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You and I, As Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood
Actress, director, and New York Times bestselling author Laura Prepon’s raw and honest guide to navigating motherhood.
When Laura Prepon first became a mother, she felt blindsided.
Between skyrocketing stress levels, sleepless nights, and the complete rearrangement of her priorities, Prepon barely recognized her new maternal self. She sought out resources to help navigate this huge life transition, but found only books about childcare and almost nothing on the shelves about momcare. So she decided to write the book she was looking for.
You and I, as Mothers: A Feel-Good, Live-Well Guide for Moms is a practical handbook for mothers of any age, at any stage of motherhood. At once deeply personal and universal, the book includes topics such as self-care, stress reduction techniques, protecting one’s partnership, asking for help, and getting a global perspective on maternity, as well as a selection of easy and delicious recipes, among many other things.
Laura shares humbling moments and anecdotes from her own journey as a mother, interweaving insights from her Mom Squad: an eclectic group of mothers, including a world-renowned survival expert, a top neuroscientist, creator of Orange Is the New Black Jenji Kohan, actress Mila Kunis, author and activist Amber Tamblyn, and chef Daphne Oz, among other inspiring moms. Laura encourages readers to acknowledge their challenges, embrace their strengths, and celebrate their victories as we navigate the greatest adventure of all . . . Motherhood.
When Laura Prepon first became a mother, she felt blindsided.
Between skyrocketing stress levels, sleepless nights, and the complete rearrangement of her priorities, Prepon barely recognized her new maternal self. She sought out resources to help navigate this huge life transition, but found only books about childcare and almost nothing on the shelves about momcare. So she decided to write the book she was looking for.
You and I, as Mothers: A Feel-Good, Live-Well Guide for Moms is a practical handbook for mothers of any age, at any stage of motherhood. At once deeply personal and universal, the book includes topics such as self-care, stress reduction techniques, protecting one’s partnership, asking for help, and getting a global perspective on maternity, as well as a selection of easy and delicious recipes, among many other things.
Laura shares humbling moments and anecdotes from her own journey as a mother, interweaving insights from her Mom Squad: an eclectic group of mothers, including a world-renowned survival expert, a top neuroscientist, creator of Orange Is the New Black Jenji Kohan, actress Mila Kunis, author and activist Amber Tamblyn, and chef Daphne Oz, among other inspiring moms. Laura encourages readers to acknowledge their challenges, embrace their strengths, and celebrate their victories as we navigate the greatest adventure of all . . . Motherhood.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2020
60 people are currently reading
1622 people want to read
About the author
Laura Prepon
6 books35 followersLaura Helene Prepon was born on March 7, 1980, in Watchung, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Marjorie (Coll) and Michael Prepon. Her father died in 1993, when she was 13 years old. Laura is the youngest of five children--she has a brother named Brad and three sisters: Danielle, Jocelyn, and Stephanie. She attended Watchung Hills Regional High School. She studied at the Total Theater Lab in New York City, where she appeared in a number of theatrical productions.
Before acting became her profession, Laura was a model, working in Paris, Milan, and elsewhere in Europe. She began acting at the young age of 15 as well as dancing--ballet, jazz, and modern. She also played soccer and other sports. Laura loves vintage clothes. Her hobbies include cooking, traveling, horseback riding, playing piano, and dancing. Her favorite book is 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien. Laura resides in New York when not filming in Los Angeles.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ryan McIntosh
Before acting became her profession, Laura was a model, working in Paris, Milan, and elsewhere in Europe. She began acting at the young age of 15 as well as dancing--ballet, jazz, and modern. She also played soccer and other sports. Laura loves vintage clothes. Her hobbies include cooking, traveling, horseback riding, playing piano, and dancing. Her favorite book is 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien. Laura resides in New York when not filming in Los Angeles.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ryan McIntosh
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 27, 2020
It takes a certain level of self confidence for a Hollywood actress with one very young (toddler) child to consider herself an expert on mothering. Laura Prepon has that self confidence and more, as she tells mothers earth-shattering new advice like find a "mom squad," practice self care, and don't feel guilty, all with the tone of a seasoned expert here to save you.
The good news is that this book is written with a very large font and few chapters, so it's a quick read. It's also not a bad read, especially if you love name dropping and want to peer into her Hollywood world. She talks a lot about what her friend Mila Kunis says about mothering, for instance, or what some famous director told her. She also does a lot of humble bragging, only it's not even humble. She talks about how brave she is and how she hang-glided into a German castle and she's just like one of the boys and has this and that huge poker planning honor and on and on. And on. And on.
The book starts with a view of her nontraditional childhood and Prepon actually printing advice she got on how to do bulimia right from her mother. Oh my goodness. Do I really have to say why it's never a good idea to share tips on how to be better at having an eating disorder, even if it's to show how crazy your mother was?
From there, Prepon goes chapter by chapter on what you have to do as a mother to take care of yourself. Let your baby cry it out. You do you, but you're an idiot if you don't. Don't feel guilty for leaving your baby. She worked 18 hours a day when she went back to work when her baby was a few months old, and later realized she should ask for more next time (but mostly I think for herself). Take trips away from your baby. Hire people to take care of your baby. Be proud that your baby will learn that you prioritize yourself, your career, your health, your friendships and your marriage (sorry single moms, you don't seem to exist) over your baby. Oh, and learn from the French who teach babies to just wait to be tended to, and Italians, who sit around drinking with friends while their young children run around and swim taking care of themselves. Oh, and did I mention yet not to feel guilty and to do more to take care of you? Here's advice on straight ironing your hair. Here's a chapter on how to make foods like hard boiled eggs and bone broth 10 ways. Have I mentioned she wrote a book on cooking healthy? She mentions it often. Really often.
Yeah, I don't know. The basic gist of it is don't feel guilty and take care of yourself. Babies and children aren't mentioned at all other than it's normal to go through various things as a mother regarding them (postpartum OCD, the aforementioned guilt, etc.). She clearly loves her daughter, but this is not a book about meeting children's needs but only about meeting your own. She seems to do that well.
One chapter dealt with her heartbreaking second pregnancy where the baby's brain was not developing properly, which she terminated. This section is very real, but also rather short before it moves on to practicing gratitude and grounding yourself physically, and that grief is not really mentioned again. I'm not sure how helpful this will be for mothers who have lost pregnancies and feel a need for more than putting hands on their bodies and thanking each part.
Prepon does not go into her Scientology beliefs or experience with that at all in the book. After hearing quite a lot about Scientology's teachings about children, I wonder if this isn't a silent part of why she is so comfortable not worrying about doing enough for her child and how she dealt with her pregnancy loss. It would have been helpful and interesting to hear her thoughts and to know whether the church's teachings play a part in her mothering philosophy.
All in all, this was a mildly interesting read but rather preachy and condescending for me. I don't relate to Prepon as a mother or in life, and I already have a good hold on things like why it's important to eat non-GMO and get enough sleep. Fans of Ms. Prepon's are likely to really enjoy it.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
The good news is that this book is written with a very large font and few chapters, so it's a quick read. It's also not a bad read, especially if you love name dropping and want to peer into her Hollywood world. She talks a lot about what her friend Mila Kunis says about mothering, for instance, or what some famous director told her. She also does a lot of humble bragging, only it's not even humble. She talks about how brave she is and how she hang-glided into a German castle and she's just like one of the boys and has this and that huge poker planning honor and on and on. And on. And on.
The book starts with a view of her nontraditional childhood and Prepon actually printing advice she got on how to do bulimia right from her mother. Oh my goodness. Do I really have to say why it's never a good idea to share tips on how to be better at having an eating disorder, even if it's to show how crazy your mother was?
From there, Prepon goes chapter by chapter on what you have to do as a mother to take care of yourself. Let your baby cry it out. You do you, but you're an idiot if you don't. Don't feel guilty for leaving your baby. She worked 18 hours a day when she went back to work when her baby was a few months old, and later realized she should ask for more next time (but mostly I think for herself). Take trips away from your baby. Hire people to take care of your baby. Be proud that your baby will learn that you prioritize yourself, your career, your health, your friendships and your marriage (sorry single moms, you don't seem to exist) over your baby. Oh, and learn from the French who teach babies to just wait to be tended to, and Italians, who sit around drinking with friends while their young children run around and swim taking care of themselves. Oh, and did I mention yet not to feel guilty and to do more to take care of you? Here's advice on straight ironing your hair. Here's a chapter on how to make foods like hard boiled eggs and bone broth 10 ways. Have I mentioned she wrote a book on cooking healthy? She mentions it often. Really often.
Yeah, I don't know. The basic gist of it is don't feel guilty and take care of yourself. Babies and children aren't mentioned at all other than it's normal to go through various things as a mother regarding them (postpartum OCD, the aforementioned guilt, etc.). She clearly loves her daughter, but this is not a book about meeting children's needs but only about meeting your own. She seems to do that well.
One chapter dealt with her heartbreaking second pregnancy where the baby's brain was not developing properly, which she terminated. This section is very real, but also rather short before it moves on to practicing gratitude and grounding yourself physically, and that grief is not really mentioned again. I'm not sure how helpful this will be for mothers who have lost pregnancies and feel a need for more than putting hands on their bodies and thanking each part.
Prepon does not go into her Scientology beliefs or experience with that at all in the book. After hearing quite a lot about Scientology's teachings about children, I wonder if this isn't a silent part of why she is so comfortable not worrying about doing enough for her child and how she dealt with her pregnancy loss. It would have been helpful and interesting to hear her thoughts and to know whether the church's teachings play a part in her mothering philosophy.
All in all, this was a mildly interesting read but rather preachy and condescending for me. I don't relate to Prepon as a mother or in life, and I already have a good hold on things like why it's important to eat non-GMO and get enough sleep. Fans of Ms. Prepon's are likely to really enjoy it.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
February 3, 2020
I rarely read non-fiction books, but when I do I pick them very carefully. Sadly this was very unfortunate pick for me.
I had expected a love letter to all mothers out there but my expectations were no met. Writing was good and some parts did resonate with me but I can't help but feel disappointed because this book gave me nothing new.
So if you think that this book will help you miraculously ace your daily struggles of motherhood, you are wrong. In my opinion, most of Laura's advice wouldn't work for majority of moms around the world. Make sleep date once a week, do this or that for yourself every week, go there, organize that, meet this or that group... I mean come on! I am super lucky to have helping husband and I am on maternity leave and I still would not be able to squeeze ALL THAT into my week. How are single moms and working moms or multiple moms supposed to do that? Most of the time I had a feeling that this book was written for "privileged class" of mothers who have three babysitters and gang of housemaids on call all the time. I just didn't like the tone of it at all even though writing was okay.
Which leads me to the most important part - word "guide" in title is very misleading. You and I, As Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood reads as Laura Prepon's memoir from her pregnancies and time when she became mom and not as help book. So if you are her big fan, you will most probably enjoy it. However, I was here for something else and didn't get it. Simply said, it was not my cuppa. This is very personal and subjective book so of course it is not going to fit everyone. But what didn't work for me, may work for you so check other reviews before writing it off completely.
*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*
I had expected a love letter to all mothers out there but my expectations were no met. Writing was good and some parts did resonate with me but I can't help but feel disappointed because this book gave me nothing new.
So if you think that this book will help you miraculously ace your daily struggles of motherhood, you are wrong. In my opinion, most of Laura's advice wouldn't work for majority of moms around the world. Make sleep date once a week, do this or that for yourself every week, go there, organize that, meet this or that group... I mean come on! I am super lucky to have helping husband and I am on maternity leave and I still would not be able to squeeze ALL THAT into my week. How are single moms and working moms or multiple moms supposed to do that? Most of the time I had a feeling that this book was written for "privileged class" of mothers who have three babysitters and gang of housemaids on call all the time. I just didn't like the tone of it at all even though writing was okay.
Which leads me to the most important part - word "guide" in title is very misleading. You and I, As Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood reads as Laura Prepon's memoir from her pregnancies and time when she became mom and not as help book. So if you are her big fan, you will most probably enjoy it. However, I was here for something else and didn't get it. Simply said, it was not my cuppa. This is very personal and subjective book so of course it is not going to fit everyone. But what didn't work for me, may work for you so check other reviews before writing it off completely.
*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*
January 16, 2020
This was a great book for ANY woman, whether they are a mother or not. This was a book about accepting the imperfections many mothers feel. Laura did a great job of balancing advice on self-care, asking for help, stress reduction and other important topics that any woman would find beneficial whether they are a mother or not. The personal stories made the author relatable versus feeling like you were reading a book that someone else wrote and then the celebrity put their name on it to sell more copies. I also enjoyed the pieces about the journeys of other women that were included, such as from Daphne Oz, Amber Tamblyn and others. I recommend this book to any woman looking for a great read.
December 28, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. Even though I am not a mother, it did not take anything away from reading this book. I love Laura Prepon as a person and as an actor on t.v. and her personality definitely comes through this book. I felt this book was very powerful and had great messages for women in general not just for mothers. The book is full of lessons along with her personal struggles.
April 19, 2021
"You and I, as Mothers" is a first-person look at being a new mom and what it was like for the author in the context of being an actress and directing on the set of "Orange Is the New Black." She was so authentic and genuine in this book from the very beginning when she was pregnant the first time. I loved how when she asked a friend about motherhood and the friend said, "It's really hard, girl. This is so hard."
The book talked about all the anxiety and postpartum issues. One of the things that came across in the book relates to mothers and women of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and professions. It also can help partners of mothers to learn what mothers go through. There are wonderful books about parenting, but there isn't a book that speaks to the mother herself or the partner or someone who wants to understand the process of what we go through even more. This fills that void.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/lau...
The book talked about all the anxiety and postpartum issues. One of the things that came across in the book relates to mothers and women of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and professions. It also can help partners of mothers to learn what mothers go through. There are wonderful books about parenting, but there isn't a book that speaks to the mother herself or the partner or someone who wants to understand the process of what we go through even more. This fills that void.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/lau...
January 19, 2021
As an actress, and a presence on social media I enjoy Laura Prepon. Her writing style unfortunately did not mesh with my taste. It did not feel authentic and I could not finish it. I wanted very much to love it, but I just was not interested enough to pick it back up once I stopped reading.
June 19, 2020
I was a little disappointed. I guess I was expecting more in terms of sharing the motherhood experience. I still have a chapter left but I doubt I'll finish it.
August 17, 2020
I love Lauren Prepon, but as an actress. This book was a quick read, and honestly I am thankful about that. I gained nothing from it, and every chapter was in a way the same as the other.
April 6, 2020
Okay let me just start off by saying that I am not a mother (nor do I, honestly, ever wish to be) so since this is a book about parenting and motherhood, I'm not entirely the right target market for this book. I picked this one up because I am a fan of Laura Prepon and, despite not being a mother, this book sounded really interesting.
And even though I'm not a mother, I enjoyed this book a ton. Yes, a bit of the information is mother specific but, on the whole, I found this to be a wonderful self help style book that could honestly apply to anyone (mother aside). This book has a lot of good information about relationships (both romantic and platonic), heath and wellness, stress and just life in general. Although she provides this information specifically with mothers in mind, these items affect us all and I definitely related to so much of the information in this book, motherhood aside.
This book is also part memoir, which I deeply enjoyed, and is written with such a wonderful voice. It felt more like talking to a friend than reading a book. Plus a lot of research went into this book and it is filled with conversations and advice from Prepon's close friends. All of it was good information that I'm really glad to have read.
So overall, I enjoyed this book a ton! If you're reading the title and you're not a parent, don't be put off by that. I wasn't the target market for this book but I still got a lot of out of it and really enjoyed the reading. It's also a really quick read. I read the entire thing in under 24 hours. And this is a book I could definitely see myself purchasing and referring back to. (Especially the recipes!) I'll definitely be picking up a copy of Prepon's cookbook and reading anything she writes in the future!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Abrams Press for allowing me the chance to read and review this book!
And even though I'm not a mother, I enjoyed this book a ton. Yes, a bit of the information is mother specific but, on the whole, I found this to be a wonderful self help style book that could honestly apply to anyone (mother aside). This book has a lot of good information about relationships (both romantic and platonic), heath and wellness, stress and just life in general. Although she provides this information specifically with mothers in mind, these items affect us all and I definitely related to so much of the information in this book, motherhood aside.
This book is also part memoir, which I deeply enjoyed, and is written with such a wonderful voice. It felt more like talking to a friend than reading a book. Plus a lot of research went into this book and it is filled with conversations and advice from Prepon's close friends. All of it was good information that I'm really glad to have read.
So overall, I enjoyed this book a ton! If you're reading the title and you're not a parent, don't be put off by that. I wasn't the target market for this book but I still got a lot of out of it and really enjoyed the reading. It's also a really quick read. I read the entire thing in under 24 hours. And this is a book I could definitely see myself purchasing and referring back to. (Especially the recipes!) I'll definitely be picking up a copy of Prepon's cookbook and reading anything she writes in the future!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Abrams Press for allowing me the chance to read and review this book!
March 12, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from ABRAMS - Abrams Image in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I have been a fan of Laura Prepon since she was Donna on That 70's Show and now coming out with a book about being a mother is really touching and inspiring. The last celebrity 'motherhood" book I read as I may recall was The Kind Momma by Alicia Silverstone and remembering the insights she had from adopting motherhood to her hectic but healthy vegan lifestyle. Laura offered a lot of great insight and inspirational stories of herself and her mom squad friends such as Mila Kunis and Amber Tamblyn was very fun to read as well. A lot of people will benefit from this book and I know it will do very well at our library.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I have been a fan of Laura Prepon since she was Donna on That 70's Show and now coming out with a book about being a mother is really touching and inspiring. The last celebrity 'motherhood" book I read as I may recall was The Kind Momma by Alicia Silverstone and remembering the insights she had from adopting motherhood to her hectic but healthy vegan lifestyle. Laura offered a lot of great insight and inspirational stories of herself and her mom squad friends such as Mila Kunis and Amber Tamblyn was very fun to read as well. A lot of people will benefit from this book and I know it will do very well at our library.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
March 3, 2025
I highly recommend the audiobook that Laura narrates herself! I really enjoyed the chapters on motherhood and I give major props to Laura for sharing her experiences. This would have been a 5 star read for me except that I wasn’t expecting it to turn into a cookbook at the end. I would have liked the memoir style to continue for the whole book. I still really enjoyed it though.
June 27, 2020
Well meaning but there really is nothing life changing or earth shattering about this book and it’s words of wisdom to Moms.
November 26, 2023
DNF @ 58%
Part memoir, part self help book. I found I couldn't really agree with her on a lot of things that she was recommending for motherhood and it started to stress me out like I was doing something wrong or not being good enough when I felt perfectly fine before. Or she gives advice like "make sure you and your spouse take a trip away from the kids 1-2 times a year". Most people are barely able to take a trip WITH the kids 1-2 times, let alone leaving them somewhere. Especially if you live somewhere you can't build a mom tribe or have no family nearby.
The book might resonate with others, but it just didn't work for me.
Part memoir, part self help book. I found I couldn't really agree with her on a lot of things that she was recommending for motherhood and it started to stress me out like I was doing something wrong or not being good enough when I felt perfectly fine before. Or she gives advice like "make sure you and your spouse take a trip away from the kids 1-2 times a year". Most people are barely able to take a trip WITH the kids 1-2 times, let alone leaving them somewhere. Especially if you live somewhere you can't build a mom tribe or have no family nearby.
The book might resonate with others, but it just didn't work for me.
November 14, 2022
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway; thank you.
It was an easy read, when I needed a break. The book had parts that I could relate to, but so many more I couldn't. Experts are nice to have as friends, if you have access to them. The advice on how to make life easier with a baby is nice, if you have the means to make it happen. Same with the access to healthcare in general, let alone the access to top-notch specialists. I don't feel as if Prepon intentionally wrote for the upper echelon; it just didn't fit with my reality.
It was an easy read, when I needed a break. The book had parts that I could relate to, but so many more I couldn't. Experts are nice to have as friends, if you have access to them. The advice on how to make life easier with a baby is nice, if you have the means to make it happen. Same with the access to healthcare in general, let alone the access to top-notch specialists. I don't feel as if Prepon intentionally wrote for the upper echelon; it just didn't fit with my reality.
May 27, 2021
I am a sucker for a celeb book but I just didn’t connect with this one like I’d hoped to.
April 12, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.
When I first received my copy of Laura Prepon’s You and I, as Mothers in the mail, I was filled with a combination of excitement and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure if I would like this book since I am not a mother or a mother-to-be. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to relate to this book or if I even had the right to read and review a book about parenting when I have no experience as a parent. However, I have always been a fan of Laura Prepon and her work on shows like That 70’s Show, and Orange Is the New Black. To be honest, I didn’t realize that Laura Prepon was a mom, and I was curious to read about her perspective of being a mother. Although I am not currently a mother, this is something I dream of becoming in the future, and I’m opening to hearing advice and preparing myself for it in the future.
I finished this book in less than a week; I couldn’t put it down! Even though I have no experience as a parent, I found the book’s contents to be highly relatable and enjoyable to read. Prepon is down to earth, raw, and honest. Even when she speaks about her work on shows like Orange Is the New Black, she speaks of it from the perspective of someone who is just doing her job. When she talks about her connections with other celebrities like Mila Kunis, she does so in a way that shows her friendship with Mila and her trust in Mila’s parental advice from one mom to another. She never comes off as being elitist or showing off her fame.
Whether you’re a mom or not, there are many pieces of advice in this book that all women can benefit from. Prepon offers advice on how to let go of the need to be in control, how to handle stress and the importance of self-care and nutrition. She also invites women to take a look at the way they were brought up by their mothers as children and to take a look at how other cultures view motherhood. Prepon wants women to cut themselves some slack and to realize that there is no one-size-fits-all method to motherhood. As long as your kids are healthy and happy and you’re taking care of yourself, you’re doing it right!
One of my favorite chapters of this book would have to be the one on learning how to let go of the need to be in control. Although I am not yet a mother, I still do struggle with the need to be in control, and I can see this as potentially becoming an issue for me in the future when I do decide to have kids. Prepon makes two lists in this chapter: 1. What I CAN Control, and 2. What I CANNOT Control. The things that stand out the most to me on this list are than I can control my attitude and the choices I make for myself and my future family, but I cannot control other adults or change. I can influence others, but at the end of the day, the things they think, feel, or do is up to them and beyond my control. Additionally, change is inevitable. I cannot control change, but I can control how I react to it.
I also really enjoyed the formatting throughout this book. It was a brilliant book with lots of references to academic articles (which the PhD student in me loved). Prepon is knowledgeable, more than most people give her credit for. However, she presented scientific facts in a way that was easy to digest and let me feeling smarter and more educated. I learned a lot from this book about hormones, stress, chemical compounds, and nutrition. I expected to learn about motherhood in this book, but in the end, I learned that and so much more! I also really enjoyed her recaps at the end of the chapters highlighting the main points of what she discussed and some questions to consider.
Lastly, the book ended with several recipes that Prepon enjoys making for her family. Prepon is the daughter of a chef, so it makes sense that she would enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and making healthy and nutritious meals for her family. While a few of these recipes have unusual ingredients that may be difficult for the average person to obtain, many of these recipes are more simple and sound delicious. Prepon also offers many substitutes and alternatives for people to choose from. When I read what Prepon wrote, I feel like I am talking to a close friend that understands my strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and my need for flexibility. She allows me to forget that she’s an A-list celebrity. This is truly a discussion about self-care from one mom to another, or in my case, one woman to another. 5 out of 5 Stars.
When I first received my copy of Laura Prepon’s You and I, as Mothers in the mail, I was filled with a combination of excitement and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure if I would like this book since I am not a mother or a mother-to-be. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to relate to this book or if I even had the right to read and review a book about parenting when I have no experience as a parent. However, I have always been a fan of Laura Prepon and her work on shows like That 70’s Show, and Orange Is the New Black. To be honest, I didn’t realize that Laura Prepon was a mom, and I was curious to read about her perspective of being a mother. Although I am not currently a mother, this is something I dream of becoming in the future, and I’m opening to hearing advice and preparing myself for it in the future.
I finished this book in less than a week; I couldn’t put it down! Even though I have no experience as a parent, I found the book’s contents to be highly relatable and enjoyable to read. Prepon is down to earth, raw, and honest. Even when she speaks about her work on shows like Orange Is the New Black, she speaks of it from the perspective of someone who is just doing her job. When she talks about her connections with other celebrities like Mila Kunis, she does so in a way that shows her friendship with Mila and her trust in Mila’s parental advice from one mom to another. She never comes off as being elitist or showing off her fame.
Whether you’re a mom or not, there are many pieces of advice in this book that all women can benefit from. Prepon offers advice on how to let go of the need to be in control, how to handle stress and the importance of self-care and nutrition. She also invites women to take a look at the way they were brought up by their mothers as children and to take a look at how other cultures view motherhood. Prepon wants women to cut themselves some slack and to realize that there is no one-size-fits-all method to motherhood. As long as your kids are healthy and happy and you’re taking care of yourself, you’re doing it right!
One of my favorite chapters of this book would have to be the one on learning how to let go of the need to be in control. Although I am not yet a mother, I still do struggle with the need to be in control, and I can see this as potentially becoming an issue for me in the future when I do decide to have kids. Prepon makes two lists in this chapter: 1. What I CAN Control, and 2. What I CANNOT Control. The things that stand out the most to me on this list are than I can control my attitude and the choices I make for myself and my future family, but I cannot control other adults or change. I can influence others, but at the end of the day, the things they think, feel, or do is up to them and beyond my control. Additionally, change is inevitable. I cannot control change, but I can control how I react to it.
I also really enjoyed the formatting throughout this book. It was a brilliant book with lots of references to academic articles (which the PhD student in me loved). Prepon is knowledgeable, more than most people give her credit for. However, she presented scientific facts in a way that was easy to digest and let me feeling smarter and more educated. I learned a lot from this book about hormones, stress, chemical compounds, and nutrition. I expected to learn about motherhood in this book, but in the end, I learned that and so much more! I also really enjoyed her recaps at the end of the chapters highlighting the main points of what she discussed and some questions to consider.
Lastly, the book ended with several recipes that Prepon enjoys making for her family. Prepon is the daughter of a chef, so it makes sense that she would enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and making healthy and nutritious meals for her family. While a few of these recipes have unusual ingredients that may be difficult for the average person to obtain, many of these recipes are more simple and sound delicious. Prepon also offers many substitutes and alternatives for people to choose from. When I read what Prepon wrote, I feel like I am talking to a close friend that understands my strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and my need for flexibility. She allows me to forget that she’s an A-list celebrity. This is truly a discussion about self-care from one mom to another, or in my case, one woman to another. 5 out of 5 Stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
You and I, as Mothers by Laura Prepon is a fun, insightful, helpful book written by the amazing Laura Prepon herself. I have always been a fan, so I was excited that she had written a new book.
This book presents several subjects. We get to learn a bit more about Laura’s upbringing, her family, and how she felt and responded to her pregnancies and thereafter. We get to see her as a woman, mom, friend, and professional through her experiences, successes, mishaps, learning experiences, and suggestions.
The next few parts help in discussing that us Moms are certainly not alone, not perfect, will make it through this, and that we are not alone. Finding out how to focus on the here and now, how to improve our attitude, health, relationships, our self-image, and expectations really will help in our path to making ourselves a better person and mother. It just really hit home and felt so real to me to see that she struggles through similar things...and like me, survived a changed and better person. Like me, she still acknowledges this is an ever-changing path and we will always have room for improvement...that we need to just take one day at a time and believe.
The last part has a few recipes and suggestions. My personal favorite suggestion in the book is the concept of Box breathing to help elicit a calm when it gets to just be too much. Readers should check it out and find their own mechanism.
Excellent book. I am so glad I read this.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Abrams for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
This book presents several subjects. We get to learn a bit more about Laura’s upbringing, her family, and how she felt and responded to her pregnancies and thereafter. We get to see her as a woman, mom, friend, and professional through her experiences, successes, mishaps, learning experiences, and suggestions.
The next few parts help in discussing that us Moms are certainly not alone, not perfect, will make it through this, and that we are not alone. Finding out how to focus on the here and now, how to improve our attitude, health, relationships, our self-image, and expectations really will help in our path to making ourselves a better person and mother. It just really hit home and felt so real to me to see that she struggles through similar things...and like me, survived a changed and better person. Like me, she still acknowledges this is an ever-changing path and we will always have room for improvement...that we need to just take one day at a time and believe.
The last part has a few recipes and suggestions. My personal favorite suggestion in the book is the concept of Box breathing to help elicit a calm when it gets to just be too much. Readers should check it out and find their own mechanism.
Excellent book. I am so glad I read this.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Abrams for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
February 2, 2022
This book would definitely be best read after your first child is born. There are a lot of great tips in here, but you won't learn anything new if you have a kid over the age of two.
In one chapter, Laura talks about pregnancy loss and the unfair stigma around that type of tragedy. I think this is a very important discussion and I was happy she touched on it.
There are reflection questions at the end of each chapter that invite you to think about how you can implement her advice into your life. I personally didn't answer the questions and found them to be superfluous, but I'm sure a lot of readers would enjoy participating in these end-of-chapter exercises.
One last thing; Laura name drops celebrities way too often in my opinion. So if you're into celebrities talking about their celebrity friends, you will enjoy that aspect of this book a lot more than I did.
In one chapter, Laura talks about pregnancy loss and the unfair stigma around that type of tragedy. I think this is a very important discussion and I was happy she touched on it.
There are reflection questions at the end of each chapter that invite you to think about how you can implement her advice into your life. I personally didn't answer the questions and found them to be superfluous, but I'm sure a lot of readers would enjoy participating in these end-of-chapter exercises.
One last thing; Laura name drops celebrities way too often in my opinion. So if you're into celebrities talking about their celebrity friends, you will enjoy that aspect of this book a lot more than I did.
February 24, 2021
I read this while expecting my first baby, and as a FTM was looking for some advice on what to expect as a new mom - and was so happy to have found this book. Some other reviewers argued that Prepon doesn’t have enough “experience” since she’s only had one baby - but why can’t she write a book about HER experience? And also pulling from experience of her mom friends?
I really liked that she touched on so many different aspects of motherhood: mom guilt, self-care, stress, nutrition and keeping your relationship from falling to the wayside. I pulled lots of great advice from this book and would totally recommend this book to other moms. Is everything going to work for you? Of course not, but if you get a few ideas to try in your own mommy journey - that’s great!
I really liked that she touched on so many different aspects of motherhood: mom guilt, self-care, stress, nutrition and keeping your relationship from falling to the wayside. I pulled lots of great advice from this book and would totally recommend this book to other moms. Is everything going to work for you? Of course not, but if you get a few ideas to try in your own mommy journey - that’s great!
March 1, 2020
So I've loved Laura Prepon so much before ever reading this book. But after reading this book, I felt like life was so much more relatable to her. As a mom to four myself, I haven't learned how to take care of myself very much and I LOVE how she tackles this book.
As a small-time writer myself, I have always found that writing to myself, or to one specific person is the best way to get my message across and Laura did just this. I felt like the book was written directly from her heart to mine.
Her stories, her feelings, and her journey will leave you feeling just a little less alone in this journey called Motherhood.
As a small-time writer myself, I have always found that writing to myself, or to one specific person is the best way to get my message across and Laura did just this. I felt like the book was written directly from her heart to mine.
Her stories, her feelings, and her journey will leave you feeling just a little less alone in this journey called Motherhood.
April 6, 2020
Wow! This book totally relates to the “new” mom out there- or any mom for that matter!!
As a new mom to be, and now a stay at home mom, this book delivered all the answers to the endless questions I had about motherhood. There’s only so much positive feedback you can receive from family and friends- but this book goes deeper into the life of a mom- and who is also one of my favorite tv stars!
It felt so raw to listen to other moms out there experiencing the same problems as myself- and also the great experiences you encounter as well. I totally recommend this book and it is something that I will hold on to and constantly be referring back to in the future!
As a new mom to be, and now a stay at home mom, this book delivered all the answers to the endless questions I had about motherhood. There’s only so much positive feedback you can receive from family and friends- but this book goes deeper into the life of a mom- and who is also one of my favorite tv stars!
It felt so raw to listen to other moms out there experiencing the same problems as myself- and also the great experiences you encounter as well. I totally recommend this book and it is something that I will hold on to and constantly be referring back to in the future!
February 17, 2021
Full of positive, relatable self-care tips and advice for moms. Laura is open and vulnerable, sharing her own pregnancy experiences (one resulted in a sad loss) and challenges adjusting to motherhood (trying to balance work and home life, establishing and relying on a mom tribe, nurturing her relationship with her partner, making time for herself and prioritizing nutritious, whole foods - recipes are included at the end of the book). Each section has tips from experts, her own friends and reflection questions to spark discussion or introspection. Helpful and informative. A great book for any mom struggling with the challenges of modern motherhood.
June 7, 2020
I love this book :)
Laura Prepon knows just what we as mothers and women need to hear. I truly enjoy her work and since discovering her Youtube channel, my life has been transformed. After reading the Stash Plan I set out to eat healthier for my family and for myself. In this book Laura has talked about many topics that women keep to themselves. I appreciate how she put everything out in the open and encourages the reader to not feel shamed or embarrassed about any of it and that we are all in it together as mothers.
Laura Prepon knows just what we as mothers and women need to hear. I truly enjoy her work and since discovering her Youtube channel, my life has been transformed. After reading the Stash Plan I set out to eat healthier for my family and for myself. In this book Laura has talked about many topics that women keep to themselves. I appreciate how she put everything out in the open and encourages the reader to not feel shamed or embarrassed about any of it and that we are all in it together as mothers.
January 22, 2021
A bit of a disappointing read overall.
I struggled to connect with the content and felt that there could have been more anecdotes about Laura’s family, mother and her relationship with her daughter since it was a book about mothering. Although maybe since she is still a relatively new mother those stories had yet to develop.
None the less, it was written pretty well. It was nice that she shared her abortion story which really showed her vulnerable side.
P.S the celebrity name dropping of Jenji Kohan and Mila Kunis was a bonus.
I struggled to connect with the content and felt that there could have been more anecdotes about Laura’s family, mother and her relationship with her daughter since it was a book about mothering. Although maybe since she is still a relatively new mother those stories had yet to develop.
None the less, it was written pretty well. It was nice that she shared her abortion story which really showed her vulnerable side.
P.S the celebrity name dropping of Jenji Kohan and Mila Kunis was a bonus.
March 11, 2025
This is… surprisingly good. I don’t normally recommend going to Hollywood for life advice, but a lot of this is sensible. I especially appreciate that it doesn’t get into the big “wars” right now around co-sleeping, method of birth, nursing vs bottle, etc. However, she’s since filed for divorce, so maybe take the chapter on relationships with a grain of salt. Plus, she’s clearly not a Christian by any stretch, so there are a few things I would NOT recommend anyone do. (You’ll know them when you read them.)
July 23, 2022
This book was promising in the beginning and fell off course. By the time she started talking about mom squads and extended vacations with your spouse it felt very privileged. Well-intentioned, this book will probably fare better with those who have extra money or tight-knit communities to lean on. I did appreciate the reminders for simple self care, including box breathing and asking for help (not pretending you have it all under control).
May 11, 2020
My first mommy book! Although honestly it was less about motherhood than I actually expected and more centered on just taking care of yourself, which is important! But you're not going to find any specific pregnancy or labor/delivery tips in here. She did inspire me to place an order for bone broth, however :)
June 27, 2020
Conversation with you the mothers. However, while it is aimed at moms, she has information that can work for either parent as well as for non-parents. Much of what she says can be applied anywhere. However, while she might not be judging others, she obviously promotes much of her personal experience and physiology. Not to mention her cookbook.
July 7, 2020
Was a quick weekend read, with a nice insight of Laura's approach and view of Motherhood. I enjoyed her effort in giving tips and some of the stories she lived through in her life. The only thing that was hard to read was the bone broth situation. I feel like you have to really believe in it to follow it and see the benefits. I will stick to my plant-based eating :P
July 23, 2020
This book exceeded all expectations. It was informative, comforting, clever, and inspiring. She taught me a lot and I thought I knew a lot! I enjoyed reading this after having been through it with two babies. She confirmed that I’m doing a lot right and challenged me to do even more. I loved this book!
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