Book review of Cathrine Mahoney - ex-wife of Andrew Johns - in Australia

A memoir of a ‘middle-aged’ former high-profile NRL WAG has been torn apart in a brutal review by a writer who questions why she married a man ‘with whom she has almost nothing in common’.

Currently Between Husbands is a recently released memoir by Cathrine Mahoney, former wife of NRL Immortal Andrew Johns.

The former entertainment publicist turned podcast host and self-proclaimed ‘over-sharer’ provides eye-opening insight into the ups and downs of 12 years with one of Australia’s biggest stars, and reveals the secrets of their high-profile split.

Released by publishers Simon and Schuster, the memoir was denounced by Italian-Australian writer and singer-songwriter Antonella Gambotto-Burke in a scathing book review published in The Weekend Australian.

The UK-based author doesn’t hold back what he thinks about the book which he claims is aimed at a middle-aged audience ‘preferably disgruntled wives ex-wives, and boyfriends who define themselves by their partners’.

Former Sony publicist Cathrine Mahoney (pictured) has opened up about her previous marriage to NRL legend Andrew Johns – but the book has received scathing reviews

Gambotto-Burke took aim at Mahoney’s ‘heartless superficiality’ and questioned why his marriage breakup was so ‘unexpected after he entered the marriage, with his eyes closed’.

‘When he discusses Johns, it’s more in terms of what he does for him and accomplishes than any specific attribute – say, intelligence or spiritual depth,’ he wrote.

She later drew on Mahoney’s memories of her ‘very loud and monotonous’ maternity leave with her baby boy by suggesting she shouldn’t ‘rock’ on being a mother.

The piece then goes on to Mahoney’s concerns about his young life as a leading publicist for Sony, where he asks if he ‘just used up all my fun vouchers?’

This ‘fun love’ explains her choice to marry a man she has almost nothing in common with,” wrote Gambotto-Burke.

He ended the scathing review by claiming the title summed up the market value of the author and his target audience.

‘It also captures the quirky prosecco-fueled brio that such a woman uses to cover up what is really a devaluation desperation, and for that matter, there are no surprises at all in this book – no ambiguity, no revelation, no ending. ,’ Gambotto-Burke wrote.

‘In the end, what appeared to be callous superficiality made Mahoney’s devaluation feel appropriate.’

Cathrine Mahoney provides eye-opening insight into her 13-year relationship with NRL Immortal (pictured on her wedding day)

Antonella Gambotto-Burke (pictured) tears ex-WAG memoirs in scathing book review

The scathing review was flooded with comments.

‘Wow what a savage review. Hit books and writers hard. Probably accurate enough,’ wrote one reader.

Another added ‘Ouch! This review seems easier to read than the book.

Some comments are as brutal as the reviews themselves.

“Just a waste of time, I will never go back,” one person wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the publisher and Ms Mahoney for comment.

A self-proclaimed ‘over-sharer’, Mahoney said his memoir would at one stage be called ‘Actually, I Don’t Like Cricket Or Blow Jobs!’ before the current title ‘saved the day and all blushes’.

This book charts everything from fashion mistakes and childhood crushes growing up in Wales, to years working with some of the world’s biggest stars at Sony Music, to navigating life and love as a ‘solo’ mom, and coming to terms with hitting the big one. 40.

Andrew Johns and Cathrine Mahoney seen with sons Louis and Samuel in 20212 at the NRL Grand Final

Mahoney was a Sony publicist when he first met the newly single Johns in 2002 after the breakdown of his first marriage.

They then started dating before Johns asked Mahoney the question during a mid-season vacation to Lord Howe Island in 2006.

The pair tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2007, just months after Johns’ decorated rugby league career ended abruptly and ended prematurely due to injury.

At the time of the wedding, the Newcastle Knights star recently rocked the rugby league world by admitting to his drug use, mental illness and battles with bipolar during his career.

Mahoney and Johns welcomed one son Louis in 2009 and separated briefly in 2011.

The couple reconciled a year later before separating for good in 2014.

Cathrine Mahoney was a Sony publicist when she first met Andrew Johns (pictured early in their relationship in 2004)

Announced as Immortal in 2012, Johns is now in a long-term relationship with yoga instructor Kate Kendall, with whom he shares daughter Alice, who is now almost four years old.

He also has a 21-year-old son from his first marriage to Renee Chapman.

Mahoney, who previously had a thriving PR career, has now appeared on two successful podcasts; one he did himself was called ‘So I Quit Everyday Job’, and another with Sarah McGilvray was called ‘Not Another Parenting Podcast’.

‘For me, what I love to write in this book is that you will read as much as you can about me meeting him, our date, falling in love, our accident, our marriage – it’s wonderful to write about falling in love with someone, because for 13 years we fell in love,’ Mahoney wrote in his memoir.

‘Andrew wrote a book when we were together, and in it he wrote a chapter about me and I wrote one about him. Our son Louis came home one day and said ‘I read Dad’s book and what he wrote about you, and he said when you walked into the room you turned it on’

‘I just thought I wanted, when Louis was old enough, to read we loved so much and he was a separated but deeply loved child,’ Mahoney said.

Cathrine Mahoney’s Memoirs Currently Between Husbands launches in June

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