The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now

Adele Griffin's adult debut showcases a fictional surrogacy story in the contrasting lives of two women.

Meet Nora Hammond, who struggles with debt, a cramped apartment, and infertility alongside her husband Jacob.

Yet, when socialite Evelyn Elliot enters Nora's life, a deep connection forms, thrusting Nora into Manhattan's luxurious elite society.

However, their unique power dynamic faces a test when Evelyn selflessly offers to become Nora's surrogate.

This book is a perfect beach read, but equally compelling to discuss with your book club.

You can hear Adele's surrogacy story on this moving episode of the Book Gang podcast- The Best Motherhood Lessons from Literary Characters. (LISTEN NOW).

This story revolves around two women: one, an undocumented immigrant, and the other, living the quintessential American Dream in Berkeley.

At eighteen, Solimar embarks on a perilous journey across the Mexican border, ending up pregnant and far from her intended path.

Meanwhile, Kavya Reddy wants to be a mother as she struggles with infertility.

When Soli's detention leads to Kavya becoming the official guardian of her son, a fierce battle between these women ensues.

Peggy Orenstein guides readers through her hardships of infertility, detailing their tiring fertility treatments and international adoption efforts.

This memoir reveals details on the thriving fertility industry while delivering a heartfelt and often amusing narrative of a woman's path to motherhood.

Adele Griffin describes Orenstein as the “big sister she needed” through her fertility challenges.

Set in Nigeria, this captivating debut novel explores the trials of a marriage strained by infertility.

Infertility marred Yejide and Akin's love story, weighing heavily on them in their culture.

When their families pressure Akin into taking another wife, it shatters their agreed-upon commitment to monogamy.

Related- Browse the MomAdvice Book Club Books

Our guest described this homage to Little Women as a "genuine and heartfelt portrayal of motherhood."

The story takes place in the aftermath of tragedy, where William Waters finds comfort in the company of a lively family.

However, as dark secrets resurface, they test their bonds, leading to a generational rift.

Oprah notably chose this selection as her 100th book club pick.

Related- My Top Celebrity Book Club Picks

This powerful novel offers a mother's perspective on the unique challenges of parenting a transgender child.

As Claude transforms into Poppy, their family's relocation to a new town brings a poignant dilemma about when to share their truth.

Related- Read my Laurie Frankel "This is How it Always Is" Interview

This literary fiction novel unfolds its story in a remote fishing village in Maine.

A fishing accident leaves Jill's husband in the hospital, making her the sole provider and caregiver for her boys.

As I rarely see mothers of teens in fiction, this book reminded me I'm not alone.

One memorable quote reads, "Being a mother isn't anything like I thought it would be. It's harder. Better. More confusing. Shorter. Longer."

This thought-provoking generational saga skillfully explores themes of race, identity, family, and forgiveness.

With over three decades of intertwined history, it follows Jentry's quest to uncover the mysteries of his absent father.

The story invites readers to unravel secrets and delve into complex familial themes, making it ideal for book clubs.

The audiobook narration of this story is beautiful- I listened on the Scribd app.

Related- Learn more about Scribd Audiobooks

In 1990s Nigeria, Vivek stands apart from other boys. He's unafraid to embrace his unique identity by wearing dresses and keeping long hair.

When his lifeless body, adorned in colorful fabric, is discovered by his mother, she searches for answers to his death.

Vivek's secrets and the truth behind his tragic end slowly unspool in this mesmerizing and heart-wrenching novel.

This remarkable mother has become one of my favorite literary characters in recent years.

Sam, born with ocular albinism, overcomes bullies with the unwavering support of his great friendships and one incredible mother.

Dugoni's touching story, inspired by his family’s experiences, is a must-read for any book club.

Related- 13 Coming-of-Age Books Any Adult Will Love

In 1970, a young widow learns her unborn daughter has an incurable heart defect.

With the help of her enigmatic physicist brother-in-law, who can time travel, she embarks on a journey to ensure her daughter can receive experimental surgery in 2001.

This time travel story transcends motherhood in the best kinds of ways.

Related- The Best Time Travel Books to Escape Real-Life

Step into the orderly world of Shaker Heights, a serene suburb shaken and disrupted by the arrival of a new family.

In this gripping tale, a custody battle ensues, bringing two very different families together and, ultimately, breaking them apart.

Celeste Ng's masterpiece ignites a powerful exploration of the complexities beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.

Related- Guide to the Celeste Ng Books

Chan's sci-fi dystopian novel serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the relentless challenges of motherhood.

Frida Liu struggles to balance work and single motherhood.

Following a parenting mistake, Frida must surrender her child and undergo a motherhood education program, training with a robot baby.

Chan explores what it means to be a "good mother," in compelling ways. There are also many support group scenes that I still think about.

This disturbing psychological thriller book delves into the intricate dynamics of motherhood and the struggle to bond with challenging children.

Blythe's story unfolds as she questions whether her daughter's behavior results from her parenting or something more sinister.

This challenging story examines the impact of generations of troubled mother-child relationships in families.

Related- The Best Psychological Thrillers to Read

For many years, a small space known as the "room" has held captive a five-year-old boy named Jack and his Ma.

Ma has created a rich and imaginative life for her son despite their captivity.

Narrated through Jack's childlike perspective, the book is both endearing and poignant, capturing the innocence of a young boy.

Their story embodies unconquerable love in harrowing circumstances and showcases the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.

Lana Rubicon teams up with her daughter and granddaughter to solve a murder mystery when someone in their town turns up dead.

Together, they navigate tricky family dynamics and expose secrets in their sleepy town.

This book offers insightful and often humorous commentary on mother-daughter dynamics, making it a cleverly crafted, cozy crime novel.

Don't miss these other NEW Fall Books in our 2023 Fall Reading Guide.

Related- Listen to Nina Simon on Book Gang- The Remarkable Murder Mystery That Changed Everything.

Anne Lamott's memoir takes us through the journey of becoming a mother at thirty-five, all on her own.

She shares the highs and lows of that crucial first year with humor and faith. This handbook to motherhood has been loved by mothers of many generations.

In her candid narrative, Lamott weaves the significant and everyday moments that shape a mother's life.

Adele brought this beloved series celebrating a close-knit Jewish family in early 20th-century New York City.

This story follows five lively sisters—Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie—as they navigate the highs and lows of life.

Be sure to listen to today’s show to learn the surprising backstory of how this book came to be.

Adele expressed a desire to be the nurturing mother figure in this story. She also loved how these sisters cared for each other in the most beautiful ways.

Is there a better mother in a book than Marmee?

Adele described this mother as remarkable, noting Marmee's life outside her home. It was a story that resonated with her the most as the daughter of a working parent.

Step into the enchanting world of the March sisters.

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are four special siblings whose connection grows stronger while their father is at war.