Somehow, though, the release of her young adult mystery thriller Broken Things completely escaped my attention. So when I found it in my local library I was pleasantly surprised to have what was sure to be another captivating novel written by one of my favorites to get lost in.

Broken Things essentially explores the mystery surrounding the murder of a teenage girl. The novel tells the story of three best friends, Mia, Summer, and Brynn, who were once obsessed with a peculiar novel called The Way into Lovelorn, which was set in a magical world where the characters could escape their real-life problems. 

Because the novel ends ambiguously mid-sentence, the girls decide to write a fanfic sequel, casting themselves as characters. However, their love for the book becomes intertwined with a real-life tragedy when Summer is found brutally murdered in what appears to be a twisted homage to their literary obsession.

This was especially the case after I became a mother since my early days of motherhood revolved around sitting as still as possible, cradling my daughter to my chest as she went from sleeping to suckling and back again all day and all night long. If I dared to put her down—even for a minute—she would wail inconsolably for hours on end. 

Therefore, my greatest guilty pleasure became my sole source of sanity as I was suddenly confined to a seat on the couch for the first few months of motherhood. I binge-watched A LOT of shows during this time so you can consider me your expert on all things Netflix (a Nexpert?). 

Although my binge watching slowed down a lot once my daughter became more independent and I had free hands again, I still occasionally cave to the urge to waste away an evening lost in the fictional worlds playing out on my television screen. My interests vary depending on my mood, but I’m typically drawn to characters I can relate to—which often involves mothers.

The following shows are my top three guilty pleasures that revolve around stories of motherhood and have taught me something valuable about myself and/or motherhood in the process.

1. Jane the Virgin

If you haven’t seen it yet, you absolutely must watch it now! Even if you have seen it, WATCH IT AGAIN. It’s that good.

The series follows a young woman named Jane, a devoted Catholic who is saving herself for marriage. Far from being a religious prude, however, she is also driven, ambitious, and compassionate with a fierce loyalty to her family and a passion for living life to the fullest. When we first meet her, she is in a spicy-sweet relationship with Michael, a detective with a big heart who shares her values in life. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their commitment and respect for one another is nothing short of #relationshipgoals.

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In a telenovela style twist of events, Jane is accidentally artificially inseminated by her GYN during what was supposed to be a routine PAP-smear, and thus she ends up impregnated by the man (Rafael) who owns the hotel she works at, a man she once had a fleeting but intense connection with. To complicate the matters even further, the sample was Rafael’s last before he was rendered infertile by the chemo from his previous bout with cancer.

Therefore, for many reasons, Jane struggles to decide what to do, but ultimately settles on the decision to have and raise this baby planted inside her–even though it completely derails the plans she and Michael had for their future. 

And thus begins the central conflict of the story that quickly ramps up throughout the series with an extra dramatic, classic-telenovela flair that is both heartwarming and humorous.

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What I loved most about the show was how it demonstrated the messy, unpredictableness of life. It’s been years since I binged this show, but certain scenes are still fresh in my mind, their lessons an invaluable part of my perspective on life. Through Jane, I learned how to let go of my need to control every single detail and situation and instead, to go with the flow of what life throws at me (though this is definitely more of a practice than a destination). I also learned the power of courage; to trust in my dreams and follow my heart even when it doesn’t make much sense. Reality, or what is practical, isn’t always mutually exclusive to fantasy. Life isn’t either/or; it’s both/and.

Overall, how Jane navigates the highs and lows of unexpected motherhood is nothing short of inspiring. So, if you’re a sucker for love triangles, relatable yet quirky characters, and epicly cheesy love stories, this is your show. 

Now go stream the full series on Netflix right now!

2. Ginny & Georgia

This one is pretty recent to the Netflix scene and as such, it’s not a full bingeable series. However, it does have three seasons currently available on Netflix and it is definitely worth catching up on before the new season comes out sometime next spring (fingers crossed). 

The series follows single mother Georgia and her teenage daughter Ginny as they adjust to their recent move to an affluent suburb in the fictional town of Wellsbury, Massachusetts. Although Georgia is always trying to do the best she can to provide the best life possible for Ginny and her younger half-brother, Austin, her methods tend to be illegal at best and borderline insane at worst. When Ginny starts to discover Georgia’s secrets, she starts to rebel in a classic teenage fashion as she struggles to figure out what the right thing to do is.

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I think Darcy Lockman does an excellent job of distilling the information provided in her book with her own article that inspired my purchase, so I highly recommend you check that out ASAP just in case my review doesn’t do it justice. 

Because honestly, I had some mixed feelings about this book.

The book talks in-depth about an issue currently plaguing the modern mother: the expectation to do and be it all while the modern father plops himself comfortably in front of a screen, entirely “oblivious” to the needs of his household. This premise resonated with me because I’ve definitely noticed a trend toward imbalanced household responsibilities in my own home as well as many of the families I know.

But why in an age where both men and women commonly identify as feminist (or at the very least believe in the equality of the sexes, even if they don’t call themselves feminist) are women still doing so much more than men? 

Why are women working full-time jobs and still taking on almost all of the household and childcare labor at home? 

In All the Rage, Darcy Lockman sorts through the science offered to answer these questions, and ultimately concludes that patriarchy is to blame for this inequality. 

In the modern age of feminism, women were encouraged to become more like men—who are raised to be more assertive and independent—but men have yet to be encouraged to become more like women—who were raised to be more altruistic, caring, and tolerant. And so the sexism inherent in our society perpetuates. 

Until we take away the negative stigma men face when they exhibit more “feminine” characteristics, men will continue to do less around the house simply because they are rewarded for doing so. They do what they want when they want it and won’t be told otherwise. Then, society reinforces their agentic behavior. Men are praised for their power and freedom; women are praised for their selflessness. 

In other words, this inequality is not inherent in our biology (as is commonly thought) but a product of our patriarchal society and the unrealistic expectations and assumptions it shoves down the throats of its citizens from a very early age.

Basically, according to the book, to beat this inequality requires a commitment of both parties to shirk the toxic beliefs embedded within our society about what makes a “man” and a “woman" and forge together a new idea toward a more equal future. 

It’s certainly not an easy path to take, but significant change is rarely easy.

Personally, though, I felt like this book puts too much pressure on women to take more responsibility for their own equality. 

Throughout the book, Lockman calls out women for their tolerance of sexism or even accuses them of actively, consciously participating in it. Now, I’m sure it’s true that many women have inadvertently “drank the Kool-aid” of the patriarchy and subconsciously (or consciously) their actions (and inactions) in their lives may reflect this toxic ingestion. 

However, to put the blame and the responsibility of fixing this problem back on women when women are already doing too much just seems to add to the problem of inequality to me.

I’m aware that my tolerance of my husband’s lack of effort when it comes to the duties of running a household doesn’t help fix the problem. But constantly picking a fight with him when I’m already mentally, emotionally, and physically taxed from the five billion other things I have going on just doesn’t seem like a reasonable road to success. 

I shouldn’t be demonized for seeking harmony over constant conflict. Women get enough backlash from society as is. 

Overall, though, the book served as a validation to the experiences of inequality in my marriage and motherhood. I felt less alone after reading this book—and motivated to tackle the patriarchal biases in my household (much to my husband’s displeasure). 

That being said, I think it’s also important to cultivate a mindset that allows me to give myself grace for the days I simply don’t have the energy to fight. The patriarchy may live to see another day, but well, so will I. 

And some days, that’s just how it needs to be.

Motherhood, for me, has been a mess of contradictions. It is both the easiest and the hardest thing I have ever done; my greatest purpose and my biggest regret; and the most rewarding and most restricting experience of my life.

Motherhood is complicated.

Which is why this month will be devoted entirely to the topic of motherhood and will feature submissions that include:

• Fiction with characters experiencing the highs and lows of motherhood

• Poetry about the experiences of motherhood

• Nonfiction that offers advice, or personal narratives of motherhood

• Reviews of media that cause us to reflect on the concept of motherhood

If you’re a mother and have an experience you’d like to share, this is your time to shine!  

Click here to submit your content now! ☝

With that being said, here’s a sneak peek of upcoming content this month:

Friday May 5 — Personal Narrative: The Rubber Squishy Toy, How Motherhood Has Made Me Resilient

Wednesday May 10 — Special Guest Poet Eric Browne, When I Knew

Friday May 12 — Fiction: The Little Pink Power Strip, a flash fiction adaptation of the novel I’m working on

Friday May 19 — Book Review: All the Rage by Darcy Lockman

Friday May 26 — Film Review: My Top 3 Mommy Guilty Pleasure Shows