Omg swoooon at this. If I took the time to put together a MaybeBaby StoryGraph (the non Bezos version of GoodReads), would anyone be into it? I would be happy to share the username for people to follow.
Thank you Haley! Sitting here nursing my 9-day-old baby girl and this is EXACTLY the list I needed!! Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, the film An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl, based on a short story by Claire Keegan, is a beautiful and perfect 90 minute film.
Wow, a thrilling start to my Sunday! Also another rec on the record for Loved and Missed (need to see this book in tier 1!) it will rip you apart it’s so beautiful!
Yes, coming here to concur! It wasn’t a “stay up all night” read for me, but I read…a LOT of books. Too many, probably, and I forget a lot of them. Loved and Missed has stayed with me. It is not just the plot that is moving, it is the author’s way of pacing the story, and how she illuminates her narrator character. Made me desperate to read more Susie Boyd, but it seems a lot of her novels are not available in the States.
I followed up Loved and Missed with My Judy Garland Life. I loved Loved and Missed so much and couldn’t believe Boyt had also written a book about Judy Garland fandom, too perfect for me
Reading it right now and it’s amazing!! Wouldn’t put it in the addictive camp because it’s so potent (I stop at the end of each chapter) but it’s sooo beautiful
Another one here *just* to comment on the surprising perfection that is Loved and Missed! I'd never read any Susie Boyt before and now I have no idea why.
Also want to give a more descriptive rec for Still Born by Guadaloupe Nettle because I think you’d love it. It’s very readable, quick, and moving and don’t be turned away by the title.
It’s about two best friends in Mexico City who each didn’t want children, but in their 30s one changes her mind. It’s about that dynamic, and mothering, and different ways of mothering
Less by Andrew Sean Greer is the first book in a long time that I could not put down. Also Demon Copperhead (Barbara kingsolver), but you need to be in the mood for that. Saying this as a huge fan of Big Swiss, All Fours, Intimacies, Goon Squad, and the Neapolitan novels in case that helps contextualize these recs :)
I love this quote from it and think of it often: “He kisses—how do I explain it? Like someone in love. Like he has nothing to lose. Like someone who has just learned a foreign language and can use only the present tense and only the second person. Only now, only you.”
WOW. Thank you so much for this list. I am surprised that no one else recommended Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Riley(or maybe they did and you already vetoed it 😬). But I loved that book!
I think I read it in 2024 and was hands down my favorite book I read that year. I also read Big Swiss around the same time and loved that too (both protagonists name Greta :) I am a big fan of lots of others on this list as well (Sally Rooney, Ann Patchett, Donna Tartt/The Goldfinch). I would describe Greta and Valdin almost like a queer Royal Tenenbaums? Wonderful characters and so much LOLing. I was sad when it was over!
I LOVED The Wedding People, and didn't like Eleanor Oliphant. So now I have to read I Hope This Finds You Well to find out which side it falls on for me!
Did anyone else read Orbital by Samantha Harvey? It was the 2024 Booker Prize winner and one I've kept thinking about long after finishing. I feel remiss for not mentioning it in the Book Rec!
I’m also currently in the midst of Lonesome Dove, and convinced my partner to listen to it too, so we are doing the smallest book club of just the two of us trying to remember all the specific cowboy names. With him calling Newt, Sprout for a good few chapters, etc.
I’d def read a deep dive into why Lonesome Dove is circulating again!
Thank you so much for doing this! I always love the comment section for maybe baby book recommendations but it's kind of overwhelming so this summary is perfect!
I really hated Wedding People and stopped reading halfway through! Could not understand why it was popular.
If you have not read Demon Copperhead, I’d say it’s truly one of the best books ever written and it almost became a problem for me how much I wanted to put everything else in my life on hold so I could keep reading.
Also want to shoutout Good Material by Dolly Alderton as one of my surprising fav couldn’t put it down reads of 2025!
Have you read Shuggie Bain? It’s way too long for a 24 hour read, but it was soooo good. I hadn’t to pause reading often as I was crying too much. But the end made up for it. So you can read it in times like these. It’s truly the book that stayed with me the longest and was so well written and I needed to read some pages twice to soak up the writing
We are of the same book taste :) I just read The Wedding People on account of this rec list and wondered if I had the wrong book— it was so bad! Also loved Demon Copperhead, so now I will look into Good Material!
I was about to start the Wedding People and I’m really curious where I’ll land. I felt similarly about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - couldn’t believe how much hype it was getting at the time.
Omg swoooon at this. If I took the time to put together a MaybeBaby StoryGraph (the non Bezos version of GoodReads), would anyone be into it? I would be happy to share the username for people to follow.
PLEASE OMG
YES!
Yes please!!!
Please!!!!!
Yep!
yes pls!!
Please!!!
Thank you Haley! Sitting here nursing my 9-day-old baby girl and this is EXACTLY the list I needed!! Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, the film An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl, based on a short story by Claire Keegan, is a beautiful and perfect 90 minute film.
Was just thinking that this is gonna be my mat leave reading list!
Same :))
loved that film! people don’t talk about it enough!
It’s such a perfect film.
Congratulations ❤️
Lots that I love here (and some that I don’t, bc reading is subjective and that’s what makes it great)
My ideal reading list would be a cross-over between yours and Haleys endorsement ❤️🍀 two fave substacks combined.
Very happy to oblige! (If my eyes could cope with a spreadsheet which they can’t)
Wow, a thrilling start to my Sunday! Also another rec on the record for Loved and Missed (need to see this book in tier 1!) it will rip you apart it’s so beautiful!
Yes, coming here to concur! It wasn’t a “stay up all night” read for me, but I read…a LOT of books. Too many, probably, and I forget a lot of them. Loved and Missed has stayed with me. It is not just the plot that is moving, it is the author’s way of pacing the story, and how she illuminates her narrator character. Made me desperate to read more Susie Boyd, but it seems a lot of her novels are not available in the States.
I followed up Loved and Missed with My Judy Garland Life. I loved Loved and Missed so much and couldn’t believe Boyt had also written a book about Judy Garland fandom, too perfect for me
Hard agree with this. Loved and Missed and The Door were the two best books I read last year. Also highly recommend Iza’s Ballad by Magda Szabo.
My thoughts exactly! What a special novel.
Reading it right now and it’s amazing!! Wouldn’t put it in the addictive camp because it’s so potent (I stop at the end of each chapter) but it’s sooo beautiful
Another one here *just* to comment on the surprising perfection that is Loved and Missed! I'd never read any Susie Boyt before and now I have no idea why.
Thank you for doing this!!
Also want to give a more descriptive rec for Still Born by Guadaloupe Nettle because I think you’d love it. It’s very readable, quick, and moving and don’t be turned away by the title.
It’s about two best friends in Mexico City who each didn’t want children, but in their 30s one changes her mind. It’s about that dynamic, and mothering, and different ways of mothering
Oh you just wanted to spoil us today, huh
This is a dream come true. Thank you for the amount of work and care that went into this 💗
Less by Andrew Sean Greer is the first book in a long time that I could not put down. Also Demon Copperhead (Barbara kingsolver), but you need to be in the mood for that. Saying this as a huge fan of Big Swiss, All Fours, Intimacies, Goon Squad, and the Neapolitan novels in case that helps contextualize these recs :)
I looooved Less
Right?! The cover blurb did not speak to me so I went in based on a rec. Within pages was hooked and now recommend it to everyone
I love this quote from it and think of it often: “He kisses—how do I explain it? Like someone in love. Like he has nothing to lose. Like someone who has just learned a foreign language and can use only the present tense and only the second person. Only now, only you.”
The scene at the party in Paris(?)!! Yes! Wow
WOW. Thank you so much for this list. I am surprised that no one else recommended Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Riley(or maybe they did and you already vetoed it 😬). But I loved that book!
I think I read it in 2024 and was hands down my favorite book I read that year. I also read Big Swiss around the same time and loved that too (both protagonists name Greta :) I am a big fan of lots of others on this list as well (Sally Rooney, Ann Patchett, Donna Tartt/The Goldfinch). I would describe Greta and Valdin almost like a queer Royal Tenenbaums? Wonderful characters and so much LOLing. I was sad when it was over!
I also absolutely loved Greta and Valdin as did my book club!
For anyone who loves The Wedding People:
-Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
-I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
Both kind of hit at the same angle.
Great list! Looking forward to digging in :)
I LOVED The Wedding People, and didn't like Eleanor Oliphant. So now I have to read I Hope This Finds You Well to find out which side it falls on for me!
Did anyone else read Orbital by Samantha Harvey? It was the 2024 Booker Prize winner and one I've kept thinking about long after finishing. I feel remiss for not mentioning it in the Book Rec!
Ahh yes I loved orbital!
Thanks for making this!!
I’m also currently in the midst of Lonesome Dove, and convinced my partner to listen to it too, so we are doing the smallest book club of just the two of us trying to remember all the specific cowboy names. With him calling Newt, Sprout for a good few chapters, etc.
I’d def read a deep dive into why Lonesome Dove is circulating again!
Hahaha I just had a good laugh over a book club for two and one not getting the names right. Love this
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. seriously. :) I am halfway through The Door right now because of your recommendation btw and obsessed. What a gift!
Thank you so much for doing this! I always love the comment section for maybe baby book recommendations but it's kind of overwhelming so this summary is perfect!
I really hated Wedding People and stopped reading halfway through! Could not understand why it was popular.
If you have not read Demon Copperhead, I’d say it’s truly one of the best books ever written and it almost became a problem for me how much I wanted to put everything else in my life on hold so I could keep reading.
Also want to shoutout Good Material by Dolly Alderton as one of my surprising fav couldn’t put it down reads of 2025!
Loved Demon Copperhead!
Have you read Shuggie Bain? It’s way too long for a 24 hour read, but it was soooo good. I hadn’t to pause reading often as I was crying too much. But the end made up for it. So you can read it in times like these. It’s truly the book that stayed with me the longest and was so well written and I needed to read some pages twice to soak up the writing
YES! And also Young Mungo is just as good and devastating!
We are of the same book taste :) I just read The Wedding People on account of this rec list and wondered if I had the wrong book— it was so bad! Also loved Demon Copperhead, so now I will look into Good Material!
I also surprisingly liked Good Material!
I was about to start the Wedding People and I’m really curious where I’ll land. I felt similarly about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - couldn’t believe how much hype it was getting at the time.
I just finished Lonesome Dove and I can’t stop thinking about it!! Loved the characters and how immersive the storyline was
Same!