After the End by Clare Mackintosh

I almost didn't read this. My rule is to stay away from books and movies that have the potential to break my heart, and this book makes no secret of the fact that it's going to rip your heart out of your chest and shatter it into tiny shards.

I'm glad I read it.

That it's loosely based on the author's own experience almost undid me.

I'm glad I read it.

You will be, too.

How to Be Perfect by Holly Wainwright

It would be a mistake to dismiss "How to be perfect" as chick lit for moms. I mean, yeah, it is that, sure, but it's so, so much more.

This book makes you think about all the ways our way of life, advertising and society encourage us to part with money: face creams, yoga clothes, food supplements, "miracle" ingredients, perfect houses, perfect furniture, health retreats... and daycare for our children so that we can go back to work in order to afford it all.

This book gives you permission to parent your way: hippy, natural, bottle and formula, electronics, whatever works best, or whatever works least badly.

This books shows you that life is far from perfect, and that it's still ok, even when your teenage daughter is naked online.

(BTW, it's a sequel, but I read it as a stand-alone.)