3 Books Every Working Mom Should Read to Feel Seen, Supported, and a Little Less Alone
Looking for the best books for working moms? These three powerful reads—Objects of My Affection, Fair Play, and Stretched Too Thin—offer encouragement, real-life solutions, and the validation every busy mom deserves. Perfect for moms juggling careers, newborns, and the everyday mental load. Save this list for your next nap-time read!
11/19/20253 min read
Between raising kids, raising the dough, and trying to raise yourself up in the middle of it all… working moms carry a lot. Some days you feel powerful and productive, and other days you feel stretched thinner than your toddler’s patience on a skipped-nap afternoon.
At Raising Bread Co., we believe in tools that nourish you—whether that’s fresh air, a good routine, or the kind of book that makes you feel understood down to your soul. If you’re looking for reads that validate your experience, lighten your emotional load, and offer real strategies for thriving, these three books belong at the top of your “for me” list.
1. Objects of My Affection by Jill Smolinski
A heartfelt, funny, surprisingly healing story about letting go—inside and out.
This novel is the perfect “exhale” for a busy mom. It’s warm, witty, and emotional in a way that sneaks up on you. Through the story of Lucy, a professional organizer hired to help a famous artist finally declutter her life, we get a reminder all moms need:
Letting go—of physical clutter and emotional weight—is an act of self-care.
This book is fiction, yes, but it hits on truths every mother knows:
we accumulate more than we mean to
we carry more than we talk about
we often need help making space for who we want to become
It’s heartfelt without being heavy, funny without being fluffy, and ultimately a beautiful reflection on the messy, meaningful work of sorting through life.
Perfect for: evening wind-downs, postpartum reading slumps, and moms who love a little heart in their fiction.
A warm, witty novel that blends humor and heart as it explores what it truly means to let go—physically and emotionally. Perfect for moms who crave a relatable, uplifting story that feels like a breath of fresh air.
👉 Shop “Objects of My Affection” (affiliate link)
2. Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
A life-changing framework for sharing the mental, emotional, and physical load of running a household.
If you’ve ever felt like the CEO of your home with no clear job description—and zero PTO—this book will feel like a lifeline. Eve Rodsky dives into the invisible labor that mothers carry and offers a practical, structured system for balancing responsibilities with a partner.
This book is revolutionary because it reframes domestic work as exactly that: work.
Not instinct. Not habit. Not “something moms just do.”
Work that deserves discussion, structure, fairness, and respect.
What you’ll take away:
how to reduce resentment
how to communicate better with your partner
a clear, doable system to rebalance responsibilities
the validation that you’re not imagining the load you carry
It’s not about perfection—it’s about partnership. And for working moms trying to juggle careers, caregiving, and everything in between, that shift can change everything.
Perfect for: moms who crave more balance, couples ready to divide tasks more fairly, and anyone tired of doing 100 things before 10 AM.
A must-read for any mom carrying the invisible load. This book gives you a practical system for redistributing household responsibilities and creating more balance, partnership, and sanity in your life.
👉 Shop “Fair Play” (affiliate link)
3. Stretched Too Thin by Jessica N. Turner
A practical, faith-rooted guide for working moms who want less guilt and more joy.
This book is a gentle, encouraging companion for any mom who feels pulled in every direction (so… all of us?). Jessica N. Turner writes with honesty about the tension between ambition and motherhood, and offers real strategies for creating a life that feels sustainable.
What makes this book stand out:
it acknowledges working moms’ realities without shaming them
it blends practical tips with emotional support
it focuses on setting boundaries, finding joy, and ditching guilt
it gives you actionable steps to work smarter, not harder
You’ll walk away with tools for simplifying your home, strengthening your relationships, and reclaiming time for yourself—something most moms treat as a luxury, but is actually a need.
Perfect for: overwhelmed moms, first-time working moms, and anyone craving peace, clarity, and a little encouragement.
A gentle, empowering guide for working moms who want to drop the guilt, set healthier boundaries, and create a life that feels more joyful and sustainable. Real, doable, and incredibly validating.
👉 Shop “Stretched Too Thin” (affiliate link)
Why These Books Matter for Moms Raising Kids and Raising Dough
These books speak to the heart of the Raising Bread Co. mission:
supporting moms who want to nurture their families without losing themselves.
Each one offers:
perspective
relief
empowerment
practical support
emotional validation
And sometimes, that’s exactly what a mother needs—a reminder that she is not alone, not failing, and not meant to do it all without support.
Whether you read them during nap time, on your lunch break, or while hiding in the bathroom for five peaceful minutes… these stories and insights will stay with you.
