Author: Emma Robinson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible
Description: Have you ever wondered what secrets other mothers are keeping?
Jenny has too much on her plate: literally – she’s only pregnant with one child but she’s already eating for three. Not to mention trying to juggle her future life with a baby, a nightmare boss, a know-it-all sister, and a bizarrely laid back husband.
She used to be famous for her ‘Single Girl About Town’ journalism. But not only is she bored of parties, she also hasn’t been single for years and is now 8½ months pregnant.
So when her boss hands her column to a younger colleague, Jenny panics and proposes instead writing about being a clueless new mum. Surely people will find her new friendship group fascinating? Even if the only thing they have in common is that they all had sex around the same time 9 months ago...
Like – what’s the deal with scary Gail’s mystery husband? How is posh mum Antonia already out drinking when Jenny can barely make a cup of tea? Why isn’t sweet-natured Ruth answering any phone calls?
And if her readers aren’t quite hooked yet, maybe Jenny will just have to be more liberal with the truth. After all, none of the other mums will read it… will they?
My Thoughts: The Undercover Mother by new to me author Emma Robinson was a huge surprise. I was expecting a memoir detailing the author’s experiences as a first time mother. Instead, I received a laugh out loud fictional story about first time mother Jenny who is trying to navigate being a mother and wanting to retain her sense of self as a columnist at the magazine she works for. She begins writing a blog about her personal experiences as well as entertaining moments with four other new mothers she meets at childbearing class who she nicknames The Spice Mums.
This story was a lot of fun. In addition to the challenges Jenny faces as a new mother, the reader is given a lot of insight into the lives of the other four women, Antonia, Gail, Naomi and Ruth. Over several months, secrets are revealed and lives are changed, some good and some not so good.
I loved this story and meeting Jenny and the Spice Mums. Each character brings depth to the story and had my curiosity piquing sky high about the secrets being kept and what would happen when all is revealed and whether Jenny’s new friendships can survive it. The author does a fantastic job of giving lots of detail that kept me engaged without confusion as well as snippets of Jenny’s blog which were hilarious. I will look for more of this author’s work.
My Final Verdict: Overall, this story will appeal to readers of women’s fiction as well as readers who enjoy stories that are realistic and cut right to the heart of the matter while finding joy and humor along the way.
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
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