Emily Haworth-Booth, Mare

Mare is the debut adult novel by award winning author illustrator Emily Haworth Booth. Mare is the debut adult novel by award‑winning author‑illustrator Emily Haworth‑Booth. The story follows a woman living with her husband and their dog, who has decided not to have children. After the dog dies and a medical diagnosis confirms she can never have a child, she begins to think about horses again. She hears about a mare needing part‑time care and sees it as an ideal low‑commitment arrangement. As she brushes, feeds, rides, and mucks out the horse, her affection deepens into obsession, forcing her to confront what it means to love a being that is not her own. The novel explores contemporary (non)motherhood, care, desire, and the boundaries of love, blending personal narrative with reflections on gender, physicality, and the natural world. Emily Haworth-Booth's award-winning debut novel is a bold and beautiful exploration of contemporary (non)motherhood and the surprising ways in which desire can enthral us and set us free.