OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A revealing personal life story like no other—enlightening, entertaining, surprising, empowering—and a testament to the world-making power of Black motherhood“You are Celestine,” she said. She squatted to push the hair off my face and pull leaves off my pajama legs. “Like my sister and my grandmother.” And there, under the pecan tree, as she did countless times, that day my mother told me stories of the mothers and daughters that went before me.Tina Knowles, the mother of iconic singer-songwriters Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles, and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, is known the world over as a Matriarch with a capital M: a determined, self-possessed, self-aware, and wise woman who raised and inspired some of the great artists of our time. But this story is about so much more than that.Matriarch begins with a precocious, if unruly, little girl growing up in 1950s Galveston, the youngest of seven. She is in love with her world, with extended family on every other porch and the sounds of Motown and the lapping beach always within earshot. But as the realities of race and the limitations of girlhood set in, she begins to dream of a more grandiose world. Her instincts and impulsive nature drive her far beyond the shores of Texas to discover the life awaiting her on the other side of childhood.That life’s journey—through grief and tragedy, creative and romantic risks and turmoil, the nurturing of superstar offspring and of her own special gifts—is the remarkable story she shares with readers here. This is a page-turning chronicle of family love and heartbreak, of loss and perseverance, and of the kind of creativity, audacity, and will it takes for a girl from Galveston to change the world. It’s one brilliant woman’s intimate and revealing story, and a multigenerational family saga that carries within it the story of America—and the wisdom that women pass on to one another, mothers to daughters, across generations. Read more

"Get this for your pregnant friends, or yourself" (People): a hilariously candid account of one woman's quest to bring her post-baby marriage back from the brink, with life-changing, real-world advice.Recommended by Nicole Cliffe in SlateFeatured in People PicksA Red Tricycle Best Baby and Toddler Parenting Book of the YearOne of Mother magazine's favorite parenting books of the YearHow Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the 'expert' at changing a diaper? Many expectant parents spend weeks researching the best crib or safest car seat, but spend little if any time thinking about the titanic impact the baby will have on their marriage - and the way their marriage will affect their child. Enter Dunn, her well-meaning but blithely unhelpful husband, their daughter, and her boisterous extended family, who show us the ways in which outmoded family patterns and traditions thwart the overworked, overloaded parents of today. On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation." Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate -- and rebuild -- your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children. Part memoir, part self-help book with actionable and achievable advice, How Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids is an eye-opening look at how the man who got you into this position in this first place is the ally you didn't know you had. Read more

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NPR Best Book of the Year • TimeBest Book of the Year • Oprah DailyBest Memoir of the Year “A bittersweet study in both grief and joy.” ­—Time “A sparklingly beautiful memoir-in-vignettes” (Isaac Fitzgerald, New York Times bestselling author) that explores coming of age in your middle age—from the bestselling poet and author of Keep Moving.“Life, like a poem, is a series of choices.” In her memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, poet Maggie Smith explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself. The book begins with one woman’s personal heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she’s known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself. The power of these pieces is cumulative: page after page, they build into a larger interrogation of family, work, and patriarchy. You Could Make This Place Beautiful, like the work of Deborah Levy, Rachel Cusk, and Gina Frangello, is an unflinching look at what it means to live and write our own lives. It is a story about a mother’s fierce and constant love for her children, and a woman’s love and regard for herself. Above all, this memoir is “extraordinary” (Ann Patchett) in the way that it reveals how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something new and beautiful. Read more

'I often promised myself late at night that I'd definitely stop reading at the end of the chapter, only to find I was completely unable to do so!' Reader reviewOne dinner table. An unlikely group of guests. A recipe for disaster?Lucy's infamous dinner parties were always the talk of the town, but after her husband's death, they've become few and far between. When she gets engaged to her new fiancé, Mike, she decides what better way to introduce him to her friends than by reinstating their supper club.But a lot has changed in the last six years.Lucy's best friend, Maggie, must face sitting at the dinner table with her husband's new model girlfriend in tow.Now a mother, so much of Chrissie's life revolves around changing nappies and mindless baby TV that she worries if she'll still be good company.The only single one of the group, Jenny is not interested in finding a man and wishes her older sister would stop trying to set her up with the handsome new neighbour.Perhaps Lucy has bitten off more than she can chew with these dinner parties, but what's a little wine among old friends anyway?A hilariously entertaining and engaging read that is perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Carmen Reid and Tracy Bloom.Readers are LOVING The Supper Club!'Behind the humour - and there's plenty of that - is poignancy, pathos and several secrets. I loved this book and the characters' Reader review'Utterly relatable and told in such a way that you couldn't help become totally invested in each of the couples' lives' Reader review Read more

Fully revised and updated for 2025, from the bestselling author of Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected“Emily Oster is the non-judgmental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood. She has done the work to get us the hard facts in a soft, understandable way.” —Amy SchumerThe award-winning economist named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people disproves standard recommendations about pregnancy to empower women while they're expecting. Pregnancy—unquestionably one of the most pro­found, meaningful experiences of adulthood—can reduce otherwise intelligent women to, well, babies. Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Parents-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices.When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Better is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy—and the occasional glass of wine. Read more

Every choice you make carries a consequence. What if your consequence was an unwanted pregnancy?Theresa graciously agrees to share part of her life for a biographical paper being written by two high school students. She surprises her unsuspecting interviewers with stories of a broken childhood, tales of love found and lost, and the strength summoned to make the hardest decision of her life.The sharing of her past not only provides material for Theresa’s students, but also prepares herself for one of the most impactful introductions yet to come.“So many times throughout the book I felt I was in the room feeling the current situation or dilemma as if I were there! It is absolutely a story of a courageous path taken…A delightfully satisfying story to read.” Amazon reviewerRoom For Another is a fictionalized account based on true life events of author Diane M. Dresback’s biological mother. The one thing that Diane learned about her mother was that it didn’t matter if you were blood, step, half, ex, in-law, adopted, or anywhere in-between—everyone was family and she always had room in her heart for another.“Enjoy a heartfelt story that resonates in many ways. You don’t have to be an adoptee, a birth, or an adoptive parent, to enjoy this book.” Amazon reviewer“It talks about decisions, hard decisions to make and live with. It also speaks of hope and kindness.” Goodreads reviewer“I can't believe how great this author can write such a powerful story even as it is real. The way she presented the story it made you feel like you were right there as everything happen.” Goodreads reviewer“It is well written and flows smoothly. I will recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.” Goodreads reviewer Read more

Aren’t babies precious? So is sleep.Your baby is capable of sleeping through the night and this book will show you how.A whip smart and entertaining guide that focuses on WHY babies sleep the way they do, this book arms you with evidence-based and flexible tools that work for every unique situation so that you can teach your baby how to sleep well.This book will help you tackle the thorniest sleep snags, including:Navigating the tricky newborn phase like a proGetting your child to truly sleep through the nightWeaning off the all-night buffetMastering the precarious tango that is healthy nappingSolving toddler and preschooler sleep strugglesSleep expert Alexis Dubief, of the wildly popular website, podcast, and groupPrecious Little Sleep, imparts effective, accessible, and flexible strategies based on years of research that will dramatically improve your child’s sleep.You’ll love the practical solutions and the way she presents them. And it works!Buy it now ♥ Read more

Begin every day with an encouraging promise from God.God understands the heart of a mom, as well as the daily cares and worries that can weigh you down. No matter where you are in your mothering journey, God’s mercies and promises are for you.This pocket-size book of Scriptures provides hundreds of Bible promises that are relevant to the needs of every mother, interweaving them with personal reflections from popular author Heidi St. John. Arranged topically for easy use, Bible Promises for Moms will give you verses to guide youwhen you need to hear that God is pleased when you hang in there;when your mother’s heart needs to remember what God can do;when you need to model true forgiveness for your children;and many more.We need the wisdom of God as we bring up our precious children. Lean into God’s promises today, trusting His Word as your ultimate source for guidance, hope, strength, and encouragement.Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:13-14, NLT). Read more

'Unputdownable!!! ... Grab a cup of tea (coffee, wine, whatever), get comfortable and enjoy!' Reader review, 5 stars'This isn't a simple story about a playgroup. There are complex characters, some mystery, and a whole load of hilarious happenings thrown in' Reader review They say you shouldn't work with kids, but then you haven't met the parents...All of Gemma's dreams come true when she's asked to step into the role of Puddleducks Playgroup leader. She knows the place better than anyone and is determined to prove she's the right person for the job. Nothing is going to spoil this opportunity for her......Until she meets Joe Balls, the newly appointed head of reception at the neighbouring infant school. An ex-banker more comfortable with numbers than nursery rhymes, Joe has this annoying habit of interfering with Gemma and her plans for the playgroup.The two may not see eye to eye, but when the kids suddenly start acting out, and the parents aren't any better, can Joe and Gemma put their differences aside and work together to overcome these unexpected challenges?A highly relatable and uplifting read that will have you racing through the pages to find out how the story ends. Full of warmth, love and laughter, The Playgroup is perfect for fans of Kristen Bailey, Fiona Gibson and Carmen Reid. Read more

None

Over a million copies sold worldwide!Featured in Babylist's Best Baby Sleep Resources guide and named as a Best Baby Sleep Resource. Here's what some happy parents had to say:• "A game changer for all-around baby care." - Gigi Hadid• "The book that helped me the most was Moms on Call Baby Care...this book became my baby bible." - Cameron Eubanks• "Finally, honest and practical solutions to everyday parenting problems!" - Alicia W.• "A must-have for every new parent!" - Kenny and Wanda RogersDiscover a wealth of knowledge in Moms on Call's Guide to Basic Baby Care for 0-6 Months:From feeding guidelines for both breast and bottle, to deciphering symptoms that warrant a trip to the emergency room, this comprehensive guide offers step-by-step advice to get your baby on a routine. However, the real gem of this book is its proven strategies to help your baby sleep through the night, so you can too!Here's what you can expect to find inside:• Sleep: Learn how to establish great sleep habits, including sleeping through the night!• Feeding: Understand feeding schedules that promote healthy digestion.• Routine: Get outlines of typical daily schedules with specific times.• Safety: Access our safety checklists and recommendations for peace of mind.• Health guidance: Discover common illnesses, what actions to take, and when to call the doctor.• Preparation: Find out what two pediatric nurses always keep in their medicine cabinets.• Simplicity: Learn what you need (and don’t need!) to prepare for your newborn’s arrival.• Support: This book pairs perfectly with the renowned Moms on Call 0-6 months online course.Join the ranks of happy parents who've found solace and guidance in the pages of Moms on Call Basic Baby Care for 0-6 Months. Order your copy today! Read more

Give the moms in your life a beautiful gift of encouragement, reassurance, and peace amidst uncertainty. Jesus Calling for Moms features 50 relevant devotions from Sarah Young's New York Times bestseller Jesus Calling®, to celebrate mothers and their love, comfort, and strength, offering timely, biblical truth.With 50 selections, you'll find devotions that speak to:The power of loveThe gift of strengthCourage in any seasonTrusting Him during challenging timesGod's guidance and comfortJoyous reasons to celebrate mothers and motherhood This beautiful compilation of devotions from Sarah's bestselling brand also includes:A new introduction and prayer for moms by SarahJournaling prompts and questions to encourage deeper growthSpace to write thoughts, prayers, and reflectionsStunning imageryComplete Bible verses Whether a gift for your own mom or for a mom who means so much to you, this is ideal for Mother's Day, birthdays, Valentine's Day, and more. Jesus Calling for Moms will be a cherished favorite for years to come.Look for additional life-changing, life-giving books from Sarah Young, including:Jesus Listens®Jesus AlwaysJesus TodayJesus Calling Read more

From bestselling author Kate Swenson of Finding Cooper's Voice, Carrie Cariello of What Color is Monday?, and Adrian Wood of Tales of an Educated DebutanteIn this moving narrative of resilience and pure love, three mothers share their experiences and learnings about life alongside autismKate Swenson, Adrian Wood and Carrie Cariello are from different parts of the country and backgrounds, but they were brought together by a singular experience: they are each a mother to a child with autism. Together they have shared laughter, tears, victories and the unconditional love that molds their lives.Kate, Adrian and Carrie have children with very different autism profiles, and in Autism Out Loud they write about their unique experiences on a variety of topics, from diagnosis to caregiving, schooling and aging. Through their varied stories and lessons they’ve learned, these incredible women provide a glimpse of what to expect on the autism journey and show parents that they are not alone. Written with honesty and heart, the stories within these pages serve as a reminder that even amid the storms of life, there is always hope and beauty to be found. A tribute to the unparalleled love of mothers, this inspiring book illuminates the joys, challenges and everyday miracles of life on the spectrum. Read more

A powerful look at the importance of a mother’s presence in the first years of life**Featured in The Wall Street Journal, and seen on Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, and CBS New York**In this important and empowering book, veteran psychoanalyst Erica Komisar explains why a mother's emotional and physical presence in her child's life--especially during the first three years--gives the child a greater chance of growing up emotionally healthy, happy, secure, and resilient.   In other words, when it comes to connecting with your baby or toddler, more is more. Compassionate and balanced, and focusing on the emotional health of children and moms alike, this book shows parents how to give their little ones the best chance for developing into healthy and loving adults. Based on more than two decades of clinical work, established psychoanalytic theory, and the most cutting-edge neurobiological research on caregiving, attachment, and brain development, Being There explains:   • How to establish emotional connection with a newborn or young child--regardless of whether you're able to work part-time or stay home    • How to ease transitions to minimize stress for your baby or toddler    • How to select and train quality childcare    • What's true and false about widely held beliefs like "I'm not good with babies" and “I’ll make up for it when he’s older”    • How to recognize and combat feelings of postpartum depression or boredom    • Why three months of maternity leave is not long enough--and how parents can take control of their choices to provide for their family's emotional needs in the first three years Being a new mom isn’t easy. But with support, emotional awareness, and coping skills, it can be the most magical—and essential—work we’ll ever do. Read more

None

A mother's advice to her daughter--a guide to daily living, both practical and sublime--with full-color illustrations throughout.One sleepless night while she was in her early twenties, illustrator/writer Hallie Bateman had a painful realization: her mom would die, and after she died she would be gone. The prospect was devastating, and also scary--how would she navigate the world without the person who gave her life? She thought about all the motherly advice she would miss--advice that could help her through the challenges to come, including the ordeal of losing a parent. The next day, Hallie asked her mother, writer Suzy Hopkins, to record step-by-step instructions for her to follow in the event of her mom's death. The list began: "Pour yourself a stiff glass of whiskey and make some fajitas" and continued from there, walking Hallie through the days, months, and years of life after loss, with motherly guidance and support, addressing issues great and small--from choosing a life partner to baking a quiche. The project became a way for mother and daughter to connect with humor, openness, and gratitude. It led to this book. Combining Suzy's wit and heartfelt advice with Hallie's quirky and colorful style, What to Do When I'm Gone is the illustrated instruction manual for getting through life without one's mom. It's also a poignant look at loss, love, and taking things one moment at a time. By turns whimsical, funny, touching, and above all pragmatic, it will leave readers laughing and teary-eyed. And it will spur conversations that enrich family members' understanding of one another. Read more

An infant bottle-feeding aversion is one of the most complex, stressful and confusing situations parents could face. Baby becomes distressed, cries at feeding times and refuses to feed or eats very little despite obvious hunger. Why is my baby refusing a bottle? This is a question parents ask numerous health professionals while searching for a solution. Babies are typically diagnosed with one, two or three medical conditions to explain their aversive feeding behavior during brief appointments. Consequently, many parents don’t receive an effective solution from the health professionals they consult. This is why this book is so necessary. Rowena Bennett is an Australian nurse who holds professional qualifications in various nursing fields including pediatrics, midwifery, child health, mental health and lactation consultant. She has over 20 years experience advising parents how to resolve infant feeding and sleeping problems. Rowena has helped 1000's of babies get over their bottle refusal and enjoy feeding bottle-feeding once again. Parents claim the relief is life changing. In Your Baby’s Bottle-feeding Aversion, Rowena describes the various reasons babies display aversive feeding behavior, explains how the reader can identify the cause, and describes effective solutions. Included are step-by-step instructions on how to resolve a behavioral feeding aversion that occurs as a result of being repeatedly pressured to feed - the most common of all reasons for babies to become averse to feeding. Your Baby’s Bottle-feeding Aversion provides practical professional feeding advice, that not only makes good sense, it works! Read more

"What a gift to new and expecting moms. You have no idea the mountain and rollercoaster you're about to embark on, but Nurture somehow gives you a peek in and gives you essential information to help ground you." –Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious and One PotatoA comprehensive and judgement-free pregnancy companion: Nurture is the only all-in-one pregnancy and birthing book for modern mothers-to-be and their partners who want a more integrative approach. Author Erica Chidi Cohen has assisted countless births and helped hundreds of families ease into their new roles through her work as a doula. Nurture covers everything from the beginning months of pregnancy to the baby's first weeks. This empowering book includes:• Supportive self-care and mindfulness exercises, trimester-specific holistic remedies, nourishing foods and recipes for every month of pregnancy, and expert tips for every birth environment.• More than 40 charming and helpful illustrations, charts, and lists can be found throughout.• Dozens of important topics that every modern mom needs to know including fetal development, making choices for a hospital, home or birth center birth, the basics of breastfeeding, tips on what to expect postpartum, and more.Nurture is an all-inclusive pregnancy and birthing guide book that gives soon-to-be mothers and their partners the information they need to make decisions, feel confident, and enjoy the beauty of creating new life.Nurture is a thoughtful and helpful gift for expecting mothers and their partners.Erica Chidi is co-founder and CEO of Loom in Los Angeles, CA. She began her work in San Francisco, volunteering as a doula within the prison system, working with pregnant inmates. She went on to build a successful doula and health education practice in Los Angeles and has been featured in Women's Health, Vogue, Goop, The Cut and Marie Claire. Read more

“Second Life is a tender, perceptive account of pregnancy and early motherhood—and a stylish confrontation with the demented landscape of digital parenting content.” —Anna Wiener, author of Uncanny ValleyAs an internet culture critic for The New York Times, Amanda Hess had built a reputation among readers as a sharp observer of the seductions and manipulations of online life. But when Hess discovered she was pregnant with her first child, she found herself unexpectedly rattled by a digital identity crisis of her own.In the summer of 2020, a routine ultrasound detected a mysterious abnormality in Hess’s baby. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone, looking for answers. But rather than allaying her anxieties, her search sucked her into the destabilizing morass of the internet, and she was vulnerable—more than ever—to conspiracy, myth, judgment, commerce, and obsession.As Hess documents her escalating relationship with the digital world, she identifies how technologies act as portals to troubling ideologies, ethical conflicts, and existential questions, and she illuminates how the American traditions of eugenics, surveillance, and hyper-individualism are recycled through these shiny products for a new generation of parents and their children.At once funny, heartbreaking, and surreal, Second Life is a journey that spans a network of fertility apps, prenatal genetic tests, gender reveal videos, rare disease Facebook groups, “freebirth” influencers, and hospital reality shows. Hess confronts technology’s distortions as they follow her through pregnancy and into her son’s early life. The result is a critical record of our digital age that reveals the unspoken ways our lives are being fractured and reconstituted by technology. Read more

After labor, it’s time for rest: A gentle guide to zuo yuezi, the ancient Chinese practice of postpartum self-care, including sixty simple recipes.The first forty days after the birth of a child offer an essential and fleeting period of rest and recovery for the new mother. Based on Heng Ou’s own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of “confinement” in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth. As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after deliver­ing their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline—a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance. This book includes sixty simple recipes for healing soups, replenishing meals and snacks, and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the post­partum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth. Fully illustrated, it is a practical guide and inspirational read for all new mothers and mothers-to-be—the perfect ally during the first weeks with a new baby.“Bringing our attention back to the importance of the postpartum period for new mothers helps to create space for this essential period of integration and recovery . . . an invaluable companion during the first 40 days and beyond.” —Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein, filmmakers, The Business of Being Born Read more