Gill Sims

Gill Sims is a British author and creator of the enormously popular Peter and Jane blog and social media presence, whose books about the chaotic, exhausting, and frequently hilarious reality of modern parenthood have made her one of the funniest and most relatable voices in British comedy writing. Sims began writing the Peter and Jane blog — later expanded across social media — chronicling the daily disasters, triumphs, and absurdities of family life with two children, a long-suffering husband, and a dog. The blog went viral and built a huge following of parents who recognised their own lives in her unflinchingly honest, sweary, and laugh-out-loud funny accounts. Why Mummy Drinks (2017) was her debut novel, based on the blog, following Ellen, a harried mother trying to hold her family together while dealing with school politics, competitive parenting, impossible children, and the general indignity of modern motherhood. The book was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. Why Mummy Swears, Why Mummy Doesn't Give a ****, and Why Mummy's Sloshed followed, each continuing Ellen's adventures through different stages of family life with the same brutal honesty and comic brilliance. What makes Sims's writing so successful is that it's not just funny — it's true. She captures the exhaustion, the guilt, the boredom, and the fierce love of parenthood with an honesty that her readers find both cathartic and reassuring. Her humour comes from recognition, and her books have become essential reading for parents who want to laugh at the chaos rather than pretend it doesn't exist. The audiobook editions of Sims's novels, narrated by Gabrielle Glaister, are brilliantly performed and perfect for listening during the school run. Her books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who has ever wondered whether they're the only parent who feels like they're making it up as they go along.