Serena Terry fully captivates the life of a busy family at that special time of year when chaos can reign. The novel follows the hormonal teenager going through the stage of growing up, two young boys always up to mischief and just telling it like it is in complete innocence, and a pregnant mother at her nearly due date. On top of all this, the granny arrives to stay who has been absent for most of Tara’s life. With everything racing along towards Xmas, Tara is also worried about her husband. With her hormones working overtime, she is convinced he is having an affair. With getting ready for Xmas, school nativities, an angry teenager, her job with an obnoxious boss, her mother appearing, her best friend suddenly going awol, Tara has almost hit rock bottom. This book bursts from the first page like a horse at the gate and never stops running. It’s a wild ride.

This book was HILARIOUS. I loved the sound of it when I saw it on Netgalley so decided to request it and I’m glad I did because it had me laughing out loud. Even though I’m not a mum, so much of it was so relatable! Loved how it was set in Derry too, gave me Derry Girls vibes. I thought what happened on Christmas Day was a bit typical 🤣 I could have put money on that happening!!! But apart from that, I did really enjoy this one. So funny and realistic!

The NHS ought to give this book on prescription to ill, insomniac mothers. It won't help them sleep, but good God, they'll be laughed out of their misery. I was one such mom, suffering from flu. Giving up on sleep. I picked this up instead and read it in one sitting in the early hours. Not only was I happier, but I even felt quite festive. Serena Terry portrays the joys and trials of being a parent at Christmas through Tara, the funny as feck star of Terry's first book, Mammy Banter. Following on from that Tara is heavily pregnant and dealing with a vaping teenager, two boys who are obsessed with all things toilet based (standard), a husband who is becoming increasingly distant and the return of her feckless mother. Not to mention a pelvic floor that is not cooperating! Like the first book, chaos follows Tara everywhere and always with hilarious results.

I really liked this read, it was so easy to fall into the Gallagher household and I resonated with Tara (minus the 8 month pregnancy, 3 other kids & the crazy mum) haha but her desire to have the most magical Christmas and be the most amazing mother/wife/human she can be, was hilarious to read and it made me feel so festive! Loved it

P regnant with her 4th child Tara is determined to give her family the best Christmas ever, but marriage problems, difficulties at work, her MIA friend and general pregnancy fatigue are making it really hard. Then when her Mam returns from her life in Spain there’s an additional spanner in the works. However, Christmas is coming and she needs to pull her finger out.

This wasn’t my favourite festive book. It was easy to read but Tara was really annoying to me and I didn’t relate to her at all; despite recently becoming a Mam myself. Also all of the colloquial language bugged me. I have seen a lot of positive feedback though so maybe I’m just being harsh

#festivereads #2022inbooks #christmasbooks #booksta #christmas #bookreview #netgalley

Really enjoyable, easy read.
Actually had me laughing out loud, much to the husband’s annoyance at midnight!

This book was not for me, not a lot of depth and I couldn't really relate, there was some humour though that made me laugh and made a nice palette cleanser but not something I would want to read again or pass on to someone else.

OMG just when you thought Serena Terry could not get any funnier. I absolutely loved this book, an absolute laugh a minute and such a perfect read for any busy Mum's at Christmas who truly understand the meaning of the Sh!te before Christmas. Nearly had a few accidents myself reading this book, not laughed and loved a book as much as this in a long time.

Ohhh you’re going to want to read this book! 👏🏼 I absolutely adored it! It had me laughing out loud, had me crying, and had me agreeing with the main character Tara (yes, I know, I love it, I never get a MC named after me!)

The Sh!te Before Christmas sees Tara want her perfect family Christmas and in order to have it, it looks like she’s going to have to do it all herself, because it doesn’t seem like anyone else is going to help. There’s a vaping teenager whose been suspended from school, a husband who is extremely unusually distracted, potty training mishaps, a nativity play, and an unexpected visit from her absent mother.

Honestly, I just loved it! I think every mum will absolutely completely connect with Tara and love all the family drama. But even if you’re not a mum, there’s so much to love! There’s a lovely group of friends, work drama and definitely something going on in her relationship with her husband.

What I really loved as well was all the little nods to Derry, where this books is set. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s where my dad is from and where a lot of my family live. And I recently went over for a visit so I loved being able to picture exactly where things were happening. And I even had brunch at the same place Tara does with her friends, Primose on the Quay, last time I was there, and yes they really do make the best hot chocolate!

Such a fun book to pick up in the run up to Christmas! Loved it!

This has me laughing out loud, I loved that it had me laughing so much.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This is Serena’s second book and I think it was fantastic. Loved every minute of it. My fiancé kept commenting that I was laughing out loud as it takes a lot for me to laugh out loud.

Tara’s friends were so cringe worthy but such funny characters. Amanda was a hoot the things she’d come out with. And omg the kids the things they’d come out with especially the two year old. There was a dew wrenching moments. I hope Serena writes more about Tara and her family. I liked the new addition of her mum.

Thanks goes to the author for writing it. The publisher and net galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was fabulous to go back to catch up with Tara and her family – it felt like visiting friends for Christmas! All of the relationships from the first book are revisited – and Tara’s Mum plays a key role in this book too. Whilst you could read this as a standalone book – I really think it would be better if you’d read the first book so that you know the back story to all of the characters – from Tara’s immediate family, to her friends and work mates.

The relationships are – again – the centrepoint of the book. From the stroppy teenager, to the excitable small child, the grumpy husband, the nightmare boss – all if it is written very well.

Some of the book was quite predictable, some of it completely surprised me – so all in all I really enjoyed it.

Is this book going to win any literary prizes? Probably not. But a bit like how I don’t always want to watch Oscar nominated films – sometimes a funny, relevant, laugh out loud, have a little weep book is what you want – and this fits the bill perfectly.

A big festive thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC.

Absolutely brilliant, the funniest book I have read for ages and so true to life, tinged with anxiety and sadness. Couldn't wait to pick it up again, addictive reading !

There's something about reading a book based on a mum a similar ages who also loves Christmas and is a fellow celt that hits me right in the relatability feels. I love Tara. Jesus, I think I might be Tara. Only much less funnier. A genuinely great, laugh out loud book. Will highly recommend to others.

The Sh!te Before Christmas by Serena Terry

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Christmas time, toddler meltdowns, teenage angst, marriage problems and WINE.

This year, the perfect Christmas is going to take a miracle…

Twas the sh!te before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for … mum!

Like every mum, Tara wants a perfect Christmas for her family – but no-one else is lifting a finger and she’s losing her elf-ing mind. From the kids behaving badly (vaping! Potty training! The Nativity!), to a distracted husband acting very out of character, the last straw is Tara’s glamorous, feckless, boundary-less mother moving herself back in for the holidays.

My Opinion

What an entertaining read. This is the second book in the series but I have read this as a standalone. If you want a festive book that will make you laugh then this is the book for you. A lovely cosy book that I would definitely recommend for this festive season.

Rating 4/5

The Sh!te Before Christmas by Serena Terry

Christmas time, toddler meltdowns, teenage angst, marriage problems and WINE.
This year, the perfect Christmas is going to take a miracle…
Twas the sh!te before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for … mum!
Like every mum, Tara wants a perfect Christmas for her family – but no-one else is lifting a finger and she’s losing her elf-ing mind. From the kids behaving badly (vaping! Potty training! The Nativity!), to a distracted husband acting very out of character, the last straw is Tara’s glamorous, feckless, boundary-less mother moving herself back in for the holidays.
Can Tara pull off the holly jolly Christmas of her dreams? Will she deck the halls and not her family? Or is this a Christmas catastrophe waiting to happen?

Firstly thankyou to Netgalley , Harper collins and the author Serena Terry for a copy of this Ebook in exchange for a honest review.

I have been letting my self down with my reading goals recently and have been in a MAJOR slump. This book was just what I needed to pull me out of the slump and get me into the Christmas spirit! It was so relatable and had me laughing out loud in parts, there is a lot of embarrassing stories. I didn’t realise this was the second book in the series but I don’t think it affected my reading experience and can be read as a stand alone, but I bet if you have read the first and already know the characters you will enjoy it more. I will definitely add the first to my TBR & im off to follow MammyBanter on Tiktock ❤


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Laugh out loud comedy, showing the joys and horrors of motherhood, especially at Christmas.

Tara has a lot on her plate- a vaping teenager, two boys under 6 and is also about to drop another. Add in a less than reliable mum, two friends who are having their own crises and a husband who is behaving very oddly and it’s the perfect recipe for the festive season.

If you enjoyed ‘‘why mummy drinks’ you will enjoy this too. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Entertaining and lighthearted Christmas read following mum Tara who has to juggle family dynamics with organising the perfect Christmas. Oh, and the fact she's eight months pregnant. This was funny and easy to read, the perfect little pick me up in the run up to Christmas. It's not going to ignite the literary world on fire, and I doubt I'll remember the plot a, few weeks from now but in the moment this was just what I needed.

Not the type of book I would normally go for but I love Mammy Banter and Christmas so thought ‘why not?’ I really enjoyed it!! There were laugh out loud moments, as well as moments where I cried. In addition to being funny, the book brought up some serious topics, like workplace discrimination against women and difficult relationships with parents as adults. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, it’s really gotten me in the mood for Christmas!

A funny festive read featuring a rather chaotic multigenerational family. The book covers a month before Christmas with everything that entails with children including a rebellious teenager, mixed with a heavily pregnant main character, Tara, her estranged mother returned from Spain, her tolerant husband and fairly mad female friends. Certainly, there are plenty that most readers will identify with juggling to keep everyone happy together with the magic of Christmas for the smaller children. Feelgood ending with plenty of seasonal fun.