Happy & You Know It

March 15, 2020
A children's playgroup musician discovers that the glamorous, Instagram-famous moms who employ her might be hiding something. Claire Martin is reeling after her former band found a sexy new lead singer and suddenly scored a hit song that's inescapable. In desperate need of cash, she agrees to take a gig singing for a playgroup. She thinks she's just there to provide a little bit of entertainment for privileged babies and their bored, wealthy moms. That's partly true--her new employers are obsessed with Goop-style "wellness," going on juice cleanses and trying eye-poppingly expensive new vitamins called TrueMommy. But Claire also discovers that she kind of likes these women--they're fun, and funny, and she admires how effortlessly they seem to do it all. She grows especially close to Whitney, who maintains a mega-popular Momstagram account that reels in sponsorships, and sarcastic Amara, who used to work in late-night TV and is now struggling as a stay-at-home mom with a difficult baby. But as Claire gets to know them better, she realizes that things might not be as perfect as they look on social media--in fact, some of the moms might be hiding secrets that could destroy not only the playgroup, but their entire lives. There's no shortage of books that deal with rich moms keeping up appearances, but Hankin manages to make overused subject matter feel fresh and vibrant. What starts out as a satire of privileged parenting quickly becomes something else entirely--a domestic thriller with twists and turns that are entirely unexpected and incredibly fun. A dramatic and immensely entertaining page-turner about secrets, lies, and mom culture.

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April 1, 2020

When Claire is replaced as the lead singer in her band Vagabond, right before they rise to the top of the charts, she wallows in the misery of her life choices. However, it's not too long before her cousin Thea calls and tells her about a gig as a musician for a high-end New York City playgroup of infants. With nothing else to do, Claire accepts the job, attending her first playgroup in awe of the wealth and perfection that oozes from the mommies of Park Avenue. Claire unexpectedly becomes friends with the moms, coincidentally unearthing more than she ever expected about what goes on behind the scenes of what she thought was just an infant playgroup. Hankin (The Summertime Girls) throws many a twist into her novel about the good, the bad, and the downright ugly sides of motherhood. Readers will enjoy seeing what tricks these moms use to keep up appearances and more. VERDICT With deeply drawn and relatable characters, this is an excellent read for those wanting to escape into a world of how the other half lives.--Erin Holt, formerly at Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2020
The glamorous, privileged mommies of New York might appear to have it all, but Hankin's (The Summertime Girls, 2015) sophomore novel has great fun satirizing that perception. Musician Claire, having just been kicked out of her band, hires on as a singer for a mommy-baby play group. She's initially intimidated by the women, with their beauty, money, and focus on wellness. Their social media presence has made them the envy of thousands of mothers. Pleased to be invited into their fold, it's not long before Claire discovers a darker world of secrets and betrayals and realizes that maybe these women aren't as together as they want everyone else to think. With a devilish sense of humor, Hankin crushes the perception that anyone's life is perfect, despite how it may appear. A slow build to hidden motives and a clever sense of humor make this a fast read, but it's Claire's thoughtful look at our expectations of women and mothers that give the novel its depth. Fans of Sophie Kinsella's My (not so) Perfect Life (2017) will read this in one sitting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)