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Grace Under Pressure
Grace Harkness looks like she has it all – two beautiful children, four cookbooks under her belt and an idyllic beachside home #blessed. But add another baby on the way (oops), a spouse that is nowhere to be seen and a relentless list of things she ‘should’ be doing, and Grace is starting to unravel.
When the madness of modern-day motherhood finally pushes her to the brink, Grace and her friends decide to ditch the men in their lives, move in together and create a ‘mummune’ – sharing the load of chores, school pick-ups/drop-offs and endless Life Admin. The new set-up seems like a dream, but is life in this utopian village all it’s cracked up to be?
Grace Under Pressure is a deliciously hilarious, honest and heartfelt portrayal of modern-day motherhood and the saving grace of female friendship.
When the madness of modern-day motherhood finally pushes her to the brink, Grace and her friends decide to ditch the men in their lives, move in together and create a ‘mummune’ – sharing the load of chores, school pick-ups/drop-offs and endless Life Admin. The new set-up seems like a dream, but is life in this utopian village all it’s cracked up to be?
Grace Under Pressure is a deliciously hilarious, honest and heartfelt portrayal of modern-day motherhood and the saving grace of female friendship.
403 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2021
40 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Tori Haschka
9 books33 followersTori Haschka is a Sydney based author, food writer and mum of two. Her articles have featured in Grazia, The Times, the Guardian, Mammamia and the Sydney Morning Herald and her blog eatori.com was ranked by Saveur as one of the five best food and travel blogs in the world. Grace Under Pressure is her first novel. Her cookery books include 'Cut the Carbs!' and 'A Suitcase and a Spatula/ 'Travels with my Spatula'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 17, 2022
Grace Under Pressure is a witty, wise and warm debut novel from Tori Haschka about motherhood, marriage, friendship, and modern life.
With the world’s worst, or perhaps best, timing the lives of three friends, Grace, Petra and Shelly all implode on practically the same day. Seeking solace and support, the women, with five (and a bit) young children between them, decide to create their own ‘mummune’ - sharing Grace’s Northern Beaches home, the bills, childcare, cooking, and all the other ‘life admin’ tasks mothers manage daily. The arrangement seems like it could be the perfect answer to the pressures the three are under, but perfection is a fragile thing.
Many mothers will find their experiences reflected in the protagonists of Grace Under Pressure, as I did, whether it’s the attempt to juggle work/life balance, to overcome sleep deprivation, to cope with post-natal anxiety, or the pressure to do everything right, particularly under the critical gaze of peers and social media. In theory the idea of a ‘mummune’ seems excellent, there is truth to the old adage, ‘it takes a village’, and Grace, Petra and Shelly, with a little advice from neighbour Christine, find a rhythm that benefits all of them, but maintaining it proves a little trickier than they expect.
When we are introduced to Grace, the central character, she appears to have it all - a beautiful beachside home, a handsome globe-trotting husband, two cherubic children, and a successful career as the author of four popular wholefood cookbooks - she lives a life carefully curated for Instagram. But when she unexpectedly falls pregnant with her third child, the facade begins to falter, and the pressure to maintain it threatens to break her. I felt desperately sorry for Grace who is so caught up in who she thinks she should be, that she’s lost who she is. Haschka does a great job of portraying Grace’s external, and internal struggles to meet the mythic standard that motherhood, in fact womanhood, is expected to achieve.
Of course the other two ‘mummune’ members, Petra and Shelly, share similar anxieties, though are far less consumed by them. Petra, Grace’s best friend since college, is too furious at her husband for not only gambling away their life savings but also for hitting her when she confronted him with the truth, and too focused on forging a life of her own to worry much about what anyone thinks. It was Shelly I probably had the most affinity for, not only because we share a name, but my eldest daughter was also born after a long labour (and then an emergency caesarean) and she too was not a ‘sleeper’, though unlike Shelly, I thankfully had a husband who could occasionally gave me a break. In terms of parenting philosophy however, I had/have much more in common with Grace’s neighbour, Christine. While she had twins, I had 3 children in 3 years (plus an elder child), so pragmatism was more important to me than perfectionism when they were all younger.
This is a strong debut from Haschka who captures the madness of modern motherhood. Well written, with relatable characters, and plenty of moments that made me laugh, cringe, and sigh in recognition, I really enjoyed reading Grace Under Pressure.
May 27, 2021
A story that explores the many aspects of modern-day motherhood.
To her followers Grace looks like she has it all. The perfect family, house, diet and creative flair. She is followed by thousands and a local celebrity in their flash suburb at Sydney’s Northern Beaches. But life is not as easy as she makes it look online. With an unexpected baby on the way, a crumbling marriage and a book deadline that seems impossible to meet, life takes a turn. Luckily, she has some supportive woman to help her. Her new friend Shelly, a young mum struggling with sleep deprivation and seemingly homeless. Petra, a strong-willed woman on the forefront of a life changing event and Christine a lonely neighbour who has experienced a lot of change in the past couple of years.
When they all find themselves without their husbands or baby daddies, they decide to join forces. A ‘Mummune’, where woman live together to raise their children. Nothing could go wrong… right?
Other topics in this book include: Domestic abuse, mental health, financial abuse, gambling.
To her followers Grace looks like she has it all. The perfect family, house, diet and creative flair. She is followed by thousands and a local celebrity in their flash suburb at Sydney’s Northern Beaches. But life is not as easy as she makes it look online. With an unexpected baby on the way, a crumbling marriage and a book deadline that seems impossible to meet, life takes a turn. Luckily, she has some supportive woman to help her. Her new friend Shelly, a young mum struggling with sleep deprivation and seemingly homeless. Petra, a strong-willed woman on the forefront of a life changing event and Christine a lonely neighbour who has experienced a lot of change in the past couple of years.
When they all find themselves without their husbands or baby daddies, they decide to join forces. A ‘Mummune’, where woman live together to raise their children. Nothing could go wrong… right?
Other topics in this book include: Domestic abuse, mental health, financial abuse, gambling.
March 10, 2021
This is such a cleverly crafted exploration of modern motherhood, with delicious humour and insights into the friendships and inner monologues of women. I felt seen.
December 7, 2025
I’ve often joked with my mum friends about starting a mum commune, and this book just solidified that idea. Tori has written a witty novel that encapsulates what most of us have experienced at some point as mothers in the digital age. Through different characters, I felt seen - and some of the insights gave me more wisdom than I initially expected to glean. Loved this book!
October 29, 2021
Some great talking points came out of this book. Having not had children, but having a bunch of friends who have, it made me want to ( and have) say “ If you ever need help, all you need to do is ask”
It’s a little sad that we no longer live by the concept “it takes a village to raise a child” in today’s world, friends live in different towns, states or even countries. Family dynamics can be difficult and your “village” isn’t as easy to build.
It’s also interesting that throughout pregnancy and birth, it’s the baby that’s celebrated, not the mother when the mother is so important to be cared for and nurtured during this time. A healthy mother in mind, body and spirit = a healthy baby.
Another point was Christine’s re no financial gain from raising a child. Whether it’s a stay at home dad or mum, the hardest and most important job is raising your child, yet there’s no financial support. No superannuation etc. 🤔
Great book club pick with different topics being discussed, especially if there’s mum’s in the group that can relate.
It’s a little sad that we no longer live by the concept “it takes a village to raise a child” in today’s world, friends live in different towns, states or even countries. Family dynamics can be difficult and your “village” isn’t as easy to build.
It’s also interesting that throughout pregnancy and birth, it’s the baby that’s celebrated, not the mother when the mother is so important to be cared for and nurtured during this time. A healthy mother in mind, body and spirit = a healthy baby.
Another point was Christine’s re no financial gain from raising a child. Whether it’s a stay at home dad or mum, the hardest and most important job is raising your child, yet there’s no financial support. No superannuation etc. 🤔
Great book club pick with different topics being discussed, especially if there’s mum’s in the group that can relate.
May 3, 2021
It feels like I’ve read a few books lately that deal with this sort of idea – women who band together to form a community where they share the load of both physical and mental labour. In this book, Grace is 38 and struggling with the two children she has when she finds out she’s pregnant with a very-definitely-unplanned #3. Her husband doesn’t seem on board and so Grace begins to look elsewhere for support: her longtime friend Petra, struggling with her own marriage as well as young single mum Shelly who is about to be homeless. Also Grace’s next-door neighbour Christine who is older and struggling with the phase of life she’s in now. The four women decide they can create the perfect scenario if they all work together: they can provide emotional support because they all know what it’s like. There’s always someone around to watch the children while someone else cooks. It’s the very definition of creating their village….but is it as perfect as they think?
I feel like in a lot of books, women are married to Very Busy Men who are often very absent doing their Very Important Jobs and providing no practical parenting input and the women are left to carry the entire load at home and the men are far too busy to understand that basically what equates to solo-parenting is very difficult, time consuming and not the life of leisure they assume it is. Grace also works too, she works from home mostly, testing recipes and doing cookbooks. Grace, everywhere delivers these days. There’s nothing you can’t get online. And stop allowing your husband to get away with the idea that any childcare costs would come out of your wage – childcare is a SHARED HOUSEHOLD EXPENSE. Grace’s desire to avoid any sort of confrontation with her husband means that she soldiers on until she is quite literally, at breaking point while he keeps swanning off overseas and even after that her husband still takes a while to understand, which was enormously frustrating.
A part of the book is dedicated to posts made on the local Facebook group and some of these highlight the issues with online communication – the one statement can be taken many different ways. Such as a simple one about a place selling apple slices: the responses can range from grateful for the info, to judgement for the plastic packaging to derision for the mum who doesn’t have the time to slice up their child’s apples themselves and that back in their day they’d never buy sliced apples. Even as this book is about women trying to help and support each other, there’s a highlight of just how much judging of women is also done by other women. I feel that it honestly showcases how a lot of these groups go from something started to be helpful and supportive or informative to judgement, shaming, arguing, self-righteousness and the like. The comments on basically anything on the internet these days feels like there’s a strong chance of it being a total cesspool. The saying “never read the comments” doesn’t exist for nothing! However I feel like it did a great job in highlighting how it can be just another element of pressure that women face: the pressure to be doing it all. Breastfeeding, providing your toddler/children with organic, home cooked food that’s gluten free/dairy free/nutritious and free of sugar, the list goes on and on. The pressure to be “insta” perfect, to almost be the envy of others around you.
I enjoyed parts of this book and the writing was very good but honestly, at times it felt like there was an awful lot crammed into it. Not only do all the women have relationship issues (Grace and Petra are both married but separate for different reasons, Shelly is a solo mother with the father of her baby vanishing into the ether and Christine’s husband is off “finding himself” somewhere) but there’s a lot of other things going on as well and at times it felt like it was just one thing after another being revealed as part of backstory or as complicated current-timeline events. Towards the end I felt like things had been brought up that weren’t really addressed adequately – like mentioned once and then kind of not explored in depth, nor brought up again. Where I thought the book did excel was showcasing Grace’s mental state in the latter part of the book which was so well done that it gave me anxiety reading it.
I have children but didn’t really relate to any of the characters as having shared their experiences personally but a lot of people will find both humour and identity within the pages. I liked this but for me, felt like there were a few things that didn’t resonate. However I’d be interested in reading the author’s next book.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
I feel like in a lot of books, women are married to Very Busy Men who are often very absent doing their Very Important Jobs and providing no practical parenting input and the women are left to carry the entire load at home and the men are far too busy to understand that basically what equates to solo-parenting is very difficult, time consuming and not the life of leisure they assume it is. Grace also works too, she works from home mostly, testing recipes and doing cookbooks. Grace, everywhere delivers these days. There’s nothing you can’t get online. And stop allowing your husband to get away with the idea that any childcare costs would come out of your wage – childcare is a SHARED HOUSEHOLD EXPENSE. Grace’s desire to avoid any sort of confrontation with her husband means that she soldiers on until she is quite literally, at breaking point while he keeps swanning off overseas and even after that her husband still takes a while to understand, which was enormously frustrating.
A part of the book is dedicated to posts made on the local Facebook group and some of these highlight the issues with online communication – the one statement can be taken many different ways. Such as a simple one about a place selling apple slices: the responses can range from grateful for the info, to judgement for the plastic packaging to derision for the mum who doesn’t have the time to slice up their child’s apples themselves and that back in their day they’d never buy sliced apples. Even as this book is about women trying to help and support each other, there’s a highlight of just how much judging of women is also done by other women. I feel that it honestly showcases how a lot of these groups go from something started to be helpful and supportive or informative to judgement, shaming, arguing, self-righteousness and the like. The comments on basically anything on the internet these days feels like there’s a strong chance of it being a total cesspool. The saying “never read the comments” doesn’t exist for nothing! However I feel like it did a great job in highlighting how it can be just another element of pressure that women face: the pressure to be doing it all. Breastfeeding, providing your toddler/children with organic, home cooked food that’s gluten free/dairy free/nutritious and free of sugar, the list goes on and on. The pressure to be “insta” perfect, to almost be the envy of others around you.
I enjoyed parts of this book and the writing was very good but honestly, at times it felt like there was an awful lot crammed into it. Not only do all the women have relationship issues (Grace and Petra are both married but separate for different reasons, Shelly is a solo mother with the father of her baby vanishing into the ether and Christine’s husband is off “finding himself” somewhere) but there’s a lot of other things going on as well and at times it felt like it was just one thing after another being revealed as part of backstory or as complicated current-timeline events. Towards the end I felt like things had been brought up that weren’t really addressed adequately – like mentioned once and then kind of not explored in depth, nor brought up again. Where I thought the book did excel was showcasing Grace’s mental state in the latter part of the book which was so well done that it gave me anxiety reading it.
I have children but didn’t really relate to any of the characters as having shared their experiences personally but a lot of people will find both humour and identity within the pages. I liked this but for me, felt like there were a few things that didn’t resonate. However I’d be interested in reading the author’s next book.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
June 13, 2022
I liked these characters and it was a good story idea. I think it was probably twice the length it should have been, though.
March 2, 2021
You'll laugh, you'll cry and then you'll text your girlfriends group chat and tell them that you love them.
March 8, 2021
Grace Harkness looks like she has it all from the outside, with two beautiful children, published cookbooks, a wonderful husband and beachside home. But another baby on the way may just be the breaking point, along with an absent spouse. A group of other local mums are also having similar issues, juggling young children and demands of life and they decide to ditch the men and move in together, forming a 'mummune'. We get to see the women's friendship and sharing of chores, school pick ups and bills, but what seems like the perfect set-up doesn't come without issues.
There was just so much I could relate to in this one. Both being at home with a young child with very little support years ago and no 'village' to help raise him and then juggling the demands of a child and work. While this one does cover topics such as post-natal anxiety, sleep deprivation and those years of being 'in the trenches'. It also had such a positive feel with the female friendships and village the ladies created to help each other and not feel so alone. As the author notes, it is also a dark satire about what it's like to parent in an age of social media and digital surveillance. It had some funny laugh out loud moments and it was just delightful! Definitely one I recommend.
There was just so much I could relate to in this one. Both being at home with a young child with very little support years ago and no 'village' to help raise him and then juggling the demands of a child and work. While this one does cover topics such as post-natal anxiety, sleep deprivation and those years of being 'in the trenches'. It also had such a positive feel with the female friendships and village the ladies created to help each other and not feel so alone. As the author notes, it is also a dark satire about what it's like to parent in an age of social media and digital surveillance. It had some funny laugh out loud moments and it was just delightful! Definitely one I recommend.
March 2, 2021
Grace is under pressure. On the surface everything runs smoothly and “looks” good, but underneath her life is all over the place. Her husband is unhelpful, her kids are being raised by her solely, she does all the work and then she falls pregnant, again, awesome…..
Petra is under pressure. Leaving an abusive husband with addiction issues.
Shelley is under pressure. A missing partner/father of her child.
So, what is one to do? Well, start a “Mummune” (thanks should also go to Christine here) and together they will face life’s daily challenges and it will all work out famously. You know, until it doesn’t.
I could feel the anxiety and pressure leaping off the page in this one. I cannot begin to explain the empathy I have for each of the women in this novel. I feel like I have met them and heard their story before.
I easily devoured this story about juggling everything: relationships, friendships, work, kids, breathing, and I would recommend it to those who want to read a fun, feel-good book and those who need a reminder that “instaperfect” isn’t really what you think it is.
Petra is under pressure. Leaving an abusive husband with addiction issues.
Shelley is under pressure. A missing partner/father of her child.
So, what is one to do? Well, start a “Mummune” (thanks should also go to Christine here) and together they will face life’s daily challenges and it will all work out famously. You know, until it doesn’t.
I could feel the anxiety and pressure leaping off the page in this one. I cannot begin to explain the empathy I have for each of the women in this novel. I feel like I have met them and heard their story before.
I easily devoured this story about juggling everything: relationships, friendships, work, kids, breathing, and I would recommend it to those who want to read a fun, feel-good book and those who need a reminder that “instaperfect” isn’t really what you think it is.
April 13, 2021
This was my book club read. It was an easy read and will resonate with new mothers. A lot happened in this book - perhaps too much - but it did raise some interesting points about being a mother in the age of social media.
June 12, 2021
It's rare to find a book with so many underlying messages... Grace Under Pressure touches on so many of the issues mothers (well everyone, but the book looks at mothers) face in today's society. The fact that we have so much social media in our lives, husband's don't know how to support their wives, people are expecting so much from one another and the growing rate, which people think it's ok to talk about other behind their backs is just a small snippet of what Tori addresses in this book!
Although it's not something I would normally read, I really 'enjoyed' it. I'm saying enjoyed in inverted commas because it make me furious, sad, happy and concerned. It's absolutely worth a read!
Although it's not something I would normally read, I really 'enjoyed' it. I'm saying enjoyed in inverted commas because it make me furious, sad, happy and concerned. It's absolutely worth a read!
January 17, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. I’ve read a similar one about the commune of Mums and hated it so was a bit apprehensive when I was given this book but the story, the depth of the characters had me hooked all the way through. I loved the inclusion of the Mum Facebook page because it was so true to life!
The only reason I gave it a four instead of a 5 was because I felt two of the main characters needed more of a detailed sum up at the end.
Couldn’t believe this was her first novel though…she hit the trials and sore spots of motherhood right on the head.
The only reason I gave it a four instead of a 5 was because I felt two of the main characters needed more of a detailed sum up at the end.
Couldn’t believe this was her first novel though…she hit the trials and sore spots of motherhood right on the head.
February 12, 2022
Solid novel about modern motherhood; the notion of women building their village is a good one, and avoids most of the tropes that tediously get trotted out in the mummy fiction genre. Characters real and likeable, the under the surface tensions and anxieties of the relentlessness and complexities of modern life with a good application of social media’s influences and hazards. The HEA is handled delicately and without platitudes and plenty of meaningful and genuine feelings explored throughout the novel.
Well worth the read.
Well worth the read.
July 6, 2024
At the half-way point this was a definite 4+ star
I just found it became a bit too much in the second half.
I did get second-hand anxiety through much of Grace's inner monologue. Wow!! The social media inclusion was well done and rang very true. The undue pressure to pose a perfect life to the masses in your Instagram page is too much. The author did a very good job of shining a light on what it can be like to be a mum in this new world.
The sense of community that Grace, Petra, Shelly and Christine formed was lovely. A bit too "perfect" when all their lives turn to crisies at the same time.
Overall, it is a good read and I would pass it on to others
I just found it became a bit too much in the second half.
I did get second-hand anxiety through much of Grace's inner monologue. Wow!! The social media inclusion was well done and rang very true. The undue pressure to pose a perfect life to the masses in your Instagram page is too much. The author did a very good job of shining a light on what it can be like to be a mum in this new world.
The sense of community that Grace, Petra, Shelly and Christine formed was lovely. A bit too "perfect" when all their lives turn to crisies at the same time.
Overall, it is a good read and I would pass it on to others
September 14, 2022
Beautiful read about love and loss, relationships coming together and falling apart, babies coming into the world and children passing. All about motherhood and the importance of women supporting women.
#it takes a village
👣 👣 👣 👣
#it takes a village
👣 👣 👣 👣
May 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, with all it's amazing yet flawed women. It presented so accurately the joy, the struggle, and the pressure of motherhood. I felt seen.
May 8, 2021
Tori Haschka’s book is a funny & modern look at motherhood that rings true in so many ways. Loved this book!
April 9, 2021
Well this was a hard one to review. There were things I loved but things I just didn't. I know I am in the minority but at times this book felt like it was anti male in order to be feminist and I dont agree with that. As a wife with two small kids the idea of living with more mums with kids actually sounds like a super loud version of hell where you have to ask kids to put their socks on which is apparently the hardest task in yhe world. There were of course things like that which I liked and connected with but overall I feel that I am in a very different place to the characters in the book so it wasn't for me.
October 29, 2021
4 ⭐️
A very easy read with a lot of relatable content for mothers. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists but felt the ending seemed very rushed and a bit lack lustre.
A very easy read with a lot of relatable content for mothers. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists but felt the ending seemed very rushed and a bit lack lustre.
January 11, 2025
An easy chick-lit type read about motherhood, relationships (and the impact on them due to motherhood) and friendship. I really enjoyed this book.
March 5, 2021
LOVED this book.
It has everything - wonderful characters, belly laughs and facts about the unrecognised economic contribution of unpaid labour. I finished it feeling like I’d just caught up with a close group of witty female friends.
If you’re at all familiar with Sydney’s northern beaches - this is a must read. Or buy it for a beaches friend or family member. Absolutely recommend.
It has everything - wonderful characters, belly laughs and facts about the unrecognised economic contribution of unpaid labour. I finished it feeling like I’d just caught up with a close group of witty female friends.
If you’re at all familiar with Sydney’s northern beaches - this is a must read. Or buy it for a beaches friend or family member. Absolutely recommend.
December 21, 2021
Rating - 3.5
This book touches on issues like the patriarchy, sexism, autonomy, sexual assault, domestic violence, trauma, identity, postnatal depression and motherhood.. At one point I felt this story would turn out to be a 4 star rating but I think the fact that it all felt way too chaotic made me rate it 3.5.... I think this book can be quite anxiety inducing. I think it portrays parenthood quite realistically.
I think the character development was good.. Grace being a control freak and trying to be perfect, Petra was a pretty jealous friend and driven by that as well as her envy. Although, I do think the relationship between Petra & Stew was horrifying but really portrays what it is like to be in an abusive relationship and perhaps be unaware of it until much later. Shelley was by far the redeeming character in this book in addition to Christine as well.
Overall I really like this idea of a mummune.. I would've given it 4 stars but it was way to anxiety inducing. I think this book is quite overwhelming for someone who can't necessarily relate..
This book touches on issues like the patriarchy, sexism, autonomy, sexual assault, domestic violence, trauma, identity, postnatal depression and motherhood.. At one point I felt this story would turn out to be a 4 star rating but I think the fact that it all felt way too chaotic made me rate it 3.5.... I think this book can be quite anxiety inducing. I think it portrays parenthood quite realistically.
I think the character development was good.. Grace being a control freak and trying to be perfect, Petra was a pretty jealous friend and driven by that as well as her envy. Although, I do think the relationship between Petra & Stew was horrifying but really portrays what it is like to be in an abusive relationship and perhaps be unaware of it until much later. Shelley was by far the redeeming character in this book in addition to Christine as well.
Overall I really like this idea of a mummune.. I would've given it 4 stars but it was way to anxiety inducing. I think this book is quite overwhelming for someone who can't necessarily relate..
July 17, 2022
This is the first novel I've read which accurately depicts motherhood. The story is told from the points of view of four mothers. At the centre is Grace, a mother of two - Whoops! Make that almost three - children whose glittering social media presence drives her cooking and lifestyle brand. Behind the perfect Instagram grid, Grace is burdened by a largely absent husband and the unachievable perfection demanded of modern mothers, and of her self-eroding people-pleasing ways. Her supporting cast consists of: Petra, an ex-actress, mother of two trying to claw back her battered confidence to start the next chapter of her life; Shelly, a younger-gen single mother from England with no support network, and precarious financial situation; and, Christine, Grace's empty-nester neighbour, an OG feminist, economist.
When the men in their lives let them down gloriously, the women band together to create a "Mumune" where domestic drudgery and childcare is shared, making space for them to follow their dreams and get shit done. Dramas and wild twists ensure that this is a rollicking story that doesn't come across as saccharine.
I particularly enjoyed the way the book was structured. Each chapter was given the name of a food dish that featured briefly in the story, and there were hilarious breaks in the narrative in the form of Facebook posts to a page called "Beaches Mums" that were ALL TOO REAL! Add to that, writing perfectly whisked to create stiff glossy peaks and it's a recipe for enjoyment!
Although comedy runs through this story like a raspberry ripple, at its heart, this is a smart and important story highlighting how unfairly our social and economic structures are stacked against women. If every story needs an antagonist, then invisible labour is this one's, and it's a HAIRY BEAST! If you are a mother - particularly of small children - I INSIST you read this!
When the men in their lives let them down gloriously, the women band together to create a "Mumune" where domestic drudgery and childcare is shared, making space for them to follow their dreams and get shit done. Dramas and wild twists ensure that this is a rollicking story that doesn't come across as saccharine.
I particularly enjoyed the way the book was structured. Each chapter was given the name of a food dish that featured briefly in the story, and there were hilarious breaks in the narrative in the form of Facebook posts to a page called "Beaches Mums" that were ALL TOO REAL! Add to that, writing perfectly whisked to create stiff glossy peaks and it's a recipe for enjoyment!
Although comedy runs through this story like a raspberry ripple, at its heart, this is a smart and important story highlighting how unfairly our social and economic structures are stacked against women. If every story needs an antagonist, then invisible labour is this one's, and it's a HAIRY BEAST! If you are a mother - particularly of small children - I INSIST you read this!
November 19, 2021
While I completely understand what this author was trying to achieve it was not a Liane Moriarty novel. The anxiety, judgment, angst, shame, fear and stress was so unrelenting that it made the characters hard to see clearly, let alone like and made them remote, rather than relatable. It also made me feel a little anxious, which is not endearing. However I did really appreciate the realism of the challenges of the Mummune and was just stunned by the complete lack of honesty in all of the marriages as well as between the women. Also the lack of repentance and forgiveness which is what I thought really greased the wheels of human interaction, but apparently not.
October 3, 2021
The recipes in this book did not sound inviting, felt sorry for the kids being fed such weird food,no wonder the mother had a breakdown too much going on,her head was a jumble
August 23, 2021
A deliciously hilarious, honest and heartfelt portrayal of modern-day motherhood and the saving grace of female friendship.Grace Harkness looks like she has it all – two beautiful children, four cookbooks under her belt and an idyllic beachside home #blessed. But add another baby on the way (oops), a spouse that is nowhere to be seen and a relentless list of things she ‘should’ be doing, and Grace is starting to unravel.When the madness of modern-day motherhood finally pushes her to the brink, Grace and her friends decide to ditch the men in their lives, move in together and create a ‘mummune’ – sharing the load of chores, school pick-ups/drop-offs and endless Life Admin. The new set-up seems like a dream, but is life in this utopian village all it’s cracked up to be?A commune is an intentional community of people sharing living spaces, interests, values, beliefs, and often property, possessions, and resources in common. In some communes, the people also share common work, income, or assets.In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become important core principles for many communes. There are many contemporary intentional communities all over the world.Benjamin Zablocki categorized communities such as Alternative- family, coliving,cooperative etc.Mummunes are becoming common as women are helping each other out with household chores and childrearing.They are self-sufficient and have each other's back.It takes a village to raise a child,and people need a support network when trials and tribulations demand to be reckoned with.Life admin is all of the office-type work it takes to run a life and a household.Just as with job-related admin, “life admin” represents some of our least favourite, and most procrastinated on, to-dos. And yet completing them is essential to keeping our lives organized, functioning, and moving ahead.They include managing household finances and supplies, filling out forms and applications, answering emails,making appointments,planning shopping, meals,events and vacations,as well as home improvement projects etc.
January 9, 2026
I came away feeling conflicted about this one- I loved and hated it. There was so much of my own experience here, I see my friends and relations here too. It also doesn't shy away from the hard, the scary, the crazy, the selfish and the lost parts of life when children enter the world- probably also why I hated it at times.
A group of loosely connected aquaintances wind up in circumstances that are less than ideal in their personal lives and decide to work together, rather than alone, to forge ahead. From new mums, to seasoned and repeat customers, to adult kids and the complications they bring, a houseful of women come together to try and construct the community they are lacking.
Things don't always run smoothly, even with the best of intentions and they are forced to manage personalities, community scorn, post partum depression and insane work deadlines as a unit. Spend some time in this Northern Beaches 'mum-une' and decide if the grass really is greener.
This book is full of a range of real women facing real life in all it's chaotic, howling, awful, brilliant glory. A great read for toddler mums to prove you're not crazy, for friends of new mums and even dads to peek into the life, pressures and expectations placed on the title of Mother.
Please check the trigger warnings as there are several different scenarios presented throughout that could hit home.
A group of loosely connected aquaintances wind up in circumstances that are less than ideal in their personal lives and decide to work together, rather than alone, to forge ahead. From new mums, to seasoned and repeat customers, to adult kids and the complications they bring, a houseful of women come together to try and construct the community they are lacking.
Things don't always run smoothly, even with the best of intentions and they are forced to manage personalities, community scorn, post partum depression and insane work deadlines as a unit. Spend some time in this Northern Beaches 'mum-une' and decide if the grass really is greener.
This book is full of a range of real women facing real life in all it's chaotic, howling, awful, brilliant glory. A great read for toddler mums to prove you're not crazy, for friends of new mums and even dads to peek into the life, pressures and expectations placed on the title of Mother.
Please check the trigger warnings as there are several different scenarios presented throughout that could hit home.
April 15, 2021
This was an outstanding debut novel, it was a truly honest, funny and heartfelt portrayal of modern-day motherhood.
The story alternates around the main character Grace, her long time friend Petra, her neighbour Christine and new friend Shelley.
Each of these women are negotiating motherhood in one way or another and through a series of different circumstances and events they all come together to create a ‘mummune’ – sharing the load of chores, school pick-ups/drop-offs and endless Life Admin.
Add in a Facebook group and this novel will have laughing, rolling your eyes and in a couple of instances gasping in horror.
I couldn’t help but relate to what these women were experiencing, the saying “it takes a village” is very true, without some amazing support parenthood can be a struggle for us all.
There can be so much perceived expectations around motherhood and it can be a source of absolute pressure, and it is certainly highlighted in this book just how much stress this can put on a mother.
There was just so much to love about this book, and I am looking forward to what comes next from Tori!
I can’t recommend this more highly, it’s out now so go grab yourself a copy!!
The story alternates around the main character Grace, her long time friend Petra, her neighbour Christine and new friend Shelley.
Each of these women are negotiating motherhood in one way or another and through a series of different circumstances and events they all come together to create a ‘mummune’ – sharing the load of chores, school pick-ups/drop-offs and endless Life Admin.
Add in a Facebook group and this novel will have laughing, rolling your eyes and in a couple of instances gasping in horror.
I couldn’t help but relate to what these women were experiencing, the saying “it takes a village” is very true, without some amazing support parenthood can be a struggle for us all.
There can be so much perceived expectations around motherhood and it can be a source of absolute pressure, and it is certainly highlighted in this book just how much stress this can put on a mother.
There was just so much to love about this book, and I am looking forward to what comes next from Tori!
I can’t recommend this more highly, it’s out now so go grab yourself a copy!!
December 8, 2022
A novel about modern day motherhood, set in Sydney's northern beaches. Three women, in various states of crisis, turn to each other for support, and in doing so realise that there may be real benefit in cohabiting. Where their partners have failed them, have they stumbled upon a utopia of true shared domestic load, childcare, and emotional labour? A "mummune".
Grace is the insta-perfect mum, cookbook author and now accidentally pregnant with her third. Her husband is barely ever home though. Petra is a former-tv star, in a controlling relationship and not financially independent. Shelly is a young single mum, sleep deprived, without family support and struggling to make ends meet.
The novel is devastatingly insightful about relationships and the insidious nature of unpaid labour and certain roles not being valued. It is also laugh out loud funny in places. The author presents a layered consideration of the pressure to 'do it all' or 'be everything' to other people, female friendships, male shame, modern sources of anxiety and virtual tribes (the good, the bad, and the ugly).
Layered characters, the plot moves along well, clear writing, empathetic handling of themes. Good bookclub fodder.
Grace is the insta-perfect mum, cookbook author and now accidentally pregnant with her third. Her husband is barely ever home though. Petra is a former-tv star, in a controlling relationship and not financially independent. Shelly is a young single mum, sleep deprived, without family support and struggling to make ends meet.
The novel is devastatingly insightful about relationships and the insidious nature of unpaid labour and certain roles not being valued. It is also laugh out loud funny in places. The author presents a layered consideration of the pressure to 'do it all' or 'be everything' to other people, female friendships, male shame, modern sources of anxiety and virtual tribes (the good, the bad, and the ugly).
Layered characters, the plot moves along well, clear writing, empathetic handling of themes. Good bookclub fodder.
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