Spring Preview: Books on Motherhood, Womanhood + Friendship
Not a single man in sight, hooray!
Welcome to the Spring Book Preview! This roundup includes titles already released or soon-to-be-released from January through May, and have themes around motherhood, womanhood, and female friendship. I hope you’ll find a book or two to add to your TBR pile - and please add any other recently released or upcoming books you’re excited about in the comments!
Show Dont Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Sittenfeld, the widely adored author of Prep, Eligible, American Wife and most recently Romantic Comedy, is back with an essay collection that Vogue touts as a “hugely entertaining and formidably intelligent tour through the psyche of mostly middle-aged mothers (and a few fathers), moderately content and successful and still yearning for more.” Ahem, yes. Available now.
Too Soon by Betty Shamieh
This debut follows three generations of Palestinian American women as they navigate war, migration, motherhood, and creative ambition—a timely and sure to be stirring read with a really compelling framework. Available now.
Crush by Ada Calhoun
Calhoun, a memoirist/nonfiction writer, takes her first stab at fiction writing with this debut novel about marriage, sex, heartbreak and desire. I heard it referenced as “2025’s All Fours” which of course instantly piqued my interest. Available now.
The Strange Case of Jane O by Karen Thompson Walker
A year after her son is born, Jane begins experiencing a series of hallucinations, amnesia, and premonitions—leading her to a psychologist to help her understand what’s going on. Three days later she goes missing. 24 hours later she is found unconscious in Prospect Park with no recollection of what transpired. A dissection of motherhood, trauma, memory and the bonds of love, this novel is one a lot of people will be talking about. Available now.
Mothers and Other Fictional Characters by Nicole Graev Lipson
A memoir in essays, Lipson reframes the literary narratives of womanhood, searching for alternative visions of motherhood, female friendship, solitude and beyond to forge a new story for her life. Out March 4.
Motherdom by Alex Bollen
If you’ve ever felt like a failing mom (hi! me!), this researched-based nonfiction book explores the cultural ideal of the perfect mother and why it’s so flawed and unattainable. Bollen argues that however we choose to parent will come with critique, offering a new perspective for mothers on what it means to be enough for our children. Out March 4.
Kate and Frida by Kim Fay
Set in the 1990s in Seattle and Paris is the story of an unlikely friendship between Kate and Frida. Frida, an aspiring war correspondent in Paris, writes to Kate, a bookseller in Seattle—and gets more than the book she requested. The two see each other through the ups and downs of their 20s, leaning on each other through the transitions, heartbreaks, and delights of early adulthood. Available March 25.
Heartwood by Amity Gaige
42-year-old Valerie goes missing in the Maine woods. Told from the POV of three women—Valerie, writing letters to her mother; Beverly, a game warden tasked with finding Valerie; and Lena, a 76-year-old birdwatcher in Connecticut drawn in by news of the mystery—this literary suspense “inspires larger questions about the many ways in which we get lost, and how we are found.” Out April 1.
The Book of Alchemy by
Not exactly on theme, but I had to include this as it’s one of my most anticipated spring relseases. I love Suleika’s work (her memoir Between Two Kingdoms is wonderful, and her newsletter is a must-read for me)—this guide to journaling is sure to provide a lot of fuel to the creative fire. Out April 22.
Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick
Mickey is left a considerable inheritance from her estranged father, with one catch: she has to go to therapy with Arlo who, unbeknownst to her, is her half sister—the one her father abandoned her to raise, and who was left out of her father’s will. Not only will I read any books about sisters, the wonderful blurbed this book as “stunningly fresh and darkly funny” which is just about all the endorsement I need. Out April 29.
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I blame you for my ever expanding TBR list
so many books and many sound interesting---how do you find the time? maybe I will pick one the mysteries sound good to me---your new adventure is taking off!