I enjoyed the mystery and the characters -- each woman has her own perspective and motivations. I thought the ending made sense and was satisfying. It's a fair game mystery, if you pay attention you might guess who's behind it all -- I certainly didn't, but when it was revealed, it totally made sense. I think that's the best kind of ending!

I liked the book, but I wasn't super into the story. The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but it wasn't really for me.

3.5 ⭐️
They traded gossip in the hallway for gossip in the group chat… some things never change. 💅🏻 💴 🧘‍♀️

Frost, Morgan, and Nell are rich NYC moms with kids at a super exclusive private school. Their lives are all about parties, group chats, and hyping each other’s businesses.
Then comes Sofia. A gorgeous, newly divorced, fresh from Miami Mom who slides right into their circle, and suddenly weird stuff starts happening. A near car accident, a ruined fashion launch, and a lot of questions about how she got her kids into the school so fast. 👀
The characters are back stabbing, cheating, manipulating drama queens. It’s a fun, gossipy read that shows drama doesn’t care how rich you are.
I listened to this on audio while following along the physical book. The narrator was great. 🗣️

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Goodreads giveaways for the physical arc copy.

Release date: July 29, 2025

Mean moms are when mean girls grow up. Rich women who are psycho. I definitely would never have to have dealing with them

I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would in the beginning. Very entertaining and I liked the ending.

5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audiobook.

Emma Rosenblum delivers another great novel about the toxic nature of rich women (which is a subgenre that everyone loves!). The novel takes place over the span of a school year, starting with the first day of school at Atherton Academy, a top private school in Manhattan. The story centers around three Atherton moms, Belle, Frost and Morgan, who are considered the Queen Bees of the parent circle. When a new mom from Miami named Sofia becomes an Atherton parent, she is instantly welcomed into their group. Events occur throughout the novel that shatter the perfect facades that Belle, Frost and Morgan - and other rich, privileged parents at Atherton - have put up.

The audiobook was narrated by January LaVoy, who is one of my favorite narrators. Typically when there are multiple POVs, I like when several narrators are used to provide a clear distinction for each character. Ms. LaVoy is such a great narrator that it is easy to distinguish each character due to the depth and feeling she brings to each one.

The characters are all likeable (except for the obvious villain in the story) as they are all experiencing life events that everyone goes through (i.e. divorce/struggling businesses/money issues etc.). So even though they are part of the 1%, these are all struggles that every reader can relate to. To see these woman behind their picture perfect fronts is what makes the story so compelling.

The various mishaps and school events/celebrations keep the plot moving nicely. I did not find any parts where the story dragged at all. I especially enjoyed the "Friends-giving" event and all the 90's pop culture references made during these chapters!

One thing I enjoyed was the overview of the Atherton chat groups. Anyone who has been part of a group chat (which is literally everyone ) knows how they can go off the rails and this provided a bit of humor into the story. The audiobook also provided a little "swoosh" sounds at the end of every chat comment (which I liked!).

Although the planned release for this book is July 2025, it can be picked up and read/listened to at any time of the year. This is only the authors third novel but she continues to deliver with her stories.

This book was pretty good. It entertained me. I kept thinking of Big, Little Lies and the Homemaker but, not quite as good. The characters were not mean enough so the title really doesn't describe what you will get. It was just Ok.

Absolutely LOVED this! Such a fun read.

I always gravitate toward "rich people behaving badly" storylines and this one really hit the spot. I loved all the characters (even those I hated!), and how they interacted with each other.

This book was perfectly paced and full of twists. Never a dull moment!

It's clear some of the characters are based on real NY women, so it was fun to make those guesses. Also love that the author mentioned so many real NYC places.

My only complaint (and I wouldn't even call it that) is the ending. I like how the story ended but the final chapter felt a bit random to me.

Definitely recommend this book if you're into mysteries, thrillers, dark humor and an NYC setting.

4.3 rounded down to 4.

So many characters….it was hard to keep up with who’s who! The over all story was ok, the over the top wealth of the moms fell flat for me and they came across as whiny and unrealistic. I had a hard time finishing the book.

Macmillan Audio ALC
What I love about summer releases is that some are just fun and juicy and so quick to read - and Emma Rosenblum captured elite NYC moms so well here. This book had so much engaging drama. I was quickly invested in Frost, Morgan, Belle, and Sofia's intricate relationships here. January LaVoy is such a great narrator because I can easily follow each POV switch with her performances. I loved how the plot slowly was revealed in a way that cast suspicion on each woman and their motives, yet there was a sense of unease that I wasn't sure how it was going to wrap up. It surprised me. I binged it. It's a perfect story of rich people behaving badly, and what's more summery than that?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. January LaVoy, of course, does a stupendous job narrating this story! Her voice really pulls you into the story, which I love.

Frost, Morgan, and Nell are wealthy, gorgeous New York City moms, and all their kids attend a bougee private school in the city. Their social lives revolve around elaborate themed parties that are very over the top. Enter Sophia, whose kids are new this year. When she quickly integrates herself into the clique, inexplicably bad things start to happen to the women.

This is a hilarious, fast paced mystery in the vein of Desperate Housewives and Mean Girls all grown up. As things go south, the secrets really come out. This was a fun read that will make you laugh out loud! Highly recommend.

It is well known that mothers will do almost anything for their children. However, the moms of the children attending Atherton Seminary are particularly protective of their kids and each other. When a new mom breaks into the inner circle things begin to go wrong. There are robberies, attacks, unordered deliveries and so much more. It seems as though someone is intentionally sabotaging the success of the mothers! However, they all have their own secrets to hide, even from their mom besties. Is all this misfortune simply bad luck? Could it be the new comer? Or is someone already in their circle the one stabbing them in the back...

Mean Moms is such a fun read perfect for the summer. Each Mom has their own flaws, faults and secrets. Pair that with an irresistible urge to be the best Mom of the borough and you have a war on your hands. As well as a hilarious and entertaining read perfect for the beach, vacation or when you just need to focus on someone else's drama!

2.5 Stars

Okay, so this book was fun...but definitely not for someone like me. I'm not a mom, I don't care about designer labels, and my pop culture radar is nil—so it took me a while to get into the story. Totally a me problem for diving into this audiobook without the background. That said, once I settled into the audiobook and the world of Atherton's most elite mom squad, I could appreciate the over-the-top drama. It reminds me of my teenage years watching Gossip Girl BUT all grown up. The mystery was more slow-burn than gripping thriller, and while the ending tied things up nicely, the reveal didn’t quite pack the punch.

January LaVoy's narration brought just the right amount of sass and personality to each character (voices and accents included). Even when I wasn’t fully invested in the plot, she kept me listening. It was a fun listen once I got into it, but I wouldn't pick up a physical copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Emma Rosenblum for the ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date: July 29, 2025

Mean Moms was a very entertaining audiobook about wealthy moms in Manhattan at a private school. It had similar vibes to the movie Bad Moms, which I love! The characters were interesting and funny, but I could have used more plot. The audiobook narration was great and I do recommend this for a quick, fun read.

I loved the plug and promo for this so much - the idea of a gossipy thriller with satire mixed in? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver on anything but gossip. This book had way too many characters, and they’re all just carbon copies of each other. It felt nearly impossible to keep them straight, even as the book progressed. There are no stakes, no reason you should care. It all just felt super sad.

Feeling really let down by this one.

I DEVOURED this book! If you enjoy shows like The Real Housewives of New York, this book is for you! Actually, even if you've never seen that show, but you love a juicy mystery, Mean Moms is perfect.

The women (well most of them) in this book are beyond wealthy. They are the mega rich, top of the social ladder socialites.. and they are all moms. Their children all attend an uber exclusive school in New York full of the richest and most fabulous families in the city. Three of them form a tight clique, inciting the jealousy of many other moms. Many try to make their way into their social circle but are kept at bay. When a brand new mom, mysteriously breaks into their clan and is quickly accepted as one of them, many other moms are seething with jealousy and curiosity. However, when this new mom joins their social group, weird things start to happen. Those lucky women who always had it all, start to lose it all. Is it the doing of this new friendly mom? Or jealousy retaliation from women this group has snubbed or excluded?
The mystery aspect of this novel had me on the edge of my seat and I did not want to.stop reading. Such a fun, thrilling read!

too many characters. even at the end i was still questioning who was who's husband or child. i barely know what happened and I just finished it - maybe not the best on audio with so many people to keep track of?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was a wildly entertaining deep dive into the chaotic world of wealthy New York moms, complete with cliques, judgmental school communities, scandalous affairs, and just the right dose of dark humor. The cast of characters is deliciously awful: manipulative, jealous, overly competitive, and tangled up in everyone else’s business (and marriages). I found myself simultaneously rolling my eyes at their behavior and rooting for them to rise above the drama—somehow.

Sophia, the mysterious new mom in town whose children have been granted admission to an elite private school, immediately becomes the subject of scrutiny. While one mother extends a hand of friendship, the rest whisper, speculate, and side-eye her at every turn. The dynamics in the school’s mom group chats—expertly brought to life in the audiobook format—felt hilariously real and painfully relatable.

The plot moves at a great pace, and while I wished for a bit more emotional depth and development from some characters, the story knows exactly what it is and leans into its sharp satire with confidence. This is a guilty pleasure at its finest: layered with secrets, betrayals, and the relentless pressure to perform perfection in both parenting and social status.

The twist toward the end was satisfying and well-executed, though the epilogue left me scratching my head. I wasn’t quite sure why that particular character was chosen to wrap things up—it felt a little disconnected from the rest of the narrative.

Still, this was an absolutely fun listen. If you enjoy stories about the rich behaving badly, packed with drama, biting commentary, and a touch of mystery, this one’s worth adding to your list.

Mean Moms was a "popcorn read" for me. I couldn't put it down, it was very propulsive. Join the mom clique of Atherton Academy in NYC, ft the most popular moms- Frost, Morgan, and Belle. There's a new mom in town who has become an interloper into the elite mom group. Sophia breaks the mold of the thin, white, upperclass woman. She is a full-figured latina that loves her people. I love the drama! It felt very reminiscent of Gossip Girl for grown-ups. Great palate cleanser!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

Mean Moms centers around a group of wealthy women who are mainly "friends" because their children attend the very prestigious private Atherton School in New York. Frost, Morgan, and Nell are soon joined by newcomer Sofia. All of the women seem to have perfect lives, but they are all hiding secrets. When bad things start happening and secrets are exposed, they can't help but point the finger at Sofia.

All the women are judgmental and superficial and this gives a peek into the lives of the uber-wealthy. There are multiple points of view and it was hard to keep the women, their husbands, and their kids straight. It is described as suspense, but is really more domestic drama. There is a mystery but it was not at all suspenseful. Overall, a decent read but I did like this author's prior 2 novels better.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the always fabulous January LaVoy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
I LOVE Emma Rosenblum! She has perfectly been able to capture “rich people behaving badly” in all of her stories. I love all the subplots and the many characters she brings to her stories. Mean Moms has perfectly captured what I have come to love about Rosenblums writing. The dark witty humor. Her characters always present with more than meets the eye. I enjoy the laugh out loud moments and the elements of surprise.

January LaVoy is a stellar narrator. She provides lots of range and is always fun to listen to.

I will say I didn’t love the epilogue. Unfortunately the ending of the book felt a bit off to me. I didn’t understand why the author chose this particular character to close out the story. Maybe I missed something. This docked my rating half a point. Still, Mean Moms is the perfect summer read. Highly recommend!