Honest Motherhood

“Honest Motherhood more than lives up to its title, presenting an unvarnished story of mothering in a culture not fashioned to support women and families in their sacred role of rearing children. An unsparingly truthful Odyssey that takes the reader from the author’s parenting joys to the depths her self-loathing and despair, the book ends with a return home to authentic self and to the love which is the birthright of us all. Laced with uproarious humor and leavened with deep insight, Honest Motherhood will entertain, inform, and inspire many on their own journey of healing and self-discovery.”—Gabor Maté, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Myth of Normal

“A promising debut. . . . A vulnerable, insightful, and refreshing exploration of what it takes to become a good parent when you grow up with dysfunction.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This book will awaken mothers to their truth and transform how they parent forever. With compassion and clarity, Honest Motherhood reveals that the path to becoming a more present parent begins with becoming a more whole woman.”—Dr. Shefali, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent

“If you’ve ever found yourself hiding in the pantry with a cold cup of coffee, googling ‘how to run away from my family but like . . . responsibly,’ this book is for you. Libby Ward has written the motherhood manifesto we didn’t know we needed—she isn’t here to sell you a Pinterest-perfect life; she’s here to sit in the mess with you, laugh until you cry, and remind you that you’re not broken—you’re just a mom doing her best in a world that forgot to send the manual. Read Honest Motherhood. Highlight it. Shove it into the hands of every mom you know.”—Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast

“In Honest Motherhood, with her characteristic humor, creativity and breathtaking candor, Libby Ward recounts the highs and lows of motherhood—the fun, the exhaustion, the opportunities, the difficulties. Her willingness to be vulnerable about relating the hard truths, and her deep insight into her own experience, make this account both compelling and thought-provoking. Anyone who feels as if they’re drowning in the impossible expectations of modern parenthood will read her account and feel understood.”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets of Adulthood

“Libby is shifting the cultural narrative in a way that will echo for generations. Honest Motherhood is a powerful blend of truth-telling and rebellion—a rallying cry for women to stop carrying what was never theirs to hold.”—Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

“Breezy, honest, and thoughtful.”—Booklist

“Ardent and heartfelt . . . Charmingly conversational . . . There’s energy in these pages, and an unmistakable sense that Ward operates from a genuine desire to make other young mothers struggling with shame or buried trauma feel less alone.”—Publishers Weekly

“Honest Motherhood is sure to resonate with fans of authors like Brené Brown and Eve Rodsky and become a new rallying cry for a generation of exhausted mothers.”—Library Journal