This was only my second novel by Laura Lippman. I read Sunburn last year and loved it. I thought it stood out among other (psychological) thrillers. I can't say the same about the Prom Mom, sadly. It was an OK read and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but something felt off. I didn't believe the decisions the characters made and actions they took. I suppose this meant there were 'unexpected twists' in the book, but they didn't quite fit in with how the characters were portrayed initially.

Overall, it's still a good read with unpredictable twists and I found myself absorbed by the book a few times.

Thank you to the publisher and NG for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up

Baltimore. In May 1997, Amber Glass is taken ill at her prom, her memory is a blur since waking up on the sticky hotel bathroom floor. She returns home but then it becomes seriously messed up when the police arrive, stating they believe Amber has given birth to a baby the previous night and that it is dead. Amber becomes the infamous Prom Mom. Fast forward to 2019 and she has inherited a house and money from her stepfather and she decides to return to Baltimore from New Orleans hoping to put the past behind her. ‘Cad Dad’ Joe Simpson, Ambers prom date, is now happily married to Meredith, a plastic surgeon and life is good. He is horrified to discover Amber is back and what’s more. she has opened an art gallery. Will their paths re-cross? If so, how and what will be the outcome? The narrative alternates between 1997 and 2019 to 2021 and is mostly set in Baltimore.

This is a character driven, slow burner with the central protagonists not being especially likeable as they play a game of cat and mouse with each other. Who will emerge the winner? All of them are certainly calculating maybe even cold, perhaps a bit bad ass, definitely selfish, some are full of excuses, occasionally honest, but often not. As for the mothers, frankly, they’re in a league of their own. Out of all of them, Amber is probably the most likeable and I do root for her, especially after what she’s been through.

The plot is good, you never quite know what’s going to happen and there’s an off kilter sensation as nothing is what it seems but regret and revenge are definite maybes! Although it is clever and creative, you do have to have some patience as not a huge amount happens for quite a long time. Much is set within the restrictions of Covid and this is well used especially within the dynamics of a character triangle or is that a square? However, this is Laura Lipman, so you bide your time and you can always rely on her to sock you with something that will make your jaw ache as it hits the deck with a resounding thud in shock. The unpredictable ending is very good and well worth waiting for. Overall, I don’t think this is her best novel, but it’s still blooming good!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

When she was 17 Amber Glass gave birth to a baby in a hotel bathroom while attending the prom,no one knew she was pregnant including her date Joe.Afterwards she left town for good and hasn't seen Joe since.She knows he hadn't left town and is working for his father's real estate company,married to a Cosmetic surgeon and child free.Now Amber is back and as the two of them tentatively start to renew their once unlikely relationship will their secrets and motivations finally destroy everyone around them?
Inspired by a true story.
I found this a peculiar read it just didn't grip me as I hoped it would and it left me underwhelmed.
Thanks to Netgalley and Faber&Faber for the ARC.

A pitch perfect, ice cold thriller, Prom Mom is utterly devoid of cliche, and makes great use of the pandemic as a plot point while never using it as a crutch to move the story forward. Gripping, surprising and ultimately a very rewarding read.

Suspenseful, Engaging…
Inspired by a true story comes a suspenseful, engaging and often harrowing story with a sharp twist in the tale. A dual timeline narrative is employed to tell the tale of Amber who, when seventeen, gives birth to a child and that is when her life is forever changed. A deftly drawn and keenly observed cast populates a compelling and fluidly crafted plotline with a menacing undercurrent.

This one is tough - well written but clearly ‘professional’ - all bases covered - it took me a while to get the back and forth (I am not a fan of flashbacks), but then I saw what it was about. We are told this is based on a real story - people frame each other for things that happen inadvertently, is the underlying theme. I kind of had no emotional preparation for the ending - although I expected it, as I realised how mean people are to each other, especially in this world, as Lippmann suggests. But reading through it all didn’t engage me - i skipped to the end.

I kind of struggled with this one. I feel like I spent a lot of the book waiting for something to actually happen and mainly being irritated at the characters lol. The writing style was good and the narrative flowed quite well but I just felt like nothing was happening? The characters are well written enough to make me really dislike them so they're at least well written and brought to life. I just prefer more things to be happening, especially in what I expected to be a thriller book. The end of the book really picks up but this one jist wasn't for me

I thought I'd enjoy this book and i did but I did think there was way to much going on and I kinda lost interest in parts as i couldn't follow it properly. I did like the writing style. Thank you for giving me a chance to read the story.

This book was strange to read, it is very slow until the last few pages. A very interesting premise but just did not give me enough curiosity to feel gripped.

Flipping between the present day (2019-2021) and 1997, the story focuses around Amber and Joe and their lives as teenagers and now as adults. In 1997 we see Joe flunking French and having a bit of a fling with the girl who is tutoring him. As the title reveals, she becomes a Mum at prom and their lives are forever changed and they go their separate ways. Flit forward to 2019 and Joe is living a life with his wife Meredith. But when Amber moves back into down his curiosity is revealed. What happened to his Prom Mum bride and what is she like now? I enjoyed the premise of the story and I really enjoyed how it covered the period of covid lockdowns without it being the overarching theme of the book. Laura Lippmann created a total feeling of shock when the twist of the story is revealed and I really enjoyed where the story went.

I’ve not read any of this authors books but I’m glad I found her, a really good read from start to finish, looking forward to future books soon

Two decades ago, Amber Glass gave birth whilst attending her high school prom. She left town soon afterwards and eventually made a new life for herself. But now she’s back and seeking out Joe, her long ago prom date.
Another great story from Laura Lippman. A fast moving, and surprisingly chilling novel with an explosive finale.

This was a strange book which seemed to go nowhere and then suddenly exploded in the final 10 percent. The characters were unlikeable and overall the story dragged and seemed pointless. Not for me I'm afraid.

The author Megan Abbott recommended this and oh boy, am I glad she did! Lippman explains in her acknowledgements that was inspired by Sarah Marshall’s podcast to write Prom Mom and that’s just another reason why I loved it. The characterisation is deep and detailed - I really believed in Meredith as a character - and both Baltimore and New Orleans are depicted so vividly I hankered after the French bistro and one of Amber’s slices of king cake. Intelligent, dark plotting and evocative atmosphere - reading this was way better than my own prom night!

'When I was seventeen, I gave birth to a baby in a hotel bathroom while attending the prom.' Two decades ago, Amber Glass's life changed forever. No-one had even known she was pregnant - including Joe, her date.
Afterwards, she left town for good - and hasn't seen Joe since. But she knows he hasn't left, that he's working for his father's real estate company, married to a cosmetic surgeon. Child free. Now Amber is back, and as the two of them tentatively start to renew their once unlikely relationship, will their secrets and motivations finally destroy everyone around them? Inspired by a true story, this guessing game of a novel explodes with feeling and menace.

Well. well. well. Well? Where do I even start?
I saw that this was a most-requested ARC so I was instantly intrigued. I thought I'd give it a go. that many people can't be wrong, can they?
Well they were right. This book was exceptional. As a first time reader of Laura Lippman, I will be LINING up to buy her next. This is a cat and mouse plot - my favourite kind. I think the characters are unhinged and deranged, again my favourite kind. I love dual timeline plots. The timeline alternates between 1997 and 201/2020, through the beginnings of COVID. This gives a huge insight into the plot and provides a huge amount of foreshadowing which is integral. I've read reviews where I've heard people say they love or hate Lippmann's work - but I loved it.

Prom Mom piqued my curiosity and held my attention until the very end, and the ending is definitely worth sticking around for!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.