Cover Image: Secrets of the Mummy Concierge

Secrets of the Mummy Concierge

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Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this read - although Non Fiction it’s written in a way that is both fun but sharing information of how the business started and what the job has entailed.

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What I like most about Secrets of the Mummy Concierge is the way Tiffany Norris brings together two conflicting worlds. One of them is the shiny universe inhabited by those who enjoy a level of wealth most of us cannot begin to imagine. The other is the gritty, bloodstained world of the delivery room. Childbirth may be rendered almost painless and mother and baby made instantly photogenic, but there’s no way to escape the emotional effect that popping out a tiny human inevitably has on first-time mothers. Norris gently offers advice on how to handle this experience, enlivening the messier bits with some of the most delectable lifestyle gossip I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

When I was offered a copy of Secrets of the Mummy Concierge in return for an honest review, I admit the title confused me. I had a vague impression it was a Hammer Horror spoof about a hotel for vampires and other such creatures. Then I began reading and was instantly captivated by Norris’ accounts of the private lives of the super-rich.

I was enthralled by the efforts some women make to keep the original appearance of their genitals fresh in their partners’ memories. Creating a model of ‘down there’ during pregnancy is one option Norris is asked to assist with. The section entitled ‘embarrassing things every pregnant person worries about (but rarely admits) and how to deal with them’ will give comfort to many.

I recommend Secrets of the Mummy Concierge for excellent advice about contemporary pregnancy and childbirth, enlivened by hilarious fly-on-the-wall gossip that will make the reader laugh out loud.

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In this book the author, Tiffany Norris, tells us her story as a Mummy Concierge – the only one in the UK and maybe even in the world? Who knows… Being a Mummy Concierge means providing services to parents, the new ones, or parents-to-be, or planning parents – whatever, the main thing is, parents – services including helping with planning the pregnancy, organising the gender reveals, all kind of meetings and dates and doctors, and when the baby is here, perhaps even coming up with an unusual name, providing the best medicinal care, organising the best birthdays… Actually, really, think about something, even the most unrealistic, and Tiffany will organize this.

This book was different to what I was expecting. I probably missed the info somehow, but I was hoping for a funny story filled with hilarious baby situations and what I’ve got what a kind of memories. Not necessarily funny. It was more like a guidebook for a mum – to – be or a new mum with some examples and anecdotes– and sure, it’s not the book’s fault that I’ve missed the important part telling me what it is about. Judging on the lovely book cover and skimming the synopsis it simply sounded so promising. I’m not telling you that the book is bad, because it’s not, but it was simply not for me. I had a feeling that the whole idea of Mummy Concierge is forced and it didn’t feel genuine and honest for me, so here we are already, and I was struggling with it. The services are supposed to be for the rich and famous and I think this is probably why it didn’t sit with me, as the demands and problems of some of them were so overdone and absolutely not from this world that for me they felt tasteless, exaggerated and absolutely inappropriate, and I couldn’t understand why there would be someone running around putting up with all the whims? For sure the book left me with a feeling that I’m leading a fullfilled life, with real problems and with no time to be bored, so that’s something positive! For me it was too far from reality, I think.

What exactly is a Mummy Concierge, right? Yes, I was also wondering. Basically, it’s Tiffany, with all the right contacts, there to lead you by the hand in the wild and unknown world of babies and everything that concerns them. No matter if it’s your first baby, or second, or fifth, your wish is Tiffany’s command. Birthday party for your toddler in a castle? Phew. Brain – storming about baby name with the top people out there? Double phew. For Tiffany nothing is impossible. Of course, there are also disadvantages of the job, and I’m not only talking about being on call and available 24/7. Because Tiffany Norris also shows the darker side of motherhood and I much appreciated it, because I also know how it is to have a post – natal depression and the midwife telling a) oh dear, but all the mummies say it’s the best time of their lives (when you’re deep, deep in a dark hole and nothing makes you happy) and b) oh, it’s only a bit of baby – blues (when you’re considering what will happen when you drive your car out of the road). But I also had a feeling that the author tries too much to excuse herself, that she explains too much. That she stills feel bad or guilty? Not sure, but this is what I’ve got from the book, this feeling of trying to explain herself.

I liked the way the author has delivered (hmmm, pun not intended!) the stories to us. No matter how ridiculous the request was, she stayed cool and professional. She made it look so easy, organising a nursery in two days for example, even though some of the tasks were really impossible, and she was never judging her clients, always staying professional. And then there were the other stories, the poignant, sad and tragic ones, that also broke her heart – I think she is simply the right person in the right job, feeling for her clients and being there for them. I think I wouldn’t be able to do this job, I don’t have nerves of steel and never – ending patience – hats off to Tiffany, really. For taking all those requests seriously.

The author also uses the opportunity to tell her own story about her journey to become a mother and it’s not an easy one. It’s filled with pain, insecurity and disappointment. Also being open about post – natal depression and showing that being a mother is not a bed of roses – we all know it in theory, but still such honest and open texts are needed.

Altogether, as much as it was far from reality for me and I couldn’t buy it completely, I appreciated this book on many levels. In the end it is an emotional rollercoaster, showing ups and downs of being a parent – both sides of it, the beautiful one filled with photos and memories of a laughing baby, and the dark one, full of disappointment and uncertainty and pain.

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The book was a joy to read, its pages were filled with joy and sadness as Tiffany set out on her journey as a concierge. Her can do attitude exuded form the pages and her determination to succeed both in the job and as a parent were felt in every word and page. No job was too big or outrageous and she herself was there even when things went tragically wrong for some couples. The book is not only a fun one it also has lots of down to earth suggestions for the new parent that put things in plain terms that will resonate with every reward be they parents or not. Parenthood is one of the most stressful parts of life and anyone who can help make the journey less stressful and hazardous without imprinting their views on it is a must. Tiffany shows that their are choices available and not just those of your family, friends and medical workers. So to all new parents or those planning to be parents i highly recommend you read the book you will be overwhelmed with happy thoughts and positive tips to get you through the most exciting, stressful and traumatic journey. One that does not stop when the child is born but just grows and blossoms as the child does.

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The Mommy Concierge wasn’t something I new existed until I read this book!

Even though there isn’t anything about celebs per se in this, if you like to see how the other deal with pregnancy then this is the book for you.

I enjoyed this book but was left feeling a bit like the ending was cut short. I had that feeling with a couple of the stories she told about clients. Like I wanted to know how she managed to deal with the problem and the outcome but maybe that’s just me.

The tales is this book are mostly shocking and funny although there are some sad bits too.

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I did not even know that such a person existed before I read this book, but it is a niche that Tiffany Norris found and delivered the service of those that could afford, desired. The mummy concierge can be there for even planning how, when and where to conceive. She will arrange anything around the families needs, be it the biggest and best toddler party, with a real castle, to before and after casts of the lady’s birthing bits as a present for the father.

There are incredible highs and devasting lows, from not being able to conceive for medical reasons, to dealing with the tragic loss of a baby, where she has to go in and dismantle the nursery for the parents. Something we have done as a family, but I feel it helped in saying goodbye too for us. I liked how Tiffany opens up about her business and her journey of fertility treatments, failures, hopes and success.

Seeing things now from the parent’s perspective herself will I would think make her brilliant for dealing with situations that occur. She openly talks about the emotional side of motherhood, breastfeeding and her meltdown with post-natal depression. She holds nothing back in the book. It is raw, honest and very moving.


For me, it shows a vulnerable side to a lot of these women that could well have been brought up by nannies themselves, for part of their lives, they seemed quite insecure at making the smallest decisions. Tiffany was always there to guide them, give them choices, and help them fulfil their desires, whether to be bigger and better or even just reassured them that they were doing great.

I think what she is doing is fabulous, there was a need, and she filled it brilliantly. The book is honest, mind-blowing at times, emotional and extremely well written.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

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It sounds like a dream job doesn’t it? Swanning around with the rich and famous, who get whatever they want because money’s no object. Well, oh my goodness, as much as the idea might be be very nice in theory, Tiffany’s job sounds like it would raise my anxiety levels through the roof.

“What exactly is a Mummy Concierge?”, I hear you asking. Well, it’s basically the female definition of ‘A Man With a Plan’. Tiffany has all the best contacts to get you whatever you want when it comes to anything to do with Babies – whether your expecting one (or more), having one, about to have one, or if you have a toddler who just has to have the biggest and best birthday party ever – Tiffany’s your go-to gal! She must have nerves of steel, because dealing with that elite group that just expect absolutely everything to be delivered (‘scuse the pun!) to their high expectations and to meet their excessive needs is a tall order.

And yet … Tiffany’s regales us with stories of the far-fetched demands of her clients in a cool, calm and hilarious way that displays her organised, non-judgmental character. She makes it all seem like a breeze, from ensuring that a newborn’s nursery is 100 percent ship-shape by the time it comes home (when just 2 days before that, the room was a bare shell), to finding the most unique baby name ever, that nobody else has ever even contemplated, let alone used!

However, this confident, unruffled Mummy Concierge also intersperses her tales of excess and abundance with her own story: her journey to motherhood (not a smooth road), and her open disclosure about going through ante-natal depression. Instead of dissuading her from her work, all of these hurdles that Tiffany has overcome have only enhanced the work she does, making her far more understanding and empathetic to what others are going through on their own adventures in parenting!

This is a very different read. It’s thoroughly enjoyable to take a peek into the world of the super-rich, and Tiffany Norris gives us a brief, birds-eye view into that world. Her experiences range from the hilariously funny to the downright outrageous. Some literally made me gasp – I’m not sure whether it was in horror, or sheer gobsmacking shock at the lengths that people will go to when money is no object! But I remained firmly in awe of Tiffany’s ability to pull of some of things she was asked to achieve.

I hope that a sequel is planned as I can’t wait to see what the A-lister parentals will come up with next! This is a 4-star read. Definitely worth reading, especially if you’re planning a grand entrance for your expected offspring!

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