My mother told me that if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all...so ( )

This is a remarkably suspenseful novel of a mysterious mom who leaves notes for five men in her will. Daughter Maggie, after the sudden death of her mother Iris in a car accident, decides to visit the men instead of mailing the five letters. As she travels through Southern California, Maggie is also nervous about her relationship with her girlfriend back in St. Louis, and about how her father has gone catatonic since he lost his wife. There are many surprises and revelations and they are skillfully unpeeled. Most memorable! ( )

This was such a powerful read. We meet Maggie, a 20-something, queer, Jewish woman, who is dealing with the grief of suddenly losing her mother, Iris. As she processes her loss, she learns more about who Iris really was, thanks to letters left behind in her family home.

Maggie and her mother had a tumultuous history, especially when it came to her mother's acceptance of Maggie's sexuality. As Maggie learns more about her Iris through these letters, secrets are exposed and misunderstandings are slowly untangled.

All My Mother's Lovers is a refreshing look at the intricacies of family and how sometimes peeling back the layers on others can help us better understand ourselves too. While I couldn't relate to all of Maggie's life experiences, anyone who has navigated complex family dynamics will connect with at least some of the myriad of issues presented here.

Ilana Masad's detailed and nuanced writing masterfully shares the intricacies of family life and the challenges of feeling misunderstood. This book celebrates and normalizes diversity and I appreciated how many social issues Masad incorporated in this literary fiction debut. I enjoyed being a part of Maggie's journey and only wished the ending was a little more fleshed out as I connected so much with this powerful and unique storyline.

Thank you to Dutton Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. You can read my full review at genthebookworm.com ( )

I love everything about the idea of this book, but the writing never took off for me. Lots of telling and listing and explication. ( )

Very interesting and unique premise for a road trip novel. ( )