Domenica Ruta's second novel, ALL THE MOTHERS, opens with a woman at a major turning point. Or maybe it's rock bottom. Sandy is sitting on the toilet in a shared workplace bathroom, on the verge of tears, pumping milk for her infant daughter, and scrolling social media for clues to...something.

Exactly what Sandy is searching for and how she got to this position is explained over the course of the book’s next 75 pages, which relate her recent life story through the lens of her disastrous dating history. Over and over, Sandy has convinced herself that she has found "the one," only to be disillusioned and disappointed.

"[The mothers'] story is a heartwarming reminder that families can take all forms, and sometimes a more traditional structure might actually be the least supportive for the caregivers."

Never has this been more true than in her most recent relationship with Justin, a window-washing business owner and would-be musician who has proven himself to be a less-than-stellar partner, even (or maybe especially) after Sandy got pregnant. Unsupported by Justin and raising her daughter as a single mom, Sandy is also mourning the too-recent loss of her own mother and is realizing just how distant she has become from her college sorority sisters, whose lives feel so disconnected from her own.

Justin is extremely close (some might say too close) with his own mother, Tara, who has never really warmed up to Sandy. After one too many slips of the tongue by Tara and Justin's other family members, Sandy starts to suspect that something is up. And sure enough, on that midday pumping break, she finds her. Stephanie, one of Justin's exes who Sandy had no idea existed, turns out to be a mother herself. And the father of her child? You guessed it: Justin.

Justin and Tara try to poison Sandy against Steph, but Sandy, who is lonely and desperate, reaches out. When the two women meet, they hatch a plan that might benefit them both. They join forces to get an apartment together, collaborating on handling the many caregiving, logistical and administrative duties that go into raising a family. They also become fast friends. And when they learn months later that Justin has fathered yet another child, they welcome the expectant mother, Kaya, into their little group, eventually moving their ramshackle family into Kaya's equally ramshackle house in Queens, where they find a haven of mutual support. But will it be enough to weather the storm when Justin tries to exert control over their lives again?

The first section of ALL THE MOTHERS --- focused exclusively on Sandy's journey --- initially can feel a little aimless, and readers may wonder where the story is going. However, things pick up considerably once the women meet each other and start to build their unconventional family unit. Their story is a heartwarming reminder that families can take all forms, and sometimes a more traditional structure might actually be the least supportive for the caregivers. Although the mothers' situation is far from settled at the novel's close, readers will come away from their story confident that together they have the toughness and love to see them through whatever life throws their way.