Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Catherine Yardley for the gifted ebook to join the tour.
Unassuming Emma, a blogger turned wannabe social media influencer, moves to an exclusive enclave in SW19 to get her son into the best school in the area. On the first day of school, she bumps into Annabel, a gregarious journalist who is head of the PTA.
An unfortunate misunderstanding leads to a clash, and the school gate mothers taking sides. Emma’s world has been blown apart by motherhood. As she struggles to find her new identity, she has to defend herself against Annabel and her clique. The mean girls with mortgages.
Emma learns a devastating secret about Annabel that could destroy her entire life. Will Emma play dirty to win, and what lengths will Annabel go to protect what she has?
There can only be one winner. But what will be the cost?
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My Review
The Mothers of SW19 is a brand new book by Catherine Yardley and to say I have been waiting to read it is an understatement!
Set in London, SW19, of course! We meet Emma, a mother who has just moved into the area. She is a blogger and wannabe social media influencer, who chose the area because it has the best school and that is where her son will attend. Then there is Annabel, a journalist who is head of the PTA. A confident woman who has her own clique. Two women, two different worlds, what could possibly go wrong?
Well! Catherine Yardley certainly brought my school yard days back! The cliques, the jealousy over literally nothing, the silly whispers amongst the mothers… it is all here and more!! Emma herself is aiming high and when things start to unravel and the sides start being taken, we see her take desperate measures to topple the mean girls!
Told in dual perspectives, we are given the chance to see how both women tick. Annabel is like a swan to me, so graceful and appears to have it all. But under the surface, she is desperately kicking to keep afloat.
Emma is the underdog and wants so much more. She is determined to bring Annabel down, whether it is by fair means or foul. Both women are flawed, and I went into the story thinking Annabel needed taking down a peg or two by Emma. That was, until I discovered the how and why.
The fact that none of the women thought any further than the immediate reaction to everything they did to each other really gave me food for thought. Every action has a consequence, long and short term, and lives can be unravelled so easily.
The way Catherine Yardley brings the emotions creates such a tense read! I was gobsmacked by the single-mindedness of them all! I certainly needed to know how much of a car crash they were making for themselves and each other! Well, you can read and find out for yourself!
Such an addictive read and just as good as her previous books that I have read. The Mothers of SW19 was shocking, tense and emotional too!
Author Bio
Catherine Yardley is a freelance journalist and author. She writes for The Sunday Times, Stylist, The Times, Telegraph, Metro, Huffpost and the i paper. She’s the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine. The Mothers of SW19 is her third novel. Her two other books published are Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. Both did well and got fantastic reviews. She has been on numerous podcasts, including The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and Confessions of a Debut Novelist with Chloe Timms. She lives in SW19 with her husband and children.
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