All the Acorns on the Forest Floor

by Kim Hooper

" All the Acorns on the Forest Floor is a stirring series of stories interwoven by the common threads of human frailty and the complexities of relationships. Poignant and poetic, the characters of these stunning vignettes are guaranteed to haunt and inspire long after the last page is turned. " –Suzanne Redfearn, bestselling author of In an Instant " In All the Acorns on the Forest Floor , Kim Hooper delivers an empathetic, compulsively readable book with a cast of characters you'll swear you know. With compassion and great heart, Hooper reminds us that people have histories, and we're all more connected than we think." –Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment For many women, becoming a mother is the strongest expression of love they know. For others, the conscious choice to not have children empowers them to live their truth. Motherhood looks different for all women in Kim Hooper's All the Acorns On the Forest Floor . Alex is pregnant with her second child, fearful because her first pregnancy ended at 16 weeks. Deb is reckoning with the fact that she was abandoned as a newborn by her mother. Wendy is wrestling with her early feelings about having children. These stories are interwoven into the stories of other women who are intentionally childless, adults reckoning with adoptions, and unwed women who had to make difficult choices. This novel-in-stories is designed to tug at the heartstrings but also provide hope, comfort, and insight into women's experiences with the narrative of motherhood and society's expectations. We see the women at their most vulnerable, making decisions that will forever change the course of their lives. As each character's narrative unfolds, the book illustrates how small and connected people's lives are; no one's circumstances are as unique as they feel. All the Acorns On the Forest Floor is a novel about mothers and daughters and the sometimes difficult relationships they have with those closest to them. These are stories of the deep, abiding love mothers and children have for one another and how fragile those relationships can be when difficult decisions must be made. Hooper has created a novel that draws you in and doesn't let go until the last page. Readers will be anxious to discover how these women's stories are intertwined and inspired by the strength each character shows as they plunge into the world of motherhood, no matter what that world looks like. Readers of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty will love All the Acorns On the Forest Floor . The stories' depth invites us all into the worlds of these women and shows us that we are all connected, whether we're mothers or not.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult, Literary Fiction, Family

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

Kim Hooper's latest novel, Woman on the Verge, will be released on June 17. Her previous novels are: People Who Knew Me (2016), Cherry Blossoms (2018), Tiny (2019), All the Acorns on the Forest Floor (2020), No Hiding in Boise (2021), and Ways the World Could End (2022). She is also co-author of All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss (2021). Kim lives in Southern California with her daughter and way too many pets.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the subject of regret and long-lost dreams, people say, “It’s never too late.” But sometimes, it is. Sometimes time passes, and it is too late.

Kismet. Serendipitous. Coincidence. Just plain luck. Call it what you will. Stumbling upon a book at a time when it speaks to me on a deeply emotional level feels as close to magic as it gets. Kim Hooper’s newest novel, All the Acorns on the Forest Floor, proves to be much more than just a compelling piece of fiction. At times rooted in hopefulness, yet underscored by a hefty dose of hurt, this storyline explores a multitude of attempts and hindrances to motherhood.

The story told across the pages isn’t linear per se, but rather one that reveals itself through a series of vignettes. Impactful vignettes that build, connect, and ultimately culminate the fears, deep desires, and in some cases, the inability of the women featured to become mothers. Women that don’t necessarily know one another, but are cleverly connected though experience, proximity, or even other relationships.

What made this novel a standout in my eyes was the unwavering intensity of each character’s journey and being able to recognize pieces of myself—at various times throughout my life—in almost all of them. From a time when I questioned my desire to have children and the accompanying procrastination, to the naive hopefulness that was met with struggle, and ultimately where I stand now—23 weeks along with my daughter. Doing what I can to stare down the persistent anxiety intent on inhabiting every corner of my pregnant brain.

I’ve come to accept that I’ll never be at ease. I’ve come to accept that this is motherhood.

It may have been the pretty cover that initially caught my eye, but it was the riveting quality of the author’s words and the unabashed rawness of it all that clutched my heart for the entirety of my read through. This novel managed to inspire a confrontation of some of my lingering regrets and anxieties. A level of thought and reflection only a unique read could conjure.

*Thanks to Turner Publishing for providing a copy in exchange for the honest thoughts I shared here.

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate disliking a book just because it isn't for me.

Give me the books with girl hate, the books with poor grammar, the books with problematic elements or flat characters or clichéd plotlines. I'll tear them APART and feel good doing it, like the world's most hateful community service.

But a book that's just not my cup of tea??? How do I do this.

This is a collection of short stories about people who tangentially know each other, and are connected by a Yearning for motherhood.

For me, a 23 year old who doesn't think she wants to have children ever, reading a dozen stories about a dozen straight women with the exact same singular goal of being pregnant and giving birth and raising a child...

I just. Didn't like it?

None of these women were workaholics or non-maternal or uncertain. None of them chose not to have children confidently. None of them had other aspirations that loomed larger.

For me, that's a reductive and a snooze. But it could work for someone else!!!

Bottom line: Sorry!

-----------------
pre-review

i am very sorry to us all that this book was not for me.

review to come / 2ish (sorry oh god)

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currently-reading updates

sure, i'd probably be a better person if i read ARCs less than six months after they came out, but then i wouldn't really be me

(truly though - thanks to the publisher for the no-longer-advance copy)

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

These contemporary interconnected short stories are wonderful.
The title comes from a line that a nurse says to a woman who has chosen to have artificial insemination. ”Nature is very wasteful. Just look at all the acorns on the forest floor”.

In the story called “Notes for a Eulogy”, Alex is pregnant. Jake is her boyfriend. Alex and Jake are good together—both in their mid 30’s. They plan on getting married. But Alex says, the wedding ( the biggest party of their lives), can wait. Some things can’t—wait.

Alex says:
I used to hate when men said, ‘We’re pregnant’, as if they were too. But there’s something about the way Jake says it, the way he takes ownership of this human growing inside me, that makes me smile. One life, going, another on it’s way— the math of it all could be a comfort. But maybe there’s no sufficient comfort at this time, this time that ‘isn’t a good time’.
Jake’s father has ALS. He doesn’t have much longer to live. Jake is thinking about what he is going to say for his father’s eulogy- doesn’t know what he’ll say.

Alex and Jake are driving to his father’s cabin near Lake Arrowhead — A weekend getaway from Los Angeles. They will visit his father- (wheelchair bound), and Deb.... his stepmother ( of sorts). Jake was an adult when he married Deb ( after Linda, after his dad’s first split with his biological mother when he was a young boy).

Alex and Jake get some shocking news during the weekend. His father and Deb tell Jake that there are two types of ALS: (heredity and non-heredity type). Jake’s father has the heredity- type....Meaning that Jake has a 50-50 chance of getting ALS too. If he does have it his child also has a 50-50 percent chance of getting ALS.
Jake’s father doesn’t know Alex is pregnant with his baby.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT......Ha....... no, no, no....
no spilling the beans!!!
So....NO SPOILERS....
But.....if you are interested to learn what else happens....
I can say this:
ALL THE STORIES were page turning, thought-provoking, emotionally gripping...with tales about women, motherhood, caretakers, nurses, pregnancies, fertility, miscarriages, abortions, abandonment, adoptions, and childhoods.....

The themes are “age-old themes”.....love, loss, family, relationships, friendships, desperation, (kidnapping?), desire, ....even a primal mothering-nurturing tale about our feathered friends: baby hummingbirds.

Filled with captivating, imperfect characters—I could’ve been anyone of them and/or know women like them.

“All The Acorns on the Forest Floor”, is a treasure. Kim Hooper’s writing is elegant and effortless.....insightful, heartfelt and deeply real.

5 stars... loved the intimacy.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

From time to time, friends will ask me why I like to view books in advance that aren’t on most people’s radar. To them, I would answer, “This. This book.”

Some books just burst out of the mold and are reflections of the writer’s wild imagination (I would put a recently read book, Parakeet, in this bucket). Others are “softer” books that connect the reader with essential truths about themselves and those they know. All The Acorns on the Forest Floor definitely falls into this category.

I found myself crying several times while reading it, not because it is sad but because it is so poignant and the character development is so powerful. I KNOW these women I met through the pages. I AM these women.

I am the woman who, too late, recognized that pondering something like (having) a child is a luxury of the young. My cousin is the woman who chose to use a donor’s egg and successfully carry a child to term when she reached age 50. My friend is the woman who got pregnant as a teen, had to make the excruciating choice to give up her daughter only to have a Hollywood ending much later in life. A neighbor is the woman who went into premature labor and went through the heartbreak of holding her pound-and-a-half child, knowing that she was certainly going to lose her. And plenty of women I know have dealt with the issues of infertility and in some cases, eventual adoption.

There are truths in this book, which is in the format of interlocking stories (one character from one story will pop up in another character’s story). Most of the characters we meet are mothers or wannabe mothers or mothers who gave up or lost babies or mothers who became mothers in untraditional ways. Some are stories that focus on connections to those we love—a husband, a mother. Not one of the stories is anything less than gripping and well-written.

The title, by the way, comes from a line that a nurse says to a woman who has decided to go the route of artificial insemination: “Nature is very wasteful. Just look at all the acorns on the forest floor.” My thanks to Turner Publishing, a small publishing house that likely will have a big hit on its hands. I appreciate the opportunity to be an early reviewer in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor by Kim Hooper is a very unique and special short story collection relating to infertility. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for this ARC.

Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...

[Mary Lins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love interconnected short stories and that’s what “All the Acorns on the Forest Floor”, by Kim Hooper, is! I love them because you get the through-plot like a novel, but you also get individual character studies with their own side-plots.

Themes of motherhood thread through these stories. The story that shares the title of the book concerns the aftermath of a miscarriage. These stories, through Hooper’s beautiful prose, and gentle wit, reveal through the various characters, what it means to be a woman, a daughter, a wife, a mother, or not a mother. I think every female reader will be able to relate with at least one story, if not more. I know I did.

Have you ever played the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Game? It’s based on the assumption that we are all connected to each other in some way. These stories reveal connections and relationships as we all navigate the human condition. Many of the characters are connected to each other in ways they don’t even know, but the reader does. Each story was compelling, none boring or unnecessary. “All the Acorns on the Forest Floor” is a “quick read”, but I wanted it to go on and on, linking people, telling their stories, looping back to catch me up on their futures. What a delight!

(Side note: we’ve all heard the adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” but this one DOES have an especially pleasing and lovely cover!)

Other interconnected story collections I recommend:
“Olive Kitterage”, Elizabeth Strout
“Olive Again”, Elizabeth Strout
“That Time I Loved You” – Carrianne Leung
And Elizabeth Berg’s last three novels set in Mason, Missouri

[Holly R W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of fictional short stories having to do with women's experiences around having babies. Per the author's note, Ms. Hooper wrote it after having suffered four pregnancy losses and after the arrival of her baby girl. Clearly, motherhood and the different ways women achieve it are very meaningful to her. Ironically, I read some of the stories on Mother's Day.

"All the Acorns on the Forest Floor" refers to how many acorns are found on the ground surrounding just one tree. Many never grow into an oak tree. It just takes one acorn. In the book, a woman who has suffered a pregnancy loss is encouraged to try again, being told that nature provides a multitude of acorns.

I liked how the author had familiar characters appear in new stories that are linked. The writing is strong and interesting. However, these stories are not for the faint-hearted. I found many of them to be achingly sad. Topics covered include: infertility, miscarriage, abortion, adoption, being childless by choice and egg donation.

My rating of 3 stars reflects my mixed feelings. This is a well-written collection, but was personally sad for me to read.

[Shannon A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel of tightly woven vignettes that bring to light the raw beauty of life, love and loss. The story reminds us that we are all connected.

[Jodie (That Happy Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All The Acorns on the Forest Floor is one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year. It is a collection of interconnected short stories which are not only captivating on their own, but also provide additional context to the other stories in the book.
The book is an honest take on the often difficult challenges of conceiving and the risks associated with the perinatal period, addressing difficult subjects such as a terminal inherited disease, infertility, perinatal loss, rape and unwanted pregnancy. The author has done so with respect and compassion resulting in an extremely moving book.
I very much enjoyed this book. Each story is just the right length and heartfelt. These memorable stories have allowed me to gain some insight into the difficulties, and tragedies, of those around me. This book is not Women’s Fiction as some might think. This is a book that creates empathy and understanding and should be read by both men and women alike. I kept notes while listening to the book which allowed me to see the interconnectedness of the stories and found this to be extremely helpful.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Hillary Huber who gives a strong performance. Her words are articulate and well paced and demonstrated the underlying feeling of compassion in the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

[Kait Vanderlaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Acorns On The Forest Floor shares the stories of deeply human experiences of being a mother, daughter, or partner. Each character is connected to one another, as each story unfolds you begin to see how they are woven together. A young couple excited about a new pregnancy, battles with infertility, a woman learning that she was adopted, miscarriages, unplanned pregnancies, and choosing not to have children. This novel explores motherhood and the different ways one can become a mom and the strength of love. I loved this book and read it in a day, I was captivated from page 1. Initially I had a difficult time discerning which character’s perspective was the focus in each chapter, but I was blown away by how well everything eventually came together. Incredibly well written and emotional read. Highly recommend!

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book of interconnected short stories touched me on many levels. I can't imagine any woman reading this book and not identifying with many of the stories. Most of them deal with pregnancy, miscarriages, abortions, adoption, fear of carrying babies to term, and loss. The women are mothers, nurses, homemakers, executives. Each of them will find a place in your heart and remain there for a long time.

There are Alex and Jake. Alex has had a miscarriage and is frightened to death of losing her baby during her second pregnancy. She and Jake visit Jake's long absent father and his third wife Deb further freaks her out by telling her that Jake may be carrying an inheritable gene for ALS. Deb herself has never wanted children but she finds out after her parents die that she was adopted, a huge surprise for her. Despite searching for her biological mother, she cannot find her.

Not all stories are just about humans. One lovely story is about Jake and Alex finding a hummingbird nest that appears to be abandoned by the mother. They go to phenomenal lengths to try and save the baby birds that are left motherless. Ultimately, they take the baby birds to a hummingbird sanctuary where they are told that "even in the best of circumstances, only half of hummingbirds make it to maturity". Alex remembers one of the nurses telling her, after her miscarriage, that "she'll just have to try again. One will stick." She then tells Alex that "nature is very wasteful. Just look at all the acorns on the forest floor". Alex's second pregnancy is going well and she rebuffs this advice. "I can't help but think of the mother bird, of the tiny cup of a nest she constructed with such care, of the babies she abandoned - likely against her will. I can't help but think of her sorrow. If she is alive, she will go on to make another nest, to try again. Nature is as stubborn and persistent as it is wasteful."

Some women are so desperate to have a child that they consider kidnapping one. Others grieve so long after losing their child that they pump milk for months. With reluctance, some have abortions because they are young, the father is married, or they know they can't raise their child alone.
Other couples have pets they love in place of children they can't have.

Every story in this book is a gem. I loved the poignancy and truth that was revealed in each of these stories. I am several of these women and you are likely to be as well. Whether you have never had a child, gave one up for adoption, adopted a child, had a miscarriage, gave birth to a child, or struggled with motherhood, this book tells your story.

[switterbug (Betsey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In frank, plain, and precise language, Kim Hooper weaves interrelated characters together in short, separate and packed stories of hope, heartbreak, and loss. Much has to do with the kind of attachments we choose as adults; the decision on whether to have children; and acceptance of the limits placed on our lives. Sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers--especially motherhood and its significance to the various characters—are intimately portrayed with depth and realism. The story is ripe with a vivid cast and tightly paced plot lines. I didn’t notice any “quotable” passages, but the propulsive narrative and bustling prose laid out a harsh indictment against the desire for nature to be fair. The focus on mothers, and women excluded from motherhood, underscore not just the external demand to conform, but how it is a women’s burden to weigh. And then there are the women who can’t have what they want.

My only complaint is that I don’t think Hooper did sufficient research on registered nurses’ education, particularly Labor & Delivery nurses. I’m a psychiatric nurse, and I can tell you that all nurses are familiar with most of the basic lab tests. For an L&D nurse (or ANY nurse) not to know what an FSH test is—and then, after learning, still ignorant of how a baby is implanted—is patently unbelievable. Call it occupational hazard, but it took me right out of the story. There were a few other details that cast a nurse as oblivious to basic facts educationally, so I deducted a star. I was unable to trust the character’s authenticity, and it removed me from an otherwise gripping storyline. However, I would still highly recommend this book for its emotional wallop and life-like portrayal of (especially) women on a precipice. Moreover, it conveys our consent to confront all obstacles in the passionate pursuit of love.

Thank you to Turner Publishing for providing me with an early copy for review.

[Alicia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what I did to get the honor of reading All the Acorns on the Forest Floor by @kimhooperwrites but I am so very thankful that I did (#partner). Apparently I'm on a "let's read books that take your little heart and tosses It in a dryer and tumbles it all around just to spit it back out all reconstructed and what not" *insert breath after reading that all* kind of kick😅 This book doesn't come out until September but it feels like fate that my dear husband let me have reading time today so I could finish it on Mother's Day of all days.
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First off, titles of books really intrigue me. I was anxious to find out what exactly this title stood for, and when it was revealed in the book it was a huge gut punch. I'll leave the explanation for the next reader so hopefully it has the same impact for them as it did me!
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Each chapter in this book tells the story of different characters as they navigate their way through life and the decisions/obstacles they face when it comes to constructing the title "Mother" and how that looks for them.
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With their own unique hurdles, it is all but impossible to find some kind of relatability to each of their stories.
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Pregnancy (both traditional and untraditional), adoption, loss-- all can be found within the covers of this book again Hooper produces another emotional read, which seems to be her specialty. Halfway through this book I hopped online and ordered her first two books, which I haven't read yet, because I just needed more from her!
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Add this one to your watch list for September, but in the mean time go read Tiny, also by Hooper, which I can promise will make you feel all the feels as well (check my older posts for a review). And standby for reviews of her other books once they arrive :) .

[booksbikesbooze · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! WOW! This was a powerful one...

I was so lucky to open my mail on a sunny Saturday afternoon to find this! Normally I prioritize my reading by pub date, and since this one isn't out until September, I would've waited a bit. However, this stunningly GORGEOUS cover enticed me to take it along on my bike ride for some book photos. Before I knew it, I was 50 pages in and could NOT stop.

This book was RAW – REAL – RELATABLE – and at times, very difficult to read. Many of the chapters hit home to me for various reasons. There were times I had to set the book down because it made me very emotional. All I can say is, I devoured this book and I was glad I read it. Hooper did a marvelous job writing intertwining and connecting characters and story lines. I LOVED THIS!

After chatting with the author, a little bit, I discovered some of the content was based on real life events, and that made it EVEN MORE raw and relatable.

When I discovered what the title meant (I won’t tell you, you need to read!) I was like WOAH! I love when titles carry no meaning until you read the book, and then you can’t stop thinking about it!

THIS IS OUT 9/15! Thank you to the author and publisher for my review copy!

Major trigger warnings: infertility, adoption, pregnancy, marital issues

[Nona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignantly drawn and interconnected stories of the lives of mothers and daughters, the decisions made and the choices made for them, whether wanted or not. I loved the way the characters were introduced, drifted away and appeared in another story, but not as a main character. Excellent novel.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This knocked me over! Incredibly well-written, interconnected vignettes. I listened to it so maybe that’s why I found it so moving and relatable? Regardless, I loved it and can already tell it will be one of my faves of the year.

[Meg Doll · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. what a book.

honestly, i didn’t know what i was getting into. as usual, i went in blind. the cover caught my eye and the unusual title, i had to read it.

what i didn’t know was it would be stories of various women — mothers-to-be, women who wanted to be mothers, mothers who lost their babies, and all variations — who were all connected by motherhood.

i smiled, i giggled, i got choked up, my heart raced, i couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and i cried.

as someone who isn’t sure whether she wants a child or not, i really enjoyed this book. deeply. if you feel a book about miscarriages, infertility, etc. would be triggering for you, this isn’t the book for you, but i thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Acorns on the Forest Floor captures the many feelings of loss and heartbreak for women who for reasons of fate or choice can’t have a baby. Through several interwoven stories the author introduces us to women who have suffered miscarriages, infant death, women who have adopted and women who have given up their babies. The stories are sad but the author has kept a heartwarming trend to most of the outcomes.

The writing flows easily and while we are with the characters for a short period, they have a depth that is impressive. Some of the stories I could have continued reading into full length novels for their genuine ability to pull at my heart strings. Keeping the stories shorter and showing us the connections however was very meaningful to me and provided the breaks between the tear-jerker moments that I needed.

The title of this book was chosen from a quote the author read in a book. The person making the quote was referring to reproduction and how nature is wasteful, “just look at all the acorns on the forest floor.” The acorns representing loss of babies and of dreams. I found this to be the perfect title for this book and loved hearing the author describe it.

I have spelled out many of the themes of this book in order to provide the potential reader with some preparation for what they are going into. Not everyone will be ready to read this book. For those that are, bring on the tissues and be prepared for a good cry. Sometimes crying can be cathartic.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful
Raw
Real
Emotional

A book I hope gets all the hype when released.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Hooper is a great storyteller. I loved the way her characters and the chapters melded together!

[SandraB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Turner Publishing and Goodreads Giveaways for an ARC of this book.

This was a beautifully written book. I loved the writing style--poignant and taut with no words wasted. I also think this is the perfect way to turn a collection of short stories into a novel by having characters overlap, woven together, and completing each others' stories.

I really debated whether to give this 4 stars or 5. The reason for rounding down is that unfortunately I felt the connections were just a little too much; the characters were too connected to the point of being unnaturally contrived. (e.g., Deb finds out she is adopted; she is the stepmother to Jake whose wife has miscarried in another story. Deb is friends with Laney, whose sister Sasha has adopted a baby that Dina, a Labor and Delivery nurse, fantasizes about kidnapping. Laney is also friends with Wendy, who works with Dina at the hospital, and both Wendy and Dina are having trouble conceiving. Dina has donated her eggs in the past, and her daughter surfaces in another story, etc. They all live in LA.)

With interesting titles like this one, I always like to look for passages that explain its meaning:

Just look at all the acorns on the forest floor. That's the line Dina gives all the patients who lose babies.

"Nature is very wasteful," Fucking Dina had said. "Just look at all the acorns on the forest floor."

Okay, that sort of sounds bad, but this is followed by the beautiful Nature is as stubborn and persistent as it is wasteful.

Although the book is billed as one that will "captivate readers of all walks of life," I felt like this book was, as the title implies, very much centered around pregnancy (both wanted and unwanted), abortion, miscarriage, infertility, surrogacy, adoption, even breast milk donation. As emotionally charged and beautiful as it was, I feel like the audience might be narrower than suggested. I'm sure the intent of the author was to bring together the various experiences surrounding the topic of pregnancy and becoming a parent, and this book accomplishes that. However, I look forward to seeing the author tackle a wider range of human experiences, emotions, and relationships in her future works.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book about children – having children, not having children, being a child. Whether or not you are ever a parent, you are always someone’s child. Author Kim Hooper has done a masterful job of taking a thread about this topic – children – and drawing it through all thirteen chapters and winding up right back where we started. The book opens with a couple, Jake and Alexis, who are on their way to visit Jake’s father and his third wife, and for Alex to meet them for the first time. Alex is pregnant, but Jake’s father Marco is gravely ill so they decide not to share their news just yet. And so begins a pattern where a character, primary or secondary, in the current story becomes the focus of the next story. Kind of a six degrees of separation thing.

All the Acorns on the Forest is low key and subtle and sneaks up on you. Women are pregnant, women can’t get pregnant, women have abortions and miscarriages, women desperately want children, so desperately that kidnapping one steals into their thoughts, women don’t want to have children. Women act as mothers to children that are not theirs. Men want children but are afraid to say so, men don’t want children and say so without considering what their partner may want, men have no idea how to react when their partner can’t have or loses a child. People recall their own childhoods, sometimes fondly, sometimes not so much. They learn secrets about their parents, themselves and others that they often wish were never revealed. They end friendships with some people and make new connections with others. It really is fascinating the way the author is able to tie all these people and events in their lives together. As you move to a next chapter you will often have an “aha” moment when you recognize a name and know you’re now going to learn their story. Chapters are short but the writing is excellent. Characters are well-drawn and deep and we learn a lot about them through few words.

We peek into these lives in times of turmoil or sadness, and often rather than joy see resignation, acceptance, and a resolve to carry on with the life they have even though they now realize they likely won’t get the life they really want. There is a line in the book that sums it up, “Nature is wasteful. Look at all the acorns on the forest floor.”

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor is a captivating book, drawing you in and making you care about these characters. It’s poignant and heart-rending but infused with enough uplifting moments to make you feel hope and happiness for these interwoven lives. Thanks to author Kim Hooper and Turner Publishing for providing an advance copy. This is a book that was thought-provoking and that will stay with me for a long time. All opinions are my own.

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, something happened, this book just blew me away.

All the Acorns on the Forest floor is one of those books that is totally unexpected, I read the blurb and I like it but I wasn't expecting these amazing stories that kept me so hooked at all times.

The stories of these women were like the stories of our sisters, neighbor, friends, mothers. All the acorns on the forest floor it's the story of every woman walking on the face of this earth well not literally but almost lol

I cried with so many of the stories but at the same time I felt for many of them, I felt identify with so many scenarios, and it also made me see how almost every woman in town has different views when it comes to becoming a mom.

What I love about All The Acorns On the forest was that all the stories connected somehow, even if each story had a different scenario all of them had one in common "motherhood"

This is a book of stories on how society pushes you to have kids and see us weird if we decided not to, how many of us have a hard time getting pregnant, others adopting, some renting a belly, others not by choice, and the stories keep going and going and all of them are so unique but the same time very close.

Overall it was a great book, I really love the stories, the strength of every single woman and the hardship everyone of them went through. the author is new to me so, many good points for this book.

[Natalie D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a rule of thumb, I don't love short stories - but this one caught my eye, and I knew I had to give it a shot. This novel, Kim Hooper's third book and second collection of short stories, was beautifully written and delicately intertwined. All of these tales were told of people who faced a struggle in their experiences with pregnancy and parenthood - from a pregnant teenager forced to give up her child, to a husband trying to hang on to his marriage through their inability to concieve, to a motherly maternity ward nurse who struggles with infertility, and many others.

I'm not going to lie, my opinions of this book had more ups and downs than the rollercoaster at your local fair. I began listening to this book with high hopes. Hooper's writing style definitely delivered, and the narrator's voice matched the content perfectly, but I found myself getting bored near the middle of the book. Closer to the end of the book, I started to enjoy it again. The characters tied together elegantly and the stories that were initially full of disappointment and sadness ended with hints of hope. At around 80% of the way through the book, I thought this was definitely going to be a four star read for me, but the ending left me confused, as if the story wasn't completely finished, dropping my rating down a star. I do think I would have enjoyed this book more as a print/e-book so that I could have flipped back to compare points-of-view and provide some clarity in regards to the connected stories.

With all of this being said, I do think some of the beauty of this novel was lost on me. I am a young woman who has not yet seriously considered motherhood or had any personal experiences with pregnancy. I can only imagine this book is much more powerful to those who can relate a little more, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in exploring the concept of infertility and the multifaceted effects it can have on a person.

cw: chronic illness, estranged family relationships, abortion, infertility, rape, miscarriage, shooting, pregnancy

[Waverly Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it because I was reading other books. This is a collection of short stories that all relate to other characters from other stories, so Hooper made it a novel. I think the fact that it was short stories made it easier for me to read and make sense of each of the characters and their stories of marriage, relationships, or fertility. Connecting the dots to other characters from other stories was really fun and it showed that everyone around us has difficulties, has their own story. I really enjoyed the simplistic, but beautiful writing because it made the characters shine. I felt that she was good at showing, not telling. I want to read more from Kim Hooper!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in the Paris Hours the characters in this book cross paths without knowing the stories revealed in this book. I loved that in both books--sometimes they actually interact with each other, yet sometimes it is more like degrees of separation. In any case, the unconscious interaction of people just passing by each other is fascinating.
The theme of the book is Motherhood but it is so much more. Some of the women don't want children, others want them desperately and either cannot get pregnant or cannot carry a child to full-term. Still some of these women miscarry or give the child up. No matter the case, all of them in some way are concerned with the role of " MOTHER ". All of these women are three dimensional and no matter the reader's relationship with motherhood, they are all sympathetic and real. I only cried at the end of one story but was moved by them all.
Lest you think this is the sole focus of the book, do not be mislead. There is more to the story--the men involved. How supportive are they, how understanding, how loving, how present--or not. And communication--how much do these women share with their partners, family or friends so that their feelings are better understood? How much do they communicate with themselves? What secrets do they keep from those who want to be there for them but just don't know enough to totally understand what they are going through? What do they deny to themselves about themselves to help them cope and make decisions about their lives?
For such a small book, there is quite a bit within these pages to make one think about relationships, life's choices, nature's quirks . Yet, it is a fast and easy read with a lot of warmth and humor. For many of us there are characters who will remind us of either ourselves and/or people we've known. Very realistic and enjoyable over all.

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 RTC

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with babies and relationships, this is such a great book. Told in a short story format in which characters pop up in other stories, this is a dynamic book. Most of the stories are woven together to make for a wonderful read.

The characters are down-to-earth and so believable. They come from all walks of life and have all sorts of situations. We deal with fertility problems, adoptions, abortions, bringing home a new baby, every type of conceivable scenario.

I loved how frank and open the writing was. I enjoyed most of the characters, I loved all of the stories. I laughed, I cried, and many, many of these stories hit home in several different ways. The writing is crisp and clean and all of the characters are so different and unique.

Whether you are a mother or not, this book will hit home for you.

Many thanks to TURNER PUBLISHING for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Acorns on the Forest Floor was an interesting book that felt like a large collection of short stories that were somewhat entwined.

There were chapters that faced the heartbreaking parts of loosing a child, and that showed the struggles of motherhood in so many different lights. Many of those insightful chapters had pieces that were relatable to me as a women and mother, It all just felt so honest and raw.

Hillary Huber did an excellent job with the narration of the book as well. She gave each of the many characters their own 'voice' and you could really feel the pain and honesty of the chapters through her.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for my copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved with this book and connected with it on a whole level that I didn't expect. This is a collection of short stories and so it fitted really well with my current lack of attention span for physical or eBooks because I could pick this beauty up, read a story or two and come back to in a couple of hours later. If you haven't tried short stories before this would be an excellent place to start because all the stories in this one are linked by a common theme and have characters in common with one another.



This book does come with a care warning for baby loss and infertility but these issues are handled really well in the book through stories and characters that feel familiar and relatable. Some of these stories are definitely sad, some ever heart breaking but the connection that they all have of motherhood in one form or another is incredible uplifting. There are some funny moments and some really intriguing characters throughout this book.



A short story collection like this one is great because if you don't gel with one of the stories, you can move on and even come back to it after reading the next. I didn't necessarily read them all in order either and their vary in length, This book came along at the perfect time for me and I really do recommend this novel.