What do you think?
Rate this book
Hush
What if the thing you most wanted feels nothing like you expected?
A gripping, beautifully written and taboo-busting debut novel about motherhood and female identity.
After five exhilarating years in New York, Stevie has a successful career and a glamorous social life. But what she most wants is a baby, an aspiration that feels impossible given that she is single, thirty-eight and living in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, far away from most of her family in England.
Determined to become a mother, Stevie returns to London and has a baby on her own. When she gives birth to Ash, she finds motherhood painfully at odds with her former life and her expectations.
She begins to wonder if having a child was a mistake - and what she might be willing to do to escape. As she struggles with her new reality and what her future might hold, revelations from the past change everything she believed about family and love.
A gripping, beautifully written and taboo-busting debut novel about motherhood and female identity.
After five exhilarating years in New York, Stevie has a successful career and a glamorous social life. But what she most wants is a baby, an aspiration that feels impossible given that she is single, thirty-eight and living in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, far away from most of her family in England.
Determined to become a mother, Stevie returns to London and has a baby on her own. When she gives birth to Ash, she finds motherhood painfully at odds with her former life and her expectations.
She begins to wonder if having a child was a mistake - and what she might be willing to do to escape. As she struggles with her new reality and what her future might hold, revelations from the past change everything she believed about family and love.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2022
19 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
June 19, 2023
This was a meandering tale of motherhood, family, keeping the truth at arm’s length and the merging of all of these aspects.
Stevie has an almost obsessional need to have a child and proceeds to do this alone. She has not met a partner and seems to lack the constitution to commit to a man and was once badly burned. Unable to create connections, she has a guarded nature which is very evident with her father. He does not seem to like her; the relationship is fractured. Her mother makes up for this and brushes away the aloofness of her husband.
A large age gap between her older sister is lengthened by her move to New York; her sister is very successful but also shows a disconnect with the family. She never seems to be able to fully open up with Stevie, and even when both sisters end up in New York they are still unable to ‘just be’.
This novel shows a family lacking a full support of each other, they love but do not embrace. Stevie’s intense motherhood need to me never seemed realistic, I did not feel connected to this. I also was not sure of Stevie’s inability to connect with a nice man she was involved with, and conversely disliked one main thread of the storyline which was Stevie’s employment in a strange business venture. Second in command and very close to the owner, this seemed an odd relationship where there were notes of romance from her, and the outcome after maternity leave being a sour one, which I did not think gelled with the constant meandering of Stevie and the supposed good friendship between the two.
This story dragged and I continued the audio read just to finish. Perhaps the unpleasant nature of a single mother finding it difficult to bond with her newborn, or I just didn’t love the book. I’m unsure – it was rather bleak.
Stevie has an almost obsessional need to have a child and proceeds to do this alone. She has not met a partner and seems to lack the constitution to commit to a man and was once badly burned. Unable to create connections, she has a guarded nature which is very evident with her father. He does not seem to like her; the relationship is fractured. Her mother makes up for this and brushes away the aloofness of her husband.
A large age gap between her older sister is lengthened by her move to New York; her sister is very successful but also shows a disconnect with the family. She never seems to be able to fully open up with Stevie, and even when both sisters end up in New York they are still unable to ‘just be’.
This novel shows a family lacking a full support of each other, they love but do not embrace. Stevie’s intense motherhood need to me never seemed realistic, I did not feel connected to this. I also was not sure of Stevie’s inability to connect with a nice man she was involved with, and conversely disliked one main thread of the storyline which was Stevie’s employment in a strange business venture. Second in command and very close to the owner, this seemed an odd relationship where there were notes of romance from her, and the outcome after maternity leave being a sour one, which I did not think gelled with the constant meandering of Stevie and the supposed good friendship between the two.
This story dragged and I continued the audio read just to finish. Perhaps the unpleasant nature of a single mother finding it difficult to bond with her newborn, or I just didn’t love the book. I’m unsure – it was rather bleak.
April 28, 2023
3.5
I want to state first that I'm not a mother and I think that definitely affected how I listened to this lovely book because I've never had the baby blues, never had to juggle work, relationships and brand new baby keeping me awake all night.
So the story of Stevie is not a new one. Young woman, career minded, wants to have a child on her own terms. Fair play to her. However once baby Ash comes along she suffers with post natal depression accompanied by feeling out of control, lack of sleep, peer pressure. It'd be enough to drive anyone crazy.
The book is partly about Steve's relationship with her much wanted son, partly about her career in New York but also about her fractious relationship with her older sister, Jess.
It is beautifully written and the characters are well formed but I knocked a star off because I got irritated with Stevie's naivety - not just with her job but with relationships as well. The bits where she makes out she's fine whilst trying to cope with an unsleeping newborn and her inability to bond drove me nuts too. But as I said, I'm not a mother and I've never been in that position so I don't feel justified getting annoyed either. Definitely a case of walk a mile in their shoes before you comment.
The narration by Elizabeth Brennan was just right. Each character had a clear voice and her delivery was spot on. Really enjoyed listening to her read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda for the ARC.
I want to state first that I'm not a mother and I think that definitely affected how I listened to this lovely book because I've never had the baby blues, never had to juggle work, relationships and brand new baby keeping me awake all night.
So the story of Stevie is not a new one. Young woman, career minded, wants to have a child on her own terms. Fair play to her. However once baby Ash comes along she suffers with post natal depression accompanied by feeling out of control, lack of sleep, peer pressure. It'd be enough to drive anyone crazy.
The book is partly about Steve's relationship with her much wanted son, partly about her career in New York but also about her fractious relationship with her older sister, Jess.
It is beautifully written and the characters are well formed but I knocked a star off because I got irritated with Stevie's naivety - not just with her job but with relationships as well. The bits where she makes out she's fine whilst trying to cope with an unsleeping newborn and her inability to bond drove me nuts too. But as I said, I'm not a mother and I've never been in that position so I don't feel justified getting annoyed either. Definitely a case of walk a mile in their shoes before you comment.
The narration by Elizabeth Brennan was just right. Each character had a clear voice and her delivery was spot on. Really enjoyed listening to her read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda for the ARC.
July 28, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Elizabeth Brennan
Content: 3.5 stars ~ Narration: 4 stars
Complete audiobook review
Stevie is thirty-eight and has a successful career in New York. She has another wish - to have a baby, but her time is running out, and she is single. But this is not an obstacle. She decides she wants to be a single mother and moves to London, away from her family and friends. When her son Ash is born, nothing is as she expected. She can’t get used to being a mother and wants her previous life back.
Hush, a debut novel by Kate Maxwell, is an honest view of motherhood and womanhood. I liked the narration by Elizabeth Brennan. Her English accent was great, but I didn’t always like switching to the American accent.
Thanks to Bolinda Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 3.5 stars ~ Narration: 4 stars
Complete audiobook review
Stevie is thirty-eight and has a successful career in New York. She has another wish - to have a baby, but her time is running out, and she is single. But this is not an obstacle. She decides she wants to be a single mother and moves to London, away from her family and friends. When her son Ash is born, nothing is as she expected. She can’t get used to being a mother and wants her previous life back.
Hush, a debut novel by Kate Maxwell, is an honest view of motherhood and womanhood. I liked the narration by Elizabeth Brennan. Her English accent was great, but I didn’t always like switching to the American accent.
Thanks to Bolinda Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
April 25, 2022
A superb novel, hugely impressive debut. Hush examines the complexities of one woman's life as she has a child, alone, something she's always wanted, only to find the birth of her son feels alien, shutting her out of a vibrant work life she loved so much and changing her identity. This is an honest, raw and engrossing story, a love letter to NYC and ambition, the difficulties of motherhood and family. I was completely drawn into Stevie's world, her sadness, her shifting confusion of wants and needs.
May 25, 2022
Do you ever read a book and feel like it was written just for you? Or like it’s the book you would write if you had any creative talent?! (I don’t 🤣). Well this is most definitely the book for me, exploring so many themes of motherhood which are difficult to admit.
Stevie had a glamorous lifestyle and career in New York, where she was living near her older sister and finally getting close to her. But then she decided it was time to have a baby, something she’d always wanted, so she moved to London and started IVF. But when her baby Ash arrives, it is nothing like she dreamed of - where’s the rush of love you’re meant to feel? Why is all she can think about going back to work? Is it possible she’s made a mistake?
I always think that there’s one final taboo when it comes to motherhood, and that’s admitting that maybe it wasn’t the right decision for you - and this is probably the first novel I’ve read which has really explored that in an honest and compelling way. I think so many new mothers struggling to feel what all the books say you’ll feel will find comfort in a story like this, and I just wish I’d had it three years ago tbh.
But what I loved even more was that this almost felt like a book of two stories - the contrast between Stevie’s life in NY and her new life with baby was so well done, and I loved the way the narratives kept switching between the two periods. NY is a character in itself in this novel, and I think people who perhaps aren’t as interested in the exploration of motherhood will still find that an engrossing story in itself. And then there’s this whole other level of intrigue around Stevie’s relationships with her own family which will keep you hooked too, even if you might guess the surprise!
I just couldn’t get enough of this one and I hope it opens up so many conversations around ambition, motherhood, friendship and IVF. Definitely up there with my favourite debuts!
Stevie had a glamorous lifestyle and career in New York, where she was living near her older sister and finally getting close to her. But then she decided it was time to have a baby, something she’d always wanted, so she moved to London and started IVF. But when her baby Ash arrives, it is nothing like she dreamed of - where’s the rush of love you’re meant to feel? Why is all she can think about going back to work? Is it possible she’s made a mistake?
I always think that there’s one final taboo when it comes to motherhood, and that’s admitting that maybe it wasn’t the right decision for you - and this is probably the first novel I’ve read which has really explored that in an honest and compelling way. I think so many new mothers struggling to feel what all the books say you’ll feel will find comfort in a story like this, and I just wish I’d had it three years ago tbh.
But what I loved even more was that this almost felt like a book of two stories - the contrast between Stevie’s life in NY and her new life with baby was so well done, and I loved the way the narratives kept switching between the two periods. NY is a character in itself in this novel, and I think people who perhaps aren’t as interested in the exploration of motherhood will still find that an engrossing story in itself. And then there’s this whole other level of intrigue around Stevie’s relationships with her own family which will keep you hooked too, even if you might guess the surprise!
I just couldn’t get enough of this one and I hope it opens up so many conversations around ambition, motherhood, friendship and IVF. Definitely up there with my favourite debuts!
September 5, 2022
Hush is a stunning novel on motherhood, family relationships and ambition. Without sugar coating anything, it goes to a place we rarely discuss or would care to admit we entertain thoughts around. The ultimate motherhood taboo… the possibility that maybe it was the wrong decision, or one you hastened to make.
It is raw, honest, intentionally uncomfortable and it held me in its grips throughout. The dual setting of London and New York worked so well - Stevie’s high flying, single, glamorous life in New York juxtaposed with the metaphorical grey clouds of London.
A super engrossing plot makes it a book for everyone, not just for mothers. With a twist I did not see coming, which I love as it was a real ‘no f**king way’ moment 🤯
Congratulations to Kate for not only writing an exceptional book, but for having something so beautifully written as a debut!
An author you should be adding to your bookshelf asap!
It is raw, honest, intentionally uncomfortable and it held me in its grips throughout. The dual setting of London and New York worked so well - Stevie’s high flying, single, glamorous life in New York juxtaposed with the metaphorical grey clouds of London.
A super engrossing plot makes it a book for everyone, not just for mothers. With a twist I did not see coming, which I love as it was a real ‘no f**king way’ moment 🤯
Congratulations to Kate for not only writing an exceptional book, but for having something so beautifully written as a debut!
An author you should be adding to your bookshelf asap!
June 6, 2022
Hush sucks you in and doesn’t let you go. You find yourself cheering and sobbing for Stevie. And when it ends, it feels like such a loss you want to go back and read it again. If you had the talent, this is the book you want to write. Honest, human, and compassionate. I’m so looking forward to Kate Maxwell’s next novel.
September 7, 2022
I enjoyed the present-day chapters, Stevie’s relationships with Jess and her mother. The flashbacks, on the other hand, seemed long-winded, unbearably slow, as though paragraphs had been expanded upon, scenes and dialogue prolonged in an afterthought. I didn’t get the Lex character, he wasn’t convincing, and her obsession with him all the more puzzling.
I looked at my Kindle progress: I was at 19% when I figured out the “big reveal,” and that’s a whole lotta novel to go through only to get that confirmed (I even guessed how she would find out) and nothing much, plot-wise. As a character study of Stevie, Kate Maxwell does a pretty good job. I think stories that paint a different picture of motherhood are needed, not for me to reaffirm my choices, but for other women to not feel alone.
I looked at my Kindle progress: I was at 19% when I figured out the “big reveal,” and that’s a whole lotta novel to go through only to get that confirmed (I even guessed how she would find out) and nothing much, plot-wise. As a character study of Stevie, Kate Maxwell does a pretty good job. I think stories that paint a different picture of motherhood are needed, not for me to reaffirm my choices, but for other women to not feel alone.
May 19, 2022
Love this so much. I thought it might be a bit mumsy. But, boy, was I wrong. The darkness creeps in very early on… in a very good way. And the writing – wow. Just wow. Maxwell manages to articulate our complex thoughts and feelings in such a crisp but deeply resonating way. How can this be from a debut author?! I also love the structure of following each London chapter with an NYC chapter – really helps build the contrast between Stevie’s glam old life and her polar opposite new predicament. It turned out to be so gripping that I haven’t managed to finish a book so quickly ever before. Can’t wait for Maxwell’s next book now.
May 21, 2022
Wow! To say I was gripped by this novel is an understatement. It’s a beautifully written book which tells the story of Stevie, a woman who goes it alone on the journey of having a child and the pain and challenges that go with it. This is bound to strike a chord with many readers for whom this resonates personally but the broader story about a family’s dynamics and long kept secrets will resonate more broadly still. I was surprised that this was the novelist’s debut as she has such a command of prose, deftly and delicately painting the psychodrama in a way that never feels heavy handed. This is bound to be a book club favourite of 2022.
March 26, 2022
3.5 stars
By the end of this book, I was feeling strangely emotional towards Stevie.
Seeing her journey from busy city girl, to a lone parent at home and struggling.
To be honest, I felt as if I raced through the New York part to get to the days of young baby, and being overwhelmed.
It does not sugar coat anything, and it's all the better for it.
The family dynamics and relationships were also a high point of the story.
Definitely one I'll be recommending.
By the end of this book, I was feeling strangely emotional towards Stevie.
Seeing her journey from busy city girl, to a lone parent at home and struggling.
To be honest, I felt as if I raced through the New York part to get to the days of young baby, and being overwhelmed.
It does not sugar coat anything, and it's all the better for it.
The family dynamics and relationships were also a high point of the story.
Definitely one I'll be recommending.
February 19, 2025
Stevie is living her dreams in NYC. A successful career and friends and family to hand, she juggles her crazy busy life effortlessly and expertly. But one thing is dangling precariously out of her reach: a baby. And being single and thirty eight she knows the biological clock is starting to tick faster.
So she goes it alone. Returning to London she embarks on IVF and soon finds success. A whole new chapter of her life begins when her son, Ash is born. But very quickly Stevie starts to wonder if she’s just made the biggest mistake of her life.
I loved this book so, so much. Every single thing about it held my interest. I loved hearing of Stevie’s frenetic New York existence, I was captivated by her passion for business and the people she met along the way. Then in contrast I was mesmerised by her life in London as a new mother; the struggles, the honesty and the despair was hugely vivid and intensely evocative.
The author describes motherhood in such an accurate way. I remember those early days so well. For me they were magical and special and it made me feel such sadness for mothers who miss out on that through no fault of their own.
This isn’t just a book about motherhood though, it’s about families in general and finding your way in life and coming out the other side. Truly, truly wonderful.
So she goes it alone. Returning to London she embarks on IVF and soon finds success. A whole new chapter of her life begins when her son, Ash is born. But very quickly Stevie starts to wonder if she’s just made the biggest mistake of her life.
I loved this book so, so much. Every single thing about it held my interest. I loved hearing of Stevie’s frenetic New York existence, I was captivated by her passion for business and the people she met along the way. Then in contrast I was mesmerised by her life in London as a new mother; the struggles, the honesty and the despair was hugely vivid and intensely evocative.
The author describes motherhood in such an accurate way. I remember those early days so well. For me they were magical and special and it made me feel such sadness for mothers who miss out on that through no fault of their own.
This isn’t just a book about motherhood though, it’s about families in general and finding your way in life and coming out the other side. Truly, truly wonderful.
July 12, 2023
Well written, feel good story about human emotions portrayed in a realistic manner. I loved the story telling style as it moves back and forth between the past and present unravelling just a little bit of the full picture at a time.
May 10, 2022
Out on May 12, Hush by @katethemax is a realistic fictional look at the challenges and demands of motherhood - in this case, single motherhood, particularly the first several months postpartum.
The story follows Stevie as she navigates relationships (both platonic and romantic), her desire for a child but then ambivalence once her son is born, and her complicated relationships with her parents and sisters, all while trying to manage her career aspirations.
The story is well-written and really gets at the incredibly difficult adjustment to motherhood in the first few months after birth. I really liked and found effective the alternating between Stevie’s life before and after motherhood, although the pre-child story could have been a bit shorter. I found these timelines easy to follow but perhaps headings would have been useful for the reader. There is a good twist in the story and there is a satisfying ending. Highly recommend.
The story follows Stevie as she navigates relationships (both platonic and romantic), her desire for a child but then ambivalence once her son is born, and her complicated relationships with her parents and sisters, all while trying to manage her career aspirations.
The story is well-written and really gets at the incredibly difficult adjustment to motherhood in the first few months after birth. I really liked and found effective the alternating between Stevie’s life before and after motherhood, although the pre-child story could have been a bit shorter. I found these timelines easy to follow but perhaps headings would have been useful for the reader. There is a good twist in the story and there is a satisfying ending. Highly recommend.
April 28, 2022
Hush explores an aspect of new motherhood that is incredibly common but rarely discussed.
With sharp, perceptive, and tender prose, Maxwell pushes the boundaries of what society tells us is acceptable, and perhaps what the reader feels she can forgive, then brings us back again to not only empathize with but root for the protagonist.
Maxwell shows a type of motherly love seldom written about, one that’s not instantaneous, but grows slowly, with difficulty, and is no less beautiful as it blossoms into something so incredible it takes your breath away.
As the story called to mind memories from my own difficult months in the haze of life with a newborn, I found myself wishing I’d had this novel then. It’s a book to open readers’ eyes, that will help many of us feel far less alone.
Thank you to Virago for providing me an advanced copy.
With sharp, perceptive, and tender prose, Maxwell pushes the boundaries of what society tells us is acceptable, and perhaps what the reader feels she can forgive, then brings us back again to not only empathize with but root for the protagonist.
Maxwell shows a type of motherly love seldom written about, one that’s not instantaneous, but grows slowly, with difficulty, and is no less beautiful as it blossoms into something so incredible it takes your breath away.
As the story called to mind memories from my own difficult months in the haze of life with a newborn, I found myself wishing I’d had this novel then. It’s a book to open readers’ eyes, that will help many of us feel far less alone.
Thank you to Virago for providing me an advanced copy.
May 16, 2022
Love this. The protagonist Stevie gives us a privileged tour through the life of a high-flying young Brit in NY with all the seductive qualities that this backdrop has to offer, from glamorous parties to weekends in Montauk.
However, as Stevie senses there is still a hole in her life and chooses to return to London to have a baby on her own, she finds that Motherhood is not quite what she expected. This novel is chuckle-out-loud sassy but at other times extremely tender. Beautifully written, this is one hell of an impressive debut. I was hooked after the first chapter.
However, as Stevie senses there is still a hole in her life and chooses to return to London to have a baby on her own, she finds that Motherhood is not quite what she expected. This novel is chuckle-out-loud sassy but at other times extremely tender. Beautifully written, this is one hell of an impressive debut. I was hooked after the first chapter.
November 26, 2022
I wanted to like this book throughout the read, but most characters seemed vapid or even page fillers, while others only showed glimpses of their depth. The book is so much more involved in family trauma than it is the experience of a woman having a baby. It could have been a lot stronger had it focused more on the trials and tribulations of deciding to have a child on your own. It seemed promising.
June 20, 2022
Hush is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book that is also a total page turner. I raced through it and was then sad that it was over. I would particularly recommend it as a book club choice, as it's a real conversation starter. It hits so many nerves. Our book club couldn't stop talking about all the issues the book raised.
May 24, 2022
Beautifully written and moving, I found this novel both hilarious and heartbreaking. It will make your heart soar and leave you completely captivated within its pages. I loved the three dimensional relationships and the raw honesty around motherhood.
July 21, 2022
Excellent book. Interesting story with absorbing characters. Very well written.
April 26, 2023
Stevie is a successful business woman in New York but moves home to follow her dream of having a baby unfortunately motherhood isn’t all she planned it to be she misses feeling in Porten and on the go the total opposite of being a single mom alone with just her baby she’s so removed emotionally from being the babies mother she doesn’t even name him to weeks after his birth Kent Stevie learn to love her new baby? in the book every chapter goes from past the present her with her baby in her in New York as the story goes along we see there is a mystery in the family and it seems Stevie is the only one who doesn’t know what it is. I really wanted to love this book but after it started and she started ignoring the baby putting him in the closet I really wanted to stop listening but I am glad I continued because this turned out to be a really good book and one I highly recommend. I really didn’t think this was a thriller but with the family mystery it had that kind of feel at the end and although I figured out early on with the secret was that didn’t stop for the intent emotions the author conveyed with her words when it was revealed. I am so glad Stevie redeemed herself because at the beginning I really didn’t like her but learn to love her by the end a really great read! I listen to the audiobook and I want to say whoever the narrator was has an awesome voice she does great American accent and English accents and I think she made the book that much better I wish I could’ve found her name but it wasn’t where the narrators name usually is so just know if you listen to the audiobook you’re in for a treat. I received this book from NetGalley I am the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
April 24, 2023
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. I went into this book sort of expecting it to have a similar vibe to titles like Push and Magpie and it’s definitely not like those at all. It’s a very honest story of one woman’s struggle to adjust to her new life after having a child on her own. It’s a brutal story of loneliness, depression and constant anxiety. There were times I was absolutely terrified for the birth of my child but by the end I think I sort of appreciated how much darkness the book held to show how far the main character came on her journey. I will say that the “mystery” element to the story I found to be incredibly transparent and when the “big reveal” came about near the end I had already predicted exactly what was going to happen. But overall, I’m glad I read it. Would I recommend it as a nice, upbeat book? Probably not. But I think it’s definitely worth a read at some point in your life. 🤷♀️
October 29, 2022
I’m not quite sure why there are so many 5 star reviews for this?
It’s ok - it jumps around at several different time points which feels unnecessary. Maxwell really captures that post baby period very well, so that’s a strength. But the cast of characters in New York I cared very little about and it felt like there needed to be more effort put into the character development here. 3 stars
It’s ok - it jumps around at several different time points which feels unnecessary. Maxwell really captures that post baby period very well, so that’s a strength. But the cast of characters in New York I cared very little about and it felt like there needed to be more effort put into the character development here. 3 stars
March 25, 2023
Enjoyed this much more than I'd anticipated. A really refreshing and honest look at motherhood, longing and mother/daughter relationships.
June 1, 2024
Plot twist
August 12, 2023
I loved loved loved loved this book so much that I want to go back and reread it already. I see myself in the main character a lot, and the twists are really interesting as well. The plot is linear and there really isn’t much to it, though the characters’ analysis is impeccable and the storyline is written majestically.
July 23, 2023
3.5, rounded up. Excellent narration.
May 6, 2023
Stevie wants a baby. She is single and 38 and living in Manhattan but she is determined to make this happen.
The story follows two timelines - past and present. In the present she is struggling with her baby boy, struggling to form a maternal bond, drained by motherhood. In the past she has a successful career and social life and a sister…
I found the storyline about motherhood the most engaging part. Many mothers will relate to a storyline which describes the lack of sleep, lack of self confidence and daily exhaustion of being a young Mother. Stevie feels particularly self conscious because of her age and her lack of partner.
I also enjoyed the exploration of the parallels between Stevie’s experience of motherhood contrasted to those of her parent…
However I did find it difficult to feel a connection with the character of Stevie and this detracted from my enjoyment of the story. I also found the narrator’s use of accents confusing.
The story follows two timelines - past and present. In the present she is struggling with her baby boy, struggling to form a maternal bond, drained by motherhood. In the past she has a successful career and social life and a sister…
I found the storyline about motherhood the most engaging part. Many mothers will relate to a storyline which describes the lack of sleep, lack of self confidence and daily exhaustion of being a young Mother. Stevie feels particularly self conscious because of her age and her lack of partner.
I also enjoyed the exploration of the parallels between Stevie’s experience of motherhood contrasted to those of her parent…
However I did find it difficult to feel a connection with the character of Stevie and this detracted from my enjoyment of the story. I also found the narrator’s use of accents confusing.
dnf
August 28, 2022The subject of this book is interesting, but there was just a bit too much working against. I like to think that I give all books an equal chance, however I had to read the following lines and even I have limits.
Quote #1 - "I want some tech people, but not on-the-spectrum development guys you can't have a conversation with."
Where do I start with this? Okay, it wasn't said by the main character and yet it didn't need to be said by anyone. No character needed to say this. It didn't add to the plot, it wasn't needed to make people think the character was awful. It was just there. I think with this one I could have probably tolerated it if Stevie had made a mental note that wasn't a great thing. She didn't though and it wasn't even acknowledged.
Quote #2 - "I imagined him feeling comfortable asking a soldier how many people he'd killed during his last tour of duty."
Ahhh! I'm no way, shape or form a patriot and I don't think much of the military, but why? This just felt distasteful and could have been said in such a different way. It's insensitive.
Quote #3 - "She is a giant, filling the doorframe, blocking the light from the hallway [...] She makes me feel like a child [...] Still, she seems gentle, despite her stature, kind."
This is one that made me dnf. The fatphobia is rampant and so obvious. Also, the implication that fat people are inherently mean or nasty just feels so wrong. Even a few sentences after this she refers to the nanny's 'huge hands'.
Just no, will be avoiding this author in the future.
Quote #1 - "I want some tech people, but not on-the-spectrum development guys you can't have a conversation with."
Where do I start with this? Okay, it wasn't said by the main character and yet it didn't need to be said by anyone. No character needed to say this. It didn't add to the plot, it wasn't needed to make people think the character was awful. It was just there. I think with this one I could have probably tolerated it if Stevie had made a mental note that wasn't a great thing. She didn't though and it wasn't even acknowledged.
Quote #2 - "I imagined him feeling comfortable asking a soldier how many people he'd killed during his last tour of duty."
Ahhh! I'm no way, shape or form a patriot and I don't think much of the military, but why? This just felt distasteful and could have been said in such a different way. It's insensitive.
Quote #3 - "She is a giant, filling the doorframe, blocking the light from the hallway [...] She makes me feel like a child [...] Still, she seems gentle, despite her stature, kind."
This is one that made me dnf. The fatphobia is rampant and so obvious. Also, the implication that fat people are inherently mean or nasty just feels so wrong. Even a few sentences after this she refers to the nanny's 'huge hands'.
Just no, will be avoiding this author in the future.
February 6, 2023
I enjoyed the start of the book where the protagonist Stevie takes her first steps into motherhood after giving birth to her IVF baby. You felt you were on this journey with this petrified first time mum walking into the world alone with a new creation. You felt her trauma and pain not only from her traumatic childbirth but what society will now expect from her as a mother. There were at times some searingly honest depictions of what it is like for a single woman struggling to bond with her baby. I felt this was the most interesting part of the book but when it jumped to her previous life in New York, it became formulaic and predictable: the sassy 30-something making it big in the Big Apple with her Manhattan friends and tech bro boss. If I haven't read this story once, I've read it a hundred times and it just felt done to death. I couldn't wait to get back to her London flat where she pretended to feign interest in her baby and fell deeper into a depression. We know this woman is strong and we know she will get out of it, and I just wanted the book to focus on how she did it. It then reached new levels of melodrama when the real story of her older sister and family began to unravel. While this was interesting, it overshadowed what should have been the true tale of the novel - how I finally started to love my baby. This book could have been a real go-to for first-time mums and the struggles they face and how to overcome them, but somehow this message got lost, which was a shame.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews