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Mums@Home
Calling all mums! What would you do if your husband had a fling? Have you ever had to keep a terrible secret from your kids? Do you sometimes wish you had a life outside being a mum? Are you pregnant and alone? Caroline, Mark, Susan and Lisa are as different as the parenting problems they face and each has their own reasons for logging on to the Mums@Home website for the very first time. At first they are cynical about the site - how can faceless people possibly help or understand what they are going through? But as the weeks pass and their family problems escalate, each of them begins to realise that Mums@Home has become a lifeline - somewhere to go for advice, to be heard, to escape, or to belong...Sophie King captures the zeitgeist once again with this warm, moving and engaging look at modern parenting and finding friends.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
16 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Sophie King
38 books42 followersI've written six novels, including the bestselling The School Run, and The Wedding Party, which was nominated for Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists Association.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 3, 2016
I could not put this book down, simple easy fluff at it's best. :)
This book is set when MSN was an everyday activity and everyone is finally starting
to use the internet more. This tells the story of 3 frustrated parents and one expectant mum as they share their problems on the website mums@home.
Caroline who is struggling to put her husbands affair behind her and hold her marriage together for the kids sake.
Mark whose wife is currently in prison, is having a hard time juggling the kids and working from home. Plus pretending their mum is working in New York is taking it's toll on him.
Susan whose daughter is disabled and husband has left. She had it really hard, I couldn't have lived that life, I felt really sorry for her, however I didn't like that she was blaming the MMR jab and I'm glad they sorted that out in the end.
Lisa who is currently expecting a baby after two miscarriages. I knew something was up with her and actually she is the saddest character in the book. And the one we don't really hear much about in the end. It's almost like the author wasn't that bothered about her.
Overall I'd really recommend this book to chick lit fans and stressed out parents. Well worth a read!
This book is set when MSN was an everyday activity and everyone is finally starting
to use the internet more. This tells the story of 3 frustrated parents and one expectant mum as they share their problems on the website mums@home.
Caroline who is struggling to put her husbands affair behind her and hold her marriage together for the kids sake.
Mark whose wife is currently in prison, is having a hard time juggling the kids and working from home. Plus pretending their mum is working in New York is taking it's toll on him.
Susan whose daughter is disabled and husband has left. She had it really hard, I couldn't have lived that life, I felt really sorry for her, however I didn't like that she was blaming the MMR jab and I'm glad they sorted that out in the end.
Lisa who is currently expecting a baby after two miscarriages. I knew something was up with her and actually she is the saddest character in the book. And the one we don't really hear much about in the end. It's almost like the author wasn't that bothered about her.
Overall I'd really recommend this book to chick lit fans and stressed out parents. Well worth a read!
April 3, 2024
This has been re-released under it’s a mum’s life. I think this title fits it better. I can’t believe I sat on this book for so long as it’s been on my to be read mountain for quite some time.
Sophie manages to introduce a number of characters with different issues in their life. Caroline is keen to kick her cheating husband out of her life - I personally wanted to slap him, he was so rude and didn’t treat Caroline right. Susan is a mum to a disabled daughter but feels guilty for wanting something outside of caring for her - I loved Susan and I was hopeful of her having a better friend to talk to
Mark who has two kids and has to be both parents to them - I just wanted to wrap Mark up in a hug he was trying so hard to be both parents to his kids but life kept throwing obstacles in his way. Lisa has always longed to be a mother and now pregnant she doesn’t think she will be good enough for her unborn child.
I wouldn't be fooled by the cover which makes you think this will be an easy read. Some issues are sensitive and I didn’t expect some of them. They’re tackled so well. I loved the parenting website and I wished I was able to see more on this.
There was some really lovely secondary characters- which I can’t be specific about as it’s spoilers. Also some downright nasty secondary characters that made me want to chuck my kindle!
I have a Divorce for beginners on my tbr which I’ll be reading soon.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you for Sophie for writing it. I also just found out Sophie writes under Janey Fraser.
Sophie manages to introduce a number of characters with different issues in their life. Caroline is keen to kick her cheating husband out of her life - I personally wanted to slap him, he was so rude and didn’t treat Caroline right. Susan is a mum to a disabled daughter but feels guilty for wanting something outside of caring for her - I loved Susan and I was hopeful of her having a better friend to talk to
Mark who has two kids and has to be both parents to them - I just wanted to wrap Mark up in a hug he was trying so hard to be both parents to his kids but life kept throwing obstacles in his way. Lisa has always longed to be a mother and now pregnant she doesn’t think she will be good enough for her unborn child.
I wouldn't be fooled by the cover which makes you think this will be an easy read. Some issues are sensitive and I didn’t expect some of them. They’re tackled so well. I loved the parenting website and I wished I was able to see more on this.
There was some really lovely secondary characters- which I can’t be specific about as it’s spoilers. Also some downright nasty secondary characters that made me want to chuck my kindle!
I have a Divorce for beginners on my tbr which I’ll be reading soon.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you for Sophie for writing it. I also just found out Sophie writes under Janey Fraser.
October 1, 2013
Love is a Secret was previously published with the title Mums @ Home.
This novel follows four people who join an online community: What Mums Know in an effort to try and cope with the trials and tribulations of modern parenting with each character facing a dilemma.
Caroline is trying to work on forgiving her husband for having an affair and is worried about her eldest daughter who is on a gap year in Australia and who doesn’t often contact home. Mark is faced with being a single parent to his two children whilst struggling to juggle his family and work life successfully whilst his wife Hilary is working in New York. Susan is also a single parent to her disabled daughter Tabitha and has to cope with the emotional fallout when her husband returns to her life with a new wife in tow. Finally, there is Lisa who is trying to come to terms with the fact that she has lost two babies through miscarriage when all she wants in life is to be a mum.
This is an engaging and interesting book with highly relatable characters and I enjoyed how the author explored how an online community can be a haven for people who feel they may not have someone to confide in in their real lives. The novel also explored how ultimately secrets have to be revealed and that sometimes the anonymity of the internet is not always so anonymous!
I identified with all the characters’ struggles with modern parenting and found the ending believable although I felt Lisa’s story was finished quite suddenly without a satisfying resolution. I would have liked to have found out more about Lisa’s story especially as it was such a heartbreaking one.
I really enjoyed this book and found it quick to read and would highly recommend especially if you are a parent who is run ragged!!
This novel follows four people who join an online community: What Mums Know in an effort to try and cope with the trials and tribulations of modern parenting with each character facing a dilemma.
Caroline is trying to work on forgiving her husband for having an affair and is worried about her eldest daughter who is on a gap year in Australia and who doesn’t often contact home. Mark is faced with being a single parent to his two children whilst struggling to juggle his family and work life successfully whilst his wife Hilary is working in New York. Susan is also a single parent to her disabled daughter Tabitha and has to cope with the emotional fallout when her husband returns to her life with a new wife in tow. Finally, there is Lisa who is trying to come to terms with the fact that she has lost two babies through miscarriage when all she wants in life is to be a mum.
This is an engaging and interesting book with highly relatable characters and I enjoyed how the author explored how an online community can be a haven for people who feel they may not have someone to confide in in their real lives. The novel also explored how ultimately secrets have to be revealed and that sometimes the anonymity of the internet is not always so anonymous!
I identified with all the characters’ struggles with modern parenting and found the ending believable although I felt Lisa’s story was finished quite suddenly without a satisfying resolution. I would have liked to have found out more about Lisa’s story especially as it was such a heartbreaking one.
I really enjoyed this book and found it quick to read and would highly recommend especially if you are a parent who is run ragged!!
August 19, 2013
I really enjoyed the way, the author introduced the reader to the main characters in the beginning. All four of them receive the same email from an online forum called What Mums Know.
The first half of the book was written rather amusingly with a lot of wit, whereas the second half becomes a lot more serious. I didn’t mind this change in the atmosphere but I was rather surprised by it as I didn’t expect the book to turn this way (and believe me – there are a few unexpected twists and turns in the storyline!)
I really loved the way, the reader is left guessing throughout the whole book about the backgrounds of some of the characters (i.e. what happened to Mark’s wife Hilary).
Mark was probably my most favourite character. I thought, it was brilliant that the book did not only highlight the perspective of the mothers but also included Mark as a father (although I wouldn’t want his children… you need to read the book to fully understand what I mean).
I would have loved to find out a bit more about Lisa’s character. I pretty much knew how the other characters would live their lives from now on but the reader is left “hanging” as to what would become of Lisa.
Love is a Secret is a funny and witty page turner and a must read for any parent :-) .
The first half of the book was written rather amusingly with a lot of wit, whereas the second half becomes a lot more serious. I didn’t mind this change in the atmosphere but I was rather surprised by it as I didn’t expect the book to turn this way (and believe me – there are a few unexpected twists and turns in the storyline!)
I really loved the way, the reader is left guessing throughout the whole book about the backgrounds of some of the characters (i.e. what happened to Mark’s wife Hilary).
Mark was probably my most favourite character. I thought, it was brilliant that the book did not only highlight the perspective of the mothers but also included Mark as a father (although I wouldn’t want his children… you need to read the book to fully understand what I mean).
I would have loved to find out a bit more about Lisa’s character. I pretty much knew how the other characters would live their lives from now on but the reader is left “hanging” as to what would become of Lisa.
Love is a Secret is a funny and witty page turner and a must read for any parent :-) .
April 28, 2018
Easy read chick-lit; enjoyable enough but unmemorable
July 31, 2019
A bit different. Lighthearted and with an engaging story-line.
Would read more.
The reviews going back this far are copied out of a notebook I kept with records of the books read...
Would read more.
The reviews going back this far are copied out of a notebook I kept with records of the books read...
September 9, 2020
Easy to read and relatable characters.
February 12, 2022
Loved the multi caracters and the whole premise of this story it's a really good read. Which I have read and read again.
June 4, 2023
Ontspannend , maar daarmee is ook alles gezegd.
June 17, 2014
Love is a Secret was previously published as Mums@Home.
I have read two books by Sophie King at the same time and although they are similar in style (well, they couldn't not be:) ), I was not at all tired with any of them, because the writing was different and the stories, although both concentrating on family lives and similar problems, were really interesting.
"Love is a Secret" follows stories of four families. Caroline is trying to come to terms with her husband betraying her and staying with him for "the sake of the children". There are three of them. Caroline works as a journalist.
Susan is a single mother to her daughter Tabitha. Tabitha is physically and mentally disabled and they go together to a special centre but get the wind that the centre should be closed soon. She must also cope with her, and her daughter's feeling, when very unexpectedly her husband returns to make up for the lost years, with his new wife in tow.
Mark is also a single parent and he must cope with two very swearing children and working in his one - person PR firm from home. He has a lot of problems with his growing daughter and his son is bullied at school.
There is also Lisa, nursery assistant, who more than anything other wants to be a mum. She is trying to come to terms with her two miscarriages and is awaiting a baby.
They all "meet" virtually on the website What Mums Know, where they share their problems hidden behind their computer screens, and where they open their hearts and souls to people who they don't know because they can't do this at home.
I have actually really like each of the characters. They were very likeable, down - to - earth people coping with problems that we all must cope with on everyday basis. I don't always need blond bimbos only going shopping and having no financial problems, from time to time it's really great to read about people who seem to be like my friends and whose life is not a never - ending lucky streaks. Well, real life is not a lucky streak.
I didn't have my favourite character, although I guess that sometimes Caroline tested my patience a little. My personal opinion is that, even if you are a mother, you can't always put the children above everything, above your luck and your happiness and you must be egoistic. But other than that, I have enjoyed her story as much as the others. I guess that most of the readers will pick Susan as their favourite, which was my case, but I couldn't help and fell for this woman, how much she fought for her daughter and how much she must have sacrifice.
Call me a prophet but from the beginning I have expected there is something wrong with Lisa and her story. Haven't thought it's going to end exactly like this but it had a real tension to itself.
Mark, probably because the one and only main male character, I enjoyed very much and enjoyed the way he coped - or more than not - with his situation and the children. I have never, in a million year, expected this twist that came, I was totally taken by surprise.
It is really an engaging story with relatable characters in it and this is, in my opinion, the reason why Sophie King's books are successful: she writes about things that strike a chord with minority of her readers, we can recognise the situations she writes about, we can nod with understanding, sigh and generally speaking, pat the characters on their backs and say: yes, I know, I've been there, I've seen this, I've done this.
It is a book about serious issues but written good - naturedly, the story flows, it is full of twists and turns and emotions. The pace is absolutely right and the writing style has me hooked from the beginning.
Sophie King is also a champion of intertwining many plots with each other and introducing us to many characters and then bringing them all together in some way and here it was no exception. The characters struggle with parenting, marriages, disabilities and everyday problems and I just couldn't not keep my fingers crossed for them. All the stories have then a good resolution and conclusion and the book left me with no questions to ask or problems to solve. Maybe it doesn't seem like a summer-y, light read but it - indeed - is. Highly recommend.
Copy received in exchange for a review and participation in a book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
I have read two books by Sophie King at the same time and although they are similar in style (well, they couldn't not be:) ), I was not at all tired with any of them, because the writing was different and the stories, although both concentrating on family lives and similar problems, were really interesting.
"Love is a Secret" follows stories of four families. Caroline is trying to come to terms with her husband betraying her and staying with him for "the sake of the children". There are three of them. Caroline works as a journalist.
Susan is a single mother to her daughter Tabitha. Tabitha is physically and mentally disabled and they go together to a special centre but get the wind that the centre should be closed soon. She must also cope with her, and her daughter's feeling, when very unexpectedly her husband returns to make up for the lost years, with his new wife in tow.
Mark is also a single parent and he must cope with two very swearing children and working in his one - person PR firm from home. He has a lot of problems with his growing daughter and his son is bullied at school.
There is also Lisa, nursery assistant, who more than anything other wants to be a mum. She is trying to come to terms with her two miscarriages and is awaiting a baby.
They all "meet" virtually on the website What Mums Know, where they share their problems hidden behind their computer screens, and where they open their hearts and souls to people who they don't know because they can't do this at home.
I have actually really like each of the characters. They were very likeable, down - to - earth people coping with problems that we all must cope with on everyday basis. I don't always need blond bimbos only going shopping and having no financial problems, from time to time it's really great to read about people who seem to be like my friends and whose life is not a never - ending lucky streaks. Well, real life is not a lucky streak.
I didn't have my favourite character, although I guess that sometimes Caroline tested my patience a little. My personal opinion is that, even if you are a mother, you can't always put the children above everything, above your luck and your happiness and you must be egoistic. But other than that, I have enjoyed her story as much as the others. I guess that most of the readers will pick Susan as their favourite, which was my case, but I couldn't help and fell for this woman, how much she fought for her daughter and how much she must have sacrifice.
Call me a prophet but from the beginning I have expected there is something wrong with Lisa and her story. Haven't thought it's going to end exactly like this but it had a real tension to itself.
Mark, probably because the one and only main male character, I enjoyed very much and enjoyed the way he coped - or more than not - with his situation and the children. I have never, in a million year, expected this twist that came, I was totally taken by surprise.
It is really an engaging story with relatable characters in it and this is, in my opinion, the reason why Sophie King's books are successful: she writes about things that strike a chord with minority of her readers, we can recognise the situations she writes about, we can nod with understanding, sigh and generally speaking, pat the characters on their backs and say: yes, I know, I've been there, I've seen this, I've done this.
It is a book about serious issues but written good - naturedly, the story flows, it is full of twists and turns and emotions. The pace is absolutely right and the writing style has me hooked from the beginning.
Sophie King is also a champion of intertwining many plots with each other and introducing us to many characters and then bringing them all together in some way and here it was no exception. The characters struggle with parenting, marriages, disabilities and everyday problems and I just couldn't not keep my fingers crossed for them. All the stories have then a good resolution and conclusion and the book left me with no questions to ask or problems to solve. Maybe it doesn't seem like a summer-y, light read but it - indeed - is. Highly recommend.
Copy received in exchange for a review and participation in a book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
June 26, 2011
After a heavy book, gotta follow it up with some of the crappiest story lines ever. I mean, just look at the title! Anything with non-alphabetic lettering, you know is going to be trash. This book was about 4 people who communicate via a message board online about parenting. One story was about a young girl who was like so obsessed with becoming pregnant, that she convinced herself she was, even though she wasn't. I can't really handle crazy people, so this was my least favourite story. Another story was about a women who was taking care of her disabled daughter and because of her, didn't have much of a life on her own. I felt like she was hiding behind her daughter and using her as an excuse not to do anything. This women was okay, but kind of lame, especially for an adult. You would have expected her behaviour more from a teenager then a 40 year old. The token man of the board was okay, but his children were out of control and he was such a pushover, which was annoying. My favourite was a women whose relationship with her husband was sort of falling apart because her husband had an affair a few years back and she still wasn't over it. So she has an affair with the man of the group (they end up meeting via work) which was kind of annoying. The man was soooo needy and wanting to persue the women and the women knew she made a mistake the second it happened. The dude was being such a girl. There was really no point for all these story lines as none of them except for the man and the women ever really came together except at the end with the group finally meets in person. Just trashtastic reading.
Grade: C
Grade: C
August 5, 2013
Have you ever read a book that even though you've enjoyed it, it made no sense? That's how I'm feeling right now after finishing 'Love is a secret'.
It follows a group of parents who start using a website called What Mums Know. This is a website set up to help mums discuss their issues and help each other through them. A few of these parents meet each other accidentally outside the chat room and we follow these certain people in their day to day lives. These are Caroline a part-time working mum of 3 who's trying to come to terms with her husbands infidelity. Mark a working dad of 2 who's acting as a woman to gain information on how to raise his children after his wife is sent to prison for theft. Susan a single mum of 12 year Tabitha who has cerebral palsy and lastly Lisa a young nursery assistant who's obsessed with pregnancy after 2 miscarriages.
Don't get me wrong each individual part and story are great and it's an interesting read in parts, it just seemed a bit to long and a bit to what's the point after a while. I feel bad saying that though because I actually enjoyed it too, but I can only be honest can't I? I think this is one for you all to read and see whether you agree with me or not.
worth a read.
3.5/5
It follows a group of parents who start using a website called What Mums Know. This is a website set up to help mums discuss their issues and help each other through them. A few of these parents meet each other accidentally outside the chat room and we follow these certain people in their day to day lives. These are Caroline a part-time working mum of 3 who's trying to come to terms with her husbands infidelity. Mark a working dad of 2 who's acting as a woman to gain information on how to raise his children after his wife is sent to prison for theft. Susan a single mum of 12 year Tabitha who has cerebral palsy and lastly Lisa a young nursery assistant who's obsessed with pregnancy after 2 miscarriages.
Don't get me wrong each individual part and story are great and it's an interesting read in parts, it just seemed a bit to long and a bit to what's the point after a while. I feel bad saying that though because I actually enjoyed it too, but I can only be honest can't I? I think this is one for you all to read and see whether you agree with me or not.
worth a read.
3.5/5
July 5, 2013
This is a story centred around four users of mumsknowbest - a forum website for mums to get advice and help. All four users have joined for the same reason; they all need someone to ask for advice or just to chat and apart from being parents they all have one thing in common - they are all keeping secrets from each other and from those people closest to them. There are two main storylines running through the book, both very different, and for a long time I didn't see how each storyline could converge but after a lot of twisting and turning it did finally happen.
It is not a laugh out loud book, but it is a very easy to read story which flows well with some light moments and some very moving as well as a good deal of tension. It will certainly strike a chord with any parent reading it who will recognise situations the characters find themselves in. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters, especially Susan, and I suspect a lot of people reading the book will pick out their favourite. A tale of parenting, secrets, lies with a huge dash of romance thrown in for good measure. A very good read.
It is not a laugh out loud book, but it is a very easy to read story which flows well with some light moments and some very moving as well as a good deal of tension. It will certainly strike a chord with any parent reading it who will recognise situations the characters find themselves in. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters, especially Susan, and I suspect a lot of people reading the book will pick out their favourite. A tale of parenting, secrets, lies with a huge dash of romance thrown in for good measure. A very good read.
January 2, 2023
Four rather different people register at an online community offering advice to mothers. The number of characters is quite confusing at first, but although they're all a bit two-dimensional, their circumstances are distinct enough for me to keep them separate in my mind, at least most of the time. The writing is good, the story quite nicely paced, with regular switches between each of the viewpoint characters.
Some quite serious issues are covered in the course of this book, and I found it quite difficult to put down at times, despite not finding any of the people particularly sympathetic.
Worth reading once if you like women's fiction. Apparently updated since it was first published in 2006 with the new title 'Love is a Secret'.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
Some quite serious issues are covered in the course of this book, and I found it quite difficult to put down at times, despite not finding any of the people particularly sympathetic.
Worth reading once if you like women's fiction. Apparently updated since it was first published in 2006 with the new title 'Love is a Secret'.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
January 19, 2012
I picked up this book because I was browsing books by Sophie Kinsella and didn't realize I'd wandered to another author. It was a decent light-reading book about four parents with intersecting lives. I wasn't totally engrossed by any of the stories, the children weren't believable (nor were they very involved in the story, despite the book being about parenting), and the writer seemed ignorant of the computer issues that she occasionally wrote about (is a little bit of easy research really too much to ask?) Bit it wasn't a horrible waste of time, and some parts were pretty amusing.
October 8, 2014
When I read the book I was exactly that - a "Mum at Home". Perfect premisses to read it.
However, I couldn't relate to any of the problems mentioned there (on the other hand - they are very specific, and of course those are no 'ordinary' characters but with special obstacles in their lives). The story couldn't really draw me in, I was only interested in how Lisa's story turned out, since I guessed her 'secret' early on.
However, I couldn't relate to any of the problems mentioned there (on the other hand - they are very specific, and of course those are no 'ordinary' characters but with special obstacles in their lives). The story couldn't really draw me in, I was only interested in how Lisa's story turned out, since I guessed her 'secret' early on.
November 16, 2008
I wasn't sure if I would finish this book or not because I was having a hard time reading about the people who were struggling with their kids. But of course I got sucked in and just had to keep going. I liked the people and thought they were believable and enjoyed the inner-connectivity.
May 22, 2011
An entertaining read about four parents in very different situations whose lives become entwined when the join the mums@home website. A lot of the story was quite obvious but there were a few surprises along the way and I ended up feeling like I knew the characters. Good fun!
March 25, 2016
Read this a few year ago X really enjoyed it, different lives but so similar X story was about knowing each other through the Internet and spelling secrets - great story and heart breaking too X loved X
May 24, 2009
Not bad, read it in a couple of days. Def a holiday reading book, I seem to recall taking her previous book to centreparcs with me.
November 20, 2010
Had me laughing and smiling most of the way through. Love the way she captured the different lives of different families! Happy with the entire book!
January 9, 2011
WAAAAAT? zo'n slecht boek zeg. en toch uitlezen é.
April 30, 2012
an easy read, much less complicated than the school run with 4 main characters. Interesting plot, especially with Mark and Hillary - who'd expected that she would be in jail?
June 4, 2012
As chick lit goes this wasn't bad although I might have been a bit younger than the target audience. Liked that it was British and had some different storylines. Easy read.
December 20, 2012
Received this as a gift and loved it. If you've belonged to a forum you'll understand the book quite well. Few surprises but enjoyed the book despite having not chosen it.
July 26, 2013
an enjoyable read. good variation of characters and situations and affermation that parenting is the hardest job in the world to get right.
March 21, 2016
Love this book...it's an easy and relaxing book to read. Sophie really describe our problems as parents in this book beautifully and so real too!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews