Amy Beashel

What if you said the worst thing a mother could say? What if your husband found out about it in the national press? And what if after all that, you didn't regret it...?

Spilt Milk

"If I've learned anything in the past few months, Mabel, it's that mothers, like everyone, are learning as we go." 

Bea is struggling to find any joy in motherhood. She loves her daughter, Mabel, but when she discovers she's pregnant for a second time, she can't face the endless to-do list or losing herself even more. Accidentally voicing all her disappointments and regrets to her blog, where her husband also reads about the termination for a baby he never knew about. Bea is now forced to decide what she wants from her life and how she came to feel this way. 

This is such a painfully relatable and reflective read! The way Bea feels about motherhood is raw and honest and true! You can love being a mother. You can love the little human you have created and grew, but... there is always allowed to be a but in that sentence. It's ok to feel things that people don't expect of you. The expectations placed on new mothers are too great, too big for them to bear. This book shines a light on the worldwide over expectation of women, forcing themselves to lose themselves when they become a mother, instead of becoming "__'s mum" instead of having their own identity. And this alone is why every parent; pregnant, adopting, new parents, parents of older children, and people who don't even know if they want children, need to read this book. 

On top of this, the whole story is woven through with reflections to Bea's last days with her mother, while pregnant with Mabel. She reflects on these and finds the sense of loss of her own mother while becoming a mother herself. This creates the connection of the important relationship between a mother and her daughter throughout her life, but especially in the transition to motherhood. They say it takes a village to raise a baby, but sometimes, it just requires one person, your own mum. 

This book is a beautiful exploration of why it's ok to not feel as you expected to. It's ok to have regrets. But also, how to face these head on and voice these feelings rather than hide behind them for too long.

Victoria Justice

"If I've learned anything in the past few months, Mabel, it's that mothers, like everyone, are learning as we go." 

Bea is struggling to find any joy in motherhood. She loves her daughter, Mabel, but when she discovers she's pregnant for a second time, she can't face the endless to-do list or losing herself even more. Accidentally voicing all her disappointments and regrets to her blog, where her husband also reads about the termination for a baby he never knew about. Bea is now forced to decide what she wants from her life and how she came to feel this way. 

This is such a painfully relatable and reflective read! The way Bea feels about motherhood is raw and honest and true! You can love being a mother. You can love the little human you have created and grew, but... there is always allowed to be a but in that sentence. It's ok to feel things that people don't expect of you. The expectations placed on new mothers are too great, too big for them to bear. This book shines a light on the worldwide over expectation of women, forcing themselves to lose themselves when they become a mother, instead of becoming "__'s mum" instead of having their own identity. And this alone is why every parent; pregnant, adopting, new parents, parents of older children, and people who don't even know if they want children, need to read this book. 

On top of this, the whole story is woven through with reflections to Bea's last days with her mother, while pregnant with Mabel. She reflects on these and finds the sense of loss of her own mother while becoming a mother herself. This creates the connection of the important relationship between a mother and her daughter throughout her life, but especially in the transition to motherhood. They say it takes a village to raise a baby, but sometimes, it just requires one person, your own mum. 

This book is a beautiful exploration of why it's ok to not feel as you expected to. It's ok to have regrets. But also, how to face these head on and voice these feelings rather than hide behind them for too long.

Spilt Milk

Reviews

Highlights