Title: Confessions of a Domestic Failure

Author: Bunmi Laditan

Publisher: Mira

Publication Date: May 2017

Genre: Adult Fiction/Contemporary, Humour

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

 

Synopsis can be found here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Review:

Ashley Keller, career and now full time stay at home mom, is trying to navigate new motherhood and live up to the usual crazy standards of what mother’s are “supposed to be”, and failing miserably at it. When she finally get s a chance to go into a Mommy boot camp, she jumps at it and decides to try to be the best mom she can be. Can she do it?

I enjoyed this book. Sure, maybe it has to do something with the fact I have an 11 month old myself, but Confessions of a Domestic Failure really hit a note with me. Laditan’s sharp narrative about society’s, and other mom’s pressures, in becoming and portraying the perfect mom especially on social media, was both hilarious and very very true. There were a lot of times I laughed out loud, finding my own crazy thoughts had at one time mirrored poor Ashley.

I loved the comments about breast feeding vs. formula, cleaning the house, trying to make mom friends and just the general pressure that society puts on today’s moms to get back in shape, get back to the job, look fabulous and be the most stellar mom. I have a mommy & me group that I’m going to recommend this book to because I think they will love it. We’re all first time mom’s and Ashley, I know you’re fictional, but let me tell you something – you’re not alone! Though let’s face it, Ashley is on the extreme side. Which I loved.

That said, I do wish that Ashley did enjoy a lot more of motherhood through the book. I felt like it was a little off balance because yes, there are crazy obstacles and challenges that we don’t ever see coming and that no one told us about, but at the same time, there’s overwhelming joy and love and I feel like that could have been a little stronger in the book. Also, the book seemed a little long in that it took Ashley so long to get it together (kinda). It was all entertaining, but about half way, I was thinking – come on. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

Overall, I’m going to recommend this to every mom I know. Because we’ve all been there!