**4.5 stars**

Prom Mom is both a slow burn and a page-turner (I know, crazy). The characters immediately draw you in — they're all flawed but interesting in their own ways.

The back story starts on prom night in 1997, when 16-year-old Amber gives birth by herself in the hotel room she shares with her date, Joe, and wakes up covered in blood next to a dead baby.

Skip ahead to 2019, and Amber is back in Baltimore and opening an art gallery. She runs into Joe, and they become involved in each other's lives again. The story is told via Amber, Joe and Joe's wife, Meredith.

There are overarching themes of redemption vs. what it means to be a "good" person — when clearly there isn't much REAL desire for anyone to be particularly good.

The settings of Baltimore and New Orleans are vivid and well-drawn, and the subtle nuances of going through the various stages of the COVID pandemic are spot-on. In particular, I loved how the author organically made financial tables turn for Amber and Joe via pandemic happenstance. (Demand for Amber's art goes up; demand for Joe's commercial real estate goes down — leading to the sinister and satisfying "twist" of the book.)

Deducted half a star only because the twist and subsequent ending were so abrupt.

Amber Glass is known as “Prom Mom” - the label given her when she attends the prom with Joe Simpson, the boy she has been tutoring. They have a hotel room where Amber retreats when she sees Joe pursuing the girl that had tossed him aside months earlier. Early the next morning, Amber has given birth to a baby which no one knew was coming, and the baby is dead. Fast forward to 2020 - Joe is now a successful real estate businessman and has a supposedly wonderful marriage to Meredith, a plastic surgeon. Amber moves from New Orleans to Baltimore (a coincidence now that Joe lives there?) and reconnects with Joe. But all is clearly not as it seems. And the ending of the book will come as a complete surprise.

Lots of things were wrong with this book. I slogged through a story that seemed to be going nowhere. The story bounced back and forth in time between the incident 20 years earlier and 2020/2021 somewhat randomly. The ending came out of the blue - and quickly. I certainly did not enjoy reliving the pandemic or the political undertones. I have read a few other books by this author - I rated the first couple very highly, then a little lower, and finally a “did not finish.” I managed to finish this one but cannot find a lot to say positively about it. I appreciate the ARC from Wm. Morrow and NetGalley.

I had my reservations about reading this and unfortunately, I was right to have those. I felt this book was very slow and boring up until the end. About halfway through, I still didn't know what the goal of this book was, what we were working towards in the plot, or really which character was which. The two female leads seemed super similar to me and I kept getting them confused. I thought there may have been some interesting conversations about COVID, but unfortunately this fell flat too. We all lived through COVID, we all heard the politics, I didn't really need to re-live it again in this novel. The last 5% of the book was my favorite part. There were a few good twists, but I would have liked to see those throughout the novel. I think some more focus on plot and character development could have greatly improved this book.

Amber Glass is the antihero main character in this slow burning modern noir tale.

This is the kind of book you savor because of the nuanced writing. Lippman slowly unfolds the story, intertwining past and present. But the slow burn doesn’t mean it’s slow paced. This will hook you because you’ll want to see where this twisted story goes.

The story keeps you guessing about who is the real villain. Is it love struck teenage Amber who kept her pregnancy secret and caused the infant to die? Is it golden boy Joe, Amber’s prom date and father of her child, who abandoned Amber at prom? Is it a grown Amber scheming to insert herself back into Joe’s picture perfect life and marriage? Is it Joe who thinks he’s a good guy even though he occasionally steps out on his wife?

Lippman is a master of this type of domestic noir. She explores the questions of how well do we really know the people we love and just how far will seemingly ordinary people go to get what they want.

This is a great beach or pool read to finish out the summer. It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book for me and will be in my top ten favorites for the year. Prom Mom is out today and it won’t disappoint.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I hated the characters, but also loved them. I did not trust any of them, I did not want to be their friends, but I was very invested in the games that they were playing. The book alternates between 3 characters, and I think that Lippman did so flawlessly. I was never confused and enjoyed the different perspectives, even though I did not like what was going on in most of their heads. Were the characters or their lives realistic, not at all. But I still found myself escaping reality and looking forward to reading this. It was a quick read and a slow burn - something I don't always enjoy, but it worked for me this time.

thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy

This book was a little strange for me. I am not even sure I really enjoyed it that much. There were parts (toward the end) that were very readable and engaging, but there were also parts that truly bombed for me. This is set during COVID, and I am not sure I want to read a book involving the pandemic. Plus, there was a lot of real estate talk and too preachy on politics, at times.

May 1997 - the beginning was interesting. Prom night for Amber Glass wasn't what she had hoped. Neither was her date, Joe Simpson. Prom Mom and Cad Dad?

Fast forward to present day, 2019, Amber has returned to her hometown and runs into Joe. Joe is married to Meredith, but that doesn't stop him from having affairs with other women- Amber included. None of the characters are likable, so I really didn't care who was deceiving who.

This is a slow build of a story that you don't really get fulfillment until the last 10% or so. There aren't too many twists until the end, with one major surprise.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amber Glass has tried to forget her past, but when her stepfather passes away and she has to return to Baltimore to deal with his estate, she is forced to confront her past as "Prom Mom" - the girl who allegedly delivered and killed her baby in the hotel bathroom on prom night.

We meet Amber at the beginning of the book - on prom night which is hazy. The police show up to her house the next day saying they have reason the believe she delivered and killed her own baby the night before. What a great hook! Flash forward many years and she's back in Baltimore and confronted with her prom date "Cad Dad".
Amber & Joe are confronted with feelings from the past. A covid timeline added interest to this piece with quarantines in place. The cast of characters is small but mighty. I really enjoyed this one. It hooked me from the start and I devoured it!

Prom Mom was an un-putdownable novel for me. From the very beginning I had a strong idea of what the plot would unfold to be, and overall was right; however, the middle of the novel took me by complete surprise. Setting a novel in the peak events of 2020 and 2021 had be on the edge of my seat, curious as to how these characters would respond to the 2020 election, the pandemic, and the January 6.

The combination had me rooting for all the women in the novel much more than the men. A fun drama full of unlikeable and complex characters. Definitely will be recommending to friends!

Bestselling author Laura Lippman (favorite) returns following Seasonal Work: Stories, Sunburn, Lady in the Lake, and Dream Girl, with her latest slow-burn psychological thriller sizzler, PROM MOM —a chilling, dangerous twisty game of cat-and-mouse, and a web of secrets and lies collide, with a jaw-dropping final twist!

Top Thrillers of 2023!

Amber Glass has spent her entire adult life trying to escape her past. In her hometown of Baltimore, MD, Amber was known as the "Prom Mom" who allegedly killed her baby the night of the prom (1997). However, she blacked out and did not know what had happened. At the hotel, she changed clothes and walked home. Joe never showed up at the hotel to change clothes (or so he says). The premature baby was found dead.

Her date, Joe Simpson, left her to dance with his ex-girlfriend. Amber gets the key to the hotel from him as she has stomach cramps and returns to the hotel they had reserved for the night's events. Joe was dubbed "Cad Dad" and claimed to be innocent.

(2020) Now, twenty-some years later, Amber's stepdad, Ron, dies, and she inherits his house and estate, which is quite large for Amber. She must return to Baltimore to sort out all the details.

(1997) Amber was once a math tutor for Joe (he was suspended from the lacrosse team), the hunky athlete at the high school. He was bummed when his girlfriend broke up with him. Amber and Joe do more than homework, and she becomes pregnant. Her parents nor Joe knows about the pregnancy. They have a deal he will attend prom with Amber.

Things do not go as planned, and before the night is over, Amber has a baby, is charged with manslaughter, and serves time in prison. She was a victim used by a careless boy who wanted only sex and then left to deal with the consequences on her own; her life was destroyed, and his barely disrupted.

Afterward, she attains her education in Florida. She resides in New Orleans and works for Upperline and Miss Margaret at a gallery where she runs an Etsy online store for artists (outsider art and artists from prison). When she returns to Baltimore to prepare Ron's house for sale (her mom died years ago), she sees a commercial real estate space and thinks could she move back and open a gallery here? Is she crazy?

Joe is now a successful commercial real estate developer married to a prominent plastic surgeon, Meredith. They own a huge mansion, but due to the pandemic, his business is failing, and a giant balloon note is coming due on the house. He is desperate and once again turns to Amber to help out. There is also more to Meredith than you know. Will Amber fall for Joe's tricks again?

To further complicate things, Joe is having an affair with a younger Jordan, a real estate agent. Jordan is putting on the pressure.

Amber and Joe reconnect. She opens Amber Glass Gallery. Amber is more sophisticated than in high school (and more calculating). Joe is on the verge of losing his wife, house, and reputation. What comes next is mind-blowing!

From Part I BEFORE: 1997-2020, to Part II AFTER 2020-2021 with a final 1997. Told from Joe, Meredith, and Amber's POV, the three will collide for an explosive ending where nothing is as it appears, and everyone has their respective agenda. Mix in Jordan, a dangerous scheme, a murder, and secrets from the past are unraveled —EXPLOSIVE.

UNPUTDOWNABLE —I read in two sittings. I could not wait to see how this one played out. My nerves were shot. as nothing is as it appears. After a book like this—no sleep. Your mind will be racing. You have no idea where the author is taking you but hang on the wild ride. Totally unexpected!

I LOVED Amber. Joe, Meredith, and Jordan are the bad guys. You will question every character, and your loyalties may change throughout the book. There is blackmail, scheming, secrets, lies, seduction, betrayal, greed, and murder.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A SCORNED WOMAN.

Trust me, when you get to 89% (more than one twist) through the END, all the questions will be answered, taking you to the ultimate wickedly satisfying, delicious conclusion. Thank goodness— I was worried there for a while.

In addition, the author sprinkles in the COVID-19 pandemic, masks, vaccines, politics, literary references, class, privilege, and social commentary, among other topics from these periods.

The most intelligent, clever, gripping, twisty, sinister, character-driven, and creative prom crime story you will read! It is jaw-dropping and brilliant. You will be shocked and delighted! Readers, be patient while reading because you will be shaking your head—it is worth the wait! Get this knockout cat-and-mouse psychological thriller on your TBR list now.

As always, Laura is at the TOP OF HER GAME. A huge fan, and this is one of my favorites!

PS. You may have seen the movie Prom Mom and the true-crime story of Prom Mom, Melissa Drexler, in New Jersey; however, Lippman's Prom Mom is so much better! If you love well-written, character-driven intelligent thrillers with a twist, PROM MOM is for you—Lippman fans will devour!

Special thanks to #WilliamMorrow and #NetGalley for a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 25, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
July 2023 Must-Read Books

i really didn’t care for this and at a lot of points it seemed very predictable, cheesy, and full of cliches which is a shame because the premise was very interesting!

This started off with such a traumatic and difficult event that really set the tone for the book. Amber returns to her hometown of Baltimore to face her past and build a future. Fear of always being know as Prom Mom, the girl who killed her baby on Prom Night, Amber has kept tabs on her now apparently happily married prom date Joe Simpson, the guy who had left her that night to chase the girl he really liked. Amber served time in juvenile detention and Joe escaped the brunt of the scandal because, well he was a really good guy and just a kid at the time.
With dual timelines and POV, this takes you back to the prom in the 90's to the Pandemic in 2020. The story was a slow build to Joe and Amber coming face to face for the first time in over 20 years. The connection of their youth has transcended time. And Joe asks for Amber's help once again. This was slow moving and character driven. You could feel the undercurrent and knew there were things at play that had yet to be revealed. I found myself confused throughout the book as to what Amber was ultimately looking for from Joe, and how she really felt about him. And even as the plot came to its climax with its twists and revelations, I was still confused.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for my arc.

This story is such a slow burn that you aren't even sure you're reading a thriller until you get close to the end, but it is as well written, carefully crafted and astute as any Laura Lippman book, and when the twists come, they are stunning.
In 1997, Amber Glass gave birth and allegedly killed her baby in a hotel bathroom during prom, earning her the tabloid nickname "Prom Mom". After she was released from juvenile detention at age 18, she left Baltimore and has built a life for herself in New Orleans, but still pines over the baby's father, Joe Simpson, even though he is now happily married to his soulmate, Meredith. When Amber returns to Baltimore to deal with her step-father's estate, she decides to stay and open an art gallery, telling herself she is curious whether she can re-establish a life in her hometown untainted by her infamy as Prom Mom. Her path crosses Joe's, and as the COVID-19 pandemic hits the U.S., they feel out a friendship that Joe hides from his wife, adding to the number of "balls" he has to juggle. That's all I'm going to say about the plot because I don't want to spoil it for anyone! Told from the perspectives of Amber, Joe, and Meredith, this is a strong, character-driven story that held my interest from start to finish.

4.5 stars! This novel had me totally confused until the very end and I loved every minute of it. This is an ultimate revenge book. 20 years ago, Amber Glass gave birth to a baby she didn't know she was carrying. In a hotel room. At her junior prom. She was charged with the baby's murder but as a minor (and because the baby was only 25 weeks), Amber ended up serving time as a juvenile and then getting the hell out of Baltimore. "Prom Mom" is her new moniker and it's not something she can easily outrun.
Her date, Joe Simpson, known as "Cad Dad" got off much better with the press and society. Throughout the book, is the refrain, Joe is a good guy. But is he? His wife thinks so, His mistress certainly thinks so. And even Amber, after everything, thinks Joe is great.
The way Lippman weaves this story together is thoughtful with many meandering turns. You'll probably wonder where this whole story is going, but you're definitely going to want to stick with it. As a Baltimore native, I love Lippman's work and can always picture the places she sets her scenes. It's even more fun reading her work as a Marylander.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-arc.*

This book was weird. I’m kind of indifferent about it? It was very slow and very character driven, which is normally not what I like. I found the first half of the book to be slightly boring, and I’m not a fan of COVID in books. I lived it, I don’t want to read about it either. The politics also seemed out of place? I was really sure why it was super relevant that Joe is racist and voted for Trump? We understood her was a piece of shit person without that? It just felt like too many “pop culture “ references at one time.

I found none of the characters to be enjoyable nor did I root for any of them. I was actually actively hoping for the demise of them all. It’s hard to be really interested in a novel where not one character is worth rooting for.

The book did make me feel uneasy for the majority of it, as you can sense a cat and mouse game going on but you’re not sure what the outcome will be. There was an underlying suspense and waiting for the next shoe to drop. I did feel like it took too long to get to the “action.” The ending was interesting, but in my opinion too quick. I would’ve liked more explanation, for it to be fleshed out a little more.

It was just okay. I can see some people loving this, but it definitely will not be for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Prom Mom
Author: Laura Lippman
Source: NetGalley
Publish Date: July 25, 2023

We lost power recently and I decided to pick one of my NetGalley reads to wait it out in the heat. I picked Prom Mom by Laura Lippman and I assure you this book was a surprise…a good surprise. I think people are going to read this and think of a variety of genres, but I would actually call this a thriller, crime, or mystery novel. Regardless, it’s pretty damn good. We start off with a VERY naïve high school tutor, Amber, getting talked into s-e-x by the handsome Joe who has recently broken up with his girlfriend. Amber subsequently talks Joe into taking her to their high school prom since she has been putting out the goods and he doesn’t have a better option. It pretty much goes south from there. I won’t disclose the story because I want you to enjoy the suspense and shock. Years later, Amber (gorgeous but still carting around that scarlet letter) returns to her hometown and reconnects with Joe who is married yet still a player. I read this book in a hasty one-day blur because I was hooked. I really liked it and this coming from someone who ditched her boyfriend at prom many moons ago. Things could have been worse for me. It’s pretty rough for Amber. Read this! #PromMom #thriller #fiction #mystery #shame #crime ##suspense #adultfiction #contemporary @lauramlippman @netgalley @williammorrowbooks
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: July 25, 2023.
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This book is a very slow burn. And I mean VERY slow. If you like that, then continue reading my review. If you don't, then this book might not be for you.

The main characters here are Amber, Joe, Meredith and Jordan. Amber and Joe went to prom together and it turned out to be a tragic night for which Amber paid the price. Meredith and Joe are married and have been for 20 years. Jordan is Joe's current mistress. These four spend about 90% of the book circling each other and playing cat and mouse games. But who's playing who exactly and to what end you won't get to find out until about 95% of the way through. For me, that's too long to wait for the pay off and it was over too quick. I did enjoy the process of trying to figure out exactly what was going on and why some of the smaller details were important, but overall this moved a little too slow for me to give a great rating.

I found the four main people quite interesting. Amber, Joe and Meredith get the most time in the book and they are all about evenly fleshed out. Even though they've all done questionable things in the past, you do find yourself feeling sympathy for them, particularly Amber. Meredith made too many assumptions about her parents and then lived her life according to them, which I found a little irritating. And there were many times when Joe was a spineless idiot and I wanted to smack him.

Then there's Jordan. There was not one thing about this character that I liked. She was the cliche of a needy annoying mistress. I really didn't get what she was trying to do.

Overall, this is an interesting read, especially if you like character driven stories where there's not a ton of plot. I did like the ending, but as I said it took too long to come and was over too fast. I didn't really get to savor it.

Laura Lippman is a favorite writer of mine, ever since the Tess Monaghan series was first published. I've read most of her other novels along the way and this is one of my favorites. I promise that you do not have to be familiar with Baltimore to appreciate it as a character all its own when Lippman uses her her hometown as the backdrop to a novel. She makes you want to do a Lippman tour of Baltimore. And my favorite museum ever places a small role in this (The American Visionary Arts Museum, AVAM). But I digress... In Prom Mom, Amber Glass goes to the Towson High School prom with Joe Simpson, a guy she tutored in French. At his house. Often when his parents were not home. Joe has spent all of senior year mourning being dumped by his girlfriend, Katilyn. Things take an unexpected turn when Amber, who becomes violently ill at prom, goes to her hotel room and gives birth to a baby who dies. She is accused of killing the baby. Joe is a "cad" for not checking on her before he took off with his ex and Prom Mom and Cad Dad go as viral as you could get before the Internet took off. (Think tabloids). Now, of course, their past can be found easily when you google them.

Now, over 20 years later Amber has returned to Baltimore from her home in New Orleans, where she works in a gallery, to settle her stepfather's estate. She's curious about Joe but not sure whether she wants to meet him. She has taken an interest in "outsider art," collecting and selling it on Etsy. Much of her collection is by prison inmates. She decides to stay in Baltimore awhile and to open a gallery in an odd place, a strip mall near her childhood home. We also meet Joe, also back in Baltimore, with his plastic surgeon wife Meredith. The are, from their own accounts, happily married, intentionally childless and living in a veritable mansion because Joe got it for a bargain at an auction. I cannot give more information on the plot because of spoilers, but I will mention how much fun Lippmann's take on people during COVID-19 shutdowns was. She captures the mood of the six foot social distancing, the avoidance of restaurants, the playing tennis in cold weather, the paper goods wars, vaccination frenzy. Good characters, if not super likable in a few cases. Joe Simpson is morally flawed and beloved by many. He spends lots of time thinking about how great he is and making excuses for himself and how he really needs to do better, but..., there's always a but. Amber Glass is smart, creative, somewhat vulnerable and interesting. Meredith is kind of two dimensional but on purpose, so she's also a great character. A side character in Louisiana, Amber's boss/friend Miss Margaret is fun.

Now, over 20 years later Amber has returned to Baltimore from her home in New Orleans, where she works in a gallery, to settle her stepfather's estate. She's curious about Joe but not sure whether she wants to meet him. She has taken an interest in "outsider art," collecting and selling it on Etsy. Much of her collection is by prison inmates. She decides to stay in Baltimore awhile and to open a gallery in an odd place, a strip mall near her childhood home. We also meet Joe, also back in Baltimore, with his plastic surgeon wife Meredith. The are, from their own accounts, happily married, intentionally childless and living in a veritable mansion because Joe got it for a bargain at an auction. I cannot give more information on the plot because of spoilers, but I will mention how much fun Lippmann's take on people during COVID-19 shutdowns was. She captures the mood of the six foot social distancing, the avoidance of restaurants, the playing tennis in cold weather, the paper goods wars, vaccination frenzy. Good characters, if not super likable in a few cases. Joe Simpson is morally flawed and beloved by many. He spends lots of time thinking about how great he is and making excuses for himself and how he really needs to do better, but..., there's always a but. Amber Glass is smart, creative, somewhat vulnerable and interesting. Meredith is kind of two dimensional but on purpose, so she's also a great character. A side character in Louisiana, Amber's boss/friend Miss Margaret is fun.

Now, over 20 years later Amber has returned to Baltimore from her home in New Orleans, where she works in a gallery, to settle her stepfather's estate. She's curious about Joe but not sure whether she wants to meet him. She has taken an interest in "outsider art," collecting and selling it on Etsy. Much of her collection is by prison inmates. She decides to stay in Baltimore awhile and to open a gallery in an odd place, a strip mall near her childhood home. We also meet Joe, also back in Baltimore, with his plastic surgeon wife Meredith. The are, from their own accounts, happily married, intentionally childless and living in a veritable mansion because Joe got it for a bargain at an auction. I cannot give more information on the plot because of spoilers, but I will mention how much fun Lippmann's take on people during COVID-19 shutdowns was. She captures the mood of the six foot social distancing, the avoidance of restaurants, the playing tennis in cold weather, the paper goods wars, vaccination frenzy. Good characters, if not super likable in a few cases. Joe Simpson is morally flawed and beloved by many. He spends lots of time thinking about how great he is and making excuses for himself and how he really needs to do better, but..., there's always a but. Amber Glass is smart, creative, somewhat vulnerable and interesting. Meredith is kind of two dimensional but on purpose, so she's also a great character. A side character in Louisiana, Amber's boss/friend Miss Margaret is fun. I thoroughly enjoyed Prom Mom from start to finish. Highly recommend.

Laura Lippman is already an auto buy author for me. Her books are guaranteed to be uniquely twisty. Prom Mom is no exception. I had no idea that the ending was about to happen until it was happening. It was seemingly out of nowhere until I put all the tiny breadcrumbs of hints together as I read the ending.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion!

While the title sets the premise for the story, this book does not focus much on teenage Amber, who gave birth at prom and served time for allegedly killing her newborn. Instead, the story focuses on adult Amber who moves back to her hometown and picks back up with the father of that baby, Joe, who continues to treat Amber poorly. While Amber may now be older and more insightful, her relationship with Joe is still unhealthy and he uses her to get what he needs. This story is high on toxic relationships and low on thrill but will still draw in fans of Lippman’s work.

I enjoyed the beginning but had a hard time sticking with it in the middle. There was a lot of back and forth timewise. It also would suddenly switch characters and I was confused at times. My favorite part of the story was that it took place in my college town, Towson, Maryland. There were so many locale areas that I recognized and it was a trip down memory lane for me.