I received a email from the marketing team behind this book asking if I wanted an advanced copy in exchange for a review.  Obviously I said yes (and was quite excited someone had approached me rather than me begging on NetGalley!)

Here’s the blurb:

“Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. She loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.

With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.

In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…”

 

The press release sent with my copy said it would be perfect for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma Robinson and my one concern was ‘surely this has been done to death’, and I was worried it would be same old same old baby stuff.  Within the first few pages the word ‘eleventy’ had been used – and I know that one single person doesn’t have ownership of a word – but to me that’s a Gill Sims word – so my hackles were up!!

However, my fears were unfounded – and I really enjoyed the book.

Yes, some of the topics were things that are covered by many current Mum blogs – such as loving your children fiercely – but still finding them annoying, or wanting to step off the treadmill occasionally – but all was done in an honest and, at times, amusing way.

My 4 kids range from almost 15 down to 6, and there was nothing ‘honest’ about how hard motherhood was when my eldest were born.  I was lucky I had sisters / friends who’d had babies before me and were honest about it – as otherwise I really would have thought I was rubbish at being a Mum.  The fact that new Mums now have this support – and social media empathy – must make a massive difference – and that is the whole premise of ‘First-Time Mum’.

At times you wanted to give Stevie a bit of a shake – especially about being upfront with her husband about how she was feeling – but you could see how things easily spiral out of control.  Stevie’s new friends are great – and you can really get the team vibe between them.

I also liked the pub quiz section – who doesn’t love a pub quiz, and the random facts you get to know as a parent (and I LOVED Fantasy Football – and really hope football is coming home this week!!!)

This is a fun and easy, quick read – perfect for night feeds if you have a newborn (or for lying with a 6 year old with a horrid ear infection in my case!)

Thank you Canelo for my advanced review copy – and I’ve been a bit slack with not reading it for 3 weeks – so it’s not advanced now, and you can buy it already!

I’m not sure I can slot this into my 2018 Reading Challenge anywhere – although it would work as a book published in 2018 if I hadn’t already filled that category!