I Was Told There’d Be a Village by Melissa Wirt of Latch Mama is an excellent NF read for mothers. This is a self-help, prescriptive NF, which is about motherhood and finding people to build your village, because mothering on an island, alone, is so incredibly hard.

I really liked the honesty in this book, and the engaging way Melissa wrote this story with experiences of her own, and other mothers she’s spoken with. This book let me know that the idea of going out and “peopling” to make friends and find your village isn’t just daunting to me, but is a challenge for many.

In reading this book I had to pause several times to fully absorb what I’d read, and to then go and work out what my own hesitations and challenges were that could be causing a barrier for myself. The pauses made it take longer for me to get through the book, but I don’t see this as a negative. Rather, it helped me do some hard work, which is a positive.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which is incredibly well done. Narrated by Melissa Wirt, the author, made this audiobook feel more genuine. I listened at 1.75x speed (this is my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listener copy.

The title "I was told there's be a village" instantly grabbed me, because yes, parenting is hard and where is the village!? I had mixed feelings about this book though. It is part memoir, part advice on building connections with other mums and asking for help through the difficult times in motherhood.
A lot of Wirt's experience is completely foreign to me. Home-schooling, white, stay at home mums, with 6-ish kids, are the majority of representations in this book. None of this is remotely relatable to me or anyone I have ever met in real life! But some motherhood experiences are pretty universal and some of that resonated. I did like her concept of individualistic mindset vs village mindset.
I realised what my main issue with the book was when she quoted Sheryl Sandberg. This is very Lean In feminism advice - it's all up to women to change their behaviour to fix the problems. The book solely focuses on mums asking other women for help. There is never the slightest consideration given to the idea that maybe the DADS COULD ACTUALLY TAKE PART IN PARENTING!!! While yes, connecting with other mums is hugely important, and we could and should do more, but it is a very narrow view.

Thank you @grandcentralpub for the gifted ALC.

I binged this audiobook in two days because it was so good. The author narrates this herself which I always love. As a mom to two young children, this book really resonated with me. I really had the mindset that motherhood is hard and it's just how it is. I loved the tips and action steps that the author gave to help shift our mindset to a "village mindset" to build connection. This book validated my feelings and made me feel like I wasn't alone in this crazy motherhood journey.

I will definitely be relistening to this again!

Highly highly recommend this to all moms. It's such an engaging listen that I think you'll love it too.

I Was Told There’d Be a Village is a heartfelt and relatable read, especially for mothers navigating the chaos and beauty of parenthood. The author captures the emotional highs and lows with honesty and humor, making it easy to connect with her experiences. However, some of the reflections began to feel a bit repetitive, and certain themes were revisited more than necessary, which slowed the overall pace. Still, it’s a comforting and validating book for moms looking to feel seen, earning a solid 3 stars.

This book is an ok intro into what a village could possibly look like, but I fear that the real meaning of the village is not really there.

It mostly tells you how you can ask for help, which can be useful for some people, but being part of a village is not only complaining and asking for help but also being there for others. When talking about others' needs is very short and superficial.

Also, the constant plug for her business
makes it feel like I'm reading a sponsored post without the hashtag warning that this is an ad.

The two things that bothered me most is that this is definitely written from a privileged point of view, which I can't judge too much since you can only speak from life experiences and well, this is her's, but there's a very limited group of people that can relate to this.

The Other thing that bothered me was the fact that it seems to be telling us that only Other mother's can be part of the village, I have amazing friends, who are not mother's who are always there as my village.

I would suggest you look for a person who's life and culture is already village centered and learn from them if this is something you are actually interested in.

Melissa recounts her own experience with isolation as a mom and the strategies both she, and others she knows, to build more connection. She acknowledges both how hard it is for moms to do this work as well as how necessary it is. I thought there were a lot of good ideas for slowly beginning to reduce isolation and build connection, and she acknowledges that it is hard work.

I thought there were a few sections that were too focused on her own experience of connection in motherhood, but I generally appreciated the anecdotes from her own life as well as those of others that illustrated the different strategies throughout the book.

I thought Melissa did a wonderful job narrating her own words.

This book was a relatable view into modern motherhood. I wish I would have had this as a resource in my earliest days as a mom. Provided tangible ideas for how to build community as a mom navigating the world.

This audiobook is great for any mom who thinks she’s too busy for friends. The author does a great job narrating, and she leads with her own imperfections: she is not a perfect mom, and Latched Mama is not a perfect company. And yet, every mom deserves women who see us and support us through matrescence and child rearing and our identity crises.

I found myself laughing and crying along (trigger warning for miscarriage) with the author and the stories from the Latched Mama community about trying to go it alone, attempting to make friends, and building communities only to have them fall apart. By the second chapter, Wirt had already motivated my introvert self to replace the daily life-giving caffeine and sugar fixes with connection.

There are inspirational stories, but also plenty of stories of solidarity so it never feels too preachy. I really would recommend giving this book to any mom. I loved it, it inspired me to keep trying to build my village, and the audiobook is the perfect format for my phase of motherhood. I am so glad this book exists.

This is an audiobook I'll return to on days and periods where I feel lonely or self critical in motherhood. Thanks NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for a review.
As a new mom this listening experience made me feel seen and understood. The suggestions and exercises to improve connection and happiness in motherhood were digestible and doable. Most of it is logical or familiar if you go to therapy (hi, me) but as the author continuously makes a point of recognizing it's hard to remember the basics and do simple things when your system is flooded and overwhelmed in the thick of motherhood and consumed with taking care of tiny humans.
Although I say some of the advice feels logical, and perhaps not revolutionary, they are things I often find myself forgetting these things in everyday life. The author also bolsters some of the "simple" suggestions or reflections with scientific studies. Further, demonstrating how easy it is to succumb to perfectionism in motherhood as a coping mechanism and exploring how as humans we have successfully (or unsuccessfully) created community - with both current and historical examples and studies.
I found the author's humility and vulnerability in sharing her how experience, as well as how she shared other moms' stories from her communities was an effective way in connecting with the audience and acknowledging the challenges moms face in western (individualistic) culture.
All in all this listen was reassuring and a warm hug for a new mom, or any moms in the thick of motherhood and struggling with feelings of isolation or inadequacy.

This book was exactly what my soul needed. “I Thought There Would Be a Village” by Melissa Wirt is an honest, deeply encouraging, and practical look at the importance of community for moms—whether you have toddlers, teens, or anything in between.

Wirt puts words to something so many of us feel: motherhood can be isolating, and while we’re told we need a “village,” no one really shows us how to find or build one. This book doesn’t just name the ache—it gently guides you toward healing with small, realistic steps for creating genuine connections.

There were too many quotes that spoke to me in this book, but one that hit me hardest was: “Secrecy is fertilizer for shame.” Another favorite: “It is so tempting to spend your precious free minutes chilling the heck out…but when you are feeling like an empty husk, it may be more beneficial to make time for something that reminds you of who you are, something that fills your cup.” It was such a needed reminder that sometimes true rest comes not from checking out, but from reconnecting with what matters.

Wirt’s words are compassionate but real—she doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of building community, but she does make it feel doable. Her advice feels like a friend taking your hand and saying, “Let’s figure this out together.”

If you’ve ever felt alone in motherhood or unsure how to find your people, this book is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for my advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Sometimes when you read self-help or parenting books, the content becomes repetitive and uninteresting. That was not the case with this book. I learned and realized new ideas about parenting that I had not thought about before.

Thoughts I loved:
• Standing side by side with moms who do things differently instead of engaging in judgment. It’s an act of solidarity. Judgment is a by-product of self-consciousness.
• Asking for help is (initially) counterintuitive and uncomfy
• Pack parenting (I’m about it)
• Moms need validity, not just resources or solutions
• Practice getting accustomed to discomfort so you can have relationships that transcend opinions, decisions, or other differences
• ACCEPT help

Thoughts I struggled with:
• Her discussion of widening your network—“the LinkedIn Effect” made making relationships sound like business transactions, which, as a businessperson, maybe she does see things that way
• I’m cynical about whether Village Parenting would really work. I don't see people going out of their way for me, even though I would love to help others (thus, why I gravitated toward this book)
• Admittedly, this book says being a “village mom” requires both making a mental shift and taking action/following through

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing, and Melissa Wirt for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Warm, honest, and empowering, I Was Told There’d Be a Village is a must-read for any mom feeling overwhelmed or alone. A beautiful reminder that we’re not meant to do this alone—and that building a village is possible.

Thank you to Melissa Wirt, Hatchette Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a mom of 7, I've read many parenting books over the years. This book was the first that I felt accurately depicted the utter exhaustion and loneliness that inevitably becomes a part of modern day motherhood. Wirt weaves together her own experiences at various stages of her mothering to help nearly every type of mother feel seen and heard with their own struggles.

If this book had been available 10+ years ago I know it would have made me get up and out of the house a little bit more to find those small simple connections that can make such a big difference in your day and over all mental health.

Highly recommend that every new mother read this book!

I had never heard of Latched Mama or the author before but this book was such an awesome read. The author really brought home how alone motherhood can feel and did the most to share great fixes for how to build that tribe. I loved all the anecdotes from friends and from the author herself. They really helped me to feel not alone and reminded me that it's important to have a village and that it's me who ultimately has to build it.

This was a quick, insightful read about finding your people as a mom. I'm reading this while in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and can't wait to put some of the ideas here to practice! I thought Melissa did a good job making this digestible, interesting, and conversational! It felt very doable, but still incredibly helpful too.

Although I'm not a mother, I was really interested by Melissa Wirt's advice. I found the book comforting instead of overwhelming. She's very open and honest about her experiences and motherhood in general. She's honest about the awkwardness anyone would feel about asking for help.

I feel her advice can be applied to any situation that may be difficult where people are responsible for someone, not just in a parenting situation. For example, I have disabilities and require care. I found the book helpful.

I like the catchy title for a play on words based on the idea that it takes a village. The title I was told there'd be a village says to me that this societal assumption that people will always be there to rally round and help is not always true in reality. It's also about asking yourself if you realize people are there to help you or not.

I enjoyed being witness to Melissa and her family's life changes, and life with five kids under eight years old. Their experience of moving home and other things.

I find the fact that Melissa is both the author and narrator of the book special, as I think that having the author read the book adds to the authenticity of the writing, and even more so when it's nonfiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone, mother or not, who has ever experienced feelings of disappointment when those who said they'd be there for them arent, or when thinngs work out differently than expected in their lives.

Thanks to Melissa Wirt and for my audiobook in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

Reading I Was Told There’d Be a Village felt like sitting down with a trusted friend who just gets it. From the first chapter, I felt so deeply seen. Melissa Wirt doesn’t sugarcoat the messy, overwhelming, isolating parts of motherhood—but she also doesn’t leave you stranded in them. This book isn’t just a memoir, it’s a manual. A survival guide. A letter to the mothers who are drowning in the newborn haze and wondering why no one prepared them for how truly hard this season can be.

As a mom to a baby who struggled with colic and reflux, I found myself nodding (and crying) along with so many of her personal accounts. The exasperation at hearing well-meaning but dismissive comments like “all babies cry” hit me right in the gut. Wirt captures that silent scream we hold inside—the exhaustion, the self-doubt, the craving for someone to just show up and say, you’re not imagining this, this is really hard, and I see you.

What I appreciated most was her insistence on the importance of building a village—not waiting for one to be handed to you. It’s a hard truth that I needed to hear. As someone who leans more introverted, it’s difficult to put myself out there.

When I was pregnant, What to Expect When You're Expecting and What to Expect During the First Year were bibles among moms. They were great but were missing something about connection.

I Was Told There'd Be A Village should be in every mom's arsenal of tools.

Parts of the book had me in tears and some in laughter but there was a wonderful feeling throughout of found family.

Full disclosure, I decided not to finish this book once I got to the 30% mark and skimmed some more only because I’m just not the target market for it, but what I listened to was lovely.

This is the book most new moms probably need to listen to or read; I wish I had had it in that season of my life. It’s highly encouraging and upbeat while acknowledging many of the struggles that come with navigating young motherhood. While it seems I have a slightly different value system than the author, overall I could appreciate the heart of it and where she’s coming from. Maybe you won’t relate to (or agree with) it all but if not it still may help you understand someone else. Motherhood is hard, and you don’t have to do it alone.

I listened to the audiobook version and really enjoyed the authors narration. She was pleasant to listen to and just sounded like a friend talking to you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this book. All opinions are my own.

This book talks about an extremely important issue in modern motherhood. I can't tell you how many women I know who have had kids thinking their community will show up for them and then didn't.

I loved the practical steps in this book and the mindset shifts.

Once the author started talking about her lawsuit she became unrelatable. It seemed like she wasn't taking responsibility for her role in the conflict. Also when she talked about the women who wasn't a fit for being friends with her that made me uncomfortable. I hope she got that woman's permission to share the story, but also the author seemed so judgmental and rude.

The audio quality was great and I enjoyed the narrator.

Genre: Nonfiction
Age: Adult
Read for: Netgalley
Obtained from: Thanks to Harper Audio and Netgalley for the Advanced Listening Copy