If you want cheering up, this is a great book to read. Focusing on family life with 2 teenagers, imminent divorce, and dating again this book will put a smile on your face. I loved it and would thoroughly recommend.

This book is the third in the series about a mum called Ellen with a reasonable job in a technology company, a useless husband called Simon and two fairly nasty adolescent children, Jane and Peter. If you've read any of the others you'll know the format by now. The book covers another year in the lives of this dysfunctional family from Ellen's perspective.

The targets are pretty much the same but there's a big difference in this one because it revolves around Simon and Ellen splitting up after him having a little adventure on a business trip to Madrid. She moves house and has to downsize, much to the annoyance of the children and has to cope with surviving on her own which, not to stress the point, she does not do very well. She is constantly ridden with self-doubt, falls out with everyone and her main refuge is alcohol which leads her to behave badly.

There's a problem for the story in all of this. In the earlier novels, she spent a lot of time coping with other people's imposed problems but, here, she's kind of responsible for her own issues and she is not managing too well. There are lots of funny bits along the way with easy targets like the HR Department, speed dating, Simon's mad sister and parents evenings at school but you could read some of the rest as woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown rather than not giving a whatever - and that isn't really quite so funny. I think it might also be titled why mummy needs one of those asterisked things as, by my reckoning and being generous, she only manages a maximum of five intimate moments in the whole calendar year and I did sort of wonder if that might be part of the problem!

In the end, she finds a nice man called Jack and the possibility of more regular servicing in the future, her children turn out to be not quite as nasty as she thinks they are and even Simon comes up trumps occasionally. It all goes a bit mawkish here but I suppose some loose ends needed to be tidied up.

In some ways, I think this might be the end of the series. Ellen is more than halfway through her 40s by the end of this one and while why mummy has to save to send her children to university could be a powerful political tract I'm not sure it would be so attractive to her readers! In the end, if you're a fan and you enjoy the style of these novels and some of the easy asides then you'll probably like this one but dig a bit deeper and you might start to think this woman should have sorted herself out by now!

This is the third book in Gill Sims' series about Ellen, a woman juggling work with her chaotic family life (including two teenage children). For fans of Gill's writing on Facebook or for those who have read the previous books, there's lots more to enjoy here! It's exactly as you would expect and hope.

In this book, Ellen is navigating her problematic relationship with husband Simon. She moves to what she hopes will be an idyllic cottage in the country, although this does not turn out quite as anticipated. Her children are far from pleased with the situation, especially when Ellen starts to eye the dating scene again...

This is another engaging story from Sims. Potentially tricky and serious topics are dealt with humorously, but there is also poignancy. Personally, I found bits of it hilarious and love the diary-style writing that carries you through Ellen's difficult year. I'm sure that most people can relate to this story of modern parenting and family life.

Absolutely hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing throughout. The description of life with a teenage daughter and son will resonate with every parent and show us we're all in the same boat, and it's still sinking.

This is the third book in the series about Ellen, a harassed and likeable mother of two. I found it to be a fun and easy read and enjoyed it more than the other two books in the series.

Ellen has many life changes to face and all through humour and comic observation. Her experiences are very easy to relate to.

If you've read the previous two books, then you know roughly what to expect. It's very funny, but with genuine insight into modern parenting and marriage. Ellen and Simon's relationship has fallen apart and she's moved house with Peter and Jane, plus of course Judgy Dog and the new, ugly dog - Barry. Her friends are there to support her, but there's more difficulties to come.

I genuinely laughed out loud at bits of this, as well as finding the scenes with Ellen's dad moving. There's plenty to think about, as well as to laugh at - even in the midst of hugely difficult times, the book is funny and engaging. Definitely worth a read, even if you aren't a parent.

I’ve laughed out loud throughout this book, I’ve cried and I’ve absolutely loved it.

It’s a true representation of life with teenagers and I could completely relate having been there a few year ago. I really hope there are more in the Why Mummy series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

All I need now is Gill to write a book about grown up children! This series has made me laugh, cry and feel normal....the last few chapters about Christmas had to be related to my husband, just to show that my varying extreme reactions to it are not solely my own!
As always Gill writes so honestly about the emotions and situations family life throws up that she should be compulsory to all women with families, something that should be always be read before embarking on counselling.
Thank you publisher and Netgalley this was was offered for an unbiased review, but arrived at a stressful time and was better for me than any medication or counselling.

I've read the other books by Gill Sims and I think this one is equally as funny if not better. Ghastly teens, a divorce, a death, moving house, surly hens and endless lost PE kit, it doesn't have the right be quite so funny. But it's an excellent read that I inhaled as fast as possible. Looking forward to the next instalment. Highly recommended .
Thanks NetGalley @whymummmydrinks

Having read Sims' other books in this series, I knew I was in for a treat and boy this is a good one! I found myself howling and nodding in equal measure! So funny and accurately observed. A must for all busy parents in this day and age! five stars and more!