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Mother Tongue
What if being true to yourself means hurting everyone around you?
Brynn is a claustrophobic suburban mother on the brink . . .
Eric, her husband, is transforming in dark and dangerous ways . . .
Their daughter, Jenny, can't fathom the storm coming her way . . .
When Brynn awakes from a coma speaking fluent French, she seizes the opportunity to start a new life in Paris, a seismic personal transformation that leaves behind a slew of shattered lives in its wake.
Darkly funny and profoundly insightful, Mother Tongue challenges our expectations of motherhood and our beliefs about women's lives. It is at once an exhilarating tale of escape, and a warning about the cost of renewal.
Brynn is a claustrophobic suburban mother on the brink . . .
Eric, her husband, is transforming in dark and dangerous ways . . .
Their daughter, Jenny, can't fathom the storm coming her way . . .
When Brynn awakes from a coma speaking fluent French, she seizes the opportunity to start a new life in Paris, a seismic personal transformation that leaves behind a slew of shattered lives in its wake.
Darkly funny and profoundly insightful, Mother Tongue challenges our expectations of motherhood and our beliefs about women's lives. It is at once an exhilarating tale of escape, and a warning about the cost of renewal.
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
April 17, 2025
Enjoyed the book until the last 20 pages and that honestly ruined it for me, made it go from plausible to what the fuck are we doing?! Entertaining and interesting but overall meh bc of the ending🫢
June 25, 2025
I breezed through this audiobook in one day - while doing chores.
Mother Tongue is about mothers and mothering, but also about language.
Young mother, Brynn, seems to have it all - a nice house, a gorgeous four-year-old daughter, and a husband who seems perfect. Her life is all routine, dictated by her daughter's and husband's needs. At twenty-six, she can't help but wonder if that's all there is. One slip on ice and brain trauma, and Brynn wakes up from a coma speaking perfect French, English becoming her second language.
This novel looks at the society's expectations for women vs men, relationships and many other modern concepts and issues. It has many feminist undercurrents. The "perfect husband" was unsurprisingly not so perfect. He didn't care for the real person Brynn was; he was only concerned with what looked good, how it benefited him. He was too easy to loathe, especially since he was a conservative, prepper, church-going, cheater.
So, in conclusion, this was a compelling read, topical but also universal.
Angeline Armstrong did a great job narrating the audiobook, she had a great French accent, although I'm not convinced she was pronouncing Tariq correctly (I'll have to check the print edition to see if that's how the name was spelled).
Mother Tongue is about mothers and mothering, but also about language.
Young mother, Brynn, seems to have it all - a nice house, a gorgeous four-year-old daughter, and a husband who seems perfect. Her life is all routine, dictated by her daughter's and husband's needs. At twenty-six, she can't help but wonder if that's all there is. One slip on ice and brain trauma, and Brynn wakes up from a coma speaking perfect French, English becoming her second language.
This novel looks at the society's expectations for women vs men, relationships and many other modern concepts and issues. It has many feminist undercurrents. The "perfect husband" was unsurprisingly not so perfect. He didn't care for the real person Brynn was; he was only concerned with what looked good, how it benefited him. He was too easy to loathe, especially since he was a conservative, prepper, church-going, cheater.
So, in conclusion, this was a compelling read, topical but also universal.
Angeline Armstrong did a great job narrating the audiobook, she had a great French accent, although I'm not convinced she was pronouncing Tariq correctly (I'll have to check the print edition to see if that's how the name was spelled).
April 23, 2025
Absolutely ripped through this. Such an original concept & exceptional story telling. I found the characters and dialogue to be really well formed. Some of the events that occurred and internal thoughts of the characters were absolutely bizarre, which I loved. So much tea!!!! A really entertaining read, that also explored motherhood (its purpose, its shortfalls, what we do expect of fathers vs mothers etc) in a really deep & meaningful way. Not sure if I liked the ending!
June 6, 2025
tbh the whole time i was reading this i was kind of just waiting for it to be over. the concept is cool but i don’t think it was written in a way to give it justice. the ending was so unrealistic that it felt like it ruined the whole book. please stop trying to fit the trope of “weird girl fiction” and just completely annihilating the entire plot.
May 18, 2025
I was enjoying it until the Germen - what? Why?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
an interesting concept but bad execution that made everything feel comical and tropey. the author was trying to do too much, and it came at the expense of what could have been a solid exploration of motherhood and the cost of selfhood. i was intrigued by the title and the thematic promise of language and words, but ultimately i wasn't convinced - it was superficial and felt forced.
the plot was veering on ridiculous as the novel progressed, but the ending tipped it into unredeemable, far-fetched, point-of-no-return territory. to hit your head, abandon your only child and start a new life in another country? sure. brynn's suffocation from motherhood and wifedom at the age of twenty-two, the need to be her own person...i would have done the same.
moral of the story: i need to stop giving books, where france is the salvation à la emily in paris, a chance
the plot was veering on ridiculous as the novel progressed, but the ending tipped it into unredeemable, far-fetched, point-of-no-return territory. to hit your head, abandon your only child and start a new life in another country? sure. brynn's suffocation from motherhood and wifedom at the age of twenty-two, the need to be her own person...i would have done the same.
moral of the story: i need to stop giving books, where france is the salvation à la emily in paris, a chance
April 2, 2025
Mother Tongue by Naima Brown was entirely different from my expectations, and this turned out to be entirely okay because it far exceeded them in every way! I feel like this one would be 110% perfect for book clubs. There is just so much in it to unpack.
There's the characters for a start. Brynn, our main character, is the mother whose actions are the centre of this story. Then there's Lisa, best friend and mother figure to Brynn's daughter, Jenny. Jenny herself, who becomes one of the character perspectives later on in her teenage years. And Eric, Jenny's father, Brynn's husband/ex-husband, and Lisa's...well, that's a whole other can of worms with how he treats Lisa and who he is to her. All of these characters bring their own particular spark to this story, but I'll put my hand up for Lisa and Jenny being favourites.
This story has certainly got its humour, a bit on the dark side and definitely laugh out loud at times, but it's far deeper than a comedy about a woman who falls down, wakes from a coma thinking she's French and then runs away to Paris to find herself. It's a rather deep examination of motherhood: what it means to be a mother, from nurturing through pregnancy to giving birth, and then caring and raising to adulthood and beyond. It raises questions about what makes a mother - nature or nurture, does abandonment ever have a justification, can you undo what has already had a cataclysmic effect, and are some women just inherently cut out for motherhood while some are not. So. Many. Questions. There's so much about female agency woven into this story as well, which is so incredibly relevant as we live in a time when many countries seem to be stripping that back and moving into the past instead of continuing to progress forward.
I loved this one and highly recommend it to all readers, particularly those who like their fiction smart, controversial, and brimming with intelligent humour.
Thanks to @macmillanaus for the review copy!
There's the characters for a start. Brynn, our main character, is the mother whose actions are the centre of this story. Then there's Lisa, best friend and mother figure to Brynn's daughter, Jenny. Jenny herself, who becomes one of the character perspectives later on in her teenage years. And Eric, Jenny's father, Brynn's husband/ex-husband, and Lisa's...well, that's a whole other can of worms with how he treats Lisa and who he is to her. All of these characters bring their own particular spark to this story, but I'll put my hand up for Lisa and Jenny being favourites.
This story has certainly got its humour, a bit on the dark side and definitely laugh out loud at times, but it's far deeper than a comedy about a woman who falls down, wakes from a coma thinking she's French and then runs away to Paris to find herself. It's a rather deep examination of motherhood: what it means to be a mother, from nurturing through pregnancy to giving birth, and then caring and raising to adulthood and beyond. It raises questions about what makes a mother - nature or nurture, does abandonment ever have a justification, can you undo what has already had a cataclysmic effect, and are some women just inherently cut out for motherhood while some are not. So. Many. Questions. There's so much about female agency woven into this story as well, which is so incredibly relevant as we live in a time when many countries seem to be stripping that back and moving into the past instead of continuing to progress forward.
I loved this one and highly recommend it to all readers, particularly those who like their fiction smart, controversial, and brimming with intelligent humour.
Thanks to @macmillanaus for the review copy!
May 24, 2025
ARC review
Brynn is a SAHM stuck in suburbia. Between the loss of her life before motherhood and living under her conservative husband, Brynn dreams of an exit. When a slip sends her into a coma, she gets just that. Upon waking, Brynn is affected by a rare condition and she is able to speak fluent French. She tries so hard to fit back into her old life, but there is no wiggle room. Pushed over the edge by her demanding husband and ill-intentioned best friend, Brynn runs away to Paris to live a new life, leaving her daughter behind.
Mother Tongue is about Brynn; how motherhood changed her and how it didn’t, and her response to a next-level identity crisis. But every single character in this book is written PERFECTLY! Brynn’s husband is a masterclass depiction of the conservative to right wing extremist pipeline. Brynn’s daughter, Jenny, is an embodiment of resentment, rage, and the impacts of trauma in early childhood. Jenny is the only character who is innocent and doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out, and I love the way the gravitation of the narrative shifts from Brynn to Jenny in the second half. I just want to hug her so bad!! I think the shining star of the cast is Lisa - Brynn’s long-term bestie who has been looking for an opportunity to weasel her way into Brynn’s shoes. Lisa’s journey from jealous friend to a broken woman at the hands of the man she spent years pining for, is painful, raw, and so real. Brynn and Lisa are played off one another in a very clever way that encouraged me to question my conceptions of villains and victims.
Language and communication is a strong theme throughout this book, and Naima Brown does an incredible job of exploring how our words help and hinder our relationships.
I simply loved every second of this book and it will definitely ring true to a lot of women. All I ask of a good lit fic is to give me a couple of really strong emotional responses, and Mother Tongue gave me the entire spectrum.
Brynn is a SAHM stuck in suburbia. Between the loss of her life before motherhood and living under her conservative husband, Brynn dreams of an exit. When a slip sends her into a coma, she gets just that. Upon waking, Brynn is affected by a rare condition and she is able to speak fluent French. She tries so hard to fit back into her old life, but there is no wiggle room. Pushed over the edge by her demanding husband and ill-intentioned best friend, Brynn runs away to Paris to live a new life, leaving her daughter behind.
Mother Tongue is about Brynn; how motherhood changed her and how it didn’t, and her response to a next-level identity crisis. But every single character in this book is written PERFECTLY! Brynn’s husband is a masterclass depiction of the conservative to right wing extremist pipeline. Brynn’s daughter, Jenny, is an embodiment of resentment, rage, and the impacts of trauma in early childhood. Jenny is the only character who is innocent and doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out, and I love the way the gravitation of the narrative shifts from Brynn to Jenny in the second half. I just want to hug her so bad!! I think the shining star of the cast is Lisa - Brynn’s long-term bestie who has been looking for an opportunity to weasel her way into Brynn’s shoes. Lisa’s journey from jealous friend to a broken woman at the hands of the man she spent years pining for, is painful, raw, and so real. Brynn and Lisa are played off one another in a very clever way that encouraged me to question my conceptions of villains and victims.
Language and communication is a strong theme throughout this book, and Naima Brown does an incredible job of exploring how our words help and hinder our relationships.
I simply loved every second of this book and it will definitely ring true to a lot of women. All I ask of a good lit fic is to give me a couple of really strong emotional responses, and Mother Tongue gave me the entire spectrum.
April 10, 2025
More than just a pretty cover!
After careful thinking, I think this book deserves 5 stars because it's a really well balanced novel. Brown nailed the multiple perspectives, characters and timelines in this novel which is so hard to do. It didn't feel rushed or superficially done, the four protagonists Brynn, Eric, Jenny and Lisa all held their own space and had their own development. Additionally, every supporting character that was introduced equally had such a strong unique identity e.g. Tariq and Porter.
The calibre of storytelling sits higher to other lit fit novels I've read recently, I feel Brown addressed many questions I had during the novel instead of glazing by and writing something that felt so surface level.
What really surprised me was that Brown actually didn't rely on the gimmick of France or the French culture to power this novel. There was a lot more depth aside from this plot line, particularly the dangerous space in which Eric was painted and also the impact that both parents actions had on Jenny. It actually became quite a complicated story and I feel by the end you do have to surrender the notion around what a mother can or can't do. It was uncomfortable to read Brynn's choices but I think that was the point.
My only note is that Jenny is a random name for a baby lol.
The novel itself isn't ground breaking and might not be the most memorable in years to come but I appreciate that it's been written with quality. I found I was wanting to know what would happen next and so think it would make for a good book to get you out of a reading slump.
After careful thinking, I think this book deserves 5 stars because it's a really well balanced novel. Brown nailed the multiple perspectives, characters and timelines in this novel which is so hard to do. It didn't feel rushed or superficially done, the four protagonists Brynn, Eric, Jenny and Lisa all held their own space and had their own development. Additionally, every supporting character that was introduced equally had such a strong unique identity e.g. Tariq and Porter.
The calibre of storytelling sits higher to other lit fit novels I've read recently, I feel Brown addressed many questions I had during the novel instead of glazing by and writing something that felt so surface level.
What really surprised me was that Brown actually didn't rely on the gimmick of France or the French culture to power this novel. There was a lot more depth aside from this plot line, particularly the dangerous space in which Eric was painted and also the impact that both parents actions had on Jenny. It actually became quite a complicated story and I feel by the end you do have to surrender the notion around what a mother can or can't do. It was uncomfortable to read Brynn's choices but I think that was the point.
My only note is that Jenny is a random name for a baby lol.
The novel itself isn't ground breaking and might not be the most memorable in years to come but I appreciate that it's been written with quality. I found I was wanting to know what would happen next and so think it would make for a good book to get you out of a reading slump.
March 30, 2025
Glimpses of greatness
A beautifully written and captivating novel that had me hooked from the very start. As someone with strict criteria for what qualifies as a 5-star read, I rarely come across books that even come close—but this one was undoubtedly a contender for most of the journey.
Brown's writing is compelling and immersive, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. However, as the story unfolded, there were moments where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit too far. These disruptions pulled me out of the immersive experience, making it harder to remain fully engaged during the latter part of the book.
It’s worth noting that many novels seem to value a twist at the end, and if that’s something you enjoy, you might find the conclusion more satisfying than I did. Personally, I tend to prefer a satisfying, if not happy, ending. I felt the final “bet you didn’t see that coming” moment in the last chapter detracted from the overall experience. I would have preferred the book to end on a more straightforward note, without the twist.
Overall, an exceptional novel that delivers emotional depth, powerful storytelling, and unforgettable moments. While it may fall short of a perfect rating due to those minor frustrations, it is still an incredibly rewarding read that I highly recommend. For me, this is a solid 4-star novel with glimpses of greatness that almost achieved that elusive 5-star mark.
A beautifully written and captivating novel that had me hooked from the very start. As someone with strict criteria for what qualifies as a 5-star read, I rarely come across books that even come close—but this one was undoubtedly a contender for most of the journey.
Brown's writing is compelling and immersive, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. However, as the story unfolded, there were moments where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit too far. These disruptions pulled me out of the immersive experience, making it harder to remain fully engaged during the latter part of the book.
It’s worth noting that many novels seem to value a twist at the end, and if that’s something you enjoy, you might find the conclusion more satisfying than I did. Personally, I tend to prefer a satisfying, if not happy, ending. I felt the final “bet you didn’t see that coming” moment in the last chapter detracted from the overall experience. I would have preferred the book to end on a more straightforward note, without the twist.
Overall, an exceptional novel that delivers emotional depth, powerful storytelling, and unforgettable moments. While it may fall short of a perfect rating due to those minor frustrations, it is still an incredibly rewarding read that I highly recommend. For me, this is a solid 4-star novel with glimpses of greatness that almost achieved that elusive 5-star mark.
July 30, 2025
very fun chaos! pick this one up if you're a linguist, a Francophile or intrigued by preppers - or all of the above.
the multiple perspectives worked well! pair that with the time jumping and plenty of tension, the narrative ended up being well-paced as you wanted to keep reading. was almost a 5 star read for me but that ending (iykyk) ahhh! unsure how I feel about it :')
the multiple perspectives worked well! pair that with the time jumping and plenty of tension, the narrative ended up being well-paced as you wanted to keep reading. was almost a 5 star read for me but that ending (iykyk) ahhh! unsure how I feel about it :')
June 12, 2025
Weird girl lit — but not in a good way. Tried to do too much at once
May 13, 2025
Well that was bizarre lol
August 24, 2025
Maybe 2.5? This book had an interesting premise and some really beautiful prose, but the ending was so bizarre. Reminded me of when I run out of time on an assignment and just wrap it up in the easiest way possible, which was a bit disappointing.
July 7, 2025
This book is brilliant and was a real joy for the linguistics geek in me. It perfectly walked the line between suspension of disbelief and feeling grounded in reality because it never over explained or tried to justify. It's a stand out in the feminine rage genre because it gives weight to the perspectives of those caught in the fallout of a woman stretching beyond society's demands of her. A great reminder that just as there is no one way to be a woman, there is no single way to break free from the expectations and restrictions you are born into
August 22, 2025
girl...what was that ending...
August 21, 2025
Really interesting ideas in this book buttttttt I don’t think Brynn deserved that ending. There was such deep character development for everyone and I feel like that was cheap
September 12, 2025
Wow. My life interrupted me reading this book. Unputdownable. There, how apt that a book about language caused me to invent a new word. A few home truths in this, weird characters and deeply held thoughts and emotions. The thoughts on motherhood and being a parent were compelling. I want to read more by this author!
June 1, 2025
Absolutely adored this book. Beautifully written and certifiably bonkers. This book would have been a very easy 5 stars for me, if it was not for the last 15 or so pages. I ripped through this novel like I was STARVING for more, but the ending left me a bit dissatisfied.
June 19, 2025
3.5 - really enjoyed until the ending which was just a bit ridiculous, also felt it was trying to do too much at times and adding plots which weren't really necessary
October 9, 2025
wish i could give 3.5 stars! was fun to rip through a quirky story for once but it was a bit silly. lots of reviews complaining about the ending but i thought it was fine!
August 24, 2025
Loved it. Dissects motherhood and how being true to yourself can hurt those around you. Loved the multiple POV’s, gave the story great depth and made me super emotional. I’d give it 5 stars but I didn’t love the ending so it loses a star for that!
October 11, 2025
I can’t wait to discuss this at book club
October 26, 2025
Breezed through this - super interesting concept for a book, only ruined at the end by the final 20 pages. Lots of thoughts about what it means to be a mother, the constrains it puts on your life and the seemingly unthinkable possibility of just leaving. The plot and premise felt really unique and you didn’t quite know where it was going next. Great read.
December 22, 2025
One of the best reads to come out of Aus in ages!!
May 7, 2025
4.25*
July 30, 2025
This was a 4 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was a layered exploration of motherhood - honest and raw and I liked the way the story unfolded. Although the ending was jarring and pulled me out of what was a good read.
October 15, 2025
(rounded down from 4.25)
This was exactly as advertised: a story about motherhood versus personhood with the additional complication of a brain being rewired to an extent by a head injury and a coma.
Possibly worth warning people about: this novel is chock full of interesting but unlikeable characters. Brynn is the mother of a five-year-old daughter (Jenny) and wife to a conservative man with really toxic views about wife and motherhood roles. Brynn feels trapped in her life and wonders if she should have chosen differently when considering marrying her husband, Eric, so young and having a daughter, and even dealing with her exasperating best friend, Lisa. Lisa, in turn, envies Brynn's conventional attractiveness, her life, and fancies herself in love with Eric. Eric just wants to have his affairs and work life in peace and come home to a well-ordered house and a wife and daughter who are delighted to welcome him home. Brynn has an accident and hits her head, is in a coma for a bit, and awakens to find she literally thinks in French and speaks like a native of France.
The resulting conflict and actions show a really interesting conflict between the roles they expect to occupy or hope for and the ones they want to escape. Lisa wants to have a husband like Eric and a daughter. Brynn seeks escape and time to grow into her own person. Eric wants his life to remain the same. There are time skips and relationships fractured beyond repair and interesting conflicts as Brynn's drastic decisions have rippling effects through everyone's lives, especially her toddler daughter, who grows up abandoned by one parent.
This is messy, fun, and rotates through several POV chapters so that we get the interior life of every character. In a book full of weird things, "Mary" is arguably the weirdest of them all (you'll know when you come across the name). This was close to a five-star read for me because of how interesting it all is until the end, which feels a bit cheap to me after all we've been through with these characters.
Overall, a solid read!
This was exactly as advertised: a story about motherhood versus personhood with the additional complication of a brain being rewired to an extent by a head injury and a coma.
Possibly worth warning people about: this novel is chock full of interesting but unlikeable characters. Brynn is the mother of a five-year-old daughter (Jenny) and wife to a conservative man with really toxic views about wife and motherhood roles. Brynn feels trapped in her life and wonders if she should have chosen differently when considering marrying her husband, Eric, so young and having a daughter, and even dealing with her exasperating best friend, Lisa. Lisa, in turn, envies Brynn's conventional attractiveness, her life, and fancies herself in love with Eric. Eric just wants to have his affairs and work life in peace and come home to a well-ordered house and a wife and daughter who are delighted to welcome him home. Brynn has an accident and hits her head, is in a coma for a bit, and awakens to find she literally thinks in French and speaks like a native of France.
The resulting conflict and actions show a really interesting conflict between the roles they expect to occupy or hope for and the ones they want to escape. Lisa wants to have a husband like Eric and a daughter. Brynn seeks escape and time to grow into her own person. Eric wants his life to remain the same. There are time skips and relationships fractured beyond repair and interesting conflicts as Brynn's drastic decisions have rippling effects through everyone's lives, especially her toddler daughter, who grows up abandoned by one parent.
This is messy, fun, and rotates through several POV chapters so that we get the interior life of every character. In a book full of weird things, "Mary" is arguably the weirdest of them all (you'll know when you come across the name). This was close to a five-star read for me because of how interesting it all is until the end, which feels a bit cheap to me after all we've been through with these characters.
Overall, a solid read!
August 23, 2025
The cover says “full of suspense and bubbling with tension”… they must’ve been talking about another book. What we actually get is more chick lit / suburban soap opera than thriller. The tone felt really muddled. With a title like Mother Tongue and that whole Doctor Reyes line about another language being another soul, I thought we were going somewhere profound. But nope. That theme gets tossed aside in favour of teenage angst and family drama in the suburbs.
Jenny was the standout (loved her), Lisa grew on me, and Porter was decent even if his “behind the scenes” wrap-up felt like a deus ex machina. The moment Jenny realised her mum’s leaving had no deeper meaning - that hit. But the ending? Absolute chaos.. in a bad way. THERE IS NO WAY she hit her head AGAIN, magically “learned” another language, and abandoned her child AGAIN. Please.
And Brynn’s Parisian reinvention… yeah, that only worked because she was young, beautiful, and conveniently had the French skills. Strip away those privileges and it’s giving penniless and homeless, not “fresh start in France.”
Overall: predictable, sometimes fun, occasionally touching, but not what it promised - and the ending tanked it.👎🏻👎🏻
Jenny was the standout (loved her), Lisa grew on me, and Porter was decent even if his “behind the scenes” wrap-up felt like a deus ex machina. The moment Jenny realised her mum’s leaving had no deeper meaning - that hit. But the ending? Absolute chaos.. in a bad way. THERE IS NO WAY she hit her head AGAIN, magically “learned” another language, and abandoned her child AGAIN. Please.
And Brynn’s Parisian reinvention… yeah, that only worked because she was young, beautiful, and conveniently had the French skills. Strip away those privileges and it’s giving penniless and homeless, not “fresh start in France.”
Overall: predictable, sometimes fun, occasionally touching, but not what it promised - and the ending tanked it.👎🏻👎🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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