Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish this book. It had been described to me as being similar to Anna Marie Tendler’s memoir, which is why I was so excited to read The Motherload. I found Hoover unbearable and unrelatable. At one point early in the book, she described her desire to go out partying with friends of friends of friends as “socialism” based on an out-of-context quote. Ultimately I had to put this book down because I found the author so annoyingly disconnected from the world.

The Motherload by Sarah Hoover is a raw and intimate exploration of motherhood, art, and identity. As a reader, I appreciated Hoover's candid reflections on balancing creativity with the demands of raising children, which felt both relatable and refreshing. Her essays offer an honest look into the pressures faced by modern mothers, making it a thought-provoking and empowering read.

Overall a really interesting read, something I think a lot of women will relate to in one way or another.

I admire the hell out of memoirists who are willing to probe the parts of themselves that don’t align with our societies’ long-held value systems. Sarah writes not just about motherhood, but also childhood, her career, her marriage, and being a woman in unsparing, honest language. It always feels so cathartic to read about women who have unconventional feelings about parts of life that we are expected to be uncompromisingly devoted to. Sarah’s writing was a pleasure to read, and I found myself frequently highlighting her words. Sarah’s is a privileged life, but she writes about her mental health, her insecurities, her failings, etc. in such raw language, I felt extremely connected to her and her writing.

This is the book I believe many women are searching for to validate their feelings as mothers. Especially becoming a mother and all that happens to your body, heart, mind, and soul. Hoover writes in a raw and authentic voice. Heartbreaking but hopeful too. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.