Why Mummy Drinks author Gill Sims writes first YA book for Electric Monkey

Why Mummy Drinks series author Gill Sims has written her first debut Young Adult novel for Electric Monkey, an imprint of HarperCollins, titled Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood.

Lindsey Heaven, fiction publishing director at Electric Monkey, secured world rights for two books from Paul Baker, director at Headway Talent. Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood will be published in paperback on 14th August 2025.

Sims is the creator of the successful parenting blog “Peter and Jane” and Sunday Times bestselling author of Why Mummy Drinks, which spent six months in the Sunday Times bestseller chart and was shortlisted for debut of the year in the British Book Awards.

Electric Monkey said: “Gill will bring her unique and brilliantly hilarious voice to YA for the first time with Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood, a laugh-out-loud diary-style teen romantic comedy. The first book is set to publish on 14th August 2025, with a second book in the series to come the following year.”

The publisher described how the book is aimed at younger YA readers. “In a market where a lot of YA fiction increasingly sits in the crossover 18 to 25 market, Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood is a perfect read for the core teen market of 13 and over, and is perfect for fans of Geek Girl and readers who are looking for a series that next age up from Lottie Brooks.

“It follows 14-year-old Emily, who is gloomily spending the summer with her mum’s best friend Uncle Tom – with no tech, no BFF and no chance of the gorgeous Toby asking her out. But when she finds her mum’s old diary Emily is stunned to discover that her mum was once a teenager too. A 90’s teenager called Lila MacKay, who was very misunderstood. And as she becomes more invested in Lila’s teenage life, Emily begins to wonder if perhaps she and her mother are not so different after all.”

Lucy Courtenay, senior commissioning editor at Electric Monkey, said: "We’re thrilled to be able to bring Gill Sims’ unique comedy voice, that has been the saviour and unofficial best friend of millions of stressed mums around the world, to their millions of misunderstood and aggrieved teenage children. Gill is utterly hilarious and gloriously relatable to both teens and adults alike who will find so much to identify with and laugh about in the pages of this brilliant YA debut."

Sims said: “It has been a wonderful experience working with Electric Monkey and I’ve had incredible fun writing this book and revisiting the world of my own youth, but seen through the eyes of a modern-day teen, which convinced me once and for all that whether a teenager is Gen X or Gen Alpha, absolutely no one understands them.”