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All The Other Mothers Hate Me
Florence Grimes is a 31-year-old party girl who always takes the easy way out. After a dismal end to her girlband career, she's living in West London, single, broke and unfulfilled with only her son Dylan to keep her afloat.
But then Alfie Risby, the ten-year-old heir to a frozen food empire and Dylan’s school rival, mysteriously vanishes on a class trip, and Dylan becomes a prime suspect.
Florence needs to find Alfie and clear her son’s name or risk losing him forever. The only problem? She doesn’t have any detective skills, all the other school mums hate her, and she's just found Alfie’s backpack hidden under her son’s bed�
But then Alfie Risby, the ten-year-old heir to a frozen food empire and Dylan’s school rival, mysteriously vanishes on a class trip, and Dylan becomes a prime suspect.
Florence needs to find Alfie and clear her son’s name or risk losing him forever. The only problem? She doesn’t have any detective skills, all the other school mums hate her, and she's just found Alfie’s backpack hidden under her son’s bed�
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,240 reviews
August 17, 2024
Well, there is definitely a reason that all of the other mothers hate Florence � she's unbearable. She's immature and unreliable, a bad friend and mother, and she has some impressively bad decision-making skills. This book, however, is an absolute blast. I mean, sure, Florence is awful, but she's awful in the most entertaining way possible. Kind of a humorous train wreck, I guess you could say. I'm glad she's not a real person because (the British equivalent of) CPS would need to be called, like, yesterday, but as a fictional character she's pretty amusing.
When Florence's 10-year-old son Dylan becomes a suspect in the disappearance of one of his classmates, she decides to investigate the case in an attempt to direct the suspicion elsewhere. And, well, Florence is morally bankrupt so, you know, shenanigans ensue. Seriously, some of the things she did in this book literally made me gasp out loud. Florence is such a terrible person, y'all. I mean, she's not a serial killer or anything like that and she obviously cares about her kid (although not enough to not leave him home alone overnight while she goes on a date, mind you), but let's just say that this is not a book about a worried mother who works calmly and rationally with the authorities to ensure that proper justice is served.
The mystery (what happened to that asshole rich kid Alfie?) is a solid one, and while I kind of guessed at the big reveal a few times, I didn't truly figure out what was going on until Florence did. It's well-written and suspenseful and almost unputdownable. Florence isn't exactly Sherlock Holmes, but she doe share his love of cocaine so I guess there's that? (Or at least I think it was cocaine. I dunno. The drug was never specifically named and I'm not exactly Pablo Escobar here, you guys.)
So, yeah. If you enjoy mysteries with unlikeable main characters and humor and all kinds of drama, definitely consider giving All the Other Mothers Hate Me a read. It's a wild ride!
My overall rating: 4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 11, 2025.
When Florence's 10-year-old son Dylan becomes a suspect in the disappearance of one of his classmates, she decides to investigate the case in an attempt to direct the suspicion elsewhere. And, well, Florence is morally bankrupt so, you know, shenanigans ensue. Seriously, some of the things she did in this book literally made me gasp out loud. Florence is such a terrible person, y'all. I mean, she's not a serial killer or anything like that and she obviously cares about her kid (although not enough to not leave him home alone overnight while she goes on a date, mind you), but let's just say that this is not a book about a worried mother who works calmly and rationally with the authorities to ensure that proper justice is served.
The mystery (what happened to that asshole rich kid Alfie?) is a solid one, and while I kind of guessed at the big reveal a few times, I didn't truly figure out what was going on until Florence did. It's well-written and suspenseful and almost unputdownable. Florence isn't exactly Sherlock Holmes, but she doe share his love of cocaine so I guess there's that? (Or at least I think it was cocaine. I dunno. The drug was never specifically named and I'm not exactly Pablo Escobar here, you guys.)
So, yeah. If you enjoy mysteries with unlikeable main characters and humor and all kinds of drama, definitely consider giving All the Other Mothers Hate Me a read. It's a wild ride!
My overall rating: 4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 11, 2025.
April 25, 2025
Oh my goodness! This book is absolutely hilarious! It delivers so much fun, perfect dry humor, smart sarcasm, and brilliant characterization! Meet Florence, an antiheroine who’s sloppy, eccentric, adventurous, and a young single mother. Once a girl band star, she’s now raising her smart, sensitive, and possibly neurodivergent nine-year-old son, Dylan, in her delightfully unconventional way.
This book has the potential to become a fantastic movie or series, evoking a perfect blend of Only Murders in the Building, Bad Moms, Ginny & Georgia, and a touch of Fox’s High Potential. From the very beginning, you can’t help but fall in love with Florence. Despite her flaws—her haphazard ethics, impulsive decisions, and occasional silliness—you find yourself rooting for her. Deep down, she’s a good person who loves her son fiercely and would do anything to protect him.
The amateur detective aspect is a highlight, especially Florence’s blossoming friendship with Jenny, her polar opposite. Together, they unleash their investigative skills to solve the mystery of Alfie Risby’s disappearance. Florence has her own agenda, though: to clear Dylan’s name, as he’s the last person who saw Alfie and is in possession of Alfie’s suspiciously left-behind backpack.
The pacing is captivating, with nothing feeling cliché or predictable. The story takes you on a wild, humorous adventure with Florence, whose life is in shambles. Having lost her singing career, she dreams of a Mariah Carey-esque comeback, but in the meantime, she’s delivering helium balloons for influencers' events—without a car or driver’s license, no less! On top of that, she must navigate the judgment of a posh, condescending mother’s group and the chaos of Alfie’s disappearance. Joining forces with Jenny, a top-notch insurance lawyer and fellow single mom, Florence dives headfirst into danger to prove her son’s innocence. After all, that’s what mothers do, isn’t it?
Overall: I’d love to read more of Florence Grimes� adventures if the author decides to write a sequel! I adored the characters, the intriguing pace, the sharp humor, and the perfectly wrapped-up mystery. This book exceeded my expectations, earning a well-deserved five "band girl momma" stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G. P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this highly entertaining book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This book has the potential to become a fantastic movie or series, evoking a perfect blend of Only Murders in the Building, Bad Moms, Ginny & Georgia, and a touch of Fox’s High Potential. From the very beginning, you can’t help but fall in love with Florence. Despite her flaws—her haphazard ethics, impulsive decisions, and occasional silliness—you find yourself rooting for her. Deep down, she’s a good person who loves her son fiercely and would do anything to protect him.
The amateur detective aspect is a highlight, especially Florence’s blossoming friendship with Jenny, her polar opposite. Together, they unleash their investigative skills to solve the mystery of Alfie Risby’s disappearance. Florence has her own agenda, though: to clear Dylan’s name, as he’s the last person who saw Alfie and is in possession of Alfie’s suspiciously left-behind backpack.
The pacing is captivating, with nothing feeling cliché or predictable. The story takes you on a wild, humorous adventure with Florence, whose life is in shambles. Having lost her singing career, she dreams of a Mariah Carey-esque comeback, but in the meantime, she’s delivering helium balloons for influencers' events—without a car or driver’s license, no less! On top of that, she must navigate the judgment of a posh, condescending mother’s group and the chaos of Alfie’s disappearance. Joining forces with Jenny, a top-notch insurance lawyer and fellow single mom, Florence dives headfirst into danger to prove her son’s innocence. After all, that’s what mothers do, isn’t it?
Overall: I’d love to read more of Florence Grimes� adventures if the author decides to write a sequel! I adored the characters, the intriguing pace, the sharp humor, and the perfectly wrapped-up mystery. This book exceeded my expectations, earning a well-deserved five "band girl momma" stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G. P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this highly entertaining book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
March 20, 2025
Sarah Harman has a solid debut novel with
All the Other Mothers Hate Me.
Full of mystery, suspense, domestic drama, and single mother challenges, the author brings to life thirty-one-year-old Florence Grimes and her ten-year-old son, Dylan. When a boy who has bullied Dylan disappears, Dylan becomes the prime suspect. For once, Florence must grow up and clear her son’s name. He means the world to her, but why won’t he elaborate on what happened?
Florence is divorced, low on money, and a former singer in a girl-band. While her dreams were snatched away from her, she still craves a stage. She tends to give up when things go wrong for her. She’s also immature, selfish, and self-centered. Dylan is sensitive, but has a bit of a temper. He prefers conversations with adults to that of children his age. He’s earnest and wants to make the world better. Readers also get a great feeling for the supporting characters, especially the missing boy, Alfie Risby, and the mom Jenny Choi. Alfie is a bully, used to getting what he wants, and is an heir to a fortune. Jenny is a single mom of twin boys, a lawyer, and tries to make friends with Florence.
Before long, readers will start to glean why the book has its title. Florence isn’t your usual protagonist and she isn’t extremely likeable at times. However, she is determined to clear her son’s name, no matter what it takes. While many will find this novel humorous, I missed the humor in most cases. However, there are some funny observations about motherhood and school politics.
The book has a great premise, and is filled with plenty of suspense and drama. Florence’s attempts to be a detective, without any knowledge of how to proceed, leads to some unusual circumstances and poor choices. The author adds some twists along the way to keep readers guessing. However, I guessed who the antagonist was, but not the full extent of their actions. The story kept me engaged, but was somewhat unsettling and tumultuous at times. It’s fast-paced and the mystery is resolved, but there is a hint at the end that could be a thread leading to a second book. Other themes include divorce, family relations, friendship, morality, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful novel with unique characters and plenty of drama that kept me engaged. Readers who enjoy a mystery with a reckless and erratic protagonist and some dark humor will likely enjoy this book.
PENGUIN GROUP Putman � G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Sarah Harman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 11, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.37 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Florence is divorced, low on money, and a former singer in a girl-band. While her dreams were snatched away from her, she still craves a stage. She tends to give up when things go wrong for her. She’s also immature, selfish, and self-centered. Dylan is sensitive, but has a bit of a temper. He prefers conversations with adults to that of children his age. He’s earnest and wants to make the world better. Readers also get a great feeling for the supporting characters, especially the missing boy, Alfie Risby, and the mom Jenny Choi. Alfie is a bully, used to getting what he wants, and is an heir to a fortune. Jenny is a single mom of twin boys, a lawyer, and tries to make friends with Florence.
Before long, readers will start to glean why the book has its title. Florence isn’t your usual protagonist and she isn’t extremely likeable at times. However, she is determined to clear her son’s name, no matter what it takes. While many will find this novel humorous, I missed the humor in most cases. However, there are some funny observations about motherhood and school politics.
The book has a great premise, and is filled with plenty of suspense and drama. Florence’s attempts to be a detective, without any knowledge of how to proceed, leads to some unusual circumstances and poor choices. The author adds some twists along the way to keep readers guessing. However, I guessed who the antagonist was, but not the full extent of their actions. The story kept me engaged, but was somewhat unsettling and tumultuous at times. It’s fast-paced and the mystery is resolved, but there is a hint at the end that could be a thread leading to a second book. Other themes include divorce, family relations, friendship, morality, and much more.
Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful novel with unique characters and plenty of drama that kept me engaged. Readers who enjoy a mystery with a reckless and erratic protagonist and some dark humor will likely enjoy this book.
PENGUIN GROUP Putman � G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Sarah Harman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 11, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.37 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
February 8, 2025
3.5🌟
Florence has watched her life take a drastic nosedive. Once the star of a popular girl band, she now sells party balloon arches. Not quite the future she’d dreamed of having. But her one saving Grace? That would be her 10 year old son, Dylan.
After one of the boys from Dylan’s class goes missing on a field trip, the police have some questions for Florence and her son. Oh Oh! It’s now up to her to solve the disappearance, or at least toss in a red herring to send police in another direction.
This is a debut by Sarah Hartman, and while I enjoyed her writing I was left hoping for a bit more from my leading character. A little more sass…or snark! Maybe it’s me, but with that title my expectations for Florence were set high.
Many other readers loved Florence’s character and felt she delivered. So do check out those reviews!
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley
Florence has watched her life take a drastic nosedive. Once the star of a popular girl band, she now sells party balloon arches. Not quite the future she’d dreamed of having. But her one saving Grace? That would be her 10 year old son, Dylan.
After one of the boys from Dylan’s class goes missing on a field trip, the police have some questions for Florence and her son. Oh Oh! It’s now up to her to solve the disappearance, or at least toss in a red herring to send police in another direction.
This is a debut by Sarah Hartman, and while I enjoyed her writing I was left hoping for a bit more from my leading character. A little more sass…or snark! Maybe it’s me, but with that title my expectations for Florence were set high.
Many other readers loved Florence’s character and felt she delivered. So do check out those reviews!
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley
March 2, 2025
Not only that. She is also "morally flexible."
American Florence Grimes is quite a mess of a character. She is the divorced mom of a ten-year-old and just in her early 30's. Her career as a girl band singer famously flamed out when she was a new mom at 21. Her son Dylan is her pride and joy, but also quite quirky. This one definitely had moments of brilliance.
It all begins with a missing boy at the snooty boys' school St. Angeles where Dylan goes to school in North London. Unfortunately Alfie disappears from a wetland field trip and Dylan was his partner. When clues point to her son being part of the crime, Florence seeks to wipe the slate clean and recruits the other American mom at the school (Jenny Choi) to help. The partnership between these two was one of my favorite aspects of the plot.
In the end there are some plot threads that could have been discarded, but this was a noteworthy debut. Despite the fact that Florence was a hot mess, I was rooting for her. Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
American Florence Grimes is quite a mess of a character. She is the divorced mom of a ten-year-old and just in her early 30's. Her career as a girl band singer famously flamed out when she was a new mom at 21. Her son Dylan is her pride and joy, but also quite quirky. This one definitely had moments of brilliance.
It all begins with a missing boy at the snooty boys' school St. Angeles where Dylan goes to school in North London. Unfortunately Alfie disappears from a wetland field trip and Dylan was his partner. When clues point to her son being part of the crime, Florence seeks to wipe the slate clean and recruits the other American mom at the school (Jenny Choi) to help. The partnership between these two was one of my favorite aspects of the plot.
In the end there are some plot threads that could have been discarded, but this was a noteworthy debut. Despite the fact that Florence was a hot mess, I was rooting for her. Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2025
Kinda feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone over here.
I mean, did I read a different book than my friends?
Gah, this was SO bad... I think it was supposed to be funny. Maybe? 🤔
I mean, did I read a different book than my friends?
Gah, this was SO bad... I think it was supposed to be funny. Maybe? 🤔
April 17, 2025
Florence is a 31-year-old single mother with a 10 yr old son, Dylan, who is (possibly) neurodivergent and is being bullied at school.
Florence is a fish out of water at her son’s prestigious school. There are valid reasons the other mothers “hate� her and the toxic mommy cliques are here in all their mean girl glory. Funny, yet not funny.
Yes, Florence is immature and makes some bad decisions. But her saving grace is she loves her son Dylan fiercely. I love an underdog and it was easy for me to root for Florence, flaws and all.
Alfie, the leader of the bullying mission against Dylan, goes missing. The police naturally questions Florence and she fears her son may be involved in some way.
She begins to investigate with a mission to clear her son’s name. Her methods will raise some eyebrows but take it tongue-in-cheek. She is sort of a Finlay Donovan type character. None of this is to be taken seriously but it’s a complete blast to read.
Florence is a train wreck but a lovable one. She makes bad decisions, but her love for her son is never in question. Florence is a mess, and she knows it. She’s engaging and in another author’s hands could have been unbearable. The running commentary in her head often made me laugh out loud.
Jenny was my favorite character. I loved the friendship between her and Florence. If you like a main character with flaws, this is a fun read , a refreshing breath of fresh air when so many books are the same old, same old.
Witty and entertaining, I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Georgina Sadler.
Florence is a fish out of water at her son’s prestigious school. There are valid reasons the other mothers “hate� her and the toxic mommy cliques are here in all their mean girl glory. Funny, yet not funny.
Yes, Florence is immature and makes some bad decisions. But her saving grace is she loves her son Dylan fiercely. I love an underdog and it was easy for me to root for Florence, flaws and all.
Alfie, the leader of the bullying mission against Dylan, goes missing. The police naturally questions Florence and she fears her son may be involved in some way.
She begins to investigate with a mission to clear her son’s name. Her methods will raise some eyebrows but take it tongue-in-cheek. She is sort of a Finlay Donovan type character. None of this is to be taken seriously but it’s a complete blast to read.
Florence is a train wreck but a lovable one. She makes bad decisions, but her love for her son is never in question. Florence is a mess, and she knows it. She’s engaging and in another author’s hands could have been unbearable. The running commentary in her head often made me laugh out loud.
Jenny was my favorite character. I loved the friendship between her and Florence. If you like a main character with flaws, this is a fun read , a refreshing breath of fresh air when so many books are the same old, same old.
Witty and entertaining, I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Georgina Sadler.
April 23, 2025
OMG this book!! Seriously� add this to your TBR! 😍 Thank you so much @putnambooks #putnampartner for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰 FYI this is also a @jordys.book.club pick for April!! You know he picks the good ones!! Just saying…�
Pub date was 3/11/25🥳🥳 This cover!! I love it!! This is TOTALLY 💯 Florence!
Meet our girl Florence.. former parttty 🍸🥂🍷 girl� ALMOST famous girl pop star.. She’s snarky, sassy.. and totally inappropriate. 😂 Yep.. I loved her! There’s just something about her. 🤷♀�
Look� the other mothers did REALLY hate her. Her son Dylan was adorable� a pure saint 😇� or was he more like Florence than we thought?! 🤔
Guys.. this took a direction that I NEVER saw coming! I thought this was going to be all about Florence and her drinking Red Bull for breakfast..in bed.. served by her son. 😬.. Look I never said she was going to win Mother of the year. This turned into a mystery that got my heart pounding. 😍
This was crazzzyy and I loved it. You NEED to meet Florence!! 😉
Pub date was 3/11/25🥳🥳 This cover!! I love it!! This is TOTALLY 💯 Florence!
Meet our girl Florence.. former parttty 🍸🥂🍷 girl� ALMOST famous girl pop star.. She’s snarky, sassy.. and totally inappropriate. 😂 Yep.. I loved her! There’s just something about her. 🤷♀�
Look� the other mothers did REALLY hate her. Her son Dylan was adorable� a pure saint 😇� or was he more like Florence than we thought?! 🤔
Guys.. this took a direction that I NEVER saw coming! I thought this was going to be all about Florence and her drinking Red Bull for breakfast..in bed.. served by her son. 😬.. Look I never said she was going to win Mother of the year. This turned into a mystery that got my heart pounding. 😍
This was crazzzyy and I loved it. You NEED to meet Florence!! 😉
October 5, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 11, 2025.
I think I’m going to be an outlier on this one. I’m with the moms. And I’m not a mom.
Florence Grimes is a thirty-one year old former girl band member who had an embarrassing downfall and now she’s single and broke. Her reason for going on is her ten year old son, Dylan.
Dylan goes on a class trip and rich boy Alfie Risby, who bullies Dylan vanishes. Suddenly Dylan is the prime suspect and Florence has a purpose: to find Alfie to clear Dylan’s name. Of course, she has never skills and no idea how one man got go about doing that. Oh, and all the moms at the school hate her (for good reason.). And maybe Dylan is not so innocent. Maybe.
I thought I was really going to like this book, as it was witty (“her awful triplets - Trip and Teddy and, I dunno, Tryhard�) and seemed fun, but the longer it went on the more Florence grated on me. She’s a thief. Her mothering skills are�.um…well, she loves him, I guess, but�. She does many abhorrent things to the point it just wasn’t fun for me to read about any more. I think a lot of people loved it and found it all funny. It just fell flat for me. I liked her friend, though, 2 stars.
I think I’m going to be an outlier on this one. I’m with the moms. And I’m not a mom.
Florence Grimes is a thirty-one year old former girl band member who had an embarrassing downfall and now she’s single and broke. Her reason for going on is her ten year old son, Dylan.
Dylan goes on a class trip and rich boy Alfie Risby, who bullies Dylan vanishes. Suddenly Dylan is the prime suspect and Florence has a purpose: to find Alfie to clear Dylan’s name. Of course, she has never skills and no idea how one man got go about doing that. Oh, and all the moms at the school hate her (for good reason.). And maybe Dylan is not so innocent. Maybe.
I thought I was really going to like this book, as it was witty (“her awful triplets - Trip and Teddy and, I dunno, Tryhard�) and seemed fun, but the longer it went on the more Florence grated on me. She’s a thief. Her mothering skills are�.um…well, she loves him, I guess, but�. She does many abhorrent things to the point it just wasn’t fun for me to read about any more. I think a lot of people loved it and found it all funny. It just fell flat for me. I liked her friend, though, 2 stars.
January 26, 2025
This felt like a Finlay Donovan-type of book. A bit of mystery, moments of thriller, women’s fiction growth. I think the middle lagged but overall, I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed the journey! I’ll definitely be reading her next book.
March 19, 2025
5 Stars for this engaging, original debut!!
All Of The Other Mothers Hate Me centers around Florence Grimes, a single mother whose world is upended when her son’s bully, Alfie Risby, vanishes -- and her son Dylan becomes the prime suspect. Desperate to prove his innocence, Florence dives headfirst into an unpredictable investigation, weaving through twists, humor, and suspense in search of the real culprit.
This book REALLY explored the lengths a mother will go to in order to get her child out of a pickle! I went into this book expecting it to be your standard thriller, but it really wasn’t � it was truly entertaining, and I found myself laughing out loud while reading on more than one occasion! Florence is portrayed as an incredibly flawed mother that only has one reason to get out of bed in the morning, Dylan, and she came across as anything but a good mother: she’s selfish, shallow and makes wrong choices on a regular basis, even at 31! Despite her flaws, she was undeniably likable, and you just can’t help but root for her, even as she stumbles through chaos. Her hot-mess energy made her more endearing, and I found myself instantly connecting with her character. Flo's character was undoubtedly one of the novel’s strengths, but another of the aspects I especially enjoyed was the dynamic between the school moms � their politics, pettiness, and underlying tensions. The cattiness felt both realistic and amusing, adding a layer of humor that made the social dynamics even more engaging. Another standout element of this novel is the friendship between Flo and Jenny - two starkly different personalities whose engaging interplay definitely brought plenty of entertaining moments and added a great layer to the novel.
As the mystery unfolded, I found myself flipping through the pages at a relentless pace, completely caught up in the twists and turns. The story was packed with red herrings, keeping me constantly second-guessing where things were headed � and, as usual, my predictions were mostly off the mark. I especially enjoyed the ending, which not only delivered a satisfying conclusion but also left just enough intrigue in one of the subplots to spark the reader’s imagination. This will stand out as one of the more memorable debuts of 2025!
All Of The Other Mothers Hate Me centers around Florence Grimes, a single mother whose world is upended when her son’s bully, Alfie Risby, vanishes -- and her son Dylan becomes the prime suspect. Desperate to prove his innocence, Florence dives headfirst into an unpredictable investigation, weaving through twists, humor, and suspense in search of the real culprit.
This book REALLY explored the lengths a mother will go to in order to get her child out of a pickle! I went into this book expecting it to be your standard thriller, but it really wasn’t � it was truly entertaining, and I found myself laughing out loud while reading on more than one occasion! Florence is portrayed as an incredibly flawed mother that only has one reason to get out of bed in the morning, Dylan, and she came across as anything but a good mother: she’s selfish, shallow and makes wrong choices on a regular basis, even at 31! Despite her flaws, she was undeniably likable, and you just can’t help but root for her, even as she stumbles through chaos. Her hot-mess energy made her more endearing, and I found myself instantly connecting with her character. Flo's character was undoubtedly one of the novel’s strengths, but another of the aspects I especially enjoyed was the dynamic between the school moms � their politics, pettiness, and underlying tensions. The cattiness felt both realistic and amusing, adding a layer of humor that made the social dynamics even more engaging. Another standout element of this novel is the friendship between Flo and Jenny - two starkly different personalities whose engaging interplay definitely brought plenty of entertaining moments and added a great layer to the novel.
As the mystery unfolded, I found myself flipping through the pages at a relentless pace, completely caught up in the twists and turns. The story was packed with red herrings, keeping me constantly second-guessing where things were headed � and, as usual, my predictions were mostly off the mark. I especially enjoyed the ending, which not only delivered a satisfying conclusion but also left just enough intrigue in one of the subplots to spark the reader’s imagination. This will stand out as one of the more memorable debuts of 2025!
March 18, 2025
This book has me completely split in half.
The gist:
Florence is a young mother and also a washed up member of a girl band in which she spectacularly crashed and burned out of the spotlight. She's loud, snarky, and has a wardrobe that makes a lot of the other mothers blush. Hence, the title of this book.
Her son, Dylan, is quiet and shy. He loves science and animals but unfortunately that doesn't endear him to the other children in school. His only friend is their elderly neighbor across the street.
In fact, the very wealthy Alfie Risby, has taken it upon himself to bully Dylan on a daily basis. When the boys are paired together on a field trip and it's discovered that Alfie has gone missing Florence fears her son may have played a role in his disappearance so she will stop at nothing to prove her son innocent.
In the beginning I was really enjoying this. I loved the MC's snarky humor but then an event took place that I just could not forgive her for.
Let's also not forget that this woman, a mother that claims to lover her son more than anything in the world, would often leave him (10 years old) all night long, completely alone, while she's out boozing it up and having random one night stands with strangers. I don't believe she'll be winning any mother of the year awards any time soon.
So this is why I'm torn. I went from loving the MC to really finding her to be an irritating and irresponsible mess and that juxtaposition tempered my enjoyment in the end.
I also didn't like the outcome. The *who did it* kind of bummed me out. Unexpected? Sure. Disappointing? Yes.
All that said I do think this book will be a hit with many readers. Harman is a talented writer that I will definitely keep my eye on in the future. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.
The gist:
Florence is a young mother and also a washed up member of a girl band in which she spectacularly crashed and burned out of the spotlight. She's loud, snarky, and has a wardrobe that makes a lot of the other mothers blush. Hence, the title of this book.
Her son, Dylan, is quiet and shy. He loves science and animals but unfortunately that doesn't endear him to the other children in school. His only friend is their elderly neighbor across the street.
In fact, the very wealthy Alfie Risby, has taken it upon himself to bully Dylan on a daily basis. When the boys are paired together on a field trip and it's discovered that Alfie has gone missing Florence fears her son may have played a role in his disappearance so she will stop at nothing to prove her son innocent.
In the beginning I was really enjoying this. I loved the MC's snarky humor but then an event took place that I just could not forgive her for.
Let's also not forget that this woman, a mother that claims to lover her son more than anything in the world, would often leave him (10 years old) all night long, completely alone, while she's out boozing it up and having random one night stands with strangers. I don't believe she'll be winning any mother of the year awards any time soon.
So this is why I'm torn. I went from loving the MC to really finding her to be an irritating and irresponsible mess and that juxtaposition tempered my enjoyment in the end.
I also didn't like the outcome. The *who did it* kind of bummed me out. Unexpected? Sure. Disappointing? Yes.
All that said I do think this book will be a hit with many readers. Harman is a talented writer that I will definitely keep my eye on in the future. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.
March 7, 2025
Entertaining Book. This was a book that made me laugh often. I loved the sarcasm and mocking the Stuffy, Elitist Mums. That said, about 1/3 of way thru, I was with the Mums. Who could actually like Florence? She is so self absorbed, uncaring, and just a mess.
I child has gone missing at her son’s school and she is quite concerned Dylan may have been involved in some way. She meets Jenny, another American Mom, and their friendship and amateur sleuthing is the best part of the book. Jenny, I did love and she needs to let loose a bit. She is honest, caring, and smart. This balances out Flo and the two actually play off each other really well. She brings Flo around to reality many times.
At one point Florence is referred to as being Morally Flexible and yes, that would be a good way to describe her. Her rationalizations for things like shoplifting are actually really amusing. Says, she is doing the world a favor since those clothes were probably made by young children overseas, so she was just helping out. Can she overcome some of her weaknesses and pull herself to be a decent woman? Anything, is possible. So, yes she is not too together, but I still routed for her. I think because I knew she had her friend Jenny to keep her on the straight path for once.
Overall, just such unique and different characters that I got drawn to. This was a fast paced book and really loved reading it. Recommend if you like flawed women with some chance of redemption. Humor also makes this book great.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.
I child has gone missing at her son’s school and she is quite concerned Dylan may have been involved in some way. She meets Jenny, another American Mom, and their friendship and amateur sleuthing is the best part of the book. Jenny, I did love and she needs to let loose a bit. She is honest, caring, and smart. This balances out Flo and the two actually play off each other really well. She brings Flo around to reality many times.
At one point Florence is referred to as being Morally Flexible and yes, that would be a good way to describe her. Her rationalizations for things like shoplifting are actually really amusing. Says, she is doing the world a favor since those clothes were probably made by young children overseas, so she was just helping out. Can she overcome some of her weaknesses and pull herself to be a decent woman? Anything, is possible. So, yes she is not too together, but I still routed for her. I think because I knew she had her friend Jenny to keep her on the straight path for once.
Overall, just such unique and different characters that I got drawn to. This was a fast paced book and really loved reading it. Recommend if you like flawed women with some chance of redemption. Humor also makes this book great.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.
March 15, 2025
What this mom liked about this "Mothers" book:
1) The cover.
2) The title.
3) The premise: Did a mom's son kill a student who was bullying him?
4) Strong beginning with an endearing, quirky, witty, and imperfect protagonist.
What this mom did not like about this "Mothers" book:
1) After a compelling start, the book fizzled.
2) Pacing was uneven
3) At times, the book was all over the place. I lost track of the times I heard myself asking, "Are we there yet?"
4) The ending was eye-rolling.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Georgina Sadler.
2 stars, rounded up.
November 13, 2024
I had SOOOO much fun with this book! I love a good big little lies ish ‘mommy drama�/school thriller and this scratched that itch for me. Florence is a very unlikable narrator which won’t be for everyone, but I found it very refreshing and fun to follow a morally grey character and her inner bitchy thoughts were very entertaining to read. although it’s not the twistiest thriller ever, the mystery led in a few unexpected directions and I found that aspect paired with Florence’s character made the book very bingeable!
January 30, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 11, 2025
Florence Grimes is a former pop star whose career imploded after a string of poor choices. Now, she’s an unemployed single mother who lives for her son, Dylan. During a school trip, one of Dylan’s classmates, rich, entitled bully Alfie Risby disappears and Dylan was the last one to see him alive. Desperate to clear her son’s name, Florence decides to investigate the missing child. But as Dylan’s behaviour grows increasingly suspicious, Florence begins to feel the pressure. How far will Florence go to prove to everyone that her son is innocent? Even if he isn’t?
“� is the debut novel by author . Florence is a recalcitrant has-been with a penchant for making terrible decisions and it is quite easy to see, right from the start, why the other uber-rich, high-profile mothers at her son’s school hate her. Florence is not an easy character to like and yet, somehow, Harman made her a character that was easy to root for. I wanted to see Florence clear Dylan’s name and her hilarious antics along the way provided some cringe-worthy entertainment.
Harman provides significant mystery in “Mothers�. What happened to Alfie and who was responsible? There were many potentials in both suspects and situations and I loved the guessing game of it all. I was not terribly surprised at the outcome, but it was still enjoyable and Harman crafted an ending that was believable and satisfying.
As far as debuts go, “Mothers� is both hilarious and dark, emotional and light-hearted, and Harman seamlessly connects the juxtapositions with creativity and spark. A protagonist that is not relatable and not that likable yet still manages to come out on top at the end and bring readers to her side. “Mothers� is a novel that you would not expect to work, but it somehow does! The plot flowed smoothly and was well-developed and there were plenty of twists and turns throughout to keep readers guessing right through to the comforting conclusion. A stellar debut that has marked Harman as an author I will be watching for.
Expected publication date: Mar. 11, 2025
Florence Grimes is a former pop star whose career imploded after a string of poor choices. Now, she’s an unemployed single mother who lives for her son, Dylan. During a school trip, one of Dylan’s classmates, rich, entitled bully Alfie Risby disappears and Dylan was the last one to see him alive. Desperate to clear her son’s name, Florence decides to investigate the missing child. But as Dylan’s behaviour grows increasingly suspicious, Florence begins to feel the pressure. How far will Florence go to prove to everyone that her son is innocent? Even if he isn’t?
“� is the debut novel by author . Florence is a recalcitrant has-been with a penchant for making terrible decisions and it is quite easy to see, right from the start, why the other uber-rich, high-profile mothers at her son’s school hate her. Florence is not an easy character to like and yet, somehow, Harman made her a character that was easy to root for. I wanted to see Florence clear Dylan’s name and her hilarious antics along the way provided some cringe-worthy entertainment.
Harman provides significant mystery in “Mothers�. What happened to Alfie and who was responsible? There were many potentials in both suspects and situations and I loved the guessing game of it all. I was not terribly surprised at the outcome, but it was still enjoyable and Harman crafted an ending that was believable and satisfying.
As far as debuts go, “Mothers� is both hilarious and dark, emotional and light-hearted, and Harman seamlessly connects the juxtapositions with creativity and spark. A protagonist that is not relatable and not that likable yet still manages to come out on top at the end and bring readers to her side. “Mothers� is a novel that you would not expect to work, but it somehow does! The plot flowed smoothly and was well-developed and there were plenty of twists and turns throughout to keep readers guessing right through to the comforting conclusion. A stellar debut that has marked Harman as an author I will be watching for.
March 4, 2025
I knew nothing about Sarah Harman's debut novel, ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME, besides that the cover gave camp and the synopsis seemed like it would be a fun journey. I am happy to say that this book DELIVERED and then some! This book is witty and campy, with a touch of humor all infused into this original light mystery/thriller novel.
Florence is a former girl band star, who is now broke and an unconventional single mom. Florence is raising her bright, possibly neurodivergent son, Dylan, and trying to not live way too above her means to do so. She navigates life with equal parts chaos and charm. When Dylan becomes linked to the disappearance of Alfie Risby, Florence, alongside her pragmatic and voice-of-reason friend Jenny, embarks on her own investigation. Despite her impulsive nature and questionable decision-making, Florence’s fierce love for her son keeps you rooting for her every step of the way.
With fast pacing, sharp dialogue, and a fresh take on the detective genre, this novel is impossible to put down. The story blends mystery and comedy seamlessly, which immediately had me thinking of Finlay Donovan is Killing It meets Bad Moms. Florence’s antics—balancing motherhood, mystery-solving, and a dream of reclaiming her former stardom—make for an unforgettable ride. Florence was the perfect gay icon and TBH I'd love to be her best friend! This book is hands-down a five-star read and will be in my top reads of 2025. I navigated the book by reading the physical and also listening to the audiobook via @prhaudio and I can honestly recommend both journeys since I loved both avenues! I really have hope that this won't be the last we will see of Florence Grimes.
Florence is a former girl band star, who is now broke and an unconventional single mom. Florence is raising her bright, possibly neurodivergent son, Dylan, and trying to not live way too above her means to do so. She navigates life with equal parts chaos and charm. When Dylan becomes linked to the disappearance of Alfie Risby, Florence, alongside her pragmatic and voice-of-reason friend Jenny, embarks on her own investigation. Despite her impulsive nature and questionable decision-making, Florence’s fierce love for her son keeps you rooting for her every step of the way.
With fast pacing, sharp dialogue, and a fresh take on the detective genre, this novel is impossible to put down. The story blends mystery and comedy seamlessly, which immediately had me thinking of Finlay Donovan is Killing It meets Bad Moms. Florence’s antics—balancing motherhood, mystery-solving, and a dream of reclaiming her former stardom—make for an unforgettable ride. Florence was the perfect gay icon and TBH I'd love to be her best friend! This book is hands-down a five-star read and will be in my top reads of 2025. I navigated the book by reading the physical and also listening to the audiobook via @prhaudio and I can honestly recommend both journeys since I loved both avenues! I really have hope that this won't be the last we will see of Florence Grimes.
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April 12, 2025Library book.
Florence is a terrific character. I absolutely loved her voice. Her humor. Her love for Dylan. What I didn't love so much were her mothering skills. Her choices. Her actions. Her deviousness. I was rooting for her at the beginning. I truly was.
Then? Well, I definitely kept turning the pages. The writing is FAST. FURIOUS. And, again, the humor went a long way in ameliorating the conflicting feels I was getting.
Florence is a terrific character. I absolutely loved her voice. Her humor. Her love for Dylan. What I didn't love so much were her mothering skills. Her choices. Her actions. Her deviousness. I was rooting for her at the beginning. I truly was.
Then? Well, I definitely kept turning the pages. The writing is FAST. FURIOUS. And, again, the humor went a long way in ameliorating the conflicting feels I was getting.
April 3, 2025
was actually enjoying this book until the unnecessary tel aviv namedrop. yeah no thanks it’s 2025 u know exactly what ur doing
September 5, 2024
Florence is an American woman who is an ex singer/performer. She is single mom to Dylan, and lucky enough to have him attend a fancy private school in London. One of Dylan‘s classmates, Alfie, goes missing at a school field trip. Immediately, Florence takes Dylan home, and begins to suspect he is the one behind Alfie‘s disappearance. Plenty of red herrings, twist, and turns, this is a story about a vigilante detective trying to solve a crime in order to save her kid. I didn’t guess the ending, but then again, I didn’t care that much either. This is an easy, breezy read. It’s a decent mystery, and can be read without much brain power. I enjoyed the story and would read another mystery about Flo and Dylan. My favorite character was Jenny, Florence’s partner in crime, so to speak. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin @Putnambooks for the ARC. book to be released March 11, 2025.
#netgalley #bookreviews #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booktok #alltheothermothershateme
#netgalley #bookreviews #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #booktok #alltheothermothershateme
October 27, 2024
When I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that by . I'm glad I did because this was a fast-paced, short, and very engrossing read that I read almost in its entirety before we got home. I will say it, I did not like a single character and sometimes I almost downright hated Florence. She is incredibly selfish, has an addiction problem, and sleeps with random men, some of whom are married. But her love and devotion to her son never wavered even in the face of something potentially terrible, so I guess she wasn’t all bad.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 12, 2025
I loved every minute of this! The main character was witty and relatable, which kept the mystery of the missing child from being too dark. I loved the idea of Americans living across the pond. Somehow that made it even more interesting to me. I'm not used to hearing our American perspective over there, unless it's a Taylor Swift song from the Lover album.
Florence used to be somebody.. well, she was in a girl band that became "somebody" but it was after she left. She hasn't fully gotten her life together since, but one thing she's sure of is that she loves her son Dylan.
So when the snotty kid from school goes missing in proximity to Dylan, Florence is worried. The families at this school are wealthy and powerful and she doesn't want them to steamroll over Dylan.
That's why she decides to investigate herself, with the help of another single mom friend, Jenny. Jenny is likeable too. I can see why people may dislike Florence at first but as the book chugs along, she grows on you! Her Mariah references kept me laughing.
I don't usually like a side of comedy with my mystery but this was just the right amount. I thought it was a really clever book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Florence used to be somebody.. well, she was in a girl band that became "somebody" but it was after she left. She hasn't fully gotten her life together since, but one thing she's sure of is that she loves her son Dylan.
So when the snotty kid from school goes missing in proximity to Dylan, Florence is worried. The families at this school are wealthy and powerful and she doesn't want them to steamroll over Dylan.
That's why she decides to investigate herself, with the help of another single mom friend, Jenny. Jenny is likeable too. I can see why people may dislike Florence at first but as the book chugs along, she grows on you! Her Mariah references kept me laughing.
I don't usually like a side of comedy with my mystery but this was just the right amount. I thought it was a really clever book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
March 23, 2025
All the other mothers hate Florence � and you just might, too, because this main character is full of incorrect and immature assumptions that slip under your skin. She's easy to dislike but, just like a car wreck in slow motion, somehow you still can't quite look away.
Florence, formerly a girl-band rock star, isn't quite like the other mothers at her son Dylan's school. Still, she does her best to fit in, as does Dylan, who is even more out of sync with his peers. When one of the other students goes missing during a field trip one day, and it's revealed that Dylan was the last one to see him, Florence goes into full mama bear mode to make sure that her son isn't implicated.
There are enough twists in "All the Other Mothers Hate Me" to keep you guessing, and while I did find Flo quite unlikeable, she does have at least some satisfying character growth. I found the sideline plot Still, this was a strong debut and I'll definitely be interested in reading more from Sarah Harman.
Florence, formerly a girl-band rock star, isn't quite like the other mothers at her son Dylan's school. Still, she does her best to fit in, as does Dylan, who is even more out of sync with his peers. When one of the other students goes missing during a field trip one day, and it's revealed that Dylan was the last one to see him, Florence goes into full mama bear mode to make sure that her son isn't implicated.
There are enough twists in "All the Other Mothers Hate Me" to keep you guessing, and while I did find Flo quite unlikeable, she does have at least some satisfying character growth. I found the sideline plot Still, this was a strong debut and I'll definitely be interested in reading more from Sarah Harman.
April 14, 2025
Well, I can see why all the other mothers hate her.
Florence is not a likeable character. While not deliberately cruel or vindictive, she is self-centered and thoughtless. She makes bad choices, and does some pretty awful things.
All the same - I was rooting for her. For all her faults, she's very relatable. (If you've never done or said anything stupid that you later regretted, then I don't really want to know you.)
This turned out to be an involving and intriguing mystery. I couldn't put it down, and, quite honestly, enjoyed the heck out of it.
Kudos to Harman on her fine and fun first novel. Anyone who can make me care about such an unpleasant woman is a very good writer in my book.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the read.
Florence is not a likeable character. While not deliberately cruel or vindictive, she is self-centered and thoughtless. She makes bad choices, and does some pretty awful things.
All the same - I was rooting for her. For all her faults, she's very relatable. (If you've never done or said anything stupid that you later regretted, then I don't really want to know you.)
This turned out to be an involving and intriguing mystery. I couldn't put it down, and, quite honestly, enjoyed the heck out of it.
Kudos to Harman on her fine and fun first novel. Anyone who can make me care about such an unpleasant woman is a very good writer in my book.
Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the read.
April 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
All the Other Mothers Hate Me.
Hate is a strong word, as my mom says, but I can see why the other mothers hate Florence because I don't like her either.
I don't care that she's a party girl and stuck in her past life as a wannabe pop star who never made it big.
I don't like her because she's a mom with responsibilities and hasn't grown the f**k up even though her son is 10 years old.
She's not entirely unlikable, but her immaturity and bad choices annoyed me and maybe that's the point.
I liked the writing style and Florence's voice was easy breezy and engaging but the mystery was a subplot to Florence's poor decisions and lousy parental skills.
There are typical tropes; her neighbor is a hottie, her son is mature for his age and doesn't get along with his peers, Florence has no friends or allies.
I liked Jenny but her friendship with Flo felt forced and they had no chemistry as friends.
The mystery is meh and the narrative lacks suspense and urgency despite there is a missing child.
The big reveal of whodunit and why is VERY difficult to suspend disbelief for.
I don't believe it. What are the odds?
And I don't believe in coincidence.
I didn't hate Florence but I didn't like her or the narrative but I will give the author's next book a try.
Hate is a strong word, as my mom says, but I can see why the other mothers hate Florence because I don't like her either.
I don't care that she's a party girl and stuck in her past life as a wannabe pop star who never made it big.
I don't like her because she's a mom with responsibilities and hasn't grown the f**k up even though her son is 10 years old.
She's not entirely unlikable, but her immaturity and bad choices annoyed me and maybe that's the point.
I liked the writing style and Florence's voice was easy breezy and engaging but the mystery was a subplot to Florence's poor decisions and lousy parental skills.
There are typical tropes; her neighbor is a hottie, her son is mature for his age and doesn't get along with his peers, Florence has no friends or allies.
I liked Jenny but her friendship with Flo felt forced and they had no chemistry as friends.
The mystery is meh and the narrative lacks suspense and urgency despite there is a missing child.
The big reveal of whodunit and why is VERY difficult to suspend disbelief for.
I don't believe it. What are the odds?
And I don't believe in coincidence.
I didn't hate Florence but I didn't like her or the narrative but I will give the author's next book a try.
March 16, 2025
Fun, fast paced, easy read. Enjoyed!
November 2, 2024
3.5/5
Good read.
The title is very obvious as to why the other moms hate Florence. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to root for her or wanted her to fail. She is chaotic. She does love her son so much but is just complete chaos.
There’s so much that happens in this book. The ending twist was great and definitely made a lot of sense.
Overall, I’m glad I kept with the book and finished it out.
Good read.
The title is very obvious as to why the other moms hate Florence. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to root for her or wanted her to fail. She is chaotic. She does love her son so much but is just complete chaos.
There’s so much that happens in this book. The ending twist was great and definitely made a lot of sense.
Overall, I’m glad I kept with the book and finished it out.
April 21, 2025
*** 4/20/25 *** Just finished Sarah Harman's debut novel about an American single mom, Florence, and her school-aged son, Dylan, living in England. Florence is a non-conformist, former girl-band member, not friends with the other mums at school, and relying on her looks too much. Dylan is a bit quiet and eccentric, friendly with neighborhood adults, and attending a prestigious UK school because his Dad went there.
Early in the book we learn that Flo's son has had issues with Alfie, the son of a rich family at school, and it seems Alfie is a bully. But when he goes missing on a school field trip, all evidence points to Dylan and we have a mystery on our hands.
Flo is a classic underachiever - drinking too much, seeing random men, making poor decisions - but that takes a minor turn in a better direction when Jennie, a new mom of twins at school, befriends her. Jennie is a hard core type A attorney and when she sets her mind to something, she commits 100%. And she agrees to help Flo uncover what has happened to the missing boy to save Dylan's reputation and future.
This is a decent mystery, but Flo is fairly unlikable, and doesn't make any major personality evolution as the book concludes, although she does do a few important things right. I can see Flo and Jennie being a partnership in a future book, but only if Flo makes some changes in her lifestyle / personality. I also took issue with the ending related to Alfie's parents and how they were handled by the author - there was potential for a far more impactful narrative with the dad in particular.
For reasons having to do with Flo's unpleasant approach to life and motherhood, I am deducting 1.5 stars, and another .5 star for the handling of Alfie's parents, but do think Sarah Harman has real potential to tell a story and I would try another of her books. 3 stars.
Early in the book we learn that Flo's son has had issues with Alfie, the son of a rich family at school, and it seems Alfie is a bully. But when he goes missing on a school field trip, all evidence points to Dylan and we have a mystery on our hands.
Flo is a classic underachiever - drinking too much, seeing random men, making poor decisions - but that takes a minor turn in a better direction when Jennie, a new mom of twins at school, befriends her. Jennie is a hard core type A attorney and when she sets her mind to something, she commits 100%. And she agrees to help Flo uncover what has happened to the missing boy to save Dylan's reputation and future.
This is a decent mystery, but Flo is fairly unlikable, and doesn't make any major personality evolution as the book concludes, although she does do a few important things right. I can see Flo and Jennie being a partnership in a future book, but only if Flo makes some changes in her lifestyle / personality. I also took issue with the ending related to Alfie's parents and how they were handled by the author - there was potential for a far more impactful narrative with the dad in particular.
For reasons having to do with Flo's unpleasant approach to life and motherhood, I am deducting 1.5 stars, and another .5 star for the handling of Alfie's parents, but do think Sarah Harman has real potential to tell a story and I would try another of her books. 3 stars.
March 10, 2025
As an elder millennial, I am firmly in the demographic to be drawn into a story about a fallen girl group member struggling to make ends meet and wishing for another chance at stardom. Fans of the Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny's Child, B*Witched, The Pussycat Dolls, Danity Kane, The Cheetah Girls, Dream, Girls Aloud, En Vogue, and the list goes on�All the Other Mothers Hate Me will feel right at home.
Florence Grimes used to be in the pop group Girls' Night but departed right before the group hit its peak popularity and fame. Now, in her early thirties, the mother of ten-year-old Dylan, she's a single mum, broke, and has no career prospects. On top of all of that, paid for by her son's father, Dylan attends an uppity Brittish school where she could not be more out of place with the other mothers. She doesn't play the game, and it shows. When Dylan's bully goes missing and her son becomes the primary lead, Florence will stop at nothing to protect her son, even if it means destroying her own reputation.
All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a nostalgic, quirky thriller rooted in millennial pop and Lucy and Ethel shenanigans. Flo is an unbearable character, but damnit if you can't help but root for her. She's the source of all of her problems and her decision-making ability be busted. But you gotta love her. Even if she can't be responsible for her own life, she is fiercely protective of her son, and you can't take that away from her.
Overall, the plot takes a backseat, in my opinion, and the fun is had in the writing and the humor of the telling. I found myself smiling and laughing giddily at the dialogue and the comedic range of the characters. I came for the mystery but stayed for the prose, and truth be told, I couldn't care less if they found the missing child....Don't judge me.
Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, & Sarah Harman for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.
Florence Grimes used to be in the pop group Girls' Night but departed right before the group hit its peak popularity and fame. Now, in her early thirties, the mother of ten-year-old Dylan, she's a single mum, broke, and has no career prospects. On top of all of that, paid for by her son's father, Dylan attends an uppity Brittish school where she could not be more out of place with the other mothers. She doesn't play the game, and it shows. When Dylan's bully goes missing and her son becomes the primary lead, Florence will stop at nothing to protect her son, even if it means destroying her own reputation.
All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a nostalgic, quirky thriller rooted in millennial pop and Lucy and Ethel shenanigans. Flo is an unbearable character, but damnit if you can't help but root for her. She's the source of all of her problems and her decision-making ability be busted. But you gotta love her. Even if she can't be responsible for her own life, she is fiercely protective of her son, and you can't take that away from her.
Overall, the plot takes a backseat, in my opinion, and the fun is had in the writing and the humor of the telling. I found myself smiling and laughing giddily at the dialogue and the comedic range of the characters. I came for the mystery but stayed for the prose, and truth be told, I couldn't care less if they found the missing child....Don't judge me.
Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, & Sarah Harman for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.
September 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this read! Many of the other reviews I checked out mentioned how unlikeable Florence is. I found her to be funny and quite endearing. Despite being a hot mess and making some questionable choices, she's a fierce mama bear intent on protecting her son. I surely wouldn't mind having her in my corner!! This is like a cozy mystery, satire and smidgeon of thriller all mixed into one, and a great way to pass a few reading hours.
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