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Three In a Bed
It’s hard work being a Yummy Mummy!
Bella Browning is attractive, successful and ambitious. She works hard, plays hard and adores her journalist husband, Don (even though she doesn’t always behave that way). Yet deep down she knows there’s something missing…a baby. When Bella becomes pregnant, Don is terrified at the prospect, but Bella’s a top Management Consultant, handling major corporations. She can handle this! Can’t she? In between bouts of morning sickness, raging hormones and a few indiscretions at the office, Bella quickly discovers how very hard it is to be the perfect, working, sexy, modern mother.
Bella Browning is attractive, successful and ambitious. She works hard, plays hard and adores her journalist husband, Don (even though she doesn’t always behave that way). Yet deep down she knows there’s something missing…a baby. When Bella becomes pregnant, Don is terrified at the prospect, but Bella’s a top Management Consultant, handling major corporations. She can handle this! Can’t she? In between bouts of morning sickness, raging hormones and a few indiscretions at the office, Bella quickly discovers how very hard it is to be the perfect, working, sexy, modern mother.
479 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
260 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Carmen Reid
68 books235 followersCarmen was born and brought up in a chilly and windy corner of Scotland in the depths of the countryside.
This may explain her lifelong phobia of cows and abiding interest in cities, department stores, books, the cinema and newspapers.
She is currently working on her eigth novel for grown-ups and her third novel for teenagers. Well, she likes to keep busy.
Carmen did once study English Literature at University College London, but, ignoring everything she’d learned, she spent most of her 20s working as a local, regional and then national newspaper reporter.
Knowing deep down that she was supposed to be an author not a journo, she left her day job to have a baby and write her first novel. (Hey, and just four sleepless, penniless years later it was published!)
Although there is a corner of her heart that will always belong to London (property developers welcome) she now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, Thomas, and two children, Sam and Claudie, plus Jimmy the (lunatic) Jack Russell and Clive, Orangey and Gorcha, the fish.
Fortunately her hobbies are cooking, cleaning, arguing about whose turn it is to walk the dog, clean the fish tank, take out the rubbish, do the laundry... and so on.
This may explain her lifelong phobia of cows and abiding interest in cities, department stores, books, the cinema and newspapers.
She is currently working on her eigth novel for grown-ups and her third novel for teenagers. Well, she likes to keep busy.
Carmen did once study English Literature at University College London, but, ignoring everything she’d learned, she spent most of her 20s working as a local, regional and then national newspaper reporter.
Knowing deep down that she was supposed to be an author not a journo, she left her day job to have a baby and write her first novel. (Hey, and just four sleepless, penniless years later it was published!)
Although there is a corner of her heart that will always belong to London (property developers welcome) she now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, Thomas, and two children, Sam and Claudie, plus Jimmy the (lunatic) Jack Russell and Clive, Orangey and Gorcha, the fish.
Fortunately her hobbies are cooking, cleaning, arguing about whose turn it is to walk the dog, clean the fish tank, take out the rubbish, do the laundry... and so on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 13, 2012
Hands down, the worst Carmen Reid book I've read so far. Enough to possibly turn me off her work for good. This time, the protagonist, Bella is a career woman who is desperate for a baby. She secretly gets pregnant, drinks and smokes throughout the entire term, and of course, has a baby with no problems. She herself isn't able to adjust as perfectly to motherhood, and then there's a little infidelity thrown in for good measure. Needless to say, I didn't like the plot and the whole book felt completely indulgent, like she was trying to tell the world how bad pregnancy can be. Definitely not for me. I had so much trouble finishing this book that I had to renew it 3 times and only managed to read one book this month. May have something to do with my crazy busy schedule though... :)
January 14, 2021
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS BOOK. The concept of morals seems to have completely evaded the female character and the story let’s her off the hook for how horribly she behaves to her husband and those around her. This book had me ripping the hair off my scalp - and not in a good way either. It’s a horrible book that I wish I hadn’t wasted my time with.
The only good thing about this book is that it could singlehandedly solve global population issues because of how horribly it shows pregnancy, labour and motherhood. I have decided to adopt in the future.
The only good thing about this book is that it could singlehandedly solve global population issues because of how horribly it shows pregnancy, labour and motherhood. I have decided to adopt in the future.
January 13, 2025
What a dire book. It's been a while since I've read anything this poor. I try not to judge, but a woman who is so desperate for a baby tricks her husband into getting pregnant, then smokes and drinks her way through her pregnancy?! And no one seems to bat an eyelid much when she does, they all offer her drinks at every opportunity.. it's so unrealistic and dire. Hated the main character, she's a cheat and a hypocrite really.. the really poor depictions of a newborn baby too, giving 5 week old water. And describing this amazing new way of teaching your less than a year old baby to fall asleep themselves.. leave them to cry to sleep with no comfort. Heavily implies her comforting her son was the reason he's not sleeping through. Just hated it all. Read it fast to get it over with! Do not recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2018
I can't think of anyone who would enjoy reading this book. It is so unrealistic and incorrect, it seems it was written to make everyone feel badly about their life and to make them think it is acceptable to behave immorally or against their values. Also, the style of writing is very poor which I found surprising as this is the second book that I have read by this writer and I enjoyed the first. I do not recommend this and would not have finished it myself (I stopped about half way through as it made me angry every time I picked it up) if it weren't for my desire to finish it since I had started it: life is too short to waste time reading bad books! I will think twice before picking up another book by this writer!
April 13, 2020
Wonderful.
Perfect chick lit.
Perfect chick lit.
February 18, 2020
Easy read, but wouldn’t advise anyone to read it if they want to have children, would put them off for life!
September 3, 2025
I’ve had the one on my tbr for a while. Carmens books are always easy and enjoyable to read however, it wasn’t my favourite of hers.
I did find Bella and Don abit irritating at times and how “perfect” their life before pregnancy seemed. Their life after their baby changed massively but some of it did scream at me “never get pregnant!”
I enjoyed the friendships Bella made particularly with Red and loved Dons mother. I did want to carry on and see would it all come good for them and how do their struggles end? I enjoyed the aspect of the story of self discovery within in changes of life and Bella and Don did grow on me.
I did find Bella and Don abit irritating at times and how “perfect” their life before pregnancy seemed. Their life after their baby changed massively but some of it did scream at me “never get pregnant!”
I enjoyed the friendships Bella made particularly with Red and loved Dons mother. I did want to carry on and see would it all come good for them and how do their struggles end? I enjoyed the aspect of the story of self discovery within in changes of life and Bella and Don did grow on me.
May 3, 2018
I loved this book! If you're a pregnant career woman, I recommend you read it immediately. Three in a Bed is funny and entertaining while being very honest and real. I am now a Carmen Reid fan.
September 29, 2011
I recommend this book to all pregnant women cause I think that this is one of the rare books that are actually saying the truth about the negative aspects of being pregnant.
I must admit that the character is not one of my favorites but I won't talk about her cause this was not typical romance story for me and I think that that's not the most important element from the book.
Any way, this was my first book from the author and I would like to read something else from her even though I'm not fascinated from this one.
I must admit that the character is not one of my favorites but I won't talk about her cause this was not typical romance story for me and I think that that's not the most important element from the book.
Any way, this was my first book from the author and I would like to read something else from her even though I'm not fascinated from this one.
June 26, 2024
I liked Bella, her boyfriend Don and her friends Tania (great fashion sense and very supportive) and Red for her guidance and support from a fellow mother.
I really liked Don's mother and how she helped out. I was disappointed in Bella's parents, and found her mother hypocritical and self absorbed.
I'm not a mother but appreciated her honesty about her experiences with relationships, marriage and becoming pregnant.
The way she told her work colleagues about the fact she was pregnant was well woven in and realistic. I really didn't like her boss or her reaction to the fact that Bella was pregnant. I thought it was shocking and rude.
I wouldn't really say this was a romcom, or laugh-out-loud, as it deals with serious issues, pregnancy, motherhood, a possible diagnosis of disability in a newborn and the ups and downs of relationships.
Carmen Reid always creates realistic characters. I've reviewed, and loved, many of her books.
Three in a Bed gives the impression of being a standard romance from the title, but it is much more than that. It's about learning to love yourself and your body and believe in yourself that you can be a wife, a mother and go to work.
I felt there was growth in Bella's character thanks to Don and her friends. Don was supportive, and very loving and romantic. Her friends were encouraing, patient and understanding.
I did feel like she didn't appreciate either Don or her friends at times, though, and was glad when she realized her mistakes and acted better.
The book is very fast-paced, but I never felt like I lost track of what was happening, which was great. The plot was well developed.
I listened to the audiobook on Everand and finished it in hours. I'm very glad to have listened to another Carmen Reid book.
5 stars
I really liked Don's mother and how she helped out. I was disappointed in Bella's parents, and found her mother hypocritical and self absorbed.
I'm not a mother but appreciated her honesty about her experiences with relationships, marriage and becoming pregnant.
The way she told her work colleagues about the fact she was pregnant was well woven in and realistic. I really didn't like her boss or her reaction to the fact that Bella was pregnant. I thought it was shocking and rude.
I wouldn't really say this was a romcom, or laugh-out-loud, as it deals with serious issues, pregnancy, motherhood, a possible diagnosis of disability in a newborn and the ups and downs of relationships.
Carmen Reid always creates realistic characters. I've reviewed, and loved, many of her books.
Three in a Bed gives the impression of being a standard romance from the title, but it is much more than that. It's about learning to love yourself and your body and believe in yourself that you can be a wife, a mother and go to work.
I felt there was growth in Bella's character thanks to Don and her friends. Don was supportive, and very loving and romantic. Her friends were encouraing, patient and understanding.
I did feel like she didn't appreciate either Don or her friends at times, though, and was glad when she realized her mistakes and acted better.
The book is very fast-paced, but I never felt like I lost track of what was happening, which was great. The plot was well developed.
I listened to the audiobook on Everand and finished it in hours. I'm very glad to have listened to another Carmen Reid book.
5 stars
August 17, 2025
I think the re published version is different to the original., I read the reissued version. I already was disliking this book. Mother in law getting her to feed formula even though breastfeeding is going well?! everyone saying she needs to get back to herself, working and dressing sexily for her husband. and the implication that leaving your baby to cry themselves to sleep will get them to sleep all night (spoiler: it doesn't. they still wake but they learn not to waste energy crying because no one is coming, they still receive all the stress hormones.) But then
"As Markie sucked against her, Bella felt the distinct connection between nipples and clitoris that made breastfeeding such a pleasure"
WTF!? as a breastfeeding mum I have NEVER felt any sexual pleasure from breastfeeding. that sexualisation of breastfeeding is absolutely bizarre!
I wish I hadn't read this book.
"As Markie sucked against her, Bella felt the distinct connection between nipples and clitoris that made breastfeeding such a pleasure"
WTF!? as a breastfeeding mum I have NEVER felt any sexual pleasure from breastfeeding. that sexualisation of breastfeeding is absolutely bizarre!
I wish I hadn't read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
DNF -
Uma cama para quantos a protagonista encontrar
Eu gosto do estilo de escrita da Carmen Reid. Ela é espirituosa e tenta não falar sempre sobre o mesmo tipo de personagem, vender sempre a mesma história.
Pouco me importa que Bella tenha um apetite sexual voraz e que não tenha diminuído nem depois de casada, mas me incomoda o assunto traição. E parece que para Carmen Reid ou Bella isso é fichinha em um casamento.
Desisti logo no começo, mas folheei as páginas para saber se valeria a pena insistir. Além de não ter ido com a cara da Bella porque ela parece não ligar muito que é uma mulher comprometida, me incomodou os detalhes dos desejos sexuais dela e o parto da protagonista. É, não é pra mim esse livro mesmo.
Uma cama para quantos a protagonista encontrar
Eu gosto do estilo de escrita da Carmen Reid. Ela é espirituosa e tenta não falar sempre sobre o mesmo tipo de personagem, vender sempre a mesma história.
Pouco me importa que Bella tenha um apetite sexual voraz e que não tenha diminuído nem depois de casada, mas me incomoda o assunto traição. E parece que para Carmen Reid ou Bella isso é fichinha em um casamento.
Desisti logo no começo, mas folheei as páginas para saber se valeria a pena insistir. Além de não ter ido com a cara da Bella porque ela parece não ligar muito que é uma mulher comprometida, me incomodou os detalhes dos desejos sexuais dela e o parto da protagonista. É, não é pra mim esse livro mesmo.
August 26, 2018
I started out liking this book then I got pissed off with the author and her lack of knowledge of alcohol and pregnancy. It seemed every time that there was any kind of stress during the character's pregnancy during the first 6 months or so she would down a bunch of wine. Given the awareness of the detriments of alcohol during pregnancy it really turned me off. I get that this was written in earlier years but really!!???
I persevered and the book ended up being ok with a few ups and downs and the typical happy ending because it's that type of novel but I couldn't really recover from my initial annoyance.
I persevered and the book ended up being ok with a few ups and downs and the typical happy ending because it's that type of novel but I couldn't really recover from my initial annoyance.
March 5, 2025
Just Read It!
Author Carmen Reid will have you wishing that Bella, who is pregnant with a 10.5lb baby, has the gumption to trust someone with her baby. Her hubbie is Don, a combat journalist who leaves Bella with rearing the baby on her own. She can’t keep Markie, the baby, satiably fed and makes so many mistakes it takes Red—who’s had two babies—entering the story to help Bella figure out what she’s doing wrong. Highly recommend reading!
Author Carmen Reid will have you wishing that Bella, who is pregnant with a 10.5lb baby, has the gumption to trust someone with her baby. Her hubbie is Don, a combat journalist who leaves Bella with rearing the baby on her own. She can’t keep Markie, the baby, satiably fed and makes so many mistakes it takes Red—who’s had two babies—entering the story to help Bella figure out what she’s doing wrong. Highly recommend reading!
December 16, 2024
Real life !
What a roller coaster! Bella wants it all - the marriage, top of the ladder career and a sex on legs husband! Something has to give and it does! We've all been there and all come out the other end.
A fun book with serious overtones . Thank you Carmen just got the rest of the catalogue to read-only cannot wait!
What a roller coaster! Bella wants it all - the marriage, top of the ladder career and a sex on legs husband! Something has to give and it does! We've all been there and all come out the other end.
A fun book with serious overtones . Thank you Carmen just got the rest of the catalogue to read-only cannot wait!
July 20, 2024
High flying business woman has it all-the perfect job, a new house, a loving husband. After having a baby our leading lady finds out that motherhood brings changes to life as she knows it. This story follows Bella as she juggles to find her new right!!
Was an ok read.
Was an ok read.
August 25, 2024
Liked it, but didn’t love it
I love Carmen Reid and I loved, loved the Annie Valentine series. Perhaps. Too much as this book just fell a bit short for me. That being said. It was a fun entertaining read!
I love Carmen Reid and I loved, loved the Annie Valentine series. Perhaps. Too much as this book just fell a bit short for me. That being said. It was a fun entertaining read!
November 4, 2024
Didn't finish the book.
I didn't like the first couple of pages. There were tacky and overwhelmingly annoying. I found the writing a bit off-putting.
Reading the reviews, I know I made the right decision.
I didn't like the first couple of pages. There were tacky and overwhelmingly annoying. I found the writing a bit off-putting.
Reading the reviews, I know I made the right decision.
December 17, 2024
Enjoyable read
This was a page turner. I found the struggle of being a new mum and balancing work and personal expectations very accurate.
Not sure that it was laugh out loud, but it was enjoyable to read.
This was a page turner. I found the struggle of being a new mum and balancing work and personal expectations very accurate.
Not sure that it was laugh out loud, but it was enjoyable to read.
May 11, 2025
Great read and characters. Loved the way childbirth and early months were detailed with some humour thrown in. Recreates the struggles of motherhood and work, funny at times.
Good read , couldn’t put it down
Good read , couldn’t put it down
July 31, 2025
Totalno easy poletno branje. Nabito z erotiko in pravimi življenjskimi težavami. Med knjigo kar mal navijaš, da bi se zgodba razvila v smer, ki bo zanimiva & napeta in točno po tej poti te vodi Carmen.
350 strani k šus v parih dneh (med službo :)
350 strani k šus v parih dneh (med službo :)
September 6, 2025
I loved this book it was a bit upsetting at times but at one part it made me have tingles everybody makes mistakes but she shouldn't not have slept with another man and she also has a baby and another baby on the way
October 10, 2025
Enjoyable but not if you're squeamish!
I really liked the story but I didn't like the explicit descriptions of sex or childbirth, however if that doesn't bother you, it's a really good read.
I really liked the story but I didn't like the explicit descriptions of sex or childbirth, however if that doesn't bother you, it's a really good read.
Read
March 7, 2020I like it... a book which show you pregnancy, child birth and motherhood exactly like it is , with all good and not soo good things which came with it
June 18, 2020
Bit boring, bit too dramatic for nothing.
February 25, 2024
Not the best book ive read , Bella almost cheated on her husband and neither her or her husband bothered too much about it!!! Really ?
April 11, 2024
I think I enjoyed this book more as I have recently had a baby myself so there was a lot of similarities. I am glad I’d didn’t read it before the birth though.
July 3, 2024
DNF
Why am I not able to find a decent read😭
Why am I not able to find a decent read😭
July 16, 2024
Fun, but also depth
A fun read, sometimes out loud.
But there is also depth especially about relationships, marriage, pregnancy and coping with the demands of a new baby!
A fun read, sometimes out loud.
But there is also depth especially about relationships, marriage, pregnancy and coping with the demands of a new baby!
August 7, 2024
Nice easy read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews