My Child and Other Mistakes: The hilarious and heart-warming motherhood memoir from the Strictly sensation!

by Ellie Taylor

Raw, candid and hilarious, Ellie Taylor's My Child and Other Mistakes is the funny truth about motherhood and all its grisly delights.

My Child and Other Mistakes is the honest lowdown on motherhood and all its grisly delights, asking the questions no one wants to admit to asking themselves - do I want a child? Do I have a favourite? Do I wish I hadn't had one and spent the money on a kitchen island instead?

Stand-up comic, broadcaster and actress Ellie Taylor is relatable, clever and interested in how women can have it all. Her honest, hilarious and moving account of the whys and hows of having a baby makes perfect listening for expectant mothers and fathers everywhere, as well as those who've been there, done that, and wonder how on earth they did.

In this very funny book, she writes candidly about her own personal experience exploring the decision to have a baby when she doesn't even like them, the importance of cheese during pregnancy, why she took hair straighteners to the labour ward, plus the apocalyptic newborn days, childcare, work and the inevitable impact on life and love and, most importantly, her breasts.

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

Audible Audio

Published July 22, 2021

Reviews

[Beth Sandland (Beth’s Book Club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should probably caveat this review by saying that I just didn’t find this book that funny. Sorry. There’s no doubt that there’s a wide audience for Taylor’s style of comedy, I’m just probably not it. So why read the book? Well, because I am mother to a 5 month old and am currently at the stage of craving anything that makes me feel ‘seen’.

I enjoyed this book (on audiobook, narrated by Ellie herself) but it didn’t blow me away. Parts were relatable and parts were funny but on the whole I found it a bit wannabe worthy.

I’d have probably enjoyed it a lot more had Ellie just shared HER account of motherhood, from pre-conception to present day, where the book ends with her and her husband unsure whether they’d like a second child. However, almost every single point tries to be pseudo-political with stats on everything from miscarriages she hasn’t had, to BAME maternal mortality rates, to shared parental leave that she was indeed able to take.

I found that this constant need to cover each and every base AND run a commentary on how poorly the “powers that be” view mothers and maternity really detracted from the comedy. She acknowledges in the beginning that she is one half of a privileged, cis-gendered, white couple who were able to conceive naturally then carry without complication to term. For me, that disclaimer was enough. Jokes become significantly less funny when they end in “…no offence.”

There is definitely room for a genuine, warm, funny “nobody told me” style narrative on conception, pregnancy and new motherhood but for me, this didn’t nail it.

[Georgia Papp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I deeply recommend this to any new mom who struggled with the decision to have kids or who found adjusting to her new life as mother more difficult than expected. You're not alone. Also, it's a fun, easy read.

[ruth carey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not for me

Maybe it’s because my kids are a bit older but I struggled to enjoy this book. I thought the writer was a bit self obsessed or maybe just trying too hard to be funny.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually expected this to be a bit funnier (and don't get me wrong, I smiled many times while reading this), but I did appreciate the seriousness and honesty as well. I read it all in one evening, and really enjoyed it. There are a bunch of cultural references that might not age well, but that's a problem for a future generation LOL

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Taylor's book is her reflections on deciding whether to become a mother and what happens when she and her husband finally decide to become parents. In her usual style, Ellie Taylor is funny, honest and insightful in her observations. She also wants to demystify some of the things around pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood and to open up a wider discussion.

But the book isn't 'worthy', it's a personal account where Ellie wants to encourage people to be ok with whatever choices are right for them, including whether not to have a child at all - and with some of the stories Ellie tells it might encourage them down that route! Or at least ensure that people always take the free hotel shower caps for future use - who would have thought to use them for that purpose...

See Ellie as your cheerleader, whatever choices you make, and have a few laughs with her along the way.

[Veronika S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first truthful book about parenthood :)

[Kate Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Listened to the audio book and read along with the electronic version**

I'm a big fan of Ellie Taylor - I think she's hilarious, and as a fellow Essex girl I can relate to her a lot of her anecdotes. This book was so honest, and so funny! I think this book would appeal to mothers and non mothers alike. Broody or non-broody! Male or female! This book is for everyone.
If you really want to be entertained this is the perfect book for you - just be mindful you will be laughing out loud, so may not want to read this book on the train!
The audio book is read by Ellie Taylor herself, and this just adds to the comedy and the rawness of the stories. I definitely recommend listening to the audio version.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think mothers and wannabe mothers will be super grateful for the honest account of giving birth/adapting to being a mother too.

Brilliant book - just wish it was longer!

[Claire Curran · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing. It wasn’t as funny as I had hoped and it was a bit sickly sweet in places. Definitely aimed at middle class mums. Saddened by the fat shaming despite it trying to be a feminist title.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Ellie Taylor. When I watch her acting or her stand up I genuinely belly laugh at the things that she has to say so I was eager to read her memoir My Child and Other Mistakes because I knew that I would be entertained. Ellie Taylor did not let me down.

In My Child and Other Mistakes, Taylor chronicles her ascent into adulthood. I don’t mean the passing of the years that makes us a grown up but the decisions that we make that validate that in modern society such as getting engaged, getting married, having kids.

What Taylor does in her coming of age memoir is show you the reality of this in a funny way. She doesn’t sugarcoat the harder times or the times that make her look just a little unhinged. It all adds to the wonderful colour of this story. Her thoughts on motherhood are especially honest and she lays bare how hard it is but also how rewarding she has found it.

My Child and Other Mistakes is a wonderfully funny read.

My Child and Other Mistakes by Ellie Taylor is available now.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being childless myself, I really enjoyed this account of Taylor's experiences when pregnant and her life as she adjusts to being a mother. There is humour, of course, but there is also common sense and a certain amount of anger at what women still have to put up with. Although she had a fairly 'normal' experience herself, she fully acknowledges that other women are not so lucky (and even she had a fairly unpleasant experience while trying to ensure she experienced the safest birth for herself).

[Cleo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A book I read for the author rather than the subject matter, and while I laughed out loud more times than I could count (it's DEFINITELY not ghost-written), my lack of engagement with the subject matter (beyond a vague interest pertaining to the future) meant that I wasn't captivated. But that's not the book's fault! Maybe a re-read at a more relevant time in my life would glean a different review, but for now, it's this one.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…

…that the times and parenting books may change with different approaches, but the stress and common issues of motherhood still remain! Despite my children both now being in double digits this still had many reassuring thoughts and reminders that sometimes all parents deserve a Meryl Streep strong positive pointing ‘yes’ shouting affirmation

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new-ish mother who had a child at the start of lockdown this book has put into words all my thoughts and feelings about deciding to have a child, motherhood and everything in between. I'd highly recommend reading this if you are thinking about having a child, have one already or are thinking of another; even if it's to laugh at the ridiculousness of knowing she's right. Kids are the bringers of all your joy and all your pain and you wouldn't have it any other way.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing, hilarious, raw and brutally honest account of the process of deciding to become a parent and everything that follows, whatever the path this may take.

Ellie's comedic, best-friend style shines through, covering even serious topics in an approachable way.

A book I wish I could have read before having children but which is still relatable, poignant and uplifting now my children are a little older.

[Angharad Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely amazing book, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is pregnant or just given birth. It is so, so funny and I related to it so much. "Minjury" is the best joke I've heard about Pelvic Girdle Pain 🤣 Loved it!! (The book, not Pelvic Girdle Pain!)

Borrowed from NPT Libraries 💛

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably should have understood from the title that this would be more relatable for those with or expecting children but I still enjoyed the lighthearted, funny and very honest read.

[Milly Shadbolt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me cry but the humour is not my style

[Helen Meardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Honest but with Ellie Taylor's trademark humour. this is the book I wish I'd read 23 years ago after my first baby.

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 1 out of 5]

lol it's awful. who told this squawking beazel she could write?

[Claireapagado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible name for a really good book. Laughed approximately 30 times and cried uncontrollably at the last 5 pages.

[Jenn Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It really resonated with me and made me laugh out loud continuously!

[Debby Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, heartbreaking and true. Reading it felt like having a chat (and occasionally a cry and a cuddle) with a good friend.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar experience of motherhood to myself in many ways. The last chapter brought me to tears. Glorious, loving tears.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for what it was. Admittedly, I'm not really the target audience as I don't have any particular interest in children and am not a mother. Going into the book I did think it might meditate a little more on the decision to have children itself, not just in the beginning stages but throughout. This wasn't really the case, as once the author becomes pregnant she's more or less assured of her decision (which is a relief I suppose!). Ellie Taylor has a vibrant personality that really seeps through into the writing, making it easy to read compulsively - I hadn't known of her before but would definitely be interested in her other work. An interesting book, with lots of compelling statistics about modern motherhood. Unfortunately though, I think I went into the book expecting more of an argument exploring both sides of the choice to have children and this wasn't really the case; if you go into the book wanting or not wanting children, I feel it won't do a drastic amount to change your perspective either way. While still an enjoyable book, it's very much a 'motherhood memoir' as opposed to a thinkpiece about reproduction.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Ellie she’s one of my favourite comedians so was excited to see she had a book out and I got approved for an ARC. It’s a very honest and raw read at times and Ellie covers the whole experience conception, birth, the discrimination mothers face, discrimination non-white mothers face in healthcare treatment and expectations as a mother. Ellie doesn’t hold her punches, but I never expected her to, full of her usual humour and grit, but also such sensitivity and kindness to her audience. Fantastic read, only criticism is I’d have liked a bit more of Ellie other than her motherhood role, but that’s all I can criticise

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Courtney-Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this! As someone without kids I wasn't sure I'd appreciate this book as much as I should, but I was very wrong. This book was interesting, thought provoking, funny, beautiful and a really enjoyable read. Highly recommended, whether you have kids or not!

[Breda Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never felt more seen

I think I wrote this book, it must have been dictated by me when cluster feeding the cranky gremlin all night some night a while back. I’m quite proud of it! It’s a work of art!

[Emma Mc Morrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serious topics side-stepped. Less memoir more stand-up transcripts.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an ok read for me. Possibly cultural UK-vs-US humor, and possibly just because I've been a parent long enough to have encountered all of these same thoughts and jokes in other places already.

[Helen Feather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, really funny and relatable