All the Mothers

by Domenica Ruta

From New York Times bestselling author Domenica Ruta comes a heartfelt, hilarious novel about a single mom reimagining what the perfect family looks like—welcome to “the mommune.”

While her whole life crumbles around her, Sandy is stalking her ex's Instagram. Specifically, she is scrolling through his follower list, desperately trying to find the other woman she suspects he has a child with.

After a series of disastrous romantic choices, Sandy makes her greatest mistake yet when she gets unexpectedly pregnant in her mid-30s by a dating-app flop. Sandy tries to maintain something like a normal life with her daughter’s dad, a wannabe rock star, and his icy, codependent mother. But finding out that her baby has a half-sibling she doesn’t know anything about is a bridge too far. Sandy has to talk to this woman.

Enter Stephanie, the other mother. Sandy is prepared to hate her but when the two women meet, they are shocked to learn how much they have in common beyond the deadbeat father their children share. Now Sandy needs to figure out what her and Rosie’s family looks like with all these new additions. Could life in a mommune be the answer to her prayers, or just a new brand of chaos? In this winning story of family both chosen and created, Sandy is about to discover that when nothing goes as planned, the best things become possible.

Genres: Fiction, Queer, Audiobook, LGBT, Chick Lit, Contemporary, New York

304 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Domenica Ruta was born and raised in Danvers, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds an MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a finalist for the Keene Prize for Literature and has been awarded residencies at Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony, the Blue Mountain Center, Jentel, and Hedgebrook.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

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3.5 Stars

This is a book about motherhood. We meet a single mom named Sandy, just trying her best while raising her daughter Rosie. She's having a hard time of it because Rosie's dad isn't always there and isn't very reliable. Then Sandy finds out that Rosie has a half-sibling, and Sandy becomes friends with the other mom, Stephanie. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Stephanie and Sandy. It proves that it doesn't have to be all War of the Roses, and doing what's best for the kids and not ourselves is the important thing.

The writing and storyline were engaging enough, and I always appreciate books that have female friendships at the heart. The interactions and decisions between the female leads were realistic. I liked how the women became a support for each other, and it often made me think of Hillary Clinton and her "It takes a village" initiative. The characters were well-developed, and I kept reading on as there was little plot, so this is definitely a character-driven story.

The idea of a book about different family dynamics was refreshing, and the execution was spot on. My only niggle is the pacing of the story was a little slow and it began to drag on. Overall, the book was entertaining, and I enjoyed the community aspect of it. And even though it isn't a perfect book, it was a heartwarming look at what challenges mothers (single or otherwise) face.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

"From New York Times bestselling author Domenica Ruta comes a heartfelt, hilarious novel about a single mom reimagining what the perfect family looks like—welcome to “the mommune.”

“Have you ever gotten screwed over by a man you never cared all that much for to begin with? Join the club. . . . A joyful journey about the trials of motherhood and found family.”—Harper’s Bazaar*

Sandy, Stephanie, and Kaya are all single moms with one thing in common - a deadbeat dad. When Sandy's life blows up after the birth of her daughter Rosie, she secretly meets Steph, Justin's old girlfriend who has a tween daughter. The two become friends and decide to pool their resources to help each other make ends meet and so their daughters can grow up with a sister.

This heartfelt and hilarious novel captured me and the exploration of found family, motherhood, friendship, and making the most out of the life you are given. It is a tribute to all the single mothers out there. I highly recommend this for fans of Rufi Thorpe and contemporary fiction with strong female characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Domenica Ruta for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 2 out of 5]

All The Mothers follows three women who end up getting pregnant by the same guy. They all live in NYC with many different circumstances and they decided to come together to live in the same house. I like the concept but I think the execution fell flat. I was over it mid way. I just can't stand when men aren't held accountable.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny heartfelt story about modern motherhood (including having a nonbinary kid) and found family, plus a bisexual love story. I felt seen and laughed often. There's something very satisfying about a character trajectory where a woman begins stuck in the traps of basic cisheteropatriarchy and slowly says fuck that and launches into queer life.
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[Rachel B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a character-driven novel about found family and the power of female friendships. I loved it. It was both well-written and interesting. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see what would happen to the three main characters and their daughters.

The synopsis is simple and clever. Sandy becomes pregnant and then finds out that her boyfriend has already fathered a child with another woman 8 years previously. She connects with this woman (Steph) behind her boyfriend’s back and they begin a deep friendship. It very much “takes a village” especially when you are a single mother.

It’s not a book where things happen, per se. There’s not a lot of action but we get to see the characters grow and it’s definitely ends with an overwhelming sense of hope.

Definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unexpectedly complex, emotional, at times hilarious story of 3 unique mothers who share one baby daddy and form their own found family. The pacing was somewhat uneven for me and there were a few superfluous plot points, but overall I enjoyed this entertaining take on a modern family.
Sandy, Steph and Kaya each fell for deadbeat Justin, became single mothers and eventually found each other through social media stalking. They have realistic messy lives, are discriminated against, but are trying to do their best for their children. I loved how they figured out how to care for each other and all of their kids by teaming up and mothering together. I was touched, knowing how much I lean on my own mother support system. The author also handled a nonbinary child and queer relationship with sensitivity. I would recommend this book to literary fiction readers who enjoy complex family dramas. 3.5/5⭐️

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, delightful--sometimes tragic book! Justin is.a man who believes he is God's gift to women and will sleep with any of them once, get them pregnant and go on to his next conquest. Two of them--Sandy and Steph--meet, bond over their kids, and learn Justin is getting married! What follows is hilarious,--often cringe-worthy--as we see the power of women bonding over their friendships and love as they navigate motherhood.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Mairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty cool woke novel about 3 women who become family after finding out they all share the same baby daddy. It was very well written, fun, and hopeful, but I don't think I will remember it a year from now. Also, I had no idea there was going to be so much talk about a child gender and choice to officially become binary. I am very much over this BS.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three New York City mothers find connection, friendship and romance as they bond over mothering children who have the same, absentee father. This was a fresh take on single motherhood and forging a path to share the load when the father is absent.

I loved the concept of a 'mommune' and found this family drama equally funny and heartfelt. Great on audio narrated by Patricia Santomasso (who does a fantastic job voicing each of the women distinctly) and HIGHLY recommended for fans of books like Detransition baby.

All the mothers would make a perfect Mother's day gift for any of the mom/mother figures in your life. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read more book by Domenica Ruta!

[Nikki D'Ambrosio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read All the Mothers in one day, lost in its honest and raw story of motherhood, friendship, companionship, and finding belonging in the most unlikely places. This novel is charming and heartwarming yet dives deep into the layers of being a single mother, the power of platonic love, and redefining what family can look like outside of the conventional norms. A book about motherhood that goes beyond simply talking about motherhood and into a beautiful story about chosen family and creating the life you always dreamed of, even if it's not in a way you always dreamed you would find it.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a satisfying way to spend a snow day on the couch! This timely, thought provoking novel has strong hints of women uplifting women, racial diversity, feminist thought and gender affirmation.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Madison Dettlinger at Random House Marketing for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and funny, this contemporary fiction novel effectively reimagines the traditional family unit. Sandy is a thirtysomething woman who is still trying to figure things out when she gets unexpectedly pregnant; after many frustrating interactions with the father, a man she was casually dating, Sandy eventually finds out he has a child with another woman. The mothers meet, and through trial and error, they end up building their own little family of moms and kids. This found family dynamic was the loveliest part of the book, seeing how the mothers co-parented half-siblings without much need for the deadbeat dad, as they leaned on each other and the love of the community they fostered. The flow of the writing was easy and fun, and reminded me of Curtis Sittenfeld in its breezy insightfulness. I enjoyed spending time with this book, and while I’m not a mother myself, I felt the chaotic representation of raising young children was done very well, especially when navigating the journey of one kid’s gender identity. An immersive and thought-provoking read!

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justin is not a fan of commitment so when his girlfriend Sandy becomes pregnant he runs. But it turns out it's not the first time, as Sandy soon discovers that Justin has a 7 year old daughter that he never told her about. Sandy gets in touch with the girls mother and they soon become fast friends and decide to lean on each other and help raise each other's daughters and move in together so they can share the expenses and such. Before long another woman turns up as a baby mama of Justin's and Sandy and Steph decid to take her and her daughter into their fold and support her as well. Then they move into her house when she develops complications after her c-section and needs help at home.
I love the found family they made for each other despite the circumstances they were in. Justin was a tool and they showed that they were strong in spite of his lack of support physically and financially.
The story tackled a lot of issues from deadbeat dads to nonbinary kids, sex workers to lesbian relationships and it kinda wandered at points but in the end it came back together with a satisfying ending.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published May 6, 2025.

This book is a quick read. It’s the story of 3 unwed mothers with young children who bond over having the same deadbeat Baby Daddy.

I enjoyed the unconventional friendship they formed so the siblings could be together.

In the beginning the author used really long run-on sentences that were challenging to read. (I need periods more often so my mind can complete a sentence!) Her pattern of writing changed part way through, maybe because there was more dialogue.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a coworker's recommendation--it totally wasn't on my radar before that. I liked it a lot! I gasped at all the right moments and felt like every twist was unexpected but obvious in hindsight, which is exactly how i like them.

My one complaint is just that in the last third of the book the characters beyond the core family felt pretty one-dimensional.

[Star Gater · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for allowing me to read and review All the Mothers on NetGalley.

Published: 05/06/25

Stars: 2 DNF (26%)

Extreme profanity.

#NetGalleyNovember

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of All the Mothers.

The premise caught my eye but after I finished this, I'm not sure how I feel about it.

On one hand, I love the female empowerment and women sticking up for each other and having each other's back.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what's the story about.

Is it about the dopey choices we all make, especially when it comes to men?

We're all human so we keep making the same mistakes over and over and our children have to pay for them?

I wasn't a fan of Sandy or Stephanie and all the women who fell for Justin and his charm.

I understand there are people like Justin, charming and all, but there were just too many stereotypes I couldn't get past:

1. How all the women are gorgeous

2. How everything works out for the family in the end

3. I'm all for sex positivity but the narrative seemed very focused on gender identity and sexual politics. I wasn't a fan of the political undertones the author wasn't trying hard to hide.

4. None of the male characters are decent and/or kind; Justin, the sleaze bag professor, Sandy's father is indifferent and unhelpful, and the families of the other women are not worth mentioning.

Perhaps that's the point on why the moms chose each other instead of the family they were born into.

5. I didn't like anyone. I thought the women were all flaky in a way and that's why Justin chose them.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an unexpected and intriguing story using a “found family” trope. When Sandy gets pregnant, she is hopeful about her relationship with Justin until she finds out that this is not the first time that Justin has basically abandoned a previous girlfriend and her child. When Sandy and Steph meet each other, they soon bond over Justin’s incapacity and lack of willingness to share parenting duties. After the two women move in together to help each other with parenting, they discover that Justin has impregnated another woman named Kaya and they decide to include her in their struggling and unusual family. Justin continues to make their lives difficult but the women and children are a force to be reckoned with.
I love these types of untraditional and found family stories and this one is creatively written and heartwarming. It includes many challenges for the women such as LBGQT issues, custody battles, betrayal and dealing with a deadbeat dad but they face them head on and the book has a satisfying ending. The characters of the three mothers and the children are well developed and likable and the story is entertaining and engaging. I couldn’t help but cheer for the women! I was hoping for more from Justin’s mother, Tara but at least there were some hints about where she stood.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, and Random House Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

We follow 3 mothers, Sandy, Steph, and Kaya who are all navigating being single mothers, they all come different walks of life, different ages, but they all share the same deadbeat father to their children. As they all find out about each other, and realize Justin's true colours they band together and support each other in motherhood and in raising children to the best of their abilities.

I actually really really loved this one. This was such a beautiful exploration of motherhood, women supporting women, sisterhood, friendship, and navigating pursuing your dreams. I have almost nothing in common with any of the characters but i felt so connected to all of them. I was rooting for all of them from the start, and their flaws were very present but they were such loveable characters. The author did such a wonderful job with this one. I only wish that the final chunk of this book did not feel so jam packed and the pacing was more consistent.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single mom Sandy discovers that her baby daddy has a child with another woman. The two mothers create their own family, which ends up expanding because baby daddy Justin can't keep his dick in his pants.

I didn't like Sandy for most of the book because she's such a doormat and puts up with bad behavior. But she experiences some character growth later on. Despite at least four children with four different women, I bet Justin will be planting his seed until kingdom come. I would have liked him to finally learn how to use protection after his disastrous marriage to Mara. I mean, how big can this momune get? The author provides a good glimpse into what it's like to raise a child with and without support.

I was gifted this; it wasn't on my to-read list, but I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mother’s love: it’s what we crave from day one.

The beauty of the book lies with the importance of strong, long-lasting support from parents and especially a mother. The point of the story about relationships is good and I could easily visualize the handful of characters.

Yet, I couldn’t relate to the plot with the mothers in their late 30s trying to make it in this world that seemed so unbelievable in NYC. Other women, however, could find it to be as pleasant as a true friend sitting close by.

My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 6, 2025.

[Ayannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Margot's Got Money Problems was ghetto but All The Mothers said hold my beer. The book started off slow but once it took its foot off the gas it did not let up. I enjoyed this book exploration of single motherhood, chosen family and community and of course the chaos.

Maybe I'm not desperate or stupid enough because I truly don't understand the appeal of a man that lives in his mama's basement that would interest me enough to date him let alone procreate with him.

Thanks to Random House for the ARC!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amy Sunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the DRC of #AlltheMothers. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I liked the premise of this book. Three women each have a child with the same man and when they find out about each other, they band together to tackle motherhood, their ex and life in general. While I enjoyed the strong women and found family aspects, parts of the story just felt over the top. Overall, still an enjoyable read about contemporary relationships.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very much over men and this book is basically what they are all like now. Why even have a man when the bonds you can form with women are so much better?

I freaking loved this book. I loved the character development. The love and warmness. Such a good read!

Thanks Random House and Net Galley for a copy of this book!

[Michelle Boehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of the power of female friendship and the potential that chosen family has to really outshine families of origin. I'm so glad that Sandy, Steph, and Kaya found each other.

[Catherine Gigante-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, funny, smart, hip

Dominica Fits captures the wild ride that is single motherhood as three women who share impossible circumstances make it work. Full of unpredictable twists and turns as well as humor, pathos in a beautifully-written book that snaps and sparkles.

[Olivia Zerger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little all over the place but fun with great characters