By Meg Mason
Pages: 448
Publication Date: August 17, 2017
Genre: Family, Contemporary, Australia, Relationships,
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½
Meg Mason’s You Be Mother is a charming, funny, and heartwarming novel about family, friendship, and the unexpected places where we find love and support.
The story follows Abi, a young mother who moves to Sydney to start a new life with her infant son, Jude. Abi is lonely and isolated and struggles to adjust to her new surroundings. But one day, she meets Phyllida, an older woman who lives next door. Phyll (as she prefers to be called) is warm and welcoming, and she quickly becomes a friend and surrogate mum/nan to Abi and Jude.
As Abi and Phyll’s friendship grows, they rely on each other for support and companionship. Abi finds herself drawn to Phyllida’s close-knit family, and she starts to wonder if she could ever be a part of something like that.
You Be Mother is a beautifully written novel that explores the complex dynamics of family and friendship. Mason’s characters are complex and relatable, and her portrayal of the challenges and joys of motherhood is both honest and heartwarming.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the way it explored the different ways that families can be formed. Abi’s biological family is distant and dysfunctional, but she finds a new family in Philand her loved ones. The book shows that family is not always about blood ties, but about the people who love and support us unconditionally.
I also loved the friendship between Abi and Phyllida. It’s a friendship that forms in unexpected circumstances, but it quickly becomes one of the most critical relationships in Abi’s life. Phyll is a wise and compassionate mentor to Abi, and she helps her to learn and grow as a mother and a person.
Overall, You Be Mother is a delightful and heartwarming novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It’s a story about family, friendship, and the power of love and forgiveness.