| Title | : | Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0593198891 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780593198896 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 384 |
| Publication | : | First published September 7, 2021 |
Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she's a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.
Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.
Jude and Lauren don't have much in common, but maybe that's why they've been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they've been by each other's sides. But now? They're broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense--move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn't include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes Reviews
-
only reviewing this because it was sent by netgalley last year, and i’m trying to get my shit together over there. cue a lil copy + paste action, here we are:
immediately not my vibe, maybe because i’m not a millennial, maybe because i’m not a mom, maybe because it’s simply not good.
the main characters were grating in a way that i did not anticipate.** with romance/women’s fiction the narrators’ voices are often the first thing that indicates whether i will fuck with a book or not, and unfortunately lauren + jude were…not it for me. i’m assuming they develop over the course of the story, but we got off on the wrong foot and i’m not really interested in making it right.
**in the first 5% alone we’ve already got some “haha quirky” body image/diet comments thrown around, such as jude finding it appropriate to teach her best friend’s five year old daughter to parrot the idea that “carbs are bad” when asked if she wants pancakes? maybe not wholly inaccurate to how women think/speak in our ✨society✨ but it made me instantly dislike jude’s whole “instagram fitness influencer” shtick and is just not a thing i want to read about right now. -
3.5 stars
If you’re looking for a women’s fiction story that focuses on friendship and growth, look no further than Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes. I liked a lot about this one, especially Lauren.
Lauren is a single mom with a five year old daughter and ever since her fiancé cheated on her and broke up with her she’s struggled. It’s not cheap to live in LA and she’s sick of staying with her parents, so she gets a place with her best friend, Jude.
Jude and Lauren have been best friends since elementary school and couldn’t be more different. Jude is an influencer and has the great idea to do a podcast with Lauren. I loved this part of the book. It was the most fun part for sure. I also loved any chapter with Lauren and her daughter. I’ll be honest, I really struggled with every single Jude chapter. I couldn’t relate to her at all and found myself wishing her chapters would hurry up and be over.
I was happy with how it ended overall, I just wish Jude would have been more likable throughout the story and gotten it together a little early. Still, I liked this one!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Nicole Lewis & Jessica Almasy
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Length: 11h 42m -
| |
blog |
tumblr |
ko-fi | |
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes is an exceedingly average chick-lit novel. While I appreciated that it was very much a novel about friendship, as opposed to romance, and that the author does incorporate more serious issues within her otherwise light-hearted story, I found many scenes to be cringey (unintentionally so) and towards the end, things take a soap-opera turn.
This book follows best friends Jude and Lauren. Jude is an influencer who is all about pilates and clean eating. Jude’s mother is a narcissistic former reality-tv star who habitually guilt trips Jude into giving her money and taking part in publicity stunts she’s not keen on doing.
Lauren, who wanted to be a surgeon, works at and has a 5-year-old daughter. After splitting with the father she’s more or less had to raise her daughter on her own. When her ex starts acting like more of a parent, Lauren is initially happy for her daughter. Things change when he decides to file for custody.
Due to their finances, these two bffs decide to move in together, eventually starting a podcast on motherhood.
For the most part, the tone of this novel is cheesy/silly. Our leads have their troubles but the drama affecting their lives never struck me as heavy-going (even when it should have been). Lauren has to deal with her ex trying to get full custody of her daughter, while Jude is trying her hardest to pretend that everything is hunky-dory and that her mother isn’t toxic af.
It just so happens that I found their jargon, hobbies, and interests to be...low-key annoying. We have an overuse of the word mansplaining and feminism as well as a lot of scenes going on about the ‘mommy’ life or wine dates or exercise classes. I just felt wholly disconnected from Jude and Lauren. They were meant to be 28 but boy they could have been in their late thirties and I would have believed it. This novel is very much intended for an American millennial audience, not moi. Scenes that were meant to be cute were in fact cringe. Alexa Martin doesn’t offer any new insights into the realities of being an influencer nor do her mother-daughter relationship feel particularly complex. The 'mommy culture' also just...nope. I do not care for it one bit (i also hated reading about it in Such a Fun Age and Big Little Lies).
Anyway, while I did find much of the story to be somewhat grating (tone-wise), it still managed to be now and again mildly entertaining...and then we near the end and the melodrama commences. I found the author’s portrayal of alcoholism to be surface-level. And it annoyed me that because Jude likes to party and isn’t as straight-laced as Lauren she has to be ‘punished’. I swear that last plot point would have been more suited to a soap-opera. Here it just left a bad taste in my mouth. The author just throws this in and goes over it quite superficially so that things are more or less resolved within a couple of pages. There was something moralistic about this last portion of the story that didn’t sit right with me (not that things like this ever happen...but really? it just had to happen in this story?).
My overall verdict is ‘meh’. I liked the focus on friendship and that the story highlights how the American healthcare system treats Black mothers and just how insidious toxic relationships are. However, as I said above, its attempts at pandering to a millennial audience resulted in some very cringey scenes and the author treats serious issues, such as alcoholism, in a theatrical way. I guess if you are a fan of authors such as Emily Henry you might find this novel more enjoyable than I did. -
I would like to thank Martin for giving me a new phrase that I didn’t know I needed in my life: “Reproduction is dope.” This was really fun yet it still tackled important issues. I thought the story was losing me at certain points but overall I actually enjoyed it. Jude and Lauren’s friendship wasn’t perfect but they were still definitely meant for each other. Also, can I get Jude’s therapist number ?
‼️SPOILERS‼️
Jude’s alcohol intake was really written well. For a minute, I thought it was being made into a joke, but when it started to affect her life drastically, I realized what the author was doing and it was great. Her relationship with her mom was so infuriating. I’m glad she overcame such a toxic relationship.
I also liked that Hudson wasn’t perfect in the beginning. He wasn’t immediately dismissed after his weird, first introduction, but he suddenly became this guy that I liked for Lauren.
Great job Martin! -
Alexa Martin has stepped away from romance and penned a novel that is an homage to women and women's friendships. I absolutely loved every minute of reading this one, even though some parts did give me serious anxiety hoping for the best outcome for the characters.
This is the story of Jude and Lauren, best friends since they were young. The two couldn't be more different--Jude is a white, single social media fitness influencer. She loves the party scene and knows just how to present the best image, even if her life is a mess. Lauren is a Black single mother of five-year-old Adelaide. She dropped out of medical school to have her daughter, but she doesn't regret it because Addie is the center of her world. The two friends move in together and become each other's support system. But even the best laid plans sometimes run into trouble.
I could honestly identify with both characters in many ways. Although there are some cute and funny moments, there are also some explorations of serious issues. From dysfunctional parents to custody issues, alcoholism, racism (both overt and subtle), and the positives and negatives of social media. Although this cover makes the book seem like a light rom com, it's really not. It's about women finding their voices in a multitude of different situations and learning to deal with the past in order to move forward towards a healthy future.
Highly recommended!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
(free review copy) Well DAMN. Alexa Martin earned my undying love and devotion with her sexy football romance series (Playbook series - LOOK IT UP) but she totally swerved into contemporary fiction here and NAILED IT. I adored this friendship and motherhood story so so much. Unique and biting and heartwarming, this journey into single motherhood, lifelong friendship, the influencer world, custody battles, toxic family relationships, alcoholism and the harms caused by racism in America blew me away. Lauren and Jude are the best friends we can all relate to, and you need them in your life ❤️ Also, can their podcast be real please? I’d subscribe in a heartbeat.
-
Super cute but with actual substance. This was a great contemporary fiction story from this author: Love the women supporting women and realness behind the difficulty of being a single mom and navigating toxic family relationships. Definitely recommend on audio and recommend having some mom friends to discuss with.
For the reader who is looking for something funny, real (messy) and empowering. This is contemporary fiction at its best. The story promotes being our true self, the power of therapy and encouraging healthy and trustworthy relationships. I’m looking forward to discussing this with #readingforsanity . -
I am completely honored that I was able to read this book early! I love Alexa Martin. If you are a fan of her Playbook series, just know that this is completely different. Not a romance at all. But a fun (and sometimes challenging story) of friendship, motherhood, and much more! Please preorder because this book is great!
-
This book made me laugh, made me feel seen, and provided an escape into a story of a realistic, loving friendship.
4 things I loved about this book:
⭐️ Lauren - she’s a QUEEN and I adore her. A brilliant, rockstar single mom that also keeps it real? Here for it.
⭐️ The dual perspective helped me get to know the main characters and had very distinct voices - if I zoned out, I could pick up mid chapter and know who I was reading because the MCs are super unique.
⭐️The love interest was sweet, charming, and not too focused on. It was healthy and I love seeing that in books!
⭐️ The emotions that Martin was able to evoke from me 👏🏻 I am not a sensitive reader, but I FELT something when I read this book.
I recommend this book to any mom who needs an escape and wishes she could have a girlfriend there through everything. -
Won via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:).
---
It felt like she could have delved deeper into some things throughout overall I had fun reading this and loved the idea of Lauren/June's podcast.
The closeness of them reminded me of my relationships with my soul-sisters (Introvert Lauren and me would have gotten along)
Thought the ending was rushed a bit but it had me smiling after a stressful week so I gave it points for that:). -
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes was one of my most anticipates reads. I have read and enjoyed all of the author's previous books. So I was beyond excited to see what she would do with women's fiction.
The book takes place in Los Angeles and alternates 1st person POVs between Lauren and Jude (28 year old best friends since childhood).
Lauren is a black single mom who works at an OBGYN's office. Jude is a Pilates instructor/ social media influencer.
I loved everything about this book. I love when there are super smart kids (5 year old Adelaide/Addy is amazing). I love reading about social media influencers (so much fun to see their lives). Both Lauren and Jude's moms have parts in this book. And I was fascinated by each of them. There is some romance but it's definitely not the main focus. But I still adored it.
I really enjoyed the author's sports romance series. But I had no idea what to expect with this book. This book is why women's fiction is my favorite genre! This book is about two women who are best friends. But they are not perfect. This book is emotional. Relevant. Wonderful. Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes is my third 5 star read of 2021. I loved this book so much!
Thanks to Berkley, netgalley and edelweiss for allowing me to read this book! -
There’s a feature I’ve been noticing in a lot of new women’s fiction releases. It’s one where a lot of social media influencing is highlighted, specifically influencers on Instagram. It feels odd reading books that focus around the very platform on which most of my reviews are featured (isn’t it ironic, don’t ya think?), but I guess that means it’s “on trend”, or whatever the kids (clearly not me) are saying these days.
Another commonality I’m seeing in the genre is the focus on females supporting females. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read about a good cat fight as much as anyone else who was raised on trashy talk shows and The Real World. But it’s refreshing to see that behind the cattiness, there is another woman ready to go toe to toe to support her bestie.
In Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes, we meet Jude and Lauren, childhood friends who have always been there for one another. Jude has cultivated an Instagram perfect existence, one she learned how to fake from the best as her own mother is an aging starlet whose time has come and gone.
Meanwhile Lauren has always been the more serious, level headed one of the duo- set on going to medical school and settling down with her fiancé. Then a still not married Lauren discovers she’s pregnant, just around the same time she discovers her fiancé is cheating.So the two women do what they do best- they band together to help the other out.
Acknowledging they are struggling to stay afloat they decide to become roomies with Lauren’s now five year old daughter in tow. But living together as adults isn’t the same as the dream they had as kids. Can Jude’s business savvy help Lauren from losing custody of her daughter? And can Lauren’s sound advice keep Jude from losing herself?
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes, which touching upon the aforementioned social media aspect and female friendship angle, also offers a surprising amount of depth. Neither women’s issues are glossed over and their friendship is tested as a result. Despite its quirky (yet lovable) title, this is a somewhat light hearted read that also really causes you to connect with these characters.
In essence, this book is good AF which totally means awesome forks by the way. Why, what did YOU think it meant? 😉
Believe it or not, this is my first @alexambooks novel, but it won’t be my last! Thanks to @berkleypub, @netgalley and @lovearctually for having me along for the ride on this one which comes out next month! -
4-4.5 stars
Unlike Martin's Playbook series, Mom Jeans & Other Mistakes deviates from romance and appeals to the contemporary crowd. That being said, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It won't be for everyone, and there are definitely a lot of heavy topics addressed here (please check out the CWs).
From the beginning, I really enjoyed the friendship between Lauren and Jude and the dichotomy between their personalities and life situations. Jude is a spontaneous, carefree, and alcohol indulging hotmess. Lauren is an organized, no-nonsense single mom trying to raise a 5 year old daughter while also staving off her douche of an ex. Both women also deal with complicated family dynamics, even though Jude's mother really made me want to come through the pages and slap her.
Now for the serious stuff, I was a bit apprehensive with Jude's alcohol consumption and it highlighting her dependence BUT, Martin does a phenomenal job of navigating this. I don't want to spoil anything, but Jude's character arc is probably my favorite in the story.
Even though there are a lot of heavy topics in this one, there is still a romance component, and I LOVED the way it unfolds.
I am definitely a solidified Alexa Martin fan, and I can't wait for more.
Thank you Berkley Pub for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own. -
Button up those Mom Jeans and settle in for a story! It’s about to get real! 🙌🏼🥂🍾
*
*
This book, THIS book, is precisely why I adore women’s fiction. It’s about being a mom, not being a mom, parental conflict, friendships, a love interest, and yet still manages to be funny, engaging, and completely enjoyable! Jude and Lauren have been friends since the 3rd grade but currently have nothing in common other than the fact that they live together. Annnnnd Lauren’s 5 year old daughter, Adelaide. Jude is an Instagram influencer who has it all, or at least that’s the imagine she portrays in those perfect little squares every day. Lauren is navigating parenthood with her ex, Ben, who is quite literally the worst human ever. At times I wanted to reach through the pages and just kick him in the back of his knees! Ugh! 👊🏼 Anyways, I highly, highly recommend picking this one up! It’s absolutely hilarious! -
4.75⭐️
Loved this book! Juicy, fun, heart wrenching.
TW: custody battle, infidelity, alcoholism, child endangerment
Thank you Berkley Publishing for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
Alexa Martin does it again. I love her books so much and Mom Jeans and other Mistakes is no exception. This is a book that made me FEEL. I was so angry and frustrated along with the characters, feeling the joy of their ups and the devastation of their downs.
This is a book that grabbed me from the first page and definitely one that is a different vibe from Alexa’s previous books. It’s all about female friendship and the relationship between mothers and daughters.
Synopsis:
“Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she’s a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.Jude and Lauren don't have much in common, but maybe that's why they've been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they've been by each other's sides. But now? They’re broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense—move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn't include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Drama—This book is FULL of highs and lows. I loved how high stakes everything felt. It created that “just one more chapter” feeling I crave when reading.
The Characters—Jude, Lauren, and Addy made me so happy. Especially sweet Addy, but I could really related to both Lauren and Jude in how protective they are of their best friend.
The Message—I loved how this book addressed the toxic relationships we can have in our life. Whether that’s from an ex, a parent, a friend or even a substance, the overall message of this book encouraged communication and even therapy. I loved it. It also did a great job in creating healthy relationships between step parents and biological parents.
What Didn’t Work:
Honestly, not much! Maybe some things were resolved a little too easily, but It didn’t bother me much!
Content Warnings:
Custody battle, parental abandonment, toxic parent, toxic ex, alcoholism, child endangerment
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5 -
This is a women's fiction novel about two best friends: Lauren and Jude. Lauren is a single mother and she and her daughter live with Jude. Lauren is in a fight with her ex for custody of her daughter. Jude an influencer with a mother who manipulates her for her own gain. Lauren and Jude decide to start a podcast about Mommying and it takes off.
This story is about soulmates but not the romantic kind. It's about a soul mates who is your best friend and who is your person you turn to when you need support. Sometimes these types of relationships need boundaries and sometimes you need to be able to tell your best friend how they are messing up. Friendships aren't just all fun and cheerleading. It's also about having difficult conversations that you have to have when someone you feel safe with. Lauren and Jude are both going through some major crises in their lives and it causes some major growing pains for their relationship.
Lauren and Jude's sister-like friendships are adorable and heartwarming. Alexa Martin's writing and storytelling is really great in this novel. I don't have kids and I think maybe the focus of child rearing and Lauren's experience with her daughter was why I didn't love it. If you are a parent, I think you will really enjoy this book!
⚠️: alcoholism
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. -
This book. I’m not even sure I have words to explain how much I loved it, but I’ll try. I know it’s hard to try something new, but Alexa Martin nailed it with this book. Lauren and Jude are REAL. They’re relatable in their struggles, and their friendship. I laughed, I cried, I was rooting for them and Addy. Its just a wonderful story of friendship, family, love, and being who you were meant to be.
-
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge Alexa Martin fan and was so excited to read this book, it did not let me down at all.
CW: custody issues, cheating (past relationship), toxic relationship with a parent, death of a parent (past), alcohol abuse, child endangerment, anxiety, discussions of pregnancy complications
This is a fiction with a small romance subplot. But there is romance in the book, it's of a platonic nature. This book is such a beautiful love letter to the many varied relationships that women have with each other. A love letter to female friendships, the relationship of a single mom with her daughter, the relationship women have with their mothers when they're older. There are the caddy women, the women you want to get to know, I loved how the stepmom wasn't a villain but an ally. So many relationships.
Jude and Lauren were both at low points in their lives and needed the other. While Addie was such a sweet child, who sparkled off the page. Lauren's growth throughout the book, gaining her independence after a terrible relationship, her custody battle, finding strength as a parent, and as a woman figuring out the podcast. Even though I'm not a mom I found her so relatable.
And Jude. I completely understood her desire not to burden her friend with her problems and loved the message about how it's not a competition, it's okay to lean on your friends. The importance of therapy, about being authentic as hard as that can be with how social media is. We're all works in progress, we need to set boundaries and take care of ourselves to be better for the people around us.
Alexa Martin continues to be one of my favorite writers and I can't wait to read more from her.
Rating: 5
Steam: 1 -
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes tells the story of two best friends in their late 20s who are leading very different lives. Lauren is a serious and practical single mom and med school drop out who is in a custody battle with her once-absent ex. Jude is a bubbly Instagram influencer and pilates instructor. They've been best friends since 3rd grade and are, by life happenstance, roommates again now as they figure out how to navigate their adult lives, parenting, relationships, and family drama, which they explore by starting a podcast together called Mom Jeans and Martinis.
I enjoyed so much about this book. I loved how real the characters felt and I loved how the book explored serious topics such as parenting, family matters, grief, substance abuse, custody battles, race, and therapy. It touched on themes of reimagining dreams, navigating friendships, and self-healing. The main characters, Lauren and Jude, were beautifully developed - real enough to be approachable and relatable but wonderful enough to be inspirations to readers.
The only things I struggle with in this book was some of the writing style. I don't love things like banter in books, so some of the comments that broke the fourth wall didn't do it for me. I also found the supporting characters a little flat and felt the middle of the books had slower pacing than I'd like.
That being said, I think is was a great read and I'm so happy to have been given the opportunity to read it! -
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes tells the story of two lifelong best friends who are just old enough to be disappointed and disillusioned with how their lives are turning out. Lauren’s husband who cheated on her is now living with another woman and making noises about seeking custody of their daughter. Jude’s father’s death has unsettled her Real Housewives mother whose narcissism is driving her to drink. Their friendship, though, is still intact. Will it survive living together?
It seems to be an elegant solution, moving in together. Jude does a podcat allowing her to be a help to Lauren. It helps Jude, too, as her finances are on the ropes despite her success as an influencer. But Jude never talks about her problems and Lauren cannot afford the smallest mistake with her daughter’s custody on the line.
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes is a lemon drop of a book, a lot of flavor in a little bit of candy. The characters are likable and the writing is clear and fast-paced. I might have cared more, though, if the narrative did not share their every thought. The story is so much inside their heads, what they do almost seems beside the point. This is a book that tells and tells and tells and hardly shows at all. There was little suspense as to whether the boat will right itself in the end because the tone was too breezy for any other resolution than smiles all around. How it gets there and what there is, you have to read to find out, but you know within the first chapter that this will be one of those “all’s well that ends well” books. For me, it was too frothy and insubstantial, but on a hot summer day sitting on the beach, it might be perfect.
I received an e-galley of Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes from the publisher through NetGalley.
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes at Berkley | Penguin Random House
Alexa Martin author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre... -
The women's friendships have always been my favorite part of Alexa Martin's romances (the Lady Mustangs are a delight in her football romance series). So I was excited to see she was branching out into women's fiction, focused on friendships; and this book didn't disappoint. Very appealing! Full review coming for Shelf Awareness.
-
After reading Alexa's Playbook series and getting to know her as a person during a series readathon I hosted on instagram, I just KNEW I had to read this book. While it is a completely different genre, what I love most about Alexa's writing style is her voice, and to me this book was an absolute GEM. As a mom, as someone who values friendship in books just as much as the romance, this book was everything I was expecting from Alexa's incredible writing style and MORE.
I laughed, I cried, I had ALL of the emotions during this read, all while cheering on the author as a friend, but mostly just because I knew how much of this book was HER heart, and everything I love about reading and connecting with authors + readers alike. This book reminded me why I LOVE reading, because no matter what the book is about, one that makes me think, that helps me connect with myself, or relate to a character's issues is a five star read in my opinion, and I just didn't want this one to end.
Jude and Lauren as characters were so REAL and relatable, full of quirks and mistakes that made them beautifully flawed characters that I found enjoyable to read about. It was like finding friends in the book, who joked about
As a mom, I connected with Jude on such a personal level, which came as no surprise because I always feel like Alexa's voice in books is one I would have for myself but in this book especially, it was like she was here in my house, reporting on my life as a mom -- the feelings, the moments of sass from the daughter, how hard being a single mom can be, how crazy even family relationships can be. It's rare to feel like I can be seen in a book character as mom and older millennial as much as I did in this book, and I was totally here for every 90s reference, every struggle.
The character growth in Lauren was something I couldn't get enough of. How hard it can be to struggle while also taking on the weight of others expectations of you, was something I felt SO many readers could identify with, even if their reactions and whys weren't anything like hers as a character. This book just covered so much and I LOVED it. I need more books, especially in women's fiction that I feel like I can be immersed in, that I can imagine the characters being friends, that leaving me feeling hopeful and that others are just as much of a mess as me.
THANK YOU Alexa, for being the absolute gem you are. For writing amazing stories that it is SO clear to me that you wrote, that they're a part of you, and for letting me be lucky enough to read them. I am SO thankful I was given an eARC of this book to read from Berkley Books, and that I was able to host it as a read for @loveARCtually with @_emthebooknerd -
Thank you to Berkley for gifting me a review copy of Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin.
I am a huge Alexa Martin fan! And what’s the one thing she can write even better than sparkling romances? Ride-or-die female friendships that practically jump off the page. Although really, who am I kidding….she could write a shopping list that I wouldn’t be able to put down, she’s a genius.
Lauren Turner has split up with her fiance and moved herself and her five-year-old daughter into a townhouse with her best friend Jude. Jude is an Instagram influencer who just had her dream of starting a pilates studio crushed when her beau ran off with her seed money. The two of them have been friends since the third grade, and have been there for each other through everything….but shit’s about to get real. Can their friendship withstand it?
This book explores female friendships, and mother-daughter relationships in a way that will have your heart aching, but also make you smile and want to call your bestie. I’ll admit there were a few aspects of the story that were so real for me I had a little trouble keeping my anxiety in check. But that’s the beauty of Alexa’s writing, you’ll swear you know these people, and feel as if you are right there with them. -
Mistake is the operative word here.
I knew going in this was women's fiction (and not adult romance) and I probably shouldn't have read this given that I'm not a huge fan of women's fiction. However, I am a sucker for audiobooks with different narrators for different characters so I decided to go for it. Mistake.
To start, I do not like either of the main characters. I find them deeply annoying and I would never want to be friends with either of them. I also had weird feelings about their friendship and thought it wasn't completely healthy even when the book tries to pitch the idea of friendships with your besties being stronger and better than relationships with partners or family. Overall, the tone of this book never matches what's actually going in the story and considering this book has some dark moments dealing with manipulative ex-partners during a custody battle, attempted parental kidnapping and brainwashing, narcissistic abuse from a parent, and alcoholism, the glib tone doesn't work. In addition, the emotional breakthroughs are ultimately effortless for the characters - even at Jude's therapy session, her therapist seems to be the one making breakthroughs for Jude and the actual time we're told Jude has done a lot of work to better herself, this happens off-page. Every time an obstacle appears for the characters, they clear the hurdle with no real worry that they won't get through; there's no realistic sense of suspense, it works out without anyone making an effort. Also I think the "breakup" moment for Lauren and Jude was a bit too catastrophic for a book that again is too glib, and I think Lauren forgives way too easily.
The core of the book is the mommy podcast that Lauren and Jude start because apparently this will play well in family court and help Lauren keep custody of her daughter (a five year old whose biggest tantrum is not wanting to wear shoes sometimes) even though when we finally get scenes of the custody battle the podcast is never ever mentioned. Nonsensical reasons to start the podcast aside, I actually found this weird because since this book only came out in 2021 you'd think the author would be aware that a lot of family YouTubers and mommy bloggers have come under fire for exploiting their children for views and clout on the internet and viewers are beginning to raise concerns that unlike child actors whose earnings are legally protected on their behalf, child YouTubers don't have this same protection so their parents are monetizing their childhoods without consent and then essentially stealing their earnings for themselves. I cannot conceive of how a family court would feel warm and bubbly towards Lauren making herself a mommy influencer, especially as a black woman.
I think the narrators do well to bring their characters to life but this book is a mistake. Easy enough to listen to because there's nothing of substance here. -
4.5/5
The title/cover combo in this one is what initially caught my eye but I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying this one, it was really good!
Lauren and Jude are best friends who are both broke and single so it only makes sense to move in with each other. Jude is a fitness influencer who seems like she has her life together but her reality is far messier. Lauren is a single mom whose life plan went to shit after fiancé left her. I equally liked both women and felt like they were both super authentic and relatable characters. Both women have issues they’re working through and I enjoyed seeing them lean on each other. The dynamic of their friendship was interesting and they end up starting a podcast that was hilarious. My favorite character by far was Lauren’s daughter, Adelaide she was the cutest little kid and both women adored her, seeing the three of them interact was one of the best parts of this one for me. Overall a really fun read about strong women and their friendships, loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 -
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes is a wonderful coming of age book featuring not just one, but two very different heroines! Insta-famous Jude Andrew and her best friend, Lauren Turner decide to move in together along with Lauren's precious little daughter Addy. The character development and growth here is really strong and that is where author Alexa Martin excels. She is also wonderful at putting together scenes in such a way that it seems realistic not to mention funny (or at times painfully sad).
I definitely recommend Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes as it is about our breaking free as women from the past that defines us and the present that tries to control us. It is about little mistakes and big mistakes with the underlying theme of friendship that saves us all.
#MomJeansandOtherMistakes #NetGalley #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BeritTalks #books -
This book sparkles with humor and life, the love the characters have for one another practically bursting off the page. But despite how fun it is to read, Martin does a nice job of not shying away from the messy realities of motherhood, complicated friendships, self-loathing, and addiction. If Jude and Lauren's podcast was real, I would sign up for it immediately.
-
A wonderful example of Contemporary Fiction. The stories of Lauren and Jude feel real and messy and I love how they support each other through the rough spots. A book about growing up and truly learning how to support others while always remembering to take care of oneself first.
I enjoyed this beautiful story about friendship and life. I can easily recommend this to others. -
I am so extremely underwhelmed by this - I knew it wasn't a romance, but even so I expected there to be some of the joy that Martin's previous series had. But despite a pretty cool premise, this was just so incredibly average, and I'm so sad about it because I had high hopes.
-
I was honestly not prepared for how much I would fall in love with Alexa Martin’s new novel Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes. I requested it for review because of the fun title, cute cover, and because I enjoyed my last read from this author, but I’m going to tell you all right now before I break it down any further, this is my new favorite book about female friendships!
The story follows two women, Jude Andrews and Lauren Turner, who have been best friends since the third grade. Jude is a popular social media influencer whose online brand is healthy eating, pilates, and a positive attitude. Her online life, however, doesn’t even remotely resemble her real life, where she has a toxic relationship with her out-of-work celebrity mother and where a bad decision involving the guy she was dating left her with an empty bank account. Lauren isn’t faring much better unfortunately. She had to abandon her dream of becoming a doctor when she unexpectedly got pregnant and even more unexpectedly, when her fiancé decided to dump her and leave her to raise her daughter all alone. Jude and Lauren turn to each other, as they have all their lives, and decide that the solution to their troubles is to move in together and be, as they like to call themselves, “Sister Wives”!
The relationship between Jude and Lauren just really spoke to me. Sure, the book is filled with plenty of laughs and good times, particularly surrounding a fun podcast that Lauren and Jude decide to do together, but at the heart of the story is this truly beautiful friendship. They are each other’s ride-or-die and it shows in everything they do for each other. I especially adored how much their love for each other spilled over to Lauren’s adorable daughter, Addy. Jude would seriously lay down her life for that little girl and it just made me smile from ear to ear every time the two of them interacted.
Although the podcast provides plenty of laughs, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes still has its fair share of more dramatic moments. Jude and Lauren both have personal drama that weighs on them, Lauren in the form of her ex deciding, out of the blue, that he wants full custody of Addy, and Jude in the form of a mom who is little more than a parasite, constantly coming to Jude to beg for money to finance her career comeback. Jude is so used to putting on this happy mask for her social media followers that she tries to do it to Lauren as well, but Lauren sees through her act and forces Jude to stop keeping everything all bottled up.
I really just loved everything about their friendship and about the book as a whole. The book, like Jude and Lauren’s podcast, very realistically explores the ups and downs women, whether they’re moms or not, go through every day and sends the message that we should all support each other. If you’re looking for a book that explores and celebrates the bonds of female friendship and sisterhood, I highly recommend Alexa Martin’s Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
