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The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood

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Description

NATIONAL BESTSELLER “A long overdue reality check.” —Oprah Daily “Honest, unapologetic, and brutally funny.” —Stephanie Danler, New York Times bestselling author of Sweetbitter A Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by Oprah Daily, Town & Country, and Brit + Co Belletrist Book Club Pick The Times (London) Book of the Week An unflinching motherhood memoir that dares to ask what happens when “what to expect when you’re expecting” turns out to be months of rage, anguish, brain fog, and a total surrender of sex, career, and identity. “The kid was objectively a tiny worm, even worse, a worm with my nose.” Welcome to Sarah Hoover’s candid and propulsive take on motherhood where she turns the ecstatic narrative women have been fed—one of immediate connection to your child followed by a joyful path of maternal discovery—on its head. Like most of us, Sarah Hoover grew up imagining a certain life for herself, and when she moved from Indiana to New York City to study art history, the life she’d imagined began falling into place. She got her degree in art history, landed a job in a gallery, made friends, and met interesting artists, one of whom became her husband. But when Hoover got pregnant, everything in her life began to unravel. She felt like an imposter in her own body. She grew distant from her friends and husband. Anxiety, fear, guilt, and shame threatened to swallow her. She also experienced trauma at the hands of one of her doctors—a stark trigger. And when her son was born, there was no… joy. Her despair was persistent, even with help, therapy, and pills. Grieving a lost identity and angry at the world around her, she found herself despising her baby, her husband, and herself. She was afraid it might not end. With the help of a doctor’s diagnosis, Hoover began to understand the cluster of symptoms that informed her experience—she was drowning in postpartum depression—and that she wasn’t a bad mother or a failed woman. At its core, The Motherload is about learning to forgive yourself. It’s a rejection of the cultural idea of the mother as a perfect being. And it’s an honest, propulsive, and often funny take on the vicissitudes of marriage, life, and parenting—a motherhood memoir unlike any other. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ S&S/Simon Element


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 14, 2025


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668010135


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 36


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #73,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #90 in Self-Help & Psychology Humor #90 in Motherhood (Books) #721 in Memoirs (Books)


#90 in Self-Help & Psychology Humor:


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Thursday, Jul 24

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • DEVOURED this!!
wow. I am a mother, and while I cannot fully relate to Sarah's grueling PP journey, I found this SO profound, needed, and entertaining to read. I couldn't put it down. I love how Sarah put language to her relationship with her son, and also her own mother. This is a book about many things — the relationship between mothers and their children one of them. Sarah, please write another book!! This was gold. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025 by mae

  • I read the whole thing and I'm child-free and barren.
Well written and engrossing book. I don't have kids but I still enjoyed it. The author has an interesting perspective. I hope there's more to her than just being a mother. She's so much more interesting than that. Also question: if a parent dislikes their child, is it ok for other people to dislike their child as well? ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2025 by S. Joseph

  • Must (must) read.
If Sarah would share a book on instagram . I’d take a screenshot and order. What joy it brought me that she wrote her own. I don’t have kids. I don’t want kids. I often sip wine and listen to ‘Building a Mystery’ and think “this is the life”. Thank you, Sarah, for being so honest and allowing me to vicariously live through your Motherload. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2025 by Julia

  • We all need to read this!!!
As someone who has yet to produce a human, I am eternally grateful for this book existing. It is one of the wittiest, honest, eloquent takes on motherhood. I have so many friends who have struggled with postpartum in varying degrees and am relieved it is finally at long last being destigmatized. I think we are lucky to have someone like Sarah Hoover to do that for us. I bought another copy for my boyfriend because I think men need to be educated on the myth of motherhood as well. I cannot believe this is her first book, I hope it is not her last! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025 by Lily Mortimer

  • a good read
I liked the pace of her book, it kept moving and never got boring for me. I didn't like that she had to throw her political nonsense in. it could be offensive to some people as it was with me.
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2025 by Harriet R. Wasserman

  • Could not put it down!!
After being unable to get through a book for 3 years after I had my daughter, I blew through this in 3 days. It is raw and unapologetic and honestly the voice of a generation. Hoover says all the things we are told not to say and feels all the things we are scared to admit we feel. From her experiences with men in her 20s to her birth and post partum trauma, I felt she was writing my story and the story of countless women I know! It’s also so damn funny and well written. Couldn’t have loved it more! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025 by Brian Collesano

  • (moms, drugs, love, partners, rich people)
The Motherload by Sarah Hoover **** (moms, drugs, love, partners, rich people) The Motherload is the most untamed collection of motherhood stories. This literary non-fiction is a collection of stories about the atrocities occurring with pregnancy and birth. Through her journey we hear about Hoover’s reaction to all things Mom even when she feels she has little to nothing to give in that department. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2025 by Caitlin

  • The Sisterhood of Female Experiences
Hoover sheds the stigma of shame of the female trajectory into womanhood. The relationship with our mothers, navigating sexual relationships, betrayal, female friendships, medical mischief and navigating through the healthcare system, and dealing with a patriarchal culture. Yes, she has the benefit of education, privilege & resources. However, the key takeaway is those factors are not an insulation from the reality of navigating the female experience. Hopefully those that read the book will realize they are not alone in their journey of advocating for themselves. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025 by Lisa C.

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