Don’t Tell My Mom
That I Love Her

A Love Letter to
Moms (and Women) Everywhere

Told through the witty, heartfelt diary of a twelve-year-old who feels misunderstood, this is a story about mothers, daughters, and the quiet truths that reveal how deeply connected they truly are. A love-filled tribute to the women we become, the girls we once were, and the mothers we never stop needing.

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Synopsis

Enter Maggie—adorably, exhaustingly, and sarcastically twelve—a modern-day Margaret (a là Judy Blume) whose private diary is her daily outlet for (over)analyzing her “miserable” and “confusing” life. In entries that vary as wildly as her mood swings, she beautifully articulates (and screams from the rooftops) the bitter day-to-day battles of (pre-) adolescence and all the things her parents, teachers, and peers shockingly do not understand. Balancing her daily questions, her mom’s (seemingly) wasted advice, and the eavesdropped truth she overhears her parents say about her, she desperately tries to find her voice and her place in this world.

Why You Should Read It

How can teenagers feel so bewildering to grown-ups when every adult was once a teenager? Don’t Tell My Mom That I Love Her invites you straight into Maggie’s chaotic, laugh-out-loud, and painfully relatable world. Through her diary, you’ll witness the misunderstandings, meltdowns, and small triumphs that shape her daily life at school and at home.

Woven with the movies, musicals, and cultural touchstones of her generation, Lauren brings Maggie and her mom to life in a way that resonates with daughters growing up—and the moms trying to keep up.

If You’re a Daughter…

This is your story told out loud. Through Maggie’s voice, you’ll feel truly seen and heard. The frustrations, joys, and everyday chaos of growing up will echo back to you, reminding you that you were never as alone in them as you once thought.

If You’re a Mom…

You were a daughter once, and Maggie’s story will take you back there. Her voice will remind you of the girl you used to be, while offering fresh perspective and compassion for both who you were then and the woman you’ve become now.

“Hello…it’s me. Are you bored yet? Welcome to my miserable existence! I know I’m not the first lost soul in the abyss of middle school, and I certainly won’t be the last—but for me, it just feels different and plain old worse.”

Open Your Heart With Maggie's Story

As you step into Maggie's world, her life may feel both familiar and new. Through her longing to be seen and to really connect with her mom, you might find some echoes of your own story tucked within these pages.

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From the Mothers and Daughters

Sometimes the best way to know a story is to hear it through the hearts of those who’ve read it.

“A vital and necessary guide for anyone struggling to understand how hard it is to be a young teen girl. As much a book for teens as it is for the families who raise them. In an uncompromisingly honest take on what is real during this rocky time, it provides a bridge of understanding between anguished teens and their concerned Mothers. This book provides a window into the unshakeable love that is there on both sides no matter how messy and divisive these years can be. Should be on every book shelf of girls and their Mom's hoping to gracefully and quickly get through these years!”

“Where do I begin?? It’s like a “Sex and the City” prequel that features Carrie (Maggie) examining, dissecting, over analyzing EVERY aspect of her 12 year old tween life. All the while navigating her relationship with her mom. It’s so beautifully intertwined!!! Maggie STUCK between being a kid and a teenager, her mom, Julie, STUCK between being a mother and a daughter. A must read for any moms of school age children. The backdrop of the mess that is social media confirms what we know, but brilliantly conveyed through the eyes of this relatable 12yr old. Moms, daughters, Dads… don’t miss this book!!! You will thank me, and the author!!!!! I finished it in two days. ENJOY!!!!!”

“Maggie is so real. Her insecurities and day to day, minute by minute struggles are such a true depiction of today’s tweens. I worked in a middle school for over 29 years with girls that age and Maggie’s struggles were a piece of the same thread. She is smart, curious, loving and sensitive yet continually questions her social position. I hurt for Maggie and all the young girls who have to face the pressure of social media 24/7. I am so lucky to have been raised BCP (before cell phones) but resilience wins out in the end and Maggie finds her way. There are also many funny diary entries where I found myself laughing out loud! So well written!!!”

“I was hooked from the first page. Spot on, hilarious, and heartwarming- this book perfectly captures the ups and downs of being twelve. It's so well written - you'll laugh, connect and won't want it to end!”

“Such a great trip down memory lane for me as a mom and daughter. Wish this book had been around when my kids were tweens because it made me reflect on their emotions and I wish I had that insight. Loved the 80s references because it brought me back to when I was growing up. Highly recommend this one!”

“This book is a must read for every tween, everyone who has been a tween and every mom who has a tween. It’s such a well-written and accurate portrayal of this stage of adolescence. You will read the diary entries and you will feel an immediate connection to Maggie and her feelings and struggles. I found her relationship with her mom so perfectly nuanced and relatable and it was so interesting to see it from both sides – remembering that awful and confusing stage of life, but also seeing it now as a mother.”

“A MUST to read for all! A reality for all the Maggie's in the world, and their sisters, brothers, moms, dads, grandma, grandpas, teachers, tutors, counselors, and of course friends! Trust me, you all know her and will absolutely love her!”

About the Author

Lauren is the founder of Family Consultants of Westport (FCW). She is a licensed, nationally board-certified mental health professional with over thirty years of experience working with middle school girls and their parents. She has guided thousands of pre-teen and teenage girls through the challenges of growing up, focusing on the drama, dilemmas, and emotions that often leave them feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and misunderstood. Lauren remembers all too well what it was like to be a daughter—and now, as the mom of two young adult daughters, she gets plenty of reminders (whether she asks for them or not). She lives in Westport, Connecticut, with her family and her lazy dog.

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