Let me start by saying Mean Moms is exactly what you’d expect if Gossip Girl grew up, got a Botox membership, and decided to join the PTA out of sheer spite. It's dramatic. It's ridiculous. It’s a little bit like watching a car crash in slow motion—if the car was a Bentley, the driver had an oat milk latte in hand, and the crash was caused by someone’s bad aura.

We’ve got Frost (yes, that’s a real name, not a weather pattern), Morgan (who says “sound bath” like it’s a religion), and Belle (whose fashion line causes rashes—nothing says couture like hives). They’re the queen bees of Manhattan’s private school mom scene, which apparently involves themed parties so elaborate they could double as dress rehearsals for a Real Housewives reunion.

Enter Sofia, the new mom with an accent, mystery, and enough passive-aggressive energy to power a SoulCycle class. She’s beautiful. She’s perfect. She’s… suspiciously nice. Which, in rich mom circles, is clearly a red flag.

Soon, bad things start happening—like electric scooter hit-and-runs (yes, really), moped robberies (this is apparently Fast & Furious: PTA Drift), and sabotaged fashion shows. Morgan blames Mercury in retrograde, but everyone else starts wondering if Sofia’s weapon of choice is charm followed by psychological warfare.

Is it a mystery? Kind of. Is it a satire? Almost. Is it hilarious watching these designer-clad women slowly unravel like a homemade scarf caught in a Roomba? Absolutely.

The plot is unhinged in the best way, and every scene feels like it should come with a glass of overpriced rosé. It’s catty, campy, and full of characters you love to hate but wouldn’t trust to water your plants. And while we’re promised suspense, the “twist” isn’t so much jaw-dropping as it is, “Oh. Okay. That tracks.”

Bottom line: If you like your thrillers with a side of Botox, brunch betrayal, and emotional sabotage in Lululemon, this book is for you. It’s not good good, but it is entertaining good. Just don’t expect to walk away feeling smarter.

In short: come for the drama, stay for the pettiness.

Thank you Flatiron for an ARC of “ Mean Moms”. My favorite trope is rich people behaving badly and wow did this book deliver. This book is about three super wealthy women, who have ridden the coattails of the men in their lives. All of their children go to a very affluent school in NYC and things get a little weird when Sophia, a new mom comes to the school. It seems that someone has targeted this friend group, but why?

This book kept me guessing til the end, I laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of these women, and I can’t wait to see the movie that will inevitably follow this crew.

just the type of read if you like satirical tropes…..and something that keeps you turning the page. Can be hard to write humor and not trivialize a subject
that has a hint of seriousness. Lorrie Moore hasn’t had an equal but every couple years I find a writer that is her successor.. It’s a bit of a what do you inherit personality wise from your mother theme which is provocative. Enjoyable and perfect foil to the news.

This book is like Gossip Girl meets Big Little Lies, with a dark and satirical twist. Mean Moms drops you into the glamorous lives of NYC moms Frost, Morgan, and Belle. When a mysterious mom from Miami joins their circle, things start going south fast. The story takes place over one school year, and it’s packed with rich people behaving badly. I loved how it balanced petty mom drama with an actual mystery, all while poking fun at the ridiculousness of it all. Truly the perfect summer beach read!

MEAN MOMS is about the quintessential group of super-wealthy moms huddled outside the doors of a prestigious school in the middle of Manhattan. Mom's: Belle, Frost, and Morgan, welcome recently divorced Miami transplant Sofia Perez into their clique on the first day of school.
Although these four friends are heavily involved in each other's lives, as well as events surrounding their children's school, Atherton Academy. The moms begin to feel they are being targeted when a gigantic obstacle presents itself in the midst of one of their big affairs, which is a recurring theme.

Catalogued as a thriller, I feel a psychological thriller would be more appropriate, as there are sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies portrayed, which make the dynamic of the group of moms interesting, complex, and quite possibly deadly. It reminds me of a mix of MEAN GIRLS and BIG LITTLE LIES.

I am beginning to really look forward to Emma Rosenblum's new releases! Twisty and turning, full of the wealthy behaving badly and secrets galore which keep the reader guessing until the very end. I love the development and uniqueness of each character and a plot full of revenge at the highest level.

In this latest title, Sofia was banished from Miami for a martial indiscretion and is surprisingly welcomed by the Queen Bees of posh Atherton Academy. Sofia manages to keep her secrets by gathering her new friends' secrets. Not that she wanted to use them for any particular reason, but it is never a bad idea to have ammunition. As the story unfolds through emails, texts and narrative, the bad behavior of bored wealthy women is revealed.

Perfect read alike for fans of Amy Poeppel, Jennifer Crusie or Jennifer Weiner.

𝐀 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐮𝐩, 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐬' 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞?

Do mean girls ever grow up? I suppose they do sometimes, but this book gives us a glimpse into the "what if they don't" and just transition into mean moms instead. Frost, Morgan, and Nell are an affluent, privileged group of New York City moms whose children all attend Atherton, the most exclusive private school in the city. Their lives are filled with WhatsApp messages, supporting one another's business ventures, and hosting and attending parties.

Everything changes on the first day of school with the arrival of new mom Sofia, a recently divorced stunner from Miami. She effortlessly ingratiates herself into the clique of moms, and almost immediately, odd things start to happen--one mom is almost plowed down in traffic, another's big fashion launched is ruined, and the list goes on and on. The women start to wonder just where Sofia came from and how she was able to get two kids so easily enrolled in a school with a miles-long waitlist.

The cast of characters in this book is an absolute hoot, especially the hot headmaster, Dr. Broker (whose nickname and backstory is freaking amazing). This was a fun peek into the lives of the privileged and elite, and it goes to show that some themes such as jealousy and betrayal are just universal, regardless of your bank account or social standing.

Many thanks to Flatiron Books for this early copy. This book is expected to publish July 29, 2025.