AUGUST 2013 - AudioFile
Belly laughs abound in this memoir of birthing and raising children with the support of some very good BFFs. The author's unfiltered complaints and locker-room language will allow moms to free up reactions they normally suppress and be reassured that venting anger, drinking excessively, and bending rules are absolutely necessary to survive being a mom. Knepper’s vocal tone is that of a worldly middle-schooler whose shtick is equal parts chutzpah, self-deprecating honesty, and a bottomless supply of one-liners. Her phrasing of this in-your-face writing makes every sentence clear and understandable. Overall, this is one of the most liberating parenting audios ever made because it validates reactions moms are told not to feel, while celebrating the effort and love they put into raising their children. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
Knepper offers a collection of mostly funny, often irreverent essays on the umbrella subject of how to drink, swear, laugh, and love one's way through motherhood. The collection—derived from her eponymous blog —stalls at the beginning with an over-long introduction and an unfortunate chapter rehashing tired male-female battle lines concerning all things menstrual. Because they're nothing we haven't read before, the sections dealing with PMS, men's view of female friendship (and anatomy), and daily household struggles on the lines of dinner prep don't showcase Knepper's real gift for witty observation. She hits her stride relating one-off incidents, and uses a spice rack of approaches to her sundry domestically-focused topics. The almost absurdist tone of "Focus Girl" feels forced whereas the chapters in which Knepper invokes her son's point-of-view and pens a manic letter on lice on behalf of Everyschool Elementary's principal prove some of her funniest. Overall, Knepper's is an entertaining collection that many a parent may enjoy over a glass of wine (after the kids are in bed). (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Raves for Nicole Knepper
“Nikki has a way of connecting and resonating with moms that is almost magical and pretty much guarantees a bestselling book.”—Jill Smokler, author of Scary Mommy
“Nikki Knepper is one of a kind. She’s a smart, compassionate, gritty, insightful, potty-mouthed, hilarious, fearless, silly, and generous spirit every bit deserving of the enormous online platform she’s grown. I’m a proud fan of Moms Who Drink and Swear, and I can’t wait to read what’s next!”—Julie Haas Brophy, author of Sh*t My Kids Ruined: An A–Z Celebration of Kid-Destruction
“As a mom who despises ‘mommy blogs,’ discovering Nicole Knepper’s writing was almost as sweet as the first time my son let me use the bathroom without him. With her biting sense of humor, Nicole has struck a chord not just with parents, but with anyone interested in answering life’s biggest question, ‘What the fuck?’ She's all at once insightful, touching, and hilarious.”—Natalie Slater, author of Bake and Destroy
“I had this idea in my head about what mommy and daddy bloggers were all about—posts about how wonderful raising children and life with little ones and how every day of parenting was a magical gift, like a glitter-filled fart from a baby unicorn. I wanted nothing to do with those lies. Then I found Nikki and the Moms Who Drink and Swear blog. She is honest about raising kids, being an adult child now in charge of children, and everything that comes with the parenting gig. Nikki is the parent, and writer, I want to be. Plus she smells nice. Not as nice as glittery unicorn farts, but nice.”—Chris Illuminati, author of A**holeology: The Cheat Sheet
“Nicole Knepper has that rare combination of laugh-out-loud humor and genuine intelligence that makes her writing a go-to for parents who need to feel like someone 'gets them.' She invites everyone into the crazy club of parenthood, promising to reassure stressed-out parents that their fears are normal, while allowing them to laugh at their secret thoughts. It is hard to be sensitive and hilarious at the same time, but Nicole truly is both.”—Carrie Goldman, author of Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear
“If Facebook existed when Erma Bombeck was alive and writing bestsellers, she would be Nikki Knepper. Maybe with less drinking and fewer f-bombs.”—Bill Adee, VP Digital Media, Chicago Tribune Media Group
AUGUST 2013 - AudioFile
Belly laughs abound in this memoir of birthing and raising children with the support of some very good BFFs. The author's unfiltered complaints and locker-room language will allow moms to free up reactions they normally suppress and be reassured that venting anger, drinking excessively, and bending rules are absolutely necessary to survive being a mom. Knepper’s vocal tone is that of a worldly middle-schooler whose shtick is equal parts chutzpah, self-deprecating honesty, and a bottomless supply of one-liners. Her phrasing of this in-your-face writing makes every sentence clear and understandable. Overall, this is one of the most liberating parenting audios ever made because it validates reactions moms are told not to feel, while celebrating the effort and love they put into raising their children. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
