I enjoyed getting to know more about the Queen Mother. This book was entertaining. I enjoyed the little tidbits about her. Fun read.

I have always been fascinated with the Queen Mother! There were some very interesting tales told about her. My only complaint was that I wish it was a real biography. Nevertheless, it was a short and entertaining read! I recommend this for fans of royalty and would be a great read for King Charles’s coronation!

***** I have received and read an e - ARC from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

The Queen Mother always fascinated me. I think mostly because she reminded me so much of my own great grandmother. Complete with the love of cocktails.

There are some great stories here, many of which I’d never heard before.

I think anyone who has ever held an interest in the monarchy will find this book absolutely delightful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the Queen Mum's life. The anecdotes are entertaining and well-written, and it was fun to learn more about this big personality who rather accidentally ending up Royal.

The Queen Mother’s life spanned over a century and thus can be an overwhelming topic. (William Shawcross’ biography is a time investment for sure…) However, Russell chose 101 different anecdotes from Elizabeth’s life to highlight her wit and levity. She was known by those around her to be charming and lively, but many of her most-defining moments are from the most serious points in her life.

Russell’s wide variety of anecdotes, especially from people that have not been interviewed before, set this biography apart. This is not a chronological retelling of Elizabeth’s life, but rather many different windows into different times in her life. I appreciate that he did go out of his way to find new materials, because reading royal biographies gets repetitive very quickly and DLHAD is a breath of fresh air.

Honestly I didn’t know much about the Queen Mother before this book. The author covers her life in the most amazing way. I was so sad to finish this book. The Queen was an amazing woman (wife, mother, friend, Queen).

I’m really glad I read this. Though now it makes the passing of both Queens the more sad for me.

Fans of Reign and The Crown will enjoy this book. It goes into details about the Royals that most people don’t know. The Queen Mother was actually hilarious and I loved learning more about her. The author was clearly passionate about his subject.

Delightful, mostly anecdotal, biography of the Queen Mother. After a bit of a slow start, the bok is told with lots of humor.

Princess Fuzzypants here: The lady who advised never to turn down an opportunity to sit or to use the lady’s room was clearly someone highly sensible with a wicked sense of humour. That was The Queen Mum. This is not a collection of quips and quotes but a loving biography by someone who clearly admired her. And there was much to be admired.

Not unlike Diana, when she first married Bertie, Elizabeth was derided for being too popular and too adored by the public. She was approachable with the ability to talk to and charm whomever she met. I was quite amazed by the similarities although I suspect by the time Diana was at her zenith, the Queen Mum might have had some different views. She was the breath of fresh air in the stodgy world of Royalty after WWI. She and her husband were well matched and in love. It was, by all accounts, a happy marriage.

Bertie, later George VI, would need her strength and support. She helped him find a way to conquer his stammer. She stood steadfastly by him through his early days as King and throughout WWII. She became the well loved face with which people could connect. And she was there when her daughter became Elizabeth II. She could be feisty and demanding. She could hold a grudge with the best cat, as both The Duke and Duchess of Windsor would learn. She was also sensitive to her own shortcomings but she never let it stand in her way. Her loyalty was unassailable.

The title comes from her fondness for drink and her use of that expression when she wanted to turn the conversation away from a topic she had no wish to discuss. She was a complex woman, often loved or despised, who, for better or worse, would guide the British Royal Family for much of the 20th Century. One of a kind, her like will not be seen again. This book is a lovely testament to her life, ironically coming out so soon after her daughter’s death. Five regal purrs and two paws up.

I've got many uncomfortable feelings about the monarchy but, I heard Gareth Russell on the Savage Lovecast and was fascinated by the history he shared and requested this ARC. It was certainly an interesting read. With 101 anecdotes that span the 101 years of the Queen Mother's life, it was like walking through history through the narrow (euro-centric, aristocratic) window of one person's life. It was also like reading a lot of gossip about a lot of people I had never heard of (and a few I had).

The tone of the writing is lighthearted and conversational, and it gets a bit more sassy as time goes on (not unlike the book's subject.) The format makes it very digestible. I think you could pick it up and skim and read bits and pieces but I did enjoy seeing the story that unfolded over time too.

The author is clearly fond of his subject. It's not without criticism but overall he tells a very flattering story. I did appreciate the considerations raised about the sexism faced by the Queen Mother (and other female members of the royal family) that was often exacerbated by the media. And the author paints quite a scathing (and entertaining) portrait of the abdicated King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson.

Overall, the book was well written and entertaining. I learned some new things and still remain skeptical of all things monarchical.

The Queen Mother seemed like a rad lady. I honestly didn’t realize members of the royal family had this much personality; she was a mess in the best way possible! I want to try her favorite drinky-poo, but I’ll be sure to stick to 1 or 2.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

This book is a totally delightful, humorous, and compelling collection of 101 vignettes about the Queen Mother during her lifetime. One each for the number of years she lived.

I have read lots of books about this fascinating woman and have found them all to show a woman, as it’s been said, as soft as a marshmallow but as strong as iron. She saw her husband as he had to take on the mantle of King of England when his brother abdicated to marry Wallace Simpson.

Elizabeth supported her husband through his stammer that made it difficult for him to give public speeches. His ill health also made it necessary for her to be close by his side. She was unfailing during World War I refusing to leave London to be safe in the countryside. She and their children stayed put to brave the war just as the other people of England did. She believed in solidarity with the people.

Her humor was well-known. She loved meeting people and always showed a genuine interest in them. Singing and dining with friends was such a pleasure for her.

Even after losing her husband when she was just 50-years-old, she maintained her steel strength for the rest of her life. She certainly enjoyed imbibing in cocktails many of which were strong enough to knock over the average person.

I have long admired this wonderful woman and wish I could have met her before she passed away. Along with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, the world has lost two beautiful icons. May God rest their souls.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Charming and witty! 101 stories for 101 years and each were lovely insights to the Queen Mum. She led such an amazing life, spanning decades. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks #NetGalley

“Do Let’s Have Another Drink” is not your normal biography filled with minute details and sometimes tedious filler. This biography of The Queen Mother is told in 101 anecdotes, one fir each year of her life. Mostly humorous, each anecdote gives us a look at The Queen Mother that was usually reserved for her family and friends. Queen Elizabeth was very popular from the moment she married her husband, then the Duke of York. After the infamous abdication in 1936, she was made Queen and her popularity soared. She was known for her wit, sense of humor, her ability to make people feel comfortable, but also able to quickly put someone in their place. The stories are well researched and often came from her staff or friends who witnessed the events.

This is must read for fans of the Royal Family. An easy read and just as informative as a biography twice as thick. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Do Let's Have Another Drink!: The Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother by Gareth Russell is a fabulous work of nonfiction by an amazing author that commemorates the wonderful Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother of Queen Elizabeth II. I absolutely loved it from start to finish.

I have always been a huge fan of the Royal Family, especially Elizabeth Bowes- Lyon, aka Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, and the Queen Consort of King George VI 1936 until his death in 1952. She was a remarkable woman who lived to be 101, and this lovely book commemorates and remembers her life and vivid personality with a collection of quotes, anecdotes, stories, and remembrances. There are footnotes and references added by Mr. Russell to help give scenery by the author as well. The Queen Mother was so much more sassy, witty, spirited, lovely, and tenacious then most give her credit for.

I had such an amazing time reading this book, laughing, chuckling and really enjoying getting a hidden glimpse into the Queen Mother's intriguing and remarkable life.

With the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal family has been in the news once again. While fascination with the royal family rarely wanes, the younger generations tend to grab all the headlines. The Queen Mother, who died in 2002 at the age of 101, led a fascinating life where she encountered many of the well-known people of the day. She, like her daughter, had a great belief in "doing one's duty" and continued to participate in royal duties until just a few months before her death. This book takes a look at her life, decade by decade, to show the woman who tried (not always successfully) to avoid publicity.

I thought from the somewhat comical cover, that the book might be less substantial and focus more on the quips and (perhaps) public gaffs that the Queen Mother was known for. Instead, the book was a very in-depth look at the life of the woman who was born while Queen Victoria was still on the throne and died a century later. Not only are well-known sources quoted, but also people who knew or met the Queen Mother and also private letters and diaries were consulted to form a more rounded picture of the QEII's mum -- warts and all.

Anyone who is interested in the royal family will enjoy reading about the long and mostly happy life of the woman referred to as Buffy (by her siblings) and Cake (by her enemies in society). It was interesting to learn so many details that I hadn't known, such as the fact that the future King George VI had to propose 3 times to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon before she accepted. She was something of an "it girl" and had no interest in giving up her partying lifestyle for a life of duty and being in the public eye. But eventually, true love prevailed, and she and "Bertie" began their lives together. Everything changed when his brother, King Edward VIII, famously renounced the crown to marry Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth never forgave either of them as it meant her shy, anxious husband with the speech impediment was suddenly thrust into a role he had not really been prepared for. Elizabeth's long-standing grudge with the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor (as they became) throughout their lifelong exile in Paris is one of the more interesting events in the book. Neither brother (Kings Edward VIII or George VI) comes across in a very positive light, both being described as not overly bright, quick to throwing temper tantrums, and spoiled. But at least Bertie had the same dedication to the job as his wife did and he was surprisingly successful in his time as king. His somewhat unexpected death would leave his wife to live as a widow for the next 50 years.

There are plenty of funny stories about encounters with the Queen mum, most revolving around her love of a "little drinky-poo" (or twelve) before, during, and after lunch. Many people who had meetings with the Queen mum missed later appointments as she convinced them, quite cheerfully, to just have one more. Her kindness to servants who were employed long after they ceased to be able to perform their duties was also mentioned, as was her willingness to take the blame when things went wrong (so people wouldn't lose their jobs). The criticism of her weight gain was mentioned all throughout the book, but it never seemed to dampen her love of good food and drink, nor dim her cheerful good humor. The book is a fascinating look at the entire twentieth century and events that Elizabeth witnessed first-hand. A particularly poignant scene describes how she was interviewed by a historian about her recollections of Tsar Nicholas II's mother Marie, since Elizabeth was "the only person left alive who remembered her." All in all, a very entertaining book about a formidable woman.

A fun book on Britain's favorite Grandma. A very light and easy read, it is very easy to put down and pick up later. Not your ordinary biography, but fun little facts about the Queen Mom. Also, A great touch making it 101 facts, one fact for each year of her life. A great book for anyone who wants to know about the Queen Mom, without reading a lengthy biography.

This was very interesting and definitely gives insight into who the Queen Mother was. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in royalty or 1900s British history.

A delightful and interesting book. Full of anecdotes and entertaining stories of the Queen Mum.
I highly recommend this.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

4.5 Stars

I've read many books about the Windsors over the decades, but never a biography solely covering Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, known in her unmarried beginnings as Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. When I drank in the cover of this book and its title, I surmised I was getting truly a new spin on the topic in the form of humorous anecdotes about The Queen Mother. But when I first delved into the book my expectations were upended, for this was an actual biography...and a very good one! So at first I was a little disappointed because I was waiting for the punchlines that weren't coming. However, once I switched gears and realized what a wonderful biography I was reading about this historic royal icon, I ploughed through it with delight! The whimsical stories started coming once The Queen Mother was a widow, freed from the responsibilities and limitations her former role of Queen Consort demanded.

Well, she did love to drink! Apparently, she was partial to gin and Dubonnet, but open to other alcoholic concoctions...and she insisted her guests keep getting refills as well! There was one story where a priest came to dine who had to perform a Baptism in a short while, and politely tried to decline a drink refill-but was overruled. He later claimed that he couldn't quite remember doing the Baptism and whether he cited the baby's name correctly during the ceremony. The Queen Mother was very witty, a master at the art of conversation, and loved to eat. One close friend dubbed her "Cake" as a nickname.

Aside from the funny incidents referred to later in the book, the overall biography was top notch and I learned new kernels of information. For instance, in 1966 she had cancer resulting in a temporary colostomy. I never heard this anywhere before! So, the cover of this book is somewhat misleading because this is actually a quality biography with fresh, interesting and yes- often comical anecdotes. So if you're thinking this is some quirky take on The Queen Mother, know that you're in for an exceptionally good biography of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Thank you to the publisher Atria Books for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.