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The Supper Club Saints: A Novel
A dynamic, honest, and beautifully written novel about a young mother who returns to her small-town Wisconsin home after living in a cult-like “Mommune,” and what happens with the other women in her family as they each navigate the constraints, complexities, and joys of modern motherhood.
Cass Simon never expected to return to small-town Wisconsin—not after escaping life inside a cult-like “Mommune” and falling under the spell of an online mom-fluencer. But with nowhere left to turn, she finds herself back under her family’s roof, carrying more questions than answers about what it means to be a mother.
Waiting for Cass is her own mother, Remy—hardworking matriarch of the Baumhaus supper club. Remy’s love for her children is fierce but tangled with old grief and the fear of letting go, especially as she prepares to say goodbye to the family business that has anchored them for generations.
Beside them stands Hilary, Cass’s older sister—an artist and devoted mother whose divorce has shaken her belief in herself; and Erin, a Simon by marriage, who is quietly battling heartbreak as she struggles to find gratitude for a pregnancy that both terrifies and redeems her. Each of the Simon women pursues her own vision of Cass’s instinct for protection after trauma, Remy’s hope to be a harbor her daughters can always return to, and her sisters’ hard-won wisdom about letting go of perfection.
Set against the backdrop of a vibrant, sometimes claustrophobic Wisconsin town, this dynamic and beautifully honest novel explores forgiveness, the bonds—and boundaries—of family, and the deeply personal journey of discovering what it truly means to be a “good mother.”
Cass Simon never expected to return to small-town Wisconsin—not after escaping life inside a cult-like “Mommune” and falling under the spell of an online mom-fluencer. But with nowhere left to turn, she finds herself back under her family’s roof, carrying more questions than answers about what it means to be a mother.
Waiting for Cass is her own mother, Remy—hardworking matriarch of the Baumhaus supper club. Remy’s love for her children is fierce but tangled with old grief and the fear of letting go, especially as she prepares to say goodbye to the family business that has anchored them for generations.
Beside them stands Hilary, Cass’s older sister—an artist and devoted mother whose divorce has shaken her belief in herself; and Erin, a Simon by marriage, who is quietly battling heartbreak as she struggles to find gratitude for a pregnancy that both terrifies and redeems her. Each of the Simon women pursues her own vision of Cass’s instinct for protection after trauma, Remy’s hope to be a harbor her daughters can always return to, and her sisters’ hard-won wisdom about letting go of perfection.
Set against the backdrop of a vibrant, sometimes claustrophobic Wisconsin town, this dynamic and beautifully honest novel explores forgiveness, the bonds—and boundaries—of family, and the deeply personal journey of discovering what it truly means to be a “good mother.”
Audible Audio
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Claire Swinarski
11 books630 followersClaire Swinarski is the author of multiple books for both kids and adults. Her writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Seventeen, Milwaukee Magazine, and many other publications. She lives in small town Wisconsin with her husband and three kids, where she writes books, wears babies, and wrangles bread dough. You can follow her on Instagram @claireswinarski.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 8, 2026
“She wonders if womanhood is a process of slowly but surely understanding your mother.” 💔
Claire Swinarski’s The Supper Club Saints is a beautifully written and emotionally perceptive novel about contemporary motherhood, family expectations, and the quiet wars women wage against one another, and themselves, over what it means to be a “good mother.” Furthermore, she provides a glimpse into the struggles of infertility, the emotional impact to both Dad and Mom.
At its heart, this novel explores the cultural mommy wars: Which style of mothering is superior? Is the hyper-vigilant mother, constantly scanning for every possible danger, the better parent because she protects her child from harm? Or is it the mother who encourages freedom, exploration, and wonder? Swinarski examines the enormous pressures, judgments, anxieties, and impossible expectations placed upon mothers, while also compassionately revealing the hidden reasons women parent the way they do.
What makes this novel especially powerful is that it encourages understanding rather than condemnation. Swinarski reminds us that most mothers are simply doing the best they can—even if their choices differ from what you might choose for your own child 💕
This family drama unfolds through the perspectives of four women: a matriarch, two sisters, and their sister-in-law. The story moves across timelines and viewpoints, gradually revealing the complicated emotional dynamics within this family. As layers are peeled back, the reader gains insight into the characters’ fears, insecurities, vulnerabilities, and deeply human flaws.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was the novel’s emphasis on forgiveness and empathy. There was one character I struggled with throughout much of the story, yet when the other women ultimately extended grace and understanding to her, I found myself doing the same. That emotional shift felt authentic and deeply moving. This is the kind of novel that gently nudges readers toward compassion.
I also appreciated watching the characters evolve as the story progressed. Their motivations became clearer, their fears more understandable, and their emotional wounds more visible.
Is the novel perfect? No. At times, the repeated explanations behind each woman’s parenting philosophy felt somewhat redundant. And yes, the ending leans a bit “Hollywood.” But honestly? For characters whose intentions were rooted in love, perhaps that sort of ending feels earned ✨
I read this with the Terrific Darling Book Club. Please check out Darla and Tina’s review for their insights.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advance listening copy of The Supper Club Saints, published May 5, 2026 🎧📚
This is the perfect Mother’s Day read--warm, thoughtful, emotional, and filled with compassion for the impossible balancing act of motherhood.
Claire Swinarski’s The Supper Club Saints is a beautifully written and emotionally perceptive novel about contemporary motherhood, family expectations, and the quiet wars women wage against one another, and themselves, over what it means to be a “good mother.” Furthermore, she provides a glimpse into the struggles of infertility, the emotional impact to both Dad and Mom.
At its heart, this novel explores the cultural mommy wars: Which style of mothering is superior? Is the hyper-vigilant mother, constantly scanning for every possible danger, the better parent because she protects her child from harm? Or is it the mother who encourages freedom, exploration, and wonder? Swinarski examines the enormous pressures, judgments, anxieties, and impossible expectations placed upon mothers, while also compassionately revealing the hidden reasons women parent the way they do.
What makes this novel especially powerful is that it encourages understanding rather than condemnation. Swinarski reminds us that most mothers are simply doing the best they can—even if their choices differ from what you might choose for your own child 💕
This family drama unfolds through the perspectives of four women: a matriarch, two sisters, and their sister-in-law. The story moves across timelines and viewpoints, gradually revealing the complicated emotional dynamics within this family. As layers are peeled back, the reader gains insight into the characters’ fears, insecurities, vulnerabilities, and deeply human flaws.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was the novel’s emphasis on forgiveness and empathy. There was one character I struggled with throughout much of the story, yet when the other women ultimately extended grace and understanding to her, I found myself doing the same. That emotional shift felt authentic and deeply moving. This is the kind of novel that gently nudges readers toward compassion.
I also appreciated watching the characters evolve as the story progressed. Their motivations became clearer, their fears more understandable, and their emotional wounds more visible.
Is the novel perfect? No. At times, the repeated explanations behind each woman’s parenting philosophy felt somewhat redundant. And yes, the ending leans a bit “Hollywood.” But honestly? For characters whose intentions were rooted in love, perhaps that sort of ending feels earned ✨
I read this with the Terrific Darling Book Club. Please check out Darla and Tina’s review for their insights.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advance listening copy of The Supper Club Saints, published May 5, 2026 🎧📚
This is the perfect Mother’s Day read--warm, thoughtful, emotional, and filled with compassion for the impossible balancing act of motherhood.
April 20, 2026
4.5💫
oh my gosh this was SO GOOD! so beautiful and emotional.
the story begins when the youngest daughter comes home after disappearing for two years to join a 'mommune" cult. i loved learning about her time with lucey because it really shows how manipulative this woman was, even if cass was unaware of it at first. she has trauma from when she was younger, which causes her to behave the way she does as a mother and made her easily susceptible to the deceit from lucey.
this story is multiple-pov following the 4 women in the simons family. the women in the story are each going through their own personal battle, navigating motherhood and challenging relationships. the author gives very good insight into each of the characters back story, which is essential to the current timeline because it helps understand why each character did what they did and how they continue to act. this book demonstrated very well the struggle of trying not to raise your kids how your mother raised you, but the dangers and restraints that come along with that as well.
even as each mother was going through their own struggles, the sisters came together and provided so much insight on motherhood and the emotions behind being a good mother that were so beautiful and encouraging to read.
this was a beautiful story about motherhood, identity, mistakes, forgiveness, family, and the struggles of loving someone too much.
thank you avon & claire swinarski for the arc!!! out 5/5!!
oh my gosh this was SO GOOD! so beautiful and emotional.
the story begins when the youngest daughter comes home after disappearing for two years to join a 'mommune" cult. i loved learning about her time with lucey because it really shows how manipulative this woman was, even if cass was unaware of it at first. she has trauma from when she was younger, which causes her to behave the way she does as a mother and made her easily susceptible to the deceit from lucey.
this story is multiple-pov following the 4 women in the simons family. the women in the story are each going through their own personal battle, navigating motherhood and challenging relationships. the author gives very good insight into each of the characters back story, which is essential to the current timeline because it helps understand why each character did what they did and how they continue to act. this book demonstrated very well the struggle of trying not to raise your kids how your mother raised you, but the dangers and restraints that come along with that as well.
even as each mother was going through their own struggles, the sisters came together and provided so much insight on motherhood and the emotions behind being a good mother that were so beautiful and encouraging to read.
this was a beautiful story about motherhood, identity, mistakes, forgiveness, family, and the struggles of loving someone too much.
thank you avon & claire swinarski for the arc!!! out 5/5!!
May 11, 2026
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
This is one of those books that introduces 10 people in the first 10 pages but you dont care because by page 15 you are already fully invested in their lives.
The story opens in a Baumhaus - a supper club somewhere in Wisconsin that was belonging to Simon family for three generations. Remy Simon, the current owner of it, is preparing to sell the restaurant and finally retire because none of her three children ever expressed any desire to take it over. Her oldest daughter - Hilary - is a divorced mom of 3 that works as an artist; her middle one - Cass - one day packs her bags (and her daughter) and moves out of town to live in a cultish commune for mothers; her youngest one is Thomas - a golden boy and accomplished lawyer currently awaiting arrival of his first child. The book explores the dynamic between the siblings, their spouses and their mother with the primary focus on the contrasting flavours of motherhood and how people from the same family can perceive parenthood so differently. There are a lot of themes explored in The Supper Club Saints that can serve as a content warning - death of the parent, child's abuse, alcoholism, divorce, cult, miscarriages - but that are also making this book extremally emotionally resonant. Easy to recommend to any mother or anyone having a mother.
While I've gobbled up this book quite fast and enjoyed my time with it I must admit that it is not perfect. The amount of characters we are following is slightly too big and because of that their stories feel a bit rushed. The ending was unsatisfactory too because it wraps everything up with a cheerful Happily Ever After bow that sounds like an easy cop-out on the authors side that is not true to the themes explored. Finally, the cover of this book is truly hideous and I hope that will not repel any potential readers.
This is one of those books that introduces 10 people in the first 10 pages but you dont care because by page 15 you are already fully invested in their lives.
The story opens in a Baumhaus - a supper club somewhere in Wisconsin that was belonging to Simon family for three generations. Remy Simon, the current owner of it, is preparing to sell the restaurant and finally retire because none of her three children ever expressed any desire to take it over. Her oldest daughter - Hilary - is a divorced mom of 3 that works as an artist; her middle one - Cass - one day packs her bags (and her daughter) and moves out of town to live in a cultish commune for mothers; her youngest one is Thomas - a golden boy and accomplished lawyer currently awaiting arrival of his first child. The book explores the dynamic between the siblings, their spouses and their mother with the primary focus on the contrasting flavours of motherhood and how people from the same family can perceive parenthood so differently. There are a lot of themes explored in The Supper Club Saints that can serve as a content warning - death of the parent, child's abuse, alcoholism, divorce, cult, miscarriages - but that are also making this book extremally emotionally resonant. Easy to recommend to any mother or anyone having a mother.
While I've gobbled up this book quite fast and enjoyed my time with it I must admit that it is not perfect. The amount of characters we are following is slightly too big and because of that their stories feel a bit rushed. The ending was unsatisfactory too because it wraps everything up with a cheerful Happily Ever After bow that sounds like an easy cop-out on the authors side that is not true to the themes explored. Finally, the cover of this book is truly hideous and I hope that will not repel any potential readers.
April 29, 2026
I enjoyed this heartfelt story set in Wisconsin. It follows several family members, each navigating their own unique struggles—most notably a sister returning from a "mom-fluencer" cult. It’s a beautiful look at the importance of family, love, and just trying your darn best at life.
November 17, 2025
Having grown up in Wisconsin this was an enjoyable novel to reconnect with many cultural and geographical memories. Aside from nostalgia, the storyline is an in-depth exploration of family dynamics over several generations. Weighty issues such as love, divorce, conflicting parenting styles, serial miscarriages, child abuse, estranged relationships, death, and cults are woven into the fabric of the story with raw honesty and sensitivity. One glaring truth stands out – we can never fully know and appreciate how physical and emotional trauma impact familial connections and parenting choices.
The legacy of the Simon family has been the Baumhaus supper club for three generations. Now with the death of the patriarch, his widow is faced with the fact that the fourth generation has no interest in taking on the business. Each one of her children is facing their own challenges, which add to the chaos and drama.
There are two things I really enjoyed about this novel. First, the articles in The Hive, a tabloid magazine, featuring Mama Llama’s responses to readers’ questions on parenting. The answers are filled with common sense and wisdom that empower parents to trust their own instincts amid the plethora of advice from external “authorities.” The second was a unique approach to highlighting future events. Rather than relying on the standard epilogue for the conclusion, the author cleverly mentions the unknown opportunities that will change the trajectory of the characters’ lives.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
The legacy of the Simon family has been the Baumhaus supper club for three generations. Now with the death of the patriarch, his widow is faced with the fact that the fourth generation has no interest in taking on the business. Each one of her children is facing their own challenges, which add to the chaos and drama.
There are two things I really enjoyed about this novel. First, the articles in The Hive, a tabloid magazine, featuring Mama Llama’s responses to readers’ questions on parenting. The answers are filled with common sense and wisdom that empower parents to trust their own instincts amid the plethora of advice from external “authorities.” The second was a unique approach to highlighting future events. Rather than relying on the standard epilogue for the conclusion, the author cleverly mentions the unknown opportunities that will change the trajectory of the characters’ lives.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
May 8, 2026
My skin is clear, my crops are flourishing, my vision has been corrected, I’m hydrated and well nourished…The Supper Club Saints was the tonic I needed.
I recently finished another new novel about tradwife influencers (you know the one) and I had been feeling a little burned. The author of that novel disdained her own characters so much that I felt like she kind of hated me for reading her book.
Opening The Supper Club Saints and meeting characters who are so honestly emotional, complicated but not ~morally gray~, just weird and wonderful people trying to do their best but messing it up because their best isn’t enough when they reject help…let me just say, it was like hugging my mom, which I don’t get to do very often because I live seven time zones away from her!
The Supper Club Saints was so redemptive and beautiful, and I loved the way it ended, . It was just a really special experience. This is the type of book to pick up when you’re feeling low or need some hope! It was a really lovely reading experience, heartwarming and hopeful without being sappy in the least.
I loved the callbacks to The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County and I need Claire Swinarski to get all Faulkner-Berry-Erdrich on this place! Write a whole universe in this world and I will devour it! With children’s books to boot! God bless Claire Swinarski.
Content warnings: miscarriages (in the past, told through flashbacks and doctor’s appointments in some detail); flashbacks to an abusive reform camp for teens; attempted sexual assault told in a flashback; a character hits a deer with her car
I recently finished another new novel about tradwife influencers (you know the one) and I had been feeling a little burned. The author of that novel disdained her own characters so much that I felt like she kind of hated me for reading her book.
Opening The Supper Club Saints and meeting characters who are so honestly emotional, complicated but not ~morally gray~, just weird and wonderful people trying to do their best but messing it up because their best isn’t enough when they reject help…let me just say, it was like hugging my mom, which I don’t get to do very often because I live seven time zones away from her!
The Supper Club Saints was so redemptive and beautiful, and I loved the way it ended, . It was just a really special experience. This is the type of book to pick up when you’re feeling low or need some hope! It was a really lovely reading experience, heartwarming and hopeful without being sappy in the least.
I loved the callbacks to The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County and I need Claire Swinarski to get all Faulkner-Berry-Erdrich on this place! Write a whole universe in this world and I will devour it! With children’s books to boot! God bless Claire Swinarski.
Content warnings: miscarriages (in the past, told through flashbacks and doctor’s appointments in some detail); flashbacks to an abusive reform camp for teens; attempted sexual assault told in a flashback; a character hits a deer with her car
May 5, 2026
The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski was honestly such an unexpected five star read for me! This isn't a fast paced, can't put it down kind of read...it's the kind that pulls you in without you even noticing and keeps you glued to everything going on! I looked forward to the opportunity to get back to the story every time and I was COMPLETELY invested in these characters and their lives! The story is strongly character driven (my FAVORITE!) and even with multiple timelines, it was extremely easy to follow. My favorite thing about this book was how messy and flawed the characters were! I love characters like that because they feel so much more real! Like I honestly didn't like a lot of these characters most of the time, but I understood them and I think that made me feel more connected to their stories as a whole.
I also had the chance to experience this through both the eBook and audiobook (immersive reading #1!!!), and I thought the audio added so much to the experience! The full cast narration made the emotional sections so much better with being able to hear the tones clearly. I think it made everything feel stronger and being able to hear the upset, hurt and tension in the characters' voices just amplified everything. I never had trouble staying oriented between timelines/characters and I feel like the performances matched the tones of how I'd picture these characters to sound so well! I really appreciated that this book handles heavy topics in such a gentle way...like it definitely had me tearing up but thankfully I wasn't sobbing! The ending also gave me enough closure to feel really satisfying but without trying to tie up everything too neatly and perfectly which I felt fit the tone of the story's messiness and chaos, so I really liked that aspect as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eBook and audiobook! All opinions are 100% my own! :)
I also had the chance to experience this through both the eBook and audiobook (immersive reading #1!!!), and I thought the audio added so much to the experience! The full cast narration made the emotional sections so much better with being able to hear the tones clearly. I think it made everything feel stronger and being able to hear the upset, hurt and tension in the characters' voices just amplified everything. I never had trouble staying oriented between timelines/characters and I feel like the performances matched the tones of how I'd picture these characters to sound so well! I really appreciated that this book handles heavy topics in such a gentle way...like it definitely had me tearing up but thankfully I wasn't sobbing! The ending also gave me enough closure to feel really satisfying but without trying to tie up everything too neatly and perfectly which I felt fit the tone of the story's messiness and chaos, so I really liked that aspect as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eBook and audiobook! All opinions are 100% my own! :)
January 17, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC version. This novel was a deeply open look at a dysfunctional family whose lives traverse many ups and downs. From the head of the family unit with mom, Remy, and dad, Joseph to the three siblings and their spouses and children, there were so many hidden secrets. It was a heartfelt look at the difficulties of family, marriage, parenting, and divorce. The loneliness that can be found even within a close family is prevalent within the story and reminds the reader that no matter what a family still loves you. It was easy to follow along and become part of the family’s life and struggles.
May 11, 2026
Surprise, surprise, I have another family drama to recommend to you all! Ha! Yes, I’m obsessed and I’ll never stop reading them. I think family stories work so well for me because motherhood and marriage—two of my very favorite things to read about—are usually always the major themes, and Claire Swinarski’s latest, THE SUPPER CLUB SAINTS most certainly delivered. Check out this quick synopsis:
𝘈 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 “𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘦,” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥.
This book truly has it all, and kept me engaged and entertained from start to finish. A lot of characters are introduced right off the bat—siblings, spouses, and children—so I had to really pay attention at the beginning to keep them all straight. Once the story began to flow, I had no difficulty at all. I loved the multiple perspectives from the matriarch, her two daughters, and daughter-in-law. It gave a well-rounded look at the family, especially with an in-law or outsider, so to speak.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and dynamics
- Motherhood and marriage
- Wisconsin setting
- Small-town vibes
- Sisterhood and sibling rivalry
- Multiple POVs
- Forgiveness and acceptance
Swinarski truly captured the vibe and culture of Wisconsin in this novel. I’m not from there, but my husband is, and I’ve visited the state enough, so I know ball. Her references had me chuckling away. I even had to read a few aloud to my husband!
Motherhood truly is the heart and soul of this novel—especially modern motherhood. It brings to light how we all mother differently, that there really isn’t one correct way, and that is absolutely okay. We’re all doing the best we can. 4/5 solid stars!
𝘈 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 “𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘦,” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥.
This book truly has it all, and kept me engaged and entertained from start to finish. A lot of characters are introduced right off the bat—siblings, spouses, and children—so I had to really pay attention at the beginning to keep them all straight. Once the story began to flow, I had no difficulty at all. I loved the multiple perspectives from the matriarch, her two daughters, and daughter-in-law. It gave a well-rounded look at the family, especially with an in-law or outsider, so to speak.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and dynamics
- Motherhood and marriage
- Wisconsin setting
- Small-town vibes
- Sisterhood and sibling rivalry
- Multiple POVs
- Forgiveness and acceptance
Swinarski truly captured the vibe and culture of Wisconsin in this novel. I’m not from there, but my husband is, and I’ve visited the state enough, so I know ball. Her references had me chuckling away. I even had to read a few aloud to my husband!
Motherhood truly is the heart and soul of this novel—especially modern motherhood. It brings to light how we all mother differently, that there really isn’t one correct way, and that is absolutely okay. We’re all doing the best we can. 4/5 solid stars!
April 26, 2026
This complimentary ALC from Harper Audio–Adult via NetGalley pulled me in for one simple reason—the author felt familiar. And sure enough, mid-listen it clicked: I had previously read a middle grade camp story by her that I absolutely adored. That same polished, immersive writing? Fully intact here.
While this firmly sits in women’s fiction—with layered explorations of motherhood, family dynamics, truth versus deception, and personal reckoning—it carries an undercurrent of suspense that kept me engaged in a way I didn’t expect. It gave me that “just one more chapter” feeling, even in a more introspective narrative.
The audiobook experience truly elevated this one. Narrated by a full cast: Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter, and Nan McNamara, each woman brought distinct voice and emotional depth to their chapters. Even in a third-person, dual-timeline structure, the rotating perspectives felt intimate and personal. That’s not always easy to pull off, especially outside of first-person narration, so this felt like a genuine treat.
Each chapter centers a different woman, for the most part, and the transitions between timelines and perspectives were handled smoothly, allowing for strong character connection across the board. That said, the narration did feel a bit slow for me at 1x speed—but bumping it up didn’t sacrifice any of the nuance in performance, which made for a much more satisfying listening experience.
If you’re primarily a thriller reader like I am but want something with more emotional depth and introspection—without losing that subtle tension—this is absolutely one to pick up.
While this firmly sits in women’s fiction—with layered explorations of motherhood, family dynamics, truth versus deception, and personal reckoning—it carries an undercurrent of suspense that kept me engaged in a way I didn’t expect. It gave me that “just one more chapter” feeling, even in a more introspective narrative.
The audiobook experience truly elevated this one. Narrated by a full cast: Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter, and Nan McNamara, each woman brought distinct voice and emotional depth to their chapters. Even in a third-person, dual-timeline structure, the rotating perspectives felt intimate and personal. That’s not always easy to pull off, especially outside of first-person narration, so this felt like a genuine treat.
Each chapter centers a different woman, for the most part, and the transitions between timelines and perspectives were handled smoothly, allowing for strong character connection across the board. That said, the narration did feel a bit slow for me at 1x speed—but bumping it up didn’t sacrifice any of the nuance in performance, which made for a much more satisfying listening experience.
If you’re primarily a thriller reader like I am but want something with more emotional depth and introspection—without losing that subtle tension—this is absolutely one to pick up.
April 27, 2026
The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski is a complex family drama that caught me off guard in the best way. I couldn't put it down, mostly because the characters are so well-written, flawed, and had such deep backstories. The story centers around the 4 women in the Simon family as they struggle with motherhood in their own ways. The Simon women include mother Remy, sisters Hilary and Cass, and sister-in-law Erin. They all judge each other’s parenting choices while trying to be the best mothers they can despite their individual circumstances.
The imperfect mothers face many relatable challenges of parenthood from fertility to pregnancy and child rearing. They are looking for validation at a time when information from “momfluencers” is rampant. It made me think back on my own parenting journey and how grateful I am for the support of my family and mom friends. Motherhood is an unpredictable adventure that truly takes a village to navigate. “I think we get wisdom from our roots: from the women who’ve gone before us and the women who surround us.” Overall a beautifully written story about motherhood, choices, forgiveness, grief, and family 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The imperfect mothers face many relatable challenges of parenthood from fertility to pregnancy and child rearing. They are looking for validation at a time when information from “momfluencers” is rampant. It made me think back on my own parenting journey and how grateful I am for the support of my family and mom friends. Motherhood is an unpredictable adventure that truly takes a village to navigate. “I think we get wisdom from our roots: from the women who’ve gone before us and the women who surround us.” Overall a beautifully written story about motherhood, choices, forgiveness, grief, and family 4.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for my gifted ARCs!
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. I’m usually not the biggest fan of books that lean heavily into motherhood stories, but this one worked for me.
It definitely gave off some real-life inspiration vibes, but it still felt like its own story and never felt like it was trying too hard to mirror anything specific. The family dynamics were messy, emotional, and felt really real, which is what kept me invested the most.
Since this is a multiple POV story, the audiobook was such a good way to experience it. The different narrators for each character made a huge difference, especially with the POV shifts happening throughout chapters. It made everything flow so much better.
What I liked most was how honest it felt about family and all the complicated emotions that come with both. It was raw, emotional, and much more character-driven than plot-heavy, but that’s where it really worked for me.
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. I’m usually not the biggest fan of books that lean heavily into motherhood stories, but this one worked for me.
It definitely gave off some real-life inspiration vibes, but it still felt like its own story and never felt like it was trying too hard to mirror anything specific. The family dynamics were messy, emotional, and felt really real, which is what kept me invested the most.
Since this is a multiple POV story, the audiobook was such a good way to experience it. The different narrators for each character made a huge difference, especially with the POV shifts happening throughout chapters. It made everything flow so much better.
What I liked most was how honest it felt about family and all the complicated emotions that come with both. It was raw, emotional, and much more character-driven than plot-heavy, but that’s where it really worked for me.
May 1, 2026
This book was freaking amazing and beautiful. I did not expect it as the synopsis was vague (as it should be). If you are a mom, plan to be a mom, are an empty nester or have experienced infertility. Read this. I loved reading this story through different perspectives. Even the son's perspective was beautiful. I loved the characters so much. Especially some of the men!! Easiest 5 stars I've given in a while.
November 8, 2025
I loved this book so much that I didn’t want it to end. The “mommune” part of the storyline as so relatable to things that have happened in our current times in the news. Cass is a relatable character and so is Remy. The complexity of them makes them more realistic. All of the women in this book have something to resonate with and the theme of boundaries is very strong throughout. Truly a great read for all women. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed Claire Winarski’s earlier novel, THE FUNERAL LADIES OF ELLERIE COUNTY for its small town Wisconsin charm. I looked forward to THE SUPPER CLUB SAINTS because there are few things more representative of Wisconsin than relish trays, Friday fish fries, and old fashioneds.
Winarski not only delivers the quaint Wisconsin vibes I anticipated; she gives us a family drama of surprising depth. I was enthralled with the four Simon women and their relationships and the honest examination of motherhood.
The story begins when daughter Cass Simon returns home after spending years in a cult-like “mommune” during which time she cut off contact with her family. She finds things have changed. The family patriarch has died and the supper club that’s been family run for generations is being sold. And everyone has feelings.
Everything about this scenario felt authentic. The emotions. The conflict. The repressed feelings. The secrets. The fear of change. The insecurities. The self doubt. When you package all this and place it against a backdrop so familiar, it’s no surprise this book was a huge hit for me.
And, of course, the representation of the Wisconsin supper club tradition is impeccable.
The audiobook is narrated by Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter, and Nan McNamara and they do a terrific job giving voice to the four Simon women.
Thank you to Net Galley, Avon Books, and HarperAudio for the gifted advance copies. All opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Claire Winarski’s earlier novel, THE FUNERAL LADIES OF ELLERIE COUNTY for its small town Wisconsin charm. I looked forward to THE SUPPER CLUB SAINTS because there are few things more representative of Wisconsin than relish trays, Friday fish fries, and old fashioneds.
Winarski not only delivers the quaint Wisconsin vibes I anticipated; she gives us a family drama of surprising depth. I was enthralled with the four Simon women and their relationships and the honest examination of motherhood.
The story begins when daughter Cass Simon returns home after spending years in a cult-like “mommune” during which time she cut off contact with her family. She finds things have changed. The family patriarch has died and the supper club that’s been family run for generations is being sold. And everyone has feelings.
Everything about this scenario felt authentic. The emotions. The conflict. The repressed feelings. The secrets. The fear of change. The insecurities. The self doubt. When you package all this and place it against a backdrop so familiar, it’s no surprise this book was a huge hit for me.
And, of course, the representation of the Wisconsin supper club tradition is impeccable.
The audiobook is narrated by Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter, and Nan McNamara and they do a terrific job giving voice to the four Simon women.
Thank you to Net Galley, Avon Books, and HarperAudio for the gifted advance copies. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2026
The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski is such a beautiful, timeless look at what it actually means to be a mom.
The book follows the paths of four siblings and their mother, weaving in their perspectives alongside a few of their spouses. What I loved most is how it zeroes in on the fact that motherhood looks different for everyone. There is no single "right" way to do it, even though we (and these characters!) tend to feel otherwise sometimes.
It really captures how parenting shifts across different circumstances and generations. We can’t parent the exact same way our parents did because the world is different now, and sometimes you just have to forge your own path. But it also shows the absolute beauty of leaning on other mothers and learning from them.
Honestly, this was such a wonderful Mother’s Day season read. I love books that delve deep into relationships and remind us to show grace to one another—and to ourselves. This is everyone’s first time living this life and our first time navigating parenthood. We don't have all the answers, but we have a lot of love, and this book shows that so beautifully.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a moving, relatable read!
Huge thanks to the author Claire Swinarski, publisher Avon, and NetGalley for the advanced gifted copy of the book! All opinions are my own.
The book follows the paths of four siblings and their mother, weaving in their perspectives alongside a few of their spouses. What I loved most is how it zeroes in on the fact that motherhood looks different for everyone. There is no single "right" way to do it, even though we (and these characters!) tend to feel otherwise sometimes.
It really captures how parenting shifts across different circumstances and generations. We can’t parent the exact same way our parents did because the world is different now, and sometimes you just have to forge your own path. But it also shows the absolute beauty of leaning on other mothers and learning from them.
Honestly, this was such a wonderful Mother’s Day season read. I love books that delve deep into relationships and remind us to show grace to one another—and to ourselves. This is everyone’s first time living this life and our first time navigating parenthood. We don't have all the answers, but we have a lot of love, and this book shows that so beautifully.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a moving, relatable read!
Huge thanks to the author Claire Swinarski, publisher Avon, and NetGalley for the advanced gifted copy of the book! All opinions are my own.
May 5, 2026
This book begins with Cass who returns home with her young daughter after getting caught up in a cult-like situation started by a mom influencer. This group called the “Mommune” promised perfect motherhood, but ended up being run by an abuser and was really a controlling, guilt-filled, isolated nightmare! At home, her family is in all kinds of chaos!
Her mom is quietly falling apart after her husband died and she is trying to decide whether to sell the family’s beloved supper club since the next generation of her family has no interest in keeping it going. One sister is navigating a painful divorce and being a single mom, while another is pregnant after loss and is terrified to hope again. Cass is carrying a great deal of shame and judgement, especially for not coming home for her father’s funeral and is just trying to be normal again. This is a slow-burn, character-driven story about women trying (and sometimes failing) to get their lives together.
I enjoyed this book! The author made me see the flaws and also the hopes and greatness of all these different woman. In a family drama, it’s easy to find at least one or more things that we can relate to in our own lives, which makes the story real and meaningful.
This book comes out today, May 5th. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Paperbacks for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Her mom is quietly falling apart after her husband died and she is trying to decide whether to sell the family’s beloved supper club since the next generation of her family has no interest in keeping it going. One sister is navigating a painful divorce and being a single mom, while another is pregnant after loss and is terrified to hope again. Cass is carrying a great deal of shame and judgement, especially for not coming home for her father’s funeral and is just trying to be normal again. This is a slow-burn, character-driven story about women trying (and sometimes failing) to get their lives together.
I enjoyed this book! The author made me see the flaws and also the hopes and greatness of all these different woman. In a family drama, it’s easy to find at least one or more things that we can relate to in our own lives, which makes the story real and meaningful.
This book comes out today, May 5th. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Paperbacks for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 6, 2026𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Let’s join the Simon family at the Baumhaus, the supper club that’s been in their family for generations.
There’s Remy, recent widow and matriarch, trying to find her way to retirement through decades of an identity wrapped up in the family business.
Hilary, the oldest daughter and recently divorced mother of three. SHes looking to find a balance between being a single mother and being a woman.
There’s only son and youngest sibling, Thomas, who, with wife Erin, are finally about to become parents after several miscarriages. Navigating secrets and feelings held in, they need to find a way back to each other.
And then there’s middle child, Cass, the prodigal daughter who has just returned from living at the Mommune with an influencer mommy after a scandal has broken.
Told in multiple POVs with time shifts to share significant events of the past, it’s fascinating to see how all of the pieces come together.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
When this arrived in the mail, I set it aside. The cover did not grab me. But then a friend said, let’s buddy read, then burger of us could put it down.
I found each family member’s story interesting and was completely pulled into each narrative.
This is fully a character driven story, but there is a supported plot and a lot of soft mystery, too.
I genuinely loved it!
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Think Ann Napolitano and Claire Lombardo.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
I do! If you’re looking to explore the complex dynamics of a messy family, this one can’t be missed. It’s about sisters and motherhood and loving the family you have.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@avon sent a copy! It’s out now!
Let’s join the Simon family at the Baumhaus, the supper club that’s been in their family for generations.
There’s Remy, recent widow and matriarch, trying to find her way to retirement through decades of an identity wrapped up in the family business.
Hilary, the oldest daughter and recently divorced mother of three. SHes looking to find a balance between being a single mother and being a woman.
There’s only son and youngest sibling, Thomas, who, with wife Erin, are finally about to become parents after several miscarriages. Navigating secrets and feelings held in, they need to find a way back to each other.
And then there’s middle child, Cass, the prodigal daughter who has just returned from living at the Mommune with an influencer mommy after a scandal has broken.
Told in multiple POVs with time shifts to share significant events of the past, it’s fascinating to see how all of the pieces come together.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
When this arrived in the mail, I set it aside. The cover did not grab me. But then a friend said, let’s buddy read, then burger of us could put it down.
I found each family member’s story interesting and was completely pulled into each narrative.
This is fully a character driven story, but there is a supported plot and a lot of soft mystery, too.
I genuinely loved it!
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Think Ann Napolitano and Claire Lombardo.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
I do! If you’re looking to explore the complex dynamics of a messy family, this one can’t be missed. It’s about sisters and motherhood and loving the family you have.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@avon sent a copy! It’s out now!
May 8, 2026
I always enjoy family drama and this one includes a "mommune"....I am intrigued. Cass return home with her daughter after years away to live in the mommune and work for an influencer mom. She returns home to find herself at odds integrating back into her former life as her family members are going through changes as well.
The story is told in 4 POVs which include Cass, her mom, sister and sister in laws. Their relationship is complicated and each with their own struggle.
I really enjoyed that this book highlights there is no right way to be a parent and you do what feels right for you.
The drama at the mommune kept things interesting as well
I enjoyed the narration by Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter and Nan McNamara kept the characters clear and made the story easy to keep up with.
Thank you @avonbooks @harperaudio for a copy of the book and audiobook.
The story is told in 4 POVs which include Cass, her mom, sister and sister in laws. Their relationship is complicated and each with their own struggle.
I really enjoyed that this book highlights there is no right way to be a parent and you do what feels right for you.
The drama at the mommune kept things interesting as well
I enjoyed the narration by Caitlin Davies, Emma Love, Alexandra Hunter and Nan McNamara kept the characters clear and made the story easy to keep up with.
Thank you @avonbooks @harperaudio for a copy of the book and audiobook.
May 16, 2026
As someone who loves family dramas, I found this book perfect. The story follows the Simon women, including Remy, the matriarch; her two daughters, Hilary and Cass; and daughter-in-law Erin, as they navigate the complexities of modern motherhood. The story unfolds in the present and through flashbacks to each woman’s life. I’ve always been drawn to character-driven novels, and this one, with its array of complex characters, delivers in a big way. The story is beautifully written, and I felt it was one of the most accurate fictional depictions of family I’ve ever read. A heartfelt family drama about messy, flawed characters with emotional depth, and an ending that was satisfying and moving, giving me a genuine sense of closure with these characters. I highly recommend picking up this book if you’re like me and enjoy family drama and well-crafted, character-driven stories.
May 6, 2026
A brilliant, compulsively readable, super relevant and timely novel, which centers on four very strong, very stubborn women of a WI family with, let’s say, a complicated past, and one of these women returns home from a cultish “Mommune” — this book has it all! Cults and evil mommy influencers; charming yet claustrophobic small towns; meditations on what it is to be a woman, a sister, a mother, a wife, and what is, indeed, home; and so, so much more. I cried like a baby at the end, and will definitely be reading more from Claire Swinarski.
Perfect for fans of book club fiction, women’s fiction, women’s stories, and literary writing.
Thanks to the author and her publisher for the arc.
This is my honest review.
Perfect for fans of book club fiction, women’s fiction, women’s stories, and literary writing.
Thanks to the author and her publisher for the arc.
This is my honest review.
April 20, 2026
Cass Simon has returned home. Estranged from her family after she joins a mommune (a mom influencer commune) she finally sees clearly and escapes. But she has missed so much. Her mom is selling the family restaurant, her brother and his wife are expecting, and the hardest, her dad has passed away.
I loved this story. I related to the restaurant family life having grown up in that setting myself. It was a satisfying read filled with the complexities of extended families and parenting. There are so many variables to parenting and Swinarski captured the overthinking, anxious energy of uncertainty I faced when I first became a mom. I felt connected to the characters and interested in their plights. They were messy, realistic, and lovable.
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this story. I related to the restaurant family life having grown up in that setting myself. It was a satisfying read filled with the complexities of extended families and parenting. There are so many variables to parenting and Swinarski captured the overthinking, anxious energy of uncertainty I faced when I first became a mom. I felt connected to the characters and interested in their plights. They were messy, realistic, and lovable.
4.5 ⭐️
May 11, 2026
Cass Simon left her small town in Wisconsin to join a mommy cult; she has now returned home. She has a lot of secrets about the last few years. Baumhaus supper club is run by her family and is finally closing after years of operation.
Hillary is the older sister and an artist with three children and Erin the sister-in-law is currently pregnant. Remy's is their mother and has decided to sell the supper club after her husband died a few years ago. This story is told by following the lives of these women.
Hillary is the older sister and an artist with three children and Erin the sister-in-law is currently pregnant. Remy's is their mother and has decided to sell the supper club after her husband died a few years ago. This story is told by following the lives of these women.
March 10, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I’ve been (not so) patiently waiting for this one since Claire wrote in a newsletter once that she was watching a lot of cult documentaries for research. I found this gripping, and not in a thriller-esque way of “when is the shoe going to drop?” but more of a “I am wanting the good for these very very flawed people.” Sneaky references to East of Eden always help curry my favor, too.
May 15, 2026
The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski dives deep into motherhood, family fractures, and what it really means to start over. Cass’s return home after her Mommune life immediately sets off tension, and I loved how the story explored different versions of motherhood, none of them perfect, all of them real. It’s layered, emotional, and full of complicated women just trying to do their best.
May 5, 2026
This was such a beautiful story. While there's a lot going on with multiple POVs and timelines, the author writes in such a way that they perfectly complement each other and create a delicate, complex, heart wrenching and heart warming story. I found this really impressive as it would've been easy for the characters and their stories to compete and overwhelm the reader, but the pieces all fall into place perfectly. It is rare for me to immediately purchase an ARC after reading it, but I pre-ordered this one right away.
May 3, 2026
4.5 stars! I loved this family drama!
February 21, 2026
The Supper Club Saints is Claire Swinarski's newest book for adults, and it is beautiful, profound, heart-wrenching, and challenging in the best of ways. It made me re-evaluate my motherhood, my relationship with my sisters, and my "relationship" with social media; and it left me more intentional with my children, grateful for my sisters, and eager to foster real world community.
I'm not sure any review could do justice to this plot. It's complicated in my favorite way, following various members of a family (but in particular two sisters, Cass and Hilary, and their mother), both in the present and various moments in the past. All the stories intertwine, weaving a tapestry of family connection, hurt, forgiveness, pain, faith, and love. It's very Catholic in a deep-in-its-bones but never in-your-face way. And like most of Claire's other books, The Supper Club Saints also features small town Wisconsin in a way that makes the setting feel as crucial as any of the characters. (I really wish I could experience a Supper Club now. We don't have--and, dare I say, never had--those in Connecticut!)
Ppre-order this one if you love family stories, vivid settings, and explorations of motherhood in all its complicated wonder.
I'm not sure any review could do justice to this plot. It's complicated in my favorite way, following various members of a family (but in particular two sisters, Cass and Hilary, and their mother), both in the present and various moments in the past. All the stories intertwine, weaving a tapestry of family connection, hurt, forgiveness, pain, faith, and love. It's very Catholic in a deep-in-its-bones but never in-your-face way. And like most of Claire's other books, The Supper Club Saints also features small town Wisconsin in a way that makes the setting feel as crucial as any of the characters. (I really wish I could experience a Supper Club now. We don't have--and, dare I say, never had--those in Connecticut!)
Ppre-order this one if you love family stories, vivid settings, and explorations of motherhood in all its complicated wonder.
April 9, 2026
Motherhood really said “there is no right way, only survival,” and Claire Swinarski’s The Supper Club Saints walked in like a slow, emotional unraveling that left me staring at the ceiling questioning every life choice I’ve ever witnessed secondhand.
Published by Avon and Harper Voyager—thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This isn’t the kind of book you breeze through—it’s the kind that quietly takes up space in your chest. We follow Cass Simon, who returns to her small-town Wisconsin roots after escaping a cult-adjacent “mommune” and the glossy illusion of online motherhood perfection. And let’s just say… coming home isn’t the soft landing she hoped for. Waiting for her is Remy, her mother, who runs the Baumhaus supper club like it’s both a sanctuary and a ticking clock, especially as she prepares to let it go. Then there’s Hilary, the older sister trying to rebuild herself after a divorce that shook her identity to its core, and Erin, the sister-in-law navigating pregnancy after loss, carrying both hope and fear like they’re inseparable.
And somehow, this book makes all of that feel intimate instead of overwhelming.
What hit me hardest wasn’t the circumstances—it was the emotional undercurrent. Every single woman in this story is trying to define what being a “good mother” even means, while quietly carrying the weight of how they were raised. Cass is rigid, protective, almost suffocating in her need to do things “right” after everything she’s been through. Hilary feels like she’s constantly picking up pieces no one else sees. Erin is trying to feel joy without betraying her grief. And Remy… Remy is that deeply layered matriarch whose love is steady but complicated, shaped by her own past in ways that ripple through her daughters whether they like it or not.
“She wondered if womanhood was just the process of slowly but surely understanding your mother.”
That line didn’t just land—it echoed. Because this book doesn’t hand you answers. It just sits you down at the table—literally and metaphorically—and says, “Let’s talk about it.”
The Baumhaus supper club itself feels like a character, holding decades of memory, tradition, and quiet expectations. It’s warm and nostalgic, but also a little suffocating, like the kind of place where everyone knows your story… or thinks they do. And that contrast—comfort versus confinement—mirrors the entire experience of motherhood in this book. Beautiful, meaningful, and occasionally overwhelming in ways no one warns you about.
This is for the reader who doesn’t need constant action but craves emotional depth. If you love stories about complicated families, generational patterns, sister dynamics that feel equal parts loving and exhausting, and the kind of writing that makes you pause and just sit with it—this is your book. It’s not here to entertain you in a flashy way. It’s here to quietly dismantle you and then hand you a cup of coffee like, “You good?”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s not flawless—there are moments where the pacing slows and certain threads feel like they almost resolve instead of fully clicking into place. But honestly? That imperfection felt intentional. Because life, family, and motherhood rarely tie themselves up neatly. And this book refuses to pretend otherwise.
By the end, I didn’t feel like I had closure—I felt like I had perspective. Like I had spent time inside lives that reminded me how deeply human we all are, especially in the roles we care about the most.
So now I’m curious—what kind of book stays with you longer: the ones that let you escape completely, or the ones that hold up a mirror you didn’t ask for but can’t look away from?
#TheSupperClubSaints #ClaireSwinarski #BookReview #WomensFiction #GeneralFiction #MotherhoodMatters #FamilyDrama #CharacterDrivenReads #Bookstagram #NetGalleyReads #ARCReview #ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers #BookCommunity #WhatToReadNext #EmotionalReads #LiteraryFiction #BookishLife
Published by Avon and Harper Voyager—thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This isn’t the kind of book you breeze through—it’s the kind that quietly takes up space in your chest. We follow Cass Simon, who returns to her small-town Wisconsin roots after escaping a cult-adjacent “mommune” and the glossy illusion of online motherhood perfection. And let’s just say… coming home isn’t the soft landing she hoped for. Waiting for her is Remy, her mother, who runs the Baumhaus supper club like it’s both a sanctuary and a ticking clock, especially as she prepares to let it go. Then there’s Hilary, the older sister trying to rebuild herself after a divorce that shook her identity to its core, and Erin, the sister-in-law navigating pregnancy after loss, carrying both hope and fear like they’re inseparable.
And somehow, this book makes all of that feel intimate instead of overwhelming.
What hit me hardest wasn’t the circumstances—it was the emotional undercurrent. Every single woman in this story is trying to define what being a “good mother” even means, while quietly carrying the weight of how they were raised. Cass is rigid, protective, almost suffocating in her need to do things “right” after everything she’s been through. Hilary feels like she’s constantly picking up pieces no one else sees. Erin is trying to feel joy without betraying her grief. And Remy… Remy is that deeply layered matriarch whose love is steady but complicated, shaped by her own past in ways that ripple through her daughters whether they like it or not.
“She wondered if womanhood was just the process of slowly but surely understanding your mother.”
That line didn’t just land—it echoed. Because this book doesn’t hand you answers. It just sits you down at the table—literally and metaphorically—and says, “Let’s talk about it.”
The Baumhaus supper club itself feels like a character, holding decades of memory, tradition, and quiet expectations. It’s warm and nostalgic, but also a little suffocating, like the kind of place where everyone knows your story… or thinks they do. And that contrast—comfort versus confinement—mirrors the entire experience of motherhood in this book. Beautiful, meaningful, and occasionally overwhelming in ways no one warns you about.
This is for the reader who doesn’t need constant action but craves emotional depth. If you love stories about complicated families, generational patterns, sister dynamics that feel equal parts loving and exhausting, and the kind of writing that makes you pause and just sit with it—this is your book. It’s not here to entertain you in a flashy way. It’s here to quietly dismantle you and then hand you a cup of coffee like, “You good?”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s not flawless—there are moments where the pacing slows and certain threads feel like they almost resolve instead of fully clicking into place. But honestly? That imperfection felt intentional. Because life, family, and motherhood rarely tie themselves up neatly. And this book refuses to pretend otherwise.
By the end, I didn’t feel like I had closure—I felt like I had perspective. Like I had spent time inside lives that reminded me how deeply human we all are, especially in the roles we care about the most.
So now I’m curious—what kind of book stays with you longer: the ones that let you escape completely, or the ones that hold up a mirror you didn’t ask for but can’t look away from?
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Avon Books for an ARC of this novel!
First, before reading this, I wasn't familiar with the Wisconsin tradition of supper clubs, which apparently are popular in the state. They typically feature multiple courses and instead of just going for dinner, guests would spend the whole evening there enjoying a leisurely meal. The family in this book, the Simons, have owned a supper club for generations. When the prodigal daughter, Cass Simon, returns after several years away, the family dynamics are once again upended. Cass has been living in a cult-like commune, working for an influencer who soared to popularity for her online mothering opinions and advice.
The theme of this book is truly pondering what it means to be a good mother. Cass is so consumed by the need to be a perfect parent and avoid all risk to her daughter that she ultimately falls prey to the cult like lifestyle she has been living. She is contrasted with her mom, her sister, and her sister-in-law, all in different phases of motherhood and all with very different mothering styles.
This is a very character driven novel, with the perspective shifting throughout the book. I typically really enjoy family sagas, and I love getting to see the different perspectives of different family members. I did feel like some of the plotlines were more built out than others. It felt like Cass with the central character and the other family members mostly reacting to her reappearance. The narrative also jumps back and forth in time. In many ways this is helpful for reader understanding, such as the chapters that show Cass living in the "mommune", but others felt out of nowhere, specifically the chapters that go back to the mother Remy's teenage years. While the reason these were included was clear by the end, I was taken aback at first and her teenage story was so upsetting and outrageous it felt like I was in a dystopian novel for a bit.
I also thought it was interesting to include an influencer and the effects of social media and online fear mongering on things like dye in food, trampolines, etc. and the impact this can have on parents. This is contrasted with the column Cass writes, where she promotes forgiveness to moms, who she says are all trying their best. It's only through writing this column that she comes to see the validity of the message she is sharing with other moms. I was a little disappointed that there weren't ultimately more details shared about the influencer/abuse situation, but at the same time, given that child abuse could be extremely triggering for some readers, this is probably for the best.
I also thought the supper club would feature a little more in the plot. There are lots of references to how long it's been in the family and how sad it is that it won't be any longer, but no one actually seemed that sad about it and it didn't feel that instrumental to the family or plot.
At heart, this is a mediation on motherhood and evolving family dynamics: "She was beginning to think that everyone messed up their children, even or perhaps especially those for whom that was their worst fear" (316). I was really torn between 3 and four stars for this one, but I'll be generous and give it four because ultimately it was a unique story unlike any others I've read.
First, before reading this, I wasn't familiar with the Wisconsin tradition of supper clubs, which apparently are popular in the state. They typically feature multiple courses and instead of just going for dinner, guests would spend the whole evening there enjoying a leisurely meal. The family in this book, the Simons, have owned a supper club for generations. When the prodigal daughter, Cass Simon, returns after several years away, the family dynamics are once again upended. Cass has been living in a cult-like commune, working for an influencer who soared to popularity for her online mothering opinions and advice.
The theme of this book is truly pondering what it means to be a good mother. Cass is so consumed by the need to be a perfect parent and avoid all risk to her daughter that she ultimately falls prey to the cult like lifestyle she has been living. She is contrasted with her mom, her sister, and her sister-in-law, all in different phases of motherhood and all with very different mothering styles.
This is a very character driven novel, with the perspective shifting throughout the book. I typically really enjoy family sagas, and I love getting to see the different perspectives of different family members. I did feel like some of the plotlines were more built out than others. It felt like Cass with the central character and the other family members mostly reacting to her reappearance. The narrative also jumps back and forth in time. In many ways this is helpful for reader understanding, such as the chapters that show Cass living in the "mommune", but others felt out of nowhere, specifically the chapters that go back to the mother Remy's teenage years. While the reason these were included was clear by the end, I was taken aback at first and her teenage story was so upsetting and outrageous it felt like I was in a dystopian novel for a bit.
I also thought it was interesting to include an influencer and the effects of social media and online fear mongering on things like dye in food, trampolines, etc. and the impact this can have on parents. This is contrasted with the column Cass writes, where she promotes forgiveness to moms, who she says are all trying their best. It's only through writing this column that she comes to see the validity of the message she is sharing with other moms. I was a little disappointed that there weren't ultimately more details shared about the influencer/abuse situation, but at the same time, given that child abuse could be extremely triggering for some readers, this is probably for the best.
I also thought the supper club would feature a little more in the plot. There are lots of references to how long it's been in the family and how sad it is that it won't be any longer, but no one actually seemed that sad about it and it didn't feel that instrumental to the family or plot.
At heart, this is a mediation on motherhood and evolving family dynamics: "She was beginning to think that everyone messed up their children, even or perhaps especially those for whom that was their worst fear" (316). I was really torn between 3 and four stars for this one, but I'll be generous and give it four because ultimately it was a unique story unlike any others I've read.
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