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The Mummy Bloggers
'The freshest, funniest new voice in fiction since Liane Moriarty.' Mia Freedman
Meet three Mummy Bloggers - each of them followed, idolised, imitated, taunted and trolled online.
Elle Campbell is a glossy, lycra-clad mum with washboard abs, a ten-year plan and a secret past. Abi Black has quit sugar, moved to the country and is homeschooling her kids. Leisel Adams slogs away at her office job each day before rushing home, steeped in guilt, to spend precious moments with her kids before bedtime. All three share a label that they simultaneously relish and loathe-mummy blogger. And the connections don't stop there...
When all three women are nominated for a prestigious blogging award with a hefty cash prize, the scene is set for a brutal and often hilarious battle for hearts, minds-and clicks. As the awards night gets closer, their lies get bigger, their stunts get crazier - and some mistakes from the past become harder and harder to hide.
The Mummy Bloggers is a sharp and funny look at power of social media and the women behind the likes, shares and filters.
Meet three Mummy Bloggers - each of them followed, idolised, imitated, taunted and trolled online.
Elle Campbell is a glossy, lycra-clad mum with washboard abs, a ten-year plan and a secret past. Abi Black has quit sugar, moved to the country and is homeschooling her kids. Leisel Adams slogs away at her office job each day before rushing home, steeped in guilt, to spend precious moments with her kids before bedtime. All three share a label that they simultaneously relish and loathe-mummy blogger. And the connections don't stop there...
When all three women are nominated for a prestigious blogging award with a hefty cash prize, the scene is set for a brutal and often hilarious battle for hearts, minds-and clicks. As the awards night gets closer, their lies get bigger, their stunts get crazier - and some mistakes from the past become harder and harder to hide.
The Mummy Bloggers is a sharp and funny look at power of social media and the women behind the likes, shares and filters.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2017
126 people are currently reading
1331 people want to read
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September 7, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
It was only a matter of time before an author was going to take on the mighty and influential world of parenting blogs. Holly Wainwright, the Head of Entertainment of Australia’s largest women’s lifestyle digital media site, Mamamia and a mum of two, is just the person for the job. Wainwright’s debut novel, The Mummy Bloggers, delves right into the parenting blogging sphere, revealing a world of high drama, stretched truths, comedy and determination.
When three different parenting bloggers are nominated for a prominent blogging award, which comes with a hefty cash prize, all three vow to do all they can to win. This includes lying, stretching the truth and taking advantage of loved ones. Each blogger needs to collect the most followers and notoriety in the form of ‘likes’ for their respective blogs, in order to win the prize. Although all three women share their parenting experiences with their followers, they have vastly different approaches to their blogs. Elle Campbell is a blogger who tries to project the image of being the perfect mum, her posts do not share the ugly truth and the hard times behind being a parent. Abi Black is a mummy blogger who has a passion for a no sugar diet and homeschooling. Many of her posts are reflective of her mantra of keeping things as natural as possible. Leisel Adams is perhaps the most authentic of the three women. She takes an honest approach to her parenting blog, she is unafraid to share the trying times and guilt associated with being a working mum in today’s age. As the awards loom over the women, it will test their honesty and character, as each vies to get as many supporters as possible. The result is a mixture of hilarity and poignancy.
The Mummy Bloggers, the first feature novel by Holly Wainwright, is a novel that really packs a punch. Don’t be fooled by the sweet ice-cream cover! The Mummy Bloggers is a book that shocked and surprised me, while also making me laugh. Most of all, it was a book I could easily relate to, perhaps as I am a keen social media user, a blogger and a parent to two children. The Mummy Bloggers casts a very critical eye over blogging world and modern parenting, all delivered in a witty and observant package.
At the centre of the book are the three mummy bloggers, Abi, Elle and Leisel, who are all vying for the coveted prize of being crowned the best blog. Wainwright’s characterisation is one of this book’s strengths. Elle is a protagonist who is pretty despicable in her actions. Her determination to come out on top of this blogging competition is unquestionable. Although I don’t have anything nice to say about this protagonist, the ugly truth of Elle’s character is that there are many Elle’s out there blogging and approaching parenting in a glossy way. We are never quite sure with the Elle’s in the world what their life is truly like. These bloggers project an image onto social media platforms of perfection, not reality. It definitely gives the reader food for thought in the area of social media.
Competing against Elle is Abi, the loudest and most opinionated of the trio. Abi’s agenda is clear, she is a green focussed, mother earth style parent. Her strong viewpoints and her willingness to cause a heated debate or a commotion gets her into a spot of bother in the novel. On the flip side, Abi’s character generates many of the humorous moments in the novel. The pickles Abi seems to get herself into and the impact of these situations had me laughing out loud.
The final contender in the mummy blogging war is Leisel. Leisel is a character that many readers will be able to sympathise and relate to. She is the most genuine of the three bloggers. I was able to sympathise greatly with Leisel’s situation and I found her viewpoints on parenting the most realistic. Leisel also reminds us of why supporters of these mummy blogs, which I have turned to in the past when my children were much younger, are in existence. They are ultimately devised to provide advice, encouragement and an army of support to those who may be isolated or disconnected from the real life and are struggling with the demands of parenting.
Holly Wainwright builds this novel up to a superb conclusion and I was happy with the final result. The Mummy Bloggers is a scintillating, quick paced and highly topical novel. I was impressed by Holly Wainwright’s first novel and I hope that it is just the beginning for this author’s foray into fiction. The Mummy Bloggers gets my thumbs up. It is a book I would not hesitate to recommend to all readers, especially if you want an insight into the world of social media.
*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
It was only a matter of time before an author was going to take on the mighty and influential world of parenting blogs. Holly Wainwright, the Head of Entertainment of Australia’s largest women’s lifestyle digital media site, Mamamia and a mum of two, is just the person for the job. Wainwright’s debut novel, The Mummy Bloggers, delves right into the parenting blogging sphere, revealing a world of high drama, stretched truths, comedy and determination.
When three different parenting bloggers are nominated for a prominent blogging award, which comes with a hefty cash prize, all three vow to do all they can to win. This includes lying, stretching the truth and taking advantage of loved ones. Each blogger needs to collect the most followers and notoriety in the form of ‘likes’ for their respective blogs, in order to win the prize. Although all three women share their parenting experiences with their followers, they have vastly different approaches to their blogs. Elle Campbell is a blogger who tries to project the image of being the perfect mum, her posts do not share the ugly truth and the hard times behind being a parent. Abi Black is a mummy blogger who has a passion for a no sugar diet and homeschooling. Many of her posts are reflective of her mantra of keeping things as natural as possible. Leisel Adams is perhaps the most authentic of the three women. She takes an honest approach to her parenting blog, she is unafraid to share the trying times and guilt associated with being a working mum in today’s age. As the awards loom over the women, it will test their honesty and character, as each vies to get as many supporters as possible. The result is a mixture of hilarity and poignancy.
The Mummy Bloggers, the first feature novel by Holly Wainwright, is a novel that really packs a punch. Don’t be fooled by the sweet ice-cream cover! The Mummy Bloggers is a book that shocked and surprised me, while also making me laugh. Most of all, it was a book I could easily relate to, perhaps as I am a keen social media user, a blogger and a parent to two children. The Mummy Bloggers casts a very critical eye over blogging world and modern parenting, all delivered in a witty and observant package.
At the centre of the book are the three mummy bloggers, Abi, Elle and Leisel, who are all vying for the coveted prize of being crowned the best blog. Wainwright’s characterisation is one of this book’s strengths. Elle is a protagonist who is pretty despicable in her actions. Her determination to come out on top of this blogging competition is unquestionable. Although I don’t have anything nice to say about this protagonist, the ugly truth of Elle’s character is that there are many Elle’s out there blogging and approaching parenting in a glossy way. We are never quite sure with the Elle’s in the world what their life is truly like. These bloggers project an image onto social media platforms of perfection, not reality. It definitely gives the reader food for thought in the area of social media.
Competing against Elle is Abi, the loudest and most opinionated of the trio. Abi’s agenda is clear, she is a green focussed, mother earth style parent. Her strong viewpoints and her willingness to cause a heated debate or a commotion gets her into a spot of bother in the novel. On the flip side, Abi’s character generates many of the humorous moments in the novel. The pickles Abi seems to get herself into and the impact of these situations had me laughing out loud.
The final contender in the mummy blogging war is Leisel. Leisel is a character that many readers will be able to sympathise and relate to. She is the most genuine of the three bloggers. I was able to sympathise greatly with Leisel’s situation and I found her viewpoints on parenting the most realistic. Leisel also reminds us of why supporters of these mummy blogs, which I have turned to in the past when my children were much younger, are in existence. They are ultimately devised to provide advice, encouragement and an army of support to those who may be isolated or disconnected from the real life and are struggling with the demands of parenting.
Holly Wainwright builds this novel up to a superb conclusion and I was happy with the final result. The Mummy Bloggers is a scintillating, quick paced and highly topical novel. I was impressed by Holly Wainwright’s first novel and I hope that it is just the beginning for this author’s foray into fiction. The Mummy Bloggers gets my thumbs up. It is a book I would not hesitate to recommend to all readers, especially if you want an insight into the world of social media.
*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
September 14, 2017
Okay, so I saw this book laying around Big W so many times that I thought that I had to pick it up. The cover and the tagline intrigued me.
According to the back cover, Wainwright's writing is similar of Liane Moriarty's and I think that's just so insulting to Moriarty's craft. I've read four out of seven of her books and she has solid writing, time and time again. The writing to me was so poor in this book. It felt like an editor needed to re-read this book and then re-read it again. So many sentences didn't make sense and that took away from my overall enjoyment.
Now, the ending. What the fuck was that? It's almost like I suffered through 330+ pages for a cop out. Highly unimpressed and now I don't think I'll be swayed into purchasing a book simply because it's been praised for writing that it certainly doesn't have.
According to the back cover, Wainwright's writing is similar of Liane Moriarty's and I think that's just so insulting to Moriarty's craft. I've read four out of seven of her books and she has solid writing, time and time again. The writing to me was so poor in this book. It felt like an editor needed to re-read this book and then re-read it again. So many sentences didn't make sense and that took away from my overall enjoyment.
Now, the ending. What the fuck was that? It's almost like I suffered through 330+ pages for a cop out. Highly unimpressed and now I don't think I'll be swayed into purchasing a book simply because it's been praised for writing that it certainly doesn't have.
June 13, 2019
This book swept me away from the beginning and I loved how the writer has made intricate connections between the three women. It was inevitable that blogging, particularly parenting blogs, would feature in a novel and here I can safely say that Wainwright has done a fantastic fictionalisation.
Each of the three women describe experiences that I’m sure Mothers can all relate to at some point in their parenthood lives. Yes, they are exaggerations, caricatures of reality, but this helps add to the enjoyment of the novel. The three women are very colourful, energetic characters and this definitely transcends into the narrative itself as Wainwright creates a momentum towards the climax of the novel – winning the coveted “Blog-aahs” award. Now, don’t feel discouraged reading this book if you are not someone who reads blogs (with the exception of mine!) or are a blogger: the content of the story features different episodes of the characters as they strive to win this award. It’s not tech-heavy and instead features various “blog posts” from the women as they reflect on their experiences.
Now, I’m going to reveal something really controversial here. Don’t tell anybody… I really, really liked Elle’s character! She is so terrible, so awfully immoral that, whilst I was shocked by her behaviour, I found her the most interesting to read about. The novel switches between Elle, Liesel and Abi and, whilst all offer different stories, I was always keen to catch up with her narrative. I think it’s because Elle is so “out there” and outrageous: doing things that nobody would dream of committing. She was like a guilty pleasure and reminded me of an evil villain in a pantomime – you love to hate her and want to see more!
The other two women further represent different ways of parenthood. Liesel is the working mother and struggling to find time to breathe, let alone juggle her work and school run commitments. Abi felt like an extreme eco-hippy and whilst I enjoyed reading her controversial posts and outgoing opinions, I found it difficult to connect with her as a person. Indeed, Liesel also seemed like a weaker character in comparison to Elle and I think that is why I was so drawn to this villainess. She is so naughty but dominant in the narrative, that the other two women seem to pale in comparison.
I was expecting this to be a laugh-out-loud sort of novel but was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. True to women’s fiction, Wainwright does not rely on comedy to develop the narrative. Immediately drawn in, I was desperate to see how the plot would progress and could not predict the conclusion. I devoured this book really quickly, reflecting my enjoyment of it, and I look forward to reading more from Wainwright in the near future.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Holly Wainwright for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.
Each of the three women describe experiences that I’m sure Mothers can all relate to at some point in their parenthood lives. Yes, they are exaggerations, caricatures of reality, but this helps add to the enjoyment of the novel. The three women are very colourful, energetic characters and this definitely transcends into the narrative itself as Wainwright creates a momentum towards the climax of the novel – winning the coveted “Blog-aahs” award. Now, don’t feel discouraged reading this book if you are not someone who reads blogs (with the exception of mine!) or are a blogger: the content of the story features different episodes of the characters as they strive to win this award. It’s not tech-heavy and instead features various “blog posts” from the women as they reflect on their experiences.
Now, I’m going to reveal something really controversial here. Don’t tell anybody… I really, really liked Elle’s character! She is so terrible, so awfully immoral that, whilst I was shocked by her behaviour, I found her the most interesting to read about. The novel switches between Elle, Liesel and Abi and, whilst all offer different stories, I was always keen to catch up with her narrative. I think it’s because Elle is so “out there” and outrageous: doing things that nobody would dream of committing. She was like a guilty pleasure and reminded me of an evil villain in a pantomime – you love to hate her and want to see more!
The other two women further represent different ways of parenthood. Liesel is the working mother and struggling to find time to breathe, let alone juggle her work and school run commitments. Abi felt like an extreme eco-hippy and whilst I enjoyed reading her controversial posts and outgoing opinions, I found it difficult to connect with her as a person. Indeed, Liesel also seemed like a weaker character in comparison to Elle and I think that is why I was so drawn to this villainess. She is so naughty but dominant in the narrative, that the other two women seem to pale in comparison.
I was expecting this to be a laugh-out-loud sort of novel but was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. True to women’s fiction, Wainwright does not rely on comedy to develop the narrative. Immediately drawn in, I was desperate to see how the plot would progress and could not predict the conclusion. I devoured this book really quickly, reflecting my enjoyment of it, and I look forward to reading more from Wainwright in the near future.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Holly Wainwright for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.
June 4, 2019
‘People aren’t who you think they are from the outside.’📖 BUY THIS BOOK: Amazon🌹 Barnes & Noble🌹 Kobo📖
Much thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for this advance copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Women's Fiction
📚 POV: Multiple Third Person
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Stalking. Drug Addiction. Attempted Murder. Online bullying. Faking cancer. Faking death. Internet and Social Media Obsession.
⚠ Read if: you love celebrities, bloggers and internet sensations. Also, if you are a reality show fan.
If you need a genre-breaking or a breath-of-fresh-air read, get a copy of The Mummy Bloggers. After all the thrillers and the romances and all the drama from my recent finds, this was one extremely entertaining read!
The book revolves around three parenting bloggers:
🔸Elle - Ms. Perfect, stylish, rich and seems to have everything together
🔸Abi - Blogger of all things healthy and eco-friendly, tactless with a very strong personality
🔸Liesl - Working mommy who tells things like they are, busy moms advocate and very genuine
These motherbloggers are from different ends of the spectrum, with their own distinct parenting styles. They are three of the most followed, thus, competing for the coveted Blog-aaah Award.
Trying to get the award results in too much pressure. Lying and manipulating their fanbases, even creating drama, just to boost blog clicks and views.
I admittedly am a big fan of Youtube personalitiles, so I definitely am part of this book's target market. People love having inspiration, and people also love havung someone to hate. We are all guilty of internet stalking, and that behavior makes this book a definitely relatable fun read. I just felt like I was going through a documentary or a reality show with how casual yet genuine this book was written.
The author weaves a story with likeable characters, smooth story flow and quirky surprises. Very excited to read more from her. This one's a great story.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Leads :⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Relatability:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.8/5 ☁
Review also appears on my blog.
January 5, 2020
Even though I don't think I particularly qualify as part of this book's target market, nevertheless I relished reading The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright.
Set in Australia, this delightful tale focuses on three parent bloggers, Elle Campbell, Abi Black and Liesel Adams. Stylish mum Elle is a social media manager and has two boys; tactless Abi is a blogger of all things healthy and eco-friendly; Liesel, a working mother has trouble dividing her time between children and work, and never feels good enough for her family. Each has their very individual parenting styles and all are vying for a coveted Blog-ahh award.
This story really packs a punch and Holly Wainwright worked wonders with her characters. I could totally relate to Liesel, although not so much to Elle and Abi, though I suspect this was intended by the author and my enthusiasm for this hilarious tale was not diminished in any way. I like that Holly Wainwright does not rely entirely on comedy to move the narrative onward, but showcases a generous dollop of realistic, warts-and-all family life, as well. Immediately spellbound, I was desperate to see how the plot would progress and could not predict the conclusion. Read The Mummy Bloggers if you're a fan of blogging, celebrities, reality shows or the internet.
I look forward to reading more from Holly Wainwright in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Legend Press via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Set in Australia, this delightful tale focuses on three parent bloggers, Elle Campbell, Abi Black and Liesel Adams. Stylish mum Elle is a social media manager and has two boys; tactless Abi is a blogger of all things healthy and eco-friendly; Liesel, a working mother has trouble dividing her time between children and work, and never feels good enough for her family. Each has their very individual parenting styles and all are vying for a coveted Blog-ahh award.
This story really packs a punch and Holly Wainwright worked wonders with her characters. I could totally relate to Liesel, although not so much to Elle and Abi, though I suspect this was intended by the author and my enthusiasm for this hilarious tale was not diminished in any way. I like that Holly Wainwright does not rely entirely on comedy to move the narrative onward, but showcases a generous dollop of realistic, warts-and-all family life, as well. Immediately spellbound, I was desperate to see how the plot would progress and could not predict the conclusion. Read The Mummy Bloggers if you're a fan of blogging, celebrities, reality shows or the internet.
I look forward to reading more from Holly Wainwright in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Legend Press via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 24, 2019
Everyone is talking about this book on Twitter.
Oh my what a fantastic book. I would have given The Mummy Bloggers far more than five stars if I could have.
First of all I have to tell you all I loved every second of this funny book.
Let's face it we are all really bloggers, blogging about the books we love. But we do it for the love of reading. I don't blog about books to try to win awards, I blog about books because I love my books.
But these three women will blog about far much more.
Lets meet three woman who each are blogging and have been nominated for an award. Each of the three women have to answer some questions set by the organisers. Oh I forgot to mention there are so many lies.
Elle The Stylish Mumma 30, 167 people know how Elle and Adrian met. Her anonymous blog Somebody Else's Husband. Elle has 2 boys and a social media manager.
Abi The Green Diva she has a camera crew arriving for an interview on An Evening Affair.
Leisel The Woking Mum she had a baby, a toddler and a child in Kindergarten, she is a manger editor of a group of women's magazines.
I fully recommend this highly entertaining book.
Oh my what a fantastic book. I would have given The Mummy Bloggers far more than five stars if I could have.
First of all I have to tell you all I loved every second of this funny book.
Let's face it we are all really bloggers, blogging about the books we love. But we do it for the love of reading. I don't blog about books to try to win awards, I blog about books because I love my books.
But these three women will blog about far much more.
Lets meet three woman who each are blogging and have been nominated for an award. Each of the three women have to answer some questions set by the organisers. Oh I forgot to mention there are so many lies.
Elle The Stylish Mumma 30, 167 people know how Elle and Adrian met. Her anonymous blog Somebody Else's Husband. Elle has 2 boys and a social media manager.
Abi The Green Diva she has a camera crew arriving for an interview on An Evening Affair.
Leisel The Woking Mum she had a baby, a toddler and a child in Kindergarten, she is a manger editor of a group of women's magazines.
I fully recommend this highly entertaining book.
July 18, 2017
Recommended to fans of Liane Moriarty, or online Blog readers!
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another 'chick-lit' title, this Melbourne/Victoria based fiction novel actually has some depth to it, although written in a generally humourous manner.
We get to follow 3 very different Aussie mums as they go about their lives & Blog about them to their many Followers - however is the life they each Blog about actually representative of their reality?
Let's face it, most of us exaggerate about some things on our Online Profiles & might make things a little more rose-coloured than they are, but how soon does it devolve into actual lies? Added to which, how far would you go to win a cash prize?
Filled with genuine issues faced by today's modern mothers, but written in an entertaining way, I also loved the rather satisfying ending.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another 'chick-lit' title, this Melbourne/Victoria based fiction novel actually has some depth to it, although written in a generally humourous manner.
We get to follow 3 very different Aussie mums as they go about their lives & Blog about them to their many Followers - however is the life they each Blog about actually representative of their reality?
Let's face it, most of us exaggerate about some things on our Online Profiles & might make things a little more rose-coloured than they are, but how soon does it devolve into actual lies? Added to which, how far would you go to win a cash prize?
Filled with genuine issues faced by today's modern mothers, but written in an entertaining way, I also loved the rather satisfying ending.
January 21, 2018
I have to preface this by saying that, despite what I'm about to write, I adore Holly Wainwright and everything she stands for. I love listening to her podcasted thoughts and that won't change. However, this novel was terrible. A hastily written and poorly edited soup of stereotypes and soapboxing, with a hero character clearly based on the author herself and a villain who is written with so little empathy it comes across as the product of some weird grudge Wainwright seems to have with similar women. Don't get me wrong, there's much to be criticised about that aspect of social media and the flawless-looking influencers that dominate our screens, but much of the story felt immature and like a thinly-veiled excuse for women with wrinkles and a few greys to claim a moral high ground.
July 19, 2017
If you have read all of Liane Moriarty's back catalogue, then you need to read the Mummy Bloggers. It’s fresh, feisty, filled with humor and a lot more intrigue than you think.
It will suck you into the world of three women who are all bloggers, all different, and all lead very different lives to what they portray online.
I very rarely sit down and read a book in 3 days, but that is exactly what I did with this one. I got so invested in it. And I really really really hope there is a second one.
April 19, 2025
Funny and frightening, of-the-moment (when it was written) about parenting bloggers and the pursuit of online validation.
I enjoyed how the three women were intricately connected.
I enjoyed how the three women were intricately connected.
January 18, 2025
I listened to this on Audible and the storyline was just rubbish! I mean, I’m sure it accurately represented the ‘blogging world’ but a bit of a waste of my ear time and my eye rolls.
April 19, 2018
I started reading this book with such enthusiasm. After all, a couple of the characters are my age and they mention all types of things I can relate to (even my beloved Thermomix, LOL) but a few chapters in and, to use my internet speak, everything was blah.
The general premise has three bloggers, each quite different despite all specialising in the online parenting arena, vying for a blogging award. The idea that there are such awards sounds insane but, as the book is written by a real life blogger, I assume it’s got some basis in reality -- with an obvious addition of some exaggeration. The book pretty much just shows the lengths these three women will go to win the award.
Adding to the plot is the fact that all three bloggers are personally linked. Blogger Elle, the active wear clad perfectionist, is married to Adrian who was married to blogger Abi, the homeschooling gluten-free hippy, who is now the partner of Grace who is the sister of blogger Leisel, the guilt-ridden working mum.
If it seems a little like a soap opera, it is. In fact, you can throw in Leisel’s ex-junkie hubby, Elle’s mission to avoid her embarrassing white trash family, a crazed knife-wielding stalker/troll and the over-the-top opinions of anti-vaccers to make the book even more like an episode of Melrose Place.
All three main characters were extremely unlikeable. Abi, I guess, was my favourite. Elle was actually too horrible at times to seem real (even though her behaviour was copied from real life people such as Belle Gibson). As I was reading, she reminded me of a character from a Jackie Collins book. You know, the starlet who sleeps her way to the top only to have her small town crazy relatives threaten her lofty ambitions? Blah.
Overall, I felt the novel was lacking in depth, the writing was too basic, and was relying too much on an one pony trick for its entire length.
Average. 3 out of 5
Thank you Allen and Unwin for my copy.
The general premise has three bloggers, each quite different despite all specialising in the online parenting arena, vying for a blogging award. The idea that there are such awards sounds insane but, as the book is written by a real life blogger, I assume it’s got some basis in reality -- with an obvious addition of some exaggeration. The book pretty much just shows the lengths these three women will go to win the award.
Adding to the plot is the fact that all three bloggers are personally linked. Blogger Elle, the active wear clad perfectionist, is married to Adrian who was married to blogger Abi, the homeschooling gluten-free hippy, who is now the partner of Grace who is the sister of blogger Leisel, the guilt-ridden working mum.
If it seems a little like a soap opera, it is. In fact, you can throw in Leisel’s ex-junkie hubby, Elle’s mission to avoid her embarrassing white trash family, a crazed knife-wielding stalker/troll and the over-the-top opinions of anti-vaccers to make the book even more like an episode of Melrose Place.
All three main characters were extremely unlikeable. Abi, I guess, was my favourite. Elle was actually too horrible at times to seem real (even though her behaviour was copied from real life people such as Belle Gibson). As I was reading, she reminded me of a character from a Jackie Collins book. You know, the starlet who sleeps her way to the top only to have her small town crazy relatives threaten her lofty ambitions? Blah.
Overall, I felt the novel was lacking in depth, the writing was too basic, and was relying too much on an one pony trick for its entire length.
Average. 3 out of 5
Thank you Allen and Unwin for my copy.
November 29, 2020
OMG! I can relate too much with the mummy bloggers in this book! I mean not on having a blog to rant but more on their backgrounds and how they see parenting especially motherhood.
What I like the most about this book is the writer divide the chapters based on the characters. I find this very convenient and easy to understand each character point of view.
When I read about Elle Campbell, she taught me a lot about the power of social media and how it can make some people go to certain extend just to get the Likes and followers. She taught me some tips on how to have a good photo for IG 😆.
Abi Black on the other hand is an example of woman that speaks her mind and not afraid to take risk in everything she do. And yes there are women like her in our world. She taught me to respect one’s decision and principles.
Leisel Adams is a working mummy that reminds me a lot about myself when I have my first child 6 years ago. When you thought motherhood is easy 😆 and you want to keep up with people expectations but at the same time makes yourself stressful.
This book taught me that no matter which type of mom you are, we should know what is wrong or right. And most important is being a mother is not about perfection but what matter the most is we know that we are trying our best within our own capacity to be the best mom for our kids. My way of motherhood might not be the same as yours and vice versa, however that doesn’t mean mine is right and yours is wrong. Cherish the differences ❤️.
5⭐️ for this book as it makes me happy reading it and I realised it’s okay not to be perfect.
What I like the most about this book is the writer divide the chapters based on the characters. I find this very convenient and easy to understand each character point of view.
When I read about Elle Campbell, she taught me a lot about the power of social media and how it can make some people go to certain extend just to get the Likes and followers. She taught me some tips on how to have a good photo for IG 😆.
Abi Black on the other hand is an example of woman that speaks her mind and not afraid to take risk in everything she do. And yes there are women like her in our world. She taught me to respect one’s decision and principles.
Leisel Adams is a working mummy that reminds me a lot about myself when I have my first child 6 years ago. When you thought motherhood is easy 😆 and you want to keep up with people expectations but at the same time makes yourself stressful.
This book taught me that no matter which type of mom you are, we should know what is wrong or right. And most important is being a mother is not about perfection but what matter the most is we know that we are trying our best within our own capacity to be the best mom for our kids. My way of motherhood might not be the same as yours and vice versa, however that doesn’t mean mine is right and yours is wrong. Cherish the differences ❤️.
5⭐️ for this book as it makes me happy reading it and I realised it’s okay not to be perfect.
September 24, 2018
Well as an amateur part-time blogger (though not a "mummy" blogger) and a bit of an Instagram nut, this was a book that caught my attention. There are a lot of bloggers out there that would have you believe they chucked in the nine to five and "took a risk" and are now living the dream earning full-time livings from their travel; wellness; health; fitness, mummy..insert other "passion"; blogs
You have to wonder.. just how close or how far from the truth are these lifestyle entrepreneurs. In The Mummy Bloggers, Holly Wainwright gives you a glimpse into their lives and it is somewhat hilarious yet terrifying all at the same time!
Her debut novel paints a warning that not everything is always as it seems, and the lengths bloggers might go to to portray their perfect online persona that will grow their popularity and notoriety.
In a world where you live or die by your number of likes, nothing is off the table, exaggeration, bending the truth and outright deceit are the name of the game.
Central to the book are three "mummy Bloggers"; Elle, who projects the image of a perfect glossy yummy mummy who takes everything in her stride; Abi, the epitome of the alternative hippy, toxic free mother living with her supportive girlfriend and co-parenting each others children from previous relationships; and finally Leisel perhaps the most authentic of the three who tells motherhood how it is - warts and all.
As a prestigious awards night approaches, for which all three have been nominated the shenanigans begin. And no one is safe.
The story serves as a reminder that what we see and what is portrayed online - is often at best a filtered version of the best bits of someone's life and at worse - entirely make believe.
Either way this was actually quite a fun and at times shocking - in the "OMG did she really do that way".
Looking forward to the next offering from Holly Wainwight.
You have to wonder.. just how close or how far from the truth are these lifestyle entrepreneurs. In The Mummy Bloggers, Holly Wainwright gives you a glimpse into their lives and it is somewhat hilarious yet terrifying all at the same time!
Her debut novel paints a warning that not everything is always as it seems, and the lengths bloggers might go to to portray their perfect online persona that will grow their popularity and notoriety.
In a world where you live or die by your number of likes, nothing is off the table, exaggeration, bending the truth and outright deceit are the name of the game.
Central to the book are three "mummy Bloggers"; Elle, who projects the image of a perfect glossy yummy mummy who takes everything in her stride; Abi, the epitome of the alternative hippy, toxic free mother living with her supportive girlfriend and co-parenting each others children from previous relationships; and finally Leisel perhaps the most authentic of the three who tells motherhood how it is - warts and all.
As a prestigious awards night approaches, for which all three have been nominated the shenanigans begin. And no one is safe.
The story serves as a reminder that what we see and what is portrayed online - is often at best a filtered version of the best bits of someone's life and at worse - entirely make believe.
Either way this was actually quite a fun and at times shocking - in the "OMG did she really do that way".
Looking forward to the next offering from Holly Wainwight.
September 3, 2017
I absolutely loved this book - stayed up late reading it, could not put it down. It feels like a book that's been asking to be written for a few years now. Thank you, Holly, for writing it!
In The Mummy Bloggers, Holly Wainwright has taken serious parenting issues, combined them with echoes of every online scandal over the past few years and thrown them at the colourful canvas that is the world of competitive ‘mummy’ blogging.
The result is a very funny story that every parent – and parenting blogger – will enjoy. As the author so eloquently puts it:
The Mummy Bloggers is the story of three very different women who all have children, write about their lives online, and are competing for a $500,000 cash prize in a blogging competition. They have three months to prove to the judges that they have the biggest, most engaged online audience.
Chaos and lies ensue.
If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at the world of blogging, you’ll love this novel. Holly Wainwright has moved among parenting bloggers for several years, most recently as Head of Entertainment at Mamamia.
Personally, I think she’s nailed the all-consuming beast that is blogging – a strange mixture of art, marketing, tech, celebrity and mundane, everyday life.
I also really enjoyed this book – I read it two days, staying up waaaaay past my bedtime on the second day to find out who won!
In The Mummy Bloggers, Holly Wainwright has taken serious parenting issues, combined them with echoes of every online scandal over the past few years and thrown them at the colourful canvas that is the world of competitive ‘mummy’ blogging.
The result is a very funny story that every parent – and parenting blogger – will enjoy. As the author so eloquently puts it:
Motherhood, as Leisel would later write in her blog, smacked her across the face with a wet nappy.
The Mummy Bloggers is the story of three very different women who all have children, write about their lives online, and are competing for a $500,000 cash prize in a blogging competition. They have three months to prove to the judges that they have the biggest, most engaged online audience.
Chaos and lies ensue.
If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at the world of blogging, you’ll love this novel. Holly Wainwright has moved among parenting bloggers for several years, most recently as Head of Entertainment at Mamamia.
Personally, I think she’s nailed the all-consuming beast that is blogging – a strange mixture of art, marketing, tech, celebrity and mundane, everyday life.
I also really enjoyed this book – I read it two days, staying up waaaaay past my bedtime on the second day to find out who won!
October 29, 2017
Oh this was good!!! As a long time blog reader this was right up my alley & did not disappoint. I know this is fiction but I feel like there’s plenty gleaned from the real life blogging world. So while some of the story line feels a little bonkers ( Elle is the kind of blogger/instagrammer I stay away from!) I can’t help but think it’s not too far from reality. A quick, fun page turner.
April 27, 2018
I thought this would be a bit of light-hearted fun. Instead, it is an instantly nasty piece of ridiculously implausible writing that was thoroughly unpalatable. I follow a few mummy bloggers. I’m pretty certain none of them are as shallow, calculating and stupid as Wainwright chose to paint her characters. I didn’t finish it because there wasn’t a single real character worth investing in. 100% not recommended.
September 9, 2017
I enjoyed reading The Mummy Bloggers. I found it engaging as I tried to match the fiction with eerily similar real-life events among the blogging / influencer community. After reading a few heavier books, reading this book was a welcome, leisurely read.
June 20, 2025
Dar vienas @humanitasuab atrastas perliukas. 3 labai skirtingų moterų istorijos ir jas vienijantis pomėgis: internetinis dienoraštis.
Pirmuosius skyrius knyga skaitosi tikrai sunkiai. Tikrai gera ir aktuali idėja aprašoma gana chaotiškai, mintys šokinėja ir vietoj įprasto skaitymo džiaugsmo iš pradžių mėgini susigaudyti tarp vis naujų veikėjų ir jų gyvenimo istorijų.
Knygai įsibėgėjant paliečiamos tikrai aktualios temos: viešumo kaina, nuolatinis #fomo jausmas, perdegimo pavojus. Taip pat smagu, kad be nusaldintų motinystės džiaugsmų ir moteriško solidarumo parodoma ir kita internetinių dienoraščių pusė: nuolat viskuo nepatenkinti anonominiai komentatoriai, konkurencija, apsimestinis nuoširdumas.
Esame matę ne vieną vaizdo įrašą apie #fakereality socialiniuose tinkluose, tačiau šioje knygoje skaitome apie dar didesnį apsimetinėjimo mąstą: dirbtinai kuriamas dramas, apskaičiuojamą įrašų publikavo laiką, šiukšlių dėžėn keliaujantį maistą, kuris jau atliko savo funkciją "pozuoti nuotraukai".
Knyga svarbi savo siunčiama žinute, bet nekurianti didesnės intrigos. Visiems ir visoms besidomintiems/ -ioms socialiniais tinklais. Dar viena knyga atskleidžianti apsimetinėjimo kultūros absurdą.
Prisižymėjau daugybę pastraipų, kurias manau panaudosiu tirdama socialinių tinklų kalbą. Nors socialinių tinklų melas nebe naujiena, buvo momentų, kurie knygoje privertė pagalvoti, kad dėl dėmesio kai kurie žmonės visiškai praradę sveiką nuovoką.
Pirmuosius skyrius knyga skaitosi tikrai sunkiai. Tikrai gera ir aktuali idėja aprašoma gana chaotiškai, mintys šokinėja ir vietoj įprasto skaitymo džiaugsmo iš pradžių mėgini susigaudyti tarp vis naujų veikėjų ir jų gyvenimo istorijų.
Knygai įsibėgėjant paliečiamos tikrai aktualios temos: viešumo kaina, nuolatinis #fomo jausmas, perdegimo pavojus. Taip pat smagu, kad be nusaldintų motinystės džiaugsmų ir moteriško solidarumo parodoma ir kita internetinių dienoraščių pusė: nuolat viskuo nepatenkinti anonominiai komentatoriai, konkurencija, apsimestinis nuoširdumas.
Esame matę ne vieną vaizdo įrašą apie #fakereality socialiniuose tinkluose, tačiau šioje knygoje skaitome apie dar didesnį apsimetinėjimo mąstą: dirbtinai kuriamas dramas, apskaičiuojamą įrašų publikavo laiką, šiukšlių dėžėn keliaujantį maistą, kuris jau atliko savo funkciją "pozuoti nuotraukai".
Knyga svarbi savo siunčiama žinute, bet nekurianti didesnės intrigos. Visiems ir visoms besidomintiems/ -ioms socialiniais tinklais. Dar viena knyga atskleidžianti apsimetinėjimo kultūros absurdą.
Prisižymėjau daugybę pastraipų, kurias manau panaudosiu tirdama socialinių tinklų kalbą. Nors socialinių tinklų melas nebe naujiena, buvo momentų, kurie knygoje privertė pagalvoti, kad dėl dėmesio kai kurie žmonės visiškai praradę sveiką nuovoką.
June 27, 2019
A competition for bloggers with a big prize linked to it, that every blogger’s dream, isn’t it?
Of course it is and when the three nominees are announced, the heat is on.
The three women know of each other, but do not really know each other although there is a connection between them whether they like it or not.
A blog is about talking about things you believe in and you care about, but you have to be careful what and how you say it. People will love you and your ideas or people will hate you or what you write about.
A bit of competition is never bad and if you want to win, you have to do everything you can to achieve that goal, right? Well, yes, but is lying and cheating the way to go?
In this book we meet the Stylish mum, the Working mum and the ‘Green’ mum. The author takes us all the way up to the awards ceremony. Find out more about the lives of these three ladies and see how far some people are prepared to go. 4 stars.
Thank you, Holly Wainwright and Legend Press.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Of course it is and when the three nominees are announced, the heat is on.
The three women know of each other, but do not really know each other although there is a connection between them whether they like it or not.
A blog is about talking about things you believe in and you care about, but you have to be careful what and how you say it. People will love you and your ideas or people will hate you or what you write about.
A bit of competition is never bad and if you want to win, you have to do everything you can to achieve that goal, right? Well, yes, but is lying and cheating the way to go?
In this book we meet the Stylish mum, the Working mum and the ‘Green’ mum. The author takes us all the way up to the awards ceremony. Find out more about the lives of these three ladies and see how far some people are prepared to go. 4 stars.
Thank you, Holly Wainwright and Legend Press.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
July 2, 2019
Elle, Abi and Eisel have a few things in common, yes, but they couldn't be any more different if they tried. I can't even choose my favorite since they're all either likable, witty or funny. And that's exactly what makes the book so good: the perfect mixture.
It's especially fun if you yourself have a blog or social media presence since you'll often find yourself nodding along to whatever is written in the book (at least I did!).
It's a quick and fun read, perfect for a vacation day!
It's especially fun if you yourself have a blog or social media presence since you'll often find yourself nodding along to whatever is written in the book (at least I did!).
It's a quick and fun read, perfect for a vacation day!
July 10, 2019
The Mummy Bloggers is funny, witty, and each chapter leaves you wanting to start the next!
4 STARS
Everyone online thinks the three mummy bloggers lives are perfect. Why wouldn’t they?
ELLE is the stylish one. Perfect body. Perfect husband. Perfect kids. She’s all the #momgoals but how far will she go to grow her followers and keep up her perfect life?
LEISEL is the working mummy. Balancing her time with long work days to coming home and spending time with her stay at home husband and kids. Isn’t this what she’s always wanted? She writes to her followers who are working mums who can relate. But on the internet not everyone loves you.
ABI is the crunchy mum. We all know one of those (or are one of those). No sugar for the kids, no screen time, organic everything is what she preaches to her followers as the Green Diva but can she practice what she preaches?
As some of the most notorious mummy bloggers, these three are up for a prestige blogging award. Who will win? How far will they go to show how perfect their lives are? How far will they go to win?
Grab your copy of The Mummy Bloggers today, you won’t regret it!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange of an honest, unbiased review!
4 STARS
Everyone online thinks the three mummy bloggers lives are perfect. Why wouldn’t they?
ELLE is the stylish one. Perfect body. Perfect husband. Perfect kids. She’s all the #momgoals but how far will she go to grow her followers and keep up her perfect life?
LEISEL is the working mummy. Balancing her time with long work days to coming home and spending time with her stay at home husband and kids. Isn’t this what she’s always wanted? She writes to her followers who are working mums who can relate. But on the internet not everyone loves you.
ABI is the crunchy mum. We all know one of those (or are one of those). No sugar for the kids, no screen time, organic everything is what she preaches to her followers as the Green Diva but can she practice what she preaches?
As some of the most notorious mummy bloggers, these three are up for a prestige blogging award. Who will win? How far will they go to show how perfect their lives are? How far will they go to win?
Grab your copy of The Mummy Bloggers today, you won’t regret it!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange of an honest, unbiased review!
February 16, 2019
This was a total hate read for me. I found the characters so unlikeable it made me quite ragey at times.
August 31, 2017
Do you have what it takes to be a blogging superstar? I definitely do not. And after reading The Mummy Bloggers, I’m not sure I would even want to go there! This debut novel by Holly Wainwright is both hilarious and shocking in equal measures. There were times I found myself laughing uncontrollably but also feeling guilty about what I was laughing at. It’s that kind of novel. Snarky, sarcastic, funny, outrageous, and entirely authentic – kind of like reality TV wrapped up in a book.
I loathed Elle, thought Abi was hilarious, and really loved Leisel. Out of the three, Leisel was the most authentic. Her motivation for blogging was all about fostering connections and establishing a support network for likeminded mums. While her focus was often misplaced, her purpose remained true: to create an influence that counts. She was the character I was most invested in and who I was secretly championing as my chosen winner of the blogging award. #authenticLeisel
There was no possible way to relate to Elle – which was the author’s intent – but I was, to be honest, quite surprised that a person like her would be so popular. Everything about her blog was superficial, self-obsessed and fake. She was totally without a moral compass and there wasn’t a single time I felt a shred of empathy towards her. #insufferableElle
Abi, as a blogger, was in some ways just as bad as Elle; she thought nothing of lying online about her beliefs. The more outspoken she could be, the better. Honing in on contentious issues just for the sake of stirring up a hornet’s nest was one of her favourite pastimes, followed closely by gleefully watching the fallout online. But unlike Elle, Abi was self-aware, and as time rolled on, her maturity, empathy, and personality prevented her from continuing to push agendas that she was fundamentally opposed to just for the sake of garnering ‘likes, comments and shares’. By far the funniest character, she really had me in stitches over and over. #pricelessAbi
In crafting such vastly different characters, varying social media experiences were successfully showcased in a holistic way. Well balanced against each other and well crafted, all three characters shone under their respective spotlights, with a depth and realism that comes from knowing your subject.
For author Holly Wainwright, who is Head Of Entertainment at Mamamia Women’s Network, The Mummy Bloggers was a story just begging to be told:
“What inspired The Mummy Bloggers was watching the current crop of bloggers cross over to become bonafide celebrities. They carry more influence than most people on our TV screens. The impact this kind of sharing has on ‘ordinary’ mothers is remarkable – from the incredibly positive support networks to the worryingly competitive atmosphere. I began to wonder, ‘What does it take to stay so very interesting?’ And, ‘How much of what we’re reading is true?’ It seemed to me like a rich area for drama and humour.”
In her acknowledgements, Holly Wainwright pays homage to the real ‘Mummy Bloggers’ out there, the parents who share their lives online:
“There was a time when mothers had to shut up and smile. Now, telling the stories that allow other women to feel just a little more normal, more connected and understood is no small thing. ‘Mummy Bloggers’ or not, the lives of countless women around the world are a little less isolating because of you.”
I feel this sums up the intent of this novel so well. The truth of what we see online is incredibly subjective. The expectations this creates, the unattainable images we have no hope of living up to. And then there’s the trolls, those people who hide behind their keyboards and anonymous online identities, spreading their poison daily far and wide. They don’t care that their barbed comments are piercing real people. They’re ‘entitled’ to their opinion and they have a right to ‘free speech’. Despite this, the heart of blogging and social media beats with a community of like-minded spirits trying to feel a little less alone, a little less judged, and a little more liked, even if it is with people they only know online. I don’t think this is a bad thing and I think Holly Wainwright demonstrates this superbly throughout The Mummy Bloggers. This novel is my book club pick for this month and I can’t wait to get together with the other members to talk about it. I’m ready for some insightful observations! If you enjoyed Big Little Lies by Liane Moriaty (which I did), then you will certainly enjoy The Mummy Bloggers.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Mummy Bloggers for review.
The Mummy Bloggers is book 55 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
I loathed Elle, thought Abi was hilarious, and really loved Leisel. Out of the three, Leisel was the most authentic. Her motivation for blogging was all about fostering connections and establishing a support network for likeminded mums. While her focus was often misplaced, her purpose remained true: to create an influence that counts. She was the character I was most invested in and who I was secretly championing as my chosen winner of the blogging award. #authenticLeisel
There was no possible way to relate to Elle – which was the author’s intent – but I was, to be honest, quite surprised that a person like her would be so popular. Everything about her blog was superficial, self-obsessed and fake. She was totally without a moral compass and there wasn’t a single time I felt a shred of empathy towards her. #insufferableElle
Abi, as a blogger, was in some ways just as bad as Elle; she thought nothing of lying online about her beliefs. The more outspoken she could be, the better. Honing in on contentious issues just for the sake of stirring up a hornet’s nest was one of her favourite pastimes, followed closely by gleefully watching the fallout online. But unlike Elle, Abi was self-aware, and as time rolled on, her maturity, empathy, and personality prevented her from continuing to push agendas that she was fundamentally opposed to just for the sake of garnering ‘likes, comments and shares’. By far the funniest character, she really had me in stitches over and over. #pricelessAbi
In crafting such vastly different characters, varying social media experiences were successfully showcased in a holistic way. Well balanced against each other and well crafted, all three characters shone under their respective spotlights, with a depth and realism that comes from knowing your subject.
For author Holly Wainwright, who is Head Of Entertainment at Mamamia Women’s Network, The Mummy Bloggers was a story just begging to be told:
“What inspired The Mummy Bloggers was watching the current crop of bloggers cross over to become bonafide celebrities. They carry more influence than most people on our TV screens. The impact this kind of sharing has on ‘ordinary’ mothers is remarkable – from the incredibly positive support networks to the worryingly competitive atmosphere. I began to wonder, ‘What does it take to stay so very interesting?’ And, ‘How much of what we’re reading is true?’ It seemed to me like a rich area for drama and humour.”
In her acknowledgements, Holly Wainwright pays homage to the real ‘Mummy Bloggers’ out there, the parents who share their lives online:
“There was a time when mothers had to shut up and smile. Now, telling the stories that allow other women to feel just a little more normal, more connected and understood is no small thing. ‘Mummy Bloggers’ or not, the lives of countless women around the world are a little less isolating because of you.”
I feel this sums up the intent of this novel so well. The truth of what we see online is incredibly subjective. The expectations this creates, the unattainable images we have no hope of living up to. And then there’s the trolls, those people who hide behind their keyboards and anonymous online identities, spreading their poison daily far and wide. They don’t care that their barbed comments are piercing real people. They’re ‘entitled’ to their opinion and they have a right to ‘free speech’. Despite this, the heart of blogging and social media beats with a community of like-minded spirits trying to feel a little less alone, a little less judged, and a little more liked, even if it is with people they only know online. I don’t think this is a bad thing and I think Holly Wainwright demonstrates this superbly throughout The Mummy Bloggers. This novel is my book club pick for this month and I can’t wait to get together with the other members to talk about it. I’m ready for some insightful observations! If you enjoyed Big Little Lies by Liane Moriaty (which I did), then you will certainly enjoy The Mummy Bloggers.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Mummy Bloggers for review.
The Mummy Bloggers is book 55 in my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
October 11, 2019
This was a super fun ride. It was a familiar world, a world I love and enjoy and am a part of, even if in a rather peripheral way. I’ve seen rough prototypes of the three moms.
I loved the characters and the idea of niches within a niche. The book brought to light the social media addiction a lot of bloggers succumb to, living in a world of hashtags. That itch to check how many people responded to that last tweet, the last update, the latest post, that need for constant validation from relative strangers - that was very real. As also the danger of trolls.
Abi gives sound advice (?) for grabbing eye-balls in a crowded world:
'...the only way to get anyone to listen to you was to keep it simple and shout the loudest. Clouding your argument with nuance was the road to oblivion .…'
Make the world black and white, take sides, stick to them, fight for them. It's interesting how she goes about doing just this and gets caught up in a complicated web.
I loved Elle’s track for highlighting what a fake world it is out there. Reading about her was annoying and funny and, towards the end, crazily frustratingly unbelievable.
Leisel was a personal favourite perhaps because she was the most identifiable and the most genuine of the lot. Take for instance her worry that the children liked Wonder Dad better than her and yet she is relieved when baby wants only 'daddy' to put her to bed and then right away she’s guilty for feeling relieved. That emotional see-sawing is only too familiar.
Of course it’s all exaggerated, hugely exaggerated in the latter part, but I still maintain this was a fun read.
I’ll give it one extra star for delivering what it promised.
Last thought: If you're a blogger looking for a light read, pick this one. If you're not, you still might enjoy the laughs.
I loved the characters and the idea of niches within a niche. The book brought to light the social media addiction a lot of bloggers succumb to, living in a world of hashtags. That itch to check how many people responded to that last tweet, the last update, the latest post, that need for constant validation from relative strangers - that was very real. As also the danger of trolls.
Abi gives sound advice (?) for grabbing eye-balls in a crowded world:
'...the only way to get anyone to listen to you was to keep it simple and shout the loudest. Clouding your argument with nuance was the road to oblivion .…'
Make the world black and white, take sides, stick to them, fight for them. It's interesting how she goes about doing just this and gets caught up in a complicated web.
I loved Elle’s track for highlighting what a fake world it is out there. Reading about her was annoying and funny and, towards the end, crazily frustratingly unbelievable.
Leisel was a personal favourite perhaps because she was the most identifiable and the most genuine of the lot. Take for instance her worry that the children liked Wonder Dad better than her and yet she is relieved when baby wants only 'daddy' to put her to bed and then right away she’s guilty for feeling relieved. That emotional see-sawing is only too familiar.
Of course it’s all exaggerated, hugely exaggerated in the latter part, but I still maintain this was a fun read.
I’ll give it one extra star for delivering what it promised.
Last thought: If you're a blogger looking for a light read, pick this one. If you're not, you still might enjoy the laughs.
November 6, 2018
Three women. Three blogs. So many lies. . .
Elle (blog "The Stylish Mumma") profil ibu sempurna dengan suami sukses, anak-anak menawan, rumah indah berkilauan, dan penampilan bak model.
Abi (blog "The Green Diva") ibu hippie penganut gaya hidup alami tanpa bahan kimia dan polesan, penentang dominasi laki-laki dan tak pernah ragu bersuara lantang.
Leisel (blog "The Working Mom") ibu pekerja yang selalu kesulitan membagi waktu antara anak dan pekerjaan, tulang punggung keluarga yang tak pernah merasa cukup baik untuk keluarganya.
Tiga perempuan berbeda dengan gaya bermedsos yang jauh berbeda, dan barisan follower setia masing-masing. Saat ketiganya dinominasikan untuk blogger terbaik kategori parenting, dimulailah kegilaan yang sudah menjadi pengetahuan umum di dunia medsos: sejauh apa risiko yang berani kita ambil demi konten dahsyat dan banjir respons dari follower?
Ini novel yang ringan dengan tema yang begitu akrab dengan keseharian kita, tapi ada makna lebih dalam yang hendak disampaikan penulis. Tentang batas yang semakin tipis antara dunia maya dan nyata, membuat banyak orang kerap tersesat. Juga tentang kesetaraan peran laki-laki dan perempuan.
Karakter-karakternya memang agak terlalu gamblang, menurut saya, sehingga dari awal kita sudah "digiring" untuk lebih menyukai salah satu karakter. Begitu pula kaitan antara ketiganya yang sangat kebetulan. Tapi secara keseluruhan tetap menarik untuk dibaca dan direnungkan.
Elle (blog "The Stylish Mumma") profil ibu sempurna dengan suami sukses, anak-anak menawan, rumah indah berkilauan, dan penampilan bak model.
Abi (blog "The Green Diva") ibu hippie penganut gaya hidup alami tanpa bahan kimia dan polesan, penentang dominasi laki-laki dan tak pernah ragu bersuara lantang.
Leisel (blog "The Working Mom") ibu pekerja yang selalu kesulitan membagi waktu antara anak dan pekerjaan, tulang punggung keluarga yang tak pernah merasa cukup baik untuk keluarganya.
Tiga perempuan berbeda dengan gaya bermedsos yang jauh berbeda, dan barisan follower setia masing-masing. Saat ketiganya dinominasikan untuk blogger terbaik kategori parenting, dimulailah kegilaan yang sudah menjadi pengetahuan umum di dunia medsos: sejauh apa risiko yang berani kita ambil demi konten dahsyat dan banjir respons dari follower?
Ini novel yang ringan dengan tema yang begitu akrab dengan keseharian kita, tapi ada makna lebih dalam yang hendak disampaikan penulis. Tentang batas yang semakin tipis antara dunia maya dan nyata, membuat banyak orang kerap tersesat. Juga tentang kesetaraan peran laki-laki dan perempuan.
Karakter-karakternya memang agak terlalu gamblang, menurut saya, sehingga dari awal kita sudah "digiring" untuk lebih menyukai salah satu karakter. Begitu pula kaitan antara ketiganya yang sangat kebetulan. Tapi secara keseluruhan tetap menarik untuk dibaca dan direnungkan.
November 23, 2019
As a blogger myself, though not in the parenting sphere, I find myself drawn to narratives about social media influencers and the lengths to which they go to curate their lives in ways that appeal to their audiences. "The Mummy Bloggers" did a great (and entertaining) job of showing how people will do anything--spread controversy, invent tragedies, share personal details of those around them--just for the almighty engagement score. Blogging is a touchy business at the best of times. Publicizing stories that don't belong to you, especially involving vulnerable groups like children, demands a high level of responsibility and integrity. I'm still learning about where that line is in my own life, and it's made me read every other blog and social media feed with fresh, critical eyes. While "The Mummy Bloggers" may show the very darkest side of social-media-as-career, it forces readers to think carefully about what (or whom) they consume, and whether that consumption deserves closer scrutiny.
Not interested in any of that? Read it anyway; it's a good story!
Not interested in any of that? Read it anyway; it's a good story!
December 31, 2019
I have to say I'm so glad the world of book blogging is no where near as underhanded or cutthroat as that of the mummy bloggers in this book.
Meet the 3 ladies who will go all put to win a prestigious blogging award.
Elle, Abi and Leisl are all interlinked in more ways than you could think. They are all mums with very different approaches to child raising.
There are many characters in this but once you get used to the structure and who belongs with each lead it does help a lot. I loved that each chapter was labelled with who it was focusing on.
There are many parenting issues covered in this book as well as a commentary on social media and how it's used.
I loved this book so much that I think the only thing I can do is sit down and read the sequel that also happens to be on my kindle.
Plenty of fun, relatable elements of characters and down right deviousness. A great book for those of you with kids and like me those that just want to be entertained.
Thank you to Legend Press on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Meet the 3 ladies who will go all put to win a prestigious blogging award.
Elle, Abi and Leisl are all interlinked in more ways than you could think. They are all mums with very different approaches to child raising.
There are many characters in this but once you get used to the structure and who belongs with each lead it does help a lot. I loved that each chapter was labelled with who it was focusing on.
There are many parenting issues covered in this book as well as a commentary on social media and how it's used.
I loved this book so much that I think the only thing I can do is sit down and read the sequel that also happens to be on my kindle.
Plenty of fun, relatable elements of characters and down right deviousness. A great book for those of you with kids and like me those that just want to be entertained.
Thank you to Legend Press on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 5, 2019
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
The book follows the lives of 3 totally different mummy bloggers who's lives are intertwined. You get a insight to what their blogs are all about and how the mums live their lives. They all get nominated for a blogger award and then we see how far they will go to win.
It was a good insight to the world we are living in with social media and shows that things aren't always as rosy as people would like you to think. I just didn't find any of the character that likeable which left me feeling not to bothered about the story. It was a nice easy read just maybe not my cup of tea.
The book follows the lives of 3 totally different mummy bloggers who's lives are intertwined. You get a insight to what their blogs are all about and how the mums live their lives. They all get nominated for a blogger award and then we see how far they will go to win.
It was a good insight to the world we are living in with social media and shows that things aren't always as rosy as people would like you to think. I just didn't find any of the character that likeable which left me feeling not to bothered about the story. It was a nice easy read just maybe not my cup of tea.
September 8, 2017
I loved the Mummy Bloggers! The characters and their exploits were highly entertaining. I found myself wanting to quickly finish the story to see what happens next, while at the same time trying to pace myself and enjoy the ride. Our 3 main characters are pitted against one another for the prestigious Blog-ahh’s award that comes with a hefty cash prize and opportunities to transform blogging into big business. I found the PR world fascinating, it was interesting to learn a little about building a brand through image. The themes surrounding social media are so relevant in contemporary culture. Some of the antics on social media were hilarious and some had me shaking my head in disapproval. Judgemental me I know! Being in the parenting game myself I have found the early years to be somewhat competitive and I find it amusing that mothering has once again reached even greater levels of competition.
Elle is known as the ‘Stylish Mumma’ and her posts are intended to be aspirational. Elle appears to have it all; a loving husband, healthy and happy children, a beautiful perfectly clean home and a toned and flawless body. This is what she shows to the world however life is not as it seems.
Abi the ‘Green Diva’ is an Earth mother promoting healthy organic living. She has gone so far as to condemn vaccination. Merely posting about eating a processed meat pie will send her followers into a tizzy.
Leisel is ‘The Working Mum’ who spends 10 hour days in the office, reporting to a boss significantly younger than herself. She is the primary income earner for her family and has aspirations of being in a better financial position.
Let the games begin!!!
Elle is known as the ‘Stylish Mumma’ and her posts are intended to be aspirational. Elle appears to have it all; a loving husband, healthy and happy children, a beautiful perfectly clean home and a toned and flawless body. This is what she shows to the world however life is not as it seems.
Abi the ‘Green Diva’ is an Earth mother promoting healthy organic living. She has gone so far as to condemn vaccination. Merely posting about eating a processed meat pie will send her followers into a tizzy.
Leisel is ‘The Working Mum’ who spends 10 hour days in the office, reporting to a boss significantly younger than herself. She is the primary income earner for her family and has aspirations of being in a better financial position.
Let the games begin!!!
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