Mum on the Run (2011)

When Laura Swan hastily enters the mums race on school sports day, she is terrified. She's not as fit as she used to be and competing against all the other mums - some who are Godzilla-like in their ferocity - is not at all what she wants to do. And it ends in a shameful display of high-waisted underwear and spread legs. Now that it's over Laura wants nothing more than to get her life back - pre-children. Her feelings of unrest aren't helped by the fact that her husband, Jed, doesn't want to touch her and seems a tad bit obsessed with his pretty, young co-worker, Celeste. So, when Laura runs - literally - into the handsome Danny at a coffee shop, things start to look up. He makes her feel like she used to - full of life and vigour. Soon, the two of them are meeting up for clandestine runs in the park on a weekly basis, and Laura sees herself changing from the flabby mum who embarrassed herself and her kids at the school race to a toned and athletic mum who loves life. The only problem is Celeste. What is Laura going to do about her? And how will she win her husband back from the grips of temptation? Whether you have children or not, you surely will be able to relate to Laura and her mid-life crisis. She's funny - hilarious at times - down-to-earth and a true gem. (AS)

Mummy Said the F-Word (2008)

Cait spends her days writing copy about tongue scrapers and pile ointment, and bringing up her three children. Husband Martin has just moved out to live with the water-cooler saleswoman from work who obviously offered such irresistible after-sale service. So when her friend Millie offers her work as the agony aunt of an up-market parenting magazine Bambino, Cait wonders how anyone with her problems can possibly advise others. But she soon finds she enjoys the work, especially when a mystery single father, only known as R, starts emailing. An entertaining and refreshingly honest look into the mayhem and magic that life as a single mum entails. You'll want to keep reading to get the f-word (final word) on who R is and whether he's the one for her.

Lucky Girl (2006)

Music teacher and flute player Stella Moon's childhood was overshadowed by her famous and absent father and marred by the death of the mother she adored. She chooses to live a safe and non-chaotic grown-up life, trying to remove herself as much as possible from her upbringing and where possible, from her father, who continues to be a has-been TV star who makes infrequent comebacks. Stella's static existence is shattered by the introduction of two noisy, nosy, young neighbours who feel free to drop in at anytime, eat her food, mess her tidy house and generally bother her. Her attachment to the girls takes her by surprise. These girls make her less stuffy, more fun and less dull. It's a coming-of-age story where Stella accepts perhaps she is the lucky girl that everyone has called her since childhood. However, the journey is so uneventful, you lose interest along the way. (LF)

Wonderboy (2005)

City girl Ro Skews is miserable when her husband, Marcus, insists that they move from London to the country with their young son, Tod. Ro notices that Marcus is withdrawing and spending many nights on business in London. When Marcus whispers another woman's name in his sleep, Ro begins to question the motives of their move. My favourite part of the novel was the mother and child relationship between Ro and Tod. Tod, a brilliant child with compulsive interests and social awkwardness, would probably be labelled as having Asperger's syndrome. Ro is an overwhelmed protective mother who handles her son's differences with humility and humour. (AO)

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