What's the thing you hate most about the one you love? This is the funniest, most acutely-observed novel about marriage and motherhood, children and work that's been seen in years.

Comparison: Jill Mansell, Allison Pearson, Jane Costello
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Synopsis

Mary Gilmour is struggling to cope. Her job is part time but housework is full time, leaving no time at all for her two young sons - let alone herself. For Mary, there is only one thing standing between her and a life of organised contentment: her husband, Joel. Since star charts worked wonders improving their children's behaviour, she commits her unknowing husband to the same fate. A spreadsheet, detailing every dirty tissue, every lost sock, and every wet towel on the bed. Joel has six months to prove his good behaviour outweighs the bad. Or else...

Reviews

'This should be compulsory reading for all working couples with small children, since it encapsulates precisely, but with plenty of humour, the madness of the modern working family'
Sarah Vine, The Times

'The new I Don't Know How She Does It'
Grazia

'I read it, I really enjoyed it, I left it on the stairs.'
John O'Farrell

'Christina Hopkinson is a talented writer with a gift for observational humour and sharp one-liners'
Spectator

'Christina Hopkinson has wittily and very realistically tapped into the zeitgeist - literally the most relevant novel for a working mother since I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson.'
Plum Sykes, author of Bergdorf Blondes

About the Author

Christina Hopkinson is an author and journalist whose work has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, the Times, Grazia and Red magazine. Her first novel, IzobelBrannigan.com was published by Piatkus and was described by the Mirror as 'an insightful debut - witty, wise and worth reading'. She lives in London with her husband and three children. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation