What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mother Self: Poems
In this debut collection of poetry, The Mother Self guides readers along the raw and transformative path of early motherhood.
The Mother Self is a collection of poetry that poignantly unveils the journey of a new mother navigating the complexities of early motherhood. Accessible and engaging, each poem captures a mother's delicate dance as she embraces her new identity and grieves her past self, all while finding solace in the sacred bond with her son. Readers are invited to explore the beauty and challenges of this period of life with grace and authenticity and to linger in the quiet spaces of a mother’s heart, where love and loss intertwine and a meaningful journey of growth unfolds.
This collection weaves the universal themes of presence, nature, loss, and transformation. It guides readers on a path of healing and empowerment and offers a comforting hand through the transformative power of words. More than a collection of poems, it is a companion for new and seasoned mothers as they turn each page, nodding in recognition.
Above all, this book is a poetic testimony to every incomparable and holy step of motherhood.
The Mother Self is a collection of poetry that poignantly unveils the journey of a new mother navigating the complexities of early motherhood. Accessible and engaging, each poem captures a mother's delicate dance as she embraces her new identity and grieves her past self, all while finding solace in the sacred bond with her son. Readers are invited to explore the beauty and challenges of this period of life with grace and authenticity and to linger in the quiet spaces of a mother’s heart, where love and loss intertwine and a meaningful journey of growth unfolds.
This collection weaves the universal themes of presence, nature, loss, and transformation. It guides readers on a path of healing and empowerment and offers a comforting hand through the transformative power of words. More than a collection of poems, it is a companion for new and seasoned mothers as they turn each page, nodding in recognition.
Above all, this book is a poetic testimony to every incomparable and holy step of motherhood.
- GenresPoetry
104 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2149 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 16, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Mother Self is a collection of poems by debut author Talia Guitin and one I found myself connecting to on nearly every page.
The collection documents different days from birth of a mother's thoughts, feelings, emotions, and experiences. We see the rapture of becoming a mother and the rejoice of bringing a life into the world but also glimpse the loss of self and life as it was before.
This would be a great read for any new mother to help them feel less alone and comforted that emotions they are experiencing are normal and valid, too.
The Mother Self is a collection of poems by debut author Talia Guitin and one I found myself connecting to on nearly every page.
The collection documents different days from birth of a mother's thoughts, feelings, emotions, and experiences. We see the rapture of becoming a mother and the rejoice of bringing a life into the world but also glimpse the loss of self and life as it was before.
This would be a great read for any new mother to help them feel less alone and comforted that emotions they are experiencing are normal and valid, too.
May 5, 2025
This short book of poetry is a must-read for the sentimental mama, whether she is a new mom, a mom of 1 or 2 or 3 or more, a mothering guru, or anyone in-between. Gutin captures motherhood and the love for her son in simplistic yet powerful language that any mother or person who has loved a child can relate to. This was such a sweet read and would be a great gift for any mom in your life! The Mother Self will be published on May 6, 2025 - perfect timing for a last-minute Mother's Day gift!Thank you to NetGalley and Talia Gutin for providing an early digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2025
This beautiful work resonates with me deeply. I'm not a mother, but the way Talia uses language invites me to connect with different parts of myself and honor how I show up as a carer to myself and people dear to me. It's a work of heart and I feel witnessed when I read her writing.
March 28, 2025
Poignant and beautiful. Captures so many moments of early motherhood, those I remember (or am living) and those that happened without my conscious awareness. I read this near my son’s first birthday and the timing couldn’t be better. All of the feels!
April 23, 2025
A beautiful collection of poems that discuss the duality of motherhood, The Mother Self was exactly what I was expand hoping for. I loved how the author explored that we can absolutely love our child with everything in us and still have those moments of feeling like we’re losing ourselves to this new self. Some of the poems definitely brought tears to my eyes, thinking about my own son and how too damn fast he’s growing up. I absolutely felt seen with the poems that talked about this new identity and reconciling it with who we were and still want to be. I’d recommend it to any moms who want a sentimental, yet truthful look at mothering.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy!
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy!
January 28, 2025
Poetry isn’t usually my jam. But, this is a quick read that can be as light or as deep as you make it. As a mother, there are so many emotions that rapidly fluctuate, from love to loneliness, and these short poems capture that. There were two stanzas in particular that I felt put into words how I feel as a mother myself:
“My body,
like my heart,
softens.”
And
“Where is my center now,
having been swept away in you.”
Special thanks to NetGalley and She Writes for this ARC in exchange for my honest review :)
“My body,
like my heart,
softens.”
And
“Where is my center now,
having been swept away in you.”
Special thanks to NetGalley and She Writes for this ARC in exchange for my honest review :)
Read
May 5, 2025The Mother Self is a short yet deeply affecting poetry collection that explores the many emotional dimensions of motherhood. The poems range from fleeting reflections to vivid emotional portraits, capturing moments that feel both personal and universally human.
Though I’m not a mother myself, the emotions expressed throughout the collection still resonated with me. The poet moves gracefully through a spectrum of feelings—pure bliss, exhaustion, loneliness, tenderness—offering a nuanced and honest portrayal of a mother’s inner world. There’s a quiet power in how these poems give voice to experiences that are often felt but rarely articulated.
This isn’t a collection I feel comfortable rating in a traditional sense, as poetry often defies such measures. But I can say that The Mother Self left an impression on me. I imagine that mothers reading it will feel seen and understood, and that readers like me—perhaps at a different stage in life—can still find meaning and connection in its lines. I look forward to revisiting this collection in the future, when its words might speak to me in new ways.
Though I’m not a mother myself, the emotions expressed throughout the collection still resonated with me. The poet moves gracefully through a spectrum of feelings—pure bliss, exhaustion, loneliness, tenderness—offering a nuanced and honest portrayal of a mother’s inner world. There’s a quiet power in how these poems give voice to experiences that are often felt but rarely articulated.
This isn’t a collection I feel comfortable rating in a traditional sense, as poetry often defies such measures. But I can say that The Mother Self left an impression on me. I imagine that mothers reading it will feel seen and understood, and that readers like me—perhaps at a different stage in life—can still find meaning and connection in its lines. I look forward to revisiting this collection in the future, when its words might speak to me in new ways.
February 4, 2025
I really enjoyed these poems on the power and impact of motherhood. Anyone who has experienced this themselves will undoubtedly be able to relate. It reminded me, again, of how we are changed through the process of pregnancy and motherhood, in ways that cannot be conceived of until you've lived it. That understanding of being almost one person in two bodies, of profound connection with another being, never goes away. I can't help feeling that the world would be a far more harmonious place if those who created life could also drive it.
However, as a mother whose children have had children I can say with certainty there is one concept within these poems which is not quite right:
'Then time whispers, there will be a day he stops reaching for you'
It won't be numerous times in a day, it may not be for weeks, or months, or sometimes even years, but if you have been fortunate enough to forge a profound connection with your child(ren) they will never stop reaching out for you, and you will always be right there.
However, as a mother whose children have had children I can say with certainty there is one concept within these poems which is not quite right:
'Then time whispers, there will be a day he stops reaching for you'
It won't be numerous times in a day, it may not be for weeks, or months, or sometimes even years, but if you have been fortunate enough to forge a profound connection with your child(ren) they will never stop reaching out for you, and you will always be right there.
March 27, 2025
The Mother Self by Talia Gutin is a breathtaking meditation on the complexities of motherhood — capturing the sacred, fleeting moments that shape a mother’s heart while exploring the tension between holding on and letting go. Through vivid sensory details and deeply introspective reflections, Gutin transforms ordinary moments into sacred rituals, where a child’s touch or the scent of milk evokes profound presence and love.
As a therapist who often explores identity, meaning, and transformation with clients, I was moved by Gutin’s ability to articulate how motherhood unravels and reshapes the self. Her poems resonate with the ache of time passing too quickly and the quiet beauty of witnessing life unfold.
Gutin’s words are a gift — an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and savor the preciousness of life. This collection is a must-read for anyone who has ever wrestled with love, loss, and the tender art of being fully present, and most certainly for mothers of all types -- expecting, new, or even those whose are kids are long grown.
As a therapist who often explores identity, meaning, and transformation with clients, I was moved by Gutin’s ability to articulate how motherhood unravels and reshapes the self. Her poems resonate with the ache of time passing too quickly and the quiet beauty of witnessing life unfold.
Gutin’s words are a gift — an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and savor the preciousness of life. This collection is a must-read for anyone who has ever wrestled with love, loss, and the tender art of being fully present, and most certainly for mothers of all types -- expecting, new, or even those whose are kids are long grown.
May 5, 2025
Rounded up from 3.5 stars. I’m of two minds about this book. At times it felt a little cliched to me. This is mostly simple poetry, the kind that sometimes feels like a normal sentence with a line break rather than something that goes a little deeper into developing an image. I wanted something a little more. However, I am seven years removed from my postpartum experiences, and I do think that plays into my experience with the book. If I’d had this book when my first child was born—an experience that was beautiful and wanted but also could be isolating and confounding—I would have felt less alone. I also think the simplicity is ideal for someone going through the life-changing and exhausting experience of matrescence. I don’t think this book was for me at this stage of my life and motherhood journey, and I would have liked a little more color and depth in the language. But I do think THE MOTHER SELF could be a very moving collection in the hands of the right reader.
I received this galley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received this galley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2025
As a new mom navigating the beautiful, bewildering journey of motherhood with my own little girl, Talia Gutin's "The Mother Self" arrived like a gentle, profound whisper from a kindred spirit. This collection of poems is a luminous reflection for the new mother's soul.
Gutin has an extraordinary ability to articulate the unutterable joys, quiet anxieties, and deep, transformative love that blossom in early motherhood. Each poem felt like a mirror, reflecting back emotions I've experienced but hadn't yet found the words for – the exhaustion mingled with euphoria, the profound connection, and the dizzying sense of identity shifting and expanding.
What truly resonated was the raw honesty and tender compassion woven throughout. It’s a book that makes you feel seen, understood, and deeply less alone in the whirlwind of nurturing a new life. There are no grand narratives, just authentic, poignant moments that capture the essence of this sacred time.
If you are a new mother, or know one, this book is an essential companion. It's not just poetry; it's a lyrical embrace, a comforting presence that validates the depth and complexity of becoming a mother. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you to BookSparks for the gifted copy!
Gutin has an extraordinary ability to articulate the unutterable joys, quiet anxieties, and deep, transformative love that blossom in early motherhood. Each poem felt like a mirror, reflecting back emotions I've experienced but hadn't yet found the words for – the exhaustion mingled with euphoria, the profound connection, and the dizzying sense of identity shifting and expanding.
What truly resonated was the raw honesty and tender compassion woven throughout. It’s a book that makes you feel seen, understood, and deeply less alone in the whirlwind of nurturing a new life. There are no grand narratives, just authentic, poignant moments that capture the essence of this sacred time.
If you are a new mother, or know one, this book is an essential companion. It's not just poetry; it's a lyrical embrace, a comforting presence that validates the depth and complexity of becoming a mother. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you to BookSparks for the gifted copy!
May 6, 2025
The Mother Self is a heartwarming look at new motherhood via beautiful and meaningful poetry.
I will be totally honest in admitting that I have shied away from reading poetry. I can pinpoint it back to my school years when all poetry had to be torn apart word by word to try to figure out what the author meant. I just didn't get it then and have avoided poetry ever since.
But The Mother Self opened up the poetry world to me again. It's been quite a few years since I was a new mother but the love and struggle in each of these poems spoke to me and touched my heart. I was immediately taken back to my 'new mother' days and I relived everything the author was portraying.
I thoroughly enjoyed my journey back into the poetry world and savored each poem in this book. Well done, Talia Gutin!
I will be totally honest in admitting that I have shied away from reading poetry. I can pinpoint it back to my school years when all poetry had to be torn apart word by word to try to figure out what the author meant. I just didn't get it then and have avoided poetry ever since.
But The Mother Self opened up the poetry world to me again. It's been quite a few years since I was a new mother but the love and struggle in each of these poems spoke to me and touched my heart. I was immediately taken back to my 'new mother' days and I relived everything the author was portraying.
I thoroughly enjoyed my journey back into the poetry world and savored each poem in this book. Well done, Talia Gutin!
June 27, 2025
The Mother Self is a debut collection of poetry from Talia Gutin, a opens its pages to new moms and seasoned ones like me and leads us into an emotional journey: honoring early motherhood’s messy, chaotic beauty while balancing a mourning for our past selves. Each poem I read took me to a meditative, healing space. Talia’s poetry celebrates every tender, tumultuous, transformative step of becoming a mother and I drank each word.
I was reminded of my own experience from the birth of my first son, then my second son and now the new path I navigate as they enter adulthood.
This isn’t just a collection of poems—it’s a beautiful, soft landing place. I was invited to pause, take a breath, and remember that change, while scary and perplexing, is sacred and necessary.
Thank you so much to @booksparks for the #gifted copy!
I was reminded of my own experience from the birth of my first son, then my second son and now the new path I navigate as they enter adulthood.
This isn’t just a collection of poems—it’s a beautiful, soft landing place. I was invited to pause, take a breath, and remember that change, while scary and perplexing, is sacred and necessary.
Thank you so much to @booksparks for the #gifted copy!
June 28, 2025
3.5. This is a quick heart-warming read about the joys of motherhood. There is some reference to the pains of motherhood in passing but it’s really about the powerful love and transformative nature of motherhood. Talia has a really nice writing style with a mix of prose and literal/straightforward text. The flow of this collection interested me as it is peppered with what feels like journal entries about the early days of motherhood. I am not a mother but I still enjoyed this collection and I am very intrigued to see what my mother-friends think of this collection.
Thank you to booksparks for this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
#booksparks #summerpopup
Thank you to booksparks for this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
#booksparks #summerpopup
January 21, 2026
A must-read for all moms! This collection of short poems was beautifully crafted and invited me to see myself in a different light. I found each poem so inspiring as it helped me reflect on my journey as a mother.
You can feel the warmth in every word and personal connection to the beautiful yet overwhelming feelings of early motherhood.
Absolutely recommend to any expecting or new mothers. Having read this collection through post-partum, I felt heard and understood in some of my most vulnerable moments. As I expect to welcome my baby girl into the word this upcoming year, I look forward to pulling this one off the shelves once again!
You can feel the warmth in every word and personal connection to the beautiful yet overwhelming feelings of early motherhood.
Absolutely recommend to any expecting or new mothers. Having read this collection through post-partum, I felt heard and understood in some of my most vulnerable moments. As I expect to welcome my baby girl into the word this upcoming year, I look forward to pulling this one off the shelves once again!
May 2, 2025
💭 𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤
This book of poetry filled me with so much nostalgia from my first and second maternity leaves. It's so astounding to see that moms from all walks of life, have similar experiences.
This book of poetry felt like a friend. A friend that understands and just let's you vent. A friend that knows how important your kiddos are to you and that you'd do anything for them.
The days are good. The days are bad. The days are all well ever have.
If your a mother, this is a great little collection of poems to help you feel less alone.
This book of poetry filled me with so much nostalgia from my first and second maternity leaves. It's so astounding to see that moms from all walks of life, have similar experiences.
This book of poetry felt like a friend. A friend that understands and just let's you vent. A friend that knows how important your kiddos are to you and that you'd do anything for them.
The days are good. The days are bad. The days are all well ever have.
If your a mother, this is a great little collection of poems to help you feel less alone.
May 4, 2025
Thank you to Booksparks for the gifted copy.
#booksparks #summerpopup #themotherself #taliagutin
I'm diving into the world of poetry as a newbie. I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read a few poems here and there, but not an entire book. As a mom of three, and it reminded me of the moments I felt when my children were born and very young. Even though they're much older now, I sometimes see them this small. This book of poems gives mothers a sense of calmness, being heard, being present, and much more. It doesn't take a lot to be heard for a mom.
#booksparks #summerpopup #themotherself #taliagutin
I'm diving into the world of poetry as a newbie. I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read a few poems here and there, but not an entire book. As a mom of three, and it reminded me of the moments I felt when my children were born and very young. Even though they're much older now, I sometimes see them this small. This book of poems gives mothers a sense of calmness, being heard, being present, and much more. It doesn't take a lot to be heard for a mom.
March 21, 2025
These poems were raw and beautiful!
As a mother of a two year old son and two month old daughter, these poems really resonated with me. I could feel the authors feelings through the pages. I felt like I was crying, laughing and basking in the sun of our children together with her. I would gift this to any new mother or not so new mothers. It's beautiful and heartfelt. I feel like all mothers can relate to these poems.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read this.
As a mother of a two year old son and two month old daughter, these poems really resonated with me. I could feel the authors feelings through the pages. I felt like I was crying, laughing and basking in the sun of our children together with her. I would gift this to any new mother or not so new mothers. It's beautiful and heartfelt. I feel like all mothers can relate to these poems.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read this.
March 28, 2025
I loved every single one of these poems. The author so perfectly captures all of the many emotions that come with new motherhood, that any mother would connect to. She found the words to describe feelings and experiences that I feel and have felt as a mother but never knew how to put into words. This is such a beautiful book of poetry that is an absolute must read for any mother, at any stage of motherhood. I couldn't recommend it more!
May 11, 2025
Beautiful and raw. The words are so true and so profound that they shook me to my core. Talia is a brilliant writer. Her vulnerable shares of motherhood are extremely relatable. As a new mother, this book took me through a rollercoaster of emotions as I pondered my own experience of motherhood in all of its complexity. This book serves as a wonderful reminder to not let motherhood’s ordinary moments pass you by. Highly recommend!
March 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I wish I had had this book when I was newly postpartum, and would have loved to see that someone else felt some of what I was feeling. So many of the poems in this book really felt familiar to how new motherhood felt. I definitely recommend this book to new moms.
March 16, 2025
A beautifully raw and heartfelt collection of poetry that captures the depths of motherhood, identity, and self-discovery. The words flow with emotion, painting vivid moments of love, struggle, and growth. Each poem resonates with authenticity, making it a touching and memorable read. A powerful reflection on the journey of becoming and being.
March 26, 2025
A beautiful exploration of the subtle and not so subtle shifts of identity in early motherhood. Eloquent and poignant poetry that effortlessly conjures emotion and imagery in the reader. A must-read and excellent gift for any new mother.
March 26, 2025
This is a heartfelt and heartwarming exploration about the journey to become and be a mother. These poems are sweet, inspiring and sometimes raw. A beautifully authentic and meaningful read for anyone who is, wants to be, or has a mother!
March 27, 2025
Perfect gift for a new mama! These poems so beautifully capture the magic that is mothering. As my kids grow, I hope to keep coming back to these poems again and again to remind me of how holy it was and still is to hold my babies.
Read
March 27, 2025Talia captures the sacredness of motherhood in a way that I have never read before. Such a meaningful book of poetry that resonated so deeply with me as a mother of two young kiddos. Thank you Talia for capturing my journey so well. Your poems brought me to tears.
April 9, 2025
Very emotional, beautiful work. Anyone who experienced the beginning stages of motherhood will relate to this.
Lovely, sacred, RAW. These poems will make you feel all the feels, even if your kids are grown you will go back in time to having a fresh new baby.
Lovely, sacred, RAW. These poems will make you feel all the feels, even if your kids are grown you will go back in time to having a fresh new baby.
April 21, 2025
The Mother Self felt like reading pages from my own life. So many of the poems put into words things I’ve felt but never said out loud. It’s honest, relatable, and beautifully written. I’m lucky to call the author a friend, and even luckier to have gotten one of the first copies.
March 26, 2025
Beautiful book. I am two months post partum and feel this book has been both a comfort and nourishing me in the deepest way.
March 26, 2025
Sooo recommend this book to truly all mothers!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews