There are many books on How to be a Mother. But do they ever tell us how it really is? Thankfully, Emily Hourican is about to, via a series of hilarious reminiscences and profound observations. At last, modern mothers everywhere can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Now on baby number 3, Emily has started to wise up to the prettily packaged ideals of perfection that mothers are drip-fed on a daily basis a rose-tinted concoction of Cath Kidston aprons and freshly baked buns. So get ready to reclaim motherhood in all its messiness. Buy this book and say goodbye to guilt. Perfection is so over (thank God).