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Motherfaker
Rebel-in-a-smock-dress Barri Brown has spent years slaving away as an English teacher in Guernsey, covering for colleagues with kids and barely tolerating the unhygienic staffroom etiquette. With a distant family and a husband who has just vanished along with her life savings, Barri dreams of escape.
Her wild plan? Pretend she’s having a baby and use the paid year off work to start over somewhere new. And so Barri tells the school she’s pregnant, orders seven bumps on the internet and sets the wheels in motion for her great pregnancy heist.
All she has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good, without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. How hard could it be?
On a small island like nightmarish. Especially when her student, fifteen-year-old irredeemable troublemaker Callum, discovers her secret. To make matters worse, Barri's fake pregnancy forces her to make genuine connections with friends and family for the first time in years and she begins to understand the true cost of her deception.
It turns out scamming your way to a better life is harder when you start liking the life you're supposed to escape from . . .
Her wild plan? Pretend she’s having a baby and use the paid year off work to start over somewhere new. And so Barri tells the school she’s pregnant, orders seven bumps on the internet and sets the wheels in motion for her great pregnancy heist.
All she has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good, without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. How hard could it be?
On a small island like nightmarish. Especially when her student, fifteen-year-old irredeemable troublemaker Callum, discovers her secret. To make matters worse, Barri's fake pregnancy forces her to make genuine connections with friends and family for the first time in years and she begins to understand the true cost of her deception.
It turns out scamming your way to a better life is harder when you start liking the life you're supposed to escape from . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2026
107 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you've ever sat in a restaurant or coffee shop and silently seethed by someone's else's rogue children running around your table, you're going to feel very seen in the opening of this book!
Set in Guernsey we follow Barri as she fakes a pregnancy for the maternity leave. I was very intrigued by this premise; it was either going to be wildly offensive or wildly fun. I'm pleased to say this was handled very carefully in my opinion.
While at times this was silly fun and humorous, it is tackling some big topics and at points I was cringing, reading with one eye it felt so uncomfortable however I really liked how the author is not shying away from the difficult conversations.
Really impressed with this one, very well thought out. As a child free women myself, the idea of maternity leave without the kid is very appealing!
Four stars.
Set in Guernsey we follow Barri as she fakes a pregnancy for the maternity leave. I was very intrigued by this premise; it was either going to be wildly offensive or wildly fun. I'm pleased to say this was handled very carefully in my opinion.
While at times this was silly fun and humorous, it is tackling some big topics and at points I was cringing, reading with one eye it felt so uncomfortable however I really liked how the author is not shying away from the difficult conversations.
Really impressed with this one, very well thought out. As a child free women myself, the idea of maternity leave without the kid is very appealing!
Four stars.
November 1, 2025
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I went into this book assuming it’d be a fun, lighthearted comedy, but it was so much more than that. Barri was extremely unlikeable at first, but hilarious. She grew on me quite quickly (like her fake bump…) and I found myself rooting for her, hoping she wouldn’t get caught out. I also loved Trish and Callum, both were excellent supporting characters.
The emotions and themes of regret, abuse and grief took me by surprise, but they were weaved into this story so brilliantly. There were several moments where I found myself tearing up after laughing out loud. I didn’t want this to end, I’d read another book about Barri watching paint dry, her humour and inner monologue were the most entertaining thing I’ve read in ages. A real stand out story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #MotherFaker #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The emotions and themes of regret, abuse and grief took me by surprise, but they were weaved into this story so brilliantly. There were several moments where I found myself tearing up after laughing out loud. I didn’t want this to end, I’d read another book about Barri watching paint dry, her humour and inner monologue were the most entertaining thing I’ve read in ages. A real stand out story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #MotherFaker #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This strong debut novel has a great concept (woman who doesn't want a baby faking a pregnancy), a great setting (Guernsey island) and a fantastic set of complex characters. I really enjoyed Trish, whose appearance is a stroke of unbelievable luck but then she brings everything in the plot together really well. The protagonist has a brilliant character arc, where she slowly realises that her own perceptions aren't always correct and that she does have her own flaws, as well as realising she has been wronged by others - meaning she ends up with comeuppance and compassion in equal measure.
The humour got a bit too slapstick for me at times, but there were deeper moments to balance it out. The pacing is pretty good and I found myself hooked in and wanting to reach the resolution. I loved the end, which had so much heart.
3.5 stars rounded up for goodreads
The humour got a bit too slapstick for me at times, but there were deeper moments to balance it out. The pacing is pretty good and I found myself hooked in and wanting to reach the resolution. I loved the end, which had so much heart.
3.5 stars rounded up for goodreads
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If Eleanor Oliphant faked a pregnancy…
Thank you to Goodreads for the ARC of Mother Faker, releasing February 2026.
As a child-free reader, the premise immediately hooked me. The idea of “maternity leave” being treated almost like a loophole felt darkly funny and oddly relatable (purr-turnity leave for cats being my dream). That said, the opening café scene with the two children made me cringe — it’s fine not to like kids, but the hostility felt unnecessarily unkind and made it harder to settle into the story at first.
Barri is a interesting protagonist. Her intense dislike of Callum Le Broxq initially feels confusing — the strength of her reaction doesn’t quite add up early on, especially given how often they cross paths (especially around the 50% mark) but this does start to make sense later in the book and everything clicks into place.
What I loved most was watching Barri grow. You can feel her gradually becoming her own person, questioning her assumptions of the people around her and confronting the reality of what she’s built — and what she might lose.
I felt sadness for her as the weight of the lie settled in, and I was desperately hoping she’d find a way to come clean without hurting everyone around her. The way her friends and family rallied to protect her from Shaun was particularly touching, even if the outcome wasn’t entirely a happy one.
The twist involving Ripley and Trish was mildly surprising but ultimately underwhelming — it didn’t add much for me, though it also didn’t detract from the story overall.
Thank you to Goodreads for the ARC of Mother Faker, releasing February 2026.
As a child-free reader, the premise immediately hooked me. The idea of “maternity leave” being treated almost like a loophole felt darkly funny and oddly relatable (purr-turnity leave for cats being my dream). That said, the opening café scene with the two children made me cringe — it’s fine not to like kids, but the hostility felt unnecessarily unkind and made it harder to settle into the story at first.
Barri is a interesting protagonist. Her intense dislike of Callum Le Broxq initially feels confusing — the strength of her reaction doesn’t quite add up early on, especially given how often they cross paths (especially around the 50% mark) but this does start to make sense later in the book and everything clicks into place.
What I loved most was watching Barri grow. You can feel her gradually becoming her own person, questioning her assumptions of the people around her and confronting the reality of what she’s built — and what she might lose.
I felt sadness for her as the weight of the lie settled in, and I was desperately hoping she’d find a way to come clean without hurting everyone around her. The way her friends and family rallied to protect her from Shaun was particularly touching, even if the outcome wasn’t entirely a happy one.
The twist involving Ripley and Trish was mildly surprising but ultimately underwhelming — it didn’t add much for me, though it also didn’t detract from the story overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2026
Hilarious and so fun. Adored it! Such a feel good book and the type that gives you a giggle when you need it the most!
February 15, 2026
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR A YEAR OFF WORK? That is the question Motherfaker gets you thinking about: and it definitely challenges your moral compass.
Barri Brown is a teacher, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a proud citizen of Guernsey, an auntie, a soon-to-be ex wife...but one thing she has never wanted to be, is a mother.
But with her husband divorcing her, losing out on a promotion to her fellow teacher/arch nemesis, and seven (named!!!) foam baby bumps in her closet…she’s ready for her turn to go on paid maternity leave. But the only catch? She isn’t actually pregnant…🤰🏻
What I found so special about the way this book is written, and it’s done so expertly by Anna Brook Mitchell that you don’t even realise at first, is that it doesn't ask you to like its main character at all times, it just dares you to recognise her. It dares you to relate to her. It asks you to sit with her and jump inside her mind in her point of view.
At first, Barri isn’t very likeable. From page one she’s funny, she had me ROLLING during the cafe scene with the little kid, but on the whole seems quite prickly and as if she’d be hard to ‘care about’ as a main character. But as the story progresses, and it becomes clear why she is the way she is, she grew on me (much like her fake bump…) and became relatable in unexpected ways.
Anna Brook Mitchell gives us a deliciously messy female lead who is flawed, defensive, funny, and unmistakably human. She’s unapologetic in the way she turns Barri into a 3D, realistic, every day woman and the result is a story that feels raw and intimate.
What made the book even better for me though, was its warmth. Amidst the chaos and, let’s be honest, a bit of self-sabotage, are the unexpected friendships. Awkward at times, a bit rough round the edges and imperfect, but life changing in their own little ways.
Trish, her new next door neighbour who just so happens to be a doctor, was a saving grace in what could’ve been a very short story for Barri otherwise…she really saved the day multiple times! And Callum, her troublemaker English student, reminded me of every young boy I’ve know who is cheeky, a little bit rogue but overall quite misunderstood. The bonds they form are something special, unexpected and deeply layered which made me love them even more.
The humour is sharp and self-aware, often self deprecating, right from the very first page. This is one of those rare books where it reads like it could have a TV show adaptation easily. The characters are so deeply human and I was laughing out loud from the first chapter (not just of of those nose snort laughs, proper out loud belly laughing). You may not immediately like Barri, I definitely didn’t, but you will absolutely grow to love her…and even more so, understand her.
The stakes are heightened by the setting of the novel, which only makes it impossibly funnier. Barri lives in Guernsey, a small island, population of less than 65,000. Where she lives, everybody knows each other, word spreads quick and by the time she’d told that first lie…there was no turning back. But aside from that, it actually made me want to visit Guernsey! I want to see the blue post boxes, go to the beach, see the cliffs, see the ormer shells…iykyk
But finally what I loved the most was the portrayal of the weight of expectation from everyone around her. The age old rhetoric of “you’ll change your mind” searing through each page, despite her being sure and having been sure all of her life. It shows the expectations placed upon women just for simply being a woman.
Motherfaker, in my opinion, has the perfect formula: humour and heart. I went into this book knowing it would probably be a lot of fun, but also not sure whether I would gel with the idea of pretending to be pregnant (it’s very hard to get that right without being a bit insensitive, but ABM got that down perfectly) but I wasn’t expecting to love it quite as much as i did - it’s so much more than what it seems. The quiet grief, the feeling of not belonging, the way people paint Barri as weird for not wanting the same things they do - the same things she ‘should’ want.
Structurally, the pace was great, the chapters were short and snappy which left me wanting to read on and the sub plots kept me just as invested as the main pregnancy heist.
This was such a strong debut from a brilliant new author & I highly recommend giving it a go if you want a moral dilemma and a lot of laughs. For the first time, I’d actually love to see this made into a series.
Barri Brown is a teacher, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a proud citizen of Guernsey, an auntie, a soon-to-be ex wife...but one thing she has never wanted to be, is a mother.
But with her husband divorcing her, losing out on a promotion to her fellow teacher/arch nemesis, and seven (named!!!) foam baby bumps in her closet…she’s ready for her turn to go on paid maternity leave. But the only catch? She isn’t actually pregnant…🤰🏻
What I found so special about the way this book is written, and it’s done so expertly by Anna Brook Mitchell that you don’t even realise at first, is that it doesn't ask you to like its main character at all times, it just dares you to recognise her. It dares you to relate to her. It asks you to sit with her and jump inside her mind in her point of view.
At first, Barri isn’t very likeable. From page one she’s funny, she had me ROLLING during the cafe scene with the little kid, but on the whole seems quite prickly and as if she’d be hard to ‘care about’ as a main character. But as the story progresses, and it becomes clear why she is the way she is, she grew on me (much like her fake bump…) and became relatable in unexpected ways.
Anna Brook Mitchell gives us a deliciously messy female lead who is flawed, defensive, funny, and unmistakably human. She’s unapologetic in the way she turns Barri into a 3D, realistic, every day woman and the result is a story that feels raw and intimate.
What made the book even better for me though, was its warmth. Amidst the chaos and, let’s be honest, a bit of self-sabotage, are the unexpected friendships. Awkward at times, a bit rough round the edges and imperfect, but life changing in their own little ways.
Trish, her new next door neighbour who just so happens to be a doctor, was a saving grace in what could’ve been a very short story for Barri otherwise…she really saved the day multiple times! And Callum, her troublemaker English student, reminded me of every young boy I’ve know who is cheeky, a little bit rogue but overall quite misunderstood. The bonds they form are something special, unexpected and deeply layered which made me love them even more.
The humour is sharp and self-aware, often self deprecating, right from the very first page. This is one of those rare books where it reads like it could have a TV show adaptation easily. The characters are so deeply human and I was laughing out loud from the first chapter (not just of of those nose snort laughs, proper out loud belly laughing). You may not immediately like Barri, I definitely didn’t, but you will absolutely grow to love her…and even more so, understand her.
The stakes are heightened by the setting of the novel, which only makes it impossibly funnier. Barri lives in Guernsey, a small island, population of less than 65,000. Where she lives, everybody knows each other, word spreads quick and by the time she’d told that first lie…there was no turning back. But aside from that, it actually made me want to visit Guernsey! I want to see the blue post boxes, go to the beach, see the cliffs, see the ormer shells…iykyk
But finally what I loved the most was the portrayal of the weight of expectation from everyone around her. The age old rhetoric of “you’ll change your mind” searing through each page, despite her being sure and having been sure all of her life. It shows the expectations placed upon women just for simply being a woman.
Motherfaker, in my opinion, has the perfect formula: humour and heart. I went into this book knowing it would probably be a lot of fun, but also not sure whether I would gel with the idea of pretending to be pregnant (it’s very hard to get that right without being a bit insensitive, but ABM got that down perfectly) but I wasn’t expecting to love it quite as much as i did - it’s so much more than what it seems. The quiet grief, the feeling of not belonging, the way people paint Barri as weird for not wanting the same things they do - the same things she ‘should’ want.
Structurally, the pace was great, the chapters were short and snappy which left me wanting to read on and the sub plots kept me just as invested as the main pregnancy heist.
This was such a strong debut from a brilliant new author & I highly recommend giving it a go if you want a moral dilemma and a lot of laughs. For the first time, I’d actually love to see this made into a series.
November 30, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating: 4*
Writing: 4*
Characters: 4*
Pace: 3*
Plot: 3*
I don’t read many funny books, I prefer a serious thriller on average, so it took me a bit of getting used to the calamitous ways of our MC. But after 15% or so I was laughing out loud. The characters were really great, Callum for me was the best side character in any book I’ve read this year. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how this was going to play out and I liked the build up to the end. Will definitely be recommending this book when it comes out next year. A real feel good, lighthearted, funny read.
Overall rating: 4*
Writing: 4*
Characters: 4*
Pace: 3*
Plot: 3*
I don’t read many funny books, I prefer a serious thriller on average, so it took me a bit of getting used to the calamitous ways of our MC. But after 15% or so I was laughing out loud. The characters were really great, Callum for me was the best side character in any book I’ve read this year. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how this was going to play out and I liked the build up to the end. Will definitely be recommending this book when it comes out next year. A real feel good, lighthearted, funny read.
February 20, 2026
I’ve gone back and forth on my rating for this; there were a few things that irked me but ultimately I did enjoy reading it and got through it relatively quickly.
I think the concept was clever and funny, the MC’s development was lovely to read and the relationships explored were written well and felt quite real.
I enjoyed the extra character of Guernsey, it felt like a huge part of the book and the little details (ornering, witches benches etc) made Guernsey come alive as an important addition to the novel.
It definitely could have used more editing, some bits weren’t necessary or needed tweaking and the ending felt a little rushed.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this digital arc in exchange for review.
I think the concept was clever and funny, the MC’s development was lovely to read and the relationships explored were written well and felt quite real.
I enjoyed the extra character of Guernsey, it felt like a huge part of the book and the little details (ornering, witches benches etc) made Guernsey come alive as an important addition to the novel.
It definitely could have used more editing, some bits weren’t necessary or needed tweaking and the ending felt a little rushed.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this digital arc in exchange for review.
September 11, 2025
POTENTIAL *MILD* SPOILERS!!
Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC copy of this book.
~
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR A YEAR OFF WORK?
Meet Barri Brown. Respected teacher. Upstanding citizen of Guernsey. Down for a bit of law-breaking . . .
Barri is preparing for a year’s paid maternity leave but there’s a catch:
She isn’t pregnant.
With seven foam bumps, a wardrobe full of smock dresses and a great pregnancy heist planned, all Barri has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good, without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. Child’s play.
But can she really get away with telling the mother of all lies?
~
I thoroughly enjoed Anna Brook-Mitchell's style of writing - I found it clear and easy to read. The book follows the story of Barri on her journey to faking pregnancy. As you can imagine, the situation in itself is bizaare and almost funny. I found the book very humourous and I related heavily to Barri's character and her dislike for others touching her/ her awkwardness. I think the storyline in itself is unique - I have never read a book with a plotline even remotely similar.
I found 'Motherfaker' to be an enjoyable read. 'Motherfaker' explores topics such as abuse, mid-life humour, parental abandonment and found family. I enjoyed reading Barri's trajectory from hating everybody to warming up to certain people. I would've liked to see more of the fall out from her fake pregnancy - I do think some details were "glossed over" in a way. The characters in the book forgave her quickly and easily - it seemed slightly unrealistic.
I would definitely read this book again.
Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC copy of this book.
~
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR A YEAR OFF WORK?
Meet Barri Brown. Respected teacher. Upstanding citizen of Guernsey. Down for a bit of law-breaking . . .
Barri is preparing for a year’s paid maternity leave but there’s a catch:
She isn’t pregnant.
With seven foam bumps, a wardrobe full of smock dresses and a great pregnancy heist planned, all Barri has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good, without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. Child’s play.
But can she really get away with telling the mother of all lies?
~
I thoroughly enjoed Anna Brook-Mitchell's style of writing - I found it clear and easy to read. The book follows the story of Barri on her journey to faking pregnancy. As you can imagine, the situation in itself is bizaare and almost funny. I found the book very humourous and I related heavily to Barri's character and her dislike for others touching her/ her awkwardness. I think the storyline in itself is unique - I have never read a book with a plotline even remotely similar.
I found 'Motherfaker' to be an enjoyable read. 'Motherfaker' explores topics such as abuse, mid-life humour, parental abandonment and found family. I enjoyed reading Barri's trajectory from hating everybody to warming up to certain people. I would've liked to see more of the fall out from her fake pregnancy - I do think some details were "glossed over" in a way. The characters in the book forgave her quickly and easily - it seemed slightly unrealistic.
I would definitely read this book again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2026
What a funny book!
Great idea/ concept, which was what made me request it.
I enjoyed the whole idea of the book from beginning to end especially being a teacher a lot of this made me laugh so much. It made me question all of my colleagues. The different names she gave for her bumps was a particular fun joke and there was lots of little jokes running throughout it like that.
Great idea/ concept, which was what made me request it.
I enjoyed the whole idea of the book from beginning to end especially being a teacher a lot of this made me laugh so much. It made me question all of my colleagues. The different names she gave for her bumps was a particular fun joke and there was lots of little jokes running throughout it like that.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Barri's husband ends their five year marriage over text, she is determined to take the opportunity to leave behind her hometown, her exhausting job and toxic colleagues, and travel the world like she never had the chance to do when she was younger. However, when she learns that her finances are not quite where she thought they were, Barri realises that her travelling plans will have to be put on hold. Desperate to escape, Barri blurts out the first thing she can think of which will allow her some time out - she's pregnant. What follows is a funny, unexpectly moving story (the first from debut novelist Anna Brook-Mitchell), as Barri tries to work out the logistics of faking a pregnancy (with the help of seven singing Austrian children) while figuring out who she wants to be now she's on her own once and for all - or so she thinks.
The conflicting feelings she has for her hometown (well, home island in this case) will be familiar for many readers. Her love for, and pride in, Guernsey percolates the narrative, but her frustration at the small, insular community where everyone knows everyone's business is also apparent. The freedom she feels cycling the island's lanes and swimming and ormering at the unspoilt beaches contrasts with the limitations Barri feels are imposed on her by living in the same place she has spent her whole life, surrounded by people who made up their minds about her, her marriage and her family long before. Brook-Mitchell's writing is infused with specific cultural and geographic details which convey the uniqueness of the setting and - as much as the relationships in her life which we see developing over the course of the story - provide the first hints that Barri's plan to cut ties and leave Guernsey behind for good might not come to fruition.
Barri is unashamedly bitter towards her colleagues and family members who have children, feeling that she is expected to pick up the slack at work when they have childcare emergencies, resenting being expected to be engaged in the lives of her two young nephews just because they are related, and rightfully enraged by the incessant assumptions by everyone she knows that she will eventually succumb to motherhood. She bemoans the fact that she believes she is expected to work harder because she has chosen not to have children, likening her situation to smokers being permitted breaks at work that non-smokers don't get. Barri can be thoughtless and incredibly self-involved. She notes how she has never given any thought to getting birthday presents for her nephews that they would actually enjoy, complains about being expected to attend said birthdays, and is dismissive of all her sister's and colleagues' attempts to connect with her. However, as we learn more about her marriage, we start to understand that much of Barri's abrasiveness is a defence mechanism; it becomes apparent that her feelings for Sean, her estranged husband, are inextricably bound up in her grief for her father, who died not long before they met, and that their dynamic is far more complicated than it first appears.
Some of the themes - of grief and abuse - were heavier than I anticipated from the blurb, but they lend a weight to the novel which elevates it from a light-hearted read to something far more textured.
Brook-Mitchell does an excellent job of writing believable, satisfying character development for her protagonist at the same time as she peels back the layers of protective armour Barri has built up and allows the reader to understand the truth behind some of her somewhat unhinged life choices. The supporting characters, even those who only appear briefly, are thoughtfully drawn and add extra dimension to Barri's story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The conflicting feelings she has for her hometown (well, home island in this case) will be familiar for many readers. Her love for, and pride in, Guernsey percolates the narrative, but her frustration at the small, insular community where everyone knows everyone's business is also apparent. The freedom she feels cycling the island's lanes and swimming and ormering at the unspoilt beaches contrasts with the limitations Barri feels are imposed on her by living in the same place she has spent her whole life, surrounded by people who made up their minds about her, her marriage and her family long before. Brook-Mitchell's writing is infused with specific cultural and geographic details which convey the uniqueness of the setting and - as much as the relationships in her life which we see developing over the course of the story - provide the first hints that Barri's plan to cut ties and leave Guernsey behind for good might not come to fruition.
Barri is unashamedly bitter towards her colleagues and family members who have children, feeling that she is expected to pick up the slack at work when they have childcare emergencies, resenting being expected to be engaged in the lives of her two young nephews just because they are related, and rightfully enraged by the incessant assumptions by everyone she knows that she will eventually succumb to motherhood. She bemoans the fact that she believes she is expected to work harder because she has chosen not to have children, likening her situation to smokers being permitted breaks at work that non-smokers don't get. Barri can be thoughtless and incredibly self-involved. She notes how she has never given any thought to getting birthday presents for her nephews that they would actually enjoy, complains about being expected to attend said birthdays, and is dismissive of all her sister's and colleagues' attempts to connect with her. However, as we learn more about her marriage, we start to understand that much of Barri's abrasiveness is a defence mechanism; it becomes apparent that her feelings for Sean, her estranged husband, are inextricably bound up in her grief for her father, who died not long before they met, and that their dynamic is far more complicated than it first appears.
Some of the themes - of grief and abuse - were heavier than I anticipated from the blurb, but they lend a weight to the novel which elevates it from a light-hearted read to something far more textured.
Brook-Mitchell does an excellent job of writing believable, satisfying character development for her protagonist at the same time as she peels back the layers of protective armour Barri has built up and allows the reader to understand the truth behind some of her somewhat unhinged life choices. The supporting characters, even those who only appear briefly, are thoughtfully drawn and add extra dimension to Barri's story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
Barri Brown is fed up. A hard-working teacher on Guernsey, she’s fed up of people telling her that her biological clock is ticking. She’s fed up of being told that she’ll ‘change her mind’ when she tells her family, friends and colleagues that she doesn’t ever want children and she’s fed up of being overwhelmed, overloaded, unappreciated and overlooked for promotion in favour of people she’s spent years covering for when they have been off on repeated maternity leave. Not only that but she doesn’t really have any friends; her family is exasperated by her, despite what she sees as her best efforts to be a good Sister and Aunt (I fully empathise with her sister here), and worse still, her husband Sean has disappeared and is ghosting her, and she doesn’t know why or where he is. She has had enough.
So when she stumbles, Barri-style, into a conversation that leads her colleagues to think she’s expecting a baby, she starts to think…why not? As everyone seems so desperate for her to have a baby, and is insistent that she will one day she decides to lean into it. She can pull this off, right? With the help of progressive fake ‘bumps’ bought online and a solid game face, she can pretend to be expecting, enjoy all of the positive attention that comes with it, pop the house on the market, pocket her share of the money, take the maternity leave and disappear. Travel the world for a while as the fuss dies down, then settle somewhere new – she thinks she quite fancies Nashville although longer term, Edinburgh has quite a pull.
Enter Trish, a new neighbour who ends up becoming unwittingly embroiled in Barri’s plans and becomes her first real friend. With her support, things are going to plan until Barri discovers that Sean, the errant husband, has remortgaged the house without her knowledge and all her plans go up in smoke…but she’s still there…trapped…fake pregnancy and all, but no money on the horizon. How the hell is she going to get out of this one? When one of her students gets involved with criminal activity and resorts to blackmailing her, she knows she’s really messed up and the prospect of what will happen if she’s outed (or indeed, if she isn’t!) over the next few months is terrifying.
Motherfaker is quite unlike any book I’ve read before. The main character is so beautifully written that she’s believable in her absurdity, but there is a serious message that underpins this book which covers societal attitudes to women and how they are so often defined by their parental status – mothers are judged on their choices in the same way that childfree women are, just in a different context. When a woman is pregnant she effectively becomes public property and her body is discussed and touched, often with seemingly little choice from her. When a woman chooses to be childfree, she is often viewed with suspicion and distrust and the perception is frequently thrown around that a woman who doesn’t have children is devoid of empathy and has no idea what ‘real love’ is. Just look what is said about female MPs or CEOs without children – it’s rarely, if ever raised by way of similar criticism for males in the same situation. This book reiterates that women are often made to feel as if they do not have a choice, and also that motherhood is not always achieved by giving birth. Women may be mothers through blended families, fostering, adoption, and some will play the role of mother many times without ever having the official ‘label’. On the other side of the coin, they may decide that motherhood is not for them at all – and that’s ok too. I think the really sad thing that this book exposes is that she felt left out by the women in her life until she ‘got pregnant’ and in reality – she was. Once she was ‘in the club’, literally and figuratively, she was a different person to them. This is something that many women have felt over the years – constantly expected to have children, and then left out of so much if they don’t, or can’t. It’s a message that really makes you think.
On a more positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s one of my best reads of the year so far (and we are in November now so that’s some going!). It’s got so much going for it – the nervous feeling that Barri’s lies are going to be exposed and the internal struggle of whether you want her to be found out or not? I mean she’s doing something pretty awful here, but based on her experiences, can you really blame her? She’s actually making friends for the first time in her life, she’s maturing emotionally and she’s opening up and making herself vulnerable. Her life is changing in a way she never expected and just when she’s starting to experience real friendship, she’s going to have to blow it all open with a massive expose. Somewhere down the line, while taking on the bad guys, she has become the bad guy. The unjustness of this just emphasises her frustration with the societal expectations on women to have babies and the way attitudes change towards the if and when they do – as I mentioned earlier this will ring true and strike a chord with many women. The themes of feeling ‘othered’, of trying so hard to fit in, and eventually feeling that inclusion, but knowing it’s all based on a lie and she’d never have experienced that warmth and friendship if she’d not deceived them into thinking she was expecting. To have Barri shoulder that burden, and the events that unfold as it all starts to unravel, with such humour and poignancy is a real triumph and I think Anna Brook-Mitchell has a big hit on her very talented hands.
So when she stumbles, Barri-style, into a conversation that leads her colleagues to think she’s expecting a baby, she starts to think…why not? As everyone seems so desperate for her to have a baby, and is insistent that she will one day she decides to lean into it. She can pull this off, right? With the help of progressive fake ‘bumps’ bought online and a solid game face, she can pretend to be expecting, enjoy all of the positive attention that comes with it, pop the house on the market, pocket her share of the money, take the maternity leave and disappear. Travel the world for a while as the fuss dies down, then settle somewhere new – she thinks she quite fancies Nashville although longer term, Edinburgh has quite a pull.
Enter Trish, a new neighbour who ends up becoming unwittingly embroiled in Barri’s plans and becomes her first real friend. With her support, things are going to plan until Barri discovers that Sean, the errant husband, has remortgaged the house without her knowledge and all her plans go up in smoke…but she’s still there…trapped…fake pregnancy and all, but no money on the horizon. How the hell is she going to get out of this one? When one of her students gets involved with criminal activity and resorts to blackmailing her, she knows she’s really messed up and the prospect of what will happen if she’s outed (or indeed, if she isn’t!) over the next few months is terrifying.
Motherfaker is quite unlike any book I’ve read before. The main character is so beautifully written that she’s believable in her absurdity, but there is a serious message that underpins this book which covers societal attitudes to women and how they are so often defined by their parental status – mothers are judged on their choices in the same way that childfree women are, just in a different context. When a woman is pregnant she effectively becomes public property and her body is discussed and touched, often with seemingly little choice from her. When a woman chooses to be childfree, she is often viewed with suspicion and distrust and the perception is frequently thrown around that a woman who doesn’t have children is devoid of empathy and has no idea what ‘real love’ is. Just look what is said about female MPs or CEOs without children – it’s rarely, if ever raised by way of similar criticism for males in the same situation. This book reiterates that women are often made to feel as if they do not have a choice, and also that motherhood is not always achieved by giving birth. Women may be mothers through blended families, fostering, adoption, and some will play the role of mother many times without ever having the official ‘label’. On the other side of the coin, they may decide that motherhood is not for them at all – and that’s ok too. I think the really sad thing that this book exposes is that she felt left out by the women in her life until she ‘got pregnant’ and in reality – she was. Once she was ‘in the club’, literally and figuratively, she was a different person to them. This is something that many women have felt over the years – constantly expected to have children, and then left out of so much if they don’t, or can’t. It’s a message that really makes you think.
On a more positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s one of my best reads of the year so far (and we are in November now so that’s some going!). It’s got so much going for it – the nervous feeling that Barri’s lies are going to be exposed and the internal struggle of whether you want her to be found out or not? I mean she’s doing something pretty awful here, but based on her experiences, can you really blame her? She’s actually making friends for the first time in her life, she’s maturing emotionally and she’s opening up and making herself vulnerable. Her life is changing in a way she never expected and just when she’s starting to experience real friendship, she’s going to have to blow it all open with a massive expose. Somewhere down the line, while taking on the bad guys, she has become the bad guy. The unjustness of this just emphasises her frustration with the societal expectations on women to have babies and the way attitudes change towards the if and when they do – as I mentioned earlier this will ring true and strike a chord with many women. The themes of feeling ‘othered’, of trying so hard to fit in, and eventually feeling that inclusion, but knowing it’s all based on a lie and she’d never have experienced that warmth and friendship if she’d not deceived them into thinking she was expecting. To have Barri shoulder that burden, and the events that unfold as it all starts to unravel, with such humour and poignancy is a real triumph and I think Anna Brook-Mitchell has a big hit on her very talented hands.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
I'd read a number of great depression books before this and this one just sounded really fun and I was excited to read it.
Barri was a fabulous protagonist. I think we're meant not to like so much and I did dislike her to begin with but I couldn't help it, I just fell in love with her. Yes she has her faults as we all do, but she's just so much fun and I loved her story.
I loved how Barri stood up for women without kids. I don't want to spoil the book or the ending, but I will say she is quite vocal about omen's rights not to have children, and she stands up to those women who say "but what if yo change your mind", and I think it's ridiculous that women are still having to defend their choice not to have children. And so she had my respect there.
I mean, morally, it's a bit questionable, but I still loved her and the story.
I expected it to be light-heart, fun, frivolous, a kind of silly novel, and it was in parts but it touched on a range of difficult topics that were surprising but it gave the story more gravitas.
Now, about the ending...did I like it? Yes, I think it worked well. However, I did find everything a bit too neat and tidy, I'd have liked to have seen more of the repercussions of everything, it just seemed to gloss over a lot of things.
It did dip a bit in the middle, and got a bit repetitive and felt stagnant and stilled, but I think the rest of the pacing was good and so overall it worked well.
For it's positives and its flaws, I read it in one afternoon as it was just so easy to lose myself in.
I'd read a number of great depression books before this and this one just sounded really fun and I was excited to read it.
Barri was a fabulous protagonist. I think we're meant not to like so much and I did dislike her to begin with but I couldn't help it, I just fell in love with her. Yes she has her faults as we all do, but she's just so much fun and I loved her story.
I loved how Barri stood up for women without kids. I don't want to spoil the book or the ending, but I will say she is quite vocal about omen's rights not to have children, and she stands up to those women who say "but what if yo change your mind", and I think it's ridiculous that women are still having to defend their choice not to have children. And so she had my respect there.
I mean, morally, it's a bit questionable, but I still loved her and the story.
I expected it to be light-heart, fun, frivolous, a kind of silly novel, and it was in parts but it touched on a range of difficult topics that were surprising but it gave the story more gravitas.
Now, about the ending...did I like it? Yes, I think it worked well. However, I did find everything a bit too neat and tidy, I'd have liked to have seen more of the repercussions of everything, it just seemed to gloss over a lot of things.
It did dip a bit in the middle, and got a bit repetitive and felt stagnant and stilled, but I think the rest of the pacing was good and so overall it worked well.
For it's positives and its flaws, I read it in one afternoon as it was just so easy to lose myself in.
March 6, 2026
“Where were the stories about the people who simply didn't want to be mothers - not unsure, not regretful - just 100% owning that decision? So I wrote the book I wanted to read.” - Anna Brook-Mitchell
I think the idea behind this book is so important. Whilst a fun read, I’m not 100% sold that this book executed that idea in the best way.
Fed up of covering for colleagues with kids, child-free Barri decides to fake a pregnancy, cash out on her maternity pay, skip town (or island) and start a new life as a Nashville cowgirl.
This is a funny and slightly ridiculous read, but I was also surprised how heartfelt and emotional it became. The MC is rather irritating but I think her character growth and journey felt quite authentic, and other topics are successfully explored, such as coercive control.
I felt the plot wrapped up too fast and I’m slightly torn about the ending. I’m not sure if it takes away from the author’s original intent behind the book - but you’ll have to read it yourself and decide!
Setting the book in Guernsey was really successful and raised the stakes of keeping the secret in a gossipy small-town (island!). I’ve been to Guernsey few times to stay with family and enjoyed reading about places I’ve been to.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan/NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.
I think the idea behind this book is so important. Whilst a fun read, I’m not 100% sold that this book executed that idea in the best way.
Fed up of covering for colleagues with kids, child-free Barri decides to fake a pregnancy, cash out on her maternity pay, skip town (or island) and start a new life as a Nashville cowgirl.
This is a funny and slightly ridiculous read, but I was also surprised how heartfelt and emotional it became. The MC is rather irritating but I think her character growth and journey felt quite authentic, and other topics are successfully explored, such as coercive control.
I felt the plot wrapped up too fast and I’m slightly torn about the ending. I’m not sure if it takes away from the author’s original intent behind the book - but you’ll have to read it yourself and decide!
Setting the book in Guernsey was really successful and raised the stakes of keeping the secret in a gossipy small-town (island!). I’ve been to Guernsey few times to stay with family and enjoyed reading about places I’ve been to.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan/NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.
December 30, 2025
Motherfaker is motherfaking brilliant! I couldn’t put it down, whizzed through the gloriously short and snappy chapters, literally laughed out loud multiple times and also cried a couple of times too.
In summary - Motherfaker is about a woman called Barri who fakes a pregnancy to get paid maternity leave…but it’s SO much more than that! There are lots of little sub-stories going on that you end up becoming just as invested in as the baby sham.
We are told the story through Barri’s POV and her inner monologue is absolutely hilarious, as are many of her interactions and conversations with the brilliant cast of characters we meet along the way.
I got so lost in the laughter that the emotional bits always caught me off guard and hit me beautifully, but I felt that everything was really sensitively done without taking away from the humour, which is tough considering the subject matter.
Motherfaker is out in February 2026 and I whole heartedly believe it is going to be an absolute sensation. Thank you so much to the publisher for the early proof of this 5 star read.
In summary - Motherfaker is about a woman called Barri who fakes a pregnancy to get paid maternity leave…but it’s SO much more than that! There are lots of little sub-stories going on that you end up becoming just as invested in as the baby sham.
We are told the story through Barri’s POV and her inner monologue is absolutely hilarious, as are many of her interactions and conversations with the brilliant cast of characters we meet along the way.
I got so lost in the laughter that the emotional bits always caught me off guard and hit me beautifully, but I felt that everything was really sensitively done without taking away from the humour, which is tough considering the subject matter.
Motherfaker is out in February 2026 and I whole heartedly believe it is going to be an absolute sensation. Thank you so much to the publisher for the early proof of this 5 star read.
October 26, 2025
This book is about Barri who really doesn’t like children or have any desire to have one, however, she decides that to get time off work and be able to travel, she is going to pretend she’s pregnant.
She buys several strap on bumps for every stage of her pregnancy and starts to convince everyone she’s pregnant with sometimes hilarious results. I found myself laughing out loud at some points.
As well as her story, there is also a teenage boy who she befriends and a neighbour who has a secret.
I found this book to be funny, yet heartwarming as Barri comes to understand about pregnancy and even though it’s not what she wants for herself, but how sometimes you don’t have to give birth to a child to make a difference in another child’s life.
I enjoyed this book as it was different which is why I gave it a 10/10.
She buys several strap on bumps for every stage of her pregnancy and starts to convince everyone she’s pregnant with sometimes hilarious results. I found myself laughing out loud at some points.
As well as her story, there is also a teenage boy who she befriends and a neighbour who has a secret.
I found this book to be funny, yet heartwarming as Barri comes to understand about pregnancy and even though it’s not what she wants for herself, but how sometimes you don’t have to give birth to a child to make a difference in another child’s life.
I enjoyed this book as it was different which is why I gave it a 10/10.
December 1, 2025
How far would you go just to escape your own life for a little while, to take time off work, step away from responsibility, and simply start over? This book takes that question and spins it into a story that is brilliantly written, funny, captivating, and unexpectedly heartbreaking. At its center is Barri, a woman whose life feels like it is slowly collapsing around her. She is dealing with the ruins of a broken marriage, the emptiness of having no real friends, and a family she cannot seem to connect with. She is lonely, stuck, and desperate for change.
In a moment of reckless hope, she makes a wild decision. She is going to fake a pregnancy, take the maternity pay, and vanish into a fresh new life. It is outrageous, messy, and hilarious, but it is also the spark that forces her to confront what she truly wants and what she has been running from.
As the plan unfolds, Barri begins to discover that her life is not as empty as she once believed. People she barely noticed start to matter. Strangers become allies. And the ties she thought were broken reveal themselves to be stronger and more complicated than she ever imagined. What follows is a roller coaster of blackmail, unlikely friendships, risky schemes, and a pregnancy heist that is as chaotic as it is entertaining.
If the premise alone does not convince you to pick up this book, the blend of sharp humour and deeply moving emotional moments certainly will. It is a story that will make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even break your heart a little, but in the most satisfying way.
In a moment of reckless hope, she makes a wild decision. She is going to fake a pregnancy, take the maternity pay, and vanish into a fresh new life. It is outrageous, messy, and hilarious, but it is also the spark that forces her to confront what she truly wants and what she has been running from.
As the plan unfolds, Barri begins to discover that her life is not as empty as she once believed. People she barely noticed start to matter. Strangers become allies. And the ties she thought were broken reveal themselves to be stronger and more complicated than she ever imagined. What follows is a roller coaster of blackmail, unlikely friendships, risky schemes, and a pregnancy heist that is as chaotic as it is entertaining.
If the premise alone does not convince you to pick up this book, the blend of sharp humour and deeply moving emotional moments certainly will. It is a story that will make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even break your heart a little, but in the most satisfying way.
January 8, 2026
Oh Anna I absolutely loved this book so much it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read and so special in the message that threads through your words.
Barri was, as you said, a little prickly but to give her a chance and honestly, how real was she? I also loved her sense of humour and she made me chuckle on more than one occasion.
The writing and pacing was great, fresh and a story I think everyone would enjoy. It was such a heart warmer and just want to give you and all your characters a big hug!
Well done and massive congratulations on your debut novel, I can’t wait to follow you on this most successful journey.
Thank you and Book Break for the proof and amazing baby shower party. I will never forget it 🤍
Barri was, as you said, a little prickly but to give her a chance and honestly, how real was she? I also loved her sense of humour and she made me chuckle on more than one occasion.
The writing and pacing was great, fresh and a story I think everyone would enjoy. It was such a heart warmer and just want to give you and all your characters a big hug!
Well done and massive congratulations on your debut novel, I can’t wait to follow you on this most successful journey.
Thank you and Book Break for the proof and amazing baby shower party. I will never forget it 🤍
January 5, 2026
⭐️ 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 ⭐️
When I read the synopsis I was immediately like OMG UNHINGED 😱 And honestly… Barri is unhinged. Her idea is wild. Truly. But also? I get it.
Sometimes we all just need a year off from real life. To disappear for a bit. To breathe. Although granted, most of us don’t pretend to be pregnant to make that happen 🤰😅
This book is sharp, witty, genuinely funny, and full of twists. What completely caught me off guard was how much heart ❤️ it had. It slowly softens, becomes warm and a bit fuzzy, and turns into an exploration of what motherhood actually means, in all its forms.
By the end, it was less what I expected and much more what I think I needed 🥹✨
When I read the synopsis I was immediately like OMG UNHINGED 😱 And honestly… Barri is unhinged. Her idea is wild. Truly. But also? I get it.
Sometimes we all just need a year off from real life. To disappear for a bit. To breathe. Although granted, most of us don’t pretend to be pregnant to make that happen 🤰😅
This book is sharp, witty, genuinely funny, and full of twists. What completely caught me off guard was how much heart ❤️ it had. It slowly softens, becomes warm and a bit fuzzy, and turns into an exploration of what motherhood actually means, in all its forms.
By the end, it was less what I expected and much more what I think I needed 🥹✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded up.
I was drawn to the plot because I loved a Japanese book with a similar synopsis called Diary of A Void. And honestly wanting a year off work in this current corporate climate? Good for her.
I do think it's a solid book. The writing is good, the characters are well fleshed out and Barri is a memorable character. It got off to a strong start but I did feel my interest wain slightly towards the end. It was a super entertaining read though that did a great job of balancing subjects like parenthood, marriage and societal expectations with great humour. I had so much fun reading this and I think others will too!
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC!
I was drawn to the plot because I loved a Japanese book with a similar synopsis called Diary of A Void. And honestly wanting a year off work in this current corporate climate? Good for her.
I do think it's a solid book. The writing is good, the characters are well fleshed out and Barri is a memorable character. It got off to a strong start but I did feel my interest wain slightly towards the end. It was a super entertaining read though that did a great job of balancing subjects like parenthood, marriage and societal expectations with great humour. I had so much fun reading this and I think others will too!
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC!
February 15, 2026
Barri Brown is a teacher who lives in Guernsey. Her husband has left her, and she’s fed up with feeling put upon, especially by the school she works at.
When she’s dumped on again for maternity cover with another teacher’s class, she uses the excuse that she’s pregnant so can’t overdo it!
Barri planning on breaking the law by having maternity leave paid for as well as time off work. How will she ever get away with this plan - especially when all she’s ever said to people is that she will never have a baby, she doesn’t want children!
Oh, my goodness, this book made me laugh so much, but at the same time, I felt so sorry for Barri. Her husband has managed to make their life together all about him, and Barri realises she has no friends to turn to. She has her mum and sister, but she feels as though even they put on her.
The story is all about Barri and the life she leads. She’s spent her life on Guernsey and wants to move away, but when push comes to shove, can she actually leave behind what she knows so well?
An entertaining read and a great debut from the author.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
When she’s dumped on again for maternity cover with another teacher’s class, she uses the excuse that she’s pregnant so can’t overdo it!
Barri planning on breaking the law by having maternity leave paid for as well as time off work. How will she ever get away with this plan - especially when all she’s ever said to people is that she will never have a baby, she doesn’t want children!
Oh, my goodness, this book made me laugh so much, but at the same time, I felt so sorry for Barri. Her husband has managed to make their life together all about him, and Barri realises she has no friends to turn to. She has her mum and sister, but she feels as though even they put on her.
The story is all about Barri and the life she leads. She’s spent her life on Guernsey and wants to move away, but when push comes to shove, can she actually leave behind what she knows so well?
An entertaining read and a great debut from the author.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this fabulous ARC.
Uniquely clever, this brilliantly combines some utterly bonkers situations alongside some real emotional & heartwarming moments.
The topic of not all women wanting to be mothers, despite society's expectations, was handled perfectly, in my opinion.
And, whilst there was really only one conclusion to this story, the journey had some unexpected twists & turns.
I ended up loving Barri, and finished this book with a smile on my face, and I know I will be recommending this book once it's released.
Uniquely clever, this brilliantly combines some utterly bonkers situations alongside some real emotional & heartwarming moments.
The topic of not all women wanting to be mothers, despite society's expectations, was handled perfectly, in my opinion.
And, whilst there was really only one conclusion to this story, the journey had some unexpected twists & turns.
I ended up loving Barri, and finished this book with a smile on my face, and I know I will be recommending this book once it's released.
March 8, 2026
Barri’s character took me through the wringer; I found myself infuriated by her actions, aghast at her lack of emotional intelligence, and outright dumbfounded by her ignorance. What starts out as a slapstick comedic bit about faking a pregnancy to defraud the system of maternity leave pay while she builds a new life abroad, turns into a confronting dissection of emotional domestic abuse, social isolation, systemic neglect and love. In all its forms - platonic, familial and romantic.
The book’s redeeming quality is its comedic interludes. Barri’s narration is laugh-out-loud funny!
The book’s redeeming quality is its comedic interludes. Barri’s narration is laugh-out-loud funny!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
MotherFaker by Anna Brook-Mitchell
I went into this mostly because the premise sounded slightly ridiculous — in a good way — and I was really curious about how it would actually work. Somehow… it just does.
Barri completely carries the story. She’s funny, a bit chaotic, and very real, which makes even the more over-the-top moments feel believable. The humour lands well, but it’s not just a comedy.
What I didn’t expect was how touching it would be. The relationship with Callum adds so much heart to the story. It takes what could have been just a light, funny read and gives it emotional weight.
Overall, a fun read with more depth than I was expecting.
ARC from NetGalley
I went into this mostly because the premise sounded slightly ridiculous — in a good way — and I was really curious about how it would actually work. Somehow… it just does.
Barri completely carries the story. She’s funny, a bit chaotic, and very real, which makes even the more over-the-top moments feel believable. The humour lands well, but it’s not just a comedy.
What I didn’t expect was how touching it would be. The relationship with Callum adds so much heart to the story. It takes what could have been just a light, funny read and gives it emotional weight.
Overall, a fun read with more depth than I was expecting.
ARC from NetGalley
March 4, 2026
This book was all kinds of crazy 🤣
The story follows a woman who fakes a pregnancy to get maternity leave, despite the fact that her husband has left her, stolen all her money, and she’s been very vocal about never wanting kids in the first place 🤣
It’s a wild ride from start to finish, packed with outrageous decisions, messy consequences, twists and some very funny moments.
If you’re in the mood for something ridiculous, and genuinely funny, with plenty of drama along the way, this one’s worth the read.
The story follows a woman who fakes a pregnancy to get maternity leave, despite the fact that her husband has left her, stolen all her money, and she’s been very vocal about never wanting kids in the first place 🤣
It’s a wild ride from start to finish, packed with outrageous decisions, messy consequences, twists and some very funny moments.
If you’re in the mood for something ridiculous, and genuinely funny, with plenty of drama along the way, this one’s worth the read.
March 8, 2026
Lovely bit of ending and comical writing I suppose with the many instances I laughed out loud at something ridiculous I cannot deny this was a refreshing read.
What a rollercoaster of emotions Barri made you feel not in the least sorry for why someone would think faking a pregnancy would be the only way out of Guernsey is beyond me. Loved the small town/ village antics haha.
I enjoyed this buddy read, splitting into different chunks with a theme and a prompt too.
What a rollercoaster of emotions Barri made you feel not in the least sorry for why someone would think faking a pregnancy would be the only way out of Guernsey is beyond me. Loved the small town/ village antics haha.
I enjoyed this buddy read, splitting into different chunks with a theme and a prompt too.
January 27, 2026
This made me laugh out loud. I loved this so much. Barri is chaotic, clumsy and her self righteous attitude will get on your nerves but you fall in love with her as you understand her. This is a book about grief and loneliness but also about love.
November 1, 2025
This was such a fantastic book! I went on a real journey with the protagonist, Barri - at times despising her and sympathising with her equal measure. Towards the end of the book I really did wonder how it could possibly end satisfactorily, but it did, somehow. Genuinely funny and light-hearted but with some real meat thrown in to avoid it feeling flippant and disrespectful. I would whole heartedly recommend this book for a quick and enjoyable read. Appreciative ARC reader.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5*
February 28, 2026
This book was so funny! Loved it 100% recommend
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