From the publisher:
In the vein of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Fleishman Is in Trouble, a wickedly funny and incisive debut novel following a mother trapped in the rat race of NYC parenting as her life unravels.
“Heavenly hilarity for readers.”—Good Housekeeping
It takes a village…just not this one.
Annie Lewin is at the end of her rope. She’s a mother of three young children, her workaholic husband is never around, and the vicious competition for spots in New York City’s kindergartens is heating up. A New York Times journalist-turned-parenting-advice-columnist for an internet start-up, Annie can’t help but judge the insanity of it all—even as she finds herself going to impossible lengths to secure the best spot for her own son.
As Annie comes to terms with the infinitesimal odds of success, her intensifying rivalry with hotshot lawyer Belinda Brenner—a deliciously hateful nemesis, what with her perfectly curated bento box lunches and effortless Instagram chic—pushes her to the brink. Of course, this newly raw and unhinged version of Annie is great for the advice column: the more she spins out, the more clicks and comments she gets.
But when she commits a ghastly social faux pas that goes viral, she’s forced to confront the question: is she really any better than the cutthroat parents she always judged?
A shimmering epistolary novel incorporating emails, group texts, advice columns, newspaper profiles, and more, Plays Well with Others is a whip-smart, genuinely funny romp through the minefield of modern motherhood. But beneath its fast-paced, satirical veneer, Brickman gives us a fresh, open-hearted, all-too-real take on what it means to be a parent—fierce love, craziness, and all.
“This biting commentary on the travails of modern parenthood is perfect for fans of Laurie Gelman and Laura Zigman, and for those who appreciate funny portraits of imperfect women.” — Booklist
“Heavenly hilarity for readers.”—Good Housekeeping
https://amzn.to/3SkMQPi
Brickman’s first novel after Baby, Unplugged: One Mother’s Search for Balance, Reason, and Sanity in the Digital Age, also centers on parenting and mental health, but in epistolary fiction full of the warmth, emotions, and humor necessary for any family to thrive.
Annie was an arts writer for the New York Times, but three kids in four years means taking a job writing a parenting column for a new internet startup. Her “editress” is obsessing about clicks, and Annie’s anxiety about her own parenting skills are sending her into occasional panic attacks. Living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan brings its own special kind of pressure, and now that her eldest is four, that means getting him into the right school for kindergarten, and life! Her nemesis is Belinda, a fierce divorce lawyer who regularly gets her digs in as their kids compete for entry into the top schools.
Annie’s husband is busy making money and figures he can start parenting in about a decade, leaving Annie to wonder if she’ll make it until then. Told through her parenting columns, text chains replete with emojis, school newsletters, and more, eventually, everything comes to a head and implodes into a glorious, satisfying ending.
Verdict: You don’t have to be a young mom to appreciate this hilarious look at family life in an elite city. Should appeal to readers who enjoy Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Lauri Gelman, or Laura Zigman.
©Library Journal, 2024
8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS by Sophie Brickman. William Morrow (August 6, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063371200. 320p.
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