Cover Image: Instamom

Instamom

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Member Reviews

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed the style of writing. Influencers are very much apart of today's society as well as people who are childless by choice. Chantel Guertin was able to fully write about these topics in a beautiful love story with twists along the way. Could falling in love give Kit the courage to change her mind and fall in love with Will, even though he had a daughter. I highly recommend this book.

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It was an interesting peek at the influencer lifestyle. Kit who can't cook gets a collaboration with a food company that supplies fresh food and she hires a hot chef to help her make and photograph the food. Said chef is a widower with an 8 year old kid, while Kit is well known for her stance for being childfree and a champion of this choice of lifestyle. Falling fast for Will makes her question her life choices but also creates conflict with the image and community she cultivated over the years and which is her source of income.

As a story about personal growth and moving beyond the superficial image a digital life imposes on us I was all for it. However, I didn't care for Will, as her love interest. He steam-rolled over her plans, wishes and career with impudence. Like demanding that she cannot use her phone at the table as if she was a child and not a working adult whose phone is her job. He does a terrible job of introducing her to the other women in his life, which makes her life difficult while he remains self- righteous and oblivious.

Overall, an interesting realistic and empowering read about choices women are often called to make. Would have loved it better if our hero was less high handed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance copy of Instamom in exchange for my honest review. #Instamom #NetGalley

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Kit Kidding is a famous Instagram influencer where she is paid to promote brands and share her selfies and posts about her child-free life. She has worked hard to promote her brand and support women all across the country who choose to live a child-free life.

Kit meets Will MacGregor at an influencer party when he was the catering chef-where they had a one night stand. As soon as Kit learns his parenting status, Kit vows to put their one-night stand behind her and move on. Sometime later, Kit, who doesn't cook, has a Instagram campaign with Fresh Food Fast, which sends its customers all the ingredients they need to create home-cooked meals, but she needs a chef so Kit's publicist hires Will. For one Instagram shoot, Will brings his daughter-his eight year daughter, Addie. The more Kit is around Will and Addie, the more she's questioning herself and brand of living a child-free life. What does she truly want? Will she have to give up her influencer life? Will her followers hate her? What happen when Will finds out Kit's child-free life? Is this the ultimate deal breaker?

I absolutely loved this book! I laughed out loud! I giggled! I felt the sexual desire dripping off both Kit and Will! I also felt the love of a child take over Kit's heart. I even felt my heart strings be pulled a little. LOVED IT! This is what I want from a Rom Com! What I loved the most was seeing Kit understand who she truly was and what she wanted from herself and life-not what was good for Instagram. That was the icing on the cake.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.

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Such a great read! I loved how the story line kept you hooked throughout the book. The way Kit was portrayed, is very relatable to all women. The journey of growing ! A must read charming book!

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Instamom was a really touching book about a woman who based her entire livelihood, self-confidence, and existence, on one ideology only to discover it might not be who she is after all. So what does she do: Follow her heart regardless of how it will affect the life she's built for herself or remain on the original path despite her misgivings? No spoilers here; you have to read the book to find out! I really felt for Kit (the MC) - there was a lot of growth in her character. I wondered how the author would resolve things, and think she did a nice job balancing both sides of the women with children vs. women without children coin. I do wish that the leading man, Will, had been more flexible and understanding about Kit's choices. While this was touched upon at the end, I would have liked to have seen Kit assert herself sooner. The same goes with some horrible treatment Kit received from other women in this book. I was so angry on Kit's behalf on multiple occasions! That said, I really enjoyed this novel and the author's writing style in general. The details with respect to social media influencers seemed very authentic, which I don't always find to be the case!

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I could not put this book down! A modern dilemma of family, children or living the single life. Kit has all she needs, or does she? Will & his daughter Addie open up another world & soon Kit is reassessing her life and beliefs.
A warm cuddly read with the right amount of sizzle!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Thank you for the advance copy of instamom in exchange for my honest review

I loved this feel good super cute rom-com, I would highly recommend this book, I wanted to call in sick just to keep reading it, I would definitely re-read this book

Kit Kidding is a influencer on instagram, where she gets paid to promote brands and share expertly curated posts about her fun, fabulous, child-free life. Kit likes kids just fine, but she passionately believes that women who choose not to become mothers shouldn’t have to face guilt, or judgement, or really hot chefs who turn out to be single dads.

“Sometimes you can make a decision that’s right at the time, then things change and you realise that maybe you’re missing out on something you never thought you wanted, or even knew existed or you got caught up in a person you think you are, that you’re gliding through everyday, creating what you know people want, but aren’t sure if its what you want”

I loved this book from start to finish, and it really shares a valuable lesson, we only see what people want us to see on their social media platforms that may not be them but their “brand”

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I very much enjoyed this modern take on a love affair between opposites - a young and ״child free” influencer and a single father. I felt invested in their story and kept hoping they would find a way to reconcile their different take on life.

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I'm actually not sure I would have liked this book as much if I weren't in the middle of building my own "influencer" account! Being an influencer or becoming one, ensues absolute ridiculousness that includes putting on the dog and pony show for an invisible crowd. You're selling a square, a picture perfect square. I appreciated how real this book felt, and it was a joy to read a book that brought some light to the smoke screen that is social media. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

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Loved this. Such a super cute rom-com with an important message thrown in to boot.

Kit Kidding is a popular influencer in Toronto and her image is based heavily on her choice to not have children. She inspires women to be comfortable with this choice and how their choices to stay child-free should come without judgement or shame. So you can imagine how thrown for a loop she is when she falls for a guy who has a kid. She clearly needs to keep this off her social media feed, what would it do to her brand? Is it time for a re-brand?

This was quirky and fun! The issue of the judgement some women face for making this choice is a real life problem. Not to mention all the pressures women feel about all facets of their lives and the needs to project an instagram-worthy life at all times no matter how realistic. It was nice to see it tackled in a fiction novel in this way. Kit was great and it was great to watch her character grow and evolve as she started to realize what made her happiest in life.

Fun, cute, quick and easy - the perfect summer read.

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I reallly loved Chantel's book Stook in Downard Dog - in fact, this is one of the vrey limited number of books I have reread over and over.

Ever since then though, I have had issues with this author's book.s and find them a tad on the vanilla side - this book is no exemption.

Where was the cute? This book was just boring.

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So I always thought what could be better than having a ton of instagram followers and getting all these sponsorships and free items! Well now I know what could be better and I already have it, a wonderful loving relationship and some sweet kiddos! I loved everything about this book. I adored Kit, Will, and Addie and thought the other side characters were interesting too. I could definitely see a sequel to this as I want to know more about the book store, Kit's dad and his relationship, and Gillian!

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Oh how this book hit the nail on the head when it comes to all things Instagram and being an "influencer". I was sucked in right from the beginning when it started with Kit meeting Will at an event & their chemistry being something very special. This book is a cute beach read, definitely predictable but a really great story on how you can fall in love, change your mind and follow your dreams. I also recently lost my father, so Kit talking about her mother and missing her a lot hit home for me. I definitely recommend.

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I am seeing all the love for this book and feeling a little perplexed. I don't think it was particularly good at the meet cute, the dilemma, or the resolution. I thought Kit was obnoxious and didn't really have any redeeming qualities. When the lightbulb moment happens, it was a little too late for it to change my mind about her being a bit of a pain in the arse.

The benefits of the book is that it was short and snappy, written well and whilst predictable for this genre, it was at least paced well.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book.
#NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #Instamom #ChantelGuertin
This book was a wonderful and charming rom-com. It tells the story of Kit Kidding. She's an instagram influencer who is single, and childless. She describes it as “childfree” and proud of it. Nothing against kids, they’re just not for her. So, naturally, she falls in love with a single father. Should she choese him, she will become an “Instamom”!
What a cute book! I wanted to hang out with Kit and banter with Will right along with her. This was a very relatable story for me. Kit embodied a lot of the things a lot of women feel. She’s commitment free and living it up. Her job as an influencer often sends her to glamorous and fun places full of free swag. She’s free to see any man she would like...until she meets Will. This story is sweet and the characters are likable. This is a fun story with an undercurrent of women’s choices and the expectations placed on them. I enjoyed the way Ms. Guertin wrote.
I highly recommend this feel good romantic comedy.

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I identified so much with Kit in Instamom. It is such a terrific read. Kit is very vocal about not wanting children and being a social influencer promoting a voice for women who choose not to have children. What I liked the most about the characters is they all were real and believable. I did wonder how the author would reconcile the controversy between Kit’s profession and Will’s personal life. A lot of transforming is done in the story that is very relatable. Women who choose not to be mothers are so often labeled by society. Some women are not maternal and there is nothing wrong with not having kids. I also loved the role books played in Kit’s life. I laughed quite a bit while reading this story, especially the scene in the airport. Kit has book stashed everywhere, like I do, but she did house them in one place that I don’t, but I don’t want to give away that surprise. It was a pleasure to read this book. .

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This book is about a world that is strange to me and many people my age. Influencers? Instagram? Instant sex? Many of these concepts are new to readers my age. I don’t know if the people in my book clubs will like this.

Thank you Netgalley for this look into the new world.

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Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy.

I became so invested in the characters early on in the read, following Kit Kidding aka Kitwithnokids and her interactions with single father Will. I loved the interworkings of Kit and how she had to process her feelings all while deciding if she wants to maintain her "brand". It became evident that it was a big struggle for Kit to accept her feelings and how she wanted to navigate her influencer career vs her personal life. Loved the progression and outcome!

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I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I squealed a little bit with excitement when I realized the book takes place in my home town- Toronto. I loved all the reference about Jimmy's Coffee, Trinity Bellwoods, CN Tower, Susur Lee, Central Island, Kensington Market, Graffiti Alley, etc.

I also love reading about the influencer lifestyle, such as she gets paid to promote Fresh Food Fast (Hello Fresh? ) when she can't cook at all, and have to hire a chef to help her make and photograph the food. She gets tons of vouchers, when everything's sponsored, including her free cleaning service.

I didn't like Will, I thought he was very self- centred, self- righteous and imposing his ideas on her way too much. He insist they go to the Island, for a work related photo shoot, and brings out his kid daughter under the pretense that he has a photographer. He dumps his daughter on her for a last minute babysitting emergency without leaving any specific instructions. What about his rule that she cannot use her phone at the dining table when she was staying there as a house guest? He's treating her like a 8 years old! Getting mad that she wanted to move out, judging her for her minimalistic condo, very annoying. I did enjoy when Kit calls him out in the end, about how inflexible he is, how unwilling he is to see her side, etc.

Overall, great book.

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I was lucky to receive an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was a change of pace from the typical reading style of psychological thrillers and I absolutely loved it! I found myself giggling and laughing out loud throughout the entire book. Instamom pulled me in from the first page and held my interest until the very last page. I definitely recommend reading this!

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