I laughed throughout this book, recognising many of the stresses of Christmas! Laurie is a mother of two who never gets any peace and quiet, coming up to Christmas she is as busier than ever and does not know how she is going to get through Christmas. That’s when her “perfect” sister in law, Clara, Malc and their two kids turn up to live with them two weeks before Christmas to live with them. Two women stressing about Christmas, dealing with family dramas, the pressure of the looming big day. This is a brutally honest story about how behind every Christmas is a frazzled, multitasking woman who needs friends and wine to get through it all

If you are after a hilarious read this is the one for you. I literally was laughing the whole way through. Even if you are not a mother, this will have your sides splitting. Laurie is a mother of two who never gets any peace and quiet, coming up to Christmas she is as busier than ever and does not know how she is going to get through Christmas. Parents will be able to relate, Christmas is about spending time with the family and making it fun for everyone. It is just one day remember. I thought it was so funny and light hearted. This is going to be a hit.

i couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. i mean someone swears on the front cover how could you not be intrigued. especially around the Christmas season. because i think we all have felt like saying that title out loud more than once. how many of us think, wish or say we are going to say that title. that they just let it all go and not live up to the appalling standards society, social media and ourselves no weigh upon us. so to live through someone else, well bring it on.
Laurie is definitely one such woman. she is herself overwhelmed by what is expected of her and the Christmas she puts on. and it seems she has it from every angle too. and she can already feel this one brewing. so what does she do? can she really just let it go and soak herself in the chaos?
Holly really does capture so much about Christmas and the expectations carried,lets face, mostly by woman to put on something spectacular. and it is always the load the woman in the family have. like eeeeeverything falls to them and when i say everything the mental load can be the hardest part. but what Holly does is write it with you chuckling and nodding at the same time. she doesn't make us feel depressed about what we have to hold on to. its like someones giving you a talking to whilst hugging you. to see this via Laurie and even the inner Laurie made me smile and also made me want to see this woman just sit and let it go whilst in her pyjamas.
i think its something more and more people are falling into the trap of. stores are having Christmas in their shelves right now. in August! social media is sucking people and yes especially woman into some sort of trad-wife Christmas idea. and influencers play a dangerous, harmful and key role in that by what they are monetising at this time of year. click my link, thought id show you, pictures just curated for the gram, trips and holidays away, gifted £700 calendars. i mean come on!!
so what happens when you really do just bask in the chaos for once? is it possible?
i think many will feel seen with this book. might even think on what they themselves do. and if not. if real life expectations still feel too much at least you feel hugged by this book and someone that gets you.
this book was also for me something i couldn't help but focus on certain parts of it. the incompetence of the man. like, this really needs to stop but depressingly wont and is only increasing right now. this issue goes way deeper and isn't fun.
also the use of alcohol for me was talking of far bigger picture. it became for me something that crossed the line into just drinking lots for the festive and people using drink for those darker reasons that means they actually need help!
it was a great read. ive read alot of the romanticises version of the season and dont think i have touched upon one that just lays it all like this instead.

From start to finish this had me giggling, and nodding and empathising and generally loving every single moment of this.

I love books featuring rather hectic mums that think they need to be perfect when instead they are face with the messy reality of life, and in this instance Christmas!

And Laurie is the master of the motherly internal rant. They were brilliant, and I can imagine women of all ages especially if you have kids, or extended family to stay at Christmas, nodding in total and utter recognition of just about everything Laurie thinks.

She is wonderful and to say for all of her intentions of planning and having a properly organised Christmas, that nothing goes according to the plan she never had time to prepare. She is just barely surviving, and her husband doesn't seem to be much help at all.

Her kids are fun, although like just about any book of this trope, there were a couple of inevitable scenes with far too many bodily fluids for my liking. And they always seem to occur while I'm reading while eating!!

I feel like Laurie could be me if I had ever had kids. I loved how her attitude changes over the course of this book, especially towards the big day itself but also towards "Perfect Clara" her sister in law.

This is easily one of the best books I've read for a while, and should be a must read on festive TBRs for this year.

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