The Scary Mommy Book Review

Do you frame every scribble that comes home from school? Fashion Dora the Explorer out of whole grain bread for your child’s lunch? Sob at the end of summer break because it means time away from your child?

Then Jill Smokler’s debut book of essays Confessions of a Scary Mommy is NOT for you. Everyone else? I’ve found you the ONLY parenting book that doesn’t sugarcoat pregnancy, caring for infants, toddlers, and everything else about having children.

Jill’s essays are laugh-out-loud funny. And I don’t mean the cutesy version of motherhood funny like “oh, it’s hysterical that you pee a lot when you’re pregnant.” Jill avoids that surface nonsense you see in other so-called “honest” takes on the motherhood experience. It’s What’s to Expect When You’re Expecting on Xanax chased with a bottle of Chardonnay. Except maybe that would make you pass out, but you get what I’m saying.

Jill’s essays are real, brave, and they give us permission to stop taking our parenting “selves” so damn seriously. If you read Jill’s wildly popular blog, then you know she’s masterful at finding the humor in the insane expectations of parents today. The book is the same Jill, only better because we get more of her.

Jill’s take on everything from birthday parties to family “vacations” is a refreshing break from the Martha Stewart-fication of motherhood and “keeping house.” For all you Pinterest users, just check out the names of her boards for a taste of Jill’s ability to cut through the bull. Speaking of Pinterest, her post “Pin This” about erasing her account is one of my favorites on her site. (She eventually caved, but if you’re overwhelmed by the perfection on Pinterest you will LOVE the post.)

And because I owe Jill BIG TIME for giving me my first big shot at the blogging experience (back when my blog had a different name, and I was still a mom of “only” three) and even a second shot with her insanely large audience, I’m pre-ordering copies for TWO of my readers. I also just love the book that much and I want everyone to read it!

Disclosure: I received a free (and autographed–yup!) copy of Jill’s book. But I wouldn’t review it if I didn’t love it. I would just pretend that it got lost in the mail or destroyed by my kids. 

Affiliate links to Amazon or Bookshop.org could result in a small commission to me.


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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

64 Responses

  1. Oh, this sounds like a great book! The kind of book I’d love to read. 🙂 (In part to dissect and figure out how to write about motherhood in such a funny, readable way myself!) I’m tweeting and FBing this giveaway too. 🙂

    1. I put a link in the post to where Jill explains the giveaways she’s doing for pre-ordering. It’ll be at your door on April 3rd!

      Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse any errors.

  2. Ooh, as someone still childless but hoping to start trying soon and totally aware that I am ENCHANTED with the idea of motherhood… I think I could use a hilarious snap back to reality. 😛

  3. Nine, you didn’t have to ask me twice. I’ve already posted this on Facebook and Jill’s lovely face came up on top of the post. Go ahead and give the old granny a good laugh. You can add me to your drawing since I can always snicker at what was once ain’t no more. Done and did that and glad they are grown and gone 🙂 There I said what most granny’s, bubbies, nonnas and other loving souls are afraid to say. Loved having them (maybe) loved whoever invented sleep away camp and college boarding and loved when they took all their “stuff” out of the closets and made messes in their own places :):) Thanks so muchfor this and for introducing Jill.

  4. I linked this post on Twitter. It sounds like a good book to give to my sister. She just told us on Sunday that she’s pregnant with her first kid. She needs a taste of what to expect. =)

  5. Nina it sounds like a great book. I tweeted your post, so add me to the drawing please. — Signed Not a Martha Stewart and not sure I could live up to the coolness of a Scary Mommy

    P.S. Thanks to WordPress changes, I’m having to do extra work to link to my blog when I comment. Everytime I think – “It would be so much easier to sign in with Twitter.” It strikes me that you would wonder why I sign in with Twitter and not my blog, because that’s what I really want to do. So, I’m taking the extra step to make sure my blog is linked. (Fingers crossed it worked). Honest, no Xanax or Chardonnay involved in this comment. So that might make it extra special sad. 🙂

  6. I want a copy!! I always enjoy what you write about on your blog!!
    Allison
    PS I posted the link on my facebook page!!!

  7. I’m excited for her book! Put me in the drawing please! I don’t cut sandwiches into Dora shape, but I do use other cookie cutter patterns! I think I really need to read it!

  8. I heard about the Scary Mommy blog recently in a magazine and was enthralled. My sister is raising her first, now a toddler, and there are days when the momentum of all she deals with (ex. teaching kindergartners all day!) and then coming home to have to cook dinner, do homework, spend time with a 3 year old who loves playing the same make believe game over and over and over and over and over and over…and over, well, I thought this site would be perfect!

    I’m thrilled to hear it’s now a book and not in the least shocked that I’d learn about it on your site, Nina! Awesome!!! Please put me in for a copy and consider this blog tweeted! 😀

    1. Thanks! You have the best FB community. I haven’t started a “writer” page. It makes me nervous . . . like someone will say “a writer of what?” That’s probably a post of its own waiting to happen.

        1. I haven’t taken the leap to make a fan page/writer page either…
          I already feel like I’m attached to my sanity by a thin (thin!) thread.

          And I only have half the babies Nina does.

  9. I put link on my facebook which is diff name, plus I retweeted you on twitter. I may be an empty nester now, however I know I would get some belly laughs from this book, would SO LOVE IT!!

  10. I’m so tired of all the “isn’t life wonderful with kids” books that are out there. Of course, I have to keep my blogging tame since I’m a life coach and all, but I’m all about honesty. I spent the first 8 years or so of my oldest daughter’s life wanting to write a book warning parents of how it really is to have a kid (I think you read that post). Anyway…I look forward to winning a copy (hehe), and if not, I’ll just have to pre-order. I’ll be tweeting this, so I have even more chances to win. yay!!

  11. Surely a new mom who is juggling a nursing child while writing this gets a double shot at Scary Mommy, right? One can always hope….Great review, Nina. I want to read this book regardless if I win it or not!

  12. Off to tweet about you and Jill. I think she’s simply fabulous and I had no idea she’d been a big supporter of you from the get-go which makes me like her even more.

    Go, ladies. Go!

  13. What a great review of a great-sounding book! What’s not to love about honest, funny takes on parenting. I’m also really impressed by the way Jill has built her blog and created a writing career. She’s an inspiration!

  14. Count me in for the giveaway! Refreshing take on motherhood–a place where we are just too hard on ourselves.

  15. Hi Nina! I just wanted to thank you for being so generous with your info about blogging and twitter as a new one to the blogging world I find it welcoming and overwhelming at the same time . I just love your practical and enticing approach. Thank you again for all your tips! Michelle

  16. As the only parent not video-taping the ONE song that the third grade sang at the Friday assembly earlier today, I thought “there must be other moms just like me.”

    And yes — posted on Twitter and FB.

  17. JILL SMOKLER ROCKS MY SOCKS!!! Not only is she witty, she is our GRAND SCARY MOMMY!! LOVE YA JILL!!!! Mean it

  18. I have bought 3 copies so far, shared this on my fb and twitter. So I will forgo winning the book.

  19. Nina, I love a giveaway as much as the next girl, but I’m on my way to preorder right now!! This sounds exactly like my kind of book!! FYI – I’m new over here – friend of Renee!! Just subscribed so I don’t miss a word!! Thanks!!

    1. On behalf of Jill, I know she appreciates any pre-orders. The book publishing world is a crazy business model (as you well know–already have been on your blog) and the pre-ordering MATTERS so much for numbers, ranking etc. Love the cover of your book–the color version like your daughter suggested. 🙂

      Stop by my blog: https://ninabadzin.com Follow me on Twitter: @NinaBadzin

  20. I’m the last person on earth who would cry at the end of summer break. 🙂 Put my name in the hat please!

  21. Love how she puts it! Nina this is a book I would read, all the things I think but don’t say! Pick me! I am posting this to fb too!

  22. Can’t wait to read this book
    Please enter me and I’ll post to Facebook
    Nina, I’m Jorie and Robby’s cousin and friends with Tobi
    Love reading ur blogs and love ur book recommendations
    Great job
    Thanks

    1. Aly! Of course I know you. (By name at least!) 😉 So glad to hear you like the blog. I really appreciate it. You’re officially entered in the giveaway.

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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I send an email once or twice a month with the latest friendship letters, podcast episodes, book reviews, recipes, and more.

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