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Valley of the Moms: A Novel
Stepford Wives
meets Big Little Lies in this twisty thriller that uncovers the untruths, petty grievances, and local school politics underneath a seemingly quaint small town.
Hamilton, Massachusetts is one of those suburban towns that appears untouched by the outside world where stay-at-home moms wear 2ct diamond studs to the playground, where a million-dollar property is “affordable,” and where the Parent Teacher Organization is a hotbed of controversy. Sure, some people struggle to make ends meet, but residents would say discussing such ugly matters is impolite. Hamilton has been like this forever, and everyone likes it that way. almost everyone.
It's not that Anna Plummer doesn't like Hamilton, but she never thought she'd be married with two young kids, comfortable, complacent…and growing more bored by the minute. So, when she realizes her second grader won't be able to attend the "Ziti with Your Sweetie" school dance because she didn’t pay for a “Premium” membership, she snaps. She sends an email to the terrifying president of the PTO—and all hell breaks loose.
One year later, Anna is found dead in the frozen Ipswich River. Left to pick up the pieces, her husband, Denny, is shaken to his core. He's no expert, but he's seen enough Dateline to know that the police think he's the main suspect. If they aren't going to get justice for Anna, he will. Told through the alternating perspectives of Anna and Denny exactly one year apart, and with a shocking concluding twist, Valley of the Moms is a gripping look at the underpinnings of grief, the social structures of wealth, and the secrets people keep—even among friends and loved ones.
Hamilton, Massachusetts is one of those suburban towns that appears untouched by the outside world where stay-at-home moms wear 2ct diamond studs to the playground, where a million-dollar property is “affordable,” and where the Parent Teacher Organization is a hotbed of controversy. Sure, some people struggle to make ends meet, but residents would say discussing such ugly matters is impolite. Hamilton has been like this forever, and everyone likes it that way. almost everyone.
It's not that Anna Plummer doesn't like Hamilton, but she never thought she'd be married with two young kids, comfortable, complacent…and growing more bored by the minute. So, when she realizes her second grader won't be able to attend the "Ziti with Your Sweetie" school dance because she didn’t pay for a “Premium” membership, she snaps. She sends an email to the terrifying president of the PTO—and all hell breaks loose.
One year later, Anna is found dead in the frozen Ipswich River. Left to pick up the pieces, her husband, Denny, is shaken to his core. He's no expert, but he's seen enough Dateline to know that the police think he's the main suspect. If they aren't going to get justice for Anna, he will. Told through the alternating perspectives of Anna and Denny exactly one year apart, and with a shocking concluding twist, Valley of the Moms is a gripping look at the underpinnings of grief, the social structures of wealth, and the secrets people keep—even among friends and loved ones.
Audible Audio
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Hannah Selinger
6 books167 followersHannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, "In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love," is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,116 reviews
June 20, 2026
Did not keep my interest. Plus there is NEVER a reason to kill a dog in a book. Never.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So...no. I went into this story expecting it to be a quick, breezy read about rich people with first-world problems, and it certainly is most of that. But it's ultimately a frustrating disappointment. Anna lives in a wealthy suburb of Hamilton and doesn't fit in with the rest of the pretentious residents. When she dares to disagree with the president of the PTO over their elitist ways, it all hits the fan. That's the narrative told in the past by Anna; there's also one from her husband Denny's perspective after her body is found in the river about a year or so after her narrative begins. So the reader is learning what she was dealing with that Denny knew nothing about, and we wait to see if he'll be able to figure out what really happened to her and get justice for his wife.
SPOILER ALERT
He eventually figures it all out and doesn't do a damn thing about it. Let's not waste any time pretending we don't know who's responsible for Anna's death. It's quite obvious from the start, especially when the author drops a way too obvious clue early on that was referenced so transparently as a possible murder weapon, that I thought it was a red herring for those who picked up on it. No. It wasn't. It was really just that obvious. If that wasn't frustrating enough, it's also clear who she can't trust, and even her husband picks up on that sooner than she did.
The most frustrating part is not just the ridiculousness of so many criminals essentially running the town of Hamilton, but that no one ever stops them. Denny easily could have turned them in with everything he learned, and he chooses not to. For no reason other than his children are settled in their home there. ?? In the town where his wife was killed. By people living IN THAT TOWN. And he wants to make a life there. What on earth was the author thinking? How deplorable are these characters supposed to be? The perpetrators are never challenged by anyone. People just live in this town knowing it's run by crooked people in positions of power and... a PTO president. That's just hilarious. Where on earth would such a pathetic volunteer position be wielded with the same power as, say, a mayor or a senator? I could see if this was a satire, but I swear, it's supposed to be taken seriously. SO again...no.
SPOILER ALERT
He eventually figures it all out and doesn't do a damn thing about it. Let's not waste any time pretending we don't know who's responsible for Anna's death. It's quite obvious from the start, especially when the author drops a way too obvious clue early on that was referenced so transparently as a possible murder weapon, that I thought it was a red herring for those who picked up on it. No. It wasn't. It was really just that obvious. If that wasn't frustrating enough, it's also clear who she can't trust, and even her husband picks up on that sooner than she did.
The most frustrating part is not just the ridiculousness of so many criminals essentially running the town of Hamilton, but that no one ever stops them. Denny easily could have turned them in with everything he learned, and he chooses not to. For no reason other than his children are settled in their home there. ?? In the town where his wife was killed. By people living IN THAT TOWN. And he wants to make a life there. What on earth was the author thinking? How deplorable are these characters supposed to be? The perpetrators are never challenged by anyone. People just live in this town knowing it's run by crooked people in positions of power and... a PTO president. That's just hilarious. Where on earth would such a pathetic volunteer position be wielded with the same power as, say, a mayor or a senator? I could see if this was a satire, but I swear, it's supposed to be taken seriously. SO again...no.
June 16, 2026
This is the most poorly written book I’ve ever read. I truly can’t believe this is not self published; what editors OK’d this story? Thin, hollow plot; zero character development; no suspense. Truly a nothing burger of a story, just lots of hyper specific brand and cultural references that were obviously definitive to the author’s teen years and now suburban adulthood — but fail to elicit any mood, context or depth.
Read
June 16, 2026My nomination for most useless book boo goes to Denny. Could not be my man, can we send him back?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Valley of the Moms. A fast paced thriller or more like a whole lot of juicy domestic suspense. Anna’s best friend Di convinces her to move to Hamilton, MA. Anna, her husband, Denny and their two children relocate. Making friends doesn’t come easily in this tight community and even harder with the school’s PTO which is more like a clique with one person calling the shots. Anna soon uncovers secrets about these insufferable women. And then she turns up dead? Told in dual pov and time periods, Anna and Denny, which was very clever. Anna’s pov was suspenseful leading up to her murder where Denny’s was after the fact and trying to clear his name because he is the main suspect. His was also infuriating because of blatant inaction. The ending wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped, but it was still a worth while read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for an early copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for an early copy.
July 14, 2026
Horrible ending. Depressing.
Anna Plummer lives in Hamilton, Massachusetts, a wealthy community with a very powerful school PTO. When Anna discovers that her second grade daughter cannot attend a dance because the tickets were sold out to those who purchased an upper tier membership to the PTO, Anna goes on the defensive. Fast forward a year, and Anna is found dead. As her husband begins to restart his life after her death, the timelines move back and forth between the present day and what led up to Anna's demise.
I just cannot find anything good to say about this book except that I powered through to finish it hoping that it would get better. Alas, it did not. I despised the ending, it left me feeling sad, frustrated, and angry, and not in a good way.
The characters were all vapid and entitled, and even Anna's quest seemed self-serving and out of touch with reality. I usually like books about rich people behaving badly, but this one was just so over the top and unpalatable that I cannot recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Anna Plummer lives in Hamilton, Massachusetts, a wealthy community with a very powerful school PTO. When Anna discovers that her second grade daughter cannot attend a dance because the tickets were sold out to those who purchased an upper tier membership to the PTO, Anna goes on the defensive. Fast forward a year, and Anna is found dead. As her husband begins to restart his life after her death, the timelines move back and forth between the present day and what led up to Anna's demise.
I just cannot find anything good to say about this book except that I powered through to finish it hoping that it would get better. Alas, it did not. I despised the ending, it left me feeling sad, frustrated, and angry, and not in a good way.
The characters were all vapid and entitled, and even Anna's quest seemed self-serving and out of touch with reality. I usually like books about rich people behaving badly, but this one was just so over the top and unpalatable that I cannot recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Read
May 24, 2026Well. This book was 75% good and then a MASSIVE disappointment at the end. Plus dog murder is a NO from me. Isn't the world awful enough.
The story had a familiar neighborhood suspense premise. Anna lives in a suburb run by a clique of Stepford Wives-slash-mean girls. Anna speaks out, committing social suicide. She's bullied and threatened anonymously but of course she knows who is responsible.
The story had an interesting narrative structure that began with Anna's death, then alternated between Anna's spiraling into danger, and her husband Denny trying to make sense of it all after she died. The most interesting part to me was Denny realizing that all the "women" things he was not paying attention to were the very things that led to her death.
But then things fell apart: the ending was weird AND involved the murder of a dog, and then I was so annoyed! I hope the next book (which I will not read due to ... reasons) will be ten years later with one of Anna's kids seeking revenge.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Subscribe to my amazing mystery and thriller newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com
The story had a familiar neighborhood suspense premise. Anna lives in a suburb run by a clique of Stepford Wives-slash-mean girls. Anna speaks out, committing social suicide. She's bullied and threatened anonymously but of course she knows who is responsible.
The story had an interesting narrative structure that began with Anna's death, then alternated between Anna's spiraling into danger, and her husband Denny trying to make sense of it all after she died. The most interesting part to me was Denny realizing that all the "women" things he was not paying attention to were the very things that led to her death.
But then things fell apart: the ending was weird AND involved the murder of a dog, and then I was so annoyed! I hope the next book (which I will not read due to ... reasons) will be ten years later with one of Anna's kids seeking revenge.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Subscribe to my amazing mystery and thriller newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I kept waiting for the moment things would get better and then I hit a multi-page metaphor involving jellyfish for some reason at like 90% through and I just knew this was a 2-star book for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Valley of the Moms pulls you in with that glossy suburban facade before slowly revealing what's rotting underneath. Hamilton, Massachusetts looks picture-perfect—designer playground moms, immaculate homes, a school system that operates more like an exclusive club. But something feels wrong from the very first pages, and when Anna Plummer starts asking uncomfortable questions, everything begins to crack.
The story splits between two timelines: Anna's voice in the year before her death, and her husband Denny's perspective a year after, as he wades through grief and a nagging sense that the truth about what happened to her is being covered up. I really loved this approach. Anna's chapters carry this ache of inevitability, while Denny's feel heavy with loss and quiet resolve. Knowing where things are headed makes every small moment land harder, every argument sting more.
The atmosphere is what really shines here. The book nails that suffocating energy of wealthy communities where image trumps fairness and social power can be just as ruthless as money. The PTO drama, the whispered rivalries, the unwritten rules—it all feels uncomfortably familiar, turning ordinary interactions into minefields. Anna makes for a compelling protagonist: flawed, restless, and gutsy enough to push back when staying quiet would be so much easier. Her frustration and loneliness make sense, even when her choices had me wanting to yell at her through the page.
That said, while the emotional arc landed for me, the mystery itself didn't always pack the punch I was hoping for. Some twists felt more expected than shocking, and a few character decisions left me wishing for a bit more depth. The pacing drags in places when the story dips too deep into internal reflection, softening the tension right when it needed an edge. Still, the way it explores marriage, motherhood, and the cost of going it alone gives the book real weight beyond just the central crime.
Ultimately, Valley of the Moms is a thoughtful, unsettling look at grief, privilege, and the dangerous narratives people construct to protect their worlds. It may not completely catch you off guard, but it stays with you—especially the questions it raises about what justice actually looks like and who gets to define it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company / Mulholland Books for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story splits between two timelines: Anna's voice in the year before her death, and her husband Denny's perspective a year after, as he wades through grief and a nagging sense that the truth about what happened to her is being covered up. I really loved this approach. Anna's chapters carry this ache of inevitability, while Denny's feel heavy with loss and quiet resolve. Knowing where things are headed makes every small moment land harder, every argument sting more.
The atmosphere is what really shines here. The book nails that suffocating energy of wealthy communities where image trumps fairness and social power can be just as ruthless as money. The PTO drama, the whispered rivalries, the unwritten rules—it all feels uncomfortably familiar, turning ordinary interactions into minefields. Anna makes for a compelling protagonist: flawed, restless, and gutsy enough to push back when staying quiet would be so much easier. Her frustration and loneliness make sense, even when her choices had me wanting to yell at her through the page.
That said, while the emotional arc landed for me, the mystery itself didn't always pack the punch I was hoping for. Some twists felt more expected than shocking, and a few character decisions left me wishing for a bit more depth. The pacing drags in places when the story dips too deep into internal reflection, softening the tension right when it needed an edge. Still, the way it explores marriage, motherhood, and the cost of going it alone gives the book real weight beyond just the central crime.
Ultimately, Valley of the Moms is a thoughtful, unsettling look at grief, privilege, and the dangerous narratives people construct to protect their worlds. It may not completely catch you off guard, but it stays with you—especially the questions it raises about what justice actually looks like and who gets to define it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company / Mulholland Books for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
June 21, 2026
This had a lot of potential. A great premise with little suspense or character development. Mean Girls for adults maybe but without the humor and add murder.
June 2, 2026
Oof. I dragged myself by the hair through this novel, kicking and screaming. I did not like this. And honestly, I am not sure what the point is? I think if I put on my “critical thinking hat”, it is about the very dark side of privilege. But it isn’t done well because it doesn’t make any damn sense.
My main issues (spoilers guys because I need to vent):
Anyhoo. Read at your own risk. 2.5 stars. Not a fan.
My main issues (spoilers guys because I need to vent):
Anyhoo. Read at your own risk. 2.5 stars. Not a fan.
June 17, 2026
Oh hell no! I have it two stars because I live in Hamilton. I read it because it was fun to read about places in town but if you are going to write about a town like you know it, then you should know it. Gucci and Prada are not worn here as often as Northface and Patagonia and South Hamilton is not a side of town it is a zip code. The story which should have been fun was predictable and maddening.
June 16, 2026
I’m really mad I even wasted my time reading this.
November 26, 2025
A suspenseful, dual timeline/dual POV rich people suburban mommie mystery/thriller that provides plenty of drama. A promising debut novel for fans of Lisa Jewell, Sarah Pekkanen and Heather Gudenkauf.
Anna was found strangled and killed near the river in her snowy northern Massachusetts town. And the primary suspect is her husband, Denny. Just a year ago, she ruffled some feathers with her criticism of the PTO's "pay to play" type of "premium membership" for elementary school activities. It is a worthy endeavor, shouldn't all kids- especially in a public school, have equal access? As Anna dives deeper into the Hamilton culture, she learns that this is so much bigger than just early access to the school dance- it is access to nearly everything.
I found this novel to be reminiscent of Big Little Lies and other suburban thrillers- there is an underlying theme of the entitlement of the haves vs. the have nots. The POV alternates between Anna, a year earlier, as she criticizes and infiltrates the rich mom culture of their town; and Denny, her husband, falsely accused of her murder as he tries to piece together the last few months of her life and who is responsible for her death. It is a really gripping story with a few well developed characters, not only Anna and Denny, but also her best and oldest friend Di and the queen bee Mimi. The setting is haunting and the cover art seems perfect to describe the overall vibes of Hamilton, Massachusetts. The themes are timely and relatable.
I would have liked to see more character development of the children and more description of the grief that the family goes through losing Anna in such a violent way. The plot focused more on the secrets and solving the crime itself. I was guessing until the last chapter! So many secrets~
Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown/Mulholland and author Hannah Selinger for the ARC. Book to be published June 16, 2026
Anna was found strangled and killed near the river in her snowy northern Massachusetts town. And the primary suspect is her husband, Denny. Just a year ago, she ruffled some feathers with her criticism of the PTO's "pay to play" type of "premium membership" for elementary school activities. It is a worthy endeavor, shouldn't all kids- especially in a public school, have equal access? As Anna dives deeper into the Hamilton culture, she learns that this is so much bigger than just early access to the school dance- it is access to nearly everything.
I found this novel to be reminiscent of Big Little Lies and other suburban thrillers- there is an underlying theme of the entitlement of the haves vs. the have nots. The POV alternates between Anna, a year earlier, as she criticizes and infiltrates the rich mom culture of their town; and Denny, her husband, falsely accused of her murder as he tries to piece together the last few months of her life and who is responsible for her death. It is a really gripping story with a few well developed characters, not only Anna and Denny, but also her best and oldest friend Di and the queen bee Mimi. The setting is haunting and the cover art seems perfect to describe the overall vibes of Hamilton, Massachusetts. The themes are timely and relatable.
I would have liked to see more character development of the children and more description of the grief that the family goes through losing Anna in such a violent way. The plot focused more on the secrets and solving the crime itself. I was guessing until the last chapter! So many secrets~
Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown/Mulholland and author Hannah Selinger for the ARC. Book to be published June 16, 2026
June 11, 2026
B.O.R.I.N.G.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, but woof. The whole thing was boring and I found myself skipping through the pages. Not one character had any redeeming qualities and they were all very forgetful.
June 3, 2026
4 stars. Valley of the Moms is full of suburban secrets, wealthy momma drama, school politics, and a perfectly polished community image that’s slowly crumbling apart. I loved the messy, gossipy energy and the Stepford x Big Little Lies vibes. Some parts dragged a bit for me, but the mystery, and rich moms behaving badly kept me turning pages. Really enjoyed it. Pub. 6/2/26
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
June 18, 2026DNF no 2 of 2026. Man, the person who wrote this must have never watched an episode of Dateline. Bro — the police don’t text persons of interest with DNA results.
The characters are not well-developed. They are the mannequins at Old Navy.
And just to drive the nail into the coffin, homegirl named a character Malkin who used to play hockey. Amateur hockey. Like what? #GoPens
Thanks, I hate it.
The characters are not well-developed. They are the mannequins at Old Navy.
And just to drive the nail into the coffin, homegirl named a character Malkin who used to play hockey. Amateur hockey. Like what? #GoPens
Thanks, I hate it.
June 7, 2026
I was promised campy fun and a juicy mystery. Instead, I got a cast of characters who collectively share one functioning brain cell. The husband is a moron, the kids seem weirdly unbothered by their mother’s murder, the story periodically wanders off to mention global warming for reasons, and our heroine has been friends with someone for three decades but can’t remember basic facts about her life.
Also, the dog dies.
I can forgive a lot. I cannot forgive dog murder. Not one star because that’s reserved for “Gone Before Goodbye” bad, but this was close.
Also, the dog dies.
I can forgive a lot. I cannot forgive dog murder. Not one star because that’s reserved for “Gone Before Goodbye” bad, but this was close.
June 3, 2026
The only reason I finished this book was because I had an advanced copy. The premise and basically everything about this book was ridiculous. I guess it could make a good beach read if you want a gossipy book about rich people behaving badly. But, then it could not even end with an ounce of integrity. I am all for some mindless entertainment, but this was just dumb.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2026
I'm sad. I thought this was going to be so much better than it was. I don't know if I'm madder that I finished it or that somebody wrote this. It seemed like it could have actually had some promise , but it was obvious who killed Anna very early on. And I understand wanting to keep a safe place for your children, but who does nothing when their wife is murdered. And come on the dog!!! I'm not even sure it really deserves 2 stars....
October 14, 2026
I liked this one so much I even did it twice by getting the audio version from the library . . . and yet I still never wrote a review. I’m the worst!
But anyway on with a little bit of nothing about what I thought. Anna gets fed up with the snooty PTO board and decides to run for a spot which will unseat the resident Queen Bee only for Anna to wind up dead a year later. This one does the wibbly wobbly back and forth from the present where Anna’s husband is trying to make sure he isn’t arrested for her untimely demise and the past with Anna’s story of her experiences with the bitchy Hamilton moms.
The “Stepford Wives meets Big Little Lies” is totally acceptable in this tale and I gobbled it right up. The whodunnit offers no real shock, but the getting there was fun so I have no idea where this awfully low rating comes from.
(Okay turns out the rating might be due to rumored bad behavior from the author. I was totally unaware of any of that. But whyyyyy??? I don’t ever like anything and I loved both of Selinger’s books. And as someone who had to turn off comments to non-friends due to continued trolling impacting my mental health - just stay off the internet if that’s what it takes.)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
But anyway on with a little bit of nothing about what I thought. Anna gets fed up with the snooty PTO board and decides to run for a spot which will unseat the resident Queen Bee only for Anna to wind up dead a year later. This one does the wibbly wobbly back and forth from the present where Anna’s husband is trying to make sure he isn’t arrested for her untimely demise and the past with Anna’s story of her experiences with the bitchy Hamilton moms.
The “Stepford Wives meets Big Little Lies” is totally acceptable in this tale and I gobbled it right up. The whodunnit offers no real shock, but the getting there was fun so I have no idea where this awfully low rating comes from.
(Okay turns out the rating might be due to rumored bad behavior from the author. I was totally unaware of any of that. But whyyyyy??? I don’t ever like anything and I loved both of Selinger’s books. And as someone who had to turn off comments to non-friends due to continued trolling impacting my mental health - just stay off the internet if that’s what it takes.)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
July 29, 2026
3.5 stars
Well, here's another stop on the outlier train. This time, it's because I enjoyed this book far more than its overall ratings led me to expect. In a Massachusetts town, a wife and mother of 2, Anna Plummer, goes missing and is then found dead; strangulation is the ME's verdict. Her husband, Denny, is amazed at how quickly the police investigation disintegrates. This then leads him to start asking the questions the police aren't. But it looks like the town doesn't want Denny investigating. As the chapters flit from Denny's present to Anna's past, all eyes point to the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), a powerful stronghold for some of those wealthy women in the town.
If you have read other reviews, well, you're not going to like the ending. I am in agreement with my fellow reviewers; we all enjoy a neat wrap-up at the end, and Hannah Selinger doesn't give it to us. But in my case, our puppy woke the boyfriend and me up at 2 to go outside, and neither one of us could go back to sleep. He went and fell asleep in front of the television; I started reading this book, and it kept me engaged. I mean, someone gets murdered, and all the people in her life, except her mother and husband, are horrible excuses for human beings.
I am sat. Lapping up that tea!
Poor Denny, though; that man was so clueless, and I think it's quite simple for me to conclude why Anna didn't share that last year of her life with her husband. Because he still believes people are good at heart. I question some of his choices. But as I said, I kept on reading. I know the novel is fictional, but adult cliques do exist and when it comes to their children- oh so toxic!
So yeah, it was a good read for me.
#ValleyoftheMoms #NetGalley
Publication Date 02/06/26
Goodreads Review 29/06/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this title. I am auto-approved by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, here's another stop on the outlier train. This time, it's because I enjoyed this book far more than its overall ratings led me to expect. In a Massachusetts town, a wife and mother of 2, Anna Plummer, goes missing and is then found dead; strangulation is the ME's verdict. Her husband, Denny, is amazed at how quickly the police investigation disintegrates. This then leads him to start asking the questions the police aren't. But it looks like the town doesn't want Denny investigating. As the chapters flit from Denny's present to Anna's past, all eyes point to the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), a powerful stronghold for some of those wealthy women in the town.
If you have read other reviews, well, you're not going to like the ending. I am in agreement with my fellow reviewers; we all enjoy a neat wrap-up at the end, and Hannah Selinger doesn't give it to us. But in my case, our puppy woke the boyfriend and me up at 2 to go outside, and neither one of us could go back to sleep. He went and fell asleep in front of the television; I started reading this book, and it kept me engaged. I mean, someone gets murdered, and all the people in her life, except her mother and husband, are horrible excuses for human beings.
I am sat. Lapping up that tea!
Poor Denny, though; that man was so clueless, and I think it's quite simple for me to conclude why Anna didn't share that last year of her life with her husband. Because he still believes people are good at heart. I question some of his choices. But as I said, I kept on reading. I know the novel is fictional, but adult cliques do exist and when it comes to their children- oh so toxic!
So yeah, it was a good read for me.
#ValleyoftheMoms #NetGalley
Publication Date 02/06/26
Goodreads Review 29/06/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this title. I am auto-approved by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anna Plummer moved to Hamilton, Massachusetts, with her husband Denny and their two young children to be closer to her best friend Di. As Anna becomes more involved with the school and the local community, she realizes she doesn't quite fit in. The PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is dominated by a group of wealthy women, led by Mimi, the queen bee, who doesn't want to relinquish any power. Shortly after Anna decides to challenge Mimi's leadership, she disappears. A year later, Anna's body is discovered, and her grieving husband becomes a suspect. Denny is determined to uncover the truth. What secrets are the moms of Hamilton hiding?
Valley of the Moms, Hannah Selinger's debut novel, is effectively told from the perspectives of Anna and Denny, set a year apart. Anna is a gutsy, determined woman, which makes her eventual fate even more tragic. Husband Denny's grief tugs at the heart as he uncovers new details about his wife. Although the revelations didn't shock me, they were intriguing. The stunning cover led me to expect an extravagant, wild tale about unruly wealthy women, but it turned out to be far more somber and unsettling. The story serves as a commentary on the social pressures faced by the affluent and those striving for more.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the advance.
3.5 stars.
Valley of the Moms, Hannah Selinger's debut novel, is effectively told from the perspectives of Anna and Denny, set a year apart. Anna is a gutsy, determined woman, which makes her eventual fate even more tragic. Husband Denny's grief tugs at the heart as he uncovers new details about his wife. Although the revelations didn't shock me, they were intriguing. The stunning cover led me to expect an extravagant, wild tale about unruly wealthy women, but it turned out to be far more somber and unsettling. The story serves as a commentary on the social pressures faced by the affluent and those striving for more.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the advance.
3.5 stars.
May 20, 2026
3.75 - Picked this up yesterday and couldn’t put it down, thoroughly enjoyed only giving 3.75 because the plot felt slightly predictable at times but still gripping. Can’t believe I actually read a book before publication date! I’m always late to reading anything I get in advance but super stoked I picked this up. Definitely recommend !
June 10, 2026
One extra star removed for the trash ending.
September 28, 2026
I liked this much more than many other readers and I think it is well worth reading for the detailed and complex development of the two main characters--the married couple at the heart of the book. Also. The grief of the husband is well done and heartfelt. I have been through the loss of a spouse and it felt like this. You feel such tremendous guilt that you didn't cherish your loved one more and listen to them more, because this life is it. The crushing reviews are not warranted in my opinion.
June 19, 2026
Valley Of The Moms by Hanna Sellinger, this book was such a colossal waste of time waste of ink and any paper it’s printed on and leads me to beg the question who reads these books and gives them the OK? I guess they’re banking on those who just read the summary buy the book And just never return it. Not only is there no resolution although there is a confessional this is just ridiculous this whole book is ridiculous when my girls were in school you couldn’t pay someone to be the president of the PTO we were lucky if we got 10 parents that showed up for each meeting we even started giving away door prizes and that only added two more people to the mix but I digress I thought the whole running out of tickets for a second grade dance at a public school was utterly ridiculous that’s so dumb don’t even get me started but when Ana Plumber decides to run against Mimi to be president of the PTO it will be one of the last things she does after a bunch of investigating that essentially goes nowhere in the end. Annie’s friend Debbie is the type who’s hate lives close to the surface I don’t know why Anne didn’t recognize this. Debbie and husband Denny eventually even sleep together although it’s after Ann’s death. I’m sorry if this is spoilers but if you still want to read it good for you for being so optimistic. I myself wish someone would’ve told me not to before I did. I also really didn’t like the way the book was written with someone telling you what happens with a bunch of poetic verse and over descriptions of things you could’ve read the book without knowing and they had nothing to the narrative I thought this was going to be a fun domestic thriller and if I helped produce this book I would be absolutely embarrassed. Then again I would’ve been the one who told them not to print this book it was ridiculous out of the box and unnecessary much to do about nothing #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
June 22, 2026
Anna doesn’t like what she sees with the PTO at her children’s school or the fake, dismissive response she receives from the PTO president, Mimi, when raising her frustrations. She decides to run against
Mimi for president, but it won’t be without challenges.
Valley of the Moms is a suburban story loaded with secrets and catty women. Though it takes place over the course of a year, through multiple seasons, it felt like a summer read.
I’m not a stellar detective but could see early on where this was headed. The story leaned shallow and there wasn’t much depth. That said, I enjoyed it enough for a summer poolside read.
Mimi for president, but it won’t be without challenges.
Valley of the Moms is a suburban story loaded with secrets and catty women. Though it takes place over the course of a year, through multiple seasons, it felt like a summer read.
I’m not a stellar detective but could see early on where this was headed. The story leaned shallow and there wasn’t much depth. That said, I enjoyed it enough for a summer poolside read.
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