The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross is a must-read novel for moms. This book is the perfect combination of skillful writing, dramatic suspense, and a thought-provoking topic. Ms. Gross manages to write a book that does not take sides on the unwinnable Mommy Wars. Sometimes the women’s actions are noble and sometimes they are detestable or debatable, yet most mothers will identify with the motivation that the opposing characters share: to give all you have to your children without losing yourself.
In The Other Mother, we meet Andrea, a first-time mom who plans to return to work shortly after the birth of her daughter; and Thea, a seasoned mom of three, who bakes brownies and tends her garden with an enviable air of contentment about her. Andrea and Thea are brought together by the suburban New Jersey neighborhood into which Andrea and her husband have just moved. Gwendolen Gross’ page-turning novel is driven by the tension and attraction between these two women. The novel is written in sections which alternate point-of-view between Andrea and Thea. The women’s thoughts and actions speak for themselves in the first-person telling. “You are more complicated than you seem. But you gave up your own life for this,” Andrea observes to Thea 
and immediately claps her hand over her mouth trying to erase the words that hang in the air. This is the comment that neither woman can forget, because at the core of the choice that each woman makes in regard to her children is the issue of what others think of our decision. The author rightly observes that others judge not only our choice to care for our children full-time or to balance full-time work with a family, but our choice of clothing and even things which we don’t necessarily choose, such as our body type and confidence level, and the actions of our husbands.
The story of a woman’s choice cannot be accurately told without the backdrop of a mother’s love. She perfectly captures this complex reality, from the beauty of a newborn baby to the tender release of your firstborn into adulthood and everything in between. These excerpts of dialogue illustrate the descriptive writing and dead-on understanding of women that you will find in this book:
It hurt to love someone like this, someone who was letting me go every time she walked away.
This was my new normal: juggling guilt and longing. Perhaps the women who stayed home just had more guilt in the mix and succumbed to it, women like Thea, who clearly had talents other than wiping noses and making suppers.
Sometimes, when they were all in the car. . . I forgot, for a guilty, delicious moment or two, that I was a mother of three, on errands, the person in charge.
This is a story about women. The men exist only as seen or recalled through their wives’ memories or interpretations: “I was right from the start, right to fall in love with him. He knew how to pay attention, he wanted to know people. He wanted to know me, even if usually the conversations we had now were about braces for Carra and something new and cute Iris said, about Oliver’s dietary habits instead of about our deepest desires and needs.”
Because of the neutral tone and the way this book addresses the issues that all moms face, this would be a great book club selection, or a book to read and pass around amongst friends. I rate this a strong PG-13 for some thematic elements and occasional use of strong language (Check out my rating info in my profile).
Click here to read more of my thoughts on this book and an interview with the author. Find out more information about Gwendolen Gross and her books on her author site. You are also invited to participate in her free writing workshop blog, “The Other Mother–for Moms Who Want to Write.”
The author has donated two copies that can ship in the U.S. or Canada, so if you would like to win, please leave a comment here. We will announce the winners Monday in our next column.
I love a good book!
Wow–so much interest, thank you! And thank you for such a thoughtful review!
Best wishes,
Gwendolen Gross
http://www.the-other-mother.com
Sign me up…sounds good.
I’m always up for a free book!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the review.
I’m definitely intrigued!
Sounds like a book I would love.
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the opportunity.
love to read and would love to read this!
Ooo, I just love books!
Looks like an interesting book. Please enter me into your drawing.~Amy
Sounds good. Enter me please!
Sounds like an awesome idea for a book! I’d love one!
I’d be interested in having a copy to read.
I hope I’m not to late to add my name to the hat.
For some reason this book cover got my attention plus you did a great write up on it.
Sounds like a good book!!!
Count me in
Thank you for another awesome review!
You’ve done it again -another great read to my list of “Books I Need To Read.”
Please enter my name too. 🙂
Great review. You have me hooked.
Sounds like something that could help me with my own internal struggle on whether to keep working or let go and be home with my daughter.
Sounds very interesting. I would love to win it too. 🙂
I would love to win a copy of this. Sounds interesting!
This sounds really good.
Sounds interesting!
Whether I win or not – this sounds very interesting. It is always such a process to find out what it means to be a “mom”. I am blessed to be a mom and don’t want to judge anyone.
I really want to read this. I just had a baby 9 weeks ago.
Would love this opportunity to win this book. Thanks for the contest.
New book is always interesting to someone who doesn’t have alot of time for reading! Thanks for the contest.
Me too!
Please count me in! Thanks!
I would love to win this book, Jennifer. Please add me.
Love to read! count me in
Always love a good book!
Looks like a good book, count me in!!
Sounds very poignant. Please include me in the drawing. Thanks!
Sounds like a great read. Thanks!
I would love to win this book– as this sounds like a book I would actually read!
This book sounds wonderful! It sounds like the story goes to the very core of every mother’s “fears” and questions about their own choice in motherhood. Thanks for the review!
Please enter me…sounds like a really good book!
I have heard so much about this book – and I’d love to own a copy. Please sign me up!
I’d love to have a copy!
I want this book if for no other reason than one of the characters is named THEA!! Count me in, please.
Always looking for a good read!
Please enter me. Thanks.
Sounds great!
This book is a great idea! Please, please, please enter me!
Interesting. I know I would pass it on.
I’ve played both roles as well and it sounds like an interesting book!
I’d love to win! IN the mean time, I’m adding it to my “to be read” list….so I can request it at our local library!
Thanks!
Ramie
This sounds like a good book, please enter me!
Please count me in. The subject of this book is a very hot topic these days and sounds like an amazing read.
Sounds like a really great read. Count me in.
Please sign me up, it sounds like a great book! thanks!
sounds like a really neat book, count me in on the drawing!
Enter me please.
Enter me 🙂
hi! would love to be entered in this contest; i have given the thought of becoming a writer one day some serious thought as of lately…
I’m intrigued!
I need a new book to read!
Sounds like a really great book!! Count me in!
Beth,
This sounds like me and another mother I know. I would love to read this book.
sounds like a great book! I’d love to have a copy!
This looks like a great read! Thanks for the review.
I would love to win this book!
I really, really want to read this book. Hope I win!
I can’t wait to read this book! Please don’t enter me as I am pretty sure I have one on the way to me already!
Steph
Sounds like a really interesting read…I’m in, please! 🙂
oh i’d love a chance to win! that sounds like a great read…
I’d love to win! Can’t wait to read this book!
I would like a chance to win! 🙂
Sounds like a great book!
a good excuse to read an actual book!
Wow…this sounds like a good one! Definitely adding to my TBR pile whether I win it or not!
Yes, please.
This sounds like a great book. I would love to be entered.
Sounds great. I’d love to win a copy
Sounds like a good read with a slightly different view of the traditional Mommy War stories. I would be interested in reading it and sure I would enjoy it very much!
Sounds like a good read.
Sounds very interesting. Count me in.
Sounds like a great read.
This sounds like a great book! I would love to win a copy. Thanks!
Would LOVE it 🙂
I’ve seen this book around and would love a chance to get my hands on one. Please enter me as well!
Here is my entry.
I’ve been looking for a good book to read – this sounds right up my alley!
Wow, this sounds good, please count me in!
I would love to win a copy of this. Sounds interesting!
Jennifer, excellent review, thank you. Please include me in the drawing.
Hey. This seems like it would be a good ready! Count me in Please!!!
I’m ready to dive into a good book, and this sounds like a great read! Thanks!
Enter me please! Sounds interesting!
Sounds like a really good book! I’m always looking for something new to read 🙂
I’ve been on both sides of this issue – this sounds like a great book! 🙂
Hi Ladies oh i can’t wait to read this book.thanks;-)
Enter me please! Sounds interesting!
I’d love to see a book that can represent both sides of this issue without leaning towards one of the other. Please count me in!
This sounds like a good read. Sign me up!