Portraits of Parenthood in FictionLike this list

14 items

• In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods

  Bell, Matt

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  An isolated couple’s dream of building a family in the wilderness unravels as repeated pregnancy losses fuel obsession, resentment, and eerie forces beyond their control.

• Plays Well With Others

  Brickman, Sophie

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  A stressed New York mother and parenting columnist spirals into fierce kindergarten-admissions competition, forcing her to confront the hypocrisy and chaos of modern parenthood.

• The Marriage Diaries

  Campbell, Rebecca

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  A stay-at-home dad’s secret journal and growing attraction to another parent spark marital turmoil when his wife discovers the truth, forcing both partners to confront desire, fidelity, and the stability of their relationship.

• The Atlas of Love

  Frankel, Laurie

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  After becoming unexpectedly pregnant and single, a grad student and her two friends attempt to co-parent and live together in Seattle, discovering both the chaos and meaning of building an unconventional family.

• The Sunshine When She's Gone

  Goodman, Thea

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  During one chaotic weekend, a sleep-deprived new father impulsively takes his baby to the Caribbean while his wife, newly free for the first time in months, embarks on her own unexpected journey through New York City.

• The Mercy Rule

  Klass, Perri

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  A pediatrician and mother with a difficult past must balance her own family life while making hard judgments about at-risk children and confronting echoes of her own upbringing.

• In Every Moment We Are Still Alive

  Malmquist, Tom

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  After losing his pregnant partner to leukemia moments after their daughter is born, a grieving father struggles to navigate heartbreak, healing, and single parenthood.

• Brand New Human Being

  Miller, Emily Jeanne

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  After discovering his wife’s infidelity, a stay-at-home father takes his young son on a journey to his late father’s cabin, where he confronts loss, betrayal, and an unexpected chance at renewal.

• Our Secrets and Lies

  Moriarty, Sinéad

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  A devoted single mother pushes her teenage twins toward the future she always wanted for them, only to discover that her ambitions may be endangering their independence and family bond.

• Everybody Has Everything

  Onstad, Katrina

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  After a tragic accident leaves them guardians of a toddler, an urban couple must confront unexpected truths about themselves, their relationship, and whether they are ready for parenthood.

• Behave

  Romano-Lax, Andromeda

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  This fictionalized biography follows psychologist Rosalie Rayner Watson as her groundbreaking but controversial work on behaviorism collides with her own experiences of motherhood and love.

• Why Mommy Swears

  the Struggles of An Exasperated Mom

  Sims, Gill

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  An overwhelmed mother juggles school holidays, PTA politics, difficult family relationships, and the relentless chaos of parenting with humor and exasperation.

• The Rosie Result

  Simsion, Graeme

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  Back in Australia, Don Tillman tries to help his socially awkward son navigate school and friendship while confronting difficult questions about parenting, identity, and acceptance.

• Motherland

  Sohn, Amy

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  Five sets of parents find their relationships changing in the face of influences ranging from Hollywood job opportunities and celebrity exes to extramarital affairs and abandonments.