thank you netgalley for the earc

a well written slow burn sapphic story with a colorful and appealing art style and a lot of different reps. Loved it!

I have to admit, going into this graphic novel, that was clearly a romance of a formally straight mother of four, with another woman, that it was going to be an instanta romance, which I loathe. I was happy to find that it was a slow and realistic build, which was wonderful and sweet.


Alex is the lesbian in question, and her daughter goes to the same school that Imogen’s four kids go to. Imagen can see that Alex is clearly out of her depth at the school drop off, and befriends her, and then discovers that they live next door.
This is such a heartfelt novel. I loved the feelings of everyone. I love that although Imogen is “just a housewife” she has aspirations, and things she wants to do beyond that. And Alex has trauma from how her parents raised her, and has trouble being close to anyone.


I love all the twists and turns, and eventual outcome. I would highly recommend this romance for making both the protagonists not perfect in any way, and having baggage galore, but that you still end up rooting for them.


All the stars. Really. Right down to Alex’s catty friends, who can’t believe she is dating a straight girl.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 6th of May 2025.

What an absolutely sweet and honest story! I wasn't expecting it to take place over multiple years but I thought it was done really well and made me that much more invested in the characters and their relationships. I loved the natural progression of friendship as well as the feelings and romance between Alex and Imogen. Without spoilers, there is more about Imogen's eldest child and that part of the story made me tear up (happy tears!). If you are looking to read something heartfelt and uplifting, this is a great choice.

Alex is new in town and meets Imogen, her neighbor and mother of four. They become fast friends, and when Imogen discovers her husband has been cheating on her, Imogen and her kids move in with Alex. As they live together, the families mix and start to form something new. Alex and Imogen grow into stronger versions of themselves, and their friendship becomes something more.
I literally could not love this book more. I have no notes.

It’s always nice to see queer romance between characters who are over thirty, and the fact that both our leads are not only mothers but love being moms is a welcome change. Ishihiro’s art is bright and detailed, giving each character a distinct design.

A sapphic love story with middle aged women coming to terms with their lives and losses. I couldn't have loved this more. You so rarely see love stories like these with such real, flawed, a human characters. One MC, plus size nurturing Imogen, has been a full time mother her whole life and as she realizes some ugly realities that have been hidden from her she's forced to start over again and finds herself realizing things about herself that she's never even allowed herself to consider. Alex, our other MC, is moving back into her childhood house after her controlling and emotionally distant parents pass away after a long time of her being their caregivers. Both women find solace and friendship with the other and as things get more complicated they begin to get closer.

This story was elegantly told, very relatable, and I loved it all entirely. There is excellent character growth and a rainbow of queer main and side characters. Highly recommend this one!

Ich habe Motherlover absolut geliebt! Diese Graphic Novel erzählt auf berührende Weise von Mutterschaft, Freundschaft und den unsichtbaren Herausforderungen des Alltags. Imogen, eine vierfache Mutter, und Alex, eine erfolgreiche alleinerziehende Mutter, könnten nicht unterschiedlicher sein, doch ihre unerwartete Bindung wirkt authentisch und fesselnd.

Neben der herzlichen Geschichte ist auch die Kunst beeindruckend. Die ausdrucksstarken Illustrationen erwecken die Emotionen der Figuren zum Leben und machen die Geschichte noch immersiver.

Das Buch zeigt die Herausforderungen und Opfer der Mutterschaft auf eine ehrliche Weise. Es hat mich zum Lachen gebracht, zum Nachdenken angeregt – und meine eigene Mutter noch mehr wertschätzen lassen.

This was a beautiful graphic novel. I loved the main characters and their different stories of how they came to be mothers. I also loved the way they both grew over the course of the story and dealt with their personal struggles. The art was really beautiful, and I liked how each character was designed. It was just a wonderful story to read.

This is for the moms who figure out that they are a little queer, a lot later in life. And for stay-at-home mothers who realize that they want a little more in life than just being known as a good mother.
Motherlover is a love letter to older queer women. This graphic novel is adorable and beautifully written. I enjoyed the slice-of-life aspect of the piece. Readers experience the two main characters as they adjust to their new lives together. A super cute must-read.

I absolutely loved Motherlover! This graphic novel beautifully explores motherhood, friendship, and the struggles we don’t always see on the surface. Imogen, a stay-at-home mom of four, and Alex, a successful single mother, seem like total opposites, but their unexpected bond is so genuine and compelling.

Beyond the heartfelt story, the artwork is stunning. The expressive illustrations bring the characters and emotions to life in such a powerful way. Every page is rich with detail, making the story feel even more immersive.

As their friendship deepens, the book reveals the challenges, sacrifices, and hidden complexities of motherhood. It made me laugh, reflect, and, most of all, appreciate my own mom even more.

Motherlover is a wonderfully sweet story about life, being queer, and finding out who you are and how to love that person. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the page composition is perfect- I couldn't stop reading! The colors are fun, the lines are bold, and the illustration style is beautiful. I love seeing romance with protagonists this age.

Genuinely wonderful graphic novel romance. The artwork is warm and inviting, the story is both sweet and empowering, and the whole thing just feels like a hug and reminder that the world isn't that bad. <3

An delightful story of falling in love and finding partnerships that work. I love how the trans narratives weaved seamlessly into the main story. The characters were compelling and their romance was delightful. I know many supportive moms will want to read this - I will be preordering.

It's been some time since I enjoyed a graphic novel that is both queer and also meant for adults, so getting to indulge in "Motherlover" by Lindsay Ishihiro certainly felt like a treat. The story is filled with love, loss, and the all-important discovery of oneself as the characters go along on their journies. Ishihiro did a wonderful job of making the main characters likable and relatable, even for those of us who are not parents. The art style was lovely and fun to look at with a good deal of detail and care put into each panel.

What's great about this story is that it's queer, but not focused wholly on being queer. Though we see a 'coming out' of sorts, that's not the entirety of the plot, which is refreshing since many queer stories seem to center on that. Additionally, if you're looking for trans rep, you'll find it here!

For a little sapphic slice of life, check out this graphic novel -- you won't be disappointed!

This is a beautiful book, and perfect for any teen or middle-grade department. It's a beautiful love story, tastefully told, with all the right balances of humor and heartache and acceptance. Not your typical coming out story, either, which makes for a unique read.

This was incredibly sweet! A warm hug of a grahpic novel that touches on lots of different things without it feeling forced: marriage, adultery, relationship anxiety, marriage law, being a parent to queer kids, building community, feminism, coming out later in life, new beginnings and much more!

4.5 stars. A very sweet graphic novel about new neighbors Imogen and Alex. First they bond as fellow moms, then they become friends, and there might be something more. The art was lush--I especially like how Imogen's red hair is drawn so vividly. I hope there will be more in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was SO SO cute. I really loved it. I never get enough middle aged romance that include women, so this was such a treat. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of this in the future!