This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is an intimate, razor-sharp exploration of motherhood, centering on pregnancy, children, and the immense physical and emotional weight that mothers carry.

Across this short story collection, men often find ways to escape—whether by physically distancing themselves, leaving altogether, or gradually pushing women out of professional spaces as they prepare for maternity leave. The discomfort of pregnancy, the responsibility of raising children, and the loneliness that can come with both are recurring themes.

The stories are strikingly sharp, often unsettling, and unafraid to dig into the flaws of their protagonists. Some women are subtly flawed, others more overtly—like the pregnant director in Dracula at the Movies, who manipulates her lead actress to unearth past trauma, or the mother in Dino Moms, where characters exist in a bizarre, Jurassic Park-esque reality show.

With biting honesty and a touch of the surreal, this collection doesn’t shy away from hard truths, making for an unflinching, thought-provoking read.

I couldn't finish this book. Maybe it was the language, or the audiobook itself. It was a little hard to understand sometimes. And it was very hard for me to distinguish when we would switch from one short story to another. Overall, I wouldn't say it was a bad book, I just personally couldn't relate to any of the characters or their situations.

Hilarious in the most bittersweet and poignant way. I most certainly got "in my feelings" and was delighted to know I'm not the only one. It was a wonderful title.