Book Review: Mother Mother by Jessica O'Dwyer

Book: 142/150

Rating: 3.5/5

I love reading books where I learn a lot, in an unintentional and subtle way. The biggest draw for me in this book was the premise: after no success with conceiving, San Francisco couple Julie and Mark embark on an (unplanned) four year long journey to adopt young Juan from Guatemala. The book is fiction but draws from some of the author's real life experiences adopting from Guatemala. It was effective on the author's part to show the adoption process from both perspectives: from Julie and Mark and as well as from Juan's biological mother, Rosalba. It created a more fulsome story and really came together in a beautiful way!

This one got 3.5 stars from me because I found it hard to connect and relate to Julie; I think because I'm not a mom and not at the stage in life yet where I'm wanting to have my own kids. But her love for her son was palpable, and her determination to do everything she could to make Juan's adjustments to life in America easier really pulled at my heartstrings. There was also one plot point towards the end of the book that I thought was thrown in there for shock value,

O'Dwyer's writing is great and I found that the book really kicked into gear for me when they brought Juan home and he was adjusting to his new life.

Thank you to much to Mindbuck Media for reaching out and offering me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I am so happy to own this one and there are definitely some friends who I know would love it!

This book is out October 1, 2020!