Desperate to make friends in her new neighborhood, Ruth and her introvert daughter Marley decide to host the annual Hillside Academy kindergarten meet-and-greet. Ruth hopes they will finally be accepted and find their niche. Unfortunately, the parents are turned off by Ruth and her obnoxious wealth. Once again, Ruth and Marley are outcasts.

During the meet-and-greet Ruth meets single mom Gemma and her extrovert daughter, Bee. Ruth makes it her mission to become best friends with mom and daughter. Ruth lavishes Gemma/Bee to Aspen vacations, Michelin starred dinners and even a new car. Gemma can’t believe her luck at first as Bee and she have been living paycheck to paycheck. As the years go by, Gemma starts to feel indebted and doesn’t know how she will ever repay Ruth. When Ruth’s affair with a married man is exposed, Gemma uses this as her way to sever ties.

Six years later and now Gemma is the one under judgmental eyes and just like that, Ruth comes to her defense. Their friendship is renewed. Gemma quickly however feels the pull of guilt as Ruth becomes more controlling and obsessive of their friendship.

HOLY MOLY!!! This book was GOOD. I stayed up until WAY past my bedtime and even read during my work day (BAD ME, don’t tell) I just had to know what was going to happen. This book takes cuckoo bananas to another level! I loved Melanie Gideon’s vernacular in this novel. She writes with current lingo, phrasing and technology. It just added to the overall atmosphere of the novel and the drama. This book is haughty and soooo juicy. Backstabbing friends, cyber bulling, and abuse all wrapped up in one. Ruth takes stalking to a whole new level and I was here for all of the horror. I have never read anything by Melanie Gideon but, I will be back that is for sure. I don’t want to give any spoilers but the ending had me jaw dropped and clapping. It was brilliant!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Brilliant 5 STARS!! This books is full of lies, deceit, suspence and more... a lot more. Its definitely one of those books once you start reading you need to finish it quickly. I loved it! Highly recommend

A suspenseful, gripping novel about families and friendships torn apart at the seams by obsession, secrets, and betrayal with relentless twists and turns that hurtle forward to a shocking confrontation. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. This was a great book to read.

Ruth is hoping for a fresh start after her divorce when she enrolls her daughter into an exclusive kindergarten for the wealthiest of the wealthy. Ruth certainly fits in with the other moms. she has plenty of money. But it would seem she has too much money and she and Marley are ostracized by the moms and their snotty kids. Ruth’s savior arrives in the unlikely form of another soon to be divorced mom and her daughter. Ruth latches on to Gemma and the two quickly become inseparable, as Ruth treats Gemma and her daughter to luxury vacations that Gemma could only ever have dreamed of. But Gemma starts to feel indebted to Ruth and has a sneaking suspicion that soon Ruth will come calling for payment, in a form that Gemma will not be able to refuse

A great psychological thriller about wealthy moms and their children. I highly enjoyed this book and all of the characters. Many will enjoy this book which reminiscent of Big Little Lies. I highly recommend this one.