“I am writing this because I think another woman will need to read it.”

The Book Fairies shared copies of Maternity Service by Emma Barnett a day ahead of its launch into bookshops!

Who will be lucky enough to spot one?

About the book:

When Emma Barnett began her second maternity leave, she realized that, despite having been there before, as soon as her first leave finished the rose-tinted lenses had descended and she immediately forgot what the experience was actually like when you’re in it. This collective forgetting, which leads to well-meaning comments such as ‘enjoy every minute’ and ‘treasure this special time’, is doing a disservice to women, leaving them unprepared for the more complicated reality of what it means to be on maternity service.

In this warmly reassuring, refreshingly honest book, Emma sets out to capture this reality, in real time while on her latest tour of duty. She isn’t offering advice on sleep-training or weaning or helping your baby reach milestones. Instead, this book is a celebration and acknowledgement of the work of being on maternity leave, with its soaring highs and challenging lows, and its impact on how women feel about our purpose and ourselves.

Happy finders!

We love hearing from people who stumble upon the books we leave behind! We were so lucky to receive many messages today, and here are our favourites:

Get your hands on a copy!

This fantastic book is OUT NOW in all good bookshops! If you prefer to buy your books online, you can find Maternity Service by Emma Barnett here on Bookshop.org, a site that supports indies!

Become a book fairy today

If this activity has made YOU want to hide some of the books you have read and loved, and pass them on in a magical way to a stranger, it seems like you’d be a perfect book fairy! Order your first set of stickers or get a book fairy starter kit!