I haven’t read the first novel about this family but I will definitely look out for it now! 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. A really good read following her story up to Xmas and dealing with everything life throws at you!

What a craic, indeed!
I thoroughly enjoyed this festive giggle with Tara, dealing with the run up to Christmas accompanied by a moody teen daughter, and two gorgeous, but hyperactive little boys, a husband who seems to be distancing himself, an absend mammy who suddenly makes a reappearance into her life, work sh!te going down, metamorphosing friends, and a school teacher who appears to judge all of her parenting decisions, all whilst being eight months pregnant!
I giggled throughout and loved it. An easy read with plenty to make you smile.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, UK for an ARC, in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was was an enjoyable and easy read. Although I wasn't aware it was a sequel until I finished it and saw the ad for the first one, Mammy Banter, it worked well as a standalone book. Although the writing style grated at times, I was engaged with the plot and enjoyed the gentle, festive storyline.

Could not put this book down. Brilliantly funny and so relateable to any (over) working mother of young teens and children. The voices of each of the ages is captured perfectly and you really feel like you're there in the middle of the family.

Not my usual read but was looking for a nice easy reader for holiday and this nailed it!

Was genuinely hilarious at points and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t actually laugh out loud, which I did! It’s relatable and over the top and just a wee joy. The Derry turns of phrase are brilliant and the ending is the perfect amount of Christmas cheese.

Read if you like channel five afternoon Christmas movies with a NI and scummy mummy twist.

Tara is heavily pregnant; the festive season is upon her, her teenage daughter can't fathom anything she does, her husband is being oddly distant, her younger boys are...younger boys and her estranged mother decides to come home for the holidays.

It's a book full of moments that mums will recognise, and laugh at. It's real and funny - although I feel maybe more entertaining if you're Irish! I struggled with the book a little to begin with - there were too many puns and jokes for the story itself to flow but as the action happened, this calmed down a lot and I found the story really enjoyable. I've not read the first book but I don't think that mattered!

It's one that will leave you feeling very festive and ready for Christmas- even a Christmas with the family!

Well what can I say, loved it, couldn't put it down, took less than 24 hours to read, was so good to catch up with Tara and her wonderful family again, when's the next adventure

There is two things I absolutely loved about this book from the get go.
The fact it centred around Christmas (because I LOVE christmas)
And just how relatable it was to all the mothers out there who loose their sh*t on a daily basis with their kids 😂.

If you have a weak pelvic floor like myself (also thanks to kids 🤪) then I would suggest you get yourself some Tenna for ladies, because this book was hilarious. I had tears in my eyes at points.
The teenage dramas - Being called bestie. The potty training, the weeing on the floor. Been there, got the T-shirt thankyou, remember it vividly - all make this book so refreshingly real that I think I've found a kindred spirit in Tara.

And it had deeper, more sensitive subjects woven throughout as well that make this a book for everyone.
I'm glad Tara and her mothers relationship was explored with depth and emotion and despite 'Pammy' sounding like your worst nightmare at first, she left me with a soft spot for her by the end.

This book left me with a huge smile on my face! Playful, funny and a joy to read, I couldn't have liked it more.

Although this is a nice comfort read in places, the writing sometimes feels laboured. The pacing is rather slow and the plot is pretty boring. It’s nice to see colloquial touches, but the effect of them is really held back by other aspects of the book. I can see this being a very enjoyable Christmas read if it was much snappier. I really wanted to love it!!!

A very good Christmas type sequel to The Secret Life of a Uncool Mum.
Lots of laugh out loud moments, and family craziness from a cross teen to crazy kindy age twins. Some miners that will make you cringe and get some lovely moments too.
Definitely read the first Mammy Banter book first. Both are good witty novels.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was quite funny with a lot of laugh out loud moments. I highly recommend

Definitely a laugh-out-loud read. Very relatable characters - we've all been there around the festive season! This is such a hilariously chaotic countdown to Christmas, and I would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to get into the holiday spirit, and I look forward to seeing what else Serena writes!

Hilarious!! And puts me in the mood for Christmas but without any of the chaos in this funny easy read.

I'll start by saying this is not my usual fare and I should have listened to the part of me that said "this may not be for you". But I wanted something Christmas based to cheer myself up and something light and fluffy that I could simply read and have a laugh at. I loved the Ross O'Carroll Kelly books so thought this would be in the same ball park.

I think that problems I had with this book are that a) I'm not a mother of small children, b) I've never heard of Mammy Banter, c) I don't usually enjoy this "all girls together, lets get drunk and eat cake" style and d) I'm not mad about Christmas the way I should be.

However I am absolutely positive that this will appeal to a very wide audience. It would certainly go down well with those who like the Aisling genre.

It centres on a harassed and 8 month pregnant Tara who is mother to two under 5s, is heavily pregnant and has a belligerent teen on the premises. To add to her troubles there's a misogynist or two at work, she thinks her husband is going off her and her estranged and selfish mother is threatening a visit.

Thankfully Amanda has her supporters in the shape of Cat and Amanda (her besties) and the Rebel Mums who are her "gang".

As the husband becomes more distant, her mother begins to turn her daughter against her and the potty training of her youngest, Jax, begins it seems there can be nothing else to upset this harassed mum but, of course, there's the Elf on a Shelf to organise, a Nativity Play to rehearse for and her daughter has just been suspended from school.

I think if you're a fan of the Aisling novels, you follow Mammy Banter, you have small children (or remember that time) then you will love this book. I did not but it wasn't written for me and its my fault for attempting it.

I received this advance copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun and entertaining book I think we can all relate to quite a bit of it!

Highly recommend and can't wait to read more from this author!

This was totally hilarious and somewhat relatable in many parts. It really had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed that there was an element of suspicion about her husband having an affair, it added more to the story other than it being about a family in the run up to Christmas. As a mum of teenage daughters, I loved Gemma. I have two of those! Overall, a great funny festive read.

Enjoyed all the laughs out loud moments and giggles this one gives! Loved it, easy to read and keeps you entertained throughout!

Oh what a fun book, lots of laughs, lots of hijinks, lots of fun! And although I am not a mum I can see all the mums I know in this book.

It is a feel good Christmas read, it is so easy to read and it is very entertaining. It is a hoot and is a book I think most people will enjoy. Give it a go and have a good laugh.

Brilliant with lots of laughs and family meltdowns as well as special moments and the perfect follow up to her last book The Secret Life of a Uncool Mum.
I can’t wait to read what’s next for the Gallagher family.
Would definitely recommend!