M is for Mummy

by Katy Cox

'A funny and touching insight into music, autism and motherhood' Dawn French 'A truthful book that dives headfirst into the realities of motherhood that will make you laugh out loud and touch your heart in equal measure' Izzy Judd ________________________________ Your family doesn't fit the mould. So what? Since giving birth to her second child, Lucy's life is totally the romance in her marriage is officially dead and so is the career it took her years to build. Instead of playing the cello behind superstars at packed-out arenas, Lucy now spends most days mopping up broccoli vomit whilst listening to her four-year-old recite facts about the gallbladder. Something needs to change. With a little help from her friends, Lucy comes up with a plan to get her life on track, claw back her career and help her extraordinary son to find his place in an ordinary world.

Genres: Comedy

384 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel came into my life right when I needed it.

M is for Mummy follows Lucy, a woman who has just given birth to her second child and is watching her life be turned upside down. She’s had to swap her career for family life and tries to help her son with autism spectrum disorder to shine.

I found myself laughing out loud at this book. Even though I’m not a mum yet, I found myself being able to relate to this so much as a woman. It came into my life just when I really needed a nice easy and light read. I found myself devouring the pages and being able to read this so much quicker than I normally read a book! I loved the short chapters and easy writing style. I admit, this may be a little crude for some people but I didn’t mind it and almost felt that I became part of the family. I’ve never read any other mummy type books so it’s possible that this may be similar in many ways. But I loved the unique focus on ASD in this book.

I absolutely loved the overall message of this book. Highlighting the importance of relishing in our differences and striving to be our true selves, no matter what that entails. You can tell that the author has lived this experience. Her knowledge and personal touch is added so beautifully to the character of Lucy. It made it all feel so incredibly real, almost like I was reading a memoir! Stan’s character wormed his way into my heart. I loved this debut novel and would love to read more by this author!

I recommend this book to any mums/women/parents who fancy a nice light and humorous read. I want to thank Readers First, Atlantic Books and Katy Cox for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com

What I like about this book is how the author has invented a mother, that every mother can relate to in one way or another.

I have two daughters, that are fully grown up now, but I remember how difficult it was to run baths, washing and ironing, cooking and cleaning with not much time for myself.

Here we find Lucy a stay at home mother, committed to looking after her demanding son while expecting another baby, with being up at 6.30am in the morning to see her husband Ed set off to play his guitar live on TV.

I did feel quite sympathetic towards Lucy as she found it hard to loose the weight after her second baby. After both of my daughters were born I immediately lost the weight, but I know a few mothers don’t, this one of the reasons why this story is so relatable.

I was really happy for Lucy as she is finally going to have time for herself, getting her escape back into playing her cello, at a gig.

I found the story full of humour with a diet plan, that left me feeling heartbroken for Lucy, when her diet plan leaves her frustrated.

Although author Katy Cox has based her life as a professional musician and a mum of boys, on the main character, I can honestly say that M IS FOR MUMMY, is one those page turning stories that has plenty of laugh out situations, plus with lots of other mixed emotions.

With my fast forward thinking I’m wondering what will author Katy Cox write about next time?

My memories of this hilarious story is sealed inside me, that’s why for me I just can’t resist giving this funny novel five big stars!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the second I discovered this book existed, I had a feeling I was going to love it, and I wasn't wrong, although love isn't a strong enough word - it's a wonderful book.

I always enjoy reading books featuring young families and seeing how they cope and within the first few pages I was laughing with that opening, and then as we meet Stan, I found him incredibly endearing to start and very loveable.

In fact I'm really really hoping this may be the start of a series, because I already need another fix of Stan, and I love baby Jack too, and seeing just what may happen next with Lucy and Ed. I enjoyed seeing their ups and downs, and also the various situations Lucy gets herself into.

There is a lot of humour to be had with this book, as well as a heart meltingly perfect finale that was unexpected in its nature but just worked for the characters.

It is also though a look at parenthood when one of your children is clearly a bit different from the average child. It was fairly obvious to me what the diagnosis would be for Stan, but he is just a loveable boy, and Lucy is doing her best to understand him, that he really is just Stanley.

From having worked with some children a bit like Stanley I get the feeling that this is rather authentic, and all the concerns Lucy expresses are realistic and valid. I find all of this made them very relatable too, and something that parents will especially enjoy reading, as I suspect they will see elements of their own experiences reflected in this.

This is one rather special family that has wormed its way into my heart, and I really want more from them, A very entertaining debut novel, from an author I will certainly be keen to read more from.

Thank you to Corvus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[bookishcharli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy, an exhausted mother of two boys, misses her life as an accomplished cellist as she no longer has time to play due to trying to parent her boys and keep her marriage afloat. She suspects that Stan, the eldest boy, has autism and she has to navigate his meltdowns and behaviours that are all part of the parcel for ASD. Her husband, Ed, approaches everything in a different way to her (but I suspect that’s because his mum keeps preaching a “tough love” approach) but by the end of the book I had warmed up to him. This is a book filled with laugh out loud moments but will also have you teary eyed in places as you just want Lucy to conquer every tough situation she’s facing in this book. I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read!

Thank you so much to Atlantic books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent a very enjoyable weekend reading “M is for Mummy” written by Katy Cox - classically trained cellist, blogger and now author.

- Lucy had it all: an exciting career, a rock-star husband, great friends, a size ten waist and pelvic floor muscles that could crack a walnut. And then, she had kids. Since giving birth to her second child, Lucy's life is totally unrecognisable. A 'flab-alanche' hangs over the top of her jeans, the romance in her marriage is officially dead and so is the career it took her years to build. Instead of playing the cello behind superstars at packed-out arenas, Lucy now spends most days mopping up broccoli vomit whilst listening to her four-year-old recite tedious facts about the gall bladder.

The story was so realistic, believable and relatable that at some points I literally thought I’d written a book myself without realising! So many mothers will be nodding their heads in agreement, as they read this book knowing exactly where Lucy (and in turn the author) is coming from, with the traumatic emotions, physical feelings and everyday parenting issues that constantly arise.

There really are some amusing chapters but also some truly emotional ones. Lucy knows deep down that her four year old son Stan, has autistic spectrum disorder and her tolerance and patience with him was so beautiful. Chapters like ‘Compare and Despair’ will resound with everyone who uses social media and the opening scene as Lucy’s waters break is hilarious and really sets the tone for the rest of the book.

“M is for Mummy” is such a superbly fun read! I’m not sure anyone who’s childless will still want kids after this no holes barred story. However I’m sure the author would agree, when all is said and done, the joys of parenthood fully outway any droopy boobs, ‘flab-alanche’ and endless sleepless nights. I’d love to follow Lucy’s family as they deal with the diagnosis of autism, as baby Jack grows and how Lucy and her husband rekindle their flagging marriage.

I certainly wish I’d known Lucy/Katy, when my kids were at school. Just knowing someone, who isn’t frightened to share their true feelings instead of competing with other parents would have been a breath of fresh air. So many mothers will relate to this book and I commend Katy Cox for highlighting the true emotional cost of parenthood, using her own genuine experience raising two autistic children.

#MIsForMummy - 5 stars


Thank you to Readers First for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[Angela L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad book, far from it, but it does follow a tried and tested formula which left me feeling like I'd read it at least a dozen times before.
Mummy needs a drink? Tick. Unnecessary poo gag? Tick. Posh mummy who you can't possibly emulate? Tick.
I get it, the "mummyhood is hard so let's have a laugh about it" genre sells well and why mess with a winning formula? Dare I say it though - it's starting to feel stale to me. I don't need "jokes" about unflushable poo, I'm not five years old.
Having read the blurb, and as a ASD mum myself, I just expected something slightly less shallow.
The ASD angle is different and you can clearly see that the author is living this life. The obsessions that change with the wind, social difficulties, meltdowns etc etc are all there and recognisable and I loved how Stanley was loved for every part of his personality. This felt really positive and engaging. You could see the "surprises" at the end coming from a mile away but for readers that enjoy this genre there is plenty to like in this

[Natalie Mayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, a sort of 'triumph against the odds' kind of thing, but it really didn't grab me at all sadly. If this is a true representation of society now, it saddens me. There was a lot of (in my view unnecessary) bad language, a lot of which was said in front of children, and the protagonist just came across as having nothing positive to say about anything. There's no denying she had a lot on her plate, but she gave off the vibe that she hated her life and moaned about EVERYTHING, so wasn't a pleasant or escapist read. One phrase which particularly stuck in my head was something like 'the sun was shining, which before would have meant going to the pub with my friends, but now I feel obligated to take my kids to the park'. My heart bleeds for her, how horrible must it be to have to take your own kids to the park?! If she couldn't cope with the reality of having kids, maybe she should have thought twice before having any. There was a lot of irresponsible heavy drinking, the after-effects of which often happened in front of the kids, like a pile of blue vomit on the rug. There were frequent disgusting parts, and as a whole, it's enough to put me off having kids. Not a book I'd read again, I persevered to get to the end the first time.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy was an accomplished cellist, independent, travelled around for gigs, mingled with the rich and famous and was just waiting for a big break.
But then she got married and had children, the job offers were harder to do with a husband in the same business and two very young children and the eldest as Lucy increasingly suspects could be Autistic.
Juggling jobs, an increasingly distant husband, two children, their home there is very little left over for Lucy herself.
She is at breaking point and needs help and answers to the questions on how to deal with a spectrum child and to adapt to society judging them as a "little different" as they view it.
A touching yet laugh out loud story of a family that is struggling and on the brink yet also desperately love each other.
Pretty much every line in this book is so, so relatable as there are spectrum people in my family.
Without the blurb about the author at the back of the novel saying she is the mother of two autistic sons you can tell that she is either a mother to a spectrum child or knew someone close with it.
She writes with such a depth of knowledge of the "little" things and triggers that spectrum people experience yet mean so little to non spectrums.
I was just literally nodding my point to pretty much everything on every page.
Definitely one of my favourite and stand out books of the year.
At times it had me crying with laughter and at others just plain out crying.
A touching, heart felt novel that will be deeply appreciated by spectrum parents everywhere as to how it feels of facing the daily life and battles let alone others judgments on a spectrum child.

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katy Cox is the author behind “Carry on Katy”, a comedy blog known for its focus on parenting an autistic child and her debut novel expands on this, following the lives of Lucy Wright, husband Ed and their two sons, one of whom Lucy realises is autistic. Thirty-three-year-old Lucy is a professional musician but after nine years and two children with husband Ed, she has lost sight of the woman she once was and is starting to feel overwhelmed. Four-year-old Stan is a little bit different to other children his age and Lucy can no longer bury her head in the sand. He’s fiercely intelligent, very particular about routines and the way he likes things and is also obsessed with letters, numbers and body parts. Stan also has trouble socialising and frightening meltdowns that can turn heads. Ed’s passive-aggressive mother, Judith, is quick to advocate “tough love” and tell Lucy that she shouldn’t pander to Stan but Lucy has long suspected there might be something more significant behind Stan’s behaviour after Dr Google led her to the term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

I expect most readers will have an understanding of the autism spectrum given how many families it affects, so what Lucy faces is unlikely to surprise or enlighten many, but I expect it to be deeply reassuring for those who recognise their own family life reflected in the Wright’s struggles. From having to prepare for handling party games that Stan won’t always win to drawing up bullet-pointed lists for babysitters and attention grabbing violent meltdowns, Lucy faces it all on the road to acceptance and ultimately embracing Stan’s differences. The novel could have really overegged the portrayal of Stan’s autistic traits and it is to Katy Cox’s credit that this is very much a realistic story of wider family life with autism. What is patently obvious from the first chapters are the similarities between Ed in childhood and Stan, Ed’s difficulty communicating and the lack of support that Lucy receives from him in regard to their joint parental responsibilities.

The novel is written in the first-person by Lucy and was rather hit and miss for me as I found it frequently tipped over into too sweary and crude and jarred with how sensitively Cox handled every aspect of Stan’s autism and how honest she was about Lucy’s vulnerability as her family threatens to fall apart. Despite not particularly warming to Lucy, her struggles with Stan and her growing recognition about where his autism may have come from do make her an extremely relatable character. Although the story itself isn’t uproariously funny it is gently amusing and very fast-moving with short punchy chapters that make for an easy, albeit predictable read. A solid mummy memoir but I wanted more of a focus on the autism aspect and less of Lucy getting drunk and her whole comedy show.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and funny story of Lucy, a professional cellist and mum to a newborn and 4 year old, coming to terms with her son's possible ASD, and now living in London, having been born in Northern Ireland and brought up in Wales.

Since her husband is also a professional musician, they are used to working hard to build their careers and being asked to work at short notice. But whilst it was tough the first time, now Lucy feels at breaking point.

With her husband suddenly on a 3 week tour in America, and already juggling 2 children alone, one of whom she suspects may be on the autism spectrum, Lucy is reminded that she has a prior booking to perform a fiendishly difficult solo cello piece with a choir in less than a week. She has already been forced to turn down work, but with no one willing to take her place at such short notice, she has no choice but to make it happen somehow.

She's comprehensively destroyed the only toilet at the venue whilst getting ready for her concert, she's worried she's blown her son's chances of making school friends before he's even started, and her relationship with her husband is falling apart under the strain, with him seemingly oblivious to how much she is struggling. Through it all, Lucy hangs on with the support, love and humour of her brilliant best friends.

[Myra King · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
It took me 200+ pages to discover that this book has no plot. It's just the day to day happenings of an ungrateful and insufferable mother, and her obnoxious offspring (and not because he is autistic, but because he is moddycoddled to ridiculous levels. Proven by the fact that everyone can get this kid to behave except his mother).
I'm so sick to death of mummy books being about nothing more than whining about how hard motherhood is.
I have a theory that if you write a book championing the mother, and all the good that motherhood is, that book will never get published. For whatever reason, acquisition editors only ever want to have one voice heard, and that voice is only allowed to tell women that motherhood sucks and they should remain childless.
It's reached a point where I don't even want to read women's contemporary literature anymore because all you get are lazy, drunk, self-absorbed jerks, who do nothing but make women look bad, and are a burden on their husbands.
Where are the books about real women?
Where are the books about what motherhood really is?

[Eloise Mohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

M is for Mummy is such a well written book that it allowed me to join the family. My heart swelled with sympathy every time the main character found herself in a difficult situation, overwhelmed and completely exhausted. But it was also full of love and pride for Stan.
I adored the emphasis on Stan being a unique and amazing individual, and not just an 'autistic child'.

There are so many important lessons to learn in this book; from moms themselves, to friends and even just onlookers who never know the whole story behind a child's tantrum. However, the book is written in a laugh out loud, lighthearted and easy way, making it a really enjoyable read too.

I think the author did an amazing job with this book, and it is one that I will be highly recommending for a long time to come.

[Ashleigh P · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would.
Lucy is such a real person, with real thoughts, struggles and passions. Her struggles through everything that she is going through and coming to terms with in this book are so well-paced and believable that I felt I knew Lucy and I was part of her friendship group.
This book is very different than what I usually read, but it was such a journey. Such a difficult and rewarding one - As I can imagine, for any parent, let alone one of an autistic child.

[EVANGELIA MARAGKOPOULOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book full of laugh and cry moments . She is a mother of two beautiful and amazing boys . She is a cello player who has almost a year to perform because she is busy with her kids . She is seeing her eldest to strangle with everyday issues and she is almost certain that he has autism spectrum disorder . She is trying very hard to be there for him and understand him . I loved her relationship with her besties .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book resonated with me on so, so, SO many levels, I just can't describe it!

M is for Mummy is a book about love - a Mother's love.

Lucy is an exhausted mother of two boys aged 4 and under, Stan and Jack. Before that, she was, and still is, wife to Ed, a session musician, and prior to that, she was a cellist of the highest level.
Motherhood takes every ounce of her energy, so much so that it's like she's lost her own identity, and if it wasn't for her close friends, Jen and Charlie, she'd give up even imagining a future of music, for herself.
On top of that, she is dealing with the likelihood that her older son might just be autistic. With certain habits and traits being displayed, she is more and more convinced that he is, but without a diagnosis, and little support from other directions, Lucy battles with the meltdowns and obsessions as best she can.

I loved this. As I said before, it resonated, so much. As a teacher of young children, I come into contact with children like Stan, increasingly, and the difficulties that parents have, of accepting that maybe, there is something else that might be making their child act in certain ways.

Lucy is a fantastic, though knackered mother, and I applauded her for recognising something within her child, and wanting to act upon it. I only wish I could suggest this as reading for certain parents who really don't get ASD...

Many thanks to NetGalley and Corvus/Atlantic Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this book I expected a regular "Mummy memoir" about how life is pretty hectic and awful and partners are no help, but ultimately the children and sweet and "worth it".

This book does all of that, however it also explores something more that sets it apart from others in this category. Although it is only vaguely alluded too in the description the main plot and conflict centers around Lucy's struggles with her older son Stan.

Stan is due to go to primary school next year and may be autistic, or possibly a genius. Lucy is always "failing" at something but she knows how to handle Stan, she just wants the rest of the world to know as well.

It takes a little while for the plot, and the meaning behind the title, to reveal itself. Mixed behind all of the touching, mother/child dynamic the main character's constant longing for her pre-child life really grated on me and I almost put the book down.

But I'm so happy I stuck with it as I really learned a lot about how a child with autism sees the world and the struggle it creates for parents. Rather than a whole autobiography about the struggles and differences between us Katy Cox has created a relatable main character who's children are a part of her life, rather than the whole of it. Ultimately that makes the issues she explores much more vivid than anything I would have picked up on the subject.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pressure to be the perfect mum and have it all is exhausting. You can’t escape it, the endless feeds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of ‘perfect’ mums having their sh*t together is overwhelming. Endless photos of clean houses with not a toy in sight, glamorous hair and make up on the school run with a Starbucks in hand and well-dressed children that behave and are well mannered. LIES! Oh the lies. As any real mum knows, that is all fake. Our houses are never tidy for long as they constantly look like a tornado has passed through. The school run is always a mad dash of messy hair accompanied by the latest set of panda eyes we earned from lack of sleep. And our children? Getting them out the door fully dressed with their shoes on the right feet is a big success, one that should always be celebrated. This is the real face of motherhood dear reader, this book tells it like it is. I LOVED every second!

There was a time when Lucy used to be playing the cello behind superstars at packed out arenas. A time where her and her husband Ed still had a sex life and she had a social life. But since she has had children, everything has changed. Now her days are filled with cleaning up puke from baby Jack and listening to facts about the gall bladder from her four year old Stanley. Life has become stale and she feels it is time she takes back control of her marriage, her career and to help Stanley find his place in this world as he is an extraordinary child.

From the moment I started reading I was laughing out loud, seriously. Cox doesn’t hold back and writes with a glorious, refreshing sense of humour when it comes to parenting. From an amusing ‘sexy’ scene with a dishwasher and dirty pan to Lucy being gaffa taped into a size 6 corset while having her whole body sprayed in glitter, I couldn’t stop laughing. I loved how real and honest this book is. Lucy doesn’t shy away from the truth with how much her life has changed since she has had children. She calls her vagina The Predator and her gut a flabalanche. Nothing is the same after childbirth, nothing!

The struggles that Lucy faces with having a baby and a four year old who is autistic are extremely relatable to any parent who is going through the same experience. She has a lot of patience for Stanley and knows his triggers. He will say “Excuse me” instead of calling her “Mummy” and is very intelligent for his age. He can recite the alphabet backwards and tells her facts about the human body. There are many heart warming scenes where the bond between Lucy and Stanley brings a tear to your eye. She is a remarkable mother, a woman who goes above and beyond for her children. Lucy makes you feel less alone in any parenting struggles and inspires you to keep going as she often focuses on the good days over the bad. She reminds the reader that they are always worth it.

Lucy often feels guilty for wishing to focus on her career and misses her cello playing days. Her husband Ed is often off touring and playing his guitar behind the likes of Josh Groban on TV while she is at home making sure she serves Stanley his dinner correctly, otherwise all hell will break loose. I admired how Lucy doesn’t pretend that everything is ok, she faces the tantrums, the meltdowns head on and deals with them. She gets on with it as her main and only focus is always her children. She is an inspiration to a lot of mothers and she doesn’t even know it.

You grow attached to Lucy and by the end of the book see her as one of your friends. You cheer her on as she starts to get bookings again either solo or with her two friends Charlie and Jen, the Vixen Trio. She is more than ready to get back out there and remind her fingers that they are still highly skilled in playing some Mozart and not smearing Sudocrem on tiny bums. But her mind still wanders back to her family, her boys and it’s touching to read. Away from the glitz and the glamour of working on fashion shows she comes home to a beautiful scene of her family, calm and peaceful and shows the reader that beauty is everywhere. Her family are everything to her. I melted at moments like this, it makes you realise what is important in life and pulls at your heartstrings. You can’t help it as it is endearing to read.

Lucy also struggles with her body image since having children as all mothers do. Anyone who disagrees is in complete denial. Our bodies go through a lot, pregnancy, birth and then recovery. Of course they are going to change, it’s only human, but it doesn’t mean we have to like it. Lucy doesn’t feel sexy or desired as she feels she has piled the weight on and looks more like a hippo then a sultry fox next to her vixen friends. With a little encouragement from her friends they all go bra shopping in hopes she will relight the fire with her husband. This results in a hilarious scene where her boobs are transported to her back. My stomach ached from my laughing as I can highly relate to such a mishap. Just another example of the side-splitting scenes that are featured in this book. Amazing!

I give M is for Mummy By Katy Cox a Five out of Five paw rating

My face still hurts from laughing. There are so many hilarious and might I add very detailed scenes in this book that will have you in hysterics. But there are also a lot of heartwarming moments that will have you in tears at the beauty of Lucy’s relationships with her little family.

Cox shows how life isn’t always perfect. Children will not tick every box or reach every milestone within a set time limit, they are kids. And each and every one will learn and do things to their own time. Not by a set of rules and list by a health visitor. That’s not life. Life is messy and unpredictable. You learn to adapt and adjust and Cox shows the reader that, hey it’s ok. You will figure it out in your own time, your own way. You have got this. Every parent needs this book in their life.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

M is for Mummy was a great read that really grew on me. At the start I thought the author was trying too hard to be funny and I was worried that it was going to irritate me right till the end but, as the story progressed it settled down into a very engaging read.

Stan is a star and because I'm also watching Young Sheldon, I had a picture in my head of what he would look and act like. He was so endearing with his grasp of numbers and anatomy. The author did an excellent job of describing how difficult life can be as a mother to an autistic child and she did it with good humour and a lot of patience.

[Rebecca Rowlands-George · Rating 4 out of 5]

M is for Mummy by Katy Cox
Book Review by Rebecca Rowlands-George for Nation.Cymru

Lucy has her hands full. Literally, with a cello and two young children, her musician husband is on tour, laundry pile, and a performance to prepare for, and she is out of bin bags.

This comedic story had me laugh quite a few times out loud and earned me a quizzical look from strangers as I sat in a cafe reading. Cox has written a delightful and realistic view of life as a working parent. A struggling to manage it all working parent.

Cox's main character Lucy is the mum friend you wouldn't hesitate to befriend at the school gates. Somehow it ends up with you both drinking too much caffeine and laughing about something silly because she is refreshingly frank and honest.

The prologue begins with the arrival of the Wright family' second child, Jack. It follows the life of the family from Lucy's perspective. So many times, I nodded knowingly at the events Lucy was going through regarding motherhood and adjusting to a new way of life and body. And I am sure many mothers will recognise so much of themselves in Lucy's everyday life and thought processes.

She is Bridget Jones, a mum of two. So many personal parts of the book will resonate with fellow mum's from the physical and emotional changes that happen after birth. For example, the attempt to squeeze yourself into clean clothes that may still fit has gathered dust in the back wardrobe that has yet to see the light of day in over a year. I felt that. Dealing with the last of the pregnancy pounds that just won't shift, and slimming world is held next to a fast food place. I knew that and still do. Being the first in your friendship group to have a baby dealing with vomit while your friends are out socialising. Yeah, been there.

From the first chapter Cox has captured your attention with a fast-paced comedy that will have you laughing out loud, just like I was.

Cox has done an excellent job making it feel that it's alright to say, 'The mental load is so overwhelming that I fail to articulate a response.' And parenthood can and does do that to you. The emotional weight that doesn't get the chance to breathe. I will take this message and say I need a moment because sometimes you do. Parenting is hard, oh I know and not just because you are likely to be nodding in agreement with me.

This book makes you feel you are talking to a sincere fellow parent. Because Cox is. She is the real-life M for Mummy. Based on author Katy Cox's life as a professional cellist, mother of two boys and her experience of Neurodivergence. M for Mummy is a beautiful result of what happens when creative individuals put their lives on hold. Words find their way out.

And this is where the book stands apart from other mum fiction. The book sensitively deals with Lucy and Ed's eldest child, Stan's diagnosis of Autism. I found the moments leading up to the doctor's confirmation to be the brutal honest depth of the book, where a last-minute appointment is offered had my heartache. Alright, fine, I felt that, and there was a watery-eye moment.

Stan is a stand-out character, and each of his 'Excuse me' moments as he enters scenes is adorable. Even though I know he is obsessed with numbers and anatomy, I found myself wanting to learn more about him. Lucy and her husband, Ed, are so used to dealing with Stan's needs and required structure that Lucy even writes a point-by-point list for babysitters. One of the heartwrenching moments is when Stan has a 'moment' over a McDonald's happy meal toy, which results in Lucy and Ed's attempts to calm him. It gives an important lesson for all to learn, from the parents to onlookers. Sometimes, simple kindness is undervalued among strangers.

Short, fast-moving chapters keep the story engaging and effortlessly aligned with the Author's blog writing style. Cox has written easy readable, candid and humourous mum fiction with no topic off the table, from relationships to financial worries. Cox has given us a relatable family story that is endearing and one that you can't help but root for, and one you would enjoy spending the company of a few hours in.

M is for Mummy, published by Corvus, is out now.

[Georgina Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

M is for Mummy is written from the perspective of family woman and renowned celloist Lucy, we spend weeks in her shoes witnessing how her life has changed since starting a family with her husband Ed, she has gone from being a “yes” musician to having to arrange childcare and keep her (and her families) life in order whilst also trying to still play concerts and gigs as her cello is her passion.

“No more comparing, no more despairing”

This book gave me every single emotion possible; I was howling with laughter (especially at the IKEA scene with her and Ed, never has there been such truer representation!) plus there were times I bawled my eyes out (such as Stanley declaring that Lucy is the femur - no spoilers you will understand when you read) and I felt Lucy’s frustrations with life with this idea that she has to mingle with the “Starbucks” mums and that she needs to diet to lose the “baby fat”. There are times that this book just made me feel completely seen, as a mother of two young boys myself (with the first being assessed for autism) this book was such a lightbulb for me, being able to validate my feelings and realising that I am not alone with all that I am going through, and I truly appreciate the author for that.

There were a couple of points in the book that I struggled with, the church faeces scene cringed me out, and I was a little uncomfortable reading that, as well as calling the more petite woman at the slimming class “skinnies” but other than that this book is a fantastic read and I would definitely recommend it to others, those that are parents and even those that want to become parents, because believe me being a parent is not all sunshine and rainbows, and I love the fact that the author includes the lows of family life, especially with a child with ASD, ad unfortunately there are still individuals out there who cannot comprehend the idea of ASD and just accuse young children of having tantrums, and I like the fact that the author approached this issue in the book in a more productive manner.

A message from a mum reader:

“Autism is a spectrum – a huge spectrum at that. I’ve spent countless hours educating myself about it and I’ve learnt that no two autistic children are the same”

Thank you to the author for this quote, it completely stuck with me, as I have been self-obsessing over just how many traits my son portrays, and spend hours convincing myself “maybe it is just behavioural problems” so to read this has helped me realise that actually he does display some autistic traits and the more I brush them off the less chance of a diagnosis, so thank you Lucy!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

M is for Mummy is the wonderful debut from Katy Cox. It is a tender and yet hilarious exploration of what life can be like when your family doesn’t fit the mould. That this novel is based upon Cox’s own experiences as a mum and musician make it even more special. 4.5 stars

M is for Mummy centres on Lucy. Lucy had it all: an exciting career, a rock star husband and great friends, and then she had kids. Still determined to try and have it all, Lucy does whatever it takes to cling onto her career and care for her children, all as she tries to help her extraordinary son find his place in the ordinary world.

At the heart of M is for Mummy is the story of a mum trying to do everything she can to help her son. Lucy’s eldest son Stanley is neurodivergent and ends up with the diagnosis of autism. Stanley is extraordinarily gifted when it comes to his love of letters, numbers and body parts and yet he finds many other aspects of life tricky. Cox’s portrayal of Stanley’s autism is done with so much sensitivity and realism, she is after all, a mum to two autistic sons. She writes about Stanley with such affection, but also with that fire of a mum doing everything she can to help her child. There was a passage that really stood out to me, where Lucy states that regardless of any diagnosis Stanley might get that it will never change how she feels about him and that to her the main word that sums him up is ‘Stanley, nothing more, nothing less.’

This is also the story of a mum trying to balance all of the conflicting demands on her time and try to rebuild her own career. I enjoyed all the insights into Lucy’s world as a musician, a career whose inner workings I’m not familiar with. You really feel for Lucy as she tries so hard to make everything work, empathising with just how overwhelming it is for her.

I really enjoyed the strong female friendships portrayed within the story. The times that Lucy spends with her best friends Charlie and Jen are nearly always very funny. They’re loud, a little brash but they sure know how to have fun. They also act as significant support for Lucy. Her relationship with her friends provides a sharp contrast to the isolation and rejection she feels when faced with the Queen Bee mum Marsha. I thought Cox highlighted so well the feelings of inadequacy that can plague mothers when comparing themselves (wrongly) to others.

Overall a really enjoyable read and I’ll look forward to what Cox writes next.

With thanks to Corvus and Atlantic Books for my gifted copy in return for my honest review.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

M is for Mummy is the wonderful debut from Katy Cox. It is a tender and yet hilarious exploration of what life can be like when your family doesn’t fit the mould. That this novel is based upon Cox’s own experiences as a mum and musician make it even more special. 4.5 stars

M is for Mummy centres on Lucy. Lucy had it all: an exciting career, a rock star husband and great friends, and then she had kids. Still determined to try and have it all, Lucy does whatever it takes to cling onto her career and care for her children, all as she tries to help her extraordinary son find his place in the ordinary world.

At the heart of M is for Mummy is the story of a mum trying to do everything she can to help her son. Lucy’s eldest son Stanley is neurodivergent and ends up with the diagnosis of autism. Stanley is extraordinarily gifted when it comes to his love of letters, numbers and body parts and yet he finds many other aspects of life tricky. Cox’s portrayal of Stanley’s autism is done with so much sensitivity and realism, she is after all, a mum to two autistic sons. She writes about Stanley with such affection, but also with that fire of a mum doing everything she can to help her child. There was a passage that really stood out to me, where Lucy states that regardless of any diagnosis Stanley might get that it will never change how she feels about him and that to her the main word that sums him up is ‘Stanley, nothing more, nothing less.’

This is also the story of a mum trying to balance all of the conflicting demands on her time and try to rebuild her own career. I enjoyed all the insights into Lucy’s world as a musician, a career whose inner workings I’m not familiar with. You really feel for Lucy as she tries so hard to make everything work, empathising with just how overwhelming it is for her.

I really enjoyed the strong female friendships portrayed within the story. The times that Lucy spends with her best friends Charlie and Jen are nearly always very funny. They’re loud, a little brash but they sure know how to have fun. They also act as significant support for Lucy. Her relationship with her friends provides a sharp contrast to the isolation and rejection she feels when faced with the Queen Bee mum Marsha. I thought Cox highlighted so well the feelings of inadequacy that can plague mothers when comparing themselves (wrongly) to others.

Overall a really enjoyable read and I’ll look forward to what Cox writes next.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book resonates so much on so many levels with me (not all) and I imagine any mother will feel an affinity with Lucy in some ways. Thank you to Katy Cox for writing a truthful, hilarious (because if you don’t laugh……), and relatable account of life in a family that doesn’t fit the mould.
Things I completely related to in this book:
1. An autistic child – Lucy knows Stan to a tee and meets his needs so well, regardless of what label he does or doesn’t have. She knows how to soothe him, work with his interests and strengths and he is an ultimate cutie. Stan is a mash up of my own son at that age and my nephew who is hyperlexic and highly numerate in many languages before the age of 4 and he is utterly adorable.
2. A traumatic birth – No – I will not forget about it soon (13 years and counting). It’s a strange feeling and one that seems to validate or share so I kind of thought it was just me. Lucy’s feelings and thoughts were so real to me and I felt as though I was sharing a private moment with a close friend.
3. Parent life and working in general – it’s not easy trying to balance everything and navigate a marriage at the same time. Everything needs 100% attention and effort but it’s not possible to maintain everything at that rate. The frustrations (including the petty ones), the stress and the way it can make you behave are portrayed perfectly through Lucy.
M is for Mummy is a comedy but has a real sense of reality about it. It’s such a fun but honest book and I enjoyed every minute of it. Katy manages to portray the difficult aspects of raising a family and motherhood – particularly a neuro diverse family – but does it without seeming moany or dissatisfied. I loved Lucy, Ed, Stan and Jack.
I’ll be raving about this book to all my friends. Thank You Katy.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopeful, hilarious and wonderful, M Is For Mummy is a lovely read that will tug at the heartstrings and bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Since the birth of her second child, Lucy’s world has changed. A lot. Lucy can barely recognise herself ever since she became a mum for the second time. The previously successful musician who had the world at her feet now spends her days listening to one child recite stomach-churning facts about the gallbladder while simultaneously waging a losing battle against broccoli vomit. As if bringing up two children wasn’t enough, Lucy is concerned about the fact that her once thriving marriage is now completely and utterly devoid of romance.

Something has to change. Lucy cannot go on living like this and so – with the help of some of her closest friends – she starts to slowly but surely rebuild her life. Lucy wants to get her career back and resume playing the cello behind some of the world’s superstars whilst fighting for what she truly wants out of her marriage. With an extraordinary son to bring up, Lucy intends to show him just how truly special he is as he finds his place in the world.

Lucy is about to learn that mums are the true superheroes in this world who can achieve anything – providing they believe in themselves.

M Is For Mummy is a terrific book readers will want to tell all their friends and family about. Funny, feel-good and fabulous, M Is For Mummy is a charming tale full of moments that will have readers roaring with laughter and others that will have them reaching for the tissues.

Brilliantly written, honest and poignant, Katy Cox’s warm-hearted tale about motherhood, family and love is not to be missed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Diane Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading M is for Mummy is like sitting down for a chat with a pal. For every mother their story and struggles lie in the everyday. There are no big events, aside from the having the child/children, that shape the nuances of motherhood. But rather the small moments that add up to you losing yourself whilst caring for others, trying to make your way back to work at the same time as learning all about the new you that was born when your child was, keeping your relationship alive when knee deep in nappies. And this is exactly where we find Lucy, going into labour with her second child, whilst holding up the life with her first, her husband and the ongoing juggle around her.

The writing is straightforward, and at times perhaps obvious, but herein lies the beauty. The story is uncomplicated, the writing conversational and introspective, which makes this book relatable to all mothers. The specialist thread running through the story is that of Lucy’s first son Stanley, and his journey to a neuro-divergent diagnosis. There are times that it feels that Lucy is getting it wrong handling Stanley’s behaviour; this adds to the overall realness of the storyline - what mother doesn’t get it wrong sometimes with their children never mind before she has an education in neurodiversity and what mother at times questions her gut when it is telling her that something is wrong which ultimately leads Lucy to the answers.

The story and its relatability are at the centre of the book’s success. You will be laughing out loud, nodding in solidarity, cringe at the mess, and feel the pain deep in your heart.

[Nic S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt very much like a book of mixed genres. On the one hand it felt like a chicklit book from around the early 2000s; a group of friends who've known each other since uni meeting up, getting bladdered over wine, man problems, etc. Then there's the mummy lit with the funny plot lines about the clueless mummy trying to compete against the neighbourhood yummy mummies. And then finally it was quite a serious tale about how having a child with additional needs like autism effects families and the lack of support from professionals and very often families and friends.

For me the most successful part was the story about the little boy Stanley, and how they manage life for a child who has very particular requirements. As the mother of a child with additional needs I found myself agreeing with so much of what was said, and of reliving memories that I had forgotten from when they were small. I thought these parts were very well written, beautifully touching in parts and looking at questions of how families cope when they don't look like they had expected.

I enjoyed far less the parts with the friends, and actually made me feel a bit irritated towards the Lucy rather than sympathising with her.

I wish the book had pushed a little further in terms of providing insight into families with autism, it felt like it touched the surface but didn't want to go too far in case it became too heavy, but for me it felt too light for the subject matter (as someone who's living through it).

[Bookish.Caterpillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧸 “When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out." – Erma Bombeck

🧸 The book follows Lucy, mommy to two boys. Before having children she was a trained cellist and had a perfect career. But after giving birth to his second one, she had to say goodbye to her career. And now her time is being spent juggling 2 kids and household chores. Romance is officially dead in her marriage and her husband, Ed is of no help when it comes to handling the kids. Her MIL is a pain in ass too and on top of everything dr google is telling her that her eldest is exhibiting signs of autism.

🧸 From the moment I read the blurb of this book, I knew I had to read it. This book was realistic, familiar, funny and relatable. It was so damn relatable that at some points I actually felt like screaming and telling Lucy that yea I can feel you, we all have been there. No matter how beautiful motherhood is but it can be physically and emotionally exhausting at times.

🧸 And I loved Lucy’s bond with her friends and the fact that how their friendship was kind of only thing that kept her sane through all the difficult times. Everyone needs such friends in their life. And that heartwarming ending was like a perfect end to the book. And this book was a perfect reminder that when motherhood appears overwhelming, remember you are not alone.

🧸 In short I thoroughly enjoyed it. And as a mother myself this was exactly the book I needed to read. Thanks to the author for the ebook.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 for me, but rounded up. For some reason I couldn't quite click with this book, I considered abandoning it about 30% in but persevered, and I'm glad I did.

The writing style reminded me of the Bridget Jones era, all sex, boobs, body-shaming, and swearing. I have to say I did find it quite grating. The main character, Lucy, complains about everything to do with being a mother, and a wife, some of which resonated with me as a toddler mum, but much of which seemed like it was trying too hard to be funny.

However, the book did begin to improve as it delved more into Lucy's eldest son, Stanley, aged 4, who has suspected autism. This aspect of the book was really interesting to read about and portrayed sensitively. Having friends who have gone through similar journeys to Lucy, a lot of this was familiar to me.

It was also nice to see two characters (Lucy and her husband) who were struggling financially, as that is not always portrayed well in "rom com" novels, and also them both having unusual careers as musicians.

The reveals that came later on were unsurprising, and it felt that they were staring Lucy in the face before she came to discover each reveal. The end of the book was done well I thought, no spoilers here, but it wasn't too saccharine and neat, and as a reader I felt satisfied with the ending.

Overall, a nice easy read, I didn't get on with the writing style but I did enjoy the plot.

[Gemma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book and had high hopes after reading and enjoying an extract of the book before reading the full story. However, my search for a book that depicts a version of motherhood that I can identify with will need to continue as this one missed the mark for me.

The book follows Lucy, a mother of two, who is making the transition back to work after maternity leave and struggling to find her post-baby identity. She is also dealing with the challenges of supporting and parenting her son who she suspects may have autistic spectrum disorder.

This book promised to be full of witty humour and sharp observations about life as a working parent but the humour was lost on me. It felt like it was trying too hard to be funny rather than making use of the natural comedy that life with children brings. I also feel increasingly frustrated about the depiction of mothers in so many books who are either stereotypes of a bumbling hot mess or selfish and neglectful. I rarely see the experiences of real mothers I know reflected in books and am quite disappointed this book didn't deliver on this in the way I had hoped.

Thank you to Readers First for the copy of this book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really funny and full of lots of laugh out loud moments, I enjoyed it so much I found it really hard to put down. It is not just a funny book, though as it is also the story of a mother's love for her family and how much she cares for them. The children in the story are delightful and very endearing.

Lucy is a Celloist, her husband also a musician, now with two young children to bring up she is finding it hard to follow her career and hard to find time for herself. One of her children is quite extraordinary and Lucy fears that he may be autistic, prone to meltdowns, but also very clever. Stanley is good at learning things and has an obsessive fascination for numbers and body parts. Needing to repeat the same things over and over again and requiring things to be just so, his mum Lucy needs the patience of a saint. With her husband often being away from home for work Lucy is often left to deal with all of this alone whilst trying to start up her career again. Although often totally stressed out Lucy is able to see the funny side of her circumstances, often with hilarious results!

I loved this book and really hope the author writes another!