I was provided with a free copy of this book via NetGalley for review purposes. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author.

Being raised by a single mother and being a single mother myself, I was really curious about this book and how the experience of single parenthood as a father differed. It wasn't what I expected with more focus on Zeena's own parenthood journey, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Funny and darkly comedic yet also profound and poignant in the strength of the love present in those bonds...
This is the book I would've wanted to read before becoming a mother. This is the 'true' reality of motherhood with a baby I wish I'd known about (rather than discovering it first-hand while having not a clue, LOL). The author writes with candid humour and with wit yet also with heart, because she wants you to remember you are also a person underneath all this, and you need to also honour that person.
On another level is the beautiful bond between a daughter and her father - I'd have read this book just to catch 'that' story, of a man with a heart of gold who always let love drive his life and his path in raising his kids single-handedly.
This is a book to relish and yes, sometimes it does get cringe-worthy, but frankly, from the trenches of early motherhood, all that is very real and resonates so much!
Read this book before having a baby/when you're even contemplating having a baby - it's well worth it!
*review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley - all opinions are my own honest takes*

Disclosure. This post is a review of an e-book I received for free. All opinions are my own.

I just knew this was going to be a fun read from the opening sentence and I was correct. Let me share that opener with you, it is a quote from Zeena’s beloved papa, a South African-Indian Muslim who brought her and her siblings up as a single parent, juggling working and parenting.

‘You know Zeena, I raised THREE children without any “fancy-pants” book!’

The book skips back and forth between when Zeena was a new mum and the parenting style of her papa, interspersed with motherhood now that Zeena’s children are aged 8 and 6.

It is both humorous and doesn’t leave out the swear words. Never mind the parenting manuals, this is the book for new mums to read. It encompasses plenty of top tips plus a chapter addressing racism in the world of Instagram mumfluencers. Such a fun parenting book.

This is a book from my own publisher that I have downloaded to read. It's a really interesting read, funny, poignant, realistic and very enjoyable.

I was provided with a free copy of this book via NetGalley for review purposes. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author.

This non-fiction is a tongue in cheek, funny guide to motherhood that is influenced by the author's relationship with her father, who raised 3 kids by himself. The advice Zeena Moolla gives is more about not judging people and doing what feels right than it is specific advice. I don't have kids, nor do I plan on having any any time soon, but I still really enjoyed this book because her sense of humour is great and it was at times laugh out loud funny.

The author's relationship with her father really shines through and it was such a joy to read about.

I rated this 4/5 stars as I found it to be a teensy bit repetitive at times which is what stops it being a 5 star read. That being said, it's quite short so that wasn't a huge problem.

If you are looking for something that is light hearted and fun but also wholesome and heartwarming, read this book.

I always wanted to read books about motherhood but I never knew where to start. I wanted to get introduced to this experience through the pages of a book before I decide if I ever want myself introduced to it in real life. Finding this book available on NetGalley was THE dream. I couldn't just ignore its existence and go on with my life. I literally started reading it during my finals and I have no regrets.
In this book, Zeena Moola shares with us the intricacies of parenting based both on her and her father's experiences. In these few pages she breaks all the stigma around being a new mom and crushes all the stereotypes society has built over the centuries. She discusses the pre-established image of an ideal mother and an ideal family and she gives so many tips on how to cope with the pressure this image brings to the table. She also gives us so many ideas on how to take care of ourselves and of our marriages to make them survive the drastic change children bring to our lives. My personal favorite part though was the one where she tells us about how gender, race and class influence our experience as a mom. I think this is a really important conversation to have. I also adored how she showed us the impact her father had on her life and all the things she learned from him in every single chapter. I couldn't not admire this man for being the wonderful human being he is despite everything he's been through. I honestly couldn't think of a better introduction to this delicate topic than this raw, funny and brutally honest story of two parents who had it rough in their own way. This book could have been a solid five stars for me was it not for a joke about body hair being a contraceptive and some other parts that made me uncomfortable. It is still worth every second of your time and I highly recommend it.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read - I really felt like a family friend reading this. It was so well written and I feel I learnt so much about the author through her anecdotes. Very funny and perfect for Mums!

Being raised by a single mother, I was curious about "the other side," so to speak. Overall, the stories are great, and I loved the way their relationship is portrayed. I can relate to being raised by my mother, and it was, at times, like looking back into my own life. This would not be my first go-to parenting book, even for single dads or moms, but it's definitely an option that I will keep in the back of my mind.

First up, thank you for allowing me to read this book. Sadly, despite the topic being of interest, the writing style/the voice just wasn't my cup of tea. It was quite funny in the beginning, but in the end it just was too much. Plus, I expected more tips from dad. In the end I didn't finish it.

As a child who was brought up by a single dad from the age of eight, I can completely relate to this book! I found it very funny, laughed along and had sympathy. This is a feel good book, perfect for women, men, single mums. and single dads as well as those who aren't parents but can relate. One I would definitely discuss with others!