This was such a wonderfully written novel about motherhood and what it’s like being a woman in general. Watching Elly navigate marriage, motherhood, and all the stressors in between was relatable and so well portrayed in the pages. There are so many takeaways in this book and I loved how realistic everything was. This book was a therapeutic read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

Rules for Mothers is a quiet, emotionally layered novel set in the 1980s that follows Elly Sparrow, a stay-at-home mother of four who has slowly lost sight of herself. From the outside, Elly’s life looks orderly and complete, but internally she feels diminished by the narrow roles of wife and mother that have come to define her entire identity. When her marriage begins to unravel, Elly is forced to confront how little agency she has had in shaping her own life and what it might mean to finally choose herself.

As Elly navigates single motherhood, the day-to-day demands of raising children, and her own internal struggles, the novel explores how women of that era were often expected to suppress their needs and emotions. The book thoughtfully examines women’s mental health at a time when it was stigmatized. Elly’s journey toward independence is not dramatic or fast, but gradual and realistic, marked by uncertainty, fear, and small acts of courage.

What stood out most to me was how accurately the book captures the quiet drowning that can happen when someone lives primarily for others. Elly’s story highlights how easily personal dreams and autonomy can be lost within marriage and motherhood, especially in the cultural context of the 1980s. The novel does a strong job showing how societal expectations shaped women’s choices, or lack of choices, during that time.
This is not a fast-paced book, but a reflective and character-driven one that will resonate with readers interested in stories about identity, self-fulfillment, and the emotional realities of motherhood. Trigger warning: the book does address suicide, which may be difficult for some readers.
Overall, Rules for Mothers is a thoughtful and honest exploration of motherhood, mental health, and the long process of reclaiming one’s sense of self. This is an ARC Review.
#RulesforMothers #NetGalley

With the keen eye of an impressionist painter, Julie Swendsen Young meticulously layers passive aggressive notes and conversations from an emotionally manipulative and distant husband, a broken headlight on the Vanagon, surreptitious glances at kind strangers, endless rounds of laundry and vacuuming and dishes, neverending piles of toys to be picked up, and the caregiving of four young children in her portrayal of Eleanor Sparrow. Although her kids are clean and happy and she's known as a good mother, Elly is slowly but surely suffocating under the weight of motherhood. Like most women of the 1980s, Elly stumbled her way into domesticity, setting aside dreams of travel and pursuing advanced English literature degrees to stay home, clip coupons, and raise four kids while her attorney husband goes on weekend and overnight trips for work. When their marriage dissolves, Elly goes back to work part-time, tries out journaling, reconnects with old friends, and tries to figure out who she is when she's not being martyred for motherhood. What follows is a series of highs and lows rendered in heartbreaking detail as Elly tries to find herself while keeping her broken family together. When it all inevitably falls apart, she discovers that the rules work differently for mothers. A complex, character-driven story that captures both the jagged edges and tenderness of familial bonds. Weaving together hope and tragedy, Elly navigates divorce, depression, and what it really means to be a good mother.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the ARC. Book to be published April 14, 2026.

Eloy Sparrow is dealing with four small children and a workaholic husband and then her husband leaves and she is now a single mother.Watching her deal with her life her coping her daily existence.is so real she is such a strong real character and I enjoyed getting to know her.Sowell written so involving.# NetGalley #rulesformothers