Sunday 4 December 2011

Review - Diary of A Mummy Misfit by Amanda Egan

This was hilarious! What a funny lady Amanda Egan is!

Libby is Mom of four year old Max, and wife of Ned, and they have decided that they will sacrifice whatever they must, to be able to give Max the best education possible so move him from mainstream education to private school.  They certainly didn't realise just awful the majority of the parents of the children who go there would be. 

Libby & Ned meet Fenella & Josh, also parents of a child who is about to start at the school, just like Max, yet despite this and the fact that they are absolutely minted, they become bosom buddies and share some fabulous evenings and certainly plenty of booze.  Fenella & Libby are cajoled into organising the school Christmas Fayre and are constantly put upon and unreasonable demands made of them by the school committee, yet don't feel that they can say no to the pressure which they are put under. 

Libby feels that she is always being looked down upon by the other parents, because they don't live in a huge house, can't afford to go on expensive holidays, buy designer handbags and  have flash cars.  Libby desperately wants another baby yet they are totally unsuccessful in that department and husband Ned is under constant pressure from his employers and threatened with redundancy which is obviously giving them worries over whether Max will have to be removed from school, when he's just settling in and doing really well.

Oh and I forgot to tell you about the next door neighbour, a lovely yet slightly bonkers Asian lady constantly trying to match-make Libby with her very handsome son, despite the fact that Libby is extremely happy in her marriage and also Libby's two gay best friends who are also hilarious and come to the rescue on many occasions. 

Amanda Egan is now up there with my favourite other funny writer Milly Johnson.   The characters she created in this book, are SO funny, Fenella in particular is a person I would love to have a night out with.  What a card she is!  This book gave me so many laugh out loud moments in a way that I think people must have thought I was slightly cuckoo!  

The trials and tribulations of motherhood are written about in a way that are funny but real and I have found myself in situations such as Libby a number of times and how she handles them are so true!  Amanda has a true gift for humour and I found myself laughing about situations when I thought about them the following day and one particular part, still makes me laugh even now when I think back to it!  

This is a fast paced, easy to read, page turner which certainly keeps you wondering how it will end.  It also had the message in there, that money certainly isn't everything, and that you might have everything materially in the world, but it can be taken away from you in a heartbeat and doesn't make you happy.  Family and friends are what are important in life and if you have them, you can get through most tough things that are thrown at you.

I'm really looking forward to the sequel The Darker Side of Mummy Misfit to come out which Amanda is working on at the moment - hurry up please Amanda - I can't wait!

Amanda Egan was born and bred in London, and trained professionally as an actress.  After many years of procrastination, she has turned her hand to writing Chick/Mummy-lit.  She focused more on her writing after her son developed school phobia when he was 11 and she had to hang around his school in the background while he regained his confidence.  In her spare time, she loves to read anything from Maeve Binchy, Jill Mansell, and Penny Vincenzi to Noel Coward, Dostoevsky and Zola. She also love crafts and entertaining, particularly hosting themed dinner parties. 

You can buy Diary of A Mummy Misfit via Amazon
You can follow Amanda on Twitter
You can like her on Facebook

5 comments:

Rachel G said...

I couldn't agree more, having read the book! I too live reading and like you, had so many laugh out loud moments! The book really pulls you and makes you feel like you're part of it. The friendship between Libby & Finella is one to be envious of! I want a Finella in my life!! They really make you want to be their friends!

I am really looking forward to the sequel x

Sheryl Browne said...

Sold! Has all the ingredients I need for a good read. Thanks. Fab interview. :) x

Stepping Out of the Page said...

Great review, sounds like a fun read... the cover is wonderful too!

Kim The Book Worm said...

Thanks for popping over and leaving your comments lovely ladies. It really was a hilarious read, still laughing at particular bits now when I think of them! x x

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