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Vita bassa e tacchi a spillo

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Amy Crane ha trentun anni e non sa più cosa sia una spazzola, una ceretta, una scarpa con il tacco. Nasconde i suoi chili di troppo sotto larghe magliette stinte e pantaloni con l'elastico. La giovane donna curata, mondana e amante dello shopping - quella donna che aveva davanti a sé una brillante carriera da PR e un'infinita serie di happy hour - sembra ormai cancellata per sempre da un evento naturale quanto definitivo: la maternità. E benché Amy abbia tutto quello che una giovane mamma può desiderare - una deliziosa frugoletta pronta per lo svezzamento, un compagno affettuoso e protettivo, una mamma sufficientemente invadente - il suo declino sembra inarrestabile. Anche perché Amy ha un terribile sospetto: che il suo "dolce" Joe la tradisca. Per fortuna la sua nuova amica Alice, una neo-mamma di una specie completamente diversa, viene in suo soccorso. Con un programma serrato di lezioni di Pilates, sedute dall'estetista e shopping coatto, intende dimostrarle che i poppanti - se vestiti giusti e nel passeggino giusto - possono trasformarsi in uno splendido accessorio e che dei papà, specie se un po' infedeli, si può fare anche a meno. Amy sposa il nuovo credo, ma quando riesce a infilarsi di nuovo nei suoi vecchi jeans comincia anche a rendersi conto che forse la felicità sta da tutt'altra parte...

415 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2006

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927 people want to read

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Polly Williams

20 books88 followers

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5 stars
321 (18%)
4 stars
470 (26%)
3 stars
636 (36%)
2 stars
254 (14%)
1 star
78 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
Profile Image for Jo.
211 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2007
this is one of the ugly side effects of working in a library. you scan things in and every so often you go "oh, this looks interesting." not to mention, if you check it out, it's one less thing you have to shelve. sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes it becomes a horrendous mistake.
guess which one this was.
i have no pity for emotional wrecks, mostso those whose major regret is not being able to fit into her "skinny" jeans. there were a few good attempts to take about class, but they refused to flesh out and say anything meaningful. and another personal opinion, because this is my review now, isn't it-- if joe was such a good man, why did he keep on storming out angry. he argued with his girlfriend, but in the process repeatedly walked out on his child. no love for you man, no love.
and yet they live happily ever after in a world of blissful understanding.
why didn't the friend with fertility troubles think about adopting?
okay, okay, you caught me. i was hoping for sex trash. it's called "yummy mummy" after all. you could write about this as a societal reflection about mothers and young children (particularly with references to the idea of a working mother), but i'll leave that to you. because i've spent too much time on this as it is.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,041 reviews112 followers
August 22, 2007
I hated it because the main character seems to sell her soul and her relationship for the approval of a horrible woman. I couldn't relate to her at all.
Profile Image for Angela.
2 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2007
I started reading this book for my book club, and initially thought it was pretty typical british chick lit. However, there is an actual story line to follow, and being a new mummy myself, I could relate to the psyche of the main character. Overall, an engaging, quick read.
73 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2008
This is another one of those books on women who can't handle motherhood, let themselves go. It was an okay read, but just didn't keep my attention the way some other takes on this topic have done before.
Profile Image for Mayda.
3,838 reviews65 followers
June 5, 2018
This somewhat racy romance does have a couple of unexpected twists in it. Amy’s daughter is now six months old but Amy and her boyfriend Joe have not settled into a happy, routine life yet. In fact, they are definitely not on the same page when it comes to their expectations. Evie does not sleep through the night, Amy feels frumpy, Joe is busy with his work, and both are always tired. Joe does not approve of Amy’s friends, and Amy is fearful that Joe finds her unattractive and is seeking affection elsewhere. Whew! And that’s just the beginning! Amy is a bit whiny, and Joe is mostly right about her friends. Not a great cast of characters, and really, some open communication would have helped tremendously. The second half of the novel is far better than the first, and the characters do show some maturity before the story ends. This story is good for a summer beach read, if you just want to while away a few hours.
Profile Image for Yolibear.
266 reviews16 followers
August 23, 2008
My review of this book is this. Knowing yourself is difficult after being defined as a "mother". I think the main character got lost. And although I don't identify with the fact that she completely sold her soul for a pair of designer shoes, I think that every mother goes through that period where they compare themselves to other mothers. And unfortunately this particular mother got lost in silliness of how she should look and less about her family. I liked it... puts in in perspective.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,618 reviews177 followers
September 5, 2025
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

If you have had children, I wouldn’t recommend reading this; if you are yet to have children, I wouldn’t recommend reading this. In this book, Williams pulls together all the unglamourous aspects of motherhood, leaving you either drowning in memories of the harder times, or putting you off procreation for life.
Profile Image for Akire.
39 reviews5 followers
September 3, 2008
New mummy overwhelmed with child, boyfriend and life. Trying to maintain the status quo and ignoring her own fears and feelings. Through a path of self improvements and discovery she discovers peoples true identities...including her own.
Profile Image for Sanae.
43 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2008
The book was fine; nothing special, except for the glimpses into my... I mean Amy's... life right before/after her baby is born. The insecurities, weight gain/loss, struggle of self identity are all there in black and white. I think I was expecting more, so I was just a little disappointed.
Profile Image for Sara - Book Happy Girl.
16 reviews8 followers
January 16, 2009
I really enjoyed this book, and perhaps really enjoyed it because it a new mother coming to terms with her new life, which is something I can relate to. It was easy to read and I could not put it down.
Profile Image for Natalie Cresswell.
8 reviews2 followers
May 7, 2013
Took a while to get into it and then when I did the ending was predictable and like the writer had just come to a stop and decided not to carry on.
Profile Image for Laura.
626 reviews19 followers
January 16, 2020
In "The Yummy Mummy" by Polly Williams, Amy Crane tells her story of young motherhood in London, England. We join her life in a prologue when she, still pregnant, gets a mis-text from her significant other, Joe,...and after slogging her way to the park to (she thinks) meet him for lunch, instead she sees him in the distance, strolling comfortably close with another woman. Distraught and unsure what to think, she catapults through delivery and into the sleep deprived days of early motherhood. She contemplates confronting Joe, but is afraid he will call her bluff, and leave...destroying the tiny family she is attempting to create. So instead she dives into the world of being a mummy...but loses herself in the process.

Polly does a great job of realistically showing Amy's struggle to reinvent herself as a mother, but still a women with a life (complete with a decent figure, pride, an enviable wardrobe, and a social life). She also adroitly shows how Amy has been influenced by her parent's divorce when she was a school age child. I feel that the majority of people in my generation have divorced parents (myself included--I was 6), and we are now carving our own path as adults learning to love without a blueprint from our parents to guide us. I think Amy "gets it" in the end though. After all, there are no perfect people, and there are no fairytale endings. All we can do is be kind to each other, communicate as best we can, and fight for those we hold dear. Oh, and laugh. Never forget to laugh :)

Given 3.5 stars or "Very Good". Recommended for those who like lighter reads that still have great dialogue and a good story arc.
Profile Image for Kat.
576 reviews99 followers
July 14, 2012
This was a good book, it had humour and it had something that everyone can relate to, whether it being a new mum or not being happy with your image or lifestyle and wanting to change who you are. My favourite character was Nicola, as she seemed really grounded and caring but very assertive when it was needed. This is my third book read my Polly Williams, and it won't be my last. The only negatives I found in the book was that - it was slightly predictable and some of the story wasn't needed.

I will definitely read more books from Polly Williams. And this did have something I like in books, which is reading about women becoming mums or being a mum.
Profile Image for Dee.
20 reviews
September 27, 2011
I picked this from a small library for escapist fun and it did not disappoint. I'm very fond of books set in England. The only lost mark is for some predictability. You really can't begrudge Polly Williams that: it was best for her character. I was almost about to dock Ms. Williams another star for being so thin and gorgeous on her jacket photo, but I couldn't. She writes with such rawness and honesty about the vicissitudes of a new mother's body that I loved her anyway for the compassionate rendering.
Profile Image for Myndi .
1,549 reviews51 followers
May 8, 2012
This book is a great read for anyone who has gone through the life altering event of being pregnant. It grasps expertly the feeling of your body not being your own anymore, even after having the baby. It shows how the mother can often times feel invisible after having gone from her own person to someone that another human so totally relies upon. It dragged me in and I was held captive until the very last page.
Profile Image for Kel.
597 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2017
A lovely uplifting story of an independent woman who finds herself pregnant and how her life changes in ways she never expected. A very relatable insight into how a lot of us feel with our 1st babies and the insecurities we face as our bodies change and don't always go back to how they were prior to our baby days. I really enjoyed this as a good chick lit book which made me smile and is so relevant in todays society and the pressures Mum's put on themselves to be super woman.
Profile Image for Charity.
632 reviews541 followers
June 14, 2007
Amy tries to adjust to the challenges of new motherhood while getting her pre-mommy body back and keeping her relationship in tact. However, her boyfriend is getting more than a little irritated with her new ways and her new friends. Amy doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. Very good story. Keeps you hooked.
Profile Image for Stefania Crepaldi.
232 reviews44 followers
August 30, 2017
Questo romanzo me l’aspettavo proprio diverso, e invece ho goduto di un’incredibile sorpresa.
Non è per niente frivolo o spumeggiante come la copertina starebbe a suggerire, anzi!
Ho trovato questa storia molto malinconica, profonda e introspettiva.

La protagonista, Amy Crane, è una rampante professionista di Londra, sempre vestita in modo professionale, con i tacchi alti, un lavoro fagocitante pieno di scadenze, stress e orari impossibili da gestire.

Ma non è questa Amy Crane quella che accoglie il lettore, no. Quella Amy Crane è la vecchia protagonista, quella non ancora incinta di otto mesi.

Il romanzo è una storia di rinascita di una donna che affronta il più temuto — e desiderato al tempo stesso — cambiamento di sempre: la maternità.

L’autrice sceglie di mostrare le ultime fasi della gravidanza, e la vita scombussolata dalla nascita di una piccola creatura, croce e delizia allo stesso tempo, rivoluzione di vita e di intenti per i due genitori, che come tanti, si perdono per la strada, convinti di andare ancora nella stessa direzione ma in realtà allontanandosi sempre di più.

Com’è davvero una brava madre? Che cosa chiede questo mondo alle donne che hanno appena subito uno dei più grandi stress fisici e mentali di sempre?Che fine fanno la forma fisica, la vescica, i capelli, le ore di sonno, i bei vestiti, i tacchi? Che cosa cambia fuori e dentro di sé quando si aspetta un bambino e lo si dà alla luce?

Questi sono alcuni dei quesiti a cui cerca di rispondere l’autrice, giovane madre che descrive la sua esperienza attraverso gli occhi di Amy, mettendo in guardia chi si ritrova nella sua stessa situazione.

“Mi sento uno schifo. […] Ora come ora non saprei come cavarmela da sola. E sai perché? Perché non so chi sono. Chi sono? Dov’è finita la vecchia Amy? La rivoglio, mi serve. Non posso affrontare tutto questo finché non sarò pronta a sopportare le conseguenze.”

Non sono una madre e di certo non ho ancora accarezzato l’idea di provare ad avere un figlio, ma mi sono sentita molto empatica con Amy. La gravidanza e la nascita di un figlio assomigliano all’esplosione di una bomba nella vita di una persona. Una bomba che non provoca morti e feriti, ma che sconvolge gli equilibri, cancella i traguardi e che fiacca umore e fisico. 

Spesso le donne si ritrovano confuse, si guardano allo specchio e non si riconoscono. Non so se sia una reazione normale, ma riconoscere una se stessa che è stata così fortemente cambiata credo sia un errore. Dopo un cambiamento così importante più che riconoscersi in una forma sbiadita e passata di noi stesse dovremmo ri-conoscere quello che siamo diventate. 

Imparare a conoscere, ad amare e a rispettare la nostra nuova forma, la nostra nuova consapevolezza. Smetterla di ostinarci e indossare i panni vecchi, ormai stretti e scomodi, per fare spazio e quelli nuovi, che si adattano alle nuove forme e al nuovo ruolo.
La storia di Amy ci racconta questo: non esiste un modo giusto di essere madre, esiste il modo che ognuna di noi sente di dover mettere in pratica.

Non bisogna perseguire l’ideale di mamma in carriera giovane e perfetta, curata e sempre disponibile a un solo mese dal parto. Si sbaglia, si impara, si deve passare per le varie fasi dell’accettazione e conoscere la nuova donna nata da una gravidanza: una madre, oltre che una donna. 

La protagonista ci trascina tra sbalzi d’umore, un corpo appesantito, notti insonni, scarso appetito sessuale, lacrime facili, ormoni impazziti, stanchezza e amore viscerale e profondo per Evie, la splendida bambina nata dall’unione tra lei e Joe, il suo compagno. 

“Uno slancio d’amore per Evie mi squassa tutta, come una corrente elettrica. è la cosa migliore che mi sia mai capitata. Come mai ci ho messo tanto ad accettare l’inalterabile realtà della vita con un bambino? Ho cercato invece di contrastarla, incapace di accettare che la mia vecchia esistenza era morta e sepolta. […] Credevo che la maternità fosse la mia fine, invece è stata solo l’inizio.”

Una storia davvero bella da leggere, che fa riflettere sulla maternità e che rischiara alcune dinamiche psicologiche e fisiche che hanno inizio solo all’indomani della nascita di un figlio.
Profile Image for Paula Nichols.
501 reviews3 followers
November 9, 2017
I've never read any books by this author before, and apparently baby sick lit is a thing! Despite being childless, I still enjoyed this. The idea of losing one's identity during and after pregnancy is not a totally alien concept to people like me, and it is easy to see how a head can be turned if self esteem is at rock bottom. The characters are well written, if at times shallow and slightly stereotyped, and it made for a pleasant holiday read.

Would I read more of her work? Well probably, since I have at least one more of hers sitting at home on my shelf!! Would I go out of my way to read more of her work? Probably not. It would take a lot more for her to join my chick lit must read authors (Jenny and Katie) - maybe me suddenly having an offspring so I can really identify with the characters...maybe her other work will hit the right chord instead.
Profile Image for Domenica Puglisi.
738 reviews9 followers
December 5, 2022
L'ho iniziato per curiosità e mi sono ritrovata a leggerlo per ore senza riuscire a smettere. Allo stesso tempo mi domando come mai. Nel senso che a volte mi è sembrato un po' noiosetto. È una strana "sensazione", forse è dipeso da me, l'avrò letto in qualche mio momento no.
Amy è una trentunenne in procinto di partorire. Oltre al caldo eccessivo, il peso in eccesso, la fame continua .... un dubbio si insinua nella sua mente: il suo amato Joe la sta tradendo? Troppi indizi le fanno credere che ciò stia veramente accadendo, che anche lei è destinata a ripercorrere il destino della madre, lasciata tanti anni prima dal marito e questo, tra l'altro, la terrorizza.
Dopo la nascita della piccola il dubbio continua anche perché ogni suo tentativo di ritornare quella di un tempo è ostacolato da Joe, nessun suo apprezzamento, nessuna frase di incoraggiamento.
Le giornate si dividono tra le cure della bimba e, ogni tanto, con le riunioni col gruppo delle mamme.
Un gruppo di esaltate direi, con tecniche e pratiche naturalistiche, molto snob che strappano qualche sorriso. Non rientro nel club delle mamme ma sono rimasta molto colpita da alcune situazioni.
Però le amiche di Amy non sono tutte così, ne ha anche di "normali" che la spingono a fare ciò che vuole, ciò che la fa stare bene nonostante le critiche di Joe.
Tra alti e bassi, tra tradimenti "pilotati" che rischiano di fare saltare la coppia definitivamente, il lieto fine arriverà, facendo capire ad Amy cosa stava perdendo, che Joe, nonostante il carattere un po' burbero, è il vero amore della sua vita. E ha fatto capire a Joe che, in fin dei conti, quel che faceva Amy per stare meglio, il rimettersi in forma, sistemarsi, cambiare look e ritornare a lavorare non era una cosa negativa e che aveva sbagliato a criticarla.
Una scrittura fluida, con un nell'intreccio di amicizie per Amy, con tanti caratteri diversi.
Profile Image for Mary.
28 reviews
July 15, 2019
I picked this from a small library for escapist fun and it did not disappoint. I'm very fond of books set in England. The only lost mark is for some predictability. You really can't begrudge Polly Williams that: it was best for her character. I was almost about to dock Ms. Williams another star for being so thin and gorgeous on her jacket photo, but I couldn't. She writes with such rawness and honesty about the vicissitudes of a new mother's body that I loved her anyway for the compassionate rendering.
Profile Image for Kelly PoweredByPlants.
26 reviews
January 1, 2021
I do love the occasional girlie easy read

I must admit the main character did frustrate me at times wanting her to just be open with her partner 😖
If it wasn’t for the LOL moments it would have been a so-so but it did make me chuckle and all us mums can identify with those mummy/wife issues we have and the different characters and mix of mummy’s we meet along the way
Profile Image for Stefanie.
65 reviews
April 15, 2018
For the first 2/3 of the book, I loathed the main character. Selfish, treating her partner poorly, trying to impress horrible people, etc. The final 100 or so pages offer some redemption, with actual action and relatable emotions, but I don’t think that was enough for me to recommend this book.
Profile Image for Annie.
120 reviews
August 14, 2017
Good, quick read! For all those who reviewed this as a ridiculous scenario , every mom's experience is different , and it was nice to read about this yummy mummy's life -- albeit fictional.
86 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2017
One can definitely feel lost after pregnancy, like they lost their identity. What I learned from this book is that communication is key especially in a relationship.
Profile Image for Julie Waldman.
227 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2017
Can't believe I actually finished this....pulease...so unbelievable! And really, we've all had babies, and we all survive.
Profile Image for Sarah Sliva.
348 reviews
August 23, 2018
First part was predictable, but had a few twists and turns in the end. Quick, fun read. A bit of a tidy wrap-up, though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
41 reviews
January 7, 2022
The delights of moving into motherhood, good read for chilling with a glass of wine when you can find the time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews

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