All the Other Mothers Hate Me

Sarah Harman has a solid debut novel with All the Other Mothers Hate Me. Full of mystery, suspense, domestic drama, and single mother challenges, the author brings to life thirty-one-year-old Florence Grimes and her ten-year-old son, Dylan. When a boy who has bullied Dylan disappears, Dylan becomes the prime suspect.

For once, Florence must grow up and clear her son’s name. He means the world to her, but why won’t he elaborate on what happened?

Florence is divorced, low on money, and a former singer in a girl-band. While her dreams were snatched away from her, she still craves a stage. She tends to give up when things go wrong for her. She’s also immature, selfish, and self-centered. Dylan is sensitive, but has a bit of a temper. He prefers conversations with adults to that of children his age. He’s earnest and wants to make the world better. Readers also get a great feeling for the supporting characters, especially the missing boy, Alfie Risby, and the mom Jenny Choi. Alfie is a bully, used to getting what he wants, and is an heir to a fortune. Jenny is a single mom of twin boys, a lawyer, and tries to make friends with Florence.

Before long, readers will start to glean why the book has its title. Florence isn’t your usual protagonist and she isn’t extremely likeable at times. However, she is determined to clear her son’s name, no matter what it takes. While many will find this novel humorous, I missed the humor in most cases. However, there are some funny observations about motherhood and school politics.

The book has a great premise, and is filled with plenty of suspense and drama. Florence’s attempts to be a detective, without any knowledge of how to proceed, leads to some unusual circumstances and poor choices. The author adds some twists along the way to keep readers guessing. However, I guessed who the antagonist was, but not the full extent of their actions. The story kept me engaged, but was somewhat unsettling and tumultuous at times. It’s fast-paced and the mystery is resolved, but there is a hint at the end that could be a thread leading to a second book. Other themes include divorce, family relations, friendship, morality, and much more.

Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful novel with unique characters and plenty of drama that kept me engaged. Readers who enjoy a mystery with a reckless and erratic protagonist and some dark humor will likely enjoy this book.

PENGUIN GROUP Putman – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Sarah Harman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 11, 2025.