They Bloom Because of You - by Jessica Urlichs (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Sunday Times bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood--the hard, the magic, and the fleeting.

The love you have for your children
Only deepens as they grow

As poet Jessica Urlichs emerged from the beautiful chaos of new motherhood and watched her children grow, she felt her breathing slow and a more intimate appreciation for life develop--as a mother, wife, daughter, and friend. In They Bloom Because of You, Jess lays bare the surprising triumphs, sorrows, evolving love, empathy, and slightly subdued chaos that occurs as our children bloom and become alongside us. Reflecting on motherhood into school age, Jess offers a much-needed exhale, a hand to hold during this precious and fleeting time, and an often-forgotten acknowledgment of just how far we've come.

A balm for the soul, Jess's poems poignantly remind us of what once was (our beautiful babies) while tenderly planting us in the now (our growing children) and looking toward a hopeful future, together.

Review Quotes

"At once uplifting and unvarnished, vulnerable and triumphant, They Bloom Because of You is a metaphor for the complex poetry of motherhood itself--an ode to the chaos and beauty, the failures and triumphs, the messiness and sleepless nights, frustrations and endless joys that make up not only the experience of raising a child, but of the ways in which our children raise us." --Miranda Cowley Heller, New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace

"The first time I read something Jessica wrote, it lifted the postpartum fog I was in.
And I was deeply grateful to have someone put into words what I was feeling but couldn't express. This book is not just something you read once. It's a companion that allows us to be all we are as mothers and women with no judgement and instead love. It's a book to keep close and come back to over and over again like you would a best friend. " --Jennifer Love Hewitt

"I often say you can't put motherhood into words, it can't be defined by any number of adjectives or emotions, it's a feeling you can only understand through living it. Jessica is the closest I've felt to putting that feeling into words. A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears, both from the deepest place of joy and also the release of pent-up emotion. Reminding us that there is no singular path through motherhood, but that we are in fact, in this together." --Hilary Swank

"Jessica's writing is deeply captivating, honest, and evokes every emotion. She captures the experience of motherhood with such clarity that it resonates not only with those living it, but also with those who haven't yet stepped into the role. Her words invite you into the full spectrum of joy, awe, exhaustion, and love--all while offering a profound reminder of the love our own mothers gave us when we were small. Though I'm not yet a mother myself, reading Jessica's work fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement for all the love that lies ahead." --Josie Balka, New York Times bestselling author of I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing, and Living

"Jess Urlichs manages to take the little bits of motherhood that very few acknowledge and serve them up in beautiful poetry. Observations that feel like a peek behind a curtain into the realities of motherhood in all its forms and demands. Real, uplifting, reflective and (sometimes) sad - this is a book to treasure. I adore Jess and her work." --Giovanna Fletcher, author of Happy Mum, Happy Baby: My Adventures in Motherhood

"Jessica Urlichs has become the voice mothers turn to. Her poems are moving, real, and a reminder that we are never alone in this journey. They Bloom Because Of You is a gift to every mother." --Rose Brik, author of My Father's Eyes, My Mother's Rage

"Jess's poems always seem to find me right where I need them, like a very good mum friend who just knows all the right words to say. I just love everything she writes and I think 'They Bloom Because of You' is the perfect follow on from 'Beautiful Chaos' as my own kids get older I'm sure Jess's words will continue to provide a soundtrack to their childhood." --Kerri Cunningham, founder of Murphy's Sketches and author of There Is a Season: Poems to Celebrate the Little Things in Life

About the Author

Jessica Urlichs is a Sunday Times bestselling author and poet who lives in New Zealand with her husband and three children. She has written a variety of children's books to help babies and young children navigate their emotions in their early years. Jess' honest and heartfelt poetry about her family and motherhood continue to be a source of guidance for mothers and parents alike around the world to connect.