Benedicte Newland

The posed-as-fiction story of two sisters-cum-mothers in the form of emails reminded me of a sequel to Bridgette Jones diary. Diets, romance and lack of self-confidence replaced by children, varicose veins and lack of self confidence all presented in amusing and light way. The author first wrote this as a series in The Times on her new life. She like the fictional character has four children and lived in Canada while her sister (also as per fictional sister) has four children and lives in London. The individual emails v. v. funny . Adventures include buying bath as Christmas present, a Ferby birthday party and nursing hamster with cystitus.

It is a witty exposure of chattering classes who I think willrecognise it as authentic insight. The best of them really do think and behave like that. As a plot it was very slow and when something did happened even the thickest and most harrassed of mothers could spot it coming 20 pages earlier.

If you like the genre 'Dunkirk spirit mums struggle with egg-stained bibs and rising cost of school fees' read this (I do). If not, this will not change mind.… (plus d'informations)