a beautiful and complex memoir about a beautiful and complex relationship. i will never get tired of reading about mothers and daughters.

Mothers and daughters, oh my,. The relationship can be fraught under any circumstances. Add in divorce, poverty, mental illness, homelessness and more and you are in a toxic stew of love, guilt, fear, family and stress. This memoir captures all of it -- the pride, embarrassment, shame and loyalty of a single mom raising two girls and facing so many obstacles. At times, you may chafe at a grifter sensibility of doing what it takes to keep a roof over their heads, protect the car from the repo man, etc. but this story also shows the grit, determination and faith it takes to keep trying. I think this book will be triggering for some who have experienced some of this in their lives,. It is also a quick and authentic read that makes you think twice about all the safety and security we often take for granted.

Erika J. Simpson's inventive memoir is a touching tribute to her late mother, who never wavered in her faith despite the challenges of poverty, single parenthood, and cancer. From its first lines onward, this debut invites readers to get to know and admire Sallie Carol, a larger-than-life figure who died in 2013. The dual timeline toggles between the final five months of her mother's life and Simpson's memories of her own childhood in Decatur, Georgia and early adulthood in Chicago. Incorporating various formats and voices, the book has verve and lightness that contrast with the family's struggles. Sallie Carol's piety is clear from the language Simpson uses, with chapters titled "Genesis" and "Exodus" and her sayings presented like scripture. The recurrent use of second-person narration draws readers in. [Full BookBrowse review at link] (3.5 stars)

See full review on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website: ‘This Is Your Mother,’ a memoir about a complicated mom and her belief in miracles

"Erika J. Simpson writes a compelling scene in her evocative debut memoir “This Is Your Mother” about how a professor dashed her dream of becoming an actor during her freshman year of college. “Acting is a cheap trick,” her professor says after watching Simpson perform an auto-drama depicting her mother’s arrest in a Decatur Walmart when she was 8 years old. “But writing, some things can’t be taught. And you’ve got it, kid.”

At the time, Simpson wanted to be a movie star and was crushed. But after reading her forthright, heartbreaking and stunningly beautiful exploration of her relationship with her mother, it’s easy to agree Simpson is indeed a gifted storyteller..."

https://www.ajc.com/arts-entertainment/2025/04/this-is-your-mother-a-memoir-about-a-complicated-mom-and-her-belief-in-miracles/

A raw and unflinching memoir. It is not for the faint of heart. The author does a lovely job outlining this memoir from start to finish. It is not my favorite memoir I have read this year but it is still a well written and thoughtful book. I think a lot of women will connect with the dark subject matter and content. Very profound and wholly original.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the eARC!

This book was GORGEOUS!! Simpson is a phenomenal writer, and I loved the different formats she used in this book. It's a beautiful meditation on life and its complexities: grief, family, growing up, poverty, mental illness, overcoming, hope.
The book is not terribly long, but it's just so good. I know it's a book I'll pick up again and again, and I know it will be a help to me when my own mother passes.
I loved the way Simpson spoke about her mother. She didn't shy away from the hard parts or the gritty parts. Or her own emotions about her mother. But she also welcomed you in her world and explained her mother in different ways throughout the book.
I loved her connection to her sister, and I love that Simpson left room for them each to have their own interpretation of their mother.
Truly a one-of-a-kind book, and I can't wait to see what else Simpson writes in the future!

Such a beautifully written memoir. So much beauty even within the pain. I look forward to reading more from Erika Simpson. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

named top ten most anticipated and blurbed by the magnificent roxane gay for good reason. This Is Your Mother demands attention from readers everywhere; an intensely emotional but beautiful reflection on girlhood, motherhood, and the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter despite hardships. Simpson weaves the story of her own life as well as her mothers to show readers who she is without her mom, and because of her. a heart-warming memoir for the masses.

this memoir was so beautifully written and i'm still marinating the emotions that i had after i was done reading it. it made me smile, laugh, warmed my heart and UGLY CRIED throughout the end.

this is a must read for EVERYBODY.

thank you for giving me an opportunity to read it early