The Other Mother: a memoir for ALL parents (not the smug ones)

Longlisted for the Polari Book Prize 2020

'Hysterical, important, moving, wonderful' - Sara Pascoe

I'm Jen Brister, stand-up comedian, middle-aged adolescent and, more recently, a mum. But not that mum - I'm the other one. Confused? Let's back up a bit. Two years ago, my partner (a woman - we're not solicitors) gave birth to twins. Yes. Yes. Already there's a lot to take in here: gay mums, twins, solicitors... (I know! Believe me, I'm still reeling myself.)

Like every new parent, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. Add 'gay' and 'non-biological' to the mix and what do you get? Not a weird box of detergent, but a panicked beige lesbian desperately googling, 'Will my babies love me?' at 3 a.m.

This is a book for any parent who feels they don't fit the mould of a traditional 2.4 family. Stand-up comedian Jen Brister takes a very funny, very honest look at life as a parent: from IVF awfulness to crying over the pages of sleep training manuals. As 'the other mother' she has the perfect vantage point for us to laugh and cry alongside her.

• Publisher: Vintage Publishing
• ISBN: 9781784709747
• Number of pages: 304
• Weight: 213g
• Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 18 mm