Official Launch Announcement & Border Watch Feature
From a Late-Night Idea to an Official Book Launch
There are moments in life that feel a little surreal.
Seeing my name in The Border Watch was one of them.
As a mum of five, cancer survivor, professional overthinker, and someone who spends most days juggling school lunches, work, laundry piles and the endless mental load that comes with motherhood, becoming a published author wasn't exactly on my bingo card.
Yet here we are.
Featured in The Border Watch Newspaper.
Last week I had the privilege of being interviewed for the local newspaper about my book. As of today it is featured in The Border Watch, where I shared the story behind the book and the conversations that inspired it.
The article highlighted the realities that so many mothers face every day—the pressure to be perfect, the constant comparison fuelled by social media, and the invisible mental load that often goes unnoticed.
One of the messages that came through strongly was that real life rarely looks like the polished version we see online.
Real life is messy.
Real life is forgotten lunchboxes, piles of washing, arguments over socks, cold cups of coffee, tears in the car, and wondering if you're doing any of it right.
And yet real life is also beautiful.
It's laughter, resilience, connection, and somehow finding the strength to keep showing up even on the hard days.
The article was a wonderful opportunity to share the message behind the book and to remind mums that they are not alone in the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
Official Book Launch
I am incredibly excited to officially launch the book with the support of the Mount Gambier Library.
Event Details
📚 I Love You, But F*ck Off – Official Book Launch
📅 Sunday 2 August 2026
🕚 11:00am
📍 Mount Gambier Library
The event will include:
The story behind the book
My journey to becoming a published author
A reading from the book
Discussion about motherhood, marriage and the mental load
Audience Q&A
Book sales and signings
Whether you're a mum, know a mum, love a mum, or simply enjoy honest conversations about life, I'd love to see you there.
Thank You
The support from the Mount Gambier community has been overwhelming.
From friends and family to complete strangers sending messages, pre-ordering copies, sharing posts and cheering me on—thank you.
Publishing a book is both exciting and terrifying, and every word of encouragement means more than you know.
The response so far has reminded me why honest conversations matter and why sharing our stories can help others feel seen.
I can't wait to celebrate this milestone with you all on launch day.
Katie Roos
Author of I Love You, But F*ck Off
❤️📚
See you at the Mount Gambier Library on 2 August 2026 - tickets can be book via the link below if you are local.
https://mountgambier-events.bookable.net.au/#!/event-detail/Katie-Roos
To Everyone Cheering This Book On: Thank You
It All Begins Here
When I started writing I Love You, But F*ck Off, I genuinely thought it would be something I made for myself.
A way to get the thoughts out of my head.
A place to put all the things mums think but don't always say out loud.
The guilt.
The exhaustion.
The mum rage.
The love.
The moments where you would quite literally walk through fire for your children while simultaneously wanting everyone in the house to stop touching you for five bloody minutes.
I didn't sit down and think, "I'm going to write a book."
I sat down and thought, "Surely I can't be the only one feeling this."
What has surprised me most isn't that the book exists.
It's the response.
The messages.
The comments.
The mums who have quietly reached out and said, "I needed this."
The women who haven't even read it yet but have told me they already feel seen by the title alone.
The people who have shared posts, told friends, pre-ordered copies, and cheered me on from the sidelines.
Every single one of you has helped make this feel real.
Because writing a book is terrifying.
At some point you stop writing words on a screen and realise you're about to hand pieces of yourself to complete strangers.
That's a vulnerable place to stand.
Especially when the stories you're sharing aren't polished or perfect.
They're messy.
They're honest.
They're real.
Just like motherhood.
So thank you.
Thank you for every message.
Thank you for every share.
Thank you for every pre-order.
Thank you for every conversation that starts with, "I saw your book..."
And thank you for reminding me why I wrote it in the first place.
Not because motherhood is perfect.
But because it isn't.
And maybe, just maybe, knowing we're not alone in the chaos makes it a little easier to carry.
This book belongs to me because I wrote it.
But it also belongs to every mum who has ever sat in her car for an extra five minutes before walking inside.
Every mum who has hidden in the pantry to eat chocolate.
Every mum who has wondered if she's getting it wrong.
Every mum who loves her kids fiercely and still occasionally wants them to leave her alone.
The launch is getting closer.
The excitement is growing.
And honestly?
I'm incredibly grateful you're all coming along for the ride.
Katie ❤️