Moms’ Night Out: Movie + Book!

May 26, 2014

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The first time I watched Moms’ Night Out, I was sitting on my bed with a special preview screening playing on my iPad. The kids were in the bed, The Hubby was on call, and it was just me and a movie I found to be telling MY story. I laughed so loud I woke our oldest son up and I cried tons of tears as the story unfolded and reminded me of the important things in life.

The weird thing is I also took notes. Yep. I watched the movie with a pen and paper because I kept hearing quotes I loved and I didn’t want to forget them! This was all before I know Moms’ Night Out was being made in to a book, too! And not just any book – a novelization of the movie written by my author friend, Tricia Goyer!

MNO Book

I have the book in hands now and I’m thankful because now I can underline those quotes and keep them close by at all times! There are many more reasons to love having Moms’ Night Out in book form, but if you don’t know the story yet, let’s start there…

Moms’ Night Out is a novelization of the hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.

All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours-what could go wrong?

Chronicling one night out gone awry, three harried moms, their husbands, a sister-in-law with a misplaced baby, a tattoo parlor owner, a motorcycle gang, and a bewildered cabbie all learn to embrace the beautiful mess called parenting. This book spotlights the unfulfilled expectations and serial self-doubts many moms feel . . . then reassures us that the key is raising kids in a loving home. Mom’s Night Out is an endearing, true-to-life comedy.
I went to see Moms’ Night Out a second time with my mom and sister on Mother’s Day. I think I liked it even more and I left the theater anxious for it to come out on DVD. Instead of waiting for that day, I’ve really enjoyed following the story on a page and replaying it that way! There is just something about a book that can bring new levels of meaning to certain story lines, and that’s just what Tricia did in this novelization. The details, the descriptions, the characters’ thoughts – all so beautifully written!
So about those favorite lines that showed up in both the movie AND book?
“I am like the Bruce Banner of stay-at-home moms. He doesn’t want to turn into the Hulk. It just happens. One minute I’m a normal person. The next minute the large, green monster grows inside me, bursting out in every direction. I grow and transform into something unrecognizable. scary even.”
Any moms out there relate with THAT one? I’m not proud of it, but I do and I know it was good for me to see it expressed by someone else.
“I’m trying to make myself get up – to clean – but nothing’s happening. I’m stress paralyzed.”
I’ve been saying this is a thing for years!
And my favorite from the whole thing…
“I doubt the Good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mama He did. So just be…you. He’ll take care of the rest.”
Isn’t that just exactly what every single mom needs to hear at least once in her life? This is why Moms’ Night Out is a home run in my book – it gives moms a chance to see they are not alone in their sometimes crazy thoughts, it makes us laugh a LOT, and it delivers the message that we are right where we are supposed to be and we are enough because of Him.
Tricia’s novelization of the movie is such fun because it also dives into the thoughts of each character that can’t be portrayed fully on screen . This is where the book catches me, telling the story I already loved, but filling in with even more depth and heart. If you loved the movie, make sure you grab Moms’ Night Out by Tricia Goyer to experience it with a fresh voice!
And there is one more gem to go along with Moms’ Night Out: a devotional by Christian comedian Kerri Pomarolli called Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss. Check out this trailer for it…

 

Tricia and Kerri have teamed up for the “No More Frumpy Mommy” challenge.

Moms Night Out Tricia Goyer Kerri Pomarolli

Motherhood can sometimes seem like survival of the fittest. Every day brings its own troubles, and by the end of the day, you’re spent. Between school, soccer practice, cleaning, laundry, cooking dinner, putting away dishes, and keeping your kids from going at each others’ throats, the last thing on your mind is getting away for an evening. If that’s you, you’re invited to take part in Tricia and Kerri’s No More Frumpy Mommy challenge.
 
Tricia and Kerri will choose 10 winners to receive a Fandango gift card to see Moms’ Night Out, as well as copies of Moms’ Night Out (the book) and Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss. One grand-prize winner will receive $200 to put toward her own moms’ night out or her own moms’ night out “ride” (getting her car detailed and cleaned).
 
GO HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE!

Have you seen Moms’ Night Out? Read the book? What were your favorite parts?

I received these books to review. I was not compensated in any way for this post and all opinions are 100% my own.