Having not yet read any of Fiona
Gibson's previous books, I was curious as to what Mummy Said the F
Word had to offer. And it's downright hilarious.
Caitlin Brown's life is suddenly turned upside down when her husband announces he's leaving her – for a woman he met at work. Landed with the task of raising her children alone, Caitlin decides to do her best despite the dramatic change of circumstances.
As if life wasn't bad enough, Caitlin's job isn't exactly going fantastically, either. Trying to make wart creams and other such products sound appealing for a website was never exactly exiting in the first place, but it pays the bills.
However, things change when her magazine editor friend offers Caitlin the job of agony aunt for parenting magazine, Bambino. Replacing the former renowned parenting columnist seems like a hard act to follow, especially as Caitlin's parenting is far from the organic-eating Supernanny methods that Bambino seems to feature. Friends are supportive of her new venture, but Caitlin isn't so sure. After all, Bambino's ideas are a world away from her own...
Granted, Cait isn't partial to the idea of being an agony aunt at first, but seeing as the problem-solving gig is only temporary, how hard can it be?
But Caitlin soon finds that Bambino's problem page is more popular than she thinks, and she's soon inundated with problems helpless readers across the country, all with similar issues to herself. Seeing her husband with new girlfriend and pink-princess stepdaughter is heartbreaking, and only spurs Caitlin on further to assist the needs of Bambino readers with nowhere else to turn. It's not long before she becomes a small celebrity.
Meanwhile, son Jake is becoming obsessed with cleaning and Cait's ex is seemingly devoting more time to his new family than his own kids. Throw in single-dad friend Sam, and life seems to be getting even more complicated for Caitlin. And when she's offered the Bambino job full-time, what an she do? Readers are starting to adore her straight-talking approach to motherhood. Especially anonymous emailer R, with whom Cait seems to instantly click. She's been warned about meeting readers, but is it a chance she's willing to take? What about her feelings for Sam? And despite being the nation's favourite parenting expert, can she manage to keep her own family stable and happy?
Mummy Said the F Word takes a hilarious look at single motherhood. Fiona Gibson conveys family issues seriously, yet at the very same time, laugh out loud funny. Caitlin is a down-to-earth, sarcastic heroine with a lovely heart and a great, feelgood tale.
Rating: 5/5
If you liked this, you might like: The Motherhood Walk of Fame by Shari Low.
