Drinking Custard: The Diary of a Confused Mum

by Lucy Beaumont

From TV's award-winning comedy mum, Lucy Beaumont, comes her hilarious debut on the trials and tribulations of motherhood.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography, Comedy, Humor, Autobiography, Memoir

272 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2021

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very funny….like really funny, I think I smiled the whole way through when wasn’t chuckling or laughing out loud
My only experience of raising children is being a fairly surprised 15 year old when Mum announced she was ‘with child’ over dinner and now daily Facetime chats with this ‘child’ who has 2 of his own under 3, I love the chats but am no parent and am pleased to press the ‘End’ button when the noise gets too loud…..that’s my experience so I started this book not knowing really what to expect and am soooo pleased I went way out of my usual genre, I am still smiling as I write this!
The book charts, in chatty diary style from pre baby to first days at school and has this unique ‘thing’ where Lucy’s hubby ( Comedian John Richardson ) writes footnotes re various stories on how he remembers it or just adding his 2 pennorth in, it’s not all the time but it works really well
I love the honesty of the book and even as a non parent so recognise the ‘ loving I can shop in Waitrose but then wondering if I should be in Waitrose’, the author is a self confessed snob yet cant stand other snobs, something lots of us, in a completely honest moment can at least give a nod to
So many hilarious situations, I loved the ‘playgroup’ stories and the real life Elsa for Elsie’s birthday but there are countless others to choose from, if I listed them all I would be retelling the whole book
As well as honest it is happy, sad, thoughtful, irreverent, moving,basically every emotion you can think of rolled into one joyous read
I loved the later setting of Hebden Bridge having lived in Bradford for 9 years and also loved the earlier home life tales from Surbiton, 2 vastly different places yet more similar than you would imagine
Drinking Custard is a blessed relief from the current woes and uncertainties we all have and thoroughly unashamedly enjoyable

10/10
5 Stars

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read but not much depth to it. I also doubt the truth in many of the anecdotes.

[Stacey Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll never tire of motherhood books that tell it like it is and I take a very dim view of those parenting manuals that assure you that baby should be running to your routine, will go down for a nap when you say, and go to bed when you say – especially when my youngest didn’t go to sleep unless he was being held FOR THREE YEARS.

So, in Drinking Custard, when Lucy Beaumont’s daughter Elsie says ‘Right, I’m in charge.’ we may chuckle, because we all know it’s true…

If you’ve ever had a little tyrant in your life then this is the book for you, as reading Lucy’s adventures in motherhood strikes home on many levels – from having your boob grabbed by a well-meaning breastfeeding nurse, to feeling the pressure of living up to the Instagram-Mummy-Blog images of How To Be a MumTM Lucy’s book is honest, and that’s really all I ever wanted from a parenting book when my kids were young. There are amazing things about being a parent, but there are an equal number of shitty things and, despite things like Why Mummy Drinks, the shitty bits are still not talked about enough.

I know I don’t really need to say this, given that she’s a comedian, but Lucy’s writing is so funny, and yet there is a great mix of the hilarious and those touching, emotional moments that come with being a parent – a child that doesn’t look back as they head into school is a testament to your abilities as a parent, but it sure is a dagger to the heart too! This comes across really well in this book and will have you nodding in agreement as you read.

Lucy’s voice is warm and relatable, and I couldn’t help hearing it in her voice as I read, and the corrections and clarifications from Jon Richardson set the tone early on. They seem like a nice couple when they’re on TV things, and that comes across here too.

I highly recommend you step away from Instagram and grab this book instead – with or without a tin of custard!

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy “Meet the Richardsons” and thought I would enjoy Lucy’s take on motherhood. This was only so-so for me. They are a delightful family but there’s not much to this book. Ho hum.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely funny lady! I watch and enjoy Meet the Richardsons and I am a fan of Jon and his dry, grumpy comedy. Lucy is the opposite with a happy friendly personality and they compliment each other perfectly. This book tells of her experience of motherhood from the day she decided she wanted a baby to the present day when Elsie has just turned 5. There are great interjections and corrections from Jon which make the audiobook very entertaining,

[my.bookshelf.87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really not a fan of 'mumsy' books so 'Diary Of A Confused Mum' is not a title I would usually pick up. However, I am a fan of Meet The Richardsons (a part-fictional show about Lucy's life with her husband, comedian Jon Richardson), so decided to give this a read.

Loved the honesty and humour. Also enjoyed reading the cultural references to Hull, Lucy's hometown! However, there were a fair few anecdotes which were clearly made up which was a bit irritating.

4/5 overall.

[Hanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and touching

[Becky Crossley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly only giving this book 2*. If you ask any of my friends or family, if I’m reading a comedians biography I usually end up literally laughing out loud and this just didn’t do it for me sadly. It was a good recount of the chaos that is life with a little one but just didn’t hit my spot personally! Each to their own though :)

[Julie Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lucy Beaumont. I find her very funny. The book had parts where I smiled, also parts when I laughed out loud. I don't think I could relate to the bits about parenting, it was different for me.

[Sarah Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry to say I found this book annoying! Surely the author can't be as shallow and daft as this book makes out? Maybe I missed the joke ???

[Ali Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Lucy’s comedy on TV so I bought this. Maybe I’d have enjoyed an audio version or wasn’t in comedic mood to self deliver any wit here.
To me, for a diary to have wider appeal than the author and immediate family, it needs some broader relevance or educational aspect (think Pepys), or be genuinely witty more than twice (think Back to Better by Annabelle Z Morris or Bridget Jones).
This read like a daily list of what happened, with frequent reminders of how tired she was which may have impacted her memory as she also mentions her famous husband, a lot.
The end felt rushed and confused and I started to dislike her as a person. If you find statements funny which say her daughter meant to say presents instead of peasants, then adding “I died for a minute as we do have a gardener”, this may be for you. By the end I found her patronising, smug, and the snob she admitted she was, who enjoyed rubbing our faces in what the book royalties paid for. I love to see and congratulate success, as with their TV work - I don’t like it forced on my eyes or down my throat. Not for me and deters me from other books by her. I enjoyed Jon’s footnotes more although others dislike them. I did finish it though and will add I am not a mum. Perhaps parents find it more humourous rather than just a diatribe about her life and child. If your mantra is “children are like bodily smells - your own are ok but other people’s are distasteful”, I suggest you avoid.
I laughed twice so a star for each from me.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. Funny throughout but a lot of the events didn't quite ring as being fully truthful rather an interpretation of what happened

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for tips on how to be a great, amazing, perfect parent then dear reader this book is not for you. This is Lucy’s diary of what it’s honestly like to be a mum. She writes the truth and not the hyped up social media lie we have all been led to believe that is instagrammable. Told in seven parts Lucy and her husband Jon embark on the adventure of parenthood with their adorable but terrifying toddler Elsie.

What I adored most about this book is Beaumont’s pure honesty about being a mother. It’s confusing, stressful and so so so tiring. As a mother to four boys (NO MORE) I can strongly relate to those long 9 months of pregnancy, the unexpected change of the birthing plan and the endless night feeds. Now that Elsie is at school and life has calmed down Beaumont has had the time to look at her diary and work out what actually happened over the last five years. And WOW dear reader, it is certainly like nothing I have ever read before. My face ached from smiling and giggling at how beautifully embarrassing and real life can be. I loved the interruptions by Jon in the footnotes, together they made this book a joy to read.

Beaumont tells the reader about how she met Jon at The Fighting Cocks ( Yes dear reader, this is a real pub, one I went to a few times when I was at Kingston Uni) and how she longed for a baby, to be like the mum in the Fairy Liquid advert. Then the reality of actually being a mother was a shock. A BIG shock. I giggled when I read her list of Why I Want A Child as unless you have children you don’t grasp the reality of actually having children, messy, loud and a constant lack of sleep. You imagine it’s all white carpets with a happy baby crawling about your mess free home. HAHAHAHA

Beaumont lived with Jon in Surbiton and became a tad obsessed with how she appeared to the other women. The ones in their floaty dresses and perfect hair. She calls herself a snob and prides herself on it, wanting a Bugaboo (£869!) to shop in Waitrose and to have the approval from the Laura Ashley Mums at the baby groups. She admits that she only brought a mud kitchen because there’s a Scandinavian idea that if your child plays with mud and has a connection to nature they won’t get depressed when they are older. She still wants to be working class as her and Jon came from humble beginnings but also wants to be in one of those interior design magazines that no one buys. She doesn’t want to be put into a box and wants to be accepted but hasn’t forgotten her roots. She admits that she knows she’s being silly and wants her baby to be grounded, to enjoy avocados but also go to greasy spoon cafes.

The tales Beaumont tells will leave you with tears in your eyes, happy joyous tears. The Mother and Baby Massage class, I strongly agree with her, it should be a class where the mothers get a lovely relaxing massage. I could not stop laughing when during her pregnancy her boobs started to leak and it looked yellow. She freaked and thought she was leaking custard because she had been addicted to drinking the stuff. The midwife reassured her that yes, that can happen. Just thinking about it now is making me chuckle.

Beaumont also talks about her relationship with her own mother. She reflects back on her childhood and how she was surrounded by love with her family. Her mother used to turn up at her school and pretend to be the queen and once hid in a bush to check she was ok. She grew up wanting different things from her mother and always admired Laura Ashley. But she is proud of her roots, her home, her mother. She admires how being a single parent must be tough and feels extremely lucky that she has Jon. Parenting as a team is tough but parenting solo…that is a brave and admirable thing indeed.

Beaumont is extremely relatable and I felt like I was chatting with a much loved friend. A friend who completely understands the Jekyll and Hyde that is motherhood. Someone I can be honest and open with about how tough this parenting gig is. I don’t blame her for wanting to look after a pet bull when she saw an advert on Facebook during her pregnancy and wanted to bring him home to cuddle and have parties with his bull friends. I would be exactly the same. Hormones, it’s always the hormones that mess with your emotions.

I give Drinking Custard Diary Of A Confused Mum By Lucy Beaumont (With interruptions from Jon Richardson) a Five out of Five paw rating.

These stories are amusing, embarrassing and just pure brilliant.

I had SO MUCH FUN reading this book. I use caps because OH MY GOD IT’S BRILLIANT. Sorry to shout but it is. Where was this book 8 years ago when I first had my eldest, I would have killed to have something like this then. Every mum, new and old, even dads should read this. It’s highly relatable to how parenthood is terrifying as all hell but also a wonderful experience.

I am curious as to how she preferred to drink custard: Hot or cold? And I am sorely tempted to try it at some point. It sounds most delicious, I do love custard. And also I do hope Beaumont buys a bunny outfit one day. Do it!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is subtitled “Diary of a Confused Mum”, and this truly is an account of the reality of becoming a parent, in all its bewildering, messy and downright daft detail. The author is a comedian and writer, and also married to Jon Richardson - the couple recently appeared in a comedy programme “Meet the Richardsons” - so there is huge amount of humour throughout, even if it is often self-deprecating. This is not a guide to parenting, though there is much that Beaumont feels she ought to offer to others in terms of advice, and those with experience of coping with life with a baby and small child will recognise a lot of the content.

Beaumont also admits that she lives a privileged lifestyle as her “husband is on the television” so financially is secure and both of their occupations do not include commuting or the need for expensive childcare. Some readers may find her situation idyllic, but she also points out that she was basically brought up by a single parent herself, in unglamorous Hull, which was not as secure, though she was in contact with her father and lived for some time with loving grandparents. The fact that she has choices should not obscure the fact that she had what became a tricky birth, sleepless nights for years, and a determined daughter to deal with , and she details all the downsides to her love of drinking custard straight from the packet. Altogether this is a funny book with much that I recognised, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this entertaining book.

The book opens with a chapter entitled “My life as a normal, single human being before everything changed”, which has some childhood memories (which actually continue throughout the book), involving gazebos and other memorable moments. The next goes on to her meeting and getting together with Jon, who adds “interruptions” through the book. Jon is a vegan, and she becomes one apart from during pregnancy, but both admit to lapses which include dead cows and her mother’s cooking when she arrives on mercy missions. She comes up with ten reasons why she wants a baby - which includes having a white carpet like in the adverts. Experienced baby carers will know that she is being foolishly optimistic at this point. She actually writes “The more I write, the more it’s dawning on me I’m not picturing a real baby, I’m picturing a calendar”. The challenges of pregnancy and antenatal groups are described with humour and brutal honesty, especially with her husband in attendance. She remembers stories of her own birth while her mother was on holiday, some points of which she sends to her mother some time later to clarify points of confusion - just to make sure that family legends are actually true. The actual birth story spares no details, including Jon’s strange urge to buy a four man tent. The unexplained post natal sadness (thankfully fairly brief) and the night feed experience is detailed, as well as the joys of baby massage (she is disappointed that the mums don’t get massaged). Soon Elsie the baby becomes the toddler, the bright child and all with a determination to sabotage sleep.

This is a funny book. It is not a straightforward account, it chooses high and low points, it probably exaggerates a little. It is honest and frank, and remains human and interesting throughout. For those amid the battlefields of baby sleep deprivation, for those who remember it well, and even for those considering it, this is an entertaining and engaging read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

👶🏼 Mellow yellow 🚼

"Not to be deterred, I tried her on blitzed kale - a mental thing to do but I had read that some babies love it and it sort of gets their taste buds ready for, well, living with Gwyneth Paltrow, I suppose."

- Drinking Custard: Confessions of a Confused Mum by Lucy Beaumont

Reading this book, I think Lucy Beaumont is the mum I would love to have bumped into at mum and baby groups. She talks candidly here about the ups and downs of being a new mum, not least the pressures we often pile upon ourselves.

The writing style is chatty and reassuring, without any inkling that her way was the right way. It was just the way it was. I found the familiarity of her experiences comforting and her honesty refreshing.

There are sporadic interjections from husband, Jon Richardson, reminiscent of their successful telly programme, Meet the Richardsons. It's a funny book, but there's real heart too; the importance of extended family and childhood experiences are a recurring theme, as well as Lucy's nostalgic ties to her homeland of Hull.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes memoir-style books, light-hearted reads about parenting young children, and anyone who is a fan of Meet the Richardsons.

This book was initially released on 30th September, 2021, and the paperback edition is due for release on 12th May, 2022.

Thank you too @netgalley and @octopus_books_ for this ARC.

💛👶🏼💛👶🏼💛👶🏼💛👶🏼💛👶🏼💛👶🏼💛

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[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hubs treated me to this after it was mentioned on MEET THE RICHARDSONS , we are not Parents to Human Children but we are Parents In our own fashion.
I loved the down to earthness of Lucy's writing the " warts and all grime " the honesty and lack of delicate flim flam. Being pregnant is hard work and ruddy terrifying and I praise both she and Jon's honesty.
At times with the newborn and toddler we could relate... and last night it was only after reading this that I remembered to take my bra off as we had been dealing with a Huffy Gabbie as to why she could not take her Easter Bumble Bee to bed with us ( it squeaks and rustles plus her Brother had already destroyed his Sloth and was eyeing Stripes ( name of Bumble Bee) up next!
I would like to point out that we do share a regular Double bed with Gabbie, Sam, 5 Bear Bears, Ginger Bear, A Duckling, a slipper, a Blue Dinosaur and a Google Ball - other toy boxes are available throughout the house - oh and us - 2 adults! So we did not feel we were being particularly mean but Gabbies huffy expression had me feeling she was on the cusp of phoning the SSPCA or Childline!
It was a mix of honesty, fun, fear, frustration and quirkiness and I am actually looking forward to a friend announcing they are pregnant just to buy this for them - even if they are a non reader I will read it to them - especially if they get all " airy fairy ".

This is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from someone who avoids Children at all Costs!

I do hope Elsie grows up to write HOW TO RAISE YOUR PARENTS TO EAT THEIR FRUIT - or suchlike.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

Drinking Custard - Lucy Beaumont

This was my first ever audiobook and it was an easy one to start with! Before starting this I didn't know anything about Lucy Beaumont or Jon Richardson so I went into it totally blind.

Drinking Custard Diary Of a Confused mum is all about Lucy's reflection on life before and after becoming a first time mum. She discuses her childhood, meeting her husband, moving home and of course baby Elsie!

There were some laugh out loud parts and a few relatable bits that we've all been through as parents! The hormones, the buggy shopping before baby arrives and the dreaded mum and baby groups!

I did find some parts a little too repetitive. There was also random parts that seemed unnecessary, the main one was the location, location, location part about kirsty and Phil it just didn't make sense?!

I found some of the material was used as filler and didn't add very much. I found myself skipping parts.

Overall not a book for me, it reminded me a little of The UnMumsy Mum which I wasnt a fan of.

[Sarah]

I don’t have children but reading this book was just like having a chat with a friend. I could imagine hearing the stories in Lucy’s Hull accent as I was reading. Jon’s interruptions in the form of footnotes only added to the stories being told.

As you’d expect this was a very funny read but also unexpectedly emotional. It was interesting to hear about Lucy’s relationship with her parents and grandparents and how she feels these have impacted upon her relationship with her daughter Elsie. Elsie is a strong minded four year old who has definitely inherited her parents wit and flare for entertaining whether she realises it or not!

Highlight for me was the fourth birthday party, proper laugh out loud moment!

If you’re after a parenting memoir that entertains then this is one for you!

Thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Octopus Books and Lucy Beaumont for my gifted copy and the chance to read and review.

[Jemmalovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Beaumont is a stand up comedian and tv personality with one of the most identifiable voices there is!

This is her story on finding love, becoming a mum and dealing with all the things us normal mums deal with! Questioning if we are right, could we do better and why won’t they sleep?

This book had me in absolute stitches! I’m reading it but hearing Lucy’s voice in my head. It’s just so funny and honest! I think one think I appreciated about this book was there was no frills about how tough parenting can be; but it’s still the most amazing thing you can do!

The little snippets of Jon just give you the most heartwarming feeling into the type of couple they are.

If you want a honest, funny, witty portrayal of what it’s like to be a parent then you have to read this book!

I think this quite sums it up: “ it was good to know the type of mother I was going to be - angry and impulsive, messy but loving.” This is the best type of mother and the mother I strive to be everyday

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not overly familiar with Beaumont as I don't necessarily enjoy most Radio 4 comedy, and this was a light-hearted read with one or two memorable anecdotes and a fair bit of filler. Following in the footsteps of other comedians' books, this touched on the matter of class along with comedic diary-style entries.

It was more amusing than funny to me, although part of that was the class angle. There is just something that annoys me about middle class people trying to distance themselves from the ludicrous ways of the snobs around them, while their own child's behaviour, reminiscent of an obnoxious princess, is no reflection on them of course. That said, one of the anecdotes I did find funny was the idea of a toddler asking her gran for a breakfast smorgasbord.

I'm not really the target audience, which I presume was middle class mothers who enjoy nights out with 'the girls', but I nonetheless found aspects interesting, such as the wish to go back into the adult world from time to time, and the ordeal of 'bedtime time'. However I struggle to recall much of it and there was a fair bit of padding, such as the random questions she asked her mum towards the end. Maybe other readers identified with the content, but I don't find individual children anywhere near as interesting as their parents do.

I wasn't expecting anything too literary and it was light and easy to read, but I'd have preferred it to be funnier if it was just a collection of diary entries. Although she contrasted her upbringing with that of her much more comfortable child, it was observational humour rather than a political book and wasn't as funny as, say, Katherine Ryan's sets about her posh-speaking child.

[Sarah Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Beaumont delivers her laugh-out-loud debut, a ‘mumoir' delving deep into the chaos of becoming a new mother. Renowned for her sharp wit and surreal take on the mundane, Lucy bares it all, revealing the wild unpredictability of being a mum.

We read about Lucy's hospital stint during her third trimester, courtesy of an ill-fated burrito; and the near-miss with her hypnobirthing instructor that almost ended in a slapstick showdown. Not to forget her spirited attempts to infiltrate the exclusive mum's social circles and that cringe-worthy moment when she blanked on her own newborn's name!

Amidst the hilarity, Drinking Custard also chronicles Lucy's marriage to comedian Jon Richardson, as they brave the storm of Lucy's pregnancy hormones and raise an eyebrow at the skyrocketing pram prices together.

Heartwarming and funny, prepare for a riotous ride through motherhood like no other.

[Rossi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having seen and loved Lucy’s recent tour, I downloaded her audiobook immediately.

But, I have to say I was a little disappointed by this. Whilst I’m happy to throw my hands up and say that I’m absolutely not the target audience for a book about early Motherhood, I’m just not sure who this book is for.

As a fan of Lucy, I didn’t really learn anything about Lucy. And as for the bits about raising child, I question a lot about their truthfulness - 9/10 situations just seemed made up for laughs.

Granted, it had its moments (of which she copied into the tour, so been-there-done-that) but I was never belly-laughing like I was on her tour.

And also, I hated the interjections from Jon Richardson - it just felt a bit icky that she couldn’t tell the story (of being a mother) from her own perspective without him always chipping in and adding an unfunny, snark remark. Just didn’t sit right with me.

[Vikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely wonderful. I’ve had so many moments where I have laughed out loud reading this one.

I adore this book, it really is a perfect read and guaranteed to lift your mood. I have been pulled in and annoyed everytime I’ve had to pause this book.

This is well written and flows perfectly. This is completely honest and so relatable. Lucy has nailed it with this, it is an absolute gem and I am excited to see how she will follow this one.

I have snorted from laughing a few times reading this book. Each relatable aspect and upside down moment has been included in this and it really is a perfect read.

I can literally say nothing negative about this one. It is definitely a book I will revisit as it really has cheered me up and left me smiling.

A definite book I’ll be recommending.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to be rearing a child to find this book enjoyable, humourous and entertaining. Though I suspect if you are and you're not sure if it's going well or not, then this book will help you to realise that there is no right or wrong. That each family is unique and individual and that's a special thing. It can be odd sure, but not wrong.
I have many friends with children to which I will be recommending Lucy's book to them. Not saying this because it will make them feel better about their own parenting skills no, but for the feeling of comradery amongst mothers alike.
This book is a fab light-hearted, fun and amusing read. You don't need to know anything about mum's groups, children's parties or soft play areas. Lucy lets you know how crap all those things are anyway. Great book with genuine heart and laugh out loud moments.
Two words...
Sleep trainer!

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I only really knew Lucy Beaumont as being the partner of Jon Richardson so I knew that this book was bound to have some funny moments in it.... and I was definitely right ! If you are looking for a book that will lift your mood then this is one that might just do it for you

There are so many moments in here that mums of any age will be able to recognise with their own life , the struggles , mishaps and hilarious moments that make the memories. It is writing in such a way that you kind of gallop through the book , demolishing it quickly. But it is also the kind of book that you would pass onto your friends for them to have a read . Such a great , funny , honest , diary of a confused mum! I absolutely loved reading this , definitely one I am going to be recommending!

[William Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s typical that one of the only times I can’t find the audible edition on here, that’s when it feels most crucial to the review!

This was a cosy delight. I picked this up after binge watching Meet The Richardsons, and so the idea of Lucy Beaumont narrating a memoir felt perfect. This was mostly a series of funny anecdotes, which is where I feel like it makes for the perfect audiobook experience.

I can’t speak to its relatability as someone not in the target demographic, but whilst it wasn’t an essential read, this was still very funny.

[Jenny]

I was so disappointed to DNF this book. I enjoy Lucy Beaumont as a comedian, but this book just didn't do anything for me.

It explores her experience and stories of pregnancy and motherhood, but the stories manage to be kind of dull and predictable, and simultaneously not that relatable as a fellow new-mum (which was why I was looking forward to picking this up).

I was just getting too bored to keep reading.

Thank you to Octopus Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Samantha Spain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I’m not sure if there were some exaggerations in there but who cares, that’s what comics do! That’s what makes their stories funnier than the reality, right?
I do like Lucy and Jon as a couple (heard them on Parenting Hell etc) but I didn’t feel that his interruptions were required. The book was good enough without them. I only gave it 4/5 because I was more chuckling and not laughing out loud.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this, but it only really made me laugh out loud about twice. As I normally find Lucy Beaumont very funny I had expected more, I think it's probably better as an audiobook as you need her delivery. I also found the tone quite uneven; I liked that more serious topics like grief and birth trauma were addressed but often the shift in tone from a light entertaining anecdote was a bit abrupt. John's footnotes deeply tedious and to be ignored.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chuckled my way through this one. And I think I read it at record speed, it was such an easy style to read. The footnotes from her husband only add to the humour.

As a mother of a 4 year old, soon to start school, a lot of the feelings resonated. Lucy's northern working class roots, battling in a middle-class world of parenting rang very true for me as well.

Really enjoyed this one.