This is a long story that goes back and forth in time to provide us with a complete picture of the life of Iracy, the titular mother. I must admit to picking it solely because it was based in a time and place and about people I had no prior knowledge of.
Although we start the book with the end of Iracy's life, we go back to her mother's beginning of married life to see where everything began. The lives of the people in the story are extremely tough; people are multifaceted, and as readers, we cannot really comment on why any one person behaved the way they did.
Iracy moves to the city from Rural Brazil to make something more of her life than was available to her if she had stayed. It takes several small steps forward (each of which comes with its own cost) until Iracy brings not only her family, but gets married and starts a whole new family - one for whom she has high hopes.
There is a lot of sorrow in the book, but as the cover/title mentions, resilience is the highlight. The writing flowed, even if the situations were hard to digest.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book about a tough woman and her life.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The narrative, written with heartfelt sincerity, invites readers to experience Iracy's triumphs and tribulations as if they were part of her family. With each turn of the page, emotions run high, prompting tears and moments of reflection on the resilience of the human spirit. While the story resonates deeply with historical significance, Ana Maria Luisa's writing also offers glimpses of hope and humor amidst adversity. 'The Mother of Honey' is a captivating read that stays with you long after the final page, leaving a lasting impression of strength, love, and the power of resilience. The book's cover, much like the Fuba Cake mentioned within its pages, is a delightful treat to behold, drawing readers in with its warmth and charm.

I’ve tried multiple times but I can’t read more than a few pages at a time. The writing style simply isn’t for me so DNF at 21%.

This was a book that just took my breath away from the very first few pages and a perfect read. It was a book that was hard to put down.

The Mother of Honey by Ana Maria Luisa, it is a wonderful book, written from Ana's heart which is a beautiful tribute to her mother Iracy, who has an unbreakable spirit, she is so brave and loving. Iracy, is a Brazilian woman who was born in poverty, but nothing bar courage, love and especially determination to make a better life for her and her sisters Maria and Ana Maria Luisa.

At the moment they have a hard life of farming in rural Brazil and are moving to a big city which is the concrete jungle of Sao Paulo. This city is full of life and a perfect start for them all. This move was hard for all of them but with the determination and love they had for each other the move was made.

But, along the way they are confronted with the harsh realities of the lives of indigenous and African slaves in colonised Brazil, the formation of the first mixed-race families, their way of life was so different for example; girls as young as 13 would be married off and their husbands could be their father's or grandfather's age then for them to bear children, at such a young age.

The Mother of Honey; made me sit back and think of how lucky we are in this day n age. For Ana's mum and her sisters to go through for what they all went through was harrowing. But they had so much love and determination to make this happen. There was a lot of ups and downs along the way and so many tears You felt when I was reading this amazing book I was apart of their story. You will need tissues. This will be a book I will go back and read again.

The Fuba Cake was beautiful and a wonderful cake to be made and eaten over the Easter holidays with my family. The only thing I would of loved to see in this book is more recipes. But, I highly recommend this book.

It was just beautiful and written from the heart. The cover is amazing just like the cake.

This book delves into the life of Iracy, whose name originates from the indigenous Tupi-Guarani tribe, meaning "honey mother" of her nurturing nature. Born in a rural area of Minas Gerais State, Iracy encountered life's challenges early on. She married young and tragically lost many children due to the remote location of her village healthcare facilities.

Despite these hardships, Iracy exhibited unwavering resilience and diligence, viewing each obstacle as an opportunity to secure a better future for her children. Displaying remarkable innovation for a woman in the patriarchal society of the early 20th century, she made the bold decision to relocate to São Paulo, a bustling metropolis.

In this subsequent part of the narrative, the author seamlessly weaves autobiographical elements into Iracy's story, shedding light on her parents' and siblings' struggles to adapt and survive in the urban landscape. The narrative flows effortlessly, captivating the reader's interest from start to finish.

Amidst moments of profound sadness, the author skillfully injects touches of humour, preserving the essence of the book's narrative without diminishing its emotional depth.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.