Mean Moms

by Emma Rosenblum, January LaVoy (Narrator)

9 hours, 12 minutes

A deliciously satisfying and suspenseful story about what happens when a clique of wealthy Manhattan private school moms start getting a taste of exactly what they deserve, instead of just what they can pay for.

Meet Frost, Morgan, and Nell—a wealthy, gorgeous group of New York City moms, the queen bees of downtown Manhattan. Their children attend Atherton Seminary, the top private school in the city, and their social lives revolve around elaborate themed parties.

On the first day of school, the arrival of a new mom and mysterious beauty from Miami named Sofia shakes up their world. When Sofia quickly integrates herself into their clique, inexplicably bad things start to happen to the women. Frost is the victim of a hit-and-run electric scooter incident. Nell's dream of launching a fashion line is thwarted when the clothing samples cause people to break out in a rash. Morgan's new sound bath spa is robbed at gunpoint by a moped-driving thief. Morgan declares it all a "negative event cluster," but the other women aren't so sure.

Is someone at school out to get them? Another mom with a vendetta? Let’s not forget to mention the handsome headmaster, Dr. Broker, who every mom has a crush on (and one of them might be sleeping with).

Spanning the course of one eventful Fall in New York, ending with a Surrealist New Year's Eve Ball—and a possible death, Mean Moms is part satire of upper crust mom-ing and part mystery, interrogating the line between friendship and jealousy, and getting at the question What would happen if the woman standing next to you at school pick up was actually a sociopath?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Audiobook

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Emma Rosenblum is the national bestselling author of Bad Summer People, Very Bad Company, and Mean Moms. She's the former chief content officer at Bustle Digital Group, overseeing content and strategy for BDG’s editorial portfolios. Prior to BDG, Emma served as the executive editor of ELLE. Previously Rosenblum was a senior editor at Bloomberg Businessweek, and before that a senior editor at Glamour. She began her career at New York magazine. She lives in New York City, with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed to the gills with plenty of juicy drama, Mean Moms was the definition of rich people behaving badly. From the giggle-worthy dark humor to the off-the-charts behavior of nearly every single character, it was all I could do to buckle up and enjoy the reality TV-esque ride. After all, this set of women made me glad to be just a fly on the wall because I certainly wouldn’t want any of them as my enemies or friends. But then, they made for a story that was the epitome of summer fun. Over-the-top in the best possible way, I loved every minute of their scandalous secrets, gossip-filled convos, and crazy-a** antics. I mean, how could I not love every single minute?

All said and done, if you’re looking for the literary equivalent of Real Housewives mixed with the suspense of Big Little Lies, this book is most definitely for you. Biting, sarcastic, and delightfully unhinged, these women delivered the perfect palate cleanser to my harder hitting thrillers. From the even pacing to the multiple POVs, I quickly got pulled into the satirical plot in no time at all. And while I personally saw this as far from true-to-life thanks to my own private school upbringing, it nevertheless made me laugh out loud due to some on-point depictions. So run—don’t walk—to get your copy today as it’s certainly not one to be missed. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Meet Frost, Morgan, and Belle―a wealthy, gorgeous group of New York City moms, the queen bees of downtown Manhattan. Their children attend Atherton Academy, the top private school in the city, and their social lives revolve around elaborate themed parties. On the first day of school, the arrival of a new mom and mysterious beauty from Miami, Sofia, shakes up their world. When Sofia quickly integrates herself into their clique, inexplicably bad things start to happen to the women. Is someone at school out to get them?

Spanning the course of one eventful school year in New York, Mean Moms is part satire of upper-crust mom-ing and part mystery, interrogating the line between friendship and jealousy, and getting at the question:

What would happen if the woman standing next to you at school pickup was actually a sociopath?

Thank you to Emma Rosenblum and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: July 29, 2025

Content warning: eating disorder, bullying, gaslighting, drug abuse, emotional and sexual abuse, infidelity, stalking, sex

[lauren‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ (semi-ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5💫

i literally love these types of books sm. there is something about rich white mom drama that will always pull me in.

these books are so entertaining and the characters are so insufferable but i just love it. i eat it up and get so invested every time!!!

it was giving gossip girl but the focus was on the moms. the mystery about what was happening to the moms and the way they behaved in all these situations was so entertaining and i loved following along this story. they are all insane but i love it

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhhhh, rich bitches behaving badly. Such fun! Books like these are little palate cleansers for me when I’m not exactly sure what I’m in the mood to read. And this was especially perfect since not only was it such an easy breezy one to get through in a few hours, but I was also blessed with deck-friendly sun and temperatures.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Drama!! Yall, if you're into juicy drama and unhinged moms, this is for you. It was quite intriguing watching this story unfold before my eyes, I was hooked. So many ladies are just trying to out match the others in every mom way possible. This is exactly how I expect it to be in high society women groups, but I enjoyed it. The way the author writes is truly compelling, I had so many doubts about so many of them and was SHOCKED when the twists happened to make the reveal. Loved this drama and unhinged group of ladies!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many secrets and so many lies saturate this deliciously wicked story full of mama drama. These Manhattan moms have many faces. I could definitely see this play out on Hulu or Netflix in an addictive mini-series. Everyone has something to hide in this tale of deception, jealousy, and revenge. I was immersed from start to finish, following all the numerous twists and turns. The narrator January LaVoy masterfully brings each character to life which helped me get lost in the lives of these volatile moms. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Mean Moms is exactly the type of bingeable and over the top manhattan melodrama I didn’t know I needed in my life right about now.

The moms of Altherton Academy include:
💞 The selfless mom -> always volunteers to help.
⭐️ The popular mom -> the one everyone worships
💻 The working mom -> rarely comes to pickup
💃🏻 The flirty mom -> shows a bit too much cleavage
⏰ The messy mom -> forgets to buy the supplies
⚾️ The sporty mom -> has the coach on speed-dial
🗞️The know-it-all mom -> spews the latest research
😰 The anxious mom -> obsessed with safety

From the first few pages on, I was in stitches as I went down the list of mom’s, realizing 1) I am very easily the messy mom meets the anxious mom 2) I know all these other moms 👀

If you are looking for something easy and fun and wildly entertaining, I think this one may be for you.

🎧 It’s no surprise that I’m loving the audiobook with one of my faves, January LeVoy, at the helm. She narrates a full cast, keeping each of the characters wholly their own.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copies.

[Meagan✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎶Bad Blood- By Taylor Swift 🎶

3.5 Stars ✨

"Mean Moms" by Emma Rosenblum is an absolute ride and I devoured this story. If you love stories about unhinged, ultra-wealthy women behaving badly, buckle up. This one delivers drama with a capital D.

The book follows a group of privileged moms whose kids attend the most exclusive private school in Lower Manhattan. Think designer handbags, curated social lives, and constant one-upping all wrapped up in sabotage, gossip, and infidelity. It’s like Big Little Lies meets Real Housewives, but with sharper claws and better Botox.

The characters are deliciously over-the-top, and I was hooked watching them flit from one high-society event to the next, each trying to outdo the others until someone starts playing dirty. Really dirty. A mystery troublemaker is targeting the friend group, and the question becomes: is it an outsider, or is someone inside the circle stabbing backs with a smile? Oh, and of course, someone’s sleeping with someone else’s husband. Because why not?

Add in the chaos of the all-school mom group chat (yes, it’s as messy and judgmental as it sounds), and you’ve got a fast-paced, scandal-filled thriller that’s impossible to put down. Sharp, gossipy, and wildly entertaining this is the kind of book you inhale in one sitting.


✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨

[Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pineapple Street 2.0 IYKYK

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I immediately knew that I would enjoy this book (but I didn’t love the taste it left in my mouth throughout the middle) because, as a veteran viewer of all things Real Housewives (back when the series was newer— especially the NYC edition), there are a ton of rich ladies to sit back and judge (silently and maybe not so silently in case you’re the kind of reader that occasionally gasps out loud!).

And when they say, “mean,” they aren’t kidding here! Several storylines were a level of ugly that was not entertaining to read but fear not, what I loved best about this book was the comeuppance! It’s worth the wait!

And with that, I’ll leave you… on the Upper West Side, drinking a glass of white wine, and people watching out the swanky apartment window… sheer heaven for this former East Coast chick!

[Yaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaotic energy at its finest! This audiobook leaves no detail unattended; if the phone rings, you will hear it, and it adds to the immersive charm. With a large cast of characters, the story could easily feel overwhelming, but instead, it flows seamlessly, keeping you hooked from start to finish. It's captivating, hilarious (mainly because you're not the one living through it), exuberant at times, and downright chaotic at others.

What makes it especially delightful is how it pokes fun at the eccentricities of the wealthy—equal parts jaw-dropping and laugh-out-loud funny. The audiobook production is phenomenal, with accents, personalities, and scenarios brought to life so vividly you can't help but feel like you're in the middle of it all. New York as the backdrop is almost too fitting, elevating the drama and absurdity.
And then there's January LaVoy—her narration is a performance in itself, worthy of five stars and a standing ovation. She doesn't just read the book; she becomes the book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[SueCanaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom give 5 stars. My Goodreads star rating averages around 3.5 so when I give out the perfect score, it truly was a book I not only loved, but that I want you to read too.

Mean Moms was an audio arc that kept me listening for two solid days. A cast of characters of Uber wealthy New York moms, cliques, parents over involved with their offspring’s future, jockeying for clout and power, a series of unfortunate events - I was here for all of it. What struck me most is typically I require a character to root for - someone nice and deserving of happiness. Good luck finding one of them among this entitled crowd, yet I still was invested in all of them.

And, no, never in a million years did I guess the ending.

Buy this for your beach bag and buckle up.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read something totally brainless and entertaining and fun, and I succeeded brilliantly! Or rather, Emma Rosenblum did! In my opinion, she’s become a latest queen of the “Rich and Unhinged Antics (with a touch of comedy and suspense)” genre. Her three recent books include settings such as Fire Island summer high society, an elite corporate retreat led by an eccentric tech exec, and now, an artsy and prestigious NYC private school and its circle of wealthy mothers. This is certainly well-trod territory in books and media these days, but Rosenblum’s books still remain a fun escape, especially for summer reading, due to her descriptive world-building skills and the fact that the books are a bit funny, a bit thrilling, a bit relationship-driven — a bit of everything. They’re a little literary, light, and loopy in a Neapolitan ice cream-like way: why choose when, like some of characters in these books, you can have it all? In my opinion, this is her best book so far due to inclusion of more characters who are more sympathetic, or at least multifaceted, and who grow — and in this book, there is the nice anchor and incentive of having someone to root for.

I will add that I noticed THREE significant typos in the last quarter or so of this (published edition, not ARC) book on Kindle — not the author’s fault, but yikes, that’s more than I think I’ve ever seen, and it’s not a cute look!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for the audio book called Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum and narrated by January LaVoy. The narrator did a wonderful job on this book.
This was a story about drama between rich moms at a private posh school. It`s a gossipy book and quite fast paced. Lots of relevant references as well. Fun time listening! I gave it a 3.5 star rating, rounding down.

[Deanna (she_reads_truth_365) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star rating

If it wasn’t for the wonderful narrator January LaVoy, I probably would have DNFed this book. I have listened to multiple books narrated by January LaVoy. I have enjoyed all of them. I listened at 1.75x speed.

This was a scandalous story about rich people behaving wild. This story was hilarious but also very uncomfortable with an extremely dark and intense sadomasochistic scene that left me feeling some type of way. Too risqué for me. I was able to skip forward past the scene. So…this book will not be for everyone. Dm me if you have questions or are on the fence about reading this book.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the complimentary audiobook and the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and wildly entertaining listen—rich people behaving badly, catty moms with scandalous secrets, and the perfect blend of biting satire and summer drama. Think: Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies at an ultra elite NYC private school. January LaVoy’s narration is absolutely top tier, her delivery is so sharp and engaging, she’s honestly one of the reasons I fell in love with audiobooks in the first place. If you’re looking for the perfect poolside audio pick, this one delivers in spades.

[Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp with some genuine insight into the lives of upper-crust NYC moms. The obsession with status and name dropping was the set dressing, but there is a deeper story here about loneliness and isolation that comes from being a mother in certain communities. The character names are A+.

[Alyssa Shanahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this but it just didn’t catch me. Lots of drama but way too many characters that were super annoying.

[Kait O’Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was batsh*t crazy lol

[maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a quick fun audio book to listen to while deep cleaning my house yesterday. This was perfect! It didn’t wow me but it kept me entertained with all THE DRAMA. no big reveals or twists so don’t read this if that’s what you’re looking for. Literally bunch of rich & unlikable moms. their lives revolve around their kids and drama

[Lauren Self (lauren.shelby.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of moms at a private school are experiencing so much bad luck (hit and run, lice, scandals) and it all starts after a new mom moves in town. this is my third book by this author and honestly the only one I kinda enjoyed. The drama is so over the top you just have to keep going!

3.5⭐️

thanks to @macmillan.audio for my ALC + @flatiron_books for my #gifted ARC

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gossip Girl meets Desperate Housewives in thriller form.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

*audiobook


🫦💵😈𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖😈💵🫦

𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐒 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐌

Publisher: Macmillan Audio / Flatiron Books

Pub Date: 07/29/2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨ (4.75/5)

Thanks to #macmillanaudio for my #gifted copy of this audiobook!

In short 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀𝘿 𝙄𝙏!!!!!! I legit didn’t want it to end. The drama was on point. It was so easy to get caught up in all of the nonsense with these women.

Sophia is divorcee and new to the Tribeca area from FL. To everyone’s surprise her children are somehow granted 2 non-entry spots (pretty much unheard of) to a coveted school, Atherton Seminary. She’s the talk of the schoolyard amongst the moms…MEAN MOMS because how did she get such a coveted spot!? The women are already skeptical of her but it gets worse when odd things start to happen upon her arrival. All fingers are pointing to Sophia. Although one of the woman befriends her and honestly seems better for it.

Since Sophia arrived there have been strange and alarming “incidents”: the homeless man spitting (read it to be totally grossed out), the incident with Frost and the e-scooter, the Morgan’s sound bath stick up, nude pics, a cut braid, Belle’s itching dresses. The list goes on and on. What the hell is going on!?!

Initially I didn’t think the women seemed all that bad, but you quickly see why the book is called 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝘀.

Frost a jerk for sure but she doesn’t seem so bad after she befriends Sophia.

These women are wild many of them cheating on their husbands but their husbands are cheating too. It’s like a f@&kfest. One of the women (Frost) is sleeping with her close friend Morgan’s husband Art.

So much sex, drama, cheating, pretentiousness and savagery. It was so very entertaining! So many characters that you’ll love to get to know and grow to love/hate.

Settle in and get ready for all the drama! It’s a perfect summer read. I’d totally be down for more books with these characters.

QOTD: What is the last read you recommended and were hyped about?

#meanmoms #emmarosenblum #macmillanaudio #macmillanaudioinfluencer #flatironbooks #flatiron #darkcomedy #WhatAreYouReading #goodreadschallenge #Goodreads #summerreads #beachread

[Jeanie ~ MyFairytaleLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed every book by this author, so I was excited to get an audio copy of Mean Moms. The rich behaving badly is a favorite trope of mine and this is a fun one and may be my favorite so far. The humor is well timed and wonderfully sarcastic. January LaVoy is perfection as always in her narration on the audiobook production.

[Jessica Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this. It was so entertaining! Very Sex and the City meets Gossip Girl. The characters were all exactly what I think a group of wealthy, Manhattan private school moms would be like. Just goes to show that money doesn’t buy happiness! This is so far away from the lifestyle I live, but that’s what drew me in. It was dramatic in the best way.

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was fabulous. She differentiated the characters well (there were a lot of them so I was worried it would be hard to keep track) and kept my attention the whole time.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Delightfully dramatic and unhinged, fun fast read

[Devin Redmond · Rating 1 out of 5]

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

I’m sticking with the old adage in regards to this book.

I’m mostly just mad at myself for finishing it.

[Shawna Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally wild, and super fun!

Uber wealthy New York moms behaving very badly! Just what I needed. These always hit the spot. A very bingeable and quick read!
So much drama!
So much backstabbing gossip! And not just gossip… these ladies were actually pulling off some brutal shenanigans!
So juicy! So many secrets!
Not a single person to like and root for, or is there?

[Bianca | bookd_by_bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

*No spoilers*

I LOVE rich people shenanigans, and boy was this book chock-full of it! The story was crazy, salacious, wacky and ridiculous in the best ways.

I enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the narrator did a terrific job creating distinctive voices for all of the characters. The story had good pacing and it kept me so interested in the dynamics between all of the characters. The WhatsApp chat threads were some of my favorite parts of the book and I chuckled multiple times in those chapters 🤭.

If you’re into Park Avenue mayhem, frenemies and private school gossip, then this book is for you. It would make a great beach read or a pallet cleanser between heavier series. I hope someone adapts this story for TV, it will translate well on the small screen 📺.

[Cindy Coats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ALC copy of this book from the publisher.

I loved everything about this book. Rich women with rich kids at rich schools being petty. SIGN ME UP. I laughed out loud. It was like watching some catty 2000s tv show. I enjoyed the underlying mystery when bad things start happening to everyone. And oh the secrets that emerge. Desperate housewives could never.

[Elizabeth Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read!