The Quiet Revolution of Mom Readers

Recently, I took part in a fun social media collaboration with a few therapist colleagues where we shared some of our favorite book recommendations - both fiction and nonfiction. Behind the scenes, we had such a good time chatting about what we’re currently reading, the books that stuck with us, and the ones we keep coming back to.

You can check out the full collaboration and follow my thoughtful, book-loving colleagues - @emily.souder.lcsw, @fermatacounseling, @jamiehanley_, @sarahhagentherapy, @millenialmomtherapist and @tiltedroottherapy over on this Instagram post.

What started as a simple Instagram collab ended up sparking a deeper reflection for me about how reading has shown up in my life, especially as a mom.

I never really identified as a “book lover,” even though I’ve always loved reading. It was just something I did – something I enjoyed, something I had to do for school, something that quietly lived in the background of my life. I’ve had periods in my life where I read more out of necessity (ie grad school) than pleasure. Times where I was swept in the frenzy of a popular book series, or wanting to read a book before it came out as a tv show or movie. 

I grew up with a mom who read prolifically. Mostly fun, popular reads, lots of romance novels (clearly where I got it from), she was always reading—especially on trips and vacations. Looking back now, as a mom myself, I see her reading through a different lens. I think it was her way of taking a break, of being interesting, of holding onto something that was just hers.

These days, I relate to that so much. Motherhood has actually reignited my relationship with reading—and helped me realize how much I need it. Not just for escape, but as a way back to myself. I also want to instill a love for reading to my kids and hope that through modeling it myself, I’ll passively fan the fire for reading.

In the early season of motherhood, reading looked a lot different than it used to. My reading habits didn’t disappear—they just shifted, taking on a new purpose. Like me, many moms find themselves immersed not in novels, but in articles, parenting books, and expert advice. We trade plotlines for parenting strategies, character arcs for checklists. We might still be reading—but now it’s with highlighters, bookmarked tabs, and a constant sense of needing to know more. 

There’s a quiet pressure (yet powerful) behind it all—the sense that to be a “good mom,” we need to know more, do more, learn faster.

Reading as Revolution

I’ve found, however, that somewhere along the way in my motherhood journey,  I’ve been pulled back into reading for myself. Not to fix anything. Not to improve my parenting or master a new developmental phase (there still that too if I’m being honest). But also just to read. To escape. To feel something that’s mine. To remember who I am outside of being someone’s mom.

And I see this happening with other moms too. We’re quietly (or not-so-quietly) reclaiming our stories—through BookTok recommendations, book clubs, and group chats full of spicy fiction, thought-provoking memoirs, and everything in between. There’s something radical about that. In a world that so often reduces mothers to caregivers, choosing to pick up a book just because you want to is a kind of resistance.

Reading can be a return—but also a rebellion. A way of saying: I deserve interiority. I deserve pleasure. I deserve to be interesting.

And let me tell you—I’m so freaking here for it. Bring on all the books.

The BookTok Effect

If you’re unfamiliar, BookTok is a community on TikTok where readers, authors, and book lovers share recommendations, reviews, and reactions. And while it skews younger, it’s become a place where moms are showing up, too. There’s something oddly comforting about a 30-second video where a fellow parent whispers “this book kept me sane during nap time.” It reminds us that reading doesn’t have to be a lofty intellectual pursuit—it can be fun, escapist, sexy, healing, silly, and deeply nourishing.

Book Clubs as Community Care

For moms, book clubs are rarely just about books. They’re about carving out time, claiming space, and connecting with others in a world that often isolates us. And book clubs are mostly women. According to a report highlighted by Publishers Weekly, 88% of private book clubs are composed entirely of women.

Whether it’s a few chapters or just reading the back cover, showing up to a book club can feel radical. It’s saying: My thoughts matter. My voice matters. For many it’s just a great reason to get out of the house, connect with other women, and take a break from from the bedtime routine!

The Pressure to Be "Well-Read"

Of course, BookTok and book clubs can also stir up some complicated feelings. There’s pressure—especially for moms who are already carrying the mental load—to keep up. To finish the book. To have something insightful to say. To not fall asleep mid-paragraph.

If you’ve felt that, you’re not alone. Here’s your reminder: reading is not a competition. You don’t owe anyone a hot take. You don’t have to read what everyone else is reading. You can revisit an old favorite or stop halfway through a book that just isn’t working for you. You can read poetry, smut, memoirs, or graphic novels. Or you can not read at all for a while—and still be a reader.

Books That Reflect Motherhood Back to Us

Sometimes the most powerful reading experience is one that puts language to what we’re living. Books that explore motherhood in all its raw, complicated, joyful, messy truth can feel like a mirror—reminding us we’re not alone, and that our inner worlds matter.

Whether it’s fiction that captures the push-pull of identity, memoirs that speak honestly about the highs and lows, or essays that challenge societal expectations, these stories offer both connection and clarity.

Here are a few titles that beautifully reflect the many faces of motherhood:

  • Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder – A surreal, visceral exploration of rage, identity loss, and the wildness of early motherhood. Raw and unforgettable

  • Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott – A classic, heartfelt, and humorous account of Lamott’s first year as a single mom.

  • The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan – A dystopian yet painfully familiar novel about the scrutiny mothers face and the weight of perfectionism.

  • Of Woman Born by Adrienne Rich – A foundational feminist text exploring the institution of motherhood versus the lived experience.

  • You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith – A memoir about divorce, motherhood, and reimagining life in the wake of change.

  • Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – A layered novel examining motherhood across class, race, and choice, wrapped in a page-turning story.

  • The Baby on the Fire Escape by Julie Phillips – A deep dive into the lives of creative mothers across history, and the tension between art and caregiving.

Audiobooks Count Too

Let’s be clear: listening to audiobooks is reading. For moms especially, who are often on the go or multitasking, audiobooks offer a flexible and powerful way to stay connected to stories. Whether you’re folding laundry, commuting, or taking a solo walk (bless those), audiobooks can be a lifeline to your inner world. Studies show that comprehension and engagement are comparable between listening and reading—and sometimes, the emotion and nuance in a narrator’s voice can make a story even more powerful. I LOVE listening to an audiobook where the author narrates. It’s so good! So if you’re getting your books in through your ears instead of your eyes? That counts. 

I’ve come to appreciate audiobooks even more after seeing how essential they’ve become for my mom as she navigates macular degeneration. They’ve been a lifeline—allowing her to stay connected to a lifelong love of reading, even as her vision changes.

Support Local Bookstores

If reading is a quiet rebellion, then where we get our books can be, too.

Supporting independent bookstores isn’t just about shopping small—it’s about choosing spaces that value inclusion, storytelling, and community. I especially love supporting shops owned by women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and people of color. These bookstores often carry titles that big retailers overlook and help elevate voices that deserve to be heard. 

I was recently at an event where The Ripped Bodice had a pop-up, and it was such a reminder of how fun and community-driven these spaces can be. There’s something special about being surrounded by people who love stories as much as you do. (Plus, their romance selection is unmatched.)

Whether you’re buying your next read, picking up a gift, or planning a book club—consider shopping small.

A few favorites to check out:

Where we spend our money matters. Supporting indie bookstores is one small way to invest in the kind of world we want to read—and live—in.

Moms Deserve to Be Interesting

Reading is one small but mighty way moms reclaim their right to be interesting. Not just nurturing. Not just efficient. Not just selfless. But curious, opinionated, creative, and fully human.

In many ways, returning to reading is about reconnecting with a part of ourselves that isn’t defined by caregiving. It’s about resisting the idea that we’re “too busy” to enjoy something simply because it brings us joy. It’s about remembering that stories make us human—and that we’re allowed to get lost in them.

So whether you're deep in the latest viral fantasy romance, rereading a worn copy of Little Women, or slowly chipping away at a nonfiction book that speaks to your soul—this is your permission to keep going. Or start again. Or pause. There’s no right way to be a reader.

An Invitation 

So, what kind of stories are you craving right now?

Ones that make you laugh? Ones that make you feel less alone? Something steamy, something tender, something that reminds you you’re still here—still whole, still curious, still you? 

Or maybe it’s a story that challenges you. One that pushes into a blindspot, invites you to think differently, or stretches the edges of your perspective in a way that feels both uncomfortable and expansive.

Whatever it is, go find it. Pick up the book. Check it out from the library. Download the audiobook. Text a friend about starting that book club. Your time doesn’t have to be productive to be meaningful.

You’re allowed to read just because you want to. You’re allowed to grow, to escape, to feel, to come back to yourself—one page at a time. 

Christina Klein