All the Other Mothers Hate Me lives up to the promise of tension and hilarity suggested by its title. In Sarah Harman's sensational debut work of comic domestic suspense, Florence Grimes, 31, is an underemployed former pop star who begins her first-person narration barely keeping it together as a single mother of 10-year-old son Dylan.
The other mothers at Dylan's posh West London school do seem to hate Florence, and not entirely without reason, though they're not particularly likable themselves. For example, there's Hope, Florence's nemesis. They used to lead the same party girl lifestyle when Florence was a member of the all-female band Girls' Night. Now, Hope drives a baby-blue Bentley with custom B0YMUM plates, and refers to herself on Instagram as a #Model, #Philanthropist, and #GirlBoss.
Dylan has a nemesis of his own: Alfie Risby, heir to a frozen food empire ("There are some kids you just kind of want to punch, and Alfie was one of them"). And when Alfie goes missing on a school field trip where the boys were partners, Florence is desperate to deflect suspicion from Dylan. This proves difficult, as the two boys had a history of physical conflicts at school, and Florence doesn't help matters by spiriting Dylan away from the school when it's in lockdown, before the police can talk to him.
Florence starts her own investigation to clear Dylan's name with another outsider parent, American go-getter attorney Jenny. Their sleuthing is woefully inept, but extremely entertaining. Even if Florence can't find the culprit, at least she seems to have finally found a friend. As their bungling investigation continues, readers learn more about Florence's life. It may be chaos, but she's far less superficial than she initially seems--and the majority of her highly questionable actions are motivated out of a parental protective instinct that's gone a little haywire.
Harman incorporates plenty of very funny social satire, which, in addition to her skillful plotting, gives the narrative depth along with its sizzle. Fast paced and engrossing, All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a book that readers are sure to enjoy and will want to share widely--before it inevitably shows up as a series on one of the streaming services. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.
Shelf Talker: All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a hilarious, well-plotted thriller that goes racing through the streets of London, powered by frantic maternal desperation.