Tired and Tested: The Sunday Times Number One bestselling guide to parenthood

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For more summer reading inspiration, take a look at our review of ‘ Champagne at Seven!‘ HOW TO ENTER THE MOTHER HENS BOOK GIVEAWAY Propelled towards internet stardom in 2017 for a mum parody of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’, in just a few years her riotous representation of modern day ‘mumming’ has earned her cult status with over 1.25 million adoring social media fans. Sophie is loved for her down-to-earth, no holds-barred approach to parenting and has had numerous viral videos – including her popular 90s makeover which has been viewed more than 16 million times. She became a household name after her MC Hammer parody ‘Can’t Teach This’ was watched all over the world due its hilarious and very relevant representation of homeschooling during the current pandemic. Winner of the 2020 Funny Women Award for Best Comedy Series, her online videos reach a global audience. Tired and Tested: The Wild Ride Into Parenthood is Sophie’s first book and is published by Harper Collins.

NGL, I was ready to go into full Lorena Bobbitt mode in the first part of the story… I wanted to take Dirty Dom OUT! Don’t even get me started on the other two! (*mumbles* Must think of your blood pressure, Laura!) It did, however, change my outlook on my pregnancy. After my miscarriage and I fell pregnant again it hugely affected my experience. I was really anxious throughout the pregnancy and I hadn’t felt like that first time round. I just couldn’t ease into it. She said: "I've got lots of things in the pipeline. I'm writing a book which encompasses motherhood but it's not all about that. It's about my progression as a 20 something who never wanted to get married with all the joys, highs and lows in between. I've also been approached by several production companies to write for telly so it's all very exciting." Lazy days, crazy nights and child-free hangovers sound like hedonistic heaven – but it turns out you can get into a hell of a lot of trouble on the party island where rules are meant to be broken.I’m not expecting anyone to come away feeling like they’ve learnt anything from my book, that’s not what it’s about. I would like people to come away feeling maybe 10% better about their own parenting abilities and choices. Hopefully they can read it and think ‘yeah, that happened to me too’ or ‘yeah, I felt really alone and isolated after I had a baby’. The book begins at the start of my journey when I was trying to work out what life had in store for me and how kids would fit into that equation. So it goes from thinking about children, to finding the perfect partner to make that jump with and beyond. My mouth dropped open, with an audible ‘No way! I didn’t see that coming!’. The epilogue is a must read, as it puts a lot of problems faced in the book to bed, literally. You will run through a range of emotions reading the book, with more emphasis on laughing out loud. So becareful where you choose to read the book! Mother Hens is perfect for summer reading whilst lounging on the beach or by a pool. Sophie is a great author and the story really does help the reader immerse themselves in the drama, allowing their minds to wandering off to their own escapades. Of which there are plenty!

It was also just so relatable, which I think is what made it so funny, because you can relate to the characters and what they’re going through. I make myself laugh because I've always said to myself, if I ever have another baby, I'm going to be so sensible. I'm going to eat all of my leafy greens. I'm going to be super healthy and on top of my game because I know that's going to help me after the baby's born. No, I've lived a life of beige food. Fast forward 2 years and it is her best fiends hen do in Ibiza. Still in a downward spiral, her friends try their best to fear her up for the mother of all hen dos.Cara Carmichael’s bestie is finally getting hitched, and she’s over the moon because it means one thing… Whoah, they’re going to Ibiza! Mums on Tour: ditching kids, partners and better judgement for a long-weekend of sun, sea, and sex…y support pants. What could possibly go ‘Pete Tong’? Follow the lives and escapades of four life long friends as they embark on the ultimate hedonistic hen party in Ibiza. Leaving behind their children, partners and better judgement for 3 nights of freedom away from motherhood, things do not exactly go to plan. As readers, we get a front row seat to watch their grand plans unravel in spectacular style!

Cara is not having an easy life. Recently divorced from the creepy Dom, she’s left to fend for herself and her two young kids. Dragged to her friend Jen’s hen do, things get crazy fast. Four friends, three nights in Hedonistic Ibiza ending with an unplanned trip to Las Vegas, what could possibly go wrong?

You recently released your book Tired and Tested: The Wild Ride into Parenthood – how does it feel that you’re preparing for another round yourself?

Cara, Jac, Amy and Debs are the Dream Team. From Cara with her nervous colon to Jac with her inside knowledge on HTGAWM add in Queen of the Unfiltered Mouth, Amy (It me!), and rounded off by narcoleptic Debs aka a new mum (aka Miss P is for Power *bleep* #IYKYK). I didn't really know what to fill in on the UCAS form. All my friends were going to be doctors or lawyers and I wasn't clever enough for that, so I thought I'd do PR. I’ve been really anxious about this pregnancy right from the get go. I've been hyper aware of everything. I also had some prenatal testing, I opted to pay for harmony tests, because I was just so anxious.