Since becoming a mammy myself I love these types of books to make me feel a little less alone! This had me laughing, crying and everything in between. I actually felt like I was busting in on Paul’s ‘affair’ with the girls myself! A fantastic read and one I’ll be sharing with the masses

Tara is a mum of three, with another baby on the way. Like most parents, she wants a perfect Christmas for all her family, but as many of us can relate things get in the way.

From her daughter being suspended to potty training her youngest, to her husband out of character and her usually absent mother returning for Christmas, Tara is up against it all!

Can Tara pull off the holly jolly Christmas of her dreams? Or is this a Christmas catastrophe waiting to happen?

The Sh!te Before Christmas is sequel to Mammy Banter: The Secret Life of An Uncool Mum. However, I didn’t realise until the end and I got to the acknowledgements (so don’t worry if you haven’t read the prequel.). The book is written by Serena Terry, who many may know as TikTok sensation @MammyBanter, who again I only followed having read this book, but her sense of humour shines through this novel.

The book is a light-hearted and hilarious read about family life in the lead up to Christmas. Whilst not a parent myself, I’ve seen elements of Tara in other parents and the authenticity really comes through in the novel. I’ve seen in other reviews of this book that some people question whether they would like this book if they weren’t a parent. If you are wondering this then I would say if like me you enjoy comedies centred around family life (think TV series such as Outnumbered and Gavin & Stacey), then this book will have you laughing.

Despite being a comedy The Sh!te Before Christmas also touches upon some very serious themes. These include discrimination against women in the workplace, the #MeToo Movement and how the place of women has changed over time. All of these are touched upon respectfully and highlight some of the issues we have faced and continue to face within our society.

Overall, The Sh!te Before Christmas is funny, relatable and will have you laughing out loud this festive season. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Sh!te Before Christmas is out now.

This is not my usual book style but I have followed 'Mammy banter' for so long and find her so funny and relatable! So I was overjoyed when I was accepted for this book, i really enjoyed it. A read that made me feel all kinds of emotions and one that I struggled to put down. It wasn't until I finished it that I saw in the acknowledgements that it is in fact a sequel to her first book...oops! That being said I think it works so well as a standalone I never would have guessed it was part of a duology! I am now looking forward to reading the first story and hoping for a 3rd *fingers crossed*

Tara is getting ready for Christmas and heavily pregnant. With a daughter suspended from school, a distant husband and the return of her mother. Can she make it a good Christmas and not fall apart herself.

As a mum there is a lot of relatable material in this, especially the elf stuff. The story is funny, sweet, sad and raw at times. It touches on some tough subjects along the way especially her relationship with her mother. The story builds to the perfect ending and a lovely way to finish. I loved the truth about Paul. I'd guessed part but not the reasons. It was hilarious. Tara is funny and believable if a little over the top at times. Her boys are just adorable and like most kids. A fun festive read if you want a more modern look at a family Christmas

🎄The Sh!te Before Christmas🎄

By Serena Terry

Description:

One month to go. One stressed mum. Can she pull off the perfect family Christmas?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

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 a vaping teen, explosive potty training and a disastrous Nativity, to a distracted husband acting very out of character, the final straw is Tara’s glamorous, feckless 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…

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Serena Terry is best known for her social media account @mammybanter and my friends and I regularly send her videos to each other with comments like “cracking up” and “dying”.

When I saw that she had a book out I had to check it out!

It took me a minute to get into it as I hadn’t realised there was a previous book, but once I got the vibe I really enjoyed this very relatable story of family drama in the run up to Christmas.

I absolutely love Serpens’s physical comedy in her videos and at first I missed this slightly, but she does a great job of telling this story in exactly the same voice and pretty quickly I could see the scenarios really clearly in my head.

This is a light-hearted and festive story but there’s a lot of real emotion here and the ending did get me welling up a bit!

If you enjoy Serena Terry’s Mammy Banter videos then 100% give this a read, but even if you never seen one of her videos, this is a really enjoyable, down to earth, funny read.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Sh!te Before Christmas is out now!

Some very funny moments in this festive story that you will snort and laugh out loud at. With a family of three children and a distant mother coming to stay for Christmas, all the while pregnant with your 4th child, what could possibly go wrong.
Lots of Derry mum colloquials.
A feel good happy story for those wanting a Christmas read.

I found this book easy to read and it had many funny moments centred around Tara who is pregnant with her 4th child. Christmas is approaching and as it is one of Tara’s favourite times of the year she is doing everything in her power to make it magical .

With trouble from her boss, her daughter being temporarily expelled from school, her youngest son potty training and her estranged mother planning to come to stay with her , the odds are stacking against her.

I loved reading Serena’s first book and although I did enjoy this one I didn’t find it just as funny. Hats off to poor Tara though, she really makes you realise we all share a lot of the same issues and I loved how she rallies through them in her own personal style .

Thank you for approving me to read this book! Sadly it wasn't really a book for me, I found it difficult to connect with the main character - perhaps because I don't have children so most of her struggles weren't things I could identify with. I did like the teenage daughter, she was so believable and made me laugh. I think this is a case of good book but wrong reader so I would definitely still recommend it to other readers.

Tara Gallagher is heavily pregnant with child number 4..and about to go on Maternity Leave. With teenage daughter Gemma suspended from school for Vaping,young sons Nathan and Jax pumped up for Christmas and her prodigal mother Pamela returning from Spain after a break up...what could go wrong?
Add into the mix all the Christmas prep and the fact that her husband might be having an affair and this book is choc full of Derry colloquialisms and laughs. If you're familiar with Mammy Banter on Instagram you'll love this. I enjoyed her first earlier in the year,but this may even be better. If you need a laugh...look no further. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc to enjoy and review.

Tara absolutly loves Christmas and always strives to make it magical for her family.
However this year, everything seems stacked against. Heavily pregnant with her fourth child, finishing work doesn't seem so bad.....until she hears her boss spreading untrue rumours about her.
Her teenage daughter has temporary expulsion from her school.....she does not take this with good grace, although Tara is determined she will see the errors of her ways....housework being on the top of her punishment list.
Her 2 young sons, one potty training, the other preparing for his very first school nativity.
To top the chaos, Tara suspects her husband of having an affair.....and then her estranged mother turns up for Christmas.....!!!

An absolute joy of a book, warm, hilarious, relatable and has you longing for that lovely Christmas happy ending. Highly recommend a read.

Funny lol moments in this festive story. With a family of three children and a mother coming to stay all the while pregnant with your 4th child, what could go wrong? Hormones have a lot to answer for. Feel good happy story for a Christmas read.

Firstly I’d like to thank Net Galley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I honestly loved this book. It was exactly what I imagined it would be. Can Tara survive this Christmas?

- A strained relationship with her daughter due to her suspension from school
- A manager who clearly shouldn’t be managing a team let alone a pregnant lady
- A husband who seems distant, working more hours and playing more ‘golf’
- A best friend who appears to ghost you when you need her the most
- A mother who returns from Spain after not really being involved in family life deciding she’s going to spend Christmas with you and the family
- Being 8 months pregnant with the baby due any day on the run up to Christmas.

Can and will the family survive the absolute shit show that seems to be thrown at them?

I found this book, so funny in places, the things that come out of children’s mouths and their actions. I know I’ve experienced first hand embarrassment in this way 🙈😂

If you need to revel in someone else’s shit to remind you that life before Christmas is never straightforward then this is absolutely the book for you.

Tara is back in The Sh!te Before Christmas, the sequel to The Secret Life of an Uncool Mum. Tara is eight months pregnant with her 4th child dealing with two young boys and a temperamental teenage daughter who’s been suspended from school for vaping.Tara is dealing with a slimy boss who is trying to take her clients away from her when she goes on maternity leave. And to top it all off, her mam has decided she wants to come spend Christmas with Tara and her family - a recipe for disaster! Can Tara pull off (aka survive!) this Christmas?

I adored Serena’s first book- it made me laugh out loud so much, I was getting strange looks from the family! This book hit differently. There were some really funny moments (mostly thanks to Tara’s little boys), but there were also a lot more serious topics included: strained mother/daughter relationships; strained marriages/friendships, miscommunication, workplace sexual harassment, anxiety. I was expecting a laugh a minute type story like her last book so I didn’t enjoy it as much.

Tara has it tough in this book but I’m hoping that in Serena’s next book (I want to see Tara’s story continued!), her more light-hearted side and antics gets to shine again.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. The Sh!te Before Christmas is out now.

And go follow Serena (aka Mammy Banter) - her videos got me through many a tough day over the last few years!

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for arc
Oh how I have laughed at times reading this book
I could hear the accents clear as day thanks to watching shows such as derry girls !
But this book follows Tara a mum of 3 soon to be 4 on the approach to Christmas when everything is just that little bit more stressful, with two wee boys a teenager who is suspended from school what else could go wrong?
Well it appears quite a bit in Tara’s world and it does that’s what makes the book so hilarious

A brilliant read! Not overly Christmassy so it definitely is an all year round book.

Hilarious, wonderful and heartwarming book. I read it ridiculously fast and I want to read it again already.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Well this book had me crying both happy and sad tears. What a fantastic little Christmas read. It really got me in the mood for Christmas. I loved Tara, the Ys, the rebel mums and even Pammy. The wains are great and you can’t help reading this story with an Irish accent in your head. Amazing. Fantastic. And a much more enjoyable read than all the romantic Christmas love at first sight drivel. A sound 4 out of 5 for me.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down.

‘𝙎𝙤 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙀𝙡𝙛𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙘𝙤𝙯 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣’ 𝙬𝙚𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢.’

This book isn’t usually my chosen genre, but I am a fan of Serena Terry’s TikTok so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give it a read. I didn’t realise this one was a second in a series kind of read, however I don’t think you need to have read the first to be able to understand and enjoy this one.

As a mum, there was a lot of relatable content and very ‘at least it’s not only me’ moments which is always nice. She definitely nailed the writing and character building of the typical dramatic teenager and feral toddler - Jax was amazing!

The storyline is simple and easy to follow, whilst still remaining entertaining throughout. It was very much a slow burn and I did, at times, struggle with the pacing. That said, there was always a little drama or funny part around the corner that kept me interested - probably why I managed to finish it in less than 24 hours.

I loved the dialect it was written in and I fully read it all with an Irish accent in my head - which I loved!! I loved the little quirky sayings and puns throughout.

Like I mentioned before, it’s not my preferred genre so I probably didn’t love it as much as some would. But I can imagine this appealing so much to fans of woman’s humorous fiction and romcom style novels. It’s fun, lighthearted and is full of interesting characters.

If you’re looking for a nice, easy festive read with some laughs along the way - this is one to add to your list!

I wanted to read a funny Christmas book that I could relate to from being a mum of three and suffering every Christmas a few years ago. however no matter how much I wanted to love this book ami just couldn’t get into the characters.
whether I am just old and grumpy I’m not sure. It just fell short for me.
Yes being 35 weeks pregnant with a teenager who is grumpy, two boys that are a handful with an ever retreating husband., and a mother that the term passive aggressive, doesn’t even cover it
leads to the perfect dysfunctional Christmas.

But I still was having a hard time with it. There were funny bits but not the snorting out loud laughter I was expecting maybe again it’s because I’m older now. I just was hoping for more laughs. It’s a slow burn so very nearly a DNF.
However that being said it’s because it’s not my thing I know it will appeal to lots of other fun people who are not old and grumpy so I will rate it as a 3

Tara Gallagher is 36, pregnant and this is her life. Well, a good few weeks of it. As if organising the perfect Gallagher Christmas and birthing the perfect baby weren’t enough, she manages to fall out big time with her sexist boss and winds up under house arrest with her errant teenage daughter. And what should her wondering eyes should appear, but a kinky empty Amazon box addressed to her husband and her trampy mammy Pammy who has dumped the pool boy?

This is a comeback tour of Mammy Banter, and Serena Terry gives us a fresh and hilarious take on some all-to-real situations that will surely set you off laughing. Even if Christmas isn’t your thing, Tara and her friends The Rebel Mums and their homespun wisdom (the remedy for removing pee stains is a keeper) will warm your cockles at any time of the year. And you will be comforted by the easy banter between the friends, lovers and relatives. It will feel like your favourite warm cardy, with all its moth holes, spew stains and bobbles.

The writing is spot-on funny with the kind of sassy comedy that miscommunication and misplaced toys allow. The storytelling is faultless and barrels along toward the inevitable crescendo and catharsis of showdown at ToteTech. If you like intelligent funny writers like Michelle Gallen or Dawn O’Porter or the comedy that Motherland or Scummy Mummies deliver, you will love spending a few hours reading Tara Gallagher’s latest adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley UK and HarperCollins for the eARC.

This book was exactly what I needed, i enjoyed it so much that i read it in a day. It was brilliant. There were ups and downs along the way, with a few twists and turns. But i really loved that it shows the importance of family, and the magic of Christmas, whilst being totally hilarious.