Jo Middleton, blogger at www.slummysinglemummy.com has written her debut novel “Playgroups & Prosecco: The mis-adventures of a single mum…” and I managed to read all 388 pages in just three days, armed with Jaffa Cakes (why have they reduced them to only 10 in a pack?) and a glass (bottle) of Prosecco
I have to admit with two young girls of my own, finding the time to read is hard or at least I thought it was hard until I started this book. If you find the right book, you can make the time for it and this is one of those books you will not want to put down.
So what is the story about? Without spoiling too much of the plot, Frankie is in her late thirties, has been single for a year and has two children, Jess (3 years old) and Flo (a 14 year old teenager) who she has all week (except Wednesday nights and on alternate weekends). Frankie works at the local museum because her hours work around the children and she’s settling into life in Dorset where her and her ex husband Ian moved to, in a last ditch attempt to stay together (which was obviously very successful…or not). And she absolutely loves Jaffa Cakes and Prosecco and personally I’d like her to jump out of the book and be my friend.
The story follows Frankie making friends with Louise and Sierra in the local Busy Beavers Playgroup and them setting up a WhatsApp group entitled WIB (what could it stand for?) Frankies stalking of @simple_dorset_life and her perfect life on instagram and her attempt to find love on Tinder all whilst riding the waves of being a parent.
The book is perfect for anyone to read, but especially parents as there’s zillions of times (for me at least) where I could laugh and nod in agreement that I too have experienced many of these moments. And you get to feel a sense of relief. “I’m not the only person who does that then…”
Jo’s writing style is funny; having me laugh out loud a number of times (my husband even commented on my little squeals of joy, so I’d read him bits of the book whilst giggling to myself). Between the laughter, the story brings in many upto date issues that parents today face including; worrying that your life isn’t as perfect as the people you see on instagram and being eager for a night to yourself but your (unwilling) child taking until gone 9:30pm to go to sleep.
Set in the form of a diary, this is one diary that will make you laugh from start to finish.
Jo, please get pen to paper again (or finger to keyboard) and get working on a second one. You’re my new favourite modern day author.
Thank you so much for giving me a good giggle!
Playgroups and Prosecco can be purchased on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Playgroups-Prosecco-mis-adventures-single/dp/1529103363, in Asda for £4.50 and in many other book stores including my favourite, Waterstones. It will be the best book you have purchased for a long time.
Disclaimer: I was kindly given a proofread copy, to experience this book before it hit the shelves. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s a great book and perfect to take along on your summer holiday for plenty of giggles.