The Sh!te Before Christmas: From Sunday Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Mammy Banter: Book 2

4.5*Tara has a lot on her plate before child number 4 makes an appearance – a stroppy headstrong teenager, a 4 year old who causes daily calls from his school teacher and a 2 year old who is potty training and copies his not so big brother… and that’s before you mention the misogynistic boss ! He made my skin crawl!A lot happens in Tara’s life during the month of December, not least the arrival of her mother back from Spain. They’re like chalk and cheese, can totally understand Tara’s preference of her dad! Tara takes the bit between her teeth and deals with everything as she knows how… she gets her besties involved but both Cat and Amanda have surprises of their own. These two have their own unique take on life and they are very different which makes for a comical time!Speaking of comical, the wee donkey is just hilarious! The antics Tara and Gemma get him doing made me giggle! But then Jax and Nathan’s reactions are just so sweet, innocent and brilliant. Terry has got this bang on! Her portrayal of these two is just wonderful and at points cringeworthy as a parent but at the same time just down right funny!The Sh!te Before Christmas is a wonderfully entertaining and enjoyable read about chaotic family life in the run up to Christmas. The Gallagher house is totally mad but I loved meeting them. I need to get The Secret Life of an Uncool Mum read. I personally didn’t feel I’d missed out picked up The Sh!te Before Christmas first – I thought it was a standalone if I’m honest! Loved it! Want more from the Gallagher family!!

Absolutely loved reading this book. I read the 1st one & had to get this. My family thought I was mad reading a Christmas book on the beach in Menorca! But it’s such a funny read, so well written & very hard to put down. Highly recommended 10/10

I had to read this as Serena’s first book ‘Secret diary of an uncool mum’ made me laugh out loud the entire way through and I mean seriously giggle my butt off. Although this one isn’t quite as funny for the entire way through it most definitely doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a great book. Tara and family are back with a new baby on the way, a tantruming teen daughter who’s in big trouble at school, a husband who’s becoming more distant, two toddlers with more energy than the electric companies & an estranged mum who rocks up in time for Christmas. Some of the characters grated on me this time with bad attitudes & lack of apologies / repercussions however this was still a feel good Christmas book! I did start to read this in December but I didn’t get chance to finish due to Christmas celebrations so it was a lovely way to finish the Christmas season in the beginning of January as the decorations came down! Funny, Christmassy , festive family feuds and elf on the bloody shelf .. another fab read from Serena!!

Read Serena’s first book and loved it so bought this, her second novel. It did not disappoint. Absolutely loved it. Loved how she brought the characters to life and how relatable they are. Laced with humour and love a fantastic can’t put down book. Definitely recommend.

Lights,easy to read and funny. Loved this book and is relatable to all parents.

Ok, this book was funny and some parts relatable, espically having a teen!However alot of the book I thought was a bit whingy and about her moaning, more than the humorous side of what mum's do at Christmas and the pressures etc, it did highlight the mum pressures, however just made it so whiny and also at tines unrealistic.

I love Mammy Banter and couldn't wait to read this book. It is very very funny and a great story line along with such realistic living of life. Love all the Derry/NI expressions and love that some of the little Jimmy skits have been included. I read to the wee small hours and was so gripped by the story line and interactions I got up early to finish it. Can't wait for the next book!

Really enjoyed this book. Laughed out loud so many times. I related to so much of the book being a mum to teen girls. Definitely going to check out other books by Serena Terry

What a gem this author is. She makes me belly laugh but also sigh in contentment and so many other emotions. Read it.

I constantly fall down the tiktok rabbit hole and end up watching hilarious videos for more time than I want to admit. Every now and then a new tiktoker will turn up on my FYP and hold me captive. Serena Terry is one of those people. When I first watched one of her mommybanter videos I was hooked. I was laughing until I was crying and then went back and watched a TON of her older videos and had a hard time putting my phone down. But after I (very) reluctantly stopped watching I noticed a book on her page. Is it hers? Why yes it looked like it was! And I had to immediately go buy it. If you enjoy “momcoms”, chick lit, and/or humorous women’s fiction novels then this is a must read! It is part of a series and while I didn’t get a chance to read the first one (because I didn’t know) you don’t have to in order to enjoy this one. Her books remind me of a Sophie Kinsella/Marian Keyes mashup, and I highly recommend them! This is a Christmas novel with a lot of humor, a wee bit of dramatics, and a very fun family to read about! I can’t wait to see what she writes in the future and I’m VERY excited to start her first novel!𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:• Hilarious Books• Family Christmas Novels• Funny content creators on tiktok𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved her first book, and am enjoying this one so far (am about half way through). Fortunately I had just finished watching derry girls before reading so could understand the synonyms much better than the first book. 😅The only thing that annoys me is that Nathan seems much younger than 6, other than the fact he is into Roblox, I find the way he communicates is more like that of a 4 year old. As I have a 3, 4 and a 6 year old, and just the way Nathan acts and speaks mainly comes across far more like my 4 year old than my 6 year old. And that is the only thing that has annoyed me slightly about this book.But other than that it is always a great laugh! It’s been a great time filler to get me through my public transport trips to and from work!Thank you!

Feels like a hyped of book for no good reason. Pretty predictable book and to much toilet training involved to try to make it funny.