Frequent bouts of burnout led to me taking far longer than necessary with this book - I even borrowed a physical copy several times from my local libraries in multiple last ditch efforts to complete this one. I wouldn’t ordinarily do this for any book, but my commitment to seeing this one through and where it would lead me was down to all the lessons I knew I had to learn and knowledge I had to soak from the pages through the experience of the writer. I ultimately enjoyed this read and being a single parent myself, felt incredibly vindicated throughout for the struggles that are very much present in solo families and get missed when watching/consuming anything online.

Wasn’t sure how I was going to find this or if I was even going to complete it. But it was quite interesting to read how raising a family as a single parent differed so much from being in a couple.

I found that this book was enjoyable but not entirely relatable. It was interesting to take in different perspectives around 'single moms' and different influentual factors. Overall, being a single mom can have very lonely moments. This book can be a great read for single moms looking for a new perspective!

As a modern woman and a mom, I would recommend this book to any mother considering a divorce or having divorced. The book has an extraordinary balance between personal experience, historical and social context, and outsiders’ view and bias towards single female parents. I wish it would have explored societal biases with more depth even, but all in all a great read for me!

I enjoyed this book but I do think the "stigma" of being a single mother is quite different in the US than in the UK. I also wish the author had addressed race in the book, as I think that is a very impoirtant factor in how single motherhood is percevied.

As a mediator and divorce coach I would recommend this book to any mother considering a divorce or having divorced. Love how Sarah manages to zoom in and zoom out by sharing her personal experience of a divorce, the experiences of others and at the same time placing it in a larger public and sometimes historical perspective. You sense the many hats she wears besides the one if a divorcee, a single mum. You will meet the woman she was, the partner and mother she came to be, the divorced friend, the single mum dating, and the always working miom as a journalist who also happened to have experienced marriage.

If you're looking for a positive spin on single motherhood, this book is highly readable, although the topics it's covering are broad enough that it doesn't stand out in any one particular area, and overall it might have benefited from the inclusion of more of the author's personal experiences to tie it together. (I also get that this isn't a policy book, and calling it "Solo Parenting Doesn't Have to Suck: Why Most of the Reasons You're Not Happy as a Single Mother are Systemic" would have been a terrible marketing decision, but it does do a decent job of explaining how so many of the things single mothers struggle with are things that absolutely could be different if our society and government had better priorities.)

This was a nice book and I was happy that I read it, but I do wish it was longer or maybe developed a little bit more. The whole thing felt a bit like a cross between a basic self-help book and a very long blog post. Though maybe, if the target audience is working adults with very little free time, the length of the book can be considered a good choice. I just needed a little more; since this is such an interesting and important topic that really should be talked about more. Also, the title is a little misleading. This book was more about all the social, systemic and financial problems experienced by single mothers. Sure, the kids are all right, but the mothers not so much, therefore the happy part of the title is somewhat ill fitting. TW.: mentions of J. K. Rowling, Divorce, Financial Struggles and Poverty, and Female Oppression

This was a really enjoyable read, loved the author's story throughout, wish she'd shared more of her experience as this was the part I enjoyed the most. Didn't enjoy the history/studies about single mothers so much and could have done without the JK mentions but overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publishers who gifted me a copy of the book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a manifesto on single motherhood using the authors lived experience.

I loved the tone of this book and it felt instantly engaging. It’s written in a conversational style and is like having a chat with a friend.

I was interested in what she had to say and her experiences. I am not, and have never been, a single mother, but what mother doesn’t sometimes feel like a single mother or fear that it could happen at any time. This book really examined where that fear comes from.

A fantastic, engaging book which is a must read for any parent. This shows a more empathetic portrait of single mothers then they are usually portrayed.

AD - This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

As a single mother it’s so wonderful to feel validated and know you’re not alone. There is hope in this journey. Enjoyable and helpful read!

Sarah Thompson's Happy Single Mother goes into the history of patriarchy with relation to single mothers, the biases that exist for not only single mothers dealing with the aftermath of a divorce or separation but the single mothers by choice. Some of the things mentioned deal with the laws in the United Kingdom, but Thompson also sprinkles in some American issues as well with the idea that being single and a mother is not a bad thing and everyone needs to take three steps back because it does not mean they are broken or unwanted. A book for single parents, divorcing parents, etc. because Sarah Thompson speaks to both, the male and the female. This book I hope can be someone's white flag of calling it a truce before issuing unwarranted opinions or judgments.

I'll admit, I chose this book solely based on the title since I am a single mother, who would very much like to be happy. I am glad I did though, because it was one of the most refreshing books I've read in a while. I related so much to the author, even though I am not divorced. She put so many different scenarios of different single mothers in there that it felt like I was being seen. She even mentioned a situation in which a woman had a child with autism and I was like, "That's me!" This book is very feminist and empowering. I found myself laughing out loud quite often while reading it. I found it funny that I happened to be the same attachment style as the author, anxious-avoidant. Discovering this really helped me learn about myself and what I needed to work on for future relationships. I also appreciated that the book didn't end in the usual "this is how you get a man and live happily ever after" because I don't want to hear that life is all about finding a man and not being single, which would completely defeat the purpose of reading a book called Happy Single Mother. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because I got slightly bored in the beginning with all the statistics about single mothers and almost gave up (no hate towards the author, I am just not a statistics kinda person.) However, I'm glad I didn't, because it paid off. Overall, I loved the book and I'm grateful to NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to review it!

As a single mother I wish this book had been about when you my son was much younger. He is now older but it had some great tips and help for mothers in the same position. Good book.