Take two women – one wanting a baby and one a stay-at-home-mum – they’ve been best friends for more than twenty years. Introduce a third woman. The third woman has things the other two want. Or rather, there are reasons why the other two may hate her.

I know this is a standard trope for chick-lit but the plot of Samantha Wilde’s I’ll Take What She Has is predictable and, quite frankly, irritating. Plots need a villain but I get the impression that Wilde has an axe to grind* and she’s doing it through this story.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt through being a parent it’s this: the more another parent bangs on about how fabulous something is, the more they’re trying to justify their decision. To themselves.  Which is why I’m fairly sure that Wilde has some unresolved issues about the stay-at-home or go-back-to-work decision. If you’re happy, why do you care what others do or think?

I received my copy of I’ll Take What She Has, from the publisher, Random House, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

1/5 I’m not the right audience for this book.

* about SAHMs, working mothers, child-care, breast-feeding and all that other stuff that makes women feel bad about their personal choices.

There was mention of homemade brownies versus ones made from a packet mix (of course there was). It provides me with an opportunity to share my favourite, stupidly easy brownie recipe (I’m not a baker so all my cake recipes have to be fool-proof). There may be richer, more decadent brownie recipes but for effort to taste ratio, this can’t be beaten.

Donna Hay’s Basic and Speedy Brownie

250g butter, melted
1 1/3 cups plain flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa (use whatever but I like the Dutch brand Droste)
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Bung all the ingredients in a food processor and mix until smooth.
Pour into a lined 20cm square cake tin (although I use a standard small slice tray).
Bake at 170C for 50 minutes.