Meltdown by Lauren Novak

Why motherhood makes us angry and what to do about it.

Why do so many women feel an unadulterated rage with life, their partners, even their children when they become mothers? Is it hormonal, a loss of control, lack of sleep?

Lauren Novak takes readers on a confronting journey through her own personal experiences of rage after becoming a mother and bravely explores the raw and often unspoken emotions that many other mothers experience. In delving into the physical, psychological and societal pressures that contribute to these intense feelings, she reveals how common maternal anger is. Yet Novak also offers hope – and solidarity. With a blend of humour, understanding and insight she breaks the silence around this taboo topic and provides practical advice and effective strategies for managing these sometimes overwhelming emotions.

This book will resonate with so many and is a vital resource for any mother grappling with the complexities of motherhood and the powerful rage it can incite.

About the Author: Lauren Novak is an award-winning news and features journalist of more than two decades. Her work has been published in News Corp print and digital newspapers and magazines across Australia. Her reporting has been recognised with state and national accolades, including as a two-time winner of the SA Press Club’s Gold Award for journalist of the year. Lauren specialises in coverage of family violence and child safety and is an Our Watch Walkley Foundation fellow. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her partner and their two children, born less than two years apart during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

28 Jan 2026
 

Meltdown: An insightful, sympathetic and reassuring look at the dangerous but hot topic of mum rage for readers of Brene Brown and Jamila Rizvi, foreword by Lael Stone by Lauren Novak ISBN 9781460766781