by Jennifer A. Jones
Overall: Although it’s called The Mom Group, this novel is mostly about one woman who identifies primarily as a wife and mother. After years as a stay-at-home mom, Erika Thompson has reached a bumpy patch in her life. Both her kids are away at college and her husband barely sees her, spending most of his time at the office. Erika doesn’t have any close friends nearby, and a dysfunctional childhood has left her with a strained relationship with her boutique-owning sister and mooch of a mom. She wants to spend more time with her husband, but he wants her to make some friends or find a job. So, Erika joins an online Mom Group. But she quickly finds that, both online and in the group’s real-life meetings, not everyone is welcome. Erika decides to retaliate against one of the mean moms, and from there, falls down a rabbit hole of revenge and deception that changes her life and her relationship with her family forever.
Likes: The book did a great job of depicting how frustrating and constrained a life as a stay-at-home parent can feel after many years. Its description of how nasty online life can be, and how a one person can take what’s said online and use it as a weapon for their own purposes, rang true. The catty women and their cliquey behavior are, unfortunately, quite believable, with lots of small, carefully observed details. I loved that this book is set in North Texas, where I live, and it did a great job describing a certain kind of suburban lifestyle. The book club scene is not to be missed if you’re in one – worst book club ever! And there’s a loveable dog, too.
Dislikes: The first section of the book involves a lot of “telling,” and I wish all the background info had a frame to explain why Erika’s describing her own life this way. Although we’re told Erika is a big reader, we don’t see her reading very often. At times I wished I could have a break from her perspective, which was often quite myopic.
FYI: emotional abuse, gaslighting, infidelity, poor parenting, child neglect.
Thank you to Katie and Brey PA and the author for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Liz Helfrich 