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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
admit to not having seen Gill Sim's blog or Facebook page before, so I hadn't heard of Peter and Jane and their adventures. I also hadn't read Why Mummy Drinks, which is the first book by this author. I love to laugh and am not offended by swearing, so I was really looking forward to getting stuck in to this book. Any writing which can take the mickey out of parenting in a lighthearted way is a winner for me.
Why Mummy Swears is the story of Ellen, her husband Simon and their two "precious moppets" Peter and Jane. Peter is 9 and Jane is 11 and my children are exactly the same age gap, although two years younger. The book starts with Ellen contemplating the summer holidays and what they are going to do with their time. She is also job hunting, and amazingly gets an interview for her dream job. As a mother, any job is going to be difficult to juggle the children around, but this job is full-time and you can see how that would make childcare a struggle.
Gill Sims writes about the the exasperating side of parenting incredibly well. We have all experienced the child who would only eat from the blue plate, or the children who fought over the yellow bowl every morning. In fact, I once threw all the blue plastic IKEA plates away in a fit of rage when my children fought over them for the 8th time that morning. It's good to feel that I am not the only one who occasionally has to walk out of the room, utter an expletive and walk back in with a cheery demeanour!
Frustratingly, though, I found the lead character Ellen difficult to warm to, which led to me struggling through the book a little. Why Mummy Swears grapples with some huge topics, divorce, pregnancy, not wanting children, and equality at work, but personally I feel it fails to adequately tackle inequalities in the home. It made me incredibly thankful that my husband helps out at home, and treats me as his equal. When Ellen starts her new job, she fails to mention that she has children, and once she hasn't mentioned them, it becomes increasingly difficult to blurt out the truth. Why Mummy Swears highlights the inequalities of the workplace in the fact that her colleague Lydia is treated differently because she is the only mother in the office. Her colleagues belittle Lydia and claim that she is not doing her fair share, because she has to go to school assemblies and sports days. After a showdown near the end of the book, where Lydia puts everyone in their place and proves just how hard she works, the workplace does end up a little more equal.
It's a diary style book, and I can see why other reviews have compared it to Bridget Jones' Diary. I really, really wanted to like this book, but in all honesty, I found it a little flat. It didn't make me laugh out loud. Whilst there are elements of the book which are highly relatable, as I have similar aged children to Ellen, I didn't find the household environment realistic. I found the book to be quite judgemental, and a bit painful to read at times. In fact, having read the other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I have ended up questioning what is wrong with me and why I don't find it funny like everyone else! I know the book is tongue in cheek, and I think possibly the fact that I couldn't warm to Ellen had a huge impact on my enjoyment of the book. It was well-written and the plot flowed nicely, making it easy to read, but the tone just didn't quite sit right with me. Gill Sims is a bestselling author and her previous book Why Mummy Drinks was the number one bestselling fiction debut hardback in 2017. Her first novel was in the Sunday Times Top 10 Bestsellers for over 23 weeks, so there are plenty of people who absolutely love her writing. I think that if you liked the previous book then you will love this one too.
Why Mummy Swears is the story of Ellen, her husband Simon and their two "precious moppets" Peter and Jane. Peter is 9 and Jane is 11 and my children are exactly the same age gap, although two years younger. The book starts with Ellen contemplating the summer holidays and what they are going to do with their time. She is also job hunting, and amazingly gets an interview for her dream job. As a mother, any job is going to be difficult to juggle the children around, but this job is full-time and you can see how that would make childcare a struggle.
Gill Sims writes about the the exasperating side of parenting incredibly well. We have all experienced the child who would only eat from the blue plate, or the children who fought over the yellow bowl every morning. In fact, I once threw all the blue plastic IKEA plates away in a fit of rage when my children fought over them for the 8th time that morning. It's good to feel that I am not the only one who occasionally has to walk out of the room, utter an expletive and walk back in with a cheery demeanour!
Frustratingly, though, I found the lead character Ellen difficult to warm to, which led to me struggling through the book a little. Why Mummy Swears grapples with some huge topics, divorce, pregnancy, not wanting children, and equality at work, but personally I feel it fails to adequately tackle inequalities in the home. It made me incredibly thankful that my husband helps out at home, and treats me as his equal. When Ellen starts her new job, she fails to mention that she has children, and once she hasn't mentioned them, it becomes increasingly difficult to blurt out the truth. Why Mummy Swears highlights the inequalities of the workplace in the fact that her colleague Lydia is treated differently because she is the only mother in the office. Her colleagues belittle Lydia and claim that she is not doing her fair share, because she has to go to school assemblies and sports days. After a showdown near the end of the book, where Lydia puts everyone in their place and proves just how hard she works, the workplace does end up a little more equal.
It's a diary style book, and I can see why other reviews have compared it to Bridget Jones' Diary. I really, really wanted to like this book, but in all honesty, I found it a little flat. It didn't make me laugh out loud. Whilst there are elements of the book which are highly relatable, as I have similar aged children to Ellen, I didn't find the household environment realistic. I found the book to be quite judgemental, and a bit painful to read at times. In fact, having read the other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I have ended up questioning what is wrong with me and why I don't find it funny like everyone else! I know the book is tongue in cheek, and I think possibly the fact that I couldn't warm to Ellen had a huge impact on my enjoyment of the book. It was well-written and the plot flowed nicely, making it easy to read, but the tone just didn't quite sit right with me. Gill Sims is a bestselling author and her previous book Why Mummy Drinks was the number one bestselling fiction debut hardback in 2017. Her first novel was in the Sunday Times Top 10 Bestsellers for over 23 weeks, so there are plenty of people who absolutely love her writing. I think that if you liked the previous book then you will love this one too.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Started this book at the beginning of the school holidays so the opening chapters struck a chord. Really funny book which I could absolutely relate to. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Will be checking out Why Mummy Drinks.
I don't think I have a single bad thing to say about this book, amazingly written, with fantastic characters and a wonderfully humorous plot. I couldn't put it down. I was literally crying with laughter and this book has been added to my To Buy list.
I have added Why Mummy Drinks on to my TBR list.
I want to thank Netgalley & HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have added Why Mummy Drinks on to my TBR list.
I want to thank Netgalley & HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Just like her previous book, Gill Sims has written a hilarious, over the top, sweary view of motherhood that makes you chuckle, despair and groan.
There's no let up in any of the swearing or exasperated humour but that becomes tedious after a while, even if there are still moments of domestic hilarity.
Sims also made an attempt at pointing out the challenges a working mother faces when dealing with colleagues - however a few mumbles apologies at the end meant that she copped out of any significant message.
I also know the husband is supposed to be a funny and exasperating figure, and the wife is irrational and shouty for comic effect - but a whole novel of stereotypes gets exhausting.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
There's no let up in any of the swearing or exasperated humour but that becomes tedious after a while, even if there are still moments of domestic hilarity.
Sims also made an attempt at pointing out the challenges a working mother faces when dealing with colleagues - however a few mumbles apologies at the end meant that she copped out of any significant message.
I also know the husband is supposed to be a funny and exasperating figure, and the wife is irrational and shouty for comic effect - but a whole novel of stereotypes gets exhausting.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
funny
Net zo leuk en geweldig en goed als de eerste!
De humor vind ik hilarisch. Herkenbaar en soms overtrokken, maar niet onrealistisch. Juist niet. Dat is heel tof.
Maar toch zit er een diepere laag onder. Net als in deel 1 steekt die op 85% ineens de kop op, op een goede, mooie en logische manier.
Heerlijk boek weer!
De humor vind ik hilarisch. Herkenbaar en soms overtrokken, maar niet onrealistisch. Juist niet. Dat is heel tof.
Maar toch zit er een diepere laag onder. Net als in deel 1 steekt die op 85% ineens de kop op, op een goede, mooie en logische manier.
Heerlijk boek weer!
I haven't had in a good while a book that has made laugh out loud and in public.
God I know where Ellen swears with moronic children and a husband who is living in the 19th century. Jeepers.
God I know where Ellen swears with moronic children and a husband who is living in the 19th century. Jeepers.
I didn’t like the main character and I just wasn’t enjoying it
I haven't read Gill Sim's first book "Why Mummy Drinks" the No. 1 bestselling debut fiction hardback of 2017 but had heard fabulous things about it so was over the moon to be in a position to read her latest book "Why Mummy Swears".
As a parent myself I've encountered many similarities in this wonderfully funny story - the days out to national trust places thinking you're doing the correct and intelligent thing to secretly disposing of end of year school work desperate not to be discovered. The part regarding the family eating in the self catering cafe was very identifiable - having three kids myself and all having individual menu quirks!
All of the incidents Ellen (Mummy) recounts are so hilarious but are also truly realistic and the author engages the reader in such a way to guarantee a giggle and nodding of the head in agreement.
I could hear the change in Ellen's tone superbly - from when she speaks to the kids to shouting at her husband. Screaming at her hubby after he had cleared out her kitchen cupboards was side splitting - who doesn't have out of date spices lol?! This is due to the authors brilliant writing narrative and I actually found myself feeling better about parenting - things that you thought you were bad at are no different to how other exhaustive parents cope.
I liked how the story was set out as a diary so you could follow the timeline perfectly. The kids were just typical 'kids' running wild and never more true was the saying "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" as Boy Child Peter and Girl Child Jane constantly came out with embarrassing talk.
All in all, a very fun filled read that I could totally identify with, was undemanding, entertaining and very well written. I'd highly recommend "Why Mummy Swears" especially if you have kids and look forward to reading more by this funny and talented author.
5 stars
As a parent myself I've encountered many similarities in this wonderfully funny story - the days out to national trust places thinking you're doing the correct and intelligent thing to secretly disposing of end of year school work desperate not to be discovered. The part regarding the family eating in the self catering cafe was very identifiable - having three kids myself and all having individual menu quirks!
All of the incidents Ellen (Mummy) recounts are so hilarious but are also truly realistic and the author engages the reader in such a way to guarantee a giggle and nodding of the head in agreement.
I could hear the change in Ellen's tone superbly - from when she speaks to the kids to shouting at her husband. Screaming at her hubby after he had cleared out her kitchen cupboards was side splitting - who doesn't have out of date spices lol?! This is due to the authors brilliant writing narrative and I actually found myself feeling better about parenting - things that you thought you were bad at are no different to how other exhaustive parents cope.
I liked how the story was set out as a diary so you could follow the timeline perfectly. The kids were just typical 'kids' running wild and never more true was the saying "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings" as Boy Child Peter and Girl Child Jane constantly came out with embarrassing talk.
All in all, a very fun filled read that I could totally identify with, was undemanding, entertaining and very well written. I'd highly recommend "Why Mummy Swears" especially if you have kids and look forward to reading more by this funny and talented author.
5 stars