I really enjoyed All The Mothers by Domenica Ruta. It was well written and well paced. I loved the stories of all the women. The characters were nicely developed. The introduction of Ash as nonbinary and the relationship between two of the mothers was realistic. It was not thrown in just because.
There were a few stories I hoped would have wrapped up a little better. One example was Tara. She was the mother from hell. I also think Justin should have been punished a little more severely. Total jerk.
Grab this novel for a well paced and enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel.

The first third of this book is a slog, as it follows Sandy through failed relationships, then getting pregnant by a boyfriend that she's just okay with, and into trying to be a single mother. With a mother lost to cancer, a dad that's completely uninterested in her life and his grandchild and a passel of insincere, shallow sorority sisters serving as her friend network, Sandy doesn't really have any kind of support network. Then she meets Steph, a fellow baby mama of her ex, and while her life doesn't necessarily get easier, it gets better with the friendship of not only another single mother, but one who knows exactly what Sandy is dealing with in her relationship with Justin, who is a man-child who can't keep it in his pants and has commitment issues. Despite being completely different people, the two bond and move in together - and then find out that Justin is channeling his inner Nick Cannon when another women reaches out to them because Justin has knocked her up too, and then bailed on her. Although the women have pretty lousy taste in men, they're pretty awesome women and Kaya becomes a part of their mom club. Between the three of them, they handle changing careers, a baby/toddler, a kid that's figuring out they're nonbinary and learning how to support them, and an extended stay in the NICU. Ruta does a great job of making them women that each have their own flaws, each have their own meltdowns, and each deal with their own insecurities, but all handling their situation with grace and aplomb. She regularly throws them curveballs they have to deal with, all the one that challenges them most of all is when Justin sues Sandy and Steph for custody of the children he's fathered with them, while yes, having knocked yet another woman up. I struggle a little bit with how much evidence the women have that Justin is not a good father that they don't seem to know how to utilize against him in a custody battle, but if that's probably the biggest gripe I have about this book. Ruta shows motherhood as unconventional, overwhelming and rewarding, and how important it is to have a support network that can help you when you need it, sincerely and without strings attached. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All the Mothers was really fun. First, we meet Sandy. Then Steph. And, last, Kaya. All three women have one thing in common: Justin as an ex-boyfriend and baby daddy. Sandy is just a few months postpartum when she realizes what a deadbeat Justin is. And then Justin’s mom, who Sandy just can’t get on her side, lets slip that Justin has another child. Sandy works to get the details and tracks down Steph. Sandy, Steph and Steph’s tweenage daughter all immediately hit it off. One thing leads to another and they all move in together. The house is palpably filled with love, fun, support and laughter. It’s easy to be delighted by the characters.

Some months later (and one complaint I have about this book is that time feels bizarre, the baby Rosie seems to age inordinately fast), they find out Justin’s newest ex-girlfriend, Kaya is pregnant. Sandy and Steph are determined to bring her into their fold… and, sort of hilariously, the three women move in together with their four children (Kaya has one from a previous relationship). Again, the amount of love and support is tremendous. It almost makes one wonder how you’d ever want to raise children without extra mothers around.

Justin does cause some drama for them. You know he can’t possibly win against these powerhouse matriarchs, but the drama is maddening (I especially love the way Justin is described in family court).

One other small criticism: the love story part didn’t ring true for me. I mean, this book isn’t particularly believable, but that pushed my credibility limit. It’s fun anyway.

Overall, this book is a hoot. Loved the characters. Enjoyed the story. Really fun writing. Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Some favorite quotes:
“‘Well,’ Sandy says, ‘my mom had a saying for whenever I spiraled onto what-if island. Honey, we’ll jump off that bridge when we come to it.’”

“‘Fault? Sandy is the most amazing person I have ever met. She is strong, and loving, and loyal, and beautiful without Botox. You probably waited around for the Prince of Mediocrity to buy you that big fat blood diamond. You’re actually super hot, in a Lululemon cult kind of way, and somewhere in that park is a human potato in Hokas who probably thinks he settled for you. And now you have the audacity to act like you won a prize that Sandy lost?’”

“‘There is no doubt in my mind this Jesus kick is something Justin got into first.’
‘I can’t see Justin getting religious.’
‘Justin has a big Daddy-shaped hole in his heart,’
Steph explains. ‘Who’s better equipped to fill that than the Big Daddy in the sky?’”

“With always and never as their swords, they lock themselves into a fight no one can win.”

“‘Fight or flight is a false binary,’ Steph says. ‘For women, it’s more like fight, flight, or freeze and appease.’”

This novel didn't actually really get into the meat of the story until a good bit of the way through, but I didn't mind it because I felt like all of the background information was important. It really set Sandy's character development up and created a better understanding of who Josh is and how easy it was for these women to get pregnant by him and then end up alone.

I adored the exploration of the female friendship in this book and the idea of chosen family. It was so precious the way these women instantly connected over their similar situations and how even though none of it was 'ideal,' they made the best of what they had on their plates. They went though it together. Every laugh, every tear, every baby milestone - it was now a joint matter. They even argued and got on each other's nerves like a true family.

There were a few bits that I did not particularly enjoy. The formatting of the book, while not super important, wasn't my favorite. The way the paragraphs were laid out made it all feel a bit clunky to me and at first I struggled to read it simply because of that. But I enjoyed the content so I kept going, and it really wasn't a big deal. Just something that my brain struggled with.

And then somewhere in the middle of the book, Ashley (one of the kids) ended up being nonbinary and it was unsettling to me because she was only eight years old (or somewhere around there). I definitely think her dad/grandma forcing her to wear frilly dresses and act like a girly girl was sad but I also think an eight year old choosing their gender is a bit extreme. I know it can sound like a cliche that our brains aren't developed til we are 25, but truly - I think I'm a different person than I was pre-25. So feeling like you know who you are at eight years old and the people you look up to the most confirming, literally no questions asked, it feels like a slippery slope to me.

I did wish that two of the mothers had not fallen in love. I loved the close friendships so much and one turning into a relationship tainted it a bit for me and I felt like the third mother got pushed out. It just kind of changed the story a bit.

Overall, this book is a lovely depiction of the importance of friendship and about turning lemons into lemonade. I really enjoyed the journey of watching the kids grow up and watching the moms learn how to handle their griefs and become not only the best moms but the best versions of themselves. They don't need no man!!

Thank you to Domenica Ruta, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book!

My rating: 17+ - sexual situations, language, explorations of gender
Spice 🌶️ - 2/5

I was invited to read and review this book by the publisher and get an ARC of this upcoming novel through NetGalley.

This is about three unmarried women who have children, fathered by the same man (Justin). Justin is a wannabe musician who lives with his mother. Enough said. He provides next to no financial support for his children.

Despite the difficult situation these women are in, this is not a sad story. Rather, the three women find each other and find strength to cope with the hands they were dealt. The tone of the book is surprisingly lighthearted. Everything about these women is nontraditional, but they support each other, survive and maintain their self-esteem.

A good story, a breezy read.

All The Mothers follows 3 young mothers who in so many ways may not have been friends but end up creating their own sisterhood of mothers. Domenica Ruta perfectly captures the multitude of extremely complicated feelings that come with motherhood and the life cycle of friendship that is intertwined with them.

I felt very seen in this book and appreciated the authenticity of the characters. The ending felt a bit rushed, but otherwise thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley and Domenica Ruta for the chance to read this ARC!

Loved this book could not put it down.The three women all with babies by the same man joining together,there spirit sisterhood a wonderful joyful read.#netgalley #randomhouse

I only read 14%of the book so perhaps I didn't give the characters enough time to evolve from agonizing over their relationships or lack thereof, to more substantial topics. I kept waiting for more on the mothers and was really annoyed over their shallow, romantic ruminations.
I'm sure my being 73 years old has a lot to do with my attitude!
I apologize to Netgalley for asking for a book (guess I misread the plotline!) and then not finishing it.
Thank you!

All the Mothers
This is a light hearted, often laugh out funny story of three single mothers and the deadbeat man who fathered their children. What is a family? Is it, mom and dad and their children? Not any more, you will find out in this novel. I enjoyed the book, mostly because it was funny. The story started out well, but it fell apart at the end. Overall 3.5 stars, willing to round up to 4.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

I wasn’t sure what I thought of this book for a while. At first it felt unrealistic. As it progressed I felt the author may have thrown in too much. Other times I found it touching. By the end I loved it! I will definitely read this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Three women have a child fathered by the same man, a perpetually immature musician. As time goes by, the women meet each other and develop incredible bonds as they allow their children to get to know their siblings. All the Mothers tells the story of how very different women who share a common relationship, learn to live with love and joy despite the difficulties of single motherhood, and a deadbeat ex.

This book is well written and compelling. But I didn't really love the actual story, and found it to be a tad unbelievable. Ultimately, I did find the ending to be quite satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review All the Mothers.

All The Mothers by Domenica Ruta is a contemporary novel revolving around Sandy, Steph and Kayla. Each woman has had a child fathered by Justin, a man-boy who lives with his mother, has dreams of his band becoming famous, and doesn’t want to grow up. The women find each other through social media and bond over Justin’s inadequacies. They realize if they don’t have Justin to rely on, they will rely on each other. What forms between them is a unique family. This novel focuses on non traditional ideas of family, sexuality and identity. Readers will walk away being reminded just what makes (and does not make) a family. The characters are funny and diverse so any reader will find someone to root for. If you enjoyed Margo’s Got Money Troubles, I think you will like this read.
I do feel that it lacked subtlety in its mission, but still appreciate the ideas. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my ARC.

This book was kind of all over the place and I liked some parts more than others, but overall thought it was a good read. Think John Tucker Must Die but more current and inclusive. Sandy has been on the dating scene in NYC after the death of her mother, and meets Justin, finally a nice guy with a job...even if he is in a band. When she gets pregnant unexpectedly and meets someone from Justin's past, the story takes a turn. While I loved all the themes of feminism, sisterhood, motherhood, and inclusion, sometimes it felt like this book was trying to do too much, trying to shoehorn too many issues into one book. I also found the romance to be unearned and out of no where, and I just didn't buy it.

Two women, whose children share a deadbeat dad, meet and develop a deep friendship. And then meet a third women pregnant by the same deadbeat dad. It's sister wives without the husband. This is a powerful story about the bonds between women, the choices we make and unconventional families. A must read.

Three Mother's with children by Justin meet up with each other and start living together in order to survive having no help from the Father! Find out after telling each one's story that their is a forth child. The Mother of the forth child has made Justin marry her being bossy and causing a lot of trouble for the three living together with their children. A fast read going back and forth with each one's life stories!

Welcome to the Mommune is a heartfelt hilarious, and deeply relatable novel that redefines the meaning of family. Domenica Ruta's storytelling is sharp, witty, and full of warmth, making Sandy's journey of unexpected motherhood and unconventional co-parenting both poignant and laugh-out- loud funny. The dynamic between Sandy and Stephanie is refreshingly honest, proving that the best families are sometimes the ones we
build ourselves. With humor, heart, and a
touch of chaos, this novel is a must-read for moms-and anyone who loves a good story about resilience and reinvention.

10/10 one of my best books of 2025 - contemporary literary fiction.

Sandy hasn’t had the best luck in love. A ten year relationship with a man who wouldn’t commit, another man she really didn’t love but still made her feel insecure. She finds herself pregnant with a guy who she doesn’t like all that much that she met on a dating app. She has a beautiful baby girl then finds out her child’s father has another child to a different woman.

Because we have way too much information available to us all the time, she cyber stalks the other woman, Stephanie. As she is pumping her breast milk, she accidentally hits follow. Steph sees the follow request right away, which changes both of their lives forever.

This is 2025’s heartwarming message fiction of the year. Like Margo’s Got Money Troubles, we find ourselves empathetic and fiercely protective of a single mom, and cheer on her best efforts. The men in this book are disappointing, particularly Justin, her baby’s father. But for all his faults, Justin does bring together a family despite himself and his weird codependent relationship with his mom. Sandy’s pre-mom friends also are caricatures of an unsupportive “friend” who is more self-centered.

But over the course of the book Sandy discovers the real meaning of love, connection, and family.

These CHARACTERS. They are so well fleshed out, so complicated and compelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Madison at Random House Marketing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was unfamiliar with the author and hadn’t seen any marketing for this book, special thank you to the team who made this book available to me. Book to be published May 6, 2025. This review is uncompensated.

I started this book and could not put it down. It will definitely be a favorite of 2025! And I need a physical copy ASAP. I love that Steph, Sandy and Kaya support and stick up for Ash so much on their journey. This book and me feeling all the feels plus. Definitely a 10/10!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

What happens when you become pregnant with a semi-absent father, only to find out the father of your child already has a child. Then is going to have another child, with yet another woman. Well, why not let all the women live together.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed Sandy, Stephanie, and Kaya's lives coming together for the better good of their children.

Great read.

This novel is a witty, refreshing take on the unpredictability of parenting, relationships, and redefining family. Sandy’s journey from navigating single motherhood to co-parenting with a flaky ex takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her daughter has a half-sibling she never knew about. What follows is a surprising, deeply funny, and ultimately heartwarming exploration of unconventional family dynamics.

The chemistry between Sandy and Stephanie, her ex’s ex, is a highlight of the novel. What starts as an awkward, tension-filled introduction soon transforms into an unlikely but powerful bond as they realize they share more than just their children’s DNA. The idea of “mommune” adds a fresh, comedic, yet profoundly moving element to the story, making readers question traditional notions of family and support systems.

With sharp humor, heartfelt moments, and an empowering message about motherhood, this book is perfect for anyone who loves stories about resilience, unexpected friendships, and the beauty of creating a family on your own terms.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.