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Confessions of a First Time Mum
Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.
With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.
In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…
A perfect laugh-out-loud read for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma Robinson.
With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.
In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…
A perfect laugh-out-loud read for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma Robinson.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2018
12 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 13, 2018
5☆ A Fabulous Insight to the ups and downs of being a Mum!
Confessions of a First-Time Mum is a laugh out loud look into the ups and downs of becoming a first time Mum.
Stevie is a first time Mum to Cherry.
She isn't finding things easy as most first time mum's.
What I loved was how you got to see Stevie's vulnerabilities, her struggles, her triumphs. I loved watching her grow with confidence, with Cherry and her life in general. As motherhood changes all aspects of your life.
Her mishaps and mayhem had me laughing out loud.
I really enjoyed Stevie's Blog Entries. She had me laughing and sympathizing with her as she laid everything out there for all to read and equally judge.
I haven't yet got children but Poppy certainly gave me a realistic look into what it could be like.
This was a wonderfully written, warm, funny, relatable read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt like I was on a journey of discovery alongside Stevie and I love books that make you feel involved, or trigger memories.
Poppy really thought of everything, she made the book current with the use of blogging, which with the use of websites like NetMums can really help.
If you are looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, realistic portrayal of becoming a first time Mum, then you will really enjoy this wonderful warm read.
Thank you to Canelo for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Confessions of a First-Time Mum is a laugh out loud look into the ups and downs of becoming a first time Mum.
Stevie is a first time Mum to Cherry.
She isn't finding things easy as most first time mum's.
What I loved was how you got to see Stevie's vulnerabilities, her struggles, her triumphs. I loved watching her grow with confidence, with Cherry and her life in general. As motherhood changes all aspects of your life.
Her mishaps and mayhem had me laughing out loud.
I really enjoyed Stevie's Blog Entries. She had me laughing and sympathizing with her as she laid everything out there for all to read and equally judge.
I haven't yet got children but Poppy certainly gave me a realistic look into what it could be like.
This was a wonderfully written, warm, funny, relatable read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt like I was on a journey of discovery alongside Stevie and I love books that make you feel involved, or trigger memories.
Poppy really thought of everything, she made the book current with the use of blogging, which with the use of websites like NetMums can really help.
If you are looking for a feel good, laugh out loud, realistic portrayal of becoming a first time Mum, then you will really enjoy this wonderful warm read.
Thank you to Canelo for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
June 29, 2021
If you are looking for a funny but predictable mom-com (is that a thing yet? A mommy-comedy?), this is a book you could try out.
Stevie, an erstwhile PR executive, is on her maternity break for her six month daughter, Cherry. Her husband Ted is always at office so it’s up to Stevie to manage the home and baby. As you can guess, this leads to typical, over-the-top situations which will make you laugh or cringe. She soon finds two new parent friends, Nelle (a mother of three struggling to manage her home business with her third baby) and Will (a gay dad who serves as the caretaker for his twin daughters while his husband is at work.)
The different factor in this book is that Stevie begins to blog about her mothering experiences and her page “Confessions of a First-Time Mum” soon becomes a hit (as expected) as she seems to delve into the bittersweet side of mothering rather than on the sugary experiences. The chapters that are presented in the form of these blog entries are quite entertaining and the best part of the book.
You get all your usual mom book tropes here – food mishaps, potty bloopers, sleep traumas, social anxieties… Some of it is realistic enough. But the rest is so exaggerated that it might put you off ever wanting to become a parent, if you aren’t one already! We already know that such books are usually cliché-ridden and this book is no exception. It actually starts off very well, and there are many laugh-out-loud scenes in the first few chapters. But it soon digresses into overstated and unrealistic blunders.
The secondary characters are mostly likeable within their stereotypical roles. The main characters, not so much. Stevie’s opinion about her husband seems to go into extremes depending on the situation. The lack of communication between them seems bewildering. Furthermore, Stevie’s almost-entirely absent social skillset seems like a glaring character glitch considering her PR background. The only hands-on dad in the entire book is Will, who is gay. The straight dads seem to be dependent on their female better halves for parenting. Yup, stereotypical it is.
That is not to say that the book is without any merits. The ride is more or less enjoyable, though not memorable. Stevie’s narration of her parenting anxieties, when based in reality, are absolutely touching. The depiction of “mum mums” started off in a typical manner but ended very well. So that was a big plus too. My favourite character of the book though was Nelle, who seems to have her head screwed on very firmly.
What turned the book from a good to a great experience was its narrator Lizzie Wofford. This is one of the best narrations I’ve heard this year. The 9 hours 43 minutes long audiobook went by without any rewind because of her exuberant performance. Full marks to her narration! I would love to hear more books read by her.
A 3.5 from me, rounding up to 4 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
Stevie, an erstwhile PR executive, is on her maternity break for her six month daughter, Cherry. Her husband Ted is always at office so it’s up to Stevie to manage the home and baby. As you can guess, this leads to typical, over-the-top situations which will make you laugh or cringe. She soon finds two new parent friends, Nelle (a mother of three struggling to manage her home business with her third baby) and Will (a gay dad who serves as the caretaker for his twin daughters while his husband is at work.)
The different factor in this book is that Stevie begins to blog about her mothering experiences and her page “Confessions of a First-Time Mum” soon becomes a hit (as expected) as she seems to delve into the bittersweet side of mothering rather than on the sugary experiences. The chapters that are presented in the form of these blog entries are quite entertaining and the best part of the book.
You get all your usual mom book tropes here – food mishaps, potty bloopers, sleep traumas, social anxieties… Some of it is realistic enough. But the rest is so exaggerated that it might put you off ever wanting to become a parent, if you aren’t one already! We already know that such books are usually cliché-ridden and this book is no exception. It actually starts off very well, and there are many laugh-out-loud scenes in the first few chapters. But it soon digresses into overstated and unrealistic blunders.
The secondary characters are mostly likeable within their stereotypical roles. The main characters, not so much. Stevie’s opinion about her husband seems to go into extremes depending on the situation. The lack of communication between them seems bewildering. Furthermore, Stevie’s almost-entirely absent social skillset seems like a glaring character glitch considering her PR background. The only hands-on dad in the entire book is Will, who is gay. The straight dads seem to be dependent on their female better halves for parenting. Yup, stereotypical it is.
That is not to say that the book is without any merits. The ride is more or less enjoyable, though not memorable. Stevie’s narration of her parenting anxieties, when based in reality, are absolutely touching. The depiction of “mum mums” started off in a typical manner but ended very well. So that was a big plus too. My favourite character of the book though was Nelle, who seems to have her head screwed on very firmly.
What turned the book from a good to a great experience was its narrator Lizzie Wofford. This is one of the best narrations I’ve heard this year. The 9 hours 43 minutes long audiobook went by without any rewind because of her exuberant performance. Full marks to her narration! I would love to hear more books read by her.
A 3.5 from me, rounding up to 4 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
July 8, 2021
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This was so fun.
I loved how the narrator made this book “live” and help it to stand out easily whilst I was listening to it today.
A first time mom. Oh I remember it well. It’s lovely….
It’s daunting
It’s rewarding
It’s tiring
It’s precious
It’s lonely and isolating.
So why not start up a moms blog.
The way she writes her entries on her blog made me giggle and relate to so much.
Getting ready just walk down to the shops is an ordeal, you just get ready and little baby is sick all over you.
Change mommy’s clothes
Change babies clothes then….
Oh gee what’s that smell!
Us moms will know what I’m on about, right?
Such a well written laugh out loud book for any mom or would be mom. In fact, anyone who wants a laugh.
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Blog |
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This was so fun.
I loved how the narrator made this book “live” and help it to stand out easily whilst I was listening to it today.
A first time mom. Oh I remember it well. It’s lovely….
It’s daunting
It’s rewarding
It’s tiring
It’s precious
It’s lonely and isolating.
So why not start up a moms blog.
The way she writes her entries on her blog made me giggle and relate to so much.
Getting ready just walk down to the shops is an ordeal, you just get ready and little baby is sick all over you.
Change mommy’s clothes
Change babies clothes then….
Oh gee what’s that smell!
Us moms will know what I’m on about, right?
Such a well written laugh out loud book for any mom or would be mom. In fact, anyone who wants a laugh.
March 27, 2019
Incredibly funny and honest look at motherhood, especially at how the realities of it are nothing like what appears on social media or in magazines. It's not all glossy and wonderful, and there are times where parents really do struggle.
So Stevie is mother to 6 month old Cherry, a rather unfortunate infant who suffers badly from reflux, and is a real mummy's girl. After many sleepless nights Stevie starts writing a blog which she never expects anyone to read, venting about her true feelings on motherhood.
She is convinced she is failing at motherhood, and then she finally gets herself some new parenting friends, and her outlook on life starts to improve. I loved Nelle and Will, and their kids too, they provided such a refreshing perspective on things.
Whereas I really didn't take to Stevie's work-aholic husband. Easily my favourite parts are the blog posts that Stevie were righting, and I think a large amount of this book will ring true with mothers, whether they admit it or not.
From a personal point of view I could have done with a lot less bodily fluids in it, there were for me far too many descriptions of baby sick and poo. I know that's what little kids do, but it meant reading this while I was eating was a challenge at times!
This was just so very entertaining, probably my favourite book to date from this author. I found myself whizzing through the pages, not wanting to put it down, I was completely hooked to see just what would happen next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
So Stevie is mother to 6 month old Cherry, a rather unfortunate infant who suffers badly from reflux, and is a real mummy's girl. After many sleepless nights Stevie starts writing a blog which she never expects anyone to read, venting about her true feelings on motherhood.
She is convinced she is failing at motherhood, and then she finally gets herself some new parenting friends, and her outlook on life starts to improve. I loved Nelle and Will, and their kids too, they provided such a refreshing perspective on things.
Whereas I really didn't take to Stevie's work-aholic husband. Easily my favourite parts are the blog posts that Stevie were righting, and I think a large amount of this book will ring true with mothers, whether they admit it or not.
From a personal point of view I could have done with a lot less bodily fluids in it, there were for me far too many descriptions of baby sick and poo. I know that's what little kids do, but it meant reading this while I was eating was a challenge at times!
This was just so very entertaining, probably my favourite book to date from this author. I found myself whizzing through the pages, not wanting to put it down, I was completely hooked to see just what would happen next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 3, 2018
Stevie is a first time mum and has a baby called Cherry who is very cute. Stevie is struggling with her new role, but has not lost her sense of humour. I'm not a mum yet but I hope to be in the future. Confessions of a First-Time Mum is a humorous (and realistic from what I have heard from friends and family who are mums) look at motherhood. Poppy Dolan goes deep into the life and mind of a first-time mum and Stevie us a realistic character. What happens when she meets Will? Read this book to find out more! The book has a fast-moving yet fun pace and I finished it in a few hours.
Huge thanks to Poppy Dolan and Canelo for my ARC of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. So pleased to be on the blog tour for this one. I have also reviewed The Bluebell Bunting Society and The Woolly Hat Knitting Club which are previous titles by Poppy Dolan.
The book deserves 5 stars because of its original plot and characters that I think more than one mum-to-be or new mum will identify with.
Huge thanks to Poppy Dolan and Canelo for my ARC of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. So pleased to be on the blog tour for this one. I have also reviewed The Bluebell Bunting Society and The Woolly Hat Knitting Club which are previous titles by Poppy Dolan.
The book deserves 5 stars because of its original plot and characters that I think more than one mum-to-be or new mum will identify with.
August 14, 2022
Confessions of a First Time Mum by new to me author Poppy Dolan introduces us to former PR executive Stevie and her day-to-day struggles and challenges with being a first-time mother. That, in and of itself, doesn’t sound all that exciting and interesting, or easy to relate to for people who have not experienced parenthood. The wonderful thing about this book is it is easy to relate to Stevie as we all have been in her place, striving to succeed in a world where most days are an uphill climb, trying to make ends meet and bring each day into some sort of semblance of balance and structured order.
I thought Stevie was a riot and her PR background really came into play when she decides to start a blog to strip bare the fantasy of parenthood with the brutal and sometimes horrifying reality of being a first-time parent. The constant crying; the demonic projectile vomiting; the poo explosions; the post-partum saggy bits of skin and what the heck happened to my breasts!?
Stevie feels like she is travelling this road by herself; that she has somehow lost herself and her self-worth along the way. She doesn’t feel like she can talk to her husband and forget about making any Mom mates as they will most likely run screaming in the opposite direction. Fortunately, Stevie does meet and make friends with other parents and even discovers that she still has a lot of talent in promoting not just herself, but also her friends and helping to organize a parent’s festival.
In addition to a plot that flowed smoothly and characters that were easy to empathize with and relate to, I had the added benefit of listening to the audiobook edition narrated by Lizzie Wofford. If, like me, you are a fan of audiobooks, the narrator can make or break the story. The pairing of Poppy Dolan’s books with Lizzie Wofford’s narration is brilliant. On the page and in my ear, they both bring these characters to life and provided many hours of laugh aloud moments.
My Final Verdict: I loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who like stories that center around really flawed characters who are trying their best and sometimes get it wrong, but don’t give up. I also highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that give them stitches from laughing so hard or draws them so fully into the story, they feel like they know these characters and are right beside them every step of the way.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Confessions of a First Time Mum from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I thought Stevie was a riot and her PR background really came into play when she decides to start a blog to strip bare the fantasy of parenthood with the brutal and sometimes horrifying reality of being a first-time parent. The constant crying; the demonic projectile vomiting; the poo explosions; the post-partum saggy bits of skin and what the heck happened to my breasts!?
Stevie feels like she is travelling this road by herself; that she has somehow lost herself and her self-worth along the way. She doesn’t feel like she can talk to her husband and forget about making any Mom mates as they will most likely run screaming in the opposite direction. Fortunately, Stevie does meet and make friends with other parents and even discovers that she still has a lot of talent in promoting not just herself, but also her friends and helping to organize a parent’s festival.
In addition to a plot that flowed smoothly and characters that were easy to empathize with and relate to, I had the added benefit of listening to the audiobook edition narrated by Lizzie Wofford. If, like me, you are a fan of audiobooks, the narrator can make or break the story. The pairing of Poppy Dolan’s books with Lizzie Wofford’s narration is brilliant. On the page and in my ear, they both bring these characters to life and provided many hours of laugh aloud moments.
My Final Verdict: I loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who like stories that center around really flawed characters who are trying their best and sometimes get it wrong, but don’t give up. I also highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that give them stitches from laughing so hard or draws them so fully into the story, they feel like they know these characters and are right beside them every step of the way.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Confessions of a First Time Mum from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
I'm going to put this out there - where the baby wipes was this book when my daughter was born?! Poppy Dolan had me in hysterics from the first page, and I'm not exaggerating. This authors humour is magnificent, yet she is only writing about parenthood in a realistic manner and without looking at it through rose tinted glasses. Just like Stevie, and I'm sure many of you as well, I had my plans before my daughter was born, adamant that I would do things a certain way. Did that happen? Did it fluff! It wasn't that I changed my mind when she was born, it was purely a case of being realistic and realising that, after being awake during the night more times than I was asleep, getting myself dolled up in the morning to go to a baby group wasn't at the top of my list.
Whilst I didn't find the early stages of parenthood as challenging as others may have done, I still appreciated and loved the black and white way which Stevie spoke about her life. She didn't fake it, she just said how she felt. As far as I'm concerned, I don't really see that as a bad thing, do you? What I also thought was completely bang on, was how Stevie said what a lot of mums think when it comes to being looked down upon by other parents for how you raise your own child. As a single mum, I have had my fair share of derogatory comments and people looking down their noses at me and yes, at first it bothered me, but now? I'm just proud of myself and so should every other parent be. Well, as long as they're being the best that they can be, obvs!!
Anyway, I'm going around the houses with this review - apologies! I thought 'Confessions of a First-Time Mum' was such a brilliant, brilliant read which had me snorting like a pig on more than one occasion. I can guarantee that a lot of readers will be nodding their heads at what Stevie comes out with, and relating to every single thing about this book in general. I know I did!
I thought the idea of Stevie's blog was really fun, even if it did sound a little familiar having read a similar thing in a different book.
'Confessions of a First-Time Mum' is a fantastic, relatable read for anyone who has children of their own. Hell, even if I didn't have a child, I am sure I still would have loved reading about Stevie, Nelle and Will, as people like them re just what the world desperately needs.
I'm going to put this out there - where the baby wipes was this book when my daughter was born?! Poppy Dolan had me in hysterics from the first page, and I'm not exaggerating. This authors humour is magnificent, yet she is only writing about parenthood in a realistic manner and without looking at it through rose tinted glasses. Just like Stevie, and I'm sure many of you as well, I had my plans before my daughter was born, adamant that I would do things a certain way. Did that happen? Did it fluff! It wasn't that I changed my mind when she was born, it was purely a case of being realistic and realising that, after being awake during the night more times than I was asleep, getting myself dolled up in the morning to go to a baby group wasn't at the top of my list.
Whilst I didn't find the early stages of parenthood as challenging as others may have done, I still appreciated and loved the black and white way which Stevie spoke about her life. She didn't fake it, she just said how she felt. As far as I'm concerned, I don't really see that as a bad thing, do you? What I also thought was completely bang on, was how Stevie said what a lot of mums think when it comes to being looked down upon by other parents for how you raise your own child. As a single mum, I have had my fair share of derogatory comments and people looking down their noses at me and yes, at first it bothered me, but now? I'm just proud of myself and so should every other parent be. Well, as long as they're being the best that they can be, obvs!!
Anyway, I'm going around the houses with this review - apologies! I thought 'Confessions of a First-Time Mum' was such a brilliant, brilliant read which had me snorting like a pig on more than one occasion. I can guarantee that a lot of readers will be nodding their heads at what Stevie comes out with, and relating to every single thing about this book in general. I know I did!
I thought the idea of Stevie's blog was really fun, even if it did sound a little familiar having read a similar thing in a different book.
'Confessions of a First-Time Mum' is a fantastic, relatable read for anyone who has children of their own. Hell, even if I didn't have a child, I am sure I still would have loved reading about Stevie, Nelle and Will, as people like them re just what the world desperately needs.
June 26, 2018
This is the latest in a long line of books in this genre and it manages to provide the reader with enough unique moments to make it stand out. This isn’t the best I have read but it is well worth a read if you like this kind of story.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.
April 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from this author. Even though I’m not a mother myself I akways enjoy fictional books about the antics of motherhood. Kids are so funny, and you never know what’s around the corner when your with them.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2018
In Poppy Dolan's book, "Confessions of a First - Time Mum", our main character Stevie is ... yes, you guessed! A first - time mum! And let's be honest - she doesn't cope so well, which, of course, is totally understandable. Her husband Ted works hard to provide them a comfortable life, all her friends are working, her parents are on another continent... So Stevie starts to write about her feelings on her First Time Mum blog that quickly turns into incredible success. But, as it usually, where you find success you also often finds defeat and troubles... Will Stevie, with the help of new friends Will and Nelle, a) realise that there is no such thing as perfect parenting, b) save her marriage?
This book tells it how it really is to have a baby. I mean, you can attend all kinds of antenatal classes but the reality is in any case going to slap you very, very hard and nothing can prepare you for the shock. Thanks god my baby was not as extreme and demanding as Cherry was, even though then I thought it couldn't be worse but now, in perspective, I can see that she really was uncomplicated, and we didn't have such adventures as Stevie and her daughter. But I can imagine that there are babies like Cherry, and I so really well understood Stevie and her frustrations, desperations and problems - Cherry was not a child I'd call cute, to be honest.
Every mum can recognise herself, more or less, in Stevie, our main character. Stevie, with her brand new daughter and her feelings of happiness and love mixed with confusion, uncertainty, failure, loneliness. I really felt for her, for her struggles, for the fact that she was so authentic. Also, Nelle and Will were brilliant addition to this story and did well as Stevie's new friends - I'm still friends with the girls I got to know when I was pregnant and it's almost seven years now, although I think that none of them is as sharp and honest as Nelle and Will, sadly - every new mum needs such friends as those two.
This book started in a brilliant way and I couldn't put it down at the beginning. However, somewhere around the middle, it lost the whole impact and it started to feel repetitive and flat. It also felt too full, as if the author wanted to cram all possible events into the story. I don't know, I can't put my finger on exactly what was wrong with the second half, it simply read differently and was not as lightly written and as full of joy as the first part.
Altogether, "Confessions of a First - Time Mum" was brutally honest, incredibly funny and also poignant, a read that I could easily relate to. It gave a very realistic look at motherhood generally. Poppy Dolan has really brilliantly captured how it is to be a first - time mum - a mum altogether, showed both sides of motherhood, this of incredible happiness and being proud but also this of feeling totally misunderstood, alone and desperate. A story also about friendship and support and backing up your friends no matter what. It isn't only about being a new mum but it also explores many more issues, and even though I sometimes felt a little overwhelmed with the number of events, I still enjoyed how different and colourful those subplots were, and because of them the pace felt really quick.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
July 20, 2018
Stevie’s a new first time mum. Her life has changed beyond recognition since the birth of her daughter, Cherry. It’s difficult but Stevie copes…just about! Her husband Ted works hard to keep the family finances afloat while Stevie is off work and he isn’t really there for Stevie to offload her feelings onto, so she starts up a First Time Mum blog! She also meets fellow parents, Nelle and Will. Nelle, who has just had her third child with a big gap between this one and her elder two, wonders why she’s going through all this baby stuff again at her age! Will is father to his 2 year old twin daughters who run circles around him! Stevie realises, after meeting Nelle and Will, that there is no such thing as the ‘perfect mum’ and together they plough through what life deals them.
My son is 11 and it’s been a long while since I’ve had to deal with babies, but reading this has brought everything flooding back! The sleepless nights, the endless crying, the exploding nappies and the milk reflux which means no matter what you or baby wear within 5 minutes you’re covered in and smell of sour milk. Just by writing it down has triggered a panic attack, so you can imagine what it was like to read it! It was though a very funny and heart-warming look at life through the eyes of a new mum.
I loved Stevie’s character and could totally relate to her (as could any new mum!). I also loved Nelle and so wished that I had someone like her around me when I was a new mum. She’d ‘been there, done it before’ and had an air of confidence about her that would make me believe anything she said! Will’s first impression was that he was a moody dad on the verge of not coping, but as the story moves on you realise that he’s not like that at all.
A fun, laugh out loud book also with lots of tender moments. Perfect for new mums, old mums and no mums! Everyone can enjoy this book! Would definitely recommend!
My son is 11 and it’s been a long while since I’ve had to deal with babies, but reading this has brought everything flooding back! The sleepless nights, the endless crying, the exploding nappies and the milk reflux which means no matter what you or baby wear within 5 minutes you’re covered in and smell of sour milk. Just by writing it down has triggered a panic attack, so you can imagine what it was like to read it! It was though a very funny and heart-warming look at life through the eyes of a new mum.
I loved Stevie’s character and could totally relate to her (as could any new mum!). I also loved Nelle and so wished that I had someone like her around me when I was a new mum. She’d ‘been there, done it before’ and had an air of confidence about her that would make me believe anything she said! Will’s first impression was that he was a moody dad on the verge of not coping, but as the story moves on you realise that he’s not like that at all.
A fun, laugh out loud book also with lots of tender moments. Perfect for new mums, old mums and no mums! Everyone can enjoy this book! Would definitely recommend!
July 19, 2018
Loved this book and thoroughly recommend it for a light hearted read that is pretty funny in places. It's all about Stevie, who is a first time Mum to Cherry and struggling with the fact that her life has been turned completely upside down as a result. She pours out her thoughts and emotions into a blog called First Time Mum, which is an anoymous insight into how it feels to become a mum and the trials and tribulations that go along with that. It's a very amusing interlude between chapters to read the blogs. I really enjoyed the character of Stevie and I think most mums will see a lot of themselves in her. The supporting characters are great too. All in all, it's a great, light read that rides really well off the back of the mummy blogging trend.
July 29, 2021
This audiobook was very funny at parts and totally sums up parent hood. The positives, negatives and the nitty gritty!!
All parents are in this crazy ride of raising children together and should never feel alone or if they are doing things wrong. There is no right or wrong way just the right way for you and your child/ren. This read 100% highlights the madness with giving the reader a good few laughs too!
The narrator was very easy to listen to and understand!
I recommend this book to anyone especially parents 💖
Thank you to netgallery for the opportunity to review and listen to this audiobook.
All parents are in this crazy ride of raising children together and should never feel alone or if they are doing things wrong. There is no right or wrong way just the right way for you and your child/ren. This read 100% highlights the madness with giving the reader a good few laughs too!
The narrator was very easy to listen to and understand!
I recommend this book to anyone especially parents 💖
Thank you to netgallery for the opportunity to review and listen to this audiobook.
July 2, 2023
Book Review
Title: Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.25 Stars
The opening was interesting as we are introduced to Stevie and her baby, Cherry as Stevie is dealing with the stresses of being a first time mom with a partner that works full time. Stevie initially thinks she is doing well but is filled with anxiety about her child and when Cherry cries or vomits in public she uses flees home but she wishes she had mom friends or someone to support her during this time.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Stevie ends up making two friends at weigh in, Nelle and Will. Nelle is a working mum of three with her youngest, Joe being years younger than her other two while Will is a stay at home dad to two hyperactive twins. I love the dynamic between the three and how they represent different types of parents and different reaction to becoming a parent either for the first time or for the third time. Through the three of them we get to see that parenthood takes its toll on valid aspects of life including work, friendships and relationships but we also get to see the unique joy that being a parent brings each of them. Stevie, however, is in a dilemma since her partner, Ted, travels a lot for work leaving her to do most of the patenting with Cherry which is taking a toll on her and their relationship. She has also recently been told that she is line to land the biggest deal of her career should she return to work which isn't something she had considered before but her anxieties over being a new mum are getting to her.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, we really get to see the friendship between these three parents develop which was heartwarming to watch. These moments are amazing especially when they are supporting each other through things that might seem trivial to others but are important to them. However, one day Will recommends a blog to Nelle and Stevie and it turns out to be the blog that Stevie anonymously writes called First Time Mum and she realises that her posts have been going viral without her noticing. Stevie doesn't want people to find out it’s her because she says things in these posts which might be considering harsh about the people in her life including her mother and partner. However, she is drawn into the reactions of others that are reading her posts and she becomes a little obsessed with it since it provides a welcome break from her normal routine.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Stevie does manage to get some down time when Ted returns from his work trip and has a bonding session with Cherry. However, she gets wound up when someone comments about Ted babysitting while she puts her feet up, she recently got an email from a magazine wanted a piece from First Time Mum and she uses this as inspiration. The commentary on the division of labour as a parent was interesting as I have personally known several father who have received comments like this when they are only doing their job as a parent yet mothers don’t get these comments. Nelle is struggling with her business and as a trio come up with a new idea of personalised parties for mums that didn’t do traditional milestone mementos like clay handprints. Will and Stevie organise everything and it seems be working since three mums sign up for their tester session. The day goes really well but Stevie is still struggling to get Ted engaged as a parent since he’s already thinking about adult events without even considering whether they are baby friendly since he doesn’t fully understand the stresses Stevie goes through. He also fails to consider Stevie’s thoughts on babysitters as not everyone likes to use them. I also get the sneaky feeling he could be having an affair but it doesn't seem like that kind of book.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Stevie is trying to come to terms with being a mom, having friends and maintaining those friendships as well as contemplating whether or not she wants to return to work since she knows she can make money from her blogging and interviews like the one she did for the magazine. She still hasn’t brought up any of these topics with Ted since he is either working or more concerned with work and the only time she can ever get a good response out of him is when they are discussing Cherry which isn’t helping with her worries and anxieties. The trio also come up with a new business idea called ParentFest which is a festival they are planning for September where babies and small children will be looking after in a closed off area while the parents are able to enjoy being childfree for a few hours and remind themselves that they are people too. It is around this time that Stevie gets contacted about writing a book on the realities of parenting and she decides to give it a go but continues to keep things from Ted even though it seems like he making more of an effort to catch up with her and be a more present parent to Cherry but Stevie is now distracted by other things and I think that something will have to give way soon.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Stevie is well into writing her first ten thousand words of her book and is enjoying the process as well as maintaining her blog and planning for ParentFest is well under way. However, as I thought earlier something has to give and it soon does when Ted drops the bombshell that he has been promoted but it means moving to Hong Kong. While he has considered work, housing and childcare, he hasn’t considered whether or not Stevie would actually want to go since he is blissfully unaware of how rooted she has become to her home and friends. That conversation ends with Stevie visiting the pub for the first time since she got pregnant and Ted leaving for Hong Kong the next morning to settle in and arrange things but I doubt that Stevie is going to move now she is truly finding herself where she is. Stevie tells Nelle and Will who got the jist from her blog post but the reality of it is hitting all three of them hard since this could be the end of Stevie and Ted’s relationship if he is dead set on moving to Hong Kong and continuing with the long distance travelling.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, everyone comes out as Stevie’s identity is leaked to the press and causes a whole host of problems as many believe she is ungrateful for what she has. After days of thinking the worst especially when it comes to Ted she finally decides to control the narrative and goes live on Facebook to do it. She explains how she has felt since Cherry was born and how her blog was a way of connecting and sharing with parents who felt the same way only for Ted to arrive home. Will makes a stunning appearance to give them some adult time by taking care of Cherry and they realise they have both felt the same way and just never voiced their anxieties to each other. In the end, everything works out fine with Ted cutting back his hours at work to spend more time with his daughter and allow Stevie the chance to work again by continuing with her book deal. We get to see ParentFest go off with a bang and how even the cold Chloe becomes a friend to Stevie, even though she already was because of Twitter and neither knew it. Honestly, Confessions of a First Time Mum was a hilarious and emotional rollercoaster and even as someone who doesn’t yet have children I found myself sympathising with both Stevie and Ted by the end and I bet parents out their reading this will see a lot of themselves in Stevie and Ted.
Title: Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.25 Stars
The opening was interesting as we are introduced to Stevie and her baby, Cherry as Stevie is dealing with the stresses of being a first time mom with a partner that works full time. Stevie initially thinks she is doing well but is filled with anxiety about her child and when Cherry cries or vomits in public she uses flees home but she wishes she had mom friends or someone to support her during this time.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Stevie ends up making two friends at weigh in, Nelle and Will. Nelle is a working mum of three with her youngest, Joe being years younger than her other two while Will is a stay at home dad to two hyperactive twins. I love the dynamic between the three and how they represent different types of parents and different reaction to becoming a parent either for the first time or for the third time. Through the three of them we get to see that parenthood takes its toll on valid aspects of life including work, friendships and relationships but we also get to see the unique joy that being a parent brings each of them. Stevie, however, is in a dilemma since her partner, Ted, travels a lot for work leaving her to do most of the patenting with Cherry which is taking a toll on her and their relationship. She has also recently been told that she is line to land the biggest deal of her career should she return to work which isn't something she had considered before but her anxieties over being a new mum are getting to her.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, we really get to see the friendship between these three parents develop which was heartwarming to watch. These moments are amazing especially when they are supporting each other through things that might seem trivial to others but are important to them. However, one day Will recommends a blog to Nelle and Stevie and it turns out to be the blog that Stevie anonymously writes called First Time Mum and she realises that her posts have been going viral without her noticing. Stevie doesn't want people to find out it’s her because she says things in these posts which might be considering harsh about the people in her life including her mother and partner. However, she is drawn into the reactions of others that are reading her posts and she becomes a little obsessed with it since it provides a welcome break from her normal routine.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Stevie does manage to get some down time when Ted returns from his work trip and has a bonding session with Cherry. However, she gets wound up when someone comments about Ted babysitting while she puts her feet up, she recently got an email from a magazine wanted a piece from First Time Mum and she uses this as inspiration. The commentary on the division of labour as a parent was interesting as I have personally known several father who have received comments like this when they are only doing their job as a parent yet mothers don’t get these comments. Nelle is struggling with her business and as a trio come up with a new idea of personalised parties for mums that didn’t do traditional milestone mementos like clay handprints. Will and Stevie organise everything and it seems be working since three mums sign up for their tester session. The day goes really well but Stevie is still struggling to get Ted engaged as a parent since he’s already thinking about adult events without even considering whether they are baby friendly since he doesn’t fully understand the stresses Stevie goes through. He also fails to consider Stevie’s thoughts on babysitters as not everyone likes to use them. I also get the sneaky feeling he could be having an affair but it doesn't seem like that kind of book.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, Stevie is trying to come to terms with being a mom, having friends and maintaining those friendships as well as contemplating whether or not she wants to return to work since she knows she can make money from her blogging and interviews like the one she did for the magazine. She still hasn’t brought up any of these topics with Ted since he is either working or more concerned with work and the only time she can ever get a good response out of him is when they are discussing Cherry which isn’t helping with her worries and anxieties. The trio also come up with a new business idea called ParentFest which is a festival they are planning for September where babies and small children will be looking after in a closed off area while the parents are able to enjoy being childfree for a few hours and remind themselves that they are people too. It is around this time that Stevie gets contacted about writing a book on the realities of parenting and she decides to give it a go but continues to keep things from Ted even though it seems like he making more of an effort to catch up with her and be a more present parent to Cherry but Stevie is now distracted by other things and I think that something will have to give way soon.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Stevie is well into writing her first ten thousand words of her book and is enjoying the process as well as maintaining her blog and planning for ParentFest is well under way. However, as I thought earlier something has to give and it soon does when Ted drops the bombshell that he has been promoted but it means moving to Hong Kong. While he has considered work, housing and childcare, he hasn’t considered whether or not Stevie would actually want to go since he is blissfully unaware of how rooted she has become to her home and friends. That conversation ends with Stevie visiting the pub for the first time since she got pregnant and Ted leaving for Hong Kong the next morning to settle in and arrange things but I doubt that Stevie is going to move now she is truly finding herself where she is. Stevie tells Nelle and Will who got the jist from her blog post but the reality of it is hitting all three of them hard since this could be the end of Stevie and Ted’s relationship if he is dead set on moving to Hong Kong and continuing with the long distance travelling.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, everyone comes out as Stevie’s identity is leaked to the press and causes a whole host of problems as many believe she is ungrateful for what she has. After days of thinking the worst especially when it comes to Ted she finally decides to control the narrative and goes live on Facebook to do it. She explains how she has felt since Cherry was born and how her blog was a way of connecting and sharing with parents who felt the same way only for Ted to arrive home. Will makes a stunning appearance to give them some adult time by taking care of Cherry and they realise they have both felt the same way and just never voiced their anxieties to each other. In the end, everything works out fine with Ted cutting back his hours at work to spend more time with his daughter and allow Stevie the chance to work again by continuing with her book deal. We get to see ParentFest go off with a bang and how even the cold Chloe becomes a friend to Stevie, even though she already was because of Twitter and neither knew it. Honestly, Confessions of a First Time Mum was a hilarious and emotional rollercoaster and even as someone who doesn’t yet have children I found myself sympathising with both Stevie and Ted by the end and I bet parents out their reading this will see a lot of themselves in Stevie and Ted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2018
Poppy Dolan’s latest novel Confessions of a First-Time Mum is a book which has really resonated with me, she’s totally nailed the insecurities of motherhood and put them in a funny and inspiring read.
Stevie’s a first-time mum to Cherry, a baby who knows exactly what she wants, her mum all the time with added crying and bouts of milky sick for good measure. Stevie loves Cherry with all her heart but she’s finding motherhood hard and lonely as husband Ted doesn’t get a look in where Cherry is concerned. Feeling lonely Stevie clings to health visitors just so she can have an adult conversation as the mum-mums all around her are far too intimidating. Then one-day she strikes gold and meets Nelle and Will and the three form a solid bond.
One night the sleep deprivation gets too much for Stevie and she starts a blog and becomes First Time Mum, a blogger who becomes an overnight sensation, after speaking out about her true feelings about being a mum. The new-found confidence from blogging, along with her new friends slowly help Stevie to see she can do the parenting thing pretty well…until husband Ted drops a bombshell which leads to one blog-post too far.
I think every mum should read this book, as it’s a book any mum can relate to as we’ve all had moments of insecurity and worrying if we’re doing the right thing. In Stevie, Poppy Dolan has created a mum who is a hero and shown us that every mum is the hero of her own life. Being a mum is hard work, you’re responsible for another human being and you don’t get a manual so trial and error is the only way to go. Sometimes things will work out and sometimes they won’t, but that’s okay. Stevie has shown us its okay to have a meltdown every now and then, its okay not to be perfectly dressed, its okay to reach for the ready meals (it’s maybe not okay to leave your baby in the library) and it doesn’t make you any less a mum or love your baby any less. I loved Stevie, in my eyes she’s the perfect mum. It’s obvious she adores Cherry and will do anything for her, including being caught on camera looking rough in the rush to get her to the doctor and being covered in sick at every social event going; but she also has her flaws, her main one being not expressing her emotions enough which leads her into trouble.
Confession of a First Time Mum is a realistic portrayal of the mum-life but written in a way which makes those stressful, insecure moments funny. Poppy Dolan has shown us there is a funny side to your baby being the one that has a poop explosion in the ball pool and shuts down the soft -play centre. We’ve all had those cringe-worthy moments where we want the ground to swallow us up but remember it happens to all of us and one-day it WILL be funny. I’ve read many “mum” books like this but this one is my favourite and I highly recommend it to any mum and every mum.
Stevie’s a first-time mum to Cherry, a baby who knows exactly what she wants, her mum all the time with added crying and bouts of milky sick for good measure. Stevie loves Cherry with all her heart but she’s finding motherhood hard and lonely as husband Ted doesn’t get a look in where Cherry is concerned. Feeling lonely Stevie clings to health visitors just so she can have an adult conversation as the mum-mums all around her are far too intimidating. Then one-day she strikes gold and meets Nelle and Will and the three form a solid bond.
One night the sleep deprivation gets too much for Stevie and she starts a blog and becomes First Time Mum, a blogger who becomes an overnight sensation, after speaking out about her true feelings about being a mum. The new-found confidence from blogging, along with her new friends slowly help Stevie to see she can do the parenting thing pretty well…until husband Ted drops a bombshell which leads to one blog-post too far.
I think every mum should read this book, as it’s a book any mum can relate to as we’ve all had moments of insecurity and worrying if we’re doing the right thing. In Stevie, Poppy Dolan has created a mum who is a hero and shown us that every mum is the hero of her own life. Being a mum is hard work, you’re responsible for another human being and you don’t get a manual so trial and error is the only way to go. Sometimes things will work out and sometimes they won’t, but that’s okay. Stevie has shown us its okay to have a meltdown every now and then, its okay not to be perfectly dressed, its okay to reach for the ready meals (it’s maybe not okay to leave your baby in the library) and it doesn’t make you any less a mum or love your baby any less. I loved Stevie, in my eyes she’s the perfect mum. It’s obvious she adores Cherry and will do anything for her, including being caught on camera looking rough in the rush to get her to the doctor and being covered in sick at every social event going; but she also has her flaws, her main one being not expressing her emotions enough which leads her into trouble.
Confession of a First Time Mum is a realistic portrayal of the mum-life but written in a way which makes those stressful, insecure moments funny. Poppy Dolan has shown us there is a funny side to your baby being the one that has a poop explosion in the ball pool and shuts down the soft -play centre. We’ve all had those cringe-worthy moments where we want the ground to swallow us up but remember it happens to all of us and one-day it WILL be funny. I’ve read many “mum” books like this but this one is my favourite and I highly recommend it to any mum and every mum.
June 27, 2018
This book is going to ring very loud, funny and sometimes cringe-inducing bells for any woman who has ever had a baby.
My eldest daughter is thirteen and my youngest is now ten, so it has been a while since I was a new mum, but the memories of those early days are still clear and it seems not much has changed in the intervening years if this book is anything to go by. So many of the events in this book brought back those days and made me laugh out loud, especially the ‘poo-splosion’ incident. On my very first trip out of the house after my first daughter was born, when she was about a week old, I experienced one of these in the Mamas and Papas at Birstall Retail Park and I was ill-equipped to deal with public excretions of that magnitude, given my rookie status. We still talk about it – my daughter had a mass of curly hair when she was born that was very absorbent…
I recognised myself in the heroine (which is definitely the word for every mum there ever was) of this book, Stevie, fumbling her way blindly through the mystery that is parenthood when you first take your very first baby home. I remember so well those feelings of ineptitude, loneliness and failure, because you are now in charge of a whole person that you don’t yet know, don’t understand and who doesn’t come with an instruction manual. It can be a scary time. Stevie tries to manage some of these feelings and frustrations, particularly in the small, dark hours of the night when you feel like you are the only soul on earth awake and worries are magnified a thousand-fold in the silence, by expressing her feelings on a blog that she believes no one else is reading. However, she soon finds out that nothing is ever private in cyberspace and she is perhaps not alone after all.
Mummy bloggers weren’t a thing when my children were babies, but the rise of parenting blogs is a phenomenon that has not passed me by in recent years and this book does a lovely job of exploring the highs and potential lows of baring your soul, warts and all, to the world. I really felt for Stevie – her struggles are the struggles of all new mums but exacerbated by the fact that she is sharing them with the world and loses control of who is privy to those humiliating moments and thoughts and what their reaction to them will be. A cautionary tale for all bloggers perhaps, but it also brings friendship and support – something I can definitely relate to as a member of the ever friendly and supportive book blogging community.
This is a great fun read, studded with nuggets of painful truth about parenthood and I really enjoyed it.
My eldest daughter is thirteen and my youngest is now ten, so it has been a while since I was a new mum, but the memories of those early days are still clear and it seems not much has changed in the intervening years if this book is anything to go by. So many of the events in this book brought back those days and made me laugh out loud, especially the ‘poo-splosion’ incident. On my very first trip out of the house after my first daughter was born, when she was about a week old, I experienced one of these in the Mamas and Papas at Birstall Retail Park and I was ill-equipped to deal with public excretions of that magnitude, given my rookie status. We still talk about it – my daughter had a mass of curly hair when she was born that was very absorbent…
I recognised myself in the heroine (which is definitely the word for every mum there ever was) of this book, Stevie, fumbling her way blindly through the mystery that is parenthood when you first take your very first baby home. I remember so well those feelings of ineptitude, loneliness and failure, because you are now in charge of a whole person that you don’t yet know, don’t understand and who doesn’t come with an instruction manual. It can be a scary time. Stevie tries to manage some of these feelings and frustrations, particularly in the small, dark hours of the night when you feel like you are the only soul on earth awake and worries are magnified a thousand-fold in the silence, by expressing her feelings on a blog that she believes no one else is reading. However, she soon finds out that nothing is ever private in cyberspace and she is perhaps not alone after all.
Mummy bloggers weren’t a thing when my children were babies, but the rise of parenting blogs is a phenomenon that has not passed me by in recent years and this book does a lovely job of exploring the highs and potential lows of baring your soul, warts and all, to the world. I really felt for Stevie – her struggles are the struggles of all new mums but exacerbated by the fact that she is sharing them with the world and loses control of who is privy to those humiliating moments and thoughts and what their reaction to them will be. A cautionary tale for all bloggers perhaps, but it also brings friendship and support – something I can definitely relate to as a member of the ever friendly and supportive book blogging community.
This is a great fun read, studded with nuggets of painful truth about parenthood and I really enjoyed it.
July 15, 2018
Stevie is the First Time Mum in this new book for Poppy Dolan. She has a beautiful bouncy baby called Cherry who has arrived in her and Ted, her husband's life - like a force of nature.
But Stevie now feels lost - all she seems to do is deal with baby sick, stinking nappies and a few hours sleep. To vent her frustration she has started a blog and reaches out to other people who may be struggling like her in the wee small hours between night feeds.
In reality though, Stevie struggles to deal with everyday activities like taking Cherry to the health clinic for her checkup or trying to get a cup of coffee in a cafe. She meets Nelle who is struggling in her own way for the third rather surprising time with her baby Joe and Will who is father to twins, who have one speed - fast.
A friendship forms and whilst this helps Stevie and she starts to feel she might have a purpose in life and be worth something, her marriage with Ted seems to be slipping away from her. Of course to vent her frustration on her anonymous blog is a way to deal with it.....
....until being anonymous stops..... and the whole world wants to know who you really are and what gives you the right to make any sort of comment or judgment on families and parenthood.
I wasn't sure about this book, as I did not think I would be able to relate to any of it, as I am not a mum but Poppy Dolan gives it such depth and wonderfully funny laugh out loud moments that really this book is about how you need to talk about what is going on and that hiding behind something is not always the right thing to do. The use of parenthood is the vehicle for it all.
What a wonderful account of what can happen when the media turns and it becomes news, and sad we live in a world where some publications in print or online thrive on such material.
The structure of the book was great, blog posts, emails, texts and was very 'current' and 'on topic;, a book of its time probably and that is why it will resonate with lots of readers. You don't have to be a mum to read it but if you are I am sure this book will strike a chord with you all.
But Stevie now feels lost - all she seems to do is deal with baby sick, stinking nappies and a few hours sleep. To vent her frustration she has started a blog and reaches out to other people who may be struggling like her in the wee small hours between night feeds.
In reality though, Stevie struggles to deal with everyday activities like taking Cherry to the health clinic for her checkup or trying to get a cup of coffee in a cafe. She meets Nelle who is struggling in her own way for the third rather surprising time with her baby Joe and Will who is father to twins, who have one speed - fast.
A friendship forms and whilst this helps Stevie and she starts to feel she might have a purpose in life and be worth something, her marriage with Ted seems to be slipping away from her. Of course to vent her frustration on her anonymous blog is a way to deal with it.....
....until being anonymous stops..... and the whole world wants to know who you really are and what gives you the right to make any sort of comment or judgment on families and parenthood.
I wasn't sure about this book, as I did not think I would be able to relate to any of it, as I am not a mum but Poppy Dolan gives it such depth and wonderfully funny laugh out loud moments that really this book is about how you need to talk about what is going on and that hiding behind something is not always the right thing to do. The use of parenthood is the vehicle for it all.
What a wonderful account of what can happen when the media turns and it becomes news, and sad we live in a world where some publications in print or online thrive on such material.
The structure of the book was great, blog posts, emails, texts and was very 'current' and 'on topic;, a book of its time probably and that is why it will resonate with lots of readers. You don't have to be a mum to read it but if you are I am sure this book will strike a chord with you all.
November 1, 2018
Another corker from Canelo Publishing; as the tagline says, this is ‘A heartwarming momcom that’s guaranteed to make you smile.’
Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.
With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.
In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything.
But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…
A perfect laugh-out-loud read for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma
Robinson.
This was one of those ‘un-put-downable’ reads. You can’t help but instinctively feel for Stevie and the utter panic she feels in her new situation, constantly feeling that she is being judged for being a ‘bad mum’. When her new friends give her an injection of confidence and her blog suddenly goes viral, it’s clear that suddenly her life will never be quite the same again!
With a script many new mums will relate to, but equally appealing to those who don’t fall under that umbrella, author Poppy Dolan writes with wit and humour, whilst also addressing issues that will probably strike a cord with many. Highly recommended!
With thanks to the author, Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.
Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.
With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.
In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realise that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything.
But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…
A perfect laugh-out-loud read for fans of The Unmumsy Mum, Gill Sims and Emma
Robinson.
This was one of those ‘un-put-downable’ reads. You can’t help but instinctively feel for Stevie and the utter panic she feels in her new situation, constantly feeling that she is being judged for being a ‘bad mum’. When her new friends give her an injection of confidence and her blog suddenly goes viral, it’s clear that suddenly her life will never be quite the same again!
With a script many new mums will relate to, but equally appealing to those who don’t fall under that umbrella, author Poppy Dolan writes with wit and humour, whilst also addressing issues that will probably strike a cord with many. Highly recommended!
With thanks to the author, Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 5, 2021
Unsurprisingly Confessions of a First-Time Mum is the humorous tale of the ups and downs of a ...... yep, you guessed it, a first time Mum! It does exactly what it says on the tin. We follow Stevie as she tries to navigate life with a newborn baby, make new friends, and figure out what she wants to do with her career. The book is super fun with some real laugh out loud moments. And as a Mum I was able to relate to and empathise with many of the daft situations Stevie finds herself in. I recognised how some of the things that feel like major issues when you are a new mum you can look back on later and laugh about. Being able to relate to Stevie meant that I enjoyed the book so much more and I was invested in her story. I wanted everything to work out for her and her friends.
I am a huge fan of this trend of having characters talk honestly about parenting and how it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Normalising how difficult it can be sometimes and that parents are not failures for struggling is something I will always back.
I listened to this as an audiobook and loved the narrator. Her voice fit perfectly with my mental image of Stevie and she made the character come to life.
If you're a fan of the 'Why Mummy' series by Gill Sims or The Unmumsy Mum then you should definitely give this book a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
I am a huge fan of this trend of having characters talk honestly about parenting and how it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Normalising how difficult it can be sometimes and that parents are not failures for struggling is something I will always back.
I listened to this as an audiobook and loved the narrator. Her voice fit perfectly with my mental image of Stevie and she made the character come to life.
If you're a fan of the 'Why Mummy' series by Gill Sims or The Unmumsy Mum then you should definitely give this book a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
August 15, 2021
Stevie is experiencing parenthood for the first time. It seems though to be a lot tougher than it looks. She has a 6 month old with silent reflux that cries a lot and a husband that seems to be at present buried in his work and unaware of the the fact that she just feels completely alone. Until she meets her two new mum mates Nelle and Will that are going through their stressful moments in parenthood as well. She even starts a blog as a way to get out her feelings into the open but also to see if she's really alone with her feelings in her journey being a mum. Before she knows it, her blog has not only taken off, but she even is approached about a book deal. As things start to take off, she is faced with challenges and decisions that make her question who Stevie really is anymore and just how far she's willing to go for what seems to be her new happy place. Can she keep up her charade of being "first time mum " blogger as well as a loving mother and wife?
I received an audio version of this ARC through Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was a light hearted easy read that had me either chuckling or nodding in agreement having gone through similar situations myself when I became a first time mom. The narrator did a great job keeping the story animated. I definitely recommend this book. It was pretty entertaining. I rate this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I received an audio version of this ARC through Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was a light hearted easy read that had me either chuckling or nodding in agreement having gone through similar situations myself when I became a first time mom. The narrator did a great job keeping the story animated. I definitely recommend this book. It was pretty entertaining. I rate this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
August 15, 2021
Stevie is experiencing parenthood for the first time. It seems though to be a lot tougher than it looks. She has a 6 month old with silent reflux that cries a lot and a husband that seems to be at present buried in his work and unaware of the the fact that she just feels completely alone. Until she meets her two new mum mates Nelle and Will that are going through their stressful moments in parenthood as well. She even starts a blog as a way to get out her feelings into the open but also to see if she's really alone with her feelings in her journey being a mum. Before she knows it, her blog has not only taken off, but she even is approached about a book deal. As things start to take off, she is faced with challenges and decisions that make her question who Stevie really is anymore and just how far she's willing to go for what seems to be her new happy place. Can she keep up her charade of being "first time mum " blogger as well as a loving mother and wife?
I received an audio version of this ARC through Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was a light hearted easy read that had me either chuckling or nodding in agreement having gone through similar situations myself when I became a first time mom. The narrator did a great job keeping the story animated. I definitely recommend this book. It was pretty entertaining. I rate this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I received an audio version of this ARC through Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was a light hearted easy read that had me either chuckling or nodding in agreement having gone through similar situations myself when I became a first time mom. The narrator did a great job keeping the story animated. I definitely recommend this book. It was pretty entertaining. I rate this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
June 29, 2021
This was such an entertaining book to listen to! The narration was superb and the story was fun and fits perfectly in this day and time.
Stevie is a first time mother and she is her own worst critic basically thinking she is messing up big time and not handling motherhood as she should be. Instagram and other social media make us believe being a good mother means you have to be a perfect mother, looking brilliant at all times with everything under control and doing endless fun stuff with your little one to post on all social media. Reality is quite different, for some mothers more so than others! Stevie decides to write a blog about being a first time mom and what it is really like for her and ends up writing most blog posts in the middle of the night, so you can imagine what kind of posts come out then when there is no one else to listen to you.
Being a mother myself I know how challenging, messy and tiring motherhood can be, but I can’t say my version of it was anything like Stevie’s. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Stevie’s day to day life and her blog made me laugh out loud a few times.
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stevie is a first time mother and she is her own worst critic basically thinking she is messing up big time and not handling motherhood as she should be. Instagram and other social media make us believe being a good mother means you have to be a perfect mother, looking brilliant at all times with everything under control and doing endless fun stuff with your little one to post on all social media. Reality is quite different, for some mothers more so than others! Stevie decides to write a blog about being a first time mom and what it is really like for her and ends up writing most blog posts in the middle of the night, so you can imagine what kind of posts come out then when there is no one else to listen to you.
Being a mother myself I know how challenging, messy and tiring motherhood can be, but I can’t say my version of it was anything like Stevie’s. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Stevie’s day to day life and her blog made me laugh out loud a few times.
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2018
The ups and downs of dealing with a baby and the huge changes it brings to your life have not really changed over the years, even if the internet and social media have brought with them a whole new set of challenges. New mothers have always felt judged for their choices and experienced the limits which a crying baby can push them to- tempered by the utter love they feel for their child. So, I would say that any age of reader will identify with Stevie and enjoy reading her story.
The writing is full of humour and hilarious situations. I particularly enjoyed Stevie's blog postings which are so well observed. Stevie finds a real sense of family with her two friends, Nelle and Will, who she can turn to day or night. Stevie's ability to cast aside a rosy view of parenthood touches a nerve with her blog followers but she also comes to realise that once her anonymity is broken, not everyone appreciates her honesty.
In short: a great read for a summer afternoon.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
The writing is full of humour and hilarious situations. I particularly enjoyed Stevie's blog postings which are so well observed. Stevie finds a real sense of family with her two friends, Nelle and Will, who she can turn to day or night. Stevie's ability to cast aside a rosy view of parenthood touches a nerve with her blog followers but she also comes to realise that once her anonymity is broken, not everyone appreciates her honesty.
In short: a great read for a summer afternoon.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
June 29, 2021
Confessions of a childless single person: I loved this audiobook!!! Seriously, I would recommend this book to new moms, older moms, dads, childless people, and even people who don't want kids.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing me with an arc of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so fun, funny, and relatable (even to someone who is not a mother). The pacing and writing are great and the plot is very grounded in real life issues. Stevie is so honest and blunt as a narrator which really allowed this book to succeed at what it doing. Her voice is so enjoyable to listen to and the narrator of the audiobook did a FANTASTIC job in portraying this.
The friendships are so enjoyable to experience and the characters felt like real people who I would love to hang out with. One of the things the author does so well in this book is allow for her characters to act and react like real people. Specifically, I really liked the way the ending of this book was handled.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing me with an arc of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so fun, funny, and relatable (even to someone who is not a mother). The pacing and writing are great and the plot is very grounded in real life issues. Stevie is so honest and blunt as a narrator which really allowed this book to succeed at what it doing. Her voice is so enjoyable to listen to and the narrator of the audiobook did a FANTASTIC job in portraying this.
The friendships are so enjoyable to experience and the characters felt like real people who I would love to hang out with. One of the things the author does so well in this book is allow for her characters to act and react like real people. Specifically, I really liked the way the ending of this book was handled.
June 27, 2021
**audiobook version**
Narrator 5 stars
Absolutely love this narrators accent. She did a great job with this book
Story 3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable story with some good laugh out loud moments. I could relate to some of the situations ands feelings. (I have also forgot my baby before. He was 4 weeks old, Took him out of the car in his capsule and placed him by the garage door, grab the groceries out of the car and then forget to grab him. I was sitting on the couch for a good 5 minutes after having unpacked when I realised he was still in the garage. Lucky he was fast asleep and completely unaware.)
I really enjoyed the main characters but never really took to her husband and their inability to have meaningful conversations.
Narrator 5 stars
Absolutely love this narrators accent. She did a great job with this book
Story 3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable story with some good laugh out loud moments. I could relate to some of the situations ands feelings. (I have also forgot my baby before. He was 4 weeks old, Took him out of the car in his capsule and placed him by the garage door, grab the groceries out of the car and then forget to grab him. I was sitting on the couch for a good 5 minutes after having unpacked when I realised he was still in the garage. Lucky he was fast asleep and completely unaware.)
I really enjoyed the main characters but never really took to her husband and their inability to have meaningful conversations.
June 23, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read Confessions of a First-Time Mum by Poppy Dolan in exchange for an honest review.
I don't have children, so I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to connect with Stevie and her life but this was a useless worry, as Stevie was an amazing, strong character! Her character development was spot on and her witty comments and internal dialogue had me cracking up constantly. I always quite appreciated her husband Tom, and how supportive he was of Stevie, once he was aware that she was struggling.
The narrator of this novel was also excellent and really added to the story.
Highly recommended!
I don't have children, so I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to connect with Stevie and her life but this was a useless worry, as Stevie was an amazing, strong character! Her character development was spot on and her witty comments and internal dialogue had me cracking up constantly. I always quite appreciated her husband Tom, and how supportive he was of Stevie, once he was aware that she was struggling.
The narrator of this novel was also excellent and really added to the story.
Highly recommended!
July 4, 2021
Enjoyed this audiobook about first time mum and her two new friends. All different characters and have different family dynamics but it was great to hear that things are not always perfect! We don't all have this beautiful clean tidy house, an immaculately dressed baby, god we can't even have a hot cup of coffee or go to the loo in peace!! If you want to listen to a book that doesn't make you feel inadequate for not being perfect then this is the one for you. Although its based on a blog the story is part of it not all of it
July 19, 2018
picked this book up this morning and have just put it down finished. Verdict? You, Poppy Dolan have the ability to read minds! I’m a first time mum and I struck so many chords with the themes in this book. If you didn’t or don’t I’m glad you never had too. I loved this book! Thank you for not writing the ‘rose tinted’ version of motherhood. I loved the characters and I hope every mum finds their own Will and Nelle. Laugh out loud and Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
July 10, 2021
Confessions of a First - Time Mum shows the life of a First time mum which is not always rainbows and butterflies.
This is a story of Stevie and her six month old cherry. Stevie worked as a PR executive before her maternity leave but now feels lost or that she has lost her identity and now is ONLY a mum.
She makes two parent-friends who have struggles of their own and the three of them help each other out through thick and thin :)
This is a story of Stevie and her six month old cherry. Stevie worked as a PR executive before her maternity leave but now feels lost or that she has lost her identity and now is ONLY a mum.
She makes two parent-friends who have struggles of their own and the three of them help each other out through thick and thin :)
July 3, 2021
I loved this book! It made me laugh, it was easy listening, I got invested in the main characters and I sympathised with First Time Mum, I think most parents would!
It kept me entertained and I’ll be looking for more book by this author.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It kept me entertained and I’ll be looking for more book by this author.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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