This book was a little too broad for me. I understand the authors desire to include all walks of life but that devalued the information for me. I wish she had focused on encouraging more specifically. I can appreciate the purpose of this book, however!

Hmmm.... I read this book with interest as an AP (attachment parenting) mother of five kids, ages 8-21. I was intrigued by the premise of an author who considers herself "woke" and offers parenting advice from the perspective of a lesbian mom who conceived with IVF. I wholeheartedly agree that we could use more parenting books that reflect all kinds of parenting.

That said, I think this would be much better as a memoir than a parenting advice book. It just doesn't deliver there. Cook basically writes one short chapter on all different parenting topics (childbirth, breastfeeding, sleep, discipline) that first tells her experience, then tells what her reading (or occasionally experience with someone else) convinced her, and then advice on what you should do that mostly amounts to "what I do is best but you can do whatever you want because I'm woke and support you." I disagree with most of what she personally did and believed as a parent other than the basics like you can't spoil babies by holding them too much. For instance, she believes that babies should be in bed by 7 even if your partner doesn't get home until then and never gets to see them because she thinks that's best for babies. I can wholeheartedly say that I think that's fine for her, but I also wholeheartedly think that's really stupid advice to give unilaterally for everyone else.

Also, it bears saying again: parents of one or two young children NEVER have the experience or authority to offer themselves up as parenting experts to others. It's just cringeworthy -- delusional and arrogant. Just don't.

Despite all that, I found Cook to be a generally likeable person (albeit a bit arrogant) and I enjoyed reading her stories the same way I enjoyed reading strangers' birth stories. I wouldn't recommend this as a parenting book but new parents may enjoy reading a different perspective on pregnancy and parenting.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

What I really liked about this book is how the authors personality came through so it didn’t read like a parenting manual but an account of a personal parenting experience.

I found it very readable although some chapters were quite brief and could have contained more information.

Most of the chapters were more just the author’s opinions than a how to guide but I think that’s a good thing as there really is no right way to raise a child.