The Stepmoms' Club

April 1, 2018

One-third of American children will live in a stepparent home before the age of 18 and half will have a stepparent at some point during their lifetime. This makes 15 million stepmoms, a demographic the author knows well. Former business executive Rose is part of a group of four stepmoms, including Stephanie Block, Elizabeth Ann Garrett, and Amber Joy, who have been meeting regularly for more than 20 years. Stories from these women and other stepmoms who have lived to tell the tale run throughout this text, which is peppered with tips on practical matters such as custody and divorce agreements, financial hurdles, and the everyday personal and emotional battles that stepmothers face. VERDICT The up-front tone, which reads like stepmoms kvetching over a strong cup of espresso, might not appeal to all readers, but the array of perspectives may hit close to home for many, who will appreciate the frank advice.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
Stepmothers have been getting a bum rap since Cinderella. In this long-awaited book, four stepmoms who form the Stepmoms' Club offer sound advice on some of the perils and pleasures of being a stepmother. They begin by counseling both new and seasoned stepmoms to examine court agreements carefully to fully understand the often-complex terms. They remind readers of their roles ( Repeat after us: ?I am not my stepkids' mom' ) and urge stepmoms to turn to their partners, the biological parent, for support in setting and reinforcing rules. No one understands a stepmom like another stepmom, and the authors encourage readers to form their own support groups, where, glass of wine in hand, they'll be able to share and hopefully laugh off trials. And they remind the stepmoms that they deserve a little self-care. Each chapter is filled with quotes from mothers facing these challenges and the club's own suggestions on surviving the job. Their advice, wrapped in humor and empathy, is surprisingly practical and will be a godsend for women facing these challenges.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)