A Founding Mother: A Reese's Book Club Pick

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK

In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.

In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.

When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.

From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.

STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into ten languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books.

Join Stephanie Dray's Monthly Newsletter for:

* Free book giveaways every month

* Mini-Reviews of new books in the genre

* Contests, Free Reads & Sneak Peeks

* Book Signings, Appearances & Online Reader Events

* New Releases, Discounts & Sales

To sign up copy and paste this into your browser: stephaniedray.com/fun/newsletter/

MORE ways to connect with Stephanie:

* Website: StephanieDray.com

* Facebook: facebook.com/stephaniedrayauthor

"A Founding Mother is a vivid and meticulously researched portrayal of one of American history’s most remarkable women. Dray and Kamoie bring Abigail Adams to life as a fierce intellect, a woman who powerfully defied limits set before her, and whose courage, wisdom, and strength helped shape the nation. This inspirational story of Abigail Adams’s incredible life is historical fiction at its absolute finest." - Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book Society

“Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie are back with another tale of America's founding mothers, this the most famous of all: Abigail Adams herself. America's most famous first lady shines from every page, spiky, clever, and admirable whether holding her family together during the Revolution, presiding over the White House during her husband's presidency, or wondering if it was all for nought as she watches her nation's capital burn. The research shines, the prose gleams, the characterization is a delight, and the themes are timelier than ever--on the eve of our nation's 250th anniversary, I can think of no book more necessary than A FOUNDING MOTHER.” - Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

“Simply marvelous! Abigail Adams speaks directly to us in an exquisitely told story of her life. And what a life! Wife to one president, mother to another, and a steadfast believer in the promise of the future of our shaky new country. One of the earliest advocates for women, she was a wise counselor and companion to her husband, President John Adams, from his early days as a lawyer in the Boston Massacre trial to his guiding role as president emeritus decades later. In this memoir, she speaks with such honesty and fervor you feel you know her and have been with her for the duration.” - Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of The Confessions of Young Nero

"Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie's A FOUNDING MOTHER is a must read for history buffs-- or anyone wanting to know more about our country's tumultuous founding. "Remember the Ladies," Abigail Adams famously wrote, and here we finally remember Abigail, from a young bride and mother, through the upheaval of the Revolution, her triumphant turn as wife of the young Republic's Ambassador to London, and one of most memorable first ladies. This is Dray and Kamoie's best work yet!" - Lauren Willig, NYT Bestselling Author of The Girl from Greenwich Street

“A Founding Mother” by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie is a sweeping historical novel centered on Abigail Adams, one of the most influential women in early American history. The book follows her life from the tense years before the American Revolution through the founding of the United States and beyond, showing how she became not just the wife of John Adams, but a force in her own right. Written in a warm, intimate style, the novel gives Abigail a vivid voice and turns her into the emotional and political center of a changing nation.

The story begins in revolutionary Boston, where Abigail is raising her children in a world filled with riots, blockades, shortages, and fear. While John Adams is often away serving the patriot cause and building his legal and political career, Abigail is left to manage the family farm, protect the household, and hold everything together. She has to deal with disease, grief, financial pressures, and the loneliness of long separations, but the novel presents her as resourceful and determined, someone who learns to survive by becoming independent in practical and emotional ways. Her domestic life is not treated as secondary to history; instead, it is shown as part of the nation’s foundation.

As John rises in public life, Abigail becomes his closest confidante and most honest adviser. One of the most memorable parts of the novel is her political intelligence and her fearless willingness to speak plainly, especially in her famous appeal to “remember the ladies.” The book uses this relationship to show that Abigail was more than a supportive spouse. She understood politics, power, and the costs of revolution, and she often gave John the kind of counsel he could trust even when it challenged him. Their marriage is portrayed as deeply affectionate, but also full of strain, sacrifice, and long periods of separation that test both of them.

The novel also widens beyond the home to show Abigail stepping into the larger world after peace is secured. She travels, observes court life, and enters the political and social circles of the early republic. She interacts with figures such as Thomas Jefferson and navigates life as the wife of a diplomat and later as the first lady. These sections emphasize her intelligence, wit, and adaptability. The authors present her as someone who learns how to function in elite political spaces while still remaining grounded in her family responsibilities and personal convictions.

A major theme of the book is how women’s labor, judgment, and endurance shaped the country even when formal power was closed to them. Abigail is shown as a manager, investor, mother, wife, and quiet strategist who builds security for her family through hard work and careful planning. She is also portrayed as a woman who wants a better future for other women, not just for herself. The novel highlights her efforts to protect her children, preserve her household, and support independence in a society that gave women very little official authority.

The later part of the story follows Abigail into the early years of the republic and beyond, where she continues to influence politics from the background. Even after John’s presidency, she remains engaged, outspoken, and committed to her family’s legacy. The book frames her as a “founding mother” in the fullest sense: someone whose wisdom, endurance, and moral clarity helped shape the nation as much as the men whose names are better known. By ending on the larger consequences of her life, the novel suggests that the American founding was never only a story of speeches, battles, and treaties, but also one of homes, mothers, and invisible work.

Overall, “A Founding Mother” is a portrait of Abigail Adams as a woman ahead of her time. It combines family drama, political history, and emotional depth to show how she lived through revolution without losing her sense of self. The novel’s strength lies in making Abigail feel both historical and immediate: a woman with strong opinions, real fears, deep love, and a clear understanding of justice. It is as much a story about resilience and partnership as it is about the birth of a nation.