Holly WainwrightBesprekingen

Not many redeeming features in this rather silly story which attempts to make some sort of moral statement about masculinity

The most ridiculous ending I've ever read½

“How do you decide to leave this whole life you’ve built, this family you’ve made, this home you’ve created? The secrets you’ve told, the fears you’ve shared . . . These children you’ve made. How do you decide to just leave?”

After fourteen years of marriage, Lou has realised she is no longer happy, but she feels she can’t just leave, for the sake of both her unsuspecting husband, Josh, and their young daughters, Stella and Rita, she has to try everything to save it. So Lou decides to give their marriage a year, setting tasks for each month that self help books suggest may help repair the rift between her and her Josh, from having sex every day for a month, to sharing a fun activity, to marriage counselling, before making a final decision.

“I give my marriage a year. Bold. Underlined. I give my marriage a year. Exhale..... I’m going to try everything I can to save my marriage, Lou wrote into her phone. And if it doesn’t work I’m going to let it go. Exhale.”

Told from the alternating perspectives of Lou and Josh, Holly Wainright presents a thoughtful, witty, and poignant portrait of a floundering marriage in I Give My Marriage A Year.

Shifting between the past and present, Wainright sensitively explores the changes in, and the complexities of, a long term marriage, from the carefree bliss of courtship to the irritants, disappointments, compromises, and crises that can erode the foundation of a relationship.

Lou and Josh are well developed characters, whose strengths, flaws and emotions felt authentic. I empathised with both characters, familiar as I am with the ordinary stressors of marriage - finances, parenting, intimacy, housework, and life goals. I felt both Lou and Josh had valid grievances, and though it’s tempting to take sides, I think Wainwright did well to balance the culpability of each in the breakdown of their relationship.

The supporting characters are also well drawn and believable, and contribute effectively to the story. Wainwright shows how the parents’ of Lou and Josh influence the couple’s thoughts about marriage, as well as the experiences of their siblings and friends. Lou’s best friend, Gretchen, provides interesting contrast with her less conventional ideas about relationships. I was also impressed with the author’s realistic portrayal of the children, something many authors struggle with.

Well-written, thought-provoking, and absorbing, though there is plenty of drama and angst to be found in I Give My Marriage A Year, there is also humour and optimism. I quickly found myself invested in the story of Lou and Josh’s marriage, and was never sure if they would reconcile or not, until the last pages.

I couldn't connect at all with any of the characters. Oh, I tried. The chapters were so short and by the time I started to have any form of investment in the character that section focused on, it would switch to someone else. Everyone was forgettable and I just couldn't get into it at all.

Although I'm childless, I am a blogger so I was intrigued by a book about blogging. I have to say that it does feel a bit weird to be blogging about a book about blogging! I really must express my thanks to Holly Wainwright for writing this book as finally readers can see how much work goes into blogging, which is ultimately a hobby. Thankfully, I'm not obsessed with blogging like the three characters in The Mummy Bloggers though!

I love the differences in the characters that Holly Wainwright has created and the surprising links between them. Elle is 'The Stylish Mumma' and I took an instant dislike to her; this is a woman who sees something, wants it and gets it, whether it's someone else's husband or an advertising contract for her blog. It annoyed me that it's clearly all smoke and mirrors with Elle but people follow her and try to emulate her, thinking that her life is perfect because that is the illusion she portrays. Abi is 'The Green Diva' and her strong opinions make her a bit of a target online. Abi tries to be true to her online image but she doesn't always practise what she preaches. Liesel is 'The Working Mum' and the only honest one among them, probably because she works full time and doesn't have time to create a fake persona.

When all three blogs are nominated for the Blog-ahhs, the gloves come off and it's blogger against blogger as they fight for the prize. Some of the tactics used had me in absolute fits of laughter but I also found the falsity rather thought-provoking. It really highlighted the fact that anyone can be anything online - what is actually hiding behind those glossy pouts or the mouthwatering non-wheat, non-dairy cupcakes? Remember that life is 3D; don't believe everything you see on a 2D photograph!

I also thought the trolling aspect was very well done. Abi naturally attracts a lot of trolls with her strong beliefs but it was Liesel that I really felt for. Liesel is just trying to share her thoughts and feelings with others as some kind of validation that she is a good mother, despite the demands of her job. There's always someone out there who will take exception to something that is posted online, but to make that conscious decision to incite negativity and shoot someone down in flames always shocks me. We can't all have the same opinions and healthy debate is fine but it saddens me that it does seem to spiral into hatred quite quickly on social media these days.

It surprised me how much I enjoyed The Mummy Bloggers; it's good lighthearted fun with some thought provoking points. You often see in reviews that this book is perfect for fans of so and so, but I'm going one step further in saying that this book is perfect for anyone who has a social media account; that should cover pretty much everyone, right?

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

How to be Perfect isn’t the title of a self-help book, but rather a novel that is cheeky satire of the whole wellness online influencer movement. You know what I’m talking about – green smoothies, detoxes, forgiveness and endless energy captured in flawless Instagram pics with an inspirational quote. They seem unachievable in your life of rat running and lunch at the desk with whatever you could put together, but there’s an essence of hope that it could be you if you just got it together. In this day and age, who hasn’t clicked on a title that promises to make you happy, healthier and have more time? In this novel, Elle Campbell has taken those wishes and capitalised on it with a blog behind a paywall, social media perfectionist envy and an exclusive, expensive retreat to make the best you.

It’s a smart move and you can’t help but be intrigued by her mind for business. It’s even smarter when you learn of her background (which you will know if you’ve read The Mummy Bloggers – I haven’t, but I felt this novel gave me more than adequate background). Elle’s a fallen blogger who capitalised on fake illness to become a superstar. After being brought down by her rival Abi at a blogger awards nights, she disappeared from screens. But in the background she was plotting and planning. Now she’s using Abi’s daughter to capitalise on her natural cosmetics line and has her ex-husband and children living with Abi. (Elle and Abi just happen to share an ex-husband). Abi is livid, as the chaotic farm lifestyle is wearing away at her current relationship and upcoming wedding. Can Abi get to the bottom of what Elle is doing without ruining her own life?

Throw into the mix Frances, a harried mum whose only solace is Elle’s posts and potions. She’s stretched the family finances beyond their limits to buy the exotic ingredients for Elle’s smoothies and just knows that the answer to all her troubles is a week at Elle’s retreat. But Frances is hiding from her own demons and meeting Elle might cure that, just not in the way she thinks…

How to be Perfect is a fun read with a lot of chaos that makes the book even more amusing. It does cover quite a few serious issues beyond the glossy filtered surface though. Abi is a blogging guru in her own right, but her family life is frenzied. Abi is a character that moves like a bulldozer with no subtlety whatsoever (she gets the best sweary lines in the book) but she fails in looking into the fine detail of the lives of her loved ones. Her heart is in the right place, but it comes out of her mouth as %^&*$^. Throughout the novel, she grows and realises that slowing down is okay. Elle is a character that I am mixed on. I have to admire her business brain and tenacity to get what she wants, but she (like Abi) loses focus on what is truly important. She’s scheming and conniving, but honest with herself about it. When greeted with someone who plays like her, but dirtier, is when she falls apart. Like the other characters, she’s missing out on what’s important to focus on money and clicks. Frances is an excellent contrast to the others, being Mrs Average and the recipient of Abi and Elle’s online images. Her devotion to Elle’s every word begs the question, what are the responsibilities of online influencers? Should things be glossed over (or blatantly lied about) in the pursuit of a particular image? What is social media perfection doing to the self-esteem of those who are reading?

While raising these heavy questions, and looking at other issues like violence and online nudity, How to be Perfect is still a story full of satire and wit. It’s often laugh out loud funny and never fails to be entertaining. I can’t be certain that we’ve seen the last of Elle but I know whatever she does next will not fall into the shadows.

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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