The heartwarming, uplifting and relatable sequel to M is for Mummy, picks up the story as Stanley starts school.

Although Lucy now has Stanley's autism diagnosis, and they are supported by brilliant, encouraging and resourceful teachers, Lucy still feels separate from the other mums and worries about the lack of school friends that she and Stanley have been able to make.

Now she has realised that her husband also has similar traits, she is able to be more accommodating of his struggles, although life is still hard work.

As professional musicians, they can both be called at short notice for gigs, auditions and tours, and Lucy continues to carry the bulk of the responsibility.

She continues to learn more about how to help Stanley, and when her sister comes to stay she starts to realise how much easier it is for both her and Stanley when they have supportive people around.

I am an AUDHD mum of 3 children with ASD and ADHD so i resonated with a lot of Lucy's story especially around Stanley and his anxieties around school and how Ed struggles with certain things.
I kept thinking i wanted to tell Lucy to try this and to try that to help with going into school and had to keep reminding myself that it was just a story and not real.

Ed's story of undiagnosed autism and how this affected him by masking made me really upset. It hurt my heart reading it and bought tears to my eyes especially reading about the affect that an amazing opportunity to most caused him to go into immense burnout. The support that Lucy offered to him was amazing and something that i was proud of her character for.

I loved this book and how it identifies the struggles of not only being a mum, a wife and a friend but how much more complicated and stressful it can become when your children need a bit of extra understanding and help.
I also loved how it highlighted how much easier this extra stress can be eased with good support and not ignorance.
Hopefully, more people will read this and before giving that little tut, or a funny look or using the 'back in my day' comments they will be a bit more mindful and supportive.

I really hope more stories like this are written and i look forward to more books from Katy in the future.
Id love to hear how Lucy, Ed and their boys lives progress now that they have gone home and also how Charlie copes with being a mum.

I read and enjoyed M is for Mummy so I was keen to catch up with Lucy and particularly Stanley. As a teacher, I’ve seen a few Stanleys in my time but this gives you an alternative perspective - what’s it really like at home? This is entertaining and humorous but really doesn’t pull any punches. For those who are getting to grips with an autistic child, it shows that there are many moments of joy as well as despair.
The other story is of course the stress of the world of the professional musician and performer - forget the glamour!
I won’t give the ending away but Lucy makes absolutely the right choice for the sake of all the family, herself included. Thank you to #netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy. 100% recommended read.

After reading and loving m is for Mummy by Katy Cox. I knew I had to read the mother load and I was instantly transported back into the world of lucy and her family. The writing is so familiar and I think all women can relate to the ups and downs. This book is so funny and touching.

The Mother Load is a brilliant sequel to Katy Cox's M is for Mummy. She has a brilliant and relatable way of writing about coping with motherhood, career and marriage. Dealing with a son and a husband with autism and navigating life with an intrusive all encompassing mother in law.
I couldn't put it down after picking it up. I can't wait for the next one.

Cellist Alice is juggling her music career with motherhood  to two young boys, one of whom has recently been diagnosed as autistic. Husband Ed is a talented guitarist but with his extreme anxiety and tendancy to shutdown in difficult situations ( and play with his collection of action men) she suspects  he is also autistic.

Living in London puts them at the heart of the music scene. However, it is also expensive and they live from paycheck to paycheck. As their personal circumstances change they find that finding work performing is becoming increasingly hard to come by and the rejection and unpreditability stressful.

An amusing and frank account of the daily challenges of being a parent, combined with the complexity of neurodiversity. I really liked main character Lucy and hope that there is a sequel as would love to find out what happens next for the family.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a really enjoyable read. Lucy, the narrator, was likeable and engaging, as was the supporting cast.

I’m not a mom yet, and hope to be someday, but it’s always fun to read these relatable reads to know what I’m in for and that I’m not alone! We meet mom Lucy and her journey as mom having an autistic son and husband.I stead of doing what Lucy thinks to help her son adjust a bit more for his upcoming birthday, her husband makes a suggestion that will change the course of their lives forever and might just be the perfect fit! Highly enjoyed this one! The writing was great and the story kept me flipping the pages. I know our readers will love it as well. This is my first a acquisition of a Katy Cox book, but hopefully not my last,

Please tell me this isn't the last we will see of Lucy, Stanley, Jack and Ed. I absolutely adore this family, I loved them in the author's first book, and they have grown on me even more with The Motherload.

Stanley is just adorable and so so intelligent, and I just want to give him a hug, but fear it probably wouldn't be appreciated.

I love seeing how Lucy is doing her best to support both her autistic son and husband. The way she explains to the reader, just how their minds work and thus why she is doing things, or allowing certain behaviours, is eye opening and I'd like to think might help anyone who has newly diagnosed autistics in their lives, to see how they could support their person.

I also really wanted to cause Ed's mother large amounts of harm, as she think she is "helping" Lucy at times, but in reality she is in denial as to the fact autism even exists let lone how to support loved ones with it.

I felt for Stanley as he is starting school, and clearly not a fan of it. The school seem to be trying to help him, and I did like his teacher.

There is humour, family, fun and it's a novel that completely absorbed me, I was immersed in Lucy's life and was curious to see just what would happen next, as I was enjoying my time spent with them all so much.

I just hope that this will have at least one more book in the series, as with the way it has ended, I feel like there is a good set up for another story, but even if there isn't, it is certainly a complete and satisfying ending.

Thank you to Corvus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book! My first time reading Katy Cox and I realise I kissed the first in the series but omg I absolutely loved all of the characters I love how much this book raises awareness for autism and it was an absolute joy to read. I love reading relatable parenting books and this one made me smile and tear up a few times. Can't wait to read the first one.

The idea that motherhood gets easier as the kids get older is one we've all heard but the reality is often different, especially if you have a child with additional needs. This book is brutally honest - its not an easy read but there is comfort in knowing that being a mother is so hard for all of us and even harder when your child has special needs. Funny, uplifting and realistic, yet hopeful too - a very good read.

As soon as I saw The Mother Load on Netgalley I had to request it! I was sent M is For Mummy last year and I absolutely loved it! It was a funny and relatable look at motherhood whilst also looking at the challenges being the parent of an autistic child can bring.

The Mother Load picks up where the first book left off. Stanley has his autism diagnosis and has just started school, but he's struggling with the big changes. Lucy, his mother, is frazzled between trying to meet his needs along with her younger son Jack and her husband Ed who has his own issues to face.

I loved this book just as much as the first. Whilst there's no huge plot here, I loved just being a part of their day to day lives. All the characters are fun to read about and it's a really entertaining book that had me laughing out loud in places and gave me a few happy tears at the end.

It's rare for me to be drawn to any book that is described as lighthearted and easy to read so it says a lot that I'm hoping for a third book in this series!

I enjoyed The M-Word, so getting to read The Motherload was great!
It hit so many personal notes on so many levels.
Lucy is back with her family of fellow musician husband, Ed, and two boys. She's struggling to build her cellist career again after motherhood, and Ed is trying his hardest to keep things afloat as they navigate the next chapter of parenthood, i.e., starting school.
Alongside her friends Charlie and Jen, with the support of her family, albeit far away in Wales, and the sometimes unwanted help of her mother-in-law, Lucy gets through some pretty sticky situations.
I am a teacher, and a Reception one at that, so reading about Stanley, Lucy's 4-year-old son, and his struggles as he fails to settle in school while his obsessions and quirks get more and more pronounced, made me want to hug Lucy.
Autism is a broad spectrum, and it is being diagnosed much more, but still so misunderstood. I applaud how the staff were portrayed, as that is a daily scene in most classrooms, as we help parents and children come to terms with the possibility of diagnosis.
Brilliantly done, and I want to know what happens next in Lucy and her family's life!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atlantic and Corvus Books for an ARC.

Brilliant, touching and comic, this is a fantastic look into family life and parenting a child with neurodiversities. Reality isn’t shied away from, but at the same time the characters and the comic asides don’t let it go to deep.

The second book I have read by this author
- I will eagerly be awaiting more.

How to juggle motherhood, work and a husband who is struggling with his own demons. I felt this was a bit too like the first book in its out look in some ways, although I had a lot of sympathy for the subject. I'm glad that it reached the conclusion it did. Not sure many humans would have that much patience!

Another great totally relatable read from Katy cox following on from M is for mummy!
We catch up with Lucy,Ed,Stanley and baby Jack as they struggle on with the monotony of everyday life,juggling work, childcare,bills and Ed and Stanley’s unique foibles and habits!
Things come to a head with Stanley’s behaviour and distress at school and Ed having a breakdown whilst in your in Australia, so a drastic change is needed!
Realisation hits Lucy and aided and abetted by her loving family they up sticks and move and in doing so start to live again!
A real down to earth, humorous, take on family life blemishes and all!
Would highly recommend
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

I wanted to like this one because I enjoyed the first book. However I object to the heroine having to give up her life and career to cater to her husband and boys, all of whom I would have left in a car park at the nearest opportunity.