Mothersick: A Novel

Mara and Nell will never be able to forget the day their parents’ marriage fell apart. They declared their family of origin wrecked, and the traditional structure a complete farce. From then on, all they had was each other. So, in their twenties, they made a pact: no marriages, no babies, and no repeating their parents’ mistakes.

But a few years later, Mara does the unthinkable—she falls in love and becomes a mother, leaving Nell behind. Mara wishes that Nell could relate to her new life—its terrifying claustrophobia and unexpected joys—but Nell hardly recognizes her sister or the path she has chosen. Their pact now irrevocably broken, Nell throws herself into a relationship with an undeniable catch of a man without asking whether they want the same things or if she’s willing to compromise her hard-won independence. A cosmic fork in the road has changed everything between the sisters, and just when they need her the most, they’re confronted by the shadow of their mother’s absence and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other.

From the acclaimed author of Piglet comes a profound intergenerational family story about the life altering question of whether to embrace, reject, or redefine motherhood. For fans of Claire Lombardo and Lily King, Mothersick explores the enduring and infuriating spell of sisterhood and the beauty, captivity, and optimism of family in its many forms.