Book Review - Picture Perfect by Laurie Ellingham

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Title: Picture Perfect

Author: Laurie Ellingham

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion Dash

Publication Date: 19th January 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

To her ten thousand Instagram followers, Becca has the perfect life: three beautiful children, a gorgeous house, a successful husband and a thriving interior design business... But in unfiltered reality, Becca's life is just one giant mess. Her children are completely out of control and her marriage is crumbling.

With the summer holidays looming, Becca is horrified to discover that she must spend nine weeks alone with her unruly children. Nine weeks of complete mayhem!

In despair, Becca reaches out to social media influencer - the Toddler Tamer. Could she be the one to save the summer... and the whole family?

Hilarious, true to life and totally relatable, Picture Perfect is the perfect summer read.

I would never like to call children, little monsters, unruly or out of control, but well that is certainly the first impression you get of Olly (8)  and 4 year old twins Matilda and Ben. They seem to have absolutely no respect for their mother, Becca, and on one level it's surprising to read about children that aren't perfect, that are just real - and on the other level, it really does make for a hilarious and entertaining book. 

I couldn't help but smile at lots of their antics, but Becca is at the of her rope, especially when her support systems all abandon her for the school summer holidays.  So she reaches out to The Toddler Tamer, to see if she can help. 

And what a journey The Toddler Tamer (or Sasha as she is actually called), takes Becca and her children on. The best way to describe Sasha and her techniques is to think of Jo Frost and her Super Nanny programmes. I definitely felt that she came from that school of child behaviour management, and as a result there is a massive journey of self development for Becca, as she needs to grow in confidence as a mother. 

Laurie Ellingham writes children very well, I really did grow to love all three of these children,  and their family dynamics.  I have a feeling that parents of young children will really be able to identify with parts of this book, and I could picture everything so clearly. 

It's just an easy feel good entertaining read. I loved it. 

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