Synopsis
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR A YEAR OFF WORK . . . ?
'The comedy gold standard' Stylist
'This book will make you guffaw out loud' Prima
'It’s one that’s sure to have you laughing and crying in equal measures' Express
'A very clever novel' Belfast Telegraph
Meet Barri Brown. Respected teacher. Upstanding citizen of Guernsey. Down for a bit of law-breaking . . .
Barri has spent years slaving away as a teacher and covering for colleagues with kids. When her husband vanishes – along with her savings – it’s the final straw. And so, she hatches a wild plan: fake a pregnancy and use the paid maternity leave to start over somewhere new.
With seven foam bumps, a wardrobe full of smock dresses and a great pregnancy heist underway, all Barri has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good – without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. How hard could it be?
On a small island like Guernsey, it’s a motherfaking nightmare. And to make matters worse, when Barri’s fake pregnancy forces her to make genuine connections with people for the first time in years, she begins to understand the true cost of her deception . . .
Will she really get away with telling the mother of all lies?
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PRAISE FOR MOTHERFAKER
'A bold, brilliant and bonkers caper’ ALEXANDRA POTTER
'Brilliantly original and hilariously executed' ROSIE WALSH
'Funny, moving, relatable and keeps you on the edge of your seat' LIBBY PAGE
'I couldn’t put this down! Hilarious, surprising, and sneakily tender' NATALIE SUE
'A crazy, screwball comedy with real heart and soul' SARAH HAYWOOD
Details
26 February 2026
9781035073054Reviews
Motherfaker is an unforgettable story with an unforgettable main character. I couldn't put it down. It is a tale that is all at once funny, moving and relatable and keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I loved the themes around found family and know it is going to resonate with many readers. A five-star read!
I couldn’t put this down! Hilarious, surprising, and sneakily tender. I was rooting for the witty main character, Barri, who has an uncanny knack for getting herself into trouble as she navigates the chaos of her own making. While packed with shenanigans, it’s also a tale of heartwarming connections, set in a charming small island, and the beautiful mess that comes with finding out where you belong.
Motherfaker is a crazy, screwball comedy with real heart and soul. I was enticed in by the hilarious premise and stayed for the brilliantly-crafted storytelling. Barri Brown is a sometimes exasperating, always entertaining, character - as logical and resourceful as she is eccentric and impetuous . . . A joyful novel of family (in all its forms), friendship and staying true to oneself.
Anna Brook-Mitchell has given birth to a genius of an idea. A bold, brilliant and bonkers caper about how sometimes you have to fake it, to discover who you really are
