Not So Mumsy: Finding happiness, confidence and your style in motherhood

by Marcia Leone

'Not So Mumsy encapsulates motherhood's new mood; edgy, powerful, honest and strong.' - Marie Claire Magazine Yes, you are a mum, but you're still you! For mamas everywhere, this is your Mother's Group in a book. Parenting is hard, but it's also beautiful. For women who have embraced motherhood but also yearn to retain a sense of self and style, Not So Mumsy has been a pioneering site driving the Modern Mama movement. Bridging the gap between pre-mama life and the whole new world of leaky boobs and pureed banana, Marcia Leone (aka Not So Mumsy) has always shared her journey with honesty and humour, providing a warm and inclusive support network for like-minded women. With powerfully uplifting perspectives from inspirational mamas across the world, including Jaime King, Teresa Palmer, Megan Gale and Tammin Sursok, Not So Mumsy will help you navigate pregnancy, your first year and beyond with style, humour and confidence.

Genres: Parenting

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Magenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As a mother myself, I found the personal stories shared relatable and beautiful. I found the advice that was included to be accurate with modern motherhood. There aren't a lot of books surrounding motherhood that reminds you that you're a person too and honestly, you need to hear that sometimes. You might have just given birth to first child or you're sixth child just turned 10, it's so incredibly hard not to get completely swept up in mum-life and forget that.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be a mum, who is a mum, who has a baby or has lost a baby. It's beautiful and you'll find something in it to take away from.

[Tara van Beurden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually quite an enjoyable read. It took me longer than expected only because I got distracted with some other fertility related stuff, but overall, its an accessible, non-preachy nor sanctimonious read. I have no idea who Marcia Leone, and still really don't know, but I particularly enjoyed the guidance on dressing nice but comfortably in pregnancy, and on travelling with kids. I am totally a clothes tragic, so feeling comfortable but still stylish while pregnant has been something I've thought about, so it was good to see it discussed here without it either feeling indulgent ('you're a mother now, you don't need to look nice') or inappropriate (ala Kim Kardashian). I also am keen to keep travelling once I have a kid, so there are some great tips there. A good read.

[Amanda Watkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read book covering most of the things you would pick up if you had a group of friends who had been mothers before. Really helpful in a time where mothers may not have that group of people in their lives. From pregnancy fashion through to infertility. And it isn't just Marcia's words - she has included the thoughts of entrepreneurs, celebrities and travel bloggers.

While there wasn't a lot of new information for me, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it was easy to read while still looking after kids. Not to mention it is beautiful to look at. I look forward to gifting this book to first time mums in my life, especially those I don't get to see on a regular basis.

[Kristine Leonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern guide to motherhood. The snippets of experiences from the contributors were on point. This is very helpful to new mums.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was skeptical about this book, because it is written by a mummy/lifestyle blogger, and I am prejudiced against them (don’t monetise your children). In addition, when I opened a page at random, it was a page about how to maintain a skin care / makeup regime while caring for a newborn or something, which quite frankly is a question I have never thought to seek the answer to.

I am still prejudiced against mummy bloggers, and I have no particular plans to put in place a skin care / makeup regime either now or into the future, but all in all, the book was a lot better than expected - easy to read in digestible chunks and had some good thoughts here and there. It would not hurt anyone to read it, and I’m sure people who are more similar in personality to the author than I am would probably benefit from it.