People Like Her by Ellery Lord

This book is a semi-mystery focusing on mommy blogger and icon, Emmy Jackson, her husband, Dan and the mysterious stalker that seeks revenge on for having an ideal life that feeds the insecurities of others. It’s a book about the darker undercurrent of internet fame and the obsessions behind it.

Honestly, no one in this book is a good person. Least of all, Emmy. She is calculating, always thinking of how to best position her brand, get the perfect shot and even use her friend’s stories so she can appear more relatable. She always has her eye on a bigger goal and is so self-satisfied about all she does it is understandable while the stalker wants to bump her off. Her husband does seem like the sane one, trying his best to be a good dad to their children, becoming the most involved when the kids are in danger of being merchendised and used for this sick role play game on instagram and admonishing Emmy’s more selfish actions, but he too ends up getting suckered into the fame game.

As for the stalker, she was the most sympathetic. A bit misguided in her anger, but it was driven by tragedy and really, is just another psuedo-celebrity who pushes advice and junk to further the image of a perfect motherhood, one that just doesn’t exist.

A entertaining mystery-thriller read.

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

Laditan’s book comes from the POV of one of those stay at home moms taken by the perfection of mommy bloggers. Ashley Keller used to be a high paying, martini drinker full time worker until she got laid off. Then she was pregnant and now she is a satisfied stay at home mom. Well. . . not so much. But shes trying her best. That’s why Emily ‘s momstagram/blog/tv show serves as her inspiration. Emily is so patient, so loving, so organic, she’s all Ashley wishes she could be when she’s frustrated by Aubrey’s constant crying at her teething and the fact that she can’t seem to declutter the house. So in hopes for some relaxation and a chance of perfect mommyhood, she signs up for Emily’s Better Mom Bootcamp.

It’s a fun book filled with the hijinks you expect from crafting disasters to being mistaken for a hoarder and some surprisingly sweet mother in law bonding. Emily’s bootcamp seems so obviously a setup for Emily to sell her products so it was kind of frustrating to see Ashley be so enamoured of her but oh well, I guess that’s what happens when you idolize someone that much.

It also has a good thread showing the difficulties, miscommunication and frustration that comes with being a stay at home mom has on the marriage. Plus the big takeaway that being a mother comes with all sorts of double standards and judging from everyone about everything! And yes, the ending is a bit cliche with Ashley realizing no mom is ever that put together and most are lying about their fantastic crafts/cooking/feeling #soblessed about mothering. But it’s still well worth for a light summer read.

Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley

This funny, informative graphic memoir combines the heartfelt with the educational as Lucy Kinsley writes about her own journey through motherhood from her childhood fascination, early education and then real life experience. She provides chapters that demystify common myths like whether or not you can have coffee when pregnant (just one cup once in a while), common superstitions, the history of natal care (the first speculum was made out of a spoon. And the creator was awfully misogynistic too!), anatomy and the multitude of options for concieving and giving birth that our educational systems fail to tell us about.

But it’s not just about education. As I said it is funny (so funny I had to stop eating because I was going to choke if I laughed) yet personal as she gets into the depression she fell into from her miscarriages, sharing her joy when she did get pregnant, the anxiety and denial and her near fatal labor experience when she went into eclampsia (plus all the warning sides leading up to it that the doctor dismissed).

It is a good book going into her experiences while sharing some information we could all be more knowledgable about.