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One Bad Mother: In Praise of Psycho Housewives, Stage Parents, Momfluencers, and Other Women We Love to Hate
For fans of the witty and evocative writing of Anne Helen Petersen and Amanda Montell, a sharply clever exploration of what it means to be a “bad mom” by delving into the world of momfluencers, stage moms, trad wives, and more.
We all have an idea what it means to be a good little screen time, kids hitting their milestones, endless patience and understanding, and self-sacrifice on behalf of one’s children. But what does it mean to be a “bad mom” in modern society? Women as wide-ranging as Meghan Markle, Hannah Neelman (of Ballerina Farm), and anyone giving birth over forty, have been labeled “bad moms.” In a world where the rules are constantly changing, it feels like women simply cannot win.
With this in mind, in her first book, Ej Dickson takes a sharp, provocative look at one of society’s most polarizing the “bad mom.” What makes a mother “bad,” and why? Through the lens of pop culture and American history, Ej Dickson explores how this trope has evolved—from Victorian “angels in the house” to the infamous Mommie Dearest, from Instagram influencers like EmRata and Mormon momfluencers to fictional icons like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Each chapter dives into a different archetype of so-called bad motherhood—like the Stage Mom, the Tiger Mom, the MILF, the MLM hun—challenging us to rethink our assumptions about femininity, parenting, and societal expectations. Drawing on insightful analysis and interviews, Dickson unpacks why our culture is obsessed with vilifying moms and how issues of race and class shape these narratives. Are bad moms truly “bad,” or do they simply defy norms we don’t fully understand—or fear?
This isn’t just cultural commentary—it’s a clarion call. Because if we really take a close look, we might find that some of the women we’ve reviled throughout history are due for a reassessment — and in doing so, moms today may take some much-needed pressure off themselves. One Bad Mother invites moms everywhere to stop chasing impossible standards, reclaim their autonomy, and maybe—just maybe—enjoy motherhood for what it is, not what it’s “supposed” to be.
Thoughtful, eye-opening, and downright funny at times, One Bad Mother is a vital exploration of modern motherhood.
We all have an idea what it means to be a good little screen time, kids hitting their milestones, endless patience and understanding, and self-sacrifice on behalf of one’s children. But what does it mean to be a “bad mom” in modern society? Women as wide-ranging as Meghan Markle, Hannah Neelman (of Ballerina Farm), and anyone giving birth over forty, have been labeled “bad moms.” In a world where the rules are constantly changing, it feels like women simply cannot win.
With this in mind, in her first book, Ej Dickson takes a sharp, provocative look at one of society’s most polarizing the “bad mom.” What makes a mother “bad,” and why? Through the lens of pop culture and American history, Ej Dickson explores how this trope has evolved—from Victorian “angels in the house” to the infamous Mommie Dearest, from Instagram influencers like EmRata and Mormon momfluencers to fictional icons like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Each chapter dives into a different archetype of so-called bad motherhood—like the Stage Mom, the Tiger Mom, the MILF, the MLM hun—challenging us to rethink our assumptions about femininity, parenting, and societal expectations. Drawing on insightful analysis and interviews, Dickson unpacks why our culture is obsessed with vilifying moms and how issues of race and class shape these narratives. Are bad moms truly “bad,” or do they simply defy norms we don’t fully understand—or fear?
This isn’t just cultural commentary—it’s a clarion call. Because if we really take a close look, we might find that some of the women we’ve reviled throughout history are due for a reassessment — and in doing so, moms today may take some much-needed pressure off themselves. One Bad Mother invites moms everywhere to stop chasing impossible standards, reclaim their autonomy, and maybe—just maybe—enjoy motherhood for what it is, not what it’s “supposed” to be.
Thoughtful, eye-opening, and downright funny at times, One Bad Mother is a vital exploration of modern motherhood.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the release day copy!
I was genuinely excited to dive into this book after receiving a copy through NetGalley, as the premise sounded absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to its potential, and I ultimately decided to stop reading at the 62% mark. While the core concept remains intriguing, the reading experience was severely hindered by a rigid structure, frustrating formatting choices, and an inconsistent tone that made it difficult to stay engaged.
My primary issue with the book is its extremely formulaic chapter layout. Every single chapter follows the exact same pattern: an interesting title, an opening case study, a dive into the broader theme, and a predictable conclusion that circles back to the introduction. It felt uncomfortably reminiscent of a college essay where the writer is desperately trying to make the first and last sentences of a paragraph match. Because I always knew exactly how a chapter was going to end the moment it began, the narrative quickly lost any sense of momentum.
The reading experience was further bogged down by formatting choices that felt more appropriate for an academic thesis than a published book. The constant, lengthy footnotes were incredibly disruptive, especially when reading on a Kindle where tapping back and forth completely breaks the immersion. Rather than smoothly folding these long thoughts into the narrative, they continually pulled me out of the flow. Additionally, the constant use of superscript AMA-style references scattered throughout the text was highly distracting, reinforcing the feeling that this was an unpolished academic paper.
Content-wise, the author's arguments quickly became repetitive. The narrative frequently falls into a loop of presenting an event, stating the author's disagreement with it, explaining why others might support it, and sprinkling in familiar statements about the patriarchy that offer no new insights. The author attempts to inject humor into the academic text, but these moments are too sporadic to be effective. The blend of comedy and academia simply does not work here, leaving the tone feeling confused. For readers looking for a successful execution of a humorous historical perspective, a book like Unruly manages this balance much better.
Despite my frustrations, there were a few redeeming qualities. I did learn about several interesting movies, books, and historical moments, and it was fun to explore these cultural references. Ultimately, however, these scattered interesting tidbits were not enough to save a book that felt deeply repetitive and structurally predictable. It is always a shame when a great concept fails to hit the mark, but this one simply did not work for me.
I was genuinely excited to dive into this book after receiving a copy through NetGalley, as the premise sounded absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to its potential, and I ultimately decided to stop reading at the 62% mark. While the core concept remains intriguing, the reading experience was severely hindered by a rigid structure, frustrating formatting choices, and an inconsistent tone that made it difficult to stay engaged.
My primary issue with the book is its extremely formulaic chapter layout. Every single chapter follows the exact same pattern: an interesting title, an opening case study, a dive into the broader theme, and a predictable conclusion that circles back to the introduction. It felt uncomfortably reminiscent of a college essay where the writer is desperately trying to make the first and last sentences of a paragraph match. Because I always knew exactly how a chapter was going to end the moment it began, the narrative quickly lost any sense of momentum.
The reading experience was further bogged down by formatting choices that felt more appropriate for an academic thesis than a published book. The constant, lengthy footnotes were incredibly disruptive, especially when reading on a Kindle where tapping back and forth completely breaks the immersion. Rather than smoothly folding these long thoughts into the narrative, they continually pulled me out of the flow. Additionally, the constant use of superscript AMA-style references scattered throughout the text was highly distracting, reinforcing the feeling that this was an unpolished academic paper.
Content-wise, the author's arguments quickly became repetitive. The narrative frequently falls into a loop of presenting an event, stating the author's disagreement with it, explaining why others might support it, and sprinkling in familiar statements about the patriarchy that offer no new insights. The author attempts to inject humor into the academic text, but these moments are too sporadic to be effective. The blend of comedy and academia simply does not work here, leaving the tone feeling confused. For readers looking for a successful execution of a humorous historical perspective, a book like Unruly manages this balance much better.
Despite my frustrations, there were a few redeeming qualities. I did learn about several interesting movies, books, and historical moments, and it was fun to explore these cultural references. Ultimately, however, these scattered interesting tidbits were not enough to save a book that felt deeply repetitive and structurally predictable. It is always a shame when a great concept fails to hit the mark, but this one simply did not work for me.
March 4, 2026
For me, this book was very unrelatable. I was intrigued by the subtitle: “stage mothers, influencers, and psycho housewives” and thought, “Okay, I can get into this.” What I got instead was a Brooklyn-based, fairly elitist, white-man-hating perspective that repeatedly misinterpreted developmental psychology research and current events.
As I read, it became clear that the author and I are on very different sides of the fence in how we interpret both research and culture. I hold degrees in developmental child and adolescent psychology and taught parent education at a local college for eight years. The way I understand and teach developmental research differs significantly from how she framed it here.
My overall impression is that the book comes from an urban-centered, secular, and strongly progressive vantage point. That perspective may resonate with some readers, but for me it felt narrow and dismissive. It seemed to alienate a large percentage of women and mothers who don’t view all societal problems through the same ideological lens.
Ultimately, this just wasn’t the nuanced cultural analysis I was hoping for.
As I read, it became clear that the author and I are on very different sides of the fence in how we interpret both research and culture. I hold degrees in developmental child and adolescent psychology and taught parent education at a local college for eight years. The way I understand and teach developmental research differs significantly from how she framed it here.
My overall impression is that the book comes from an urban-centered, secular, and strongly progressive vantage point. That perspective may resonate with some readers, but for me it felt narrow and dismissive. It seemed to alienate a large percentage of women and mothers who don’t view all societal problems through the same ideological lens.
Ultimately, this just wasn’t the nuanced cultural analysis I was hoping for.
February 16, 2026
Idk yet .. I mostly liked this book but I have a few issues with it 🫣 let’s stop bashing moms but at the same time talk about a case we never followed. Seems fitting for a different type of book. Also, I feel it didn’t need to be clearly said IVE NEVER DONE THIS .. putting yourself in that category of I’m not like these mothers, but I could be. It could have been said that not everyone has the same experiences without pointing out that you’re not that way. It felt more like a point to me than a comparison. Then again I guess it goes to prove the book right?
THAT’S MY OPINIONNNNNN
THAT’S MY OPINIONNNNNN
March 5, 2026
That was an incredibly painful listen and were it not for the GoodReads winter challenge, I would not have finished this.
Ej sounded so angry for all of the narration besides the final chapter. The final chapter is the only reason I gave her 2 stars instead of 1.
Essentially this book came across as if you are a middle class white, heteronormative, cis-gendered mom then everything you do is wrong and you just need to fall in line with the fact that you're inherently racist just for being. But if you are a "poor (financially) black or brown Mom" then everything you do is either right or if it was wrong it's only because the world is racist and everyone else's fault.
Ej puts the premises that all "bad" moms are basically just doing their best, which I can mostly get behind, but then keeps throwing in smack talking conservatives as well as republican politicians. It wasn't until 59% of the book when she finally also acknowledged something negative about a Democratic politician. Then swiftly back to blaming conservatives
and Republicans for things.
Ej sounded so angry for all of the narration besides the final chapter. The final chapter is the only reason I gave her 2 stars instead of 1.
Essentially this book came across as if you are a middle class white, heteronormative, cis-gendered mom then everything you do is wrong and you just need to fall in line with the fact that you're inherently racist just for being. But if you are a "poor (financially) black or brown Mom" then everything you do is either right or if it was wrong it's only because the world is racist and everyone else's fault.
Ej puts the premises that all "bad" moms are basically just doing their best, which I can mostly get behind, but then keeps throwing in smack talking conservatives as well as republican politicians. It wasn't until 59% of the book when she finally also acknowledged something negative about a Democratic politician. Then swiftly back to blaming conservatives
and Republicans for things.
March 1, 2026
Not for me!
Too much like an academic paper than a novel. Every chapter was the same and there was nothing new to learn. It really felt like one case study after the next to prove every notion of a “bad” mother ever described.
Too much like an academic paper than a novel. Every chapter was the same and there was nothing new to learn. It really felt like one case study after the next to prove every notion of a “bad” mother ever described.
March 3, 2026
This book sounded so interesting.. and it was! I listened to 1/4 of it in one sitting! I really wanted to continue on with it but there was one thing that stood out brighter than the story itself: the author’s hate for men, especially those that are conservative. Feminism HAS ruined the nuclear family. Women in the workplace are fine, you can have dreams and ambitions without blaming “misogyny” and “the patriarchy.” If you’re looking for a progressive, liberal take on American motherhood with all of the CNN buzzwords and key players, this is the book for you!! If you’re looking for an unbiased take on motherhood, this book will have you rolling your eyes.
March 17, 2026
I love getting my hands on a brand new book at the library, especially one that just came out. And yes, you can put holds on new books while they’re still on order. I do it all the time. 😊
The cover on this one is so good.
This was my first time reading EJ Dickson, and I really liked her voice. She’s funny, a bit edgy, and self-aware in a way that actually made me laugh a few times.
The book explores the “bad mother” trope in pop culture, with early essays looking at shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and characters like Peg Bundy. Those chapters were a bit slower for me. I was more interested in the sections on momfluencers and MAHA moms.
What stood out most was how she talks about the pressure of motherhood and acknowledges how differently that pressure shows up across race. The chapter on antivaxxers really got me, not because I agree, but because of how honestly she writes about the desperation of trying to understand your child. That part hit close to home.
I gave it a 3.5⭐️. A bit uneven at the start, but I’d definitely read more from her.
The cover on this one is so good.
This was my first time reading EJ Dickson, and I really liked her voice. She’s funny, a bit edgy, and self-aware in a way that actually made me laugh a few times.
The book explores the “bad mother” trope in pop culture, with early essays looking at shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and characters like Peg Bundy. Those chapters were a bit slower for me. I was more interested in the sections on momfluencers and MAHA moms.
What stood out most was how she talks about the pressure of motherhood and acknowledges how differently that pressure shows up across race. The chapter on antivaxxers really got me, not because I agree, but because of how honestly she writes about the desperation of trying to understand your child. That part hit close to home.
I gave it a 3.5⭐️. A bit uneven at the start, but I’d definitely read more from her.
March 5, 2026
*audiobook
This one is sadly a DNF for me. I tried to get into it because the premise sounded great.
You can tell the author did some solid research. Unfortunately it read like a research paper rather than a book.
It was also a bit repetitive. Never fully capturing my interest.
I just don’t think this one is for me. I thought it was going to be a mix of insight about how moms are treated and expectations of them, and true crime / case studies.
The cover was super eye catching though. Creepy cool vibes.
This one is sadly a DNF for me. I tried to get into it because the premise sounded great.
You can tell the author did some solid research. Unfortunately it read like a research paper rather than a book.
It was also a bit repetitive. Never fully capturing my interest.
I just don’t think this one is for me. I thought it was going to be a mix of insight about how moms are treated and expectations of them, and true crime / case studies.
The cover was super eye catching though. Creepy cool vibes.
March 21, 2026
There were parts of this book that fascinated me. It has also made me realize I like to read collections of essays, slay!!!
I will start by saying: I'm not a mother. I couldn't directly relate to anything mentioned in the book in regard to motherhood. But as a female-identifying person, I have an abundance of empathy for anyone who decides becoming a mother is a path they want to pursue.
This book offers a great argument: Is there such a thing as a good or a bad mother? And additionally, who decides that? We start off very strong with thoughts on mother characters in media, where the term "bad mother" comes from, and society's complicated relationship with MILFs, Stage Moms, and Trad Wives. Things started to feel repetitive as the book went on because each chapter follows the same structure. And once an argument was made for the kind of mom being discussed in one chapter, essentially the same argument is made for every kind of mom the book touches on. "Bad" is nuanced.
I still enjoyed it. The commentary on how being a mother is a thankless job that inherently opens someone up to criticism from every angle. We don't talk about this enough!!! We also don't talk enough about the societal, economic, and political effects on mothers, especially POC mothers.
I, personally, thought most of the author's footnotes were awesome. Some gave context, and others made me giggle. Although I agreed with most of what the author was arguing throughout, there were some parts that I raised an eyebrow at. Specifically, I find True Crime to be a very difficult subject societally and psychologically, and I think the conversation about it's causes and effects on people is a longer one than the book allowed.
A great book for discussion in my humble opinion.
(*book club)
I will start by saying: I'm not a mother. I couldn't directly relate to anything mentioned in the book in regard to motherhood. But as a female-identifying person, I have an abundance of empathy for anyone who decides becoming a mother is a path they want to pursue.
This book offers a great argument: Is there such a thing as a good or a bad mother? And additionally, who decides that? We start off very strong with thoughts on mother characters in media, where the term "bad mother" comes from, and society's complicated relationship with MILFs, Stage Moms, and Trad Wives. Things started to feel repetitive as the book went on because each chapter follows the same structure. And once an argument was made for the kind of mom being discussed in one chapter, essentially the same argument is made for every kind of mom the book touches on. "Bad" is nuanced.
I still enjoyed it. The commentary on how being a mother is a thankless job that inherently opens someone up to criticism from every angle. We don't talk about this enough!!! We also don't talk enough about the societal, economic, and political effects on mothers, especially POC mothers.
I, personally, thought most of the author's footnotes were awesome. Some gave context, and others made me giggle. Although I agreed with most of what the author was arguing throughout, there were some parts that I raised an eyebrow at. Specifically, I find True Crime to be a very difficult subject societally and psychologically, and I think the conversation about it's causes and effects on people is a longer one than the book allowed.
A great book for discussion in my humble opinion.
(*book club)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I am not a non-fiction reader by any means, and when I do read non-fiction, it is usually a memoir, but as a mother, I knew I had to read this. Do you stay at home with your kids, depriving them of structure and early socialization? You're a bad mother. How could you leave your precious darlings in the care of someone else to go to work, why did you even bother having kids? You're a bad mother. Etc. etc. etc. It is almost impossible to be deemed a good mother by society, but so, so easy to be a bad one.
The author explores the major "bad mom" archetypes we currently see in our culture, the "Stage Mom", the "MILF", the "Tiger Mom", the "Mommy Blogger", the "MAHA Moms", and even the ones that no one will argue against the nuance - the moms who actually harm their children. I appreciated the author's acknowledgement of her own implicit bias, as an upper middle class, liberal, white woman from New York with a snarky delivery, because, DUH HELLO 👋🏻, and the acknowledgement that "bad mothering" is usually just a self flagellation tool for us to wring our hands about how we will be perceived, but for Black and Brown women, often results in incarceration.
This was an informative mix of scholarly citations mixed with relatable personal anecdotes, though I do feel like if you fall into the demographics that are more prone to falling into some of the motherhood traps shown here (i.e. Mama Bears, MLM Hons), you might take offense.
If you're a mom, or have a mom, or think you are a bad mom (you're probably not), and want to reflect on this further, this was a quick listen at 2x speed, narrated by the author in a way that felt like I was listening to one of my contemporaries as a mother of similar background and age.
🤱🏻 Thank you Simon Audio for the ALC and Simon Element for the advanced copy
The author explores the major "bad mom" archetypes we currently see in our culture, the "Stage Mom", the "MILF", the "Tiger Mom", the "Mommy Blogger", the "MAHA Moms", and even the ones that no one will argue against the nuance - the moms who actually harm their children. I appreciated the author's acknowledgement of her own implicit bias, as an upper middle class, liberal, white woman from New York with a snarky delivery, because, DUH HELLO 👋🏻, and the acknowledgement that "bad mothering" is usually just a self flagellation tool for us to wring our hands about how we will be perceived, but for Black and Brown women, often results in incarceration.
This was an informative mix of scholarly citations mixed with relatable personal anecdotes, though I do feel like if you fall into the demographics that are more prone to falling into some of the motherhood traps shown here (i.e. Mama Bears, MLM Hons), you might take offense.
If you're a mom, or have a mom, or think you are a bad mom (you're probably not), and want to reflect on this further, this was a quick listen at 2x speed, narrated by the author in a way that felt like I was listening to one of my contemporaries as a mother of similar background and age.
🤱🏻 Thank you Simon Audio for the ALC and Simon Element for the advanced copy
March 6, 2026
There’s so much I disagree with in this book on top of it being a pretty dry read.
March 25, 2026
This read like a collection of essays. Most had something I could relate to, others at least made me chuckle. My main takeaway - We are ALL bad moms. We will never be able to live up to the expectations of society at large, (let alone our own judgements of ourselves!). We are all just doing our best.
p.s. Thank you Dickson for making it all the way through 'Married With Children' and admitting it does not hold up. I only got through 4 VERY uncomfortable seasons before admitting to myself that it might be time to let go of this cherished show from my childhood. Yikes. Not good. Not good at all.
p.s. Thank you Dickson for making it all the way through 'Married With Children' and admitting it does not hold up. I only got through 4 VERY uncomfortable seasons before admitting to myself that it might be time to let go of this cherished show from my childhood. Yikes. Not good. Not good at all.
March 21, 2026
In perfect honesty, I picked this book up cause I wanted to get the final bookmark I needed for goodreads won’t challenge. But this also the beauty of goodreads - cause I would have never picked this up and I’m so glad I did! I don’t have kids but I have always had a huge respect for women that do and I do hope to have them one day. But this was such a well-researched, sarcastic word vomiting that I couldn’t put it down. The author is very good at what she does and I’m walking away with 4 more books I want to read cause she references them and with wanting to call my mom and tell her I’m sorry I was a shit kid. A great non-fiction read!
March 16, 2026
I can’t decide how I felt about this book. The first few chapters were incredibly slow and had so many distracting footnotes that I couldn’t keep focused. The second half of the book was way more interesting and a solid deep dive into modern era “bad moms”. I enjoyed her views from all angles. Even though I did not agree with her defense of some of these moms, it was an interesting perspective to see why they may act how they do.
March 16, 2026
Like other negative reviews I’m just going to chalk this up to a big “not for me”. The only feeling I have towards the book is just indifference. I don’t feel like I learned much possibly because I knew of most of these topics before reading. The most interesting parts of this book were the discussions on how POC mothers are treated differently but take this with a huge asterisks. Reading from the perspective of POC mothers is a much better way of learning about this topic including fiction that comments on the issue. I listened to the audiobook and have to admit I zoned out multiple times which I feel is due to the fact that all the analysis was the same just with a different “bad mom” group.
The humor also just wasn’t for me. It was very pop culture reference based humor that often felt unnecessary.
The humor also just wasn’t for me. It was very pop culture reference based humor that often felt unnecessary.
October 13, 2025
My review is stuck in Edelweiss loading. Which is also where I got the ARC for this. Thank you, Edelweiss. More to the review when I can get it.
March 18, 2026
It's an interesting topic, though in the end it simply didn't interest me as much as I thought it would. That said, the chapter on Mommie Dearest (a truly twisted viewing experience) was worth the entire book.
March 23, 2026
Definitely preferred the second half but it was interesting!
March 25, 2026
Was interested in the subject matter but book fell flat for me. Information felt surface level and a lil bitchy (sometimes it was funny, mostly it was not).
March 19, 2026
A little too much memoir for my taste but I will be checking out some of the sources mentioned.
March 6, 2026
There is a lot of rehashing of subjects and people from the past. Also, it is clear that this is coming from a left leaning outlook.
March 11, 2026
really fun mix of personal anecdotes, pop culture critique and real gender studies research! and the ending line made me snort red bull out of my nose at work!
March 2, 2026
Definitely not a fan of the writing style or her case studies … read like a thesis paper.
February 25, 2026
EJ Dickson is a woman after my own heart.
This is an excellent analysis and commentary on what and who we think of as "bad mothers." Dickson gives us a good overview of how these (often misogynistic, often racist) tropes came to be and then challenges us to open our hearts and think beyond them; reminding us again and again about the importance of empathy, and the beautiful, impossible reality that motherhood is.
Where she shines, however, is finding the absolute perfect balance between levity, snark, humor, and seriousness, understanding, and care. I frequently found myself laughing aloud at parts (particularly the footnotes) and reading them to my partner. I also found myself quietly reflecting on the revelations that huh, maybe we *should* be reframing our thinking around what a "bad mom" is, and really wanting to hug my own mom in the process.
All in all, I cannot say enough about this book. The highest of high praises from me!
This is an excellent analysis and commentary on what and who we think of as "bad mothers." Dickson gives us a good overview of how these (often misogynistic, often racist) tropes came to be and then challenges us to open our hearts and think beyond them; reminding us again and again about the importance of empathy, and the beautiful, impossible reality that motherhood is.
Where she shines, however, is finding the absolute perfect balance between levity, snark, humor, and seriousness, understanding, and care. I frequently found myself laughing aloud at parts (particularly the footnotes) and reading them to my partner. I also found myself quietly reflecting on the revelations that huh, maybe we *should* be reframing our thinking around what a "bad mom" is, and really wanting to hug my own mom in the process.
All in all, I cannot say enough about this book. The highest of high praises from me!
February 24, 2026
3 stars but more of a “just not for me” 3 stars. I found the topic interesting and the book itself was well written. I liked the humor, especially in some of the footnotes. Ultimately, I tried to step outside of my comfort zone and struggled to read the book all at once without it feeling dense/repetitive. I think if I was not ARC reading, I would have taken my time and maybe read a chapter once a week and would have enjoyed the book more. I would still recommend this book to those that like nonfiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2026
Being a mom isn't for the faint of heart. Not only are you responsible for another human being, you have to somehow bear the criticism and judgment from friends, family, strangers, and, yes, even your own brain about how you parent WHILE you are trying to parent. Dads don't have this issue. If they're "babysitting" the kids on a Saturday afternoon, they are praised as loving and doting on their brethren. But if a mother deigns to glance at her phone at the park (hey, she took the kids to the park!) or provides a pack of Goldfish for a snack (hey, she fed the kids!), watch out! She'll never hear the end of it.
I absolutely loved Dickson's look at many different types of moms—momfluencers to housewives to working moms to stage parents to even Casey Anthony (!!). She writes in such a witty and irreverent manner—this was a delight to read and I definitely feel seen! Please write more books!!
Thanks to Simon Element, via NetGalley, for this ARC!
I absolutely loved Dickson's look at many different types of moms—momfluencers to housewives to working moms to stage parents to even Casey Anthony (!!). She writes in such a witty and irreverent manner—this was a delight to read and I definitely feel seen! Please write more books!!
Thanks to Simon Element, via NetGalley, for this ARC!
October 22, 2025
As soon as I started reading it, I knew I had stumbled upon gold.
Ok, I was kind of already expecting gold when I chose to click that I want to read it. But oh em gee, this did not disappoint.
The author has done some serious thinking and has gone down some serious rabbit holes. If you are a parent – or a mother of sorts – I’m fairly certain you too have felt like whatever you do, you aren’t good enough; whatever you do, you get judged for it; whatever you do, its either too much or not enough. Or is it just me? yeah, I don’t think it’s just me.
Everyone loves judging mothers.
And then, I remember the social norm of the past decade – mommy needs wine. Wine time! look at those precious kids, I hate my life with them so much that I must drink daily! I don’t know about you, but for me, this trend was something that always made me think about barbiturates and other mommies' little helpers during the 1950s.
Ok, back to the book. The book is a refreshing take on motherhood. On all the impossible choices one must make. On all the impossible battles one must fight (and no, not win – as a mother, you never get to win, not in society, not at the workplace, not at home).
And no, it’s not a Girl, Wash Your Face inspirational, motivational, easy read. This is a deep dive, and it’s uncomfortable. And yet somehow comforting. Comfortingly uncomfortable. Uncomfortably comforting. A weird mix, I know.
This is a book for those who want to think. For those who love to think. For those who want to feel uncomfortably comfortable sitting with their own opinions and thinking about the world as it is, and about the world as it was, and the world as it used to be. And, yes, facing the future, too.
You got it, mama. You are enough, even if the world is (and was, and has always been, and will always be) set to make every mama feel as if she is not enough. That’s just the way it is. Bad mama, bad – take it as a praise. That is such a broad feminist look at it all, all within the pages of one tiny book that’s coming next year.
Ok, I was kind of already expecting gold when I chose to click that I want to read it. But oh em gee, this did not disappoint.
The author has done some serious thinking and has gone down some serious rabbit holes. If you are a parent – or a mother of sorts – I’m fairly certain you too have felt like whatever you do, you aren’t good enough; whatever you do, you get judged for it; whatever you do, its either too much or not enough. Or is it just me? yeah, I don’t think it’s just me.
Everyone loves judging mothers.
And then, I remember the social norm of the past decade – mommy needs wine. Wine time! look at those precious kids, I hate my life with them so much that I must drink daily! I don’t know about you, but for me, this trend was something that always made me think about barbiturates and other mommies' little helpers during the 1950s.
Ok, back to the book. The book is a refreshing take on motherhood. On all the impossible choices one must make. On all the impossible battles one must fight (and no, not win – as a mother, you never get to win, not in society, not at the workplace, not at home).
And no, it’s not a Girl, Wash Your Face inspirational, motivational, easy read. This is a deep dive, and it’s uncomfortable. And yet somehow comforting. Comfortingly uncomfortable. Uncomfortably comforting. A weird mix, I know.
This is a book for those who want to think. For those who love to think. For those who want to feel uncomfortably comfortable sitting with their own opinions and thinking about the world as it is, and about the world as it was, and the world as it used to be. And, yes, facing the future, too.
You got it, mama. You are enough, even if the world is (and was, and has always been, and will always be) set to make every mama feel as if she is not enough. That’s just the way it is. Bad mama, bad – take it as a praise. That is such a broad feminist look at it all, all within the pages of one tiny book that’s coming next year.
March 24, 2026
2.5 🌟 rounded down. The only reason I read this book was because my type A self needed to complete a Goodreads challenge category. I agonized over the choices and begrudgingly chose this one out of the entire category of books that did not interest me. I feel that it’s important to start with that because while I should be this books target reader this is definitely not my genre of choice.
This almost became a DND but, after getting past the first few chapters that felt like a college thesis, dissecting movies it became much more enjoyable.
The best parts of this book were when the author discussed mothers that I knew ie. Dance moms, Peg Bundy, MLM huns etc. I even found myself googling Moms I didn’t know for a bit more info/nosiness, especially the trad wives/influencers. I think a chapter on the Boomer/Narcissist Mom that so many Gen X/millennials seem to be discussing and the huge no contact movement could have been a very interesting chapter.
I do think this book is definitely primed to offend a lot of Mothers, mostly republican mothers, which I am not. I am however a vax questioning Mom whose child at almost 12 still isn’t fully up to date. Gasp. This section of the book came off as extremely judgy to me. As someone that was unexplainable sick for years and was told I was just depressed (turns out I had a thyroid autoimmune condition), I refuse to blindly trust doctors and believe in a one size fits all monkey medicine approach (thank you Dr. Becker.
Science gets things wrong, it is ever evolving. At one point tobacco was deemed beneficial, HRT had a black box label, the downplaying of risks of sugar and blaming fat, Zantac linked to increased cancer risks, etc, etc. If critically thinking makes me a bad Mom and believing I’m making the best choices for my child so be it because I think at the end of the day what the author is saying is it’s almost categorically impossible to be anything but. You’d be hard pressed to find a Mom that doesn’t fit into one of the chapters listed in this book.
This almost became a DND but, after getting past the first few chapters that felt like a college thesis, dissecting movies it became much more enjoyable.
The best parts of this book were when the author discussed mothers that I knew ie. Dance moms, Peg Bundy, MLM huns etc. I even found myself googling Moms I didn’t know for a bit more info/nosiness, especially the trad wives/influencers. I think a chapter on the Boomer/Narcissist Mom that so many Gen X/millennials seem to be discussing and the huge no contact movement could have been a very interesting chapter.
I do think this book is definitely primed to offend a lot of Mothers, mostly republican mothers, which I am not. I am however a vax questioning Mom whose child at almost 12 still isn’t fully up to date. Gasp. This section of the book came off as extremely judgy to me. As someone that was unexplainable sick for years and was told I was just depressed (turns out I had a thyroid autoimmune condition), I refuse to blindly trust doctors and believe in a one size fits all monkey medicine approach (thank you Dr. Becker.
Science gets things wrong, it is ever evolving. At one point tobacco was deemed beneficial, HRT had a black box label, the downplaying of risks of sugar and blaming fat, Zantac linked to increased cancer risks, etc, etc. If critically thinking makes me a bad Mom and believing I’m making the best choices for my child so be it because I think at the end of the day what the author is saying is it’s almost categorically impossible to be anything but. You’d be hard pressed to find a Mom that doesn’t fit into one of the chapters listed in this book.
February 11, 2026
One Bad Mother: In Praise of Psycho Housewives, Stage Parents, Momfluencers, and Other Women We Love to Hate
by Ej Dickson
Thank you to Simon Element for the gifted copy.
One Bad Mother is smart, pointed cultural criticism that gets at something most parents recognize immediately. The standards for “good motherhood” are impossible, the rules change constantly, and society seems to enjoy punishing women no matter what choices they make. As a father of two, I read this less as a parenting book and more as a clear-eyed look at how motherhood gets policed, packaged, and used as entertainment.
Dickson structures the book around familiar archetypes, the Stage Mom, the Tiger Mom, the Trad Wife, the MLM hun, the Momfluencer, and more. The chapters move through pop culture, history, and modern media with a snarky, conversational tone, but there is real substance underneath it. She does a good job showing how these “bad mom” labels often function as shorthand for broader anxieties about gender, class, race, work, and control.
What I appreciated most is that the book does not stop at easy dunking. When the archetype deserves critique, like exploiting kids online or causing direct harm, it is addressed plainly. When it is more complicated, like the MLM pipeline or the pressure to perform motherhood online, she looks at incentives and systems instead of just blaming individual women. That approach made the book feel fair even when it was sharp.
Not every argument will land for every reader, especially if you see yourself in some of the categories being examined. The voice can be biting, and at times it leans into broad generalizations for effect. Still, the overall point is strong and hard to ignore. If we are serious about supporting families, we should be paying attention to the cultural machinery that makes mothers the default villain.
Provocative, funny in places, and genuinely thought provoking.
4 stars.
by Ej Dickson
Thank you to Simon Element for the gifted copy.
One Bad Mother is smart, pointed cultural criticism that gets at something most parents recognize immediately. The standards for “good motherhood” are impossible, the rules change constantly, and society seems to enjoy punishing women no matter what choices they make. As a father of two, I read this less as a parenting book and more as a clear-eyed look at how motherhood gets policed, packaged, and used as entertainment.
Dickson structures the book around familiar archetypes, the Stage Mom, the Tiger Mom, the Trad Wife, the MLM hun, the Momfluencer, and more. The chapters move through pop culture, history, and modern media with a snarky, conversational tone, but there is real substance underneath it. She does a good job showing how these “bad mom” labels often function as shorthand for broader anxieties about gender, class, race, work, and control.
What I appreciated most is that the book does not stop at easy dunking. When the archetype deserves critique, like exploiting kids online or causing direct harm, it is addressed plainly. When it is more complicated, like the MLM pipeline or the pressure to perform motherhood online, she looks at incentives and systems instead of just blaming individual women. That approach made the book feel fair even when it was sharp.
Not every argument will land for every reader, especially if you see yourself in some of the categories being examined. The voice can be biting, and at times it leans into broad generalizations for effect. Still, the overall point is strong and hard to ignore. If we are serious about supporting families, we should be paying attention to the cultural machinery that makes mothers the default villain.
Provocative, funny in places, and genuinely thought provoking.
4 stars.
October 15, 2025
(ARC - out 02/10/26 via Simon Element) I am probably not the target audience for this in the sense that I am not a mother. But, I am the target audience in the sense that I find sociological, introspective studies on the dilemmas and speed bumps modern women face. This essay collection reminds me a lot of Anna Bogutskaya’s Unlikeable Female Characters, which viewed common female archetypes through the lens of women in pop culture. This collection turns the lens specifically on motherhood, with chapters focused on working mothers, stage moms, momfluencers, MLM moms, trad wives, and the narrative of the bad mother, among others. The author pulls a lot from her own life, but she also searches for meaning in the wider culture. She ponders the harm of putting children on social media platforms with a large following before they can knowingly consent. She studies the origins of the term “welfare queen” and just how classist, racist, and misogynistic such a phrase can be. Instead of condescendingly dismissing the wave of mothers who joined MLMs, she explores why it is that women desperate to make money while staying home with their children are preyed on by companies willing to exploit a woman’s desire to have more independence. Dickson uses all sorts of media from t.v. to movies to books, and she pulls from real world studies and news stories to further expand on her thoughts and theses. I think a woman with kids would get more out of this than me, but that is not a fault of the author or the writing, just a fact of who the book is written for. I did find the writing to be interesting and well-argued, even if I didn’t agree with every point, and I’m always happy to be pushed to examine my own beliefs in our world.
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