June 28, 2021
Gideon’s suspenseful latest (after Wife 22) follows a wealthy, manipulative Bay Area mom’s obsession with a friend. Seven years after single mom Gemma Howard distanced herself from her overbearing friend Ruth Thorne, the two reconnect after Ruth publicly defends Gemma’s integrity following a cheating scandal involving an employee at the test prep company she runs. Though their kids were once close, Gemma’s popular 15-year-old Bee shines in contrast to Ruth’s introverted daughter Marley, whom Ruth alternately browbeats and showers with praise. While friendless Marley has to contend with Ruth locking her into her room so she won’t binge-eat at night, Bee feels lonely despite all the attention. Needy, moody, and wielding her wealth like a weapon, Ruth consistently offers Gemma monetary support with the unspoken message that Gemma owes her all her time and attention. In the meantime, rumors about Ruth, Gemma, and their kids swirl on an anonymous mom app. Matters take a turn for the worse once Gemma begins dating and tries to disentangle from Ruth. Along the way, there’s catfishing, sabotage, and other dirty dealings. Gideon does an excellent job infusing her protagonists with realistic traits, making even the insufferable Ruth seem heartbreakingly human. Gideon delivers the goods.
July 1, 2021
Gideon, who has proven herself versatile with memoir, contemporary fiction, and historical fiction (Valley of the Moon, 2016), returns with a novel steeped in suspense. Gemma, a single mother in the Bay Area, is a mess after her tutoring business is rocked by a scandal, and her long-lost friend Ruth sees an opportunity to reconnect. They met years ago at a kindergarten reception for their daughters, Bee and Marley, where Gemma was the sloppy widow and Ruth the wealthy divorc�e. At first the revived friendship seems harmless, with Gemma grateful for Ruth's gifts, including a new car. But as their daughters become embroiled in school drama, it becomes increasingly clear that Ruth is obsessed with Gemma, and the four of them head toward dangerous consequences. Like a string quartet passing the melody around, the narrative shifts between the perspectives of the two women and their daughters, highlighting their unique and sometimes sinister personalities. Short chapters ratchet up the tension, propelling readers through the pages. Suggest to fans of Hank Phillippi Ryan's The First to Lie (2020).
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