Mommy Cusses: Inspiring Profanity and Stimulating Sarcasm for Mamas Who've Seen It All

by Serena Dorman, Paige Vickers (Illustrations)

For new-ish mothers who need to laugh at the absurdity of parenting so they don't cry, who are looking for a we're-in-this-together sense of solidarity, and who don't have time to read a "real" book, here is a hilarious and highly relatable collection of mom malarkey. There are real-talk quotes, helpful lists (such as "How to Look Like You Have Your Act Together"), "mom-tivities," and quizzes, all delivered with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Genres: Parenting, Humor, Nonfiction, Adult

112 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, for those of you out there wondering if this book is worth bothering with…I certainly felt that way reading it. It’s been more than a few moons since I was a young mom dealing with all of the little kid stuff, but I certainly haven’t forgotten how it felt at the time. This book turned out to be so funny and irreverent, with just the right amount of cuss words thrown in to keep it legit. Where was this book when I was dealing with all that stuff back then? This would have helped, for sure. And it would make a fun gift for a friend who is still going through those years. Most of the time I find that so called humor books turn out to not be all that funny when I actually read them. But this one cracked me up, and sarcasm is my favorite, so it really is a winner in my eyes. It’s very creative with it’s views on childhood and parenting. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Serena Dorman, and the publisher.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book that all mothers will relate to at least a little. It's full of funny little bits and bobs of all sorts and occasionally had me laughing out loud. These books often try to be funny at the excuse of kids, being almost mean to children. This one isn't, which I really appreciated. It has lots of cussing and is very inappropriate, so it's not a good choice for people who'd be bothered by that. It's definitely geared towards moms of very young kids. Mine are 9-22 so most of the subject matter here is in my distant past instead of the things I deal with these days, but it still made me smile.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Every mum should read it, to know we are not alone in this.

All of the quotes were hilarious, but my favorite is: Parenting is a lot like that party game where they blindfold you, spin you around, guide you in a general direction, and laugh.

This is a book I will surely re-read from time to time.

** Thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion. **

[Amanda Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you have a friend that seems to be disappearing behind the act of motherhood? Do you keep thinking, what could I get to help her? Enter... Mommy Cusses. But only if she is not easily offended by profanity.

Mommy Cusses is a fun read that will help all mothers out there with young kids remember they are not alone in their endless battle! With three young kids and nine years of sleepless nights, an almost burned out crock pot, and a mini van that looks like the snack aisle exploded in it-this book made me laugh out loud numerous times. Fun little activities that will bring you back to high school included. Bring this to your girlfriends when they are in the trenches and it will certainly put a smile on their faces!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.


I just LOVE books about parenting, either neutral (parents in general) or books for moms or dads specifically. I don’t have kids myself, and not planning on any (for reasons), but I just cannot resist reading books about parenting. I don’t know why, maybe because when I was a teen I wanted to work with kids. When I saw this book pop up on Netgalley I knew I had to get it. The title sounded brilliant (and I also love the alternatives to the title which are listed in the book) and the blurb sounded hilarious.

This book is full with all sorts of fun, hilarious things. From anecdotes/stories/tips, to quotes to jokes to a periodic table full of essentials for moms to lists about things like: How to look like you have your shit together (pina coladas and pens and fancy hobbies), checklists, quizzes, and there is much much more and so I can assure you that you won’t have a moment of boredom. You will fly to one page and the next never knowing what is on the next page (well, unless it is a two-pager then you know 😛 ). I definitely loved that element of surprise. And you will laugh so much! At least I did, and I can tell you that I definitely needed that laugh.

I love the colours, the graphics/illustrations, the way this book was made. It was very colourful and fun. It may seem a bit chaotic at times, but I just loved it!

All in all, I would recommend this one to all!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book for moms who love to swear, but it gets old once the novelty of the swearing wears off on about page 7.
Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[♡ sincerely, marisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NETGALLEY for a Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have been reading this over the past week during middle of the night feedings (yay having a infant) and let me say... this is the most relatable book I've read in a long time.

I was cracking up in my nursing chair agreeing with almost every page, and the things I haven't experienced yet made me excited to know that I'll not only be experiencing them alone now.

This is a very comical, lighthearted collection of thoughts on what it's like to be a mother and every mom needs this book. It's my new best friend.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great palate cleanser if you’ve recently read a parenting book that made you feel judged and like you’re doing it wrong. It’s hilarious and feel-good at the same time.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

*standing ovation*
-Mom of 2 boys

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know if I'd like this book. Though I'm far from a (f*cking) prude, I don't typically love tons of profanity and I'm not at all a fan of toilet humor, but I decided to take a chance on Mommy Cusses based on some of the quotes posted by the other reviewers. I'm really thrilled that I did because it was a highlight to my otherwise stuck-under-a-mountain-of-snow-with-hyper-kids day.

I stay at home with my mini humans, but I was actively thinking of my mom friends while I was reading because it is just so damn relatable, regardless of how you choose to do motherhood. I love how reassuring it is, too. I shed a tear when I was reading the foreword. I am absolutely consumed by mom guilt—who isn't? And it's lovely to have a parent so understanding, so empathetic, so entirely real about it. (I'm literally writing this as I'm begging my five-year-old to get back in bed.) And still, I love that 98% of the book drips with sarcasm.

I've not read a huge number of parenting humor books because the ones I have read haven't been very funny. Or helpful. Mommy Cusses manages to be both. If I'm rating it against every other book I've read, regardless of genre, it's likely a 3.5/5, but amongst its genre? It's a 5/5, I'm a hugely critical reader, but I have no criticisms.

It's so difficult to choose a favorite bit. The "Tactics for Exiting a Sleeping Child's Room" bit killed me, but it's a bit too long to quote. This is probably my second favorite page:

Burglar (trying to break into my home/struggling with the baby gate): WTF?!
Me: It's a—you have to pull with your thumb while you LIFT.
Burglar: Like this? I don't—
Me: Yeah, yeah, now LIFT.
Burglar (jiggling gate): You know what? I'll try a different house. You have a good night!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I bet I can guess what you are with just one question. Do you have kids? Then: tired. You're ---- tired."

Serena Dorman's (with illustrations by Paige Vickers) laugh out loud funny (seriously, I had hysterical tears popping out and my kids were wondering what the heck was wrong with me) Mommy Cusses is readily relateable for moms everywhere. I believe it's geared towards the new mommies out there, but though mine are a bit older than newborns, I still found myself nodding with every single anecdote and piece of advice in these pages. This isn't exactly a self-help book; it's a much needed dose of commiseration for any worn to the bone mama thinking she's not enough, for any spit-up soaked gal who thinks she's the absolute worst, for any tantrumed-out lady eyeing that box of merlot wondering if it's respectably close enough to the five o'clock cocktail hour to pour a glass or five.

I just might need a copy or two of my own to pull out when I need to remember to lighten the mood. Short, sweet, and to the point, this pretty little book was one of the best I've gotten here on NetGalley.

But beware--the title is accurate. This is a NSFW book.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for making this advance copy available to review. I wish I could buy 1,000 copies and hand them out to a bunch of moms or leave scattered on park benches a la Emma Watson. It was fantastic.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 6th April 2021 – publication day!

As soon as I saw this book I knew it would be one for me from the title alone and straight away I downloaded a copy and had it read from cover to cover that night in bed!

I liked the content and it was laid out really well. It was easy to read and I liked it is a book where you can opt to read one section or all of them, it is one you can dip in and out of with no issue. It was light hearted and funny where it needed to be and did give me more than a few smiles.

I liked the little notes and letters to the mum you thought you would be/hoped you would be – the book is honest and keeps it real, being a mum is tough, not every day goes how you want and expect it too, but we pull our socks up, cry in our cold coffee and just get on with doing what we do best – keeping the little terrors fed and happy!

It is 4.5 stars from me for this one rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended and one I am going to make sure I refer back to if I have a wobble as it is a great reminder that you can do this, and you are not alone!

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS LIFE! I am a mom of four and this book spoke to me on so many levels. Last night I was sitting on the couch reading this laughing so hard I was crying while my exasperated husband and children stared at me as if I were insane. And I might be, just a little bit, but as this little gem of a book points out, we all are. We are in this together. My children are a bit older now (thank the gods), but I still have a little PTSD from the early years of motherhood. This book is the perfect gift for any mother, new or not. I sincerely hope the author writes a companion book about teenagers because that journey is a whole new ballgame. I have already preordered this for my own home library. It will become the new gift I give all the new mommies I know. Run, don’t walk to your computer now and order this. STAT!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that covers all that's...shitty about being a parent. From dirty diapers to tantruming kids, to the messes they make, this book has it all, interspersed with tongue in cheek advice and cosmo-style quizzes to find out what type of mom you are. I loved just about every page, and laughed out loud for some of it! It's a colorful book that will catch your eye and make you feel like maybe, just maybe, you aren't the only mom out there losing their shit while others around you seem to have everything down pat.

The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the amount of "mommy culture" booze references. Yeah, kids are a freaking handful and will make you lose your mind, but you also don't need to become an alcoholic while you do so.

*I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Parenting is a lot like that party game where they blindfold you, spin you around, guide you in a general direction, and laugh."

This book is funny as hell. Humor is sometimes hard to find in the mess of motherhood but finding the humor in the absurdity of it keeps us sane. The base message of this book is that you are not alone! It's okay to be a hot mess and not have your shit together. None of us do; we are all winging it. I think this would be a great gift for any new mom. I know I could have used this years ago after my first child when I was still trying to be the image of a perfect mom.

The book suggests other uses for it such as eating snacks behind it or closing it dramatically in the middle of an argument. ;)

[Korina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to buy this and gift it to all my mommy friends. Motherhood is hard, but no one wants to admit they struggle because no one talks about that side of it....it's always the good we share. But maybe that's not exactly healthy and Serena Dorman does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing the funny, the frustrating, the lonely, the real side of motherhood into this book, along with amazing messages of "you're not alone".

This book is not meant to be read through in one sitting, rather something to crack open when you need it. The afterword in this book is everything. Every mom should have the words in the Afterword with them all the time to look at as needed.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents go through a lot, and this book finds the humor in it and gives us a chance to commiserate like we want to with the friends we rarely see.
This particular title speaks to moms, but without a doubt dads will find the funny in it too.
There's funny bits and encouraging bits. Parts that say it seems like the days never end and parts that say it won't be like this forever.
If anything, I felt like the book was too short!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the e-arc NetGalley. Boy does this woman get it. Every Mom out there should grab a copy of this book and laugh their asses off like I did. If you didn’t go through/tolerate/barely make it through, all the fun things she discusses in this book then I feel sorry for you because you can’t commiserate with your fellow Mamas. This was awesome and I highly recommend it to any Mom with a sense of humor. #mommycusses #netgalley

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop laughing through this entire book. It is a great read and one that I would suggest that every new mother or even people without children should read. It makes you realize that you are not alone when your kid does something crazy or says something, or you feel like you can't make it through the day. She delivers this book with a healthy dose of sarcasm that everyone will enjoy!! Sorry, no secret giveaways in this review. You will just have to read the book for yourself!

[Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review

I've been picking at different parenting-related books in the last year, and none of them really work for me. Some are a bit too froo-froo, super Mombie style. Some are a little too COMPLIMENT NEVER. WORK ALWAYS.

This one?



Call me Goldilocks, because this is just right.

[Nat's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was epic!! Thank you to netgalley for the ARC but, I will, hands down, be buying this for my coffee table.
This was just so amazing funny and truthful and I don't think I have ever felt so understood! I think every single mom should read this, if only to feel a little less alone in the insanity that is motherhood!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The self-help book I thought I didn't need! I enjoyed it so so much!

Written humorously to lighten up the struggles of being a mom. I felt like Dorman patted my back and told me that I'm doing a great job in raising my kids.

Thank you to Netgalley, author Serena Dorman and illustrator Paige Vickers for the ARC.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was funny, and I totally get what they were going for, but it just wasn’t really for me. There were a couple times I was like “yas! preach” about being a hot mess or kids getting on your nerves, I didn’t super relate to a lot of it about drinking especially. I can definitely see giving this as a fun gift for a mom who needs to know they aren’t alone, though.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I redirected a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Omg I loved this book so much!! I repeatedly had to stop and show my husband pages laughing hysterically. If you’re a mom of young kids and enjoy dirty humor this will put a smile on your face and you’ll want to share with all your mom friends.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a hilarious and relatable book. For us "bad" moms out there that are not offended by profanity this is the perfect book. It brings humor to situations that make you want to have a melt down. I found myself in tears from laughing so hard. I definitely plan on buy I ng this for all of my mom friends.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a gift that I finally read...just to get it off my book shelf. It really is just a book form of a funny facebook post, or meme... drawn out way too much, and geared towards moms of young kids (Hello, moms of teens cuss too). Don't buy this for your mom friends. Take them out for coffee or wine instead.

[Ramona · Rating 1 out of 5]

In keeping with the title, there is a lot of cussing. I normally don’t mind a bit of cursing for flavor, but the content of this book is on overload with the “F” word & others. Not that funny either! I’m certain I won’t “lose my religion,” or go to hell reading this book 🤣, but what a waste of time perusing it as well as the purchase of it.

[Boyschool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every real mama needs this books. Sometimes you just gotta let fly with an F bomb or two, in the privacy of your own head. This books is hysterical, adorable, and HELPFUL, and would make a great gift! I love it!

[ElleEase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this review whilst sitting next to my toddler, sssh-ing him to sleep.
A very recognisable book and absolutely brilliant to put everything in perspective.
I’m gifting this to all new moms in my surroundings.