Slummy Mummy

Mostly light-hearted, mildly amusing in places. I liked Lucy, the main protagonist (and narrator). I would like to have seen more of her delightful children, and I appreciated the family background. I felt some nostalgia for the school playground gatherings of mothers, and could relate, somewhat, to the different styles of parenting (albeit somewhat caricatured in the book). I liked the ending, too.

However, the main protagonist has some irritating and promiscuous single friends who have far too big a part to play in the story, and who are not memorable or even distinguishable. Perhaps their excesses were supposed to be humorous - I hope they were not realistic! - but they just left me with a bad taste. The continual strong expletives show more were unnecessary too, and rather spoiled the otherwise excellent writing.

Full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-secret-life-of-slummy-mummy-by.... show less

Oh, this is a fun read. It has proper Laugh Out Loud features in it.

I can honestly say that I have not left the house wearing my pyjamas, but this book makes me feel better for all that. It has a Bridget Jones feel to it - and appeals to all those who may have had "a life" before motherhood, and wonder quite what happened to it. It also helps assuage those worries about whether it is a Good Thing (TM) to be a Yummy Mummy or an Alpha Mum, and addresses the issue of Competitive Parenting with humour.

Ultimately, this is a restoring sort of read - comforting: although the main protagonist might have been a successful TV producer on Newsnight, and now works as a full time SAHM, the loss of status (and financial security) is not a real show more problem. She has produced four happy children, and remains happily married to the father of them - despite the attractions of Sexy Domesticated Dad. Her children seem happy, not over pressurized, and she still maintains a useful and rewarding personal life.

Not great literature, but definitely one to be recommended - for feelgood factor alone (rather than literary merit) this gets a 4 show less

Firmly in the chicklit genre, this novel follows the exploits of Lucy Sweeney as she deals with mid-marriage slump and the temptations of sexy stay at home dads and the appeal of her friends' lives with their more exciting adventures. There were plenty of funny situations, but the underlying dilemma is a serious one and even Lucy can see this playing out in the lives of her friends - but still she is determined to be blind to her own danger.

Satisfying breezy fun with a little more depth than most chick lit. This is more accurately "mummy lit" (because it's British), and those of us with kids can relate to some of this. It's not going to win any book awards, but it is a fun way to lay around on a Saturday and read. It is denser than Sophie Kinsella or Helen Fielding, but works to scratch the same itch in just a touch more highbrow fashion.

A tired litany of the Mommy lost herself once she had kids and her misadventures on trying to find herself again without destroying her kids, her marriage, or her self-respect. Funny, at times, but not funny or original enough to keep my interest.

Sometimes I find books like these, where things keep going wrong for the main character, make me inwardly cringe. However this one isn't like that. Also, although it's based on a weekly column in a newspaper, it isn't just repeats of those columns, but a series of intertwining stories in the lives of the Slummy Mummy and her friends and acquaintances: Yummy Mummy No. 1, Alpha Mum and Sexy Domesticated Dad.

It's very readable and uplifting.

A main character that I could believe in. One who told us how it was. Her life was still a deal away from mine, much more glamerous, but there were still some of the characters that haunt my life like the yummy mummy and the alpha mum. so well described and so true to some of the people I actualy know. It was good to see these lables rounded out to real people too, making the story more real and not cardboard as may of these mum novels seem to be.
To be honnest this is not a book I will ever rave about, I will probably have forgotten it within a couple of weeks. But while I was reading it I could immerce myself in the characters and story. A pleasent place to have been