Sunday Times bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood—the hard, the magic, and the fleeting.
The love you have for your children Only deepens as they grow
As poet Jessica Urlichs emerged from the beautiful chaos of new motherhood and watched her children grow, she felt her breathing slow and a more intimate appreciation for life develop—as a mother, wife, daughter, and friend. In They Bloom Because of You, Jess lays bare the surprising triumphs, sorrows, evolving love, empathy, and slightly subdued chaos that occurs as our children bloom and become alongside us. Reflecting on motherhood into school age, Jess offers a much-needed exhale, a hand to hold during this precious and fleeting time, and an often-forgotten acknowledgment of just how far we’ve come.
A balm for the soul, Jess’s poems poignantly remind us of what once was (our beautiful babies) while tenderly planting us in the now (our growing children) and looking toward a hopeful future, together.
Jessica is an author and poet who lives in New, Zealand with her husband and three young children.
Jessica Urlichs started her journey on Instagram (@jessurlichs) before becoming a published author. Jessica has written three poetry books on early motherhood in her collection, and now a Sunday Times Bestseller 'Beautiful Chaos' an anthology with Penguin Books, plus International no #1 bestseller 'You Hung The Moon' with Hachette NZ. Jessica has also written a variety of children's books to help our young ones navigate their emotions and realise their superpowers.
Her books continue to grace the homes of thousands around the world and have proven to make a very popular gift for mothers at all stages of their journey, resonating mostly on early motherhood, with her most popular poem of all time, 'All I See Is You'.
Jessica's books have sold over 300,000 copies worldwide.
I'm no stranger to Jessica Urlichs' poetry and believe that she has an immense talent for writing about all the beautiful yet messy aspects of motherhood in a tenderly raw and heartfelt way. And this collection of poetry was exactly that. It made me cry, reminisce on the past few years of my life since becoming a mother myself, and reflect on how cruel it is that time passes so quickly.
Unfortunately, I didn't love this book as much as Urlichs' other poetry collection Beautiful Chaos, and found some of the poems and rhymes to be a bit basic and somewhat pinterest-esque — following a simplistic and occasionally repetitive style. But nevertheless, this was still a beautiful and bittersweet collection that will no doubt resonate with many mothers.
Some of my favourite poems from this collection are: ˋ°•*⁀➷ The First Year (Again) ˋ°•*⁀➷ My Daughter ˋ°•*⁀➷ You're Doing It ˋ°•*⁀➷ Rested Eyes ˋ°•*⁀➷ A Love Note To My Younger Self ˋ°•*⁀➷ They Bloom Because Of You
So incredibly beautiful from beginning to end. Jessica Urlichs writes motherhood like no other. It’s as if she reaches into my heart and soul and puts pen to paper to describe the most indescribable and unconditional love that exists - a mother’s love. This compilation of poems speaks directly to the deepest emotions and experiences that one can feel. It is comforting to know that this incredibly big love is universal and so are all of the roller coaster of emotions that come with motherhood.
“How beautiful to know a shadow in the way you know a scent, a smile, love”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Publishing for granting me access to this collection of poetry in exchange for an honest review. Jessica Urlichs captured me with her first poetry book, "From one Mom to a Mother". Never have I ever related more to poetry than her view in that book. That being said, I had high hopes and expectations for "They Bloom Because of You". Let me say that not only were those expectations met, but they were exceeded. In true Urlichs fashion, Jessica blends the emotions and expectations of being a mother in the baby/toddler years with the reality in beautiful harmony and encourages you along the way. One of my favorite lines from the collection was: *If our moments were a story, I would bookmark every page* *Joy finds you in such simple ways and it's all just to say I am loving these days* I would 100% recommend this collection of poetry!
They bloom because of you is an unflinching honest poem book that delves into the depths of motherhood. Being a mother myself this felt real, raw, and at times, brutally honest. In the most beautiful way. This book is perfect for any mothers in your life as they will feel seen and understood down to their bones. You will love this book just read it!
What a perfect read to celebrate my daughter’s 1st birthday. The book evokes emotions and feelings I have had and continue to have in my journey as a mother while also navigating and balancing being a wife and my own person too. The best part is knowing that these complicated emotions of motherhood is not singular or unique to me.
My favorite poems from the book: There Is a Mother Somewhere When a Mother Falls in Love What If When I Say Motherhood Is Hard . . . The Way She Shines They Say a Partner’s Love Has No Limits Two Things Can Be True A Love That Doesn’t Rest The Mental Load A Love Note to My Younger Self I Miss You A Human First The Song of Motherhood The Good Old Days They Bloom Because of You
Below is the poem that I resonate with the most today exactly one year after giving birth to my baby.
Two Things Can Be True
Some days I find it hard and then I wonder how there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than where I am right now.
The beauty in these moments they fill me up with light, but some days cast a shadow that follows me into night.
And though this is a dream I’m so tired to the bone. See, some days I feel lost though I’m never more at home.
Some of us are in the trenches, some of us are healing, and no amount of gratefulness should cancel out a feeling.
Achievements look quite different here: dishes, meals, a nap. I know I should be proud of these, but I’m getting used to that.
I’ve never felt as important before in any job, not one. We carry the world, so of course it is hard, the hardest I’ve ever done.
And though it can be loud and I have to squint to think, I know that I will miss this when it’s over in a blink.
But it’s not about the future, for that we cannot see it’s about the highs and lows of now, the brutal honesty.
It feels a little easier when another mum says “same,” I know I’m not alone in the beauty and mundane.
I’d never trade this life with them, of course, neither would you. But it’s okay to talk about it all Because two things can be true.
Captures the essence of motherhood in a really lovely and approachable way. There’s going to be a really deep gap here for those with difficult or complicated relationships with their own mothers. I didn’t relate to her poems about her being a daughter or looking up to her own mother and that’s fine. So happy the author has that generational influence behind her. Wish we all did, truly. Overall I made it through this book in one piece. Most of the poems were fine. Nice but nothing like groundbreaking or of a Pulitzer level. And then there were exactly 4 poems that had me like full on sobbing, weeping, wiping snot. The 4 stars are primarily for those 4. I’m going to sleep now but I’ve marked those ones and I plan to reread them tomorrow and possibly for the next several nights until I get myself together I guess.
Some of these poems were really beautiful, and many were very relatable. While I don’t know much about poetry, I felt like overall these were pretty simplistic - almost like they should all be on a pretty background and shared on a tumblr page. I also thought this collection really could’ve been edited down to about half its size - lots of poems that felt exactly the same as one 20 pages before - and had a bigger impact.
Jessica's books always capture the beauty in motherhood in way that speaks to my soul and this one is no exception. I had to pause many times to sob and ugly cry as I couldn't hold all the emotion in. I'm thankful to exist in a time to have her words ❤️
Wow. These poems wrecked me in the best way possible. I pretty much sobbed through the whole book. The way she describes motherhood and the way you can just feel all the joy and pain at the same time is just beautiful. I want to read these over and over again.
I had the honor of reading an early copy of this book and I was absolutely blown away. A perfect follow up to her other incredible book Beautiful Chaos. Can’t recommend it enough!!
I don’t know loads about poetry, but I know these poems hit me right in the feels, over and over. That’s a triumph to me. And I finished up the last few on Mothers Day. How fitting.
Beautiful collection of poems. Appropriate for any stage of motherhood (but slightly more stories of toddlerhood and beyond). Excited to read her "beautiful chaos" book that is more about the new born stage (I think?)
Absolutely STUNNING collection on motherhood - highly recommend the beautiful audio read by the author. Immediately ordered a hard copy to read again ASAP.
I just finished this book yesterday and I’m still wiping tears off my face. I’m a mom of two toddlers, living in that wild, exhausting blur of sippy cups, tantrums, and sticky hugs, and this book—it’s like Jessica crawled into my heart and wrote down everything I’m feeling but can’t say out loud.
This poetry collection isn’t something you just read. It’s something you feel so deep it hurts, like a punch to the gut that somehow makes you grateful for the ache. Every page hit me like a wave. There’s this one poem about how I'm teaching them to walk but I'm learning to walk again too and I swear it was like she saw me.....wiping down every single thing for the millionth time, wondering if I’m doing this mom thing right, if I’m enough. It broke me, sitting there in my messy living room, my kids’ toys scattered everywhere, realizing that even on my worst days, I’m the reason they’re growing, laughing, becoming these little people I love so fiercely it scares me. I sobbed reading it, not just because it’s beautiful, but because it’s true.
Jessica doesn’t sugarcoat motherhood. She gets the mess! the way you lose yourself in the chaos of diaper changes and 3 a.m. wake-ups, the guilt when you snap because you’re just so tired and touched out, the way you miss the old you but wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Her poems are like a hug from someone who’s been there, who knows how it feels to give everything and still wonder if it’s enough. But then there’s this lightness too—lines about the way my toddler mispronounces “banana” or how their tiny hand in mine makes my heart explode. Those moments made me laugh through the tears, like I was being seen in every single way.
This book isn’t one you read just one page and put it down, It’s one you hold onto, flipping back to a poem when the day’s been too much, and you need a reminder that you’re not alone.
For any mom out there in the thick of it, feeling like you’re drowning in love and exhaustion, this book is for you. It’s for me. It’s a mirror, a lifeline, a reminder that my kids are blooming because of me, even when I feel like I’m barely holding it together.
Jessica Urlichs, you’ve wrecked me in the best way. I’ll be pressing this book into every mom friend’s hands, telling them to read it and brace for the tears.
Thank you so much Putnam Books for an early copy. Release date: 03/03/2026
✨4 stars✨ 📖 FORMAT: 🎧 - available on Spotify Premium
A week ago, my family got the unexpected but exciting news that my cousin is expecting a baby girl in late July/August ☺️
Completely excited and taken aback by this news, I’ve been fixating and focusing on creating the perfect hamper for when I do get to see them next.
As much as I’m finding it exciting (finding all different baby clothes/items and knitting up blankets/washcloths/hippy pants/jumpers faster than a Nan who has had a million and one cups of tea), I also wanted to incorporate some things for my cousin so she feels thought of too.
I knew she was a reader (judging from when I saw the Fourth Wing series on her bookshelf the last time I was at my aunty’s house 😂) but I didn’t want to buy just any book and hoped that she would love it. I don’t even really know what genres she likes… Plus, even if I did buy a book, I’m sure motherhood would take precedence over finishing it (of course, rightly so 🤣).
I wanted to look for something surrounding the journey of motherhood. Something she could pick up while having a cup of tea before bed. Something that would be a source of peace and comfort amongst the chaos. Which is where They Bloom Because of You comes in ☺️
From the minute I flicked through the pages, I had a feeling this would be perfect. But in the event that it wasn’t, I decided to have a listen to the audio prior to purchasing the physical copy.
As someone who isn’t a mother yet, I loved these poems. And I think my cousin may enjoy them too 🌻✨
Highly recommend! This one is great for all moms, but especially a 2nd or 3rd time mum because there are specific poems about bringing home a new baby and being a mum of 3.
My absolute favorite and the poem I saw on instragram that made me a fan of Jessica is "The First Year (Again)" which I put in my daughter's baby book. Quote below:
"I have done this before. But I haven't with you This first year, my darling, is entirely new." ❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭
Other favorites: Tiny Days I mean well A Love that doesn't rest Missing: Brain Human first You'll always be with me
Poems for a daughter: She is Two More than a Body My Daughter When I Tell My Daughter 'I love you too'
Poems for a son: To Love a Boy Boys will be Boys
Poems for moms of 3 or welcoming a 3rd child: My Middle Child This Hard Has Been My Happiest There's something about that third child Three plus me
Poems for your spouse: They say a partner's love has no limits The vows I didnt write I miss you
Poem for the family pet: Not just the family dog
Poems from child POV: Neither You, Nor I (postpartum) Our chair (postpartum) My nightlight down the hall A mind like mine Am I still your baby, mama?
They Bloom Because of You feels like a love letter written to every mother who has ever wondered if she’s doing enough… if she is enough. Jessica Urlichs captures the quiet heartbreak and breathtaking beauty of motherhood with words that are both gentle and devastating. These poems sit with you in the mess honoring the exhaustion, the guilt, the fierce love, and the way your whole world changes the moment you become someone’s everything.
There is something deeply intimate about this collection as if you’re reading the pages of a journal and somehow finding your own life written there. Urlichs writes in a simple yet profoundly honest way making every poem feel like a quiet moment of being truly seen.
They Bloom Because of You is meant to be wrapped with care and passed from one mother to another. This collection is a gift of quiet reassurance that you are seen, supported, and the life that you are nurturing is blooming because of you.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The easiest 5 star review. They Bloom Because of You by Jessica Urlichs is the most beautiful collection of poems I’ve read in a long time. It’s so emotive and honest that I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears! I read this collection cover to cover in one sitting, and it reminded me just how much I love poetry and how grounding it can be to pause for a moment and simply take it in. What stayed with me most was how deeply relatable each poem felt as a parent; every page captured a feeling, a season, or a truth I’ve lived myself. How precious it is to create life and watch it grow.