READER REVIEWS OF THE YUMMY MUMMY'S SURVIVAL GUIDE
Thank you! 20 March 2008
Victoria J. C. Whiting ( Cambridge, UK)
Hurrah! I feel I need to thank Liz Fraser for writing the first 'baby book' which I read without experiencing one single bit of guilt! It gave me permission, if I needed it, to have a life of my own as well as mothering. For the first time, I felt OK about letting my baby grizzle so I could apply essential eye liner! Yes, I know it's shallow, but it keeps me feeling sane! I suffered with post natal depression, and a measure of a good day was if I'd managed to apply make up! Success criteria changes radically when you have a baby!
Sometimes I smile, because though I may despair at my new frock being covered in baby gunk, at least I know that underneath, I've got fabulous underwear on! Even though most of the time I'm more 'scummy' than 'yummy,' this book is about still feeling nice when some of us feel at our most vulnerable and overwhelmed. The book also helped me rationalise that if your children are loved, celebrated and cuddled to excess, then it's just fine to save a little gorgeousness back for yourself. Perhaps we really can have it all!
Buy this book! 11 Jan 2008
M. Auden "Maude" (Wolverhampton, West Mids, UK)
I've read a lot of books and never before felt compelled to write a review, let alone go on line specifically to do so - until now. It's funny, reassuring, honest and easy to read. Unlike other books of this type that I've read, I read it from cover to cover, and didn't skip one word. I can't recommend it highly enough. Whether a first time mum, or you've been down this road before, there will be something for you to either relate to, laugh at or learn from. It's brilliant!
Buy this book! 5 Dec 2007
C. Buckle (West Yorkshire)
I couldn't have bought a better book when we found out we were going to be a mum and dad for the first time. It was so refreshing to read something that didn't patronise, state the obvious (well she does, but you know she's doing it, if you know what I mean!), and scare the daylights out of you. Very useful advice - activities for various age groups might seem obvious but the tips will come in very helpful. I've just ordered Liz's family survival guide which I'm very much looking forward to reading. If it's anything like the Yummy Mummy guide, Dad'll be asking what I'm giggling about at bedtime reading for months to come. Well recommended.
Twin Mum Approval, 13 Oct 2007
Monstink (Staffordshire, UK)
This is an absolutely fabulous little book. A real must have for 1st time mums and second time around. I can't recommend it enough. If you are pregnant BUY IT NOW!!!
Fab read for any new mum, 4 Oct 2007
Mrs. M. Lea Lancashire, UK)
I found this book was a really good mix of humour and practical tips. Enjoyed reading and could not put down.
Very entertaining!, 7 Sep 2007
Mrs. Laetitia Brooks (Somerset, England)
My husband bought me this book after the birth of our first child. Having not much time to read I found that I could dip in an out of the book without losing the plot.
I left the pregnancy section out and went back to it later. I found it great to read the relevant sections of the book according to the stage we were at. This book is very funny and it is nice to realise that "you are not the only one", and reading Liz's comments is like having a conversation with a friend.
There is a lot of advice, you take it or leave it. The same apply to the section about the weight gain that so many people feel offended about. Everyone is different. This is not an instruction manual but a mother sharing her experience. I would recommend reading this light hearted book for fun, especially when you have "down" days. I have just bought the next book "the yummy mummy's ultimate family survival guide" and I am looking forward to read it!!
It's like talking to your friend. 3 Mar 2007
Kordelia (UK)
I bought this book after I read an interview with Liz in the newspaper recently, and she sounded like a very normal, fun, helpful Mum who was trying to make motherhood and family life more appealing and manageable. It turned out that the book was just like this too. I would suggest you ignore the Yummy Mummy in the title - it is very misleading as the book has nothing to do with posh London , nanny-using, 4x4 driving, pilates-going women, but ordinary, real, struggling Mums like me and other Mums I know. Liz has tons of really helpful and unpatronisiung advice to give every woman who has ever panicked that she is getting it all wrong or worries about motherhood sometimes (like me!) and I laughed out loud so many times my tummy hurt!! I can't wait for her next book, as I'm sure it will continue the excellent, hands-on, honest advice and reassurance of the first one. For those who complain that she is a bit over-concerned with weight, well, that's just not true if you read it carefully. She is obviously quite slim, but why put someone down for looking good, and anyway she never says we should look like her, just that we don't have to be heaps of lard and we can feel good about ourselves - amen to that! You'll love this book if you read it with a pinch of salt and the humour it deserves. More please, Liz!
Saving a soul, 26 Sep 2006
A. Jacob
This book has saved my soul through the last 9 months of this pregnancy...finally a kindred spirit and a decent excuse to stock up on all imaginable 'products' which, although I know they make me feel an awful lot better about myself, justifying them to family and credit card companies has proved not quite so easy.
A great reassuring read and, combined say with the 'what to expect' series' is all you will need at whatever stage of pregnancy you are at, or (importantly) which pregnancy you are going through. Buy it!
Anne-Marie Millard - author and 'health and fitness' expert for Pregnancy magazine
28 Jul 2006
E. GOLDRING (Reading)
I loved this book. Thought 'our girl' Liz came across as really down to earth and as a 27 year old (single) yummy mummy to be i was really cheered up by her 'kids are the best thing you will ever do but it doesn't stop you being you' attitude. More mums and books like these please :@) I really want to give it to all mums to stop them becoming baby crazy or at least give them something more hip to read so they don't start knitting themselves cardis and shopping in BHS. I appreciate the bang-up-to-date product and web references, and her 'britishness' as the first 'pregnancy' book i read was was 'The best friend's guide' which was American and out of date (my copy was old) and kept going on about things that were not relevent in the UK. So if buying a book, this or others, check out where it was written, as it can be annoying, and get the most recent edition you can find. Anyway thumbs up to Liz - good on her, more please.
Reassuring Read for First Timers, 27 Jun 2006
Jessica Chivers (St Albans, UK)
This was my book of choice after reading extracts three months into my pregnancy. At that stage my biggest concerns were around how I was going to retain my `me-ness' and how I would cope once little one arrived. Liz Fraser writes in a wonderfully open and unpretentious way about her experiences and those of her friends. Contrary to what the title might suggest it isn't aimed at Prada-clad, Louis Vuitton handbag-swinging mums-to-be but for you, me and everybody. It's divided into 14 parts, beginning with "Before it all starts" and "Pregnancy - The Early Days" through to "The Birth" and "Going Back to Work". It's amusing, reassuring, very down to earth (full of self-deprecating anecdotes) and answers all the small, big, silly and bizarre questions we've both thought about and would be asking ourselves if we hadn't read it.
My thought is you're most likely to enjoy it if you're a first time middle class mum in need of a bit of reassurance and insight into pregnancy and motherhood.
AND JUST IN CASE YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T GOING TO SHOW YOU ANY OF THE BAD REVIEWS, HERE ARE A FEW CHOICE ONES. NOT SURE I CAUGHT THESE LADIES ON A GOOD DAY, ARE YOU? STILL, THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FROM MY BOOKS: YOU'LL EITHER LOVE THEM OR YOU'LL HATE THEM. SO GET YOUR COPY, AND SEE WHT YOU MAKE OF THEM!!
Absolutely Appalling, 5 Jun 2007
By C. Dornton (Shropshire)
My friend lent me this book, as I am 24 weeks pregnant with my 1st. Well - what a load of nonsense and lack of common sense. Very dismissive of ovulation predictor kits as we all obviously know when we ovulate and also very dismissive of pets, as they are full of germs (bad luck if you live on a farm!). The author is obviously very rich and very self obsessed and has nothing better to do in her life than worry that her pushchair looks good and she's back down to a size 0.