I loved the first half of this book. It was engaging with the back story of how Sandy got with Justin. Somewhere along the way, the story started getting choppy with the timelines and the situations happening to the mothers. The pacing was also a bit all over the place.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Three mothers, Stephanie, Sandy, and Kaya, discover they each have a child from the same man and decide to raise the children together.

All the Mothers had an interesting premise and a beautiful book cover. What the three female protagonists have created is an unconventional but loving family. I liked that the author, Domenica Ruta, doesn't write overly precocious children. They're just babies, toddlers, and school-age children with ups and downs, and their mothers love them. Of course, Steph's child, Ash, was my personal favorite. The baby daddy and his mother, who felt he could do no wrong, perfect villains for this story.

I did find that a lot happens in the last 15-20% of the novel and it had me feeling that everything was a little rushed to wrap up the story. All in all, it was a good story; it didn't sweep me off my feet, but I enjoyed my reading experience.



Expected Publication Date 06/05/25
Goodreads Review Date 11/04/25
#AlltheMothers #NetGalley.

All the Mothers is a haunting and beautifully written novel that dives deep into the messy, often painful realities of motherhood, identity, and loss. Domenica Ruta’s lyrical prose and emotional insight are undeniable, and there are passages that hit like a gut punch.

That said, this was a tough read—emotionally heavy from start to finish. The overall tone is quite bleak, and at times, it felt like it lingered in sadness without offering much relief or resolution. It’s one of those books where you have to be in the right headspace to take it on. As someone who struggled herself both times she had a new baby, it was still difficult to read.

Sandy, one of the central characters, was especially frustrating. Her constant cycle of poor decisions—particularly when it came to men—was hard to watch unfold. Her relationships often felt self-destructive, and while that might have been the point, it made it harder to root for her.

There’s no denying Ruta’s talent, and I respect what she set out to do with this book. But for me, the emotional weight and lack of narrative cohesion made it more admirable than enjoyable.

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A story of motherhood among single, young ladies that share a baby daddy. One would expect drama among the ladies; however, this story gives you the opportunity to see relationships bloom positively among the mothers. A sense of community is formed, and the shared children are the key to it all. We all need help and these women come to learn that as they become a family all their own.

3.5 stars

I came to this book for the colorful, appealing cover, and I'm glad I stayed to find out what was actually inside. This is my first book by Ruta.

Sandy and this lackluster fellow get pregnant, and as is the case with some dudes, this guy drops the ball so fast. It turns out this is actually what he's best at: impregnating and running. What's funny is that the various women with whom he does this bond through their shared experiences and getting to know their children's half siblings as well as their mothers, and they develop what the blurb for this book refers to as a "mommune." I'm not sure the catchy word is necessary here. These women are doing what they can to survive in the face of a deadbeat dude, growing children, and their own residual troubles. While potentially too idyllic, the idea is nice at least, and anything that harms Justin - including his exes having a long-term meeting of the minds - is a win in my book.

I quite intentionally do not have children, and this guy and this situation are high on the long list of nightmares I'm very glad to have avoided thus far, but I still found myself entertained by the narrative and characters, especially Ash, who is a real highlight here. This was an intriguing read that did not quite knock my socks of but DID keep me entertained and engaged overall.

I really enjoyed Domenica Ruta’s All the Mothers. The novel follows Sandy who, following years being unlucky in love and the recent loss of her mother, meets Justin and quickly becomes pregnant. Sandy soon realizes that Justin is not the man nor co-parent of her dreams and that he shares a child with another woman. Sandy connects with the other mother and they begin to support each other as their raise their children. I genuinely flew through this book because I was so interested to see where the plot would take Sandy and all the other characters. I loved the family these mothers were able to create despite Justin’s lack of interest or help. I recommend All the Mothers if you’re looking for an exploration of modern motherhood and family dynamics that features very compelling storytelling! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book was incredible. It’s a little out of my comfort zone, but I was drawn to it. I’m sooo happy I read it. I love the relationship between Sandy and the other mothers. I found it so wholesome. I could relate a lot with this book as I am a mother myself. This book really brought out the emotions for me and I can’t stop thinking about it. This is such a good book and I highly recommend it.

Tired of failed relationships and lonely nights, Sandy takes a chance on a dating app and meets Justin—a grunge band singer with charm but little consistency. When an unplanned pregnancy upends her life, Sandy decides to keep the baby, only to discover Justin has a hidden past: a daughter with another woman, Stephanie.

After tracking down Stephanie, the two women bond and form a support system, eventually expanding into a “momune” with another mother Justin left behind. Together, they juggle work, childcare, and heartbreak—until Justin’s new wife tries to take custody of the kids.

This is a story of unconventional family, resilience, and the power of women supporting women. Ruta weaves humor, heartache, and feminist grit into a refreshing, emotionally layered narrative. A heartfelt read about what motherhood—and chosen family—can really look like.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The content of this just did not vibe with me. I read about half of it and really did not enjoy it. I found it to be slow and i did not connect with the haracters are at all

I love that this group of women whose only connection was that their children’s father was the same were able to come together and create what many women are looking for today a family. Not every family is going to look the same, and one person may come into your life and look like they have ruined everything. When in fact they opened a door, you never knew you needed to lead you to the people you are really supposed to be with.
Thank you to Random House publishing Group and Negalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This is an adorable, sweet book about women banding together after being done wrong by the same man. Finally women are realizing men aren't worth fighting for. The tone is a little off sometimes--the premise suggests high comedy when the reality of these women's poverty-shaped lives makes that impossible--but it's a very satisfying read.

I enjoyed this one. It is like "Sister Wives" the TV show but without the husband. Three single mothers who have children from the same man decide to live together. The friendships that develop are special.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

All the Mothers is an unflinchingly honest look at the messy reality of single motherhood and redefining family. Domenica Ruta’s writing is raw and deeply human, capturing the complicated emotions that come with love, loss, and unexpected connections. The story doesn’t shy away from the struggles but also leaves room for moments of hope and resilience.

What I really appreciated about this book is how it portrays the imperfect, often chaotic journey of figuring out what family really means. The characters are flawed but relatable, and Ruta has a way of making you feel the weight of their choices without ever being overly sentimental. It’s a story about finding your own path and learning to build a life around the people who truly show up for you.

Thanks to Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for the E-ARC! This was ok. Liked one of the characters. It was a little slow. I don't think this book was for me.

Took me a bit to get into this novel but once I was in I was ONBOARD! This was a heartfelt tale of 3 women who all had children by the same baby dad - who was a complete schmuck! There were a lot of issues touched on in this tale - which at some points seemed hard to believe but overall it was a lovely story of friendship, commitment and the desire to do right by your children in a society that things women should live and be a certain way. This book was refreshing easy to read and normalizes women not doing what is expected of them and having women in their lives who hold them up. Overall an enjoyable read. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the eARc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! As someone who loves stories about friendships, I enjoyed how this book explored platonic love as well as navigating your 20s/30s, disillusion with dating, and modern family/friend dynamics. The first part of the book was a little slow as it set up a lot of background info and character development, but I didn't mind that since this was integral to the second half of plot. By the end, I felt like there were a few too many far-fetched plots that were wrapped up a little too nicely, but I appreciated that it had a feel good ending. I also felt like Sandy (who is the protagonist of the first part of the story) was a little flat. The other characters had big, dynamic personalities, but Sandy kind of felt underdeveloped and passive for arguably being the main character. Ultimately, this was a quick read and unique story that was heartwarming, maddening, and funny all at the same time. 3.5 stars rounded up!

I liked the premise of this book. Three women each have a child with the same man and when they find out about each other, they band together to tackle motherhood, their ex and life in general. While I enjoyed the strong women and found family aspects, parts of the story just felt over the top. Overall, still an enjoyable read about contemporary relationships.

All the Mothers follows Sandy, a single mom who finds out through social media that her ex has a baby with someone new. She ends up forming a connection with the other woman, and the two consider raising their kids together in a kind of modern family arrangement. The premise had potential, but the focus on social media really took me out of it. I don’t usually enjoy that in fiction, and this story didn’t change my mind. It felt flat and lacked anything that truly stood out.

“All the Mothers” is about three women who each have a child with the same deadbeat daddy. Once they find out about each other, they join forces to raise their children, support one another and take on the father of their children. The premise sounded intriguing, but the author chose to include too many social issues from non-binary children to lesbianism to sex workers. The story became less believable, and I lost interest in the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced electronic copy

This book just wasn't for me. It didn't draw me in. I've been avoiding picking it up because I just wasn't loving it. I read 38%. I'm sure it has it's audience it's just not for me.