The maternal experience is varied, "rough and beautiful" according to this intimate collection from actor Schumer and model Burns. The high-power contributors include activists, athletes, authors, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and professors, and the pieces feature them "at their most primal, and their most resourceful," Burns and Schumer write in their introduction. In "I Ran For the Delivery Guy's Wife," Olympic runner Alysia Montaño writes of running a race at 34 weeks pregnant, declaring, "I was a mother, but I was still an athlete." In "A Third Chance," entrepreneur Shilpa Shah recounts her pandemic delivery in a hospital that was like a "ghost town," while philanthropist Adrienne Bosh mulls perinatal depression in "Recovery From Perfectionism." In "The Advocate," doula Abby G. Lopez recounts watching her client, from Nicaragua, encounter discrimination during labor. Across the board, the collection avoids sentiment and opts for candid reality: complications, abortion, and miscarriage are all dealt with as part and parcel of a woman's reproductive life. The stories are consequential, the voices delightfully direct, and the collection's greatest strength is in its embrace of all the mothers, whether they are single, coupled, straight, queer, or chose adoption. This anthology triumphs by making motherhood feel anything but lonely.(Apr.)

Comedian Schumer and supermodel-turned-humanitarian Turlington Burns compile a diverse collection of stories that reveal the many paths toward motherhood. Celebrities' stories feature heavily, though much care is taken in selecting voices from a variety of racial backgrounds, economic classes, sexualities, professions, family, and birthing experiences. The collection centers on the fact that in America, maternal healthcare for Black and Brown women is statistically more dangerous and deadly, regardless of wealth, education, and fame. Most writers narrate their own stories, which brings additional intimacy and emotional weight to the listening experience. Standouts include Abby G. Lopez's emotive reading of her first doula shift in the "Advocate," which offers a glimpse into the stark reality of many non-English-speaking mothers' birthing experiences. Another powerful addition is Amber Tamblyn's wrenching poem for her miscarriage, abortion, and daughter. Veteran narrator Adenrele Ojo does not miss a beat when voicing A-listers Serena Williams and Jill Scott. Each story offers a singular yet revealing narrative. VERDICT An essential listen. Perfect for new mothers looking to normalize their own experiences and for anyone looking to appreciate the raw humanity in the "beautiful mess" of motherhood.--Lizzie Nolan