Super Short Summary

The Mothers by Brit Bennett is a novel set in a close-knit Black community in Southern California, revolving around a grieving 17-year-old girl named Nadia, whose mother's recent suicide impacts her deeply. She becomes romantically involved with Luke, the injured son of a pastor, leading to an unplanned pregnancy and an abortion that the community cannot forget, even after she moves across the country for college. The story is also narrated by a chorus of church-going women known as “the Mothers,” who offer commentary on the lives and choices of the community members. The novel focuses heavily on themes of grief, secrecy, and the pressures of societal expectations. The book includes sensitive topics such as suicide, domestic abuse, and abortion.