Cookbook writer Grace has two children and another on the way. But her work-away-a lot husband isn’t too keen on adding any more stresses to their life.
Former soapie actress Petra makes some money moderating the Beaches Mums Facebook group but is hoping to start up a co-working space. Meanwhile Shelly has hardly slept since her daughter Serena was born.
One night both women turn up on Grace’s doorstep needing a place to stay and a mothers’ commune (mummune) is formed.
This debut novel set on Sydney’s Northern Beaches offers a whipsmart and witty insight into the pressures of modern-day motherhood from sleep deprivation to posing for the ‘gram. It also poses the question: if it takes a village, does a communal set-up without men provide the answer to women’s prayers?

I first requested this book as my daughters name is Grace. You would be amazed how many books i have read in 5 years with Gracd in the title. I found this one to be first very relatable. How many Mums/Dads/carers dont find themselves under pressure daily? School lunches makes me sweat thinking about them.
Then there is the funny parts of this which were alot!!
It may be fiction but thank you for giving me the feeling of not being alone in this pressure cooker world!

Grace is under pressure. On the surface everything runs smoothly and “looks” good, but underneath her life is all over the place. Her husband is unhelpful, her kids are being raised by her solely, she does all the work and then she falls pregnant, again, awesome…..

Petra is under pressure. Leaving an abusive husband with addiction issues.

Shelley is under pressure. A missing partner/father of her child.

So, what is one to do? Well, start a “Mummune” (thanks should also go to Christine here) and together they will face life’s daily challenges and it will all work out famously. You know, until it doesn’t.

I could feel the anxiety and pressure leaping off the page in this one. I cannot begin to explain the empathy I have for each of the women in this novel. I feel like I have met them and heard their story before.

I easily devoured this story about juggling everything: relationships, friendships, work, kids, breathing, and I would recommend it to those who want to read a fun, feel-good book and those who need a reminder that “instaperfect” isn’t really what you think it is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for the opportunity to read it.

Grace is a mum of two with an Insta perfect life full of organic foods she creates herself and a husband who doesn't at all seem to mind having to travel internationally for work, leaving Grace alone with the kids for long stretches. But all is not perfect behind the scenes, and things become even more tense when Grace falls pregnant again. With her husband away and their marriage in tatters, Grace welcomes two other women (her friend Petra who is leaving her abusive and gambling addicted husband and Shelley who has no idea where the father of her child disappeared to) into her home and they work together in what they initially think is an idyllic "mummune".With the support of her neighbor Christine, Grace's perfect life is shattered in a series of chaotic events. What happens to Grace when she is under pressure? I really enjoyed this novel and felt a lot of empathy for each of the female characters in the text. A great read and a great reminder that not everything we see on social media is as picture perfect as it looks.

🌼 Book Review 🌼

Grace Under Pressure by Tori Haschka
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⚘ A deliciously hilarious, honest and heartfelt portrayal of modern-day motherhood and the saving grace of female friendship. Grace Harkness looks like she has it all - two beautiful children, four cookbooks under her belt and an idyllic beachside home #blessed. But add another baby on the way (oops), a spouse that is nowhere to be seen and a relentless list of things she ‘should’ be doing, and Grace is starting to unravel.
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⚘ This book accurately describes motherhood!! It captures every aspect a mother feels, the fears, the loneliness, the stress to hold it all together, the struggles she goes through every day but also captures the love she has for her children, the friendships made and the strength and vital importance of female friendship.
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⚘ As a mum that admins a mother's group I loved the segments from Grace's best friend, Petra who admins her local mums group! It is scarily accurate!!
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⚘ Grace Under Pressure is a hilarious book and you won't be sorry you picked it up!!