Rachel Beachy
author of Tiny Universe
Nicole’s collection is a raw, honest, and visceral account of mothering in all its complexity. Capturing both the tender and gut-wrenching moments - often within the same poem - Motherhead will make you feel seen no matter what stage of parenting you are in while also giving you a new perspective.
Katy Luxem
author of Until it is True
In Motherhead, Zwolinski artfully traces our collective existence as mothers "from conception to forever." By refusing to separate the biological from the emotional, this collection speaks tenderly and honestly to parents everywhere. These relatable, nuanced poems don't shy away from the truths of raising children while still trying to carry one’s own life. Enjoyable from start to finish.
Deirdre Garr Johns
author of Fallen Love
Motherhead, Nicole Zwolinski’s first full-length collection of poetry, explores the intersection of life as both woman and mother. In a careful dissection of the self, Zwolinski examines the body, changed — “After, for months, maybe even a year, / my scar burns and feels pain. / Like a mouth sewn shut / it wants to scream” (“Making Life Turns Your Body into Public Doman”) and bares the internal complexities — “The fog of motherhood / drips in heavy curtains / from our limbs” (“Nebulous”). Bringing to life the raw realities of motherhood, Motherhead takes us by the hand and invites us to step into the world of one who “cracks her / heart and lets it spill / knowing she’s an unsung hero” (“Unsung Heroes”).
Kristen Rapp
poet and author of Substack She’s let herself go
Motherhead is beautifully written. I felt like every poem reflected my own experience with motherhood--the grief amidst love, loss of self while creating new life, the challenge of recognizing your own body after it has been through something so miraculous yet violent. We need to talk about the complex reality of motherhood, and Zwolinski's poems capture this complexity so well.
Jillian Stacia
Motherhead is the collection I yearned for during early motherhood. In a world filled with picture-perfect images of smiling mothers and sleeping babies, Zwolinski's writing is a refreshing tonic of truth and vulnerability. Written in a relatable, sometimes comical tone, Motherhead feels like meeting a friend for coffee and talking about things that truly matter. Whether discussing pregnancy pains, future anxieties, the mental load, or body image, Zwolinski tackles each topic with intimacy, wit, and grace. This is a must-read for any mother looking to feel seen.
Allison Mei-Li
"Never / Doing enough / Good enough / Present enough / There enough."
Motherhead reads like a conversation with your most candid friend—unfiltered, intimate, and real. Nicole Zwolinski’s poems shed light on the darker parts of motherhood that are often glossed over, from the surprise cost of birthing a baby to the guilt that laces nearly every choice a mother makes. At its core, Motherhead is a collection that refuses to look away.