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5 Minutes for Books: This Little Mommy Stayed Home

November 23, 2009 by Guest

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Some people describe the first year after becoming a mom as the craziest time of a woman’s life. I would be one of those people. My own memories seem almost unbelievable after nine years, a vague flurry of tears, laughs, and sleep-deprivation headaches. There’s just something about suddenly having this tiny, helpless human being enter your life that turns the entire world as you once knew it on its head. Perhaps it’s all hormonal, but it’s most definitely real.

In Samantha Wilde’s debut novel This Little Mommy Stayed Home, the first year of motherhood for Joy McGuire features all the usual suspects- a much-maligned flabby post-delivery belly, a rabid pursuit of more than one solid hour of sleep at a time, and the terrifying presence of chunks of hair in her shower drain each morning. But while those things may have been somewhat predictable, the strained marriage, increased challenges with a meddling mother-in-law, and overall transformation of her core identity came as a complete surprise.

The image of new motherhood as a period of frazzled nerves and circles under the eyes isn’t exactly new to contemporary fiction, but there’s something about Joy McGuire that makes her stand out from the crowd. Even when she’s exhausted and confused, she lives in these pages with an ever-present cloud of laughter around her. Her sense of humor is by far her most flattering quality, because while she certainly takes to motherhood, she also begins to behave in ways that confound even her throughout the novel. With a story told in the first person narrative style, it’s often easy to forget that only one perspective is being presented, but even considering this, there are certain people in Joy’s life who are obviously not supporting her in appropriate or reasonably expected ways, providing at least some explanation for the path she finds herself on. By the end of the novel, the reader is left wondering what will happen in Joy’s life once the laughter subsides and the reality she finds before her is finally addressed.

For this still-frazzled mom, This Little Mommy Stayed Home had me laughing out loud before I finished the first paragraph. (Seriously, one little passage about the doctor’s frank and surprising declaration upon completing the post-delivery stitching had me gasping for air. Very, very funny stuff here.) Beyond the clever title and absolutely adorable cover lies an all-too-realistic story about the ways in which life can take some unforeseen twists and turns once two become three.

We’re thrilled to offer two signed copies of This Little Mommy Stayed Home for giveaway! Please leave a comment here to be entered (U.S. only, please).

The winners of All in the Family are #11 Katie, #14 Benita G., and #3 Margaret.

5 Minutes for Books staff reviewer Dawn stays home, still finds herself wondering what happened to her 24 year old self, and tries to keep the humor factor high in her life, especially on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Subscribe to the 5 Minutes for Books feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter. Enter our other giveaways.

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54 Comments

  1. Mia C says

    December 1, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    A copy of this book will be under the Christmas tree for my youngest daughter who is a stay-at-home mother, a professional who left her job to raise her two children, the hardest job she’s ever had (her words, and mine!)

    Reply
  2. Esme says

    November 29, 2009 at 2:17 am

    I have been wanting to read this.

    thanks

    Reply
  3. Julie L says

    November 28, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    I would love to read this book-:)

    Reply
  4. Jen says

    November 28, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    Looks like a great book!

    Reply
  5. Katie says

    November 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    I’ve had my eye on this title for a while now… unfortunately my local library system doesn’t carry the title and purchasing isn’t in my budget right now, so please enter me!

    Reply
  6. Winning Readings says

    November 27, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Would love to read this!

    We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-little-mommy-stayed-home.html

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  7. Megret says

    November 26, 2009 at 9:16 am

    …and receive your email newsletter!

    Reply
  8. Megret says

    November 26, 2009 at 9:15 am

    I also subscribe to your feed…

    Reply
  9. Megret says

    November 26, 2009 at 9:15 am

    This sounds SO good! Love the title. Thanks for the chance…

    Reply
  10. Tracy says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:19 am

    Would love to read this book!
    Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Adele says

    November 25, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    My daughter is a single mom and I am sure this book will help lighten her load by bringing her some laughter.

    Reply
  12. Julie says

    November 25, 2009 at 10:53 am

    Sleep deprived Mommy would love a chance to win this book! Thanks!

    Reply
  13. Lauren V says

    November 25, 2009 at 10:37 am

    I’ve been planning to get this book, would be wonderful to win it!

    Reply
  14. Pink Haird Momma says

    November 24, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    This sounds like a fabulous book. sounds a lot like my first year!!

    Reply
  15. LaVonne Long says

    November 24, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I would love this book! Thanks for the chance to win. 😉

    Reply
  16. Staci A says

    November 24, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Sounds like a great book! I would love to read it!

    Reply
  17. Shari says

    November 24, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    My sister-in-law is about to be a mommy for the second time, and I think she’d really enjoy this book (after I finished it! 😉 )

    Reply
  18. Becky says

    November 24, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    I would love to enter. This sounds like a fun book!

    Reply
  19. Angel B says

    November 24, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    This book sounds great! Right now I am 11 weeks pregnant with our first baby : )

    Reply
  20. Beth C says

    November 24, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    I’d love to read this book. Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Becky M says

    November 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    Sounds like a cute book!

    Reply
  22. Tricia says

    November 24, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    I would love to enter this giveaway, thank you so much!

    Reply
  23. Samantha says

    November 24, 2009 at 10:29 am

    Sounds like another great book!

    Reply
  24. Abi says

    November 24, 2009 at 8:29 am

    I’d love to be entered in this book giveaway. Thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    Reply
  25. Aimee Wade says

    November 23, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    sounds like a great book

    Reply
  26. Benita G . says

    November 23, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    What a great giveaway! This is really a treat.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  27. christy davis says

    November 23, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    sounds cute i’d love to read it!

    Reply
  28. Amy says

    November 23, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    I’d like to give this book to my cousin who’s expecting her first baby.

    Reply
  29. Cassandra says

    November 23, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    Sounds like a great book! I’d love to win a copy.

    Reply
  30. emma says

    November 23, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    My sister would love this – I think she’s finally through enough of the first few years to appreciate the humor.

    Reply
  31. Nicole says

    November 23, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    This sounds like something I’d love to read!

    Reply
  32. Jen N says

    November 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    I would love to win this book. thanks for the great reviews every week! and giveaways,too! 🙂

    artandjen at juno dot com

    Reply
  33. Amy B says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    What a fun read!

    Reply
  34. Hailey says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    Sounds like my kind of book! I hope I win!

    Reply
  35. Jen says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    This sounds like a great read!!!

    Reply
  36. Melissa Nunley says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    This looks like such a cut ebook to read! 🙂

    Reply
  37. Elizabeth says

    November 23, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    looks like a fun and relatable read

    Reply
  38. Michele Judd says

    November 23, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Sounds like a fun read!

    Reply
  39. Dezi Allen says

    November 23, 2009 at 10:57 am

    This would sure be great to read.

    Reply
  40. Buffie says

    November 23, 2009 at 10:48 am

    This book sounds really good. I would love to read it.

    Reply
  41. Rachel Langston says

    November 23, 2009 at 10:34 am

    Who wouldn’t want to read something that helps remind us we are not alone? Please enter me.

    Rachel Langston

    Reply
  42. Traci says

    November 23, 2009 at 10:14 am

    Fabulous review. Looks like a great read.
    Just found your blog via 2Toddlers and Me. I will definitely be back.
    🙂

    Reply
  43. aimee says

    November 23, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Sounds great! I am so excited to have a growing list of books I am excited to read. Thanks!

    Reply
  44. Stephanie J says

    November 23, 2009 at 8:54 am

    this book looks like it is right up my ally!

    Reply
  45. 2 Toddlers and Me says

    November 23, 2009 at 8:40 am

    I’m sold. Great review. I love books about motherhood, especially funny ones as I can always use a good laugh.

    Reply
  46. William says

    November 23, 2009 at 8:03 am

    I’m sure it will be a wonderful book. I would love to give this to my sister.

    Reply
  47. Melissa says

    November 23, 2009 at 7:45 am

    Oooh, this sounds like a great book. I can totally relate to the main character!

    Reply
  48. Charissa Smith says

    November 23, 2009 at 6:37 am

    Sounds like a great book! I have totally been there, done that, got the spit up on T shirt to prove it. Thanks for a great giveaway!

    Charissa

    Reply
  49. StaceyHeartR says

    November 23, 2009 at 5:37 am

    With an eight month old and a twwo year old, I haven’t gotten any book reading time in ages. This sure would hit the spot!

    Reply
  50. edj says

    November 23, 2009 at 4:51 am

    I’m always up for humourous depictions of motherhood! 🙂

    Reply
  51. mona evanochko says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:41 am

    I would love to get this for my Daughters, and future daughter inlaw… Sounds like a great book.

    Reply
  52. debi b says

    November 23, 2009 at 1:12 am

    Sounds like a wonderful book! (would bring back memories from LONG ago for me. LOL)

    Reply
  53. Marj M. says

    November 23, 2009 at 12:15 am

    I would love to give this book to my granddaughter who is due in April with my 1st great grandchild.
    gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

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