What do you think?
Rate this book
Roxy Carmichael Series #2
Just Another Manic Mum-Day
Roxy, Jack and daughter Joey, three, are building a new life for themselves in sunny Sydney, Australia, but Roxy's finding it hard to settle down. When she discovers she's pregnant again, things become even more complicated - how will she cope with a second child?
Frustrated at the lack of places for stressed-out mums to go, Roxy and her new friend, Shoshanna, set up Just Another Manic Mum-Day - a café catering exclusively for parents. But when an opportunity arises for Roxy to return to England, she realises just how much she's missed home . . .
Frustrated at the lack of places for stressed-out mums to go, Roxy and her new friend, Shoshanna, set up Just Another Manic Mum-Day - a café catering exclusively for parents. But when an opportunity arises for Roxy to return to England, she realises just how much she's missed home . . .
367 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2012
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 1, 2012
Roxy, Jack and daughter Joey, three, are building a new life for themselves in sunny Sydney, Australia, but Roxy's finding it hard to settle down. When she discovers she's pregnant again, things become even more complicated - how will she cope with a second child?
Frustrated at the lack of places for stressed-out mums to go, Roxy and her new friend, Shoshanna, set up Just Another Manic Mum-Day - a café catering exclusively for parents. But when an opportunity arises for Roxy to return to England, she realises just how much she's missed home...
Rating: 4/5
I read Mink Elliott's debut novel The Pissed Off Parents Club a couple of years ago when it came out, and really enjoyed it. As a mum, I could relate to a lot of what the main character Roxy was going through as a new mother, and found it to be quite a funny and good read. Mink is back this year with a follow-up to that book, joining the character of Roxy and her husband Jack again in Australia this time, with a new addition on the way too. I was looking forward to finding out what these characters have been up to, and I have to confess that the cover is really good, and I love the bright yellow because it's really fun and bright, much like the story inside!
Roxy is now living in Australia with her husband Jack, and now three year old daughter Joey, and struggling to adjust to life in the sunshine, without her friends and family around her to help out. She's looking for a new job as they need money, and is shocked to find out she's expecting another baby, something she wasn't entirely sure she wanted. She then starts up a mums cafe with best friend Shoshanna, and is determined to make a success of it. I really liked Roxy from the beginning, she was just as I remembered her from the previous book and a bit of a disorganised mum, something I'm sure a lot of mum's reading it will be able to relate to! Roxy struggled to juggle her job, being a mum to Joey and being a good wife to Jack, as well as being herself and in that respect, I think Elliott has done a great job in creating a realistic and believable character in Roxy.
The setting of Australia was great, and it made a nice change from the hundreds of chick lit books I seem to read that are set in London at the moment as well! It was nice to be all cosy under my blanket reading about the beautiful sunshine of Australia, and the funny escapades Roxy and co manage to get themselves into. Her cafe was a great idea, yes it was a bit idealistic how quickly and easily Roxy and Shoshanna managed to set it up and get it running, whereas in real life it'd take ten time longer and be much more a struggle to become a success, but I guess that's the escapist fun of reading it in books! The cafe was a really good thing and made for a great storyline within the book. I have to say I really liked Roxy's best friend Shoshanna as well, and although I totally didn't agree with the actions that she had in the book, I felt it was realistically portrayed and well written.
I have to comment on the way Roxy and Jack handled their relationship, and I think a lot of parents of young children will be able to relate to the troubles that they went through. I was really willing them on and hoped that they'd get the happy ending that they both deserved. The book has a lot of light-hearted humour, especially relating to their precocious and adorable daughter Joey, who has some great one-liners in the book, and there is a lot to make the reader smile. Yes, some things happen too easily, but the obstacles Roxy comes up against and the way she works through them is great and I really loved her as a leading lady. I think the ending of the book was open enough to bring back these characters for a third time, so we'll just have to wait and see for now. I definitely recommend Just Another Manic Mum-Day to anyone who likes a light-hearted and happy read, and especially to mum's who want something to relate to as they're reading! It's a great book and I really enjoyed reading it.
Frustrated at the lack of places for stressed-out mums to go, Roxy and her new friend, Shoshanna, set up Just Another Manic Mum-Day - a café catering exclusively for parents. But when an opportunity arises for Roxy to return to England, she realises just how much she's missed home...
Rating: 4/5
I read Mink Elliott's debut novel The Pissed Off Parents Club a couple of years ago when it came out, and really enjoyed it. As a mum, I could relate to a lot of what the main character Roxy was going through as a new mother, and found it to be quite a funny and good read. Mink is back this year with a follow-up to that book, joining the character of Roxy and her husband Jack again in Australia this time, with a new addition on the way too. I was looking forward to finding out what these characters have been up to, and I have to confess that the cover is really good, and I love the bright yellow because it's really fun and bright, much like the story inside!
Roxy is now living in Australia with her husband Jack, and now three year old daughter Joey, and struggling to adjust to life in the sunshine, without her friends and family around her to help out. She's looking for a new job as they need money, and is shocked to find out she's expecting another baby, something she wasn't entirely sure she wanted. She then starts up a mums cafe with best friend Shoshanna, and is determined to make a success of it. I really liked Roxy from the beginning, she was just as I remembered her from the previous book and a bit of a disorganised mum, something I'm sure a lot of mum's reading it will be able to relate to! Roxy struggled to juggle her job, being a mum to Joey and being a good wife to Jack, as well as being herself and in that respect, I think Elliott has done a great job in creating a realistic and believable character in Roxy.
The setting of Australia was great, and it made a nice change from the hundreds of chick lit books I seem to read that are set in London at the moment as well! It was nice to be all cosy under my blanket reading about the beautiful sunshine of Australia, and the funny escapades Roxy and co manage to get themselves into. Her cafe was a great idea, yes it was a bit idealistic how quickly and easily Roxy and Shoshanna managed to set it up and get it running, whereas in real life it'd take ten time longer and be much more a struggle to become a success, but I guess that's the escapist fun of reading it in books! The cafe was a really good thing and made for a great storyline within the book. I have to say I really liked Roxy's best friend Shoshanna as well, and although I totally didn't agree with the actions that she had in the book, I felt it was realistically portrayed and well written.
I have to comment on the way Roxy and Jack handled their relationship, and I think a lot of parents of young children will be able to relate to the troubles that they went through. I was really willing them on and hoped that they'd get the happy ending that they both deserved. The book has a lot of light-hearted humour, especially relating to their precocious and adorable daughter Joey, who has some great one-liners in the book, and there is a lot to make the reader smile. Yes, some things happen too easily, but the obstacles Roxy comes up against and the way she works through them is great and I really loved her as a leading lady. I think the ending of the book was open enough to bring back these characters for a third time, so we'll just have to wait and see for now. I definitely recommend Just Another Manic Mum-Day to anyone who likes a light-hearted and happy read, and especially to mum's who want something to relate to as they're reading! It's a great book and I really enjoyed reading it.
March 6, 2024
Great read.
Just another manic mum day is the story of Rox and her family.
Rox, Jack and their daughter Joey move to Bondi. Where Jack's new job is. Rox bags herself a job at a media company. Not long before she starts her new job does she find out she is pregnant, at the age of 42 she has her doubts about being an older Mum but goes through with the pregnancy along the way she meets mum of 2 Shosie. Rox and Shosie like to go for coffee together but after a bad experience in a coffee shop they decided to open their own coffee shop for mums. There coffee shop is no ordinary shop as they have child minders, a super nanny and a marriage cancellor on hand.
This book is about friendships, dreams and love.
Just another manic mum day is the story of Rox and her family.
Rox, Jack and their daughter Joey move to Bondi. Where Jack's new job is. Rox bags herself a job at a media company. Not long before she starts her new job does she find out she is pregnant, at the age of 42 she has her doubts about being an older Mum but goes through with the pregnancy along the way she meets mum of 2 Shosie. Rox and Shosie like to go for coffee together but after a bad experience in a coffee shop they decided to open their own coffee shop for mums. There coffee shop is no ordinary shop as they have child minders, a super nanny and a marriage cancellor on hand.
This book is about friendships, dreams and love.
May 27, 2025
SPOILERS
Loved this but it left me wanting more!!!!!
Need a sequel and need to know what they named the baby. Who was father of shos baby??? Where did the franchise end up???
Definitely could have kept going with this!!!
Loved this but it left me wanting more!!!!!
Need a sequel and need to know what they named the baby. Who was father of shos baby??? Where did the franchise end up???
Definitely could have kept going with this!!!
December 16, 2024
I would of loved more of this book
October 18, 2012
I was lucky enough to win this paperback book from a giveaway run by @Btweenthesheets on Twitter.
I found out that this is a follow-up to the author’s first book The Pi**ed-Off Parents Club and I was a bit worried that I would struggle to keep up with it seeing as I hadn’t read the other book. It turned out that I worried for no reason because this worked well as a standalone book with a few references to what had happened before but nothing that didn’t make any sense.
The main thing that I liked about this book was how easily I could relate to it with regards to the parenting side of it all. I found myself nodding my head in agreement at some of the stresses that Roxy and the other parents went through.
Roxy seemed very unsure about the move to Australia but was willing to give it a good go, her daughter Joey was such a handful and I enjoyed their interactions because it reminded me of my own daughter!
I liked the way this book had been written – it was funny and natural, almost like chatting with an old friend. I particularly liked the idea for the cafe and enjoyed following their progress as everything came together. Most of the characters were likeable with the only exception being Isaac, I disliked him from the very start.
The book ended with a great message for parents and really made me think about my life with children, it’s very easy to take our lives for granted so it’s always good to have a moment to appreciate what we have.
This was a lovely read that made me laugh but also made me think!
I found out that this is a follow-up to the author’s first book The Pi**ed-Off Parents Club and I was a bit worried that I would struggle to keep up with it seeing as I hadn’t read the other book. It turned out that I worried for no reason because this worked well as a standalone book with a few references to what had happened before but nothing that didn’t make any sense.
The main thing that I liked about this book was how easily I could relate to it with regards to the parenting side of it all. I found myself nodding my head in agreement at some of the stresses that Roxy and the other parents went through.
Roxy seemed very unsure about the move to Australia but was willing to give it a good go, her daughter Joey was such a handful and I enjoyed their interactions because it reminded me of my own daughter!
I liked the way this book had been written – it was funny and natural, almost like chatting with an old friend. I particularly liked the idea for the cafe and enjoyed following their progress as everything came together. Most of the characters were likeable with the only exception being Isaac, I disliked him from the very start.
The book ended with a great message for parents and really made me think about my life with children, it’s very easy to take our lives for granted so it’s always good to have a moment to appreciate what we have.
This was a lovely read that made me laugh but also made me think!
February 26, 2012
This is the first book I have read by Mink Elliott but this book does actually follow on from her previous book The P***ed off Parents Club, having not realised this when I first brought the book I was a little bit hesitant about reading it in case I felt like I didn't follow the flow of the book by not already being introduced to the characters but I didn't find this at all, there were a few mentions of The P***ed off Parents Club but I still found I was on track with the storyline.
The main character in this book is Roxy who is our typical mum struggling to try and balance out the different aspects of her life, work, money and weight being her main struggles alongside trying to raise daughter Joey and be the loving wife to Jack. I do not have kids but even I found I could relate to her character constantly trying to struggle through the worries of life so Roxy was an easy character to connect to.
The storyline was very easy in the typical chick lit style which made it a great beach read. The book gets off to a great start so we are absorbed straight into the story. There are a great mix of characters in this book some you will love, others you will have your guard up from the moment you meet them. There was some great humour in this book most of which came from little Joey who I loved.
The main character in this book is Roxy who is our typical mum struggling to try and balance out the different aspects of her life, work, money and weight being her main struggles alongside trying to raise daughter Joey and be the loving wife to Jack. I do not have kids but even I found I could relate to her character constantly trying to struggle through the worries of life so Roxy was an easy character to connect to.
The storyline was very easy in the typical chick lit style which made it a great beach read. The book gets off to a great start so we are absorbed straight into the story. There are a great mix of characters in this book some you will love, others you will have your guard up from the moment you meet them. There was some great humour in this book most of which came from little Joey who I loved.
October 1, 2014
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author, and can see myself re-reading this book in the future
This book is narrated by the same character all of the way through, which I feel is becoming more rare as time goes by and authors choose to use multiple voices to narrate.
I found myself settling into this book with ease and the time passed quickly while reading it, I didnt want to put it down as I was enjoying it but it didnt have a grip on me that meant I couldnt put it down. I really liked the characters and felt they were described well, allowing me to picture them and feel like I knew them.
The one problem I had with this book, was that I found the business to be rather unbelievable. I do not see how it would be possible to offer all they do, have a big enough premises and gain a loan to pay for it all. It is fictional though so I tried to ignore this fact, I do believe that it should have been more realistic though. This is the reason I have scored the book 4 out of 5 stars rather than the full 5
You dont have to be a mum to love this book, but any mums out there will wish they could step into the story and go for a coffee!
This book is narrated by the same character all of the way through, which I feel is becoming more rare as time goes by and authors choose to use multiple voices to narrate.
I found myself settling into this book with ease and the time passed quickly while reading it, I didnt want to put it down as I was enjoying it but it didnt have a grip on me that meant I couldnt put it down. I really liked the characters and felt they were described well, allowing me to picture them and feel like I knew them.
The one problem I had with this book, was that I found the business to be rather unbelievable. I do not see how it would be possible to offer all they do, have a big enough premises and gain a loan to pay for it all. It is fictional though so I tried to ignore this fact, I do believe that it should have been more realistic though. This is the reason I have scored the book 4 out of 5 stars rather than the full 5
You dont have to be a mum to love this book, but any mums out there will wish they could step into the story and go for a coffee!
March 16, 2012
An entertaining an untaxing read,grab your cappucino and relax..this is the story of a mum who has the brilliant idea to set up a cafe where mums and their children can go and be themselves, the sort of place we could all use once in a while,where you can find good company and good coffee while not worrying that the children are disturbing anyone. All while she is pregnant, in a foreign country, and renegotiating her relationship with her husband..
March 30, 2012
Cute in parts but largely pretty dire. I've read lots of mum-lit in my time so it's not literary snobbism talking when I say that this was really pretty stupid and unrealistic. Examples- manager of her business absconds after embezzling thousands of dollars and she "laughs at how ridiculous a human being" he is. Really?! Waitress is given "twenty four carat" diamond ring by her cafe manager boyfriend? Really?! That'd usually only set you back about $5 million. Just dumb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2012
Having thoroughly enjoyed Elliots first book I was really looking forward to this one and loved it too! The setting in Sydney was something new and the book had some really funny moments. A nice positive pick me up that has me thinking of emigrating again!
May 6, 2013
Nice light-hearted sequel to "The Pissed Off Parents Club" but although it had some humourous moments i enjoyed reading I didn't relate to this as much as first book. Still good and a nice quick easy read for those that have read book 1 but preferred the first instalment more.
July 2, 2013
A joyful romp through the pitfalls of motherhood, relationships and work, mostly in Australia. I did wonder about the handling of the daughter, though! But perhaps that's the Aussie way? Or maybe I'm just old fashioned ...
February 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, it was easy to read and funny, definetely recommend.
August 1, 2012
slightly less substantial but filled a gap as extremely busy at time of reading
September 9, 2012
easy reading
September 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and even though I had not read her first book I did not feel like I needed to as the story in this book flowed really nicely and was a lovely read
February 11, 2013
Funny mummy book set in Bondi Beach - what's not to love?
August 10, 2013
Was fun reading at first remind me of when I had my kids. However somehow everything was too smooth sailing, no excitement to the story. Though mothers to be can learn some things from it.
November 30, 2013
A pleasant, easy read.
I wasn't a fan of the present tense at first but got used to it. Recommended.
I wasn't a fan of the present tense at first but got used to it. Recommended.
January 12, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. Could not put it down! Wouldn't it be lovely to actually have cafes like that in real life?
August 12, 2015
This book is absolutely ridiculous. But it does make opening a successful family business seem crazy easy, which is inspiring.
September 13, 2016
Light hearted. Had me laughing out loud quite a bit. Great characters.
February 18, 2012
I liked this book but it annoyed me in places and sometimes found it boring in places.
January 27, 2013
Good chick-lit novel. However, the character was far too moany for my liking!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews