Oh my goodness, this book resonated with me on so, so, SO many levels, I just can't describe it!

M is for Mummy is a book about love - a Mother's love.

Lucy is an exhausted mother of two boys aged 4 and under, Stan and Jack. Before that, she was, and still is, wife to Ed, a session musician, and prior to that, she was a cellist of the highest level.
Motherhood takes every ounce of her energy, so much so that it's like she's lost her own identity, and if it wasn't for her close friends, Jen and Charlie, she'd give up even imagining a future of music, for herself.
On top of that, she is dealing with the likelihood that her older son might just be autistic. With certain habits and traits being displayed, she is more and more convinced that he is, but without a diagnosis, and little support from other directions, Lucy battles with the meltdowns and obsessions as best she can.

I loved this. As I said before, it resonated, so much. As a teacher of young children, I come into contact with children like Stan, increasingly, and the difficulties that parents have, of accepting that maybe, there is something else that might be making their child act in certain ways.

Lucy is a fantastic, though knackered mother, and I applauded her for recognising something within her child, and wanting to act upon it. I only wish I could suggest this as reading for certain parents who really don't get ASD...

Many thanks to NetGalley and Corvus/Atlantic Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 for me, but rounded up. For some reason I couldn't quite click with this book, I considered abandoning it about 30% in but persevered, and I'm glad I did.

The writing style reminded me of the Bridget Jones era, all sex, boobs, body-shaming, and swearing. I have to say I did find it quite grating. The main character, Lucy, complains about everything to do with being a mother, and a wife, some of which resonated with me as a toddler mum, but much of which seemed like it was trying too hard to be funny.

However, the book did begin to improve as it delved more into Lucy's eldest son, Stanley, aged 4, who has suspected autism. This aspect of the book was really interesting to read about and portrayed sensitively. Having friends who have gone through similar journeys to Lucy, a lot of this was familiar to me.

It was also nice to see two characters (Lucy and her husband) who were struggling financially, as that is not always portrayed well in "rom com" novels, and also them both having unusual careers as musicians.

The reveals that came later on were unsurprising, and it felt that they were staring Lucy in the face before she came to discover each reveal. The end of the book was done well I thought, no spoilers here, but it wasn't too saccharine and neat, and as a reader I felt satisfied with the ending.

Overall, a nice easy read, I didn't get on with the writing style but I did enjoy the plot.

Although this starts off feeling a bit like a rant about motherhood (and actually put me off having children), the story gradually matures into a heartfelt story about discovering what is really important.

Battling with a stereotypical mother-in-law, potentially autistic son and endless nappies, it’s every woman’s worst nightmare. How would you react?

Lucy could be all of us: a devoted mother, she misses her independence, her figure and her career. its understandable, but at times she comes across as very selfish, spending a lot of her time getting drunk with her friends and moaning.

Her husband is also quite selfish, but not long into the story we have a hunch as to why he is the way he is (which is confirmed in the final chapters) and our sympathy grows.

Stan is the best character. He is well-observed and well-written, possibly to the detriment of the other characters. It would’ve been nice to hear more about her mother and more about what Jack was like.

It’s humorous for sure, although not laugh out loud funny and it’s very readable - I devoured it in just a couple of hours. But it wasn’t until quite near the end that I began to feel emotional and started rooting for Lucy. For all her faults and endless negativity, her heart is in the right place.

A slow start, but M for Mummy is a heartfelt story about the realities of motherhood.

Going into this book I expected a regular "Mummy memoir" about how life is pretty hectic and awful and partners are no help, but ultimately the children and sweet and "worth it".

This book does all of that, however it also explores something more that sets it apart from others in this category. Although it is only vaguely alluded too in the description the main plot and conflict centers around Lucy's struggles with her older son Stan.

Stan is due to go to primary school next year and may be autistic, or possibly a genius. Lucy is always "failing" at something but she knows how to handle Stan, she just wants the rest of the world to know as well.

It takes a little while for the plot, and the meaning behind the title, to reveal itself. Mixed behind all of the touching, mother/child dynamic the main character's constant longing for her pre-child life really grated on me and I almost put the book down.

But I'm so happy I stuck with it as I really learned a lot about how a child with autism sees the world and the struggle it creates for parents. Rather than a whole autobiography about the struggles and differences between us Katy Cox has created a relatable main character who's children are a part of her life, rather than the whole of it. Ultimately that makes the issues she explores much more vivid than anything I would have picked up on the subject.

A cute read that really tells it like it is! The trials and tribulations of modern motherhood are set for the reader to see, in all their glory. An unabashed and fun protagonist makes for a fun and sparkly read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, Katy Cox, for the opportunity of reading M is for Mummy.

Lucy is juggling a career, children, relationship and social life… as you can imagine, things don’t always go to plan. In fact, some days they really don’t go to plan at all. This book had me laughing, squirming, and holding my breath.

What an amazing insight into autism and the day to day highs and lows that are encountered. Lucy’s love for her son, Stan, shines through in this book, as she helps him through some of the things he finds more challenging. I found myself learning from Stan’s interesting facts too!

Overall a funny, insightful, and well-written book. I can imagine a lot of mothers may find this book very relatable. I look forward to reading more from Katy soon!!

What a great book. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it will resonate with mums everywhere! Well written and well done.

An excellent book, written with a great deal of compassion and heart, with three dimensional characters that you’ll fall in love with. A brilliant evocation of family life.

If you want a giggle then this is the book for you!
I laughed (a lot!) but it also pulled at my heart strings too. In short, it's a story about a lovely family who don't quite fit the moulding in society, but the mother does everything in her power to help her son find his place in the world 💙

A brilliant story which is so true to life yet also addressing some challenging concerns in a mature and supportive manner. So much laughter and tears throughout, a must read!

Lucy is such a perfectly written character, I just want to hug her. She is so honest and true to life and in so many ways recognisable. She had me in stitches and in tears, because I have felt and been in so many many similar situations. A great book to make you feel not so alone in the mummy struggles, and so well written.

Read this as an arc. Thoroughly enjoyed - I laughed, I cried and more than anything this made me think. It was so thought provoking especially as some of the issues hit home around autism and the signs not only in children but adults who have gone undiagnosed for years. Definitely one to put on your tbr list when it is released

Absolutely loved this frank, funny totally relatable read! This book will resonate with all mums of young children desperately trying to parent, maintain a career, keep on top of the housework and sustain a healthy marriage! Not easy at all especially with Autism thrown in too for good measures!
Sensitivity, tact and realism abound as this young family muddle through the early years not easy when both parents are musicians, but a mother’s true love shines through as she will go to any extreme to help her child and in doing so has an epiphany re her husband Ed which helps to explain so much!
Great story line fantastic characterisation and a real laugh out loud read but with a serious undertone, would love to read more from this talented author.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

What an funny, sad, real kind of book. There should be more books like this around that tell you what life really is like with children who are individual. But also what it is like to loose yourself into family life. I loved the way it was told, how it made me laugh and cry, a brilliant book!

A laugh out novel, was such an enjoyable read. Loved all the humorous side to motherhood, even though the seriousness is written about too. Was a good read.

A quick and easy read that was so funny I laughed out loud on several occasions. The story is good, the characters were so relatable, I loved it

This was a stunning book, both happy and heartbreakingly sad in some parts, I really felt for the main character Lucy, The realisation she has at the end regarding her husband was so poignant. I'm not sure if this is a debut novel as I cant locate anything else by this author but I sincerely hope there is more to come

Lucy's son Stanley is different. He is obsessed with letters, number puzzles and body parts, and he likes things to be a certain way.
As Lucy faces up to the possibility that Stanley is more than just different, she also starts to see where he gets it from - her husband, Ed, who also has autistic traits.
Generally, Lucy and Ed have a good relationship, even if Stanley and baby Jack mean that romance has waned a little. She also has two great friends and is working to rekindle her career as a concert cellist and session musician.
I loved these aspects of the book and how Lucy tries to hold everything together, it was very relatable and the book is also sweary, funny and well-written. A great portrait of life with a neurodivergent child (and, very probably, husband) that will resonate with anyone who doesn't fit the mould.

Hilarious! Laugh out loud read..tacklingall the insecurities that Mum's go through...was able to identify with all the body image issues! There is a serious side to Lucy's tale of manic motherhood.. Stanley her oldest child has always displayed some interesting behaviours.. Lucy and Ed have always just accepted these..until Lucy returns to work and tries broadening Stanley's social horizons. Lucy begins to realise that maybe Stanley is on the Autistic Spectrum and initially struggles to accept this..plus she sees many similarities in his behaviours with her husband...An interesting and funny read with a sympathetic understanding of ASD.