The Sisterhood of Motherhood is a heartfelt slice-of-life story that follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery. Darla Nagel tells a moving, character-driven tale of sisterhood and friendship that demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit amid adversity. The author doesn't waste a single word, weaving a concise and absorbing plot that has your attention from the first page to the last. Bethany is someone who always felt overshadowed by her older brother. She wants to feel helpful and be loved but shies away from asking others for help. The family dynamics are the book's highlight for me, especially Bethany's relationships with Ivy Jean, Brandon, and her parents. I really appreciated the ending. I found it both realistic and hopeful. This is the perfect book for readers who love short, well-written, and intimate dramas. 5 Stars.

A touching novel about surrogacy, The Sisterhood of Motherhood by Darla Nagel is a sensitively penned and moving work of contemporary fiction. When Ivy Jean finds out that she won’t be able to have any more children due to the onset of aggressive cervical cancer, her sister-in-law Bethany offers to act as a surrogate mother, leading to a complicated new level in their relationship. Legal and medical technicalities, family tensions, and emotional turmoil are all covered with grace and subtlety, in a novel that is at once informative about the process of surrogacy and intimate in its poignant portrayal of Bethany Harding’s selfless act of compassion.

★★★★

(5 Stars)

A detailed and thorough account of a surrogate pregnancy. Bethany, a single young woman, becomes a gestational surrogate for her brother and sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law has one child, but due to a cancer diagnosis must undergo a hysterectomy and is unable to conceive again. It isn’t a snap decision on Bethany’s part, but certainly a heartfelt one. She soon finds out there’s more to being a surrogate than she ever realized.

This is a realistic, and no doubt, accurate depiction of the emotional and physical toll following such an act of selfless love. Bethany is not doing this for monetary reward. Characters are well-developed and the dialogue is credible. Bethany’s relationship with her older brother is an interesting one. At certain points, I did find myself skimming some of the more factual information. However, it is very clearly written and will be found helpful for those in need of the particulars.

I should think the best audience for this book will include those interested in becoming a surrogate, or those who have a family member or friend considering becoming one. The Sisterhood of Motherhood will go a long way in helping women understand the high stakes of what is involved with surrogacy.