The best books that aren’t afraid to tackle the messy emotions of motherhood

I loved this book's raw, unflinching exploration of a taboo topic: the quiet regret some mothers carry. Through Sadie, a fierce Broadway star and feminist icon, and her daughter Jude, an actress on the brink of her own fame, Reimer paints a portrait that's complex and so intimate it’s almost uncomfortable at times.

I appreciated how neither woman was cast as the villain, and in their struggle, I found I could relate to both of them at different moments. Cleverly structured as a play in six acts, this novel is a beautifully written, compulsive read that asks the hard question: can a woman truly be both a devoted mother and a devoted artist?

This doubles as one of my favorite novels and also a treasured parenting how-to book. It’s a poignant reminder that motherhood is pure on-the-job learning and that you’ll probably never get it just right. I learned so much about parenting my own children from the story of Rosie and her husband, Penn, who are parents to a little boy, Claude, who wants to be a girl.

This book captures the true essence of parenting: Rosie and Penn love Claude fiercely and do what they believe is best to support their child—only to discover later that their choices were deeply flawed. This is something I really relate to! Overall, this book is a heartfelt, hilarious testament to the messiness of motherhood and the imperfect love we have for our kids.

This book is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the pressure moms feel to appear perfect, all while grappling with the realities of parenting in a world that demands so much of us. It addresses head-on the silent struggles and unspoken fears that many women face.

Audrain does a brilliant job of putting into words the conflicting emotions of love, guilt, and frustration that often accompany motherhood. It follows four women, all of whom I loved and hated at different moments, and explores how the weight of expectations can drive women to their breaking points.

It’s dark suburbia at its best, and it takes time to peel back the layers of the characters’ seemingly perfect lives until we can see the painful, messy truths underneath. 

This is one of the most hilarious, bizarre, and relatable books about motherhood I've ever read. On the surface, it’s the story of an artist turned stay-at-home mom who believes she’s turning into a dog. But at its core, it's a brilliantly original exploration of art, power, and the identity crisis that often accompanies motherhood.

I loved how it tackled the all-consuming nature of motherhood. It doesn’t shy away from the tough topics and is also laugh-out-loud funny at times. It left me both entertained and deeply reflective.

I was captivated by this book, which tackles every mother’s worst nightmare: losing your children because of a mistake you’ve made. It’s a gripping and original spin on the “it takes a village” concept, as three women—a mother, foster mother, and grandmother—fight for custody of the same children.

I’m drawn to books that tell the raw truth about how hard motherhood can be, and this novel does it beautifully. The theme of how difficult it is to ask for help, even when you’re on the brink of desperation, resonated with me deeply. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking read.