Published 12 July 2018
Why Mummy Swears by Gill Sims
Why Mummy Swears is the much anticipated new novel from Gill Sims, author of the hilarious Why Mummy Drinks and online sensation Peter and Jane.
It’s every parents’ nightmare – the start of the school holidays – and instead of sitting in the sun, reading a book over a cold, crisp glass of Pinot Grigio, Mummy has two bored moppets to attend to. After frantically booking sports camps, child minder slots, not to mention time off work, Mummy is exhausted. But this is only the beginning…
After being dragged to join the school’s PTA in the new term by an annoyingly kind-spirited neighbour, Mummy is stuck with organising the Christmas Fayre and pleasing all the overly disapproving parents. In combination with getting to know her father’s surprise new glamorous (and much younger) wife, and being forced to spend more time with her narcissistic mother, life isn’t cutting her much of a break. What more could possibly happen?
My Review
It’s the summer holidays and I thought I would share with you this hilarious novel about the highs and lows of marriage and motherhood. It starts in July with the first day of the children’s school holidays and covers a whole year.
Mummy blogger Gill Sims has written the perfect ‘self-help’ book for mums everywhere in Why Mummy Swears. It doesn’t contain tips on meditation whilst standing on a muddy football field or how to produce a three-course meal in fifteen minutes. This book actually does HELP!
You may develop a stiff neck, however, from profuse nodding in agreement to all of Ellen’s observations.
There’s no sugar coating here, it is obvious that Ellen adores her kids but she tells it how it is. The book is completely relatable. honest and laugh out loud funny.
My favourite part
On returning from a camping trip Ellen found the house in disarray but the kitchen cupboards completely reorganised. Husband Simon had discarded anything over its sell-by date. Consequently, Ellen discovered that Simon had thrown out a tin because it was six years out of date and raged..
“If there is a nuclear apocalypse tonight, we needn’t bother trying to survive, because we will all starve anyway because YOU THREW OUT MY EMERGENCY SPAGHETTI HOOPS!”
However, the book also tackled a serious subject in a sensitive way. Ellen returned to work full time and debated how much of her personal life she should divulge to her work colleagues. She questions if she would be treated differently if her role as a mother is revealed and in addition, observes how other mums are perceived in the workplace. Furthermore, this topic leads me to believe that it would make a great book club read. Also, the role of Simon the husband and father could cause serious debate.
Mums, if you face hours of soft play, endless days of sitting on park benches or watching gymnastics, judo and swimming classes treat yourself to Why Mummy Swears, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you, NetGalley for my copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly.
Purchase Links
About the Author
Gill Sims is the author and illustrator of the hugely successful parenting blog and Facebook site ‘Peter and Jane’. She lives in Scotland with her husband, two children, and a recalcitrant rescue Border Terrier.
Gill’s interests include drinking wine, wasting time on social media, trying and failing to recapture her lost youth. Furthermore, she also spends time looking for the dog when he decides to go on one of his regular jaunts.
This is Gill Sims previous novel Why Mummy Drinks
I loved why mummy drinks. Hilarious
Love your review and this looks fantastic! My kids are older now but I spent hours daily watching dance, baseball, dance, baseball,! 💜
My daughter is grown up too. I think parents are under pressure to fill every moment with activities and be perfect parents. This book really made me laugh, it was so honest! Thanks for stopping by, I think I recognise your name from book tours, have a lovely weekend. xx