Cover Image: Playgroups and Prosecco

Playgroups and Prosecco

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Member Reviews

Frankie's story throughout this book is all about friendships at the school gates. She is a single parent to two children and somehow ends up being friends with other mum's in the same situation - It reminded me of the Motherland series where there are two different groups of parents. I remember my children's schooldays being the same kind of parent at the gates. It was funny and warm and true to life.


thank you for the advance copy

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I have previously read and reviewed this book via my blog and Goodreads. Unfortunately due to changing accounts that review was lost, however the star rating remained. I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title

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I know books about mum life are ten a penny now, which is why this has sat in my netgalley queue for a shamefully long time, but I have to say this was a really good example of the genre. It is written in a diary style, a la Bridget Jones, and is very very funny (even to me, a child free 30 something). I loved the main character, single mum Frankie, and her two children. The things the family get up to genuinely had me laughing out loud and reading bits out to hubby on several occasions. I really want to read more of Frankie’s exploits and would love to see a sequel. I wish I had read this sooner and I highly recommend it for fans of ‘honest parenthood’ fiction such as Why Mummy Drinks.

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As a mum of a toddler, and the constant onslaught of perfection is social media I related to the story more then I'd like to admit. I also found it deliciously funny and would recommend to all my mum friends for an enjoyable easy read.

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Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

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I adored this book!

What an honest, down-to-earth read .. and SO FUNNY!

Easy to read, related and hilarious I gobbled this up in two days. It was like a modern day Bridget Jones with children! A must for all parents.

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I loved this book-a perfect way to switch off in these troubled times.It's funny and wise,and probably most women can relate to some of the situations that Frankie finds herself in, as a single mother of two.It really made me laugh and cheered me up.
Recommended.

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I usually go into books like this a bit sceptical - even as a mom of one I rarely recognise the lives that the mothers in these types of books live. They get time to drink and go out? How??? But this drew me with no problem at all. I can certainly recognise the mothers' mafia that harass a moms' life - probably why I don't have time for that drink. But back to the book. I hate to use the word hilarious but this actually did have me laughing out loud, a hard job to do with a miserable sod like me. Plus it's given me an excellent idea for New Year's Eve

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A laugh out loud diary of life as a single mother. The antics of 2 daughters are not just hilarious, but also true to life. How this lady juggles relationships with other mothers, her teenage daughter and the younger sister left me giggling to the end. A really uplifting read!

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A great light hearted read which I would recommend for people who want something slightly humerous and not too serious. Well written.

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This is Jo first book and I loved it. I finished it and wished it had carried on. I was chuckling at quite a few bits.Flo & Jess reminded me of my friends two kids. Frankie was a breath of fresh air as she didn't go around bad mouthing all men. I loved Frankie's relationship with everyone and think everyone needs a Frankie in their life. She cares for people and is genuine and down to earth.i want to write more but don't want to spoil it. I hope Jo writes more

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Playgroups and Prosecco was fun, lighthearted and an absolute joy to read. Full of the prattle of a single mother of two, the tales of wine, Jaffa cakes and amusing anecdotes kept me entertained with each turn of the page. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments and I adored Jo Middleton's writing style. The pacing was spot on - slow in parts but interspersed with incidents, then back to some everyday occurrences. Even the mundane parts were hilarious. Highly recommended and definitely worth five stars!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Penguin Random House - Ebury Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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Great book. Fab storyline and great characters. I really do enjoy these types of reads and this was no exception.

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I so enjoyed this debut and could identify with so much that Frankie faces! This book made me giggle in a very unlady like fashion on numerous occasions and I raced through it. Definitely one to enjoy with a glass of fizz and many Jaffa Cakes!

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Loved it, reminded me of Slummy Mummy and is totally how my life goes on a daily basis! Laugh out loud funny (and I don’t say that lightly) and very “real life” well my life anyway!

The book is served out like diary enteries written by Frankie detailing her daily life/struggles, dating, teenagers, friends, lovers...and other daily life struggles or dramas.

What a great read and one to cheer you up when you’re feeling a bit weary of the daily grind, fantastic book I hope there’s new one out soon!!!!

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I loved this book. What a joy to read. Frankie is a single mum with two daughters, teenager and a toddler. She gets on with her ex-husband very well and they even go on a holiday together. I lover reading this book and I hope one day there will be a sequel.

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Really enjoyable read with some great laugh out loud moments and relatable situations

Will look for more from this author

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Frankie is a co-parent with her ex-husband Ian and their two children Flo (14 going on 25) and Jess (4 and a handful). It is written in a diary format from the POV of Frankie as she tries to juggle motherhood, a shitty boss, disturbing Tinder matches, and her mild addiction to jaffa cakes/prosecco.

I wasn't 100% invested in this book at first, probably because I'm not the primary audience (childless) but that soon changed once I got to know the characters and had more time to binge read. And then I couldn't stop. It reminded me of an adult version of the Georgia Nicholson series. I loved the diary format and how honest/real the incidents were. There was no sugarcoating motherhood that's for sure! Some parts had me laughing out loud, they were brutal and impossible to believe but at the same time I could totally image it happening. It was so well written with a great pace, slow in parts interspersed with an incident, then back to some day-to-day stuff then another corker (usually involving Jess and/or poo/mice/moon cup). Even the mundane parts were hilarious. I also really liked how Ian was a nice guy and they were friends. So many books shit on the ex but this was co-parenting as it should be, and it was so refreshing to see. I would recommend this book to everyone, even if you don't have kids. Hopefully it won't put you off having them in the future!

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Frankie is a single mum of two girls and this tells the story of a year in her life written in the form of a diary. It tells the story of her relationship with her daughters, friendships and rivalries with other mums and her preparing to start dating again. Frankie constantly compares herself to “perfect” mums on Instagram and worries she's not good enough but are those “perfect” mums all they seem?.
Although she has split from her husband they don’t hate each other and they want to be friends, not just for the girls but for each other. There were some genuinely funny bits that had me laughing out loud.

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absolutely brilliant. Frankie is so true to life, the reader can really identify with her character, whether you're a single mum or not. A really hilarious book with numerous laugh out loud moments, I loved it.

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