Christmas. A time for family. But what if your family is a total mess?
Juliette and Alex are finally getting hitched, which should be joyous news. But Juliette is now entering "blended family" territory: Alex will be Daisy’s stepfather, and Daisy’s real father is not happy about it. Yes, after messing up Juliette’s family the first time around, Nick is still trying to elbow his way back into her life, doing everything he can to stop her from being with Alex. And Alex’s family are hardly rolling out the red carpet. To them, their new daughter-in-law is a slattern with a Jaffa Cake addiction. But Christmas is the thing that will bring them all together. And Juliette is determined that this Christmas will be a wonderfully happy family affair. Determined. Now, where did she put that Jaffa Cake?
The fourth in Suzy K. Quinn’s bestselling Bad Mother series is a sparkly, shiny Christmas romantic comedy for mothers, and the perfect Yuletide treat.
Suzy K Quinn writes romantic comedy / rom com books / cozy mystery and has sold over 1 million books worldwide. She is a bestseller in the UK, US and Germany and has plans for total world domination with more feel-good books (bestsellers, obviously) in the near future. Her books exist in the space between Jojo Moyes, Richard Osman and the Midnight Library.
Suzy lives in Wivenhoe, Essex, with her husband Demi and two daughters. She is a twin, an incompetent parent of two and now fully decaffeinated. Her twin sister, Cate Quinn, is also a bestseller author. When she's not writing, she is reading rom coms and cozy mysteries.
Suzy loves her readers and is ALWAYS happy to chat on social media - she's @suzykquinn on all the socials. You can also get a free book at her website.
I really enjoyed the other books and thought I would this one to, but I started to get frustrated with Juliette and her reasons for not wanting to set a date for the wedding!!!!! The fact that it was repeated continuously annoyed the hell out of me. I really did like Juliette in the previous books but in this one I just wanted to tell her ‘grow up’ and stop being so childish. Apart from her attitude I enjoyed the rest of the book, but do wish Alex was more included.
Continuing the saga of Juliette and her life, as she struggles with being a single mother, albeit in an relationship, with an ex who can't seem to let her go, and a loony family! Christmas is always a right laugh in their household, but this year, they go from a family do at her parents, to plans changing and her and Alex planning to host an elaborate Christmas to commemorate his father who passed away, and as problems keep popping up, Juliette deals with them in her own classic way. Another fun episode.
Again fantastic follow on from the previous book, brilliant characters, lot of laughter and comedy. Some very serious parts too though. Trigger * child illness and passing away* Loving being a part of this wacky circle of family and friends!
The scene settings for this storyline is one with a centre point somewhere so unusual. A proposal takes place on a family campsite with coin operated showers. Could this be the proposal of the week? What engaged couple don't set their goals to sleep together in a tent? Its not marrying Alex that's the problem. It's the building a happy family's part. Perhaps I wasn't quite sure about the diary format, but on the other hand how could Juliett tell her story. So in all it brightened up the whole story.
This book is wonderful, not my normal genre but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have become a convert! It is funny, sad, happy and everything in between. I actually laughed out loud, cried in parts and could not put it down. The two families couldn't be more different and trying to meld the two is not an easy task. If you like the unexpected then this is the book is the one for you. Suzy Quinn certainly knows how to keep you entertained and I cannot wait for her next book. Highly Recommend.
Love,love,love this series. I smiled, chuckled, laughed out loud! Suzy does another wonderful job,continuing this story. Watching Daisy grow, seeing Juliette move on, handling things. Alex, has his own issues, Nick, omg, unbelievable! Overall,wonderful story, very enjoyable, and leaves you wanting more💕😉🍷🍷🍷
Juliette is verloofd met Alex en ze blijven toch wat rond elkaar cirkelen. Ze kunnen elkaar niet missen maar echt er 100% voor gaan is precies nog een moeilijke. Wat is de rede; het werk, de afstand, haar dochter Daisy, haar ex Nick, Alex rijkdom of zijn familie? Het is aftellen naar kerst want deze zal met de families gevierd worden. Hoe, waar en met wie zal je mee ontdekken in het dagboek van Juliette. In dit 4de deel krijg je heel goed de verschillende gezinssituaties en levensfases van iedereen te zien. Hoe het zoeken, schipperen en ondervinden is om er in deel te nemen. De contrasten worden erg uitvergroot tussen de drie hoofdpersonages. Warme kant, koude kant, ex koude kant het komt allemaal aan bod, iedereen drukt zijn stempel en je ziet Juliette daarin groeien, ondergaan en floreren. De liefdes magie mis ik wel wat tussen Alex en haar. Toch zien ze elkaar graag, maar je krijgt de indruk dat iets hen tegenhoudt. Het “wat” daar ben ik erg nieuwsgierig naar of verlang ik toch naar “te veel “ en is dit het wat de auteur meegeeft? Dat gevoel heb ik bij dit deel regelmatig en hoop dat het nieuwe jaar, deel 5 hier verandering in zal brengen. Suzy K Quinn blijft wel heel trouw aan haar concept, schrijfbenadering en stijl. Het is een verhaal dat je even kan wegleggen en direct weer kan oppakken, lekker leest ter ontspanning en niet te veel bij moet nadenken.
I’m honestly not much of a series reader. Idk why I think it’s because I read so much that I tend to forget what happens in between books being released. BUT this series I have read and am in the process of re-reading them right now! I can’t get enough of Juliet Alex and their cast of very colorful family members. Everyone has, at the very least, one of these zany characters in their lives. I see myself in Juliet and her mother lol This series is very much a rom com but there are underlining serious real life issues which just makes the stories in this series that much more realistic. I’ve never read a book and a whole series much less that I can relate to all of it but this is that kind series. I think everyone will find something they have done or been through with family and or friends and just nod and laugh and say “Yep been there done that.” Cannot wait for more BMD books they never fail to make me laugh and put a huge smile on my face! Thank you Suzy for writing this wonderful amazing laugh out loud heartfelt crazy series!! 💜
To preface this review, I haven’t read the other books in this series but I am interested in doing so because this family was really interesting- and crazy- and I’d be interested in reading more in this format. It was sort of a crossover between a more in-depth journal and a diary purely for briefer notes about the day or plans. However I didn’t really get why Juliette had doubts about marrying Alex and blending their families when he seemed so involved with her daughter and got on well with her wider family. When he shuts her out after he becomes depressed it was totally understandable and sort of exactly what she’d been doing at the start of the book but she was outraged. I found her ex-husband a really interesting character as well and Alex’s mum just avoided tipping over the edge of being utterly unbelievable with her shenanigans. I did expect this to be a bit more Christmassy. I’ve read a couple of other books that span months beyond the festive period but they still manage to somehow keep the feeling going with their themes. This didn’t feel like a Christmas book until the last third.
Juliette’s life is comical. Yes there is the realism of being a parent (overtired toddler god yes, the yearn from an uninterrupted brew). But there are the moments that made me chuckle…sticking a head injury with Loctite.
The characters are fab, an amazing supporting cast to Juliette. Althea is a woman after my own heart when it comes to gin and she’s got so much to share by way of alternative ideas. Catrina who refuses to take her calls despite Juliette being engaged to her son. Callum is a brilliant nephew, he does everything he shouldn’t but as I read, he has a heart of gold. And then Nick the ex… least said about him the better! Each of the characters Quinn has created play their part impeccably to both aid and disrupt Juliette’s life.
The Bad Mother’S Christmas is a brilliant, heartwarming and entertaining festive read. I loved meeting Juliette and her band of friends and family. I’ll definitely be treating myself to the first three books in the series and catching up with the journey Juliette, Nick, Alex and Daisy go on.
The series started off quite well, but it's been going down and down and down. At first, I was engaged so much in the story, but from practically book 2, I've lost my interest. I only have the last book in the series left, so obviously I'll read it, but I don't think it's picking up. ALL the characters are like a parody of a cliché, and some of those clichés appear in more than one character, which keeps them from being believable, in my case. The story is repetitive and adds nothing new, same old problems happening to the same people. You see how the author tries to make them evolve, but in my opinion, they are not enough developed, so an evolution from them is nothing but poor. Regarding the main topic I thought this book would cover (Christmas), I left disappointed. The story continues as always, but we have a bit of a story going over Christmas towards the end of the book (which wasn't near enough, in my opinion, to put the word "Christmas" in the title). I'm so sorry because I really wanted to like this series, but I'm almost 100% convinced now that that won't be the case.
I absolutely love suzy K quinn books. This is the forth in the bad mother's diary series. This follows the life of juliette, daisy and Alex during the Christmas period Juilette wants a blended family and Alex wants a wedding date. Juliette has said if the families can blend during one of the hardest times of the year then she will give him his date. But can the two families come together or is drama destined to follow? Juliette has to put things behind her to help catrina plan the big day. Doing all this whilst bringing up a three year old. U would think it was a peice of cake right? This book is so gripping and hilarious as the book unfolds. It highlights the real issues with tackling family and pleasure I would definately recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of humour. Favourite character is Alex he is so patient with juliette Least favourite character is Helen. She seems really stuck up Enjoy
Its Just i don't Find Alex and Juliette very Romantic.... I can see the Both Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice in Parts of this read... But unlike those Although both Male leads are stoic and distant, there are all the underlying feels the looks the unfiltered declarations. This has none of that... Just Alex popping up for the occasional shag then going to work, or pandering to his mother....
Still apart from that i Love the Duffy's and Juliet's Inner Monologue, But its not a ver romantic read more comedy
This book was a watts and all exaggerated book about families. Some dysfunctional, some not so. Merging families is never easy but Suzy wrote this book with loads of hilarity, and a good dollop of common sense. I loved that she had the characters so lifelike, interesting and at times unlikable. Loved it. MORE books like this please Suzy.😄🤗
I have enjoyed every minute of reading this series, laugh out loud funny one minute, tear jerking the next. I so hope Suzy decides to bring us further tales of Julesy, Alex & their disfunctional families.
Absolutely loved this book, 5 🌟 yes! From the minute go this books had you gripped, from laughs to tears you can't put this book down. Suzy K Quinn is my favourite author and I highly recommend this book,you won't be disappointed.