Stepmother by Helen Mort
Poetry Book Society Recommendation Autumn 2026 writing pithy and deliciously queer

pithy and deliciously queer

and invites us in to share a story at once familiar and unique

these poems approach their often-unusual subjects with the clarity and matter-of-factness of Simon Armitage and with humour that recalls Stevie Smith

of endings and new beginnings

Stepmother by Helen Mort <br><b>Poetry Book Society Recommendation Autumn 2026</b> writing pithy and deliciously queerWhen a new relationship casts poet Helen Mort in the role of stepmother, she embarks on a personal quest for understanding; moving across verse and personal essay, from fairytale to modern blended family. Turning a bold and inventive gaze on this neglected dimension of female experience, these are candid dispatches from the shifting terrain of the modern family. As playful as it is moving, STEPMOTHER radiates Morts signature empathetic warmth, but