THE MOTHERS by Brit Bennett

Many readers will know Brit Bennett from her most recent novel, THE VANISHING HALF, which was named a best book of 2020 by the New York Times, NPR and more. (We even gave away copies of it last year!) But her best-selling debut, THE MOTHERS is not to be missed, and a timely read given the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Nadia Turner is a rebellious, grief-stricken, seventeen-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother's recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor's son. Luke Sheppard is twenty-one, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it's not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance—and the subsequent cover-up—will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth.

This story artfully examines the culture of shame and silence around abortion, without over-dramatization. It’s a thoughtful and empathetic read, and would be a great pick for a book club, or initiating a conversation between family and friends. Like the majority of Americans, we support body autonomy and reproductive rights for all.

— Recommended by Tess