, deeply personal experience of matrescence with research studies and her ecology background; I found it not just informative but beautiful. Thanks to PRH and Netgalley for my ARC.

This book is about the journey to and through motherhood by presenting anecdotes, commentary on societal expectations and shortcomings, and scientific research. Facts about other mothers in nature and quotes are sprinkled throughout the book as well. This disjointed format allows the reader to engage with the section at hand. The writing is clear and informative. I particularly appreciated the chapter about a mother’s postpartum mental health and how the wording “for no reason” on the postpartum depression survey is problematic, at least in my own experience. Finally, I would have preferred to read about more positive outcomes of matrescence, but think the author overall accomplished her purpose for this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Pantheon for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I will start by saying that I'm not a mother and will never be a mother, but I am so happy that I read it. I read this book because it was long listed for the Women's prize and I really enjoyed my time spent with it. It really brought to light all of the things that happen to women through every stage of pregnancy and into motherhood. I think the world would be a better place if this was required reading for everyone, especially men. There are so many misconceptions about pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood that were discussed and even as a woman, I have a new found appreciation for what our bodies are capable of. Lucy Jones not only informed, but she did it with grace, humor, and class and although I was learning the whole time, I was also entertained. This is a fantastic piece of nonfiction and I can definitely see how this could be spotlighted by the Women's prize.

I did a full length review of this video on my YouTube channel and provided the link below as well:

https://youtu.be/KSX5r5h3utw

*Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book as I was pregnant with my first children and when I was in the newborn trenches. Ultimately, it was not for me. Each chapter starts with a comparison to something in nature (an animal, an organism, etc) and I felt like that didn't add anything. It was also extremely hard for me (an American reader) to have any empathy for the author because she lives in England, where she had a long, paid maternity leave. This meant that she came off as whiny in many parts of the book.

hanks @pantheonbooks for the review copy. Another new entry in the growing motherhood and maternity literature, and it is a good one. On the title: becoming a mother is as fundamental a life change as adolescence—it literally rewires the brain, upends priorities, changes everything, yet western societies have virtually no modern rites of passage to mark it. (N.b. Science is clear that parenting rewires the brains of birthing and non-birthing parents alike. Jones acknowledges this, but is primarily focused on birthing parents.)

One quirk of the genre that is wearing on me: authors seem to approach every single topic from a personal negative-to-traumatic experience (Birth? Check. Breastfeeding? Check. PPD/PPA? Check. Mat leave/return to work? Check. Pressure to be an intensive parent/self-abnegating perfect mother/do natural childbirth/pick your poison? Check. And so on.) Obviously these stories need to be told. But surely readers can connect, and respect the author’s perspective, even if not every aspect of their journey was terrible? Jones makes room for joy. But especially given her interest in ecology and grounding her inquiry in the breadth of life on the planet (she is a science writer), I felt there was perhaps room for more awe?

Because on the flip side, books about how everything is terrible (but shouldn’t be) can be equally alienating. Is birthing and raising children hard? Yes. Harder than it should be? (Due to bad social policy/toxic gendered scripts/bad science/pick your issue.) Yes. But if a reader’s own experience is not uniformly and across the board bad, are they missing something? I hope not.

Anyway, I’ve read a fair number of maternity books in recent years, and DNF-ed multiple nonfiction entries in the category (e.g. Mother Brain, Natality—both of which cover some of the same ground, like microchimerism). I think what works about this one is its scope, ambition, fresh reflections, and good writing. If I was going to point someone to a single book to start with in the nonfiction motherhood and maternity literature, this would probably be it.

Matrescence is an excellent book in so many ways. I really enjoyed the small sections at the beginning of each chapter describing different overlooked aspects of the natural world and how the author didn't spoon-feed how it related to the following chapter, but that it felt more like a meditation that left me in awe of the world around me.
I
also appreciate the importance of giving the completely life changing (and ongoing) experience if "matrescence" a name and description. I believe that this book will be a real resource to many mothers to help them feel seen.

I would, however, struggle to give this book to anyone who has not yet experienced matrescence as I feel like, overall, the author's, largely negative, experience was such a extremely different experience than my, largely positive, experience. It's a fine line, which I don't think this book always walked, between wanting future mothers to be prepared for the experience of matrescence and scaring them before they even have the chance for a positive experience.

It was also difficult at times to read the struggles of the author when she is in a country (England) that, although the social net for new mothers could definitely be improved, has MUCH more support for new mothers/families (in-home postpartum health visitors, and care credit during the first several months to help offset being home on parental leave) than the United States.

Matrescence was a really interesting read. I can see why it was nominated for prizes! I appreciated the science but also the easy to read quality of the writing

Lucy Jones has written a raw intimate look at motherhood she shares thoughts about Matrescence that women rarely share.An eye opening look an ode to being a mother.#netgalley #knopf

This was a hard read for me. I wanted to like it more than I actually did, but I felt like the tone of the book was a bit condescending which put me off from being able to even finish it.

Like Lucy Jones, I was introduced to the term Matrescence through Alexandra Sacks. I loved listening to her podcast, Motherhood Sessions, and reading articles and books on motherhood back in 2019 when I was pregnant with my first child. Matrescence is a term that is so needed, because there is a becoming to motherhood. In her memoir, Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood' Jones explores her own experiences with motherhood, while interweaving in bits from nature, as well as history and science. Jones has presented my favorite type of book! She gives space to the rawness of becoming a mother and some of the uncomfortable truths that are left unsaid when you attend a typical mom support group or mommy-and-me class.

It was interesting to hear about the birth experience in the UK, as there are some differences than in America. Ultimately, however, motherhood and matrescence are a universal experience that transcends cultures. It felt powerful to read a story about a woman's experience in this transition. Jones was able to highlight the absolute bliss and depths of treacherousness that so many women experience in becoming a mother. I especially enjoyed the chapters on maternal ambivalence and intensive motherhood, as these seem relative to the experiences of so many women. I made quite a few highlights of books I want to read as a follow-up to learn more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Pantheon, and the author Lucy Jones for an ARC of this wonderful memoir and reflection on matrescence.

Lucy Jones has written a beautiful ode to motherhood that is so much more. Matrescence brings to light the secrets of motherhood that few women talk about even with their best friend, believing they are alone in their experience. And then, Jones adds the science behind the changes that happen to women when they become mothers. Matrescence adds a necessary perspective to the current conversation about women's health.

My interest in this book heightened after being longlisted for The Women's Prize for Non-Fiction earlier this year. Going into this book, I wondered how much I would find this relatable, being childfree myself. I should not have worried because although it is part memoir of the author's pregnancies, I found the cultural and health aspects enlightening. Matrescence is a call to action to provide better care and health outcomes for mothers and babies.

Woof, what a book. Detailing the author's journey through a tough pregnancy and matrescence (the act of becoming a mother that is in fact a real world, despite what the dictionary says), this is not an easy book to read (especially while pregnant!) It's a very scientific approach to a well-trodden topic, and while I can't say I learned too much new information, I was cheering along with Jones' call to action for how to make our society better for women.

first off, this book was incredibly well written and thoroughly researched. the passion the author has for this book, and for dissecting motherhood and all its complexities, is evident on every page. i approached this one as a childless adult woman that has been on the fence about having kids and i really appreciated the perspective this book brought. it is honest and factual while also exploring raw, emotional, spiritual aspects of women becoming mothers. this one won’t be for everyone but i’m glad i gave it a go. thanks to the author and the publisher for the e-ARC!