If you loved
The Second Mother
Film · 2015
If you loved The Second Mother, you were captivated by the complex, often painful navigation of mother-daughter bonds and class.
Books on the same thread
The Falling Woman
Pat Murphy · Book · 2013
Much like the protagonist of The Second Mother, this story explores the heavy weight of maternal guilt and the fractured connections that form when professional ambitions supersede family life.
After the Game
Abbi Glines · Book · 2017
The Second Mother examines the social repercussions of one's past, a theme mirrored here as the protagonist returns to a town that remains defined by long-held, damaging judgments.
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · Book · 2022
Fans of The Second Mother will recognize the raw desperation of a mother seeking redemption and a second chance with a child she was previously forced to leave behind.
Mine Till Midnight
Lisa Kleypas · Book · 2007
This narrative echoes the class-conscious tensions of The Second Mother, focusing on how shifting social status alters family dynamics and the burden of responsibility toward one's kin.
Series on the same thread
Maid
Molly Smith Metzler · Series · 2021
This series captures the same grit found in The Second Mother, illustrating the exhausting reality of domestic labor while highlighting a mother's resilience in protecting her child's future.
The Gilded Age
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2022
If the class dynamics of The Second Mother interested you, this show offers a broader look at how social stratification and domestic hierarchy influence the lives of women.
Mom
Eddie Gorodetsky · Series · 2013
This series explores the messy, complicated nature of mother-daughter reconciliation, echoing the emotional hurdles and long-standing tensions that defined the primary relationship in The Second Mother.
Anne with an E
Moira Walley-Beckett · Series · 2017
If The Second Mother hit, Anne with an E shares the thread.
Podcasts on the same thread
Worklife with Molly Graham
TED · Podcast · 2026
If The Second Mother hit, Worklife with Molly Graham shares the thread.
Something About Cari
Podcast
If The Second Mother hit, Something About Cari shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Second Mother about a woman living in São Paulo?
Yes, the film follows Val, who works as a nanny in São Paulo for 13 years. While she gains financial stability through her employment there, she struggles with the guilt of leaving her daughter, Jessica, to be raised by relatives in a small town in Pernambuco.
Does Jessica reappear in The Second Mother?
Yes, Jessica reappears in Val's life in The Second Mother as Fabinho’s university entrance exams approach. Her arrival forces Val to confront the distance created by their years apart and offers a potential second chance for their mother-daughter relationship.
How long has Val been working as a nanny in The Second Mother?
In The Second Mother, Val has spent 13 years working as a nanny for Fabinho in São Paulo. During this time, she has been separated from her daughter, Jessica, who remained in a small town in Pernambuco under the care of relatives.
Why does Val feel guilt in The Second Mother?
Val feels guilt in The Second Mother because she spent 13 years working as a nanny in São Paulo while her daughter, Jessica, was raised by relatives in a small town. Despite achieving financial stability, she regrets not being present to raise her daughter herself.