They Bloom Because of You: Poems on the Infinite Love, Growth, and Magic of Motherhood

by Jessica Urlichs

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.

Genres: Poetry, Parenting, Nonfiction

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

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.

Find more from Jessica at www.jessicaurlichs.com

Reviews

[Gabriel]

Just a beautiful collection. The dog poem got me good (deep sob).

[Ms. Nedy Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book from a give away and absolutely loved it. It was heartfelt, warm, and inspiring.

[Amanda Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[MONIQUE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this EARC!

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!

[Alyssa]

Didn’t land for me as much as Beautiful Chaos. A little too “instagram inspired.”

[Sarah Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of reminders of the magnitude and gift that is being a mom. This should be a gift to every mom you know.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 ❤️

[Elise Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[dani B) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Meagan Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Amie Boes · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ Book Review ⭐️

They Bloom Because of You by Jessica Urlichs

Gifted by @penguinlifebooks

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.

#bookstagram #booklover #poetrylover #booksta #reviewer

[Kelley Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness what a lovely collection of poems that make a mother feel seen and heard. A soft place for mothers to land. We are told one thing but sometimes it feels very different especially when you are in the middle of it. There is reassurance in the words that allows moms to take a deep breath and realize they are not alone. Your chaos is real but remember to give yourself grace. Highly recommend purchasing this book for those special moms in your life. I am an older mother and it resonated with me. Pause through the hard days, take a deep breath because one day you’ll look back and long for one more chaotic day!

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisite and heartfelt collection of poetry, Jess Urlichs' They Bloom Because of You is a balm for every mother's soul. Her words perfectly capture the immense highs, the challenging lows, and the profound, transformative magic of motherhood. It's the kind of book you'll want to keep close and return to again and again, like a good friend offering a hand to hold through the sleepless nights and the glorious chaos. Urlichs has a rare gift for putting the unutterable feelings of motherhood into words, and this collection is a true gift to anyone on this journey.

[Meghann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I saw so much of myself in the author’s poems. I’m a mother of three like Jessica and she basically described my life. Her poems are sweet and have a quick rhythmic feel. Her writing has l a journal feel to it and is very personal in what she is going through in motherhood. The guilt and joy felt all at the same time. I especially loved the poem “A Human First” and the poem the book is named after “They Bloom Because of You.” Overall a sweet read and recommend to especially new mothers going through the growing pains of it all.

[Ambi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I left this collection wanting more. The poems were short and saccharine, and as a mother myself I found these poems to be relatable. However, the rhymes and metaphors were very simplistic. As an avid poetry reader, these didn’t hit quite like I was expecting, but I think many mothers will feel seen in Urlichs’ sweet and touching poetry. Some of my favorites:

When a mother falls in love
All I Love
Borrowed Time
She is Two
Love near the chair
Tiny Days
Rested Eyes
I Miss You

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica’s poetry is so beautiful. I always have to make sure to have tissues handy because I know I’m just going to cry through her books, and that’s what I did again with this second one. I adore her poetry and I’m so happy to be in this season of motherhood while she’s writing.

[Samantha Ludlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book after finding Jessica Urlich’s poems on Instagram. She does an excellent job of capturing motherhood in words and I really enjoyed these poems. By the end of the book, some of the ideas felt a little repetitive, but overall I enjoyed this.

[Billy Waugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sent to me to review by Penguin Life. A lovely series of poems.

[Cortnee Mangum · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up
The dog poem had me bawling like a baby. I loved these poems about Motherhood. It just made me feel so seen.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. I could see my motherhood journey reflected in these pages and felt connected to the author’s experience.

[Brianna Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precious, bittersweet, wonderful. Jess does it again.

[Nadz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tender and heartfelt poems about motherhood. I saw myself in some of these. I loved this line about mental load: “Silent on the outside, sirens on the inside”. So relatable. 4⭐️

[Keiley Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed every word

[Cynthia Roberge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful

[Cathye Aka OrionReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful collection of poems

[Kimberly Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried several times.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don’t think I like rhyming poems 😭

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful poems about motherhood. The highs and the lows, ups and downs and I feel so many mothers will feel seen in these poems. Would make a gorgeous gift

[Nashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Bloom Because of You is a warm exhale collection of poems that feels like a whispered conversation between a mother and her own heart. Jessica Urlichs captures the messy, miraculous beauty of motherhood with lines that made me pause, smile, and sometimes catch my breath. These poems remind us that love isn’t just something we feel but something we live every day.

What I loved most was how this book holds both the joy and the exhaustion without sugarcoating anything, even for someone who hasn't experienced motherhood. There’s tenderness in the way Urlichs writes, full of charm, this collection feels accessible, heartfelt, and an easy read on a Sunday afternoon.