It was nice to read an honest account of a relationship with breasts. I was diagnosed 3 months ago at 44, and I had a double mastectomy 2 months ago, (left for the cancer, right to keep me from tipping over or walking in circles) and it has been a rollercoaster. I use dark humor to cope, so it was nice to read something that I personally relate to, without it trying to inspire me or to live laugh love 🤮

Thank you, NetGalley and Mobius Books, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

In three essays (Sex, Food, Cancer), Edelstein surveys the major roles breasts have played in her life. This memoir is a quick read (100 pages) but packs a punch. I was particularly interested in reading the third essay (Cancer) and appreciated Edelstein's reflections on her genetic condition (Lynch syndrome), diagnosis, treatment, etc. Her reflections on the accompanying complicated emotions and decisions are raw, real, and relatable.

📖BOOK: Breasts: A Relatively Brief Relationship by Jean Hannah Edelstein
📱FORMAT: Kindle - ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Hachette Mobius
📚GENRE: Memoir
📅RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2025
🏢PUBLISHER: Hachette Mobius
📄PAGES: 112
⭐RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 out of 5 stars)

🧳SYNOPSIS:
”In this short, striking memoir, Jean Hannah Edelstein charts the course of her unexpectedly brief relationship with breasts.

As she comes of age, she learns that breasts are a source of both shame and power. In early motherhood, she sees her breasts transform into a source of sustenance and a locus of pain. And then, all too soon, she is faced with a diagnosis and forced to confront what it means to lose and rebuild an essential part of yourself.”

💬THE VIBE:

Equal parts lighthearted and deeply reflective. Compact but powerful.

💡STANDOUT ELEMENTS:

Edelstein captures the complicated relationships people have with breasts…from form, to function, to malfunction.
The balance of humor and gravity makes it both approachable and thought-provoking.
Its brevity works in its favor. It is a perfect-sized memoir that lingers long after you finish.

🧠WHAT STUCK:

The honesty. The way Edelstein talks about the cultural, personal, and medical facets of breasts without flinching, yet still with warmth and humanity.

👎WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:

Honestly, nothing major. If anything, I just wished there were a few more pages to sit with.

🤔IF YOU LIKE:

Short memoirs that pack a punch
Writing that blends wit and poignancy
Honest explorations of identity, body, and self

🙅‍♀️IF YOU DON’T LIKE:

Books that touch on illness, loss, or the body in unvarnished ways
Concise reads (this is brief, but impactful)

📝FINAL VERDICT:

4 stars

Breasts: A Relatively Brief Relationship is short but it packs a punch. Edelstein balances funny and profound so well, and somehow keeps it light while still giving it real weight. It’s the kind of memoir that makes you stop and think about the body and all the complicated stories it holds.

I think the exchange of information among women about Breast Cancer, prevention and even just the basics of breastfeeding serves a greater purpose so Bravo to this Author.

If we are female, we eventually discover these breasts of ours and for a certain period they may be ornamental or entertaining. Later in life, they may be a method of feeding our babies and then the author described the final stage where sometimes those breasts will try to kill you.

Despite the serious nature of Cancer, this author shares her experiences as a young woman, a Mother and finally as someone who lit the path ahead for the countless others who will have to figure out their way with Cancer.

Her detailed care plan after a malignancy plus the strategy that she took on for breastfeeding took this book from a 3 Star to a 4 Star rating for me. I enjoyed that there were plenty of light moments in the book though & sometimes you do have to laugh or find the humor,

I think it would be a thoughtful book to share with a girlfriend who is worried about breastfeeding or has concerns about breast cancer or just a book for someone you love.

The introduction was what kept me reading when the author reminsced about the first bra she purchased and went into the description decades earlier.. I, too, can recall mine and I thought that was a sweet way of beginning the story.

I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was an eye-opening experience. It highlights the realities of being a woman and shows the importance and meaning of breasts in our lives. At times, it manages to be funny and lighthearted in many parts, which makes it easy to read. The chapters are divided into three main themes of sex, food, and cancer, and each theme explores the author's experiences and how her breasts shape her everyday life, her role as a mother, and her health. As a single woman who hasn't really given much thought much on motherhood or women’s health, I wasn't really informed or educated before, but this book is a great gateway into learning about breastfeeding, breast cancer, and mastectomy for beginners. However, the book does not provide sufficient information on these topics, as it mainly focuses on the author's thoughts, emotions and experiences at the time. Her struggles as a new mother and a cancer survivor were especially moving and painful to read, and I think many women will find it relatable and meaningful, no matter their age or background.

5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was immensely personal and yet completely relatable (I too have breasts, and a lot of mixed feelings about them). The writing was accessible and well-crafted, it almost felt like hearing a personal story from a friend.

While I enjoyed the first two parts, the final part will stick with me the most I think. I can relate to the author’s unexpected early cancer diagnosis, and although I didn’t have breast cancer, the way she spoke about the shock of it resonated with me.

Breasts are such a complicated body feature, and I think this book did a good job of touching upon the many facets of what it means to have breasts, how society perceives breasts, and what it means to lose them.

This was quite short, but I appreciated that. I suspect the author is not done yet thinking about her breasts, and that this was a snapshot of her perspective, and that feels right for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. My opinions are my own.