I've just finished reading The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright and I loved it. It did leave me wondering, though, what non-bloggers would think of it. Would it still have the same appeal or would a lot of it go over non-bloggers' heads? I'm not entirely sure, but I think it would appeal to everyone, even if non-bloggers would miss out on the "oops, that sounds a bit like me" humour/guilt that is added in for bloggers !
The book introduces us to three women, all of them bloggers but all very different. First there is Ella Campbell, who writes The Stylish Mumma blog. She is basically the one that readers will love to hate and, I have to admit, she did very much remind me of certain "professional bloggers" out there ! She has the perfect blog with the perfect airbrushed photos of her and her two boys, wearing designer label clothes and nibbling on organic grapes or homemade sugar-free brownies. Behind the scenes, she has a paid helper, to assist in sorting out the boys' clothes and publishing her daily blogposts. Every hashtag, every photo filter, every inspirational quote is fine-tuned to attract the biggest number of clicks and followers. Everyone can see where she is heading, but where has she come from?
The second blogger is Abi Black, a no-holds-barred, straight-talking, feminist and eco-friendly warrior, who has quit sugar (except for when things are getting her down !), moved to the country and set up a lovely, pesticide-free home which she shares with her girlfriend and their kids. To add some extra venom, she was married to a man before he ran off with ... Ella Campbell !
The third blogger, Leisel Adams, is a hard-working mum, slogging it out in her office all day every day before coming home and taking over control of her three kids, then finally tapping out a blogpost when they're in bed. She loves being a mum but she also loves complaining about being a mum and the hardships of trying to fit everything into her busy days. She also slots into the complicated blogger relationship because her sister is Abi's partner, Grace.
All three of the women are nominated for a prestigious blogging award with a hefty cash prize and they will go out of their way to win, whatever it takes. Readers will certainly share in the laughter and tears, while bloggers will undoubtedly recognise if not themselves then at least some of the big name (and shame) bloggers and their decidedly dodgy shenanigans !
It's a fun read, with moments of sadness and growing self-awareness, that will give you a glimpse behind the scenes of mummy bloggers.
star rating : 4.5/5
- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Legend Press (3 Jun. 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 178955053X
- ISBN-13: 978-1789550535
- Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
Disclosure : I received a copy of the book in order to write an honest review.
I was wondering the same, when I read the blurb, if it's a book about bloggers for bloggers. I didn't take it for reviewing, as I've been too greedy with books, and have a huge pile of books I've agreed to review in summer & autumn. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I know exactly what you mean !! ;-)
DeleteLove the sound of this one - the characters do sound familiar!
ReplyDelete