Motherhood

Motherhood is explored throughout the novel in different scenarios so that the concept of an ideal maternal woman can be challenged. While all three characters are mothers who love and adore their children, none of them are traditional mothers, which suggests that the book is arguing there is not a one-size-fits-all guidebook to becoming a “good” mother.

Karolina is the character who is most completely defined by her role as a mother even though she is not a biological mother, which challenges traditional notions of motherhood. A former supermodel, Karolina’s entire current life is wrapped up in being a mother to her stepson, Harry, and trying to get pregnant with fertility treatments that her husband, who has secretly had a vasectomy, leads her to believe that she needs. After she is framed for a DUI and divorced by her husband, who has been cheating on...