Stephanie Land has helped me understand so much about what life as a poor single mother can be like. As a social service worker I'll forever be grateful for those insights and the empathy and compassion I get from it.

Her writing is great. This book doesn't hit the same way that Maid or Class hit, but I always like her writing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Book Review: The Shelter Within by Stephanie Land

The Shelter Within is a raw and emotionally honest memoir. Stephanie Land does an excellent job examining the lasting effects of trauma, poverty, and survival as she continues doing her best for both her daughter and herself.

She writes with striking honesty about navigating broken systems and the relentless challenge of trying to do what’s right as a single mother. Land shows what it takes to keep moving forward when the odds are stacked against you. Her strength, hope, and resilience shine through as she perseveres, even in the most difficult times.

I found The Shelter Within to be a moving and intimate portrait of what healing truly looks like. It's not just a story of overcoming hardship—it's a powerful example of what it means to succeed, quietly and courageously, against all odds.

i really enjoy stephanie land’s story telling. her narration was great. if you liked maid, you’ll like this. it’s a short and easy story that feels like a bonus chapter in maid with a similar tone and theme.

thank you netgalley and brilliance publishing for the arc!!

⭐⭐⭐✨

In this short essay, Stephanie Land shows us her reality as a writer and as a single mother of an infant and a newborn while struggling financially. It packed a punch and spoke on some topics such as food insecurity or how the system helps (or doesn't) those in need. Would've loved a longer version of this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was truly short and sweet - i seriously wanted more.

I’ve been a fan of Stephanie Land since I read maid. Her writing about her life has this unapologetic honesty to it. You can feel her emotions - shame, joy, fear, love - through every tiny story she tells.

I honestly laughed and cried through this short essay. I related so much to the motherhood stories and Stephanie’s accounts of her poverty on top of it only made it more authentic.

My only complaint is I wanted more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced audiobook copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Shelter Within: a True story is a fast paced glimpse into the world of a single mother a few days after the birth of her second daughter Coraline. The main character is struggling with postpartum, is on welfare and trying her best to make ends meet and survive with her new born daughter and her seven year old daughter Amelia.

When I initially saw the audio book was only an hour long I thought it was a mistake. I could definitely listen to or read more of her fascinating story. The glimpse of it you get leaves you rooting for the main characters and her little family.

Thank you Stephanie and Amazon Original Stories for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This is a short but powerful read (or listen, in my case). In her writing, Stephanie Land bravely shares her experiences as a poor single Mother. With vulnerability she describes specifically what it is like and how it feels. While it is uncomfortable for the reader to walk through this experience with her, we are better for knowing her truth. Hopefully, she can empower others caught in a similar situation. More importantly, it is a powerful message for the rest of us, giving us insight and empathy into the struggle, sparking a desire to help.
I enjoyed this as an Audiobook, read by the author.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.

I just listened to this today, and while it hasn’t had time to fully settle with me, it definitely left an impression. It’s a short audio essay, but a powerful one.

I’ve never had children, but the narrator’s descriptions of early motherhood felt incredibly real—echoing what I’ve heard from friends over the years about the exhaustion and emotional weight of being the only adult in the room. It also made me think more about privilege and how hard it is to raise kids without financial stability or support.

I found myself rooting for the narrator and her kids. That’s why I wished it were longer—not because it lacked anything, but because I wanted to spend more time with them and hear more about their lives.

It inspired me to donate to a nonprofit that supports single moms. Thoughtful,

From author of “The Maid”, comes a similar heartbreaking short story of motherhood, survival and sacrifice. Written in a similar vein, you are drawn right in to the working 2 days postpartum, not knowing when your freelance work will be paid, leaving your child in precarious positions, selling all your possessions and relying on handouts to get you to the next day.

The writing and story telling was so realistic, engaging and enthralling and I would assume most people would listen to this in one sitting. I would fault that the happy ending came too soon and wasn’t realistic, but this was a short story and I assume it needed to be tied up

These carefully crafted words will make you understand exactly what it feels like for a single Mom to have a newborn infant while living in poverty and caring for a seven year old as well. It gives specific direction about how to help families experiencing this situation. Powerful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advance copy.

Stephanie Land is a great story teller. Her willingness to be vulnerable means that the reader is right with her in the muck and rooting for her success. I’m a fan.

That was quick!! As is described, this was an essay about the struggles of poverty and parenthood, beautifully written.

Narrated by the author.

My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

I wish this was a full novel! I love Land’s writing because I immediately fell back into her world with her exceptional and engaging storytelling. She narrates and pulls you into the essay. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early access!

I believe this short story that reflects on the author’s reality and recollection of the time right after her second daughter was born will be relatable to many mothers. Stephanie Land did a very nice job of bringing her readers in to share the struggles she faced as a single mom trying to provide for her daughters and further her career as a writer. I felt her raw emotions. I could feel her fear and hope. This was a quick, emotional read. The narrator was also good. Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy!

5 stars

This story starts off where Land's book "Class" ends, right after the birth of her second daughter Coraline. I have learned so much from reading Land's stories not only about navigating life with limited resources, but about the power of resilience. Land is a force to be reckoned with and I will continue to read all of her books and short stories. Thank you for sharing your life lessons with us. I am so proud of you!

For the audio, I enjoyed having Land narrate her story. Personally, I look for that with memoirs because it feels like you are sitting with that person and they are sharing their story with you (personally).