Louise Emma Clarke

Please note that I received this ARC for free from NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

I ended up giving this three stars because I think the author can definitely write. I just think that I was more interested in Jess's sister and her best friend more than I was with her and her trying to find fulfillment writing a mommy blog. I think it didn't help that Jess was shrill and generally unfair to her husband throughout mos of the book and also angry that a rival blogger wasn't opening her arms to her. A times you think it's the first time she ever had someone that didn't like her. The other reason why I gave this three stars is that the letters to her daughter/blog entries were actually written very well and made me smile, laugh, and tear up at times. If it had just been that, I would have given this book five stars.

Jess is a stay at home mother dealing with her 14 month old daughter. Jess realizes that staying at home isn't all it's cracked up to be. She feels tired and resentful that her husband gets to leave all day and barely seems to be around to be around their daughter. When her husband encourages to do a mommy blog (a subject that came up some other time) Jess is surprised to see that people really want to hear what she has to say. Quickly gaining internet fame and followers, Jess is quickly set up against the queen of all mommy bloggers, Tiggy, a childhood friend.

I think the book playing into the rivalry really wasn't a thing besides here and there. Most of this book was about Jess learning what is important and being there for her sister and her friend. I thought at times though Jess was being a brat and unreasonable. She needed people to tell her how good she was every single minute it felt like it.

The secondary characters took up a bit in this book and not complaining because I liked them, but Clarke should have pushed the rivarly more. Maybe have Jess do a huge messed up viral moment and deal with being "cancelled" by people.

I thought the writing was good, but have to say that I wish that Clarke had talked more about how someone is popular for a moment before the internet moves onto someone else. Also I am going to say it, it seems really odd to have a blog be a huge influencer these days. Most people are on Instagram, twitter, snapchat, etc. So the book missed the boat to not even have those come into play. I can't recall the last time I went out and read a lifestyle blog. I just follow people on Instagram because I like the pictures/writing content that way. The only thing I read is Apartment Therapy, Cup of Jo, and Domino.

The flow was good. I liked the book having Jess in the present, with her typing up letters she had written to her daughter before and after she was born.

The ending left some things up in the air (mostly with Jess and one of her best friend) but I think we are supposed to take away things are going to work out.… (plus d'informations)

From Mum With Love
By
Louise Emma Clarke

What it's all about...

Jessica is a new mum and a very tired one. She has kept a sort of diary of her daughter’s life in the form of letters...letters to Bella. She decides she needs an outlet for her feelings and publishes these letters...one by one...on a blog. Her blog slowly gains an audience and Jessica becomes both fulfilled and popular.

Why I wanted to read it...

The idea of this book was appealing to me. I was quite happy to read it.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

Jessica was an entertaining character. I loved reading about her growth as a mum and as a blogger. She had a group of women friends. She was confident. The only thorn in her side was from nasty blogger Tiggy...but even that just added to the charm of this book.

Why you should read it, too...

If you enjoy fun light hearted books...this is one I wouldn’t miss!

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.… (plus d'informations)