3.5 🌟All The Mothers is a women’s literary fiction piece about a group of women whose lives are pulled together by circumstances outside their control. I love stories where a group of unexpected individuals are brought together to navigate an unforeseen event as a community, and Ruta does a beautiful job here of intertwining the lives of these women and showing what the beauty of a found family can look like. The first 70% of this book was a great read, but the ending ultimately fell off for me and felt like an entirely different novel than the one I started. Multiple new plot points and twists were introduced in a way that felt rushed and random, and the switches in perspective felt jarring to me as a reader. Overall, I think this was a good book with a great story of how the family you choose can make life beautiful, even if the ending wasn’t perfect for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the early review copy!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review.
At first, I was reluctant to keep going due to what I thought was a predictable plot.. I am sure glad I continued. It does take a village to raise kids. I love the idea of a momune! (Mom here.) The cast of ladies had everything. What a bunch of lucky kids. Parenting isn't just by blood, but of the heart. It had everything to make a great movie, too! Thank you.

Thanks for the review copy. The colorful cover is nice, I like how the mothers and half siblings connected. The idea is very nice

This, unfortunately, was not the book for me. The premise was a sound one but the story moved too slowly when it moved at all and I could not become engaged with the characters. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this ARC but I cannot recommend it.

DNF @15%

It's possible that sad/pathetic woman fiction might not be for me. I didn't really likw this at all.

I really liked the premise and several things about this novel. I really like how the three women came together and worked things out in such a way that they could all help each other take care of their children and do the things that needed to be done. But there were also several things I did not enjoy, which means this book lands right in the middle.

I really enjoyed this book and the authors realistic take on dating and motherhood in our current times. It was uplifting to see the three women come together and create their own family instead of having enmity towards one another.

All the Mothers is a wonderful story about chosen family. It actually closely mirrored my friend's story. I think this is an important but enjoyable read!

I loved this - loved the dynamic between the women and the three stories. Felt the custody stuff towards the end was rushed and random.

I loved the first half of this book. It was engaging with the back story of how Sandy got with Justin. Somewhere along the way, the story started getting choppy with the timelines and the situations happening to the mothers. The pacing was also a bit all over the place.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Three mothers, Stephanie, Sandy, and Kaya, discover they each have a child from the same man and decide to raise the children together.

All the Mothers had an interesting premise and a beautiful book cover. What the three female protagonists have created is an unconventional but loving family. I liked that the author, Domenica Ruta, doesn't write overly precocious children. They're just babies, toddlers, and school-age children with ups and downs, and their mothers love them. Of course, Steph's child, Ash, was my personal favorite. The baby daddy and his mother, who felt he could do no wrong, perfect villains for this story.

I did find that a lot happens in the last 15-20% of the novel and it had me feeling that everything was a little rushed to wrap up the story. All in all, it was a good story; it didn't sweep me off my feet, but I enjoyed my reading experience.



Expected Publication Date 06/05/25
Goodreads Review Date 11/04/25
#AlltheMothers #NetGalley.

All the Mothers is a haunting and beautifully written novel that dives deep into the messy, often painful realities of motherhood, identity, and loss. Domenica Ruta’s lyrical prose and emotional insight are undeniable, and there are passages that hit like a gut punch.

That said, this was a tough read—emotionally heavy from start to finish. The overall tone is quite bleak, and at times, it felt like it lingered in sadness without offering much relief or resolution. It’s one of those books where you have to be in the right headspace to take it on. As someone who struggled herself both times she had a new baby, it was still difficult to read.

Sandy, one of the central characters, was especially frustrating. Her constant cycle of poor decisions—particularly when it came to men—was hard to watch unfold. Her relationships often felt self-destructive, and while that might have been the point, it made it harder to root for her.

There’s no denying Ruta’s talent, and I respect what she set out to do with this book. But for me, the emotional weight and lack of narrative cohesion made it more admirable than enjoyable.

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A story of motherhood among single, young ladies that share a baby daddy. One would expect drama among the ladies; however, this story gives you the opportunity to see relationships bloom positively among the mothers. A sense of community is formed, and the shared children are the key to it all. We all need help and these women come to learn that as they become a family all their own.

3.5 stars

I came to this book for the colorful, appealing cover, and I'm glad I stayed to find out what was actually inside. This is my first book by Ruta.

Sandy and this lackluster fellow get pregnant, and as is the case with some dudes, this guy drops the ball so fast. It turns out this is actually what he's best at: impregnating and running. What's funny is that the various women with whom he does this bond through their shared experiences and getting to know their children's half siblings as well as their mothers, and they develop what the blurb for this book refers to as a "mommune." I'm not sure the catchy word is necessary here. These women are doing what they can to survive in the face of a deadbeat dude, growing children, and their own residual troubles. While potentially too idyllic, the idea is nice at least, and anything that harms Justin - including his exes having a long-term meeting of the minds - is a win in my book.

I quite intentionally do not have children, and this guy and this situation are high on the long list of nightmares I'm very glad to have avoided thus far, but I still found myself entertained by the narrative and characters, especially Ash, who is a real highlight here. This was an intriguing read that did not quite knock my socks of but DID keep me entertained and engaged overall.

I really enjoyed Domenica Ruta’s All the Mothers. The novel follows Sandy who, following years being unlucky in love and the recent loss of her mother, meets Justin and quickly becomes pregnant. Sandy soon realizes that Justin is not the man nor co-parent of her dreams and that he shares a child with another woman. Sandy connects with the other mother and they begin to support each other as their raise their children. I genuinely flew through this book because I was so interested to see where the plot would take Sandy and all the other characters. I loved the family these mothers were able to create despite Justin’s lack of interest or help. I recommend All the Mothers if you’re looking for an exploration of modern motherhood and family dynamics that features very compelling storytelling! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book was incredible. It’s a little out of my comfort zone, but I was drawn to it. I’m sooo happy I read it. I love the relationship between Sandy and the other mothers. I found it so wholesome. I could relate a lot with this book as I am a mother myself. This book really brought out the emotions for me and I can’t stop thinking about it. This is such a good book and I highly recommend it.

Tired of failed relationships and lonely nights, Sandy takes a chance on a dating app and meets Justin—a grunge band singer with charm but little consistency. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life, Sandy decides to keep the baby, only to discover Justin has a hidden past: a daughter with another woman, Stephanie.

After tracking down Stephanie, the two women bond and form a support system, eventually expanding into a “momune” with another mother Justin left behind. Together, they juggle work, childcare, and heartbreak—until Justin’s new wife tries to take custody of the kids.

This is a story of unconventional family, resilience, and the power of women supporting women. Ruta weaves humor, heartache, and feminist grit into a refreshing, emotionally layered narrative. A heartfelt read about what motherhood—and chosen family—can really look like.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The content of this just did not vibe with me. I read about half of it and really did not enjoy it. I found it to be slow and i did not connect with the haracters are at all

I love that this group of women whose only connection was that their children’s father was the same were able to come together and create what many women are looking for today a family. Not every family is going to look the same, and one person may come into your life and look like they have ruined everything. When in fact they opened a door, you never knew you needed to lead you to the people you are really supposed to be with.
Thank you to Random House publishing Group and Negalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This is an adorable, sweet book about women banding together after being done wrong by the same man. Finally women are realizing men aren't worth fighting for. The tone is a little off sometimes--the premise suggests high comedy when the reality of these women's poverty-shaped lives makes that impossible--but it's a very satisfying read.