Mothering Heights: A year of joy and survival in the trenches of early parenthood

by Rachael Mogan McIntosh

Following Rachael Mogan McIntosh over the year she gave birth to her third child and completed her shapeshift from wild to mild, Mothering Heights is a hilarious, moving celebration of early parenthood.

The sudden and total identity theft of motherhood leftRachael with a kind of emotional whiplash. One day, she was wearing a funky outfit in a dark club, and the next she was performing 'Dingle Dangle Scarecrow' for an underwhelmed crowd of toddlers.

Rachael adored all three of her tiny dictators and their non-stop comedy shenanigans, but the life of service was a tougher job than she had ever imagined. Through joyous heights and heartbreaking lows, motherhood cracked her heart wide open.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, funny, vulnerable memoir of early motherhood. When you’re in the trenches it’s just delightful to hear that other people’s magical, wonderful lives are also ruled by chaos too. The tone of this memoir is pitch perfect.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as raw, honest and entertaining as I thought it would be. It’s filled with spot on humour, truths and all the worries that come with parenthood and one many mothers will be able to identify with, nodding along win solidarity. I don’t have any children but I was with her all the way.

The audiobook was fab too and really brought the book to life. It’s a sit back and enjoy kind of audiobook, grab a glass of wine/ coffee/ beverage of choice and relax. I looked forward to my little slice of time with this book and I didn’t want it to end. The author read her own book and BOY did she smash it. Utterly knocked it out the park. The narration was expert level and is up there with my fav audiobooks of all time.

This book made my feel things: all the emotions. I was literally hanging off her every word and I was so invested.

I don’t always feel the urge to reread a book after I’ve just read it but this one has made my list. It’s a sure reread and one I will for sure come back to.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mothering Heights by Rachael Mogan McIntosh
(Narrated by Rachael Mogan McIntosh)

The book cover already showed us - It’s not easy to be a mother and here’s the book that showing a mixture of feelings being a mother. I was totally related myself to the book!

When I was listening to the book, I kept smiling and some parts I was laughing out loud too. The story setting was relatable and lovely. Easy cozy book!

Also I love the audiobook that was narrated by its own author! Wonderful!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: March 26, 2024

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful insight into the joys and terrors of motherhood. I related with the author so many times throughout the book, from the psd to the spinal problems (mine nowhere near the same severity) I laughed out loud often, in the way that only tiny little developing characters can make you crack up.

It always astounded me that one minute I was dancing on tables and the next I was up to my neck in puke and poo. So relatable.

There were lots of beautiful quotations scattered throughout the book, that also connected me to Rachael, in the way that bookish people hold passages and relate them to life.

I really enjoyed this. Motherhood, the hardest and least/most rewarding job in the world, played out perfectly in the authors writing and narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wavesound from W F Howes Ltd for permission to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

[ZoeM · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Australian novel that contributes to the much needed discussion about the complexities of motherhood and relationships. I’m grateful to see more novels such as this one entering the bookshop shelves.

Rachael McIntosh’s ‘Mothering Heights’ simply unravells her experience as a Mum of three and through her experiences, we get a taste of what it truly means to be ‘mother’. The inevitable fracturing of self, the attempts to have it all and be it all, the exhaustion and sacrifice …. but also, the blessing of having little ones that grow and develop alongside yourself.

This memoir is a light, sometimes comedic read but an important tribute to mothers everywhere.

🍼🍼🍼🍼 (4/5 milkbottles)

[Reannon Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio is the way to go with this book as RMM is natural
performer & narrates her story perfectly.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mothering Heights by Rachael Mogan McIntosh
Narrated by Rachael Mogan McIntosh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and W.F. Howes Ltd and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Following Rachael Mogan McIntosh over the year she gave birth to her third child and completed her shapeshift from wild to mild, Mothering Heights is a hilarious, moving celebration of early parenthood.The sudden and total identity theft of motherhood leftRachael with a kind of emotional whiplash. One day, she was wearing a funky outfit in a dark club, and the next she was performing 'Dingle Dangle Scarecrow' for an underwhelmed crowd of toddlers.Rachael adored all three of her tiny dictators and their non-stop comedy shenanigans, but the life of service was a tougher job than she had ever imagined. Through joyous heights and heartbreaking lows, motherhood cracked her heart wide open.

My Opinion

This was a raw, honest book with some highly entertaining moments. This was an easy audiobook to listen to. I pretty much think that the cover sums it up nicely. Given the subject matter, this book was easily relatable.

Rating 4/5

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious and at times weepy recount of the early days of motherhood. Rachael recounts the exhaustion fuelled days of her third pregnancy with two young children in tow with all its highs and lows. A loving and honest mother, she talks us through the most rewarding and most difficult days of slaving away as a mum. The thankless tasks, the worry, the loss of all dignity and sometimes sanity, but also the joys and highs. Those precious days feel long, but are all too brief. The reality checks are brutal. Narrated by the author herself, this is a raw listen that will have you laughing and weeping along. #motheringheights #rachaelmoganmcintosh #netgalley #audiobook

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delight to read! I brought it out on the weekends and to work with me and enjoyed being instantly transported to the world of Rachael and her family by her humourous yet very honest telling of dedicating herself to taking care of her children full-time. It was a collection of the outrageously funny stories which made me laugh out loud in public multiple times, the honest and heart-wrenching stories of motherhood, the realities she had to face and only realised after becoming a mother herself. Read this book in time for Mother’s day and makes me appreciate and understand the unfamiliar side to my own mother which I never learned to realise and cherish. I treasure my Mum and all that she has sacrificed for us even more than I already do after reading this book. Thank you so much for writing such a beautiful read and letting me go on a journey to see my Mum in an even more thankful and special light.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads in years . I laughed and cried through this raw, emotional and at times very funny book ! I didn’t want it to finish and found myself eeking out the final chapters. The reflection on mothering and how impossible that love it to contain, is so close to my heart and experience . Rachael is an incredible writer. Providing a delicate balance of introspective and honest self reflection and the vulnerability of motherhood, interlocked perfectly with the absolute craziness and funniness of it ! An excellent Mother’s Day present !!!

[Claire Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I FEEL SEEN. A lovely look at the early years of parenting with some hilarious moments. McIntosh really has a way with words.

[Madeleine Magee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read that I enjoyed whilst feeding my newborn. A comforting, laugh out loud read for any parents who are also in the trenches!

[Wafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really was one of the best books I've read (listened to) this year. Brilliantly written, powerful, incredibly moving, hilarious and tragic, unique and relatable all at once. This book is everything.

🎧 Audiobook narration : 5/5 I don't think I would've had the same experience with this book if it wasn’t the author herself reading it to me. Everything was just right and overflowing with love, beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley and W.F. Howes Ltd for giving me access to this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved 'Pardon my French' so was excited about this one. Although it was relatable a lot of the time, it also dragged on a bit too long. The word 'comrades' to address the reader (sometimes more than once in 1 chapter )made me want to stop reading the book.. Also the last six chapters all ended like it was the end of the book, which was annoying.

The chapters read like a newsletter which I would like to read every week. Just not really in a long book like this.

Really loved how honest she was about early motherhood and her childrens shenanigans did make me laugh out loud.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this funny and relatable account from the trenches of early-years parenting - and the reflection with the wisdom of hindsight at the end. The author's children are similar ages to mine, and so many of the references were deeply relatable. I listened to the audiobook version, which was excellent.

[Melie Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖: Funny, smart and very relatable memoir about early motherhood. There were some chapters I wanted to pull out and send in isolation to friends or my husband - each one like a perfect vignette of a current household hurdle. I did feel uncomfortable with the amount of detail she explored her nieces passing, but then just a half a sentence on “we’re now exploring neurodivergence” etc. It just felt a bit icky which made it scale down to only 3.5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

🎧: Read by the author is always more enjoyable for a memoir and McIntosh’s humour really shone through.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book! Best listened to as an audio book as the author has a beautifully expressive tone and voice and the children’s words are better captured. I laughed out loud and I cried. It’s hilarious, poignant and brilliant.

[Dina Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical, perceptive, couldn’t put it down. A great read.

[N]

Abandoned 49%

[Gabrielle Geddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply relatable.

[Courtney Freer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and vulnerable memoir. Definitely some good chuckles and also a book that is very real and doesn’t shy away from the hard bits