Mom Genes by Hilary Grossman
Book #2: Forest River PTA Moms Series
Publisher: Indepemdent Self Publishing
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Format: Paperback - 234 pages
Kindle - 414 KB / 268 pages
Nook - 418 KB
ISBN: 979-8611934326
ASIN: B08477RPVG
BNID: 2940162943402
Genre: Chick Lit / Women's Fiction
Buy The Book: Mom Genes
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Buy The Series: Forest River PTA Moms
Book 1: Go On, Girl
Book 2: Mom Genes
Book 3: Mom Boss (Publication Date: February 15, 2021)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple Books
Goodreads
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest book review.
Book Description:
Big Little Lies meets Class Mom
The meddling moms of Forest River live for a good scandal. Speculation surrounding Claire Conroy's sex life has fueled the rumor mill for years. Now, when Claire returns home from a trip to Italy separated from her husband of thirteen years, the imaginations of the Lululemon-clad ladies' who lunch spin into overdrive. As the gossipmongers create their own scandalous backstory for the separation, blaming Claire's infidelity, she learns the hard way just how mean mommies can be.
Eager to begin her new life as a single mom of three Claire puts her trust in Jackie Martin, the president of the PTA, to help tell her truth and free her of the false accusations and scandal. But the plan backfires, and Claire is put further into the spotlight when an embarrassed mom declares war.
As Claire dusts off her resume, fights the daily urge not to strangle her ex-husband and his new girlfriend, and dips her toes into the dating world one dud at a time will she find the happiness she craves or succumb to the pressure of the mean girls?
Book Teaser:
Book Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE:
To: Claire Conroy
From: Mia Montgomery
Date: 11/10 @ 3:24 PM
Subject: I hate to be the bearer of bad news
Hey Claire!
I know things went a bit too far last summer. The girls worked out their issues months ago. Why can’t the moms? Dumb question – LOL! Everyone knows the mommies of Forest River Elementary School students behave way worse than their kids any day! And when they go to battle…
I’m sorry your personal life is now under attack. You deserve much better, my friend! You should be enjoying this exciting time. New love is the best! I worry about you, though. How you are going to survive another five years at this crazy school is beyond me. I’m so glad I don’t have a first grader in the house and both my kids will be in the middle school come fall.
I shouldn’t be forwarding you this email. But you know me, I care about you, and I don’t want you to be hurt. You have a right to know what Donna is saying behind your back. Hopefully, this message was meant only for me. But there is always a chance she’s mass-blasting her pack of lies to anyone who has a child at the school. I hope not…. Also, is there any truth to what she wrote? Come on, Claire, you can confide in me.
XO,
Mia
PS – We have to arrange a dinner date one of these days. I’m dying to get to know your handsome Jake a bit better. How about next Saturday?
___________________________________________________________
To: Claire Conroy
From: Donna Warren
Date: 11/10 @ 3:19 PM
Subject: FW: Gearing up for the holidays at Forest River Elementary
Hi Mia,
Seriously, I don’t know how I can stand another seven more months of this term! I’m SO sick and tired of being told what to do and how to act from the high and mighty members of the Forest River PTA. Will they ever stop?!?!
The latest email from Claire Conroy and the crew put me over the edge! I guess there wasn’t anything wrong with what she wrote about Thanksgiving, but I take offense to being ordered how to behave by someone like her!
I hate to gossip, but I finally learned the TRUTH about what happened between Claire and Kevin… He FINALLY came to his senses and ditched her! Good for him, I say!!! How it took so long for a smart guy like him to realize what we all knew for YEARS baffles me. But I guess her stupid plan of trying to hide in plain sight worked. She got away with it for years! Well, her gig came to an abrupt end right after they returned from Italy! Kevin canceled a golf game and came home unexpectedly. Poor guy picked up the house phone to order a pizza and overheard her telling her cousin (you know the relationship blogger in Kentucky) about her feelings for Jake! Kevin hightailed it out of the house so quickly, her head spun. Finally, Jackie Martin’s pawn is getting what she deserves. But I do feel so sorry for Claire’s children… And for Kevin, of course… The poor guy, finally realizing the truth about his wife and his college best friend…so sad!
Don’t tell anyone I told you the truth. As I said, I don’t want to gossip.
Kindest regards,
Donna
PS – in case you need proof, here is a picture of Kevin moving out of their house!
___________________________________________________________
I SLAMMED MY LAPTOP SHUT with so much force I woke up my nine-year-old Golden Retriever, Roxy. I knew I shouldn’t take my rage and frustration out on the poor device, but I couldn’t help it.
I was so sick and tired of the petty parental politics that plagued my town. I was exhausted from always putting on an act. I spent my days and nights consumed with which woman I could trust, and which would turn on me the first chance they had. It was draining. I had joined the PTA years ago, in the hopes my coveted role would keep the vultures away. Little had I known it made me more of a target. Many nights, I laid awake in bed, wondering if I should pack up my family and start over somewhere else. But would things be any different?
My Book Review:
In
Mom Genes, the second book of the
Forest River PTA Moms series, the reader is transported back to Forest River, NY, where they catch up with the lives of the PTA moms. In this installment, the focus is on thirty-nine year old stay-at-home mom, Claire Conroy.
After thirteen years of marriage, Claire and husband Kevin's marriage hasn't been going well for some time, and they decide to separate. The tongues start wagging in this small town, rumors abound that Claire has been unfaithful, espcially after ex-PTA mom Donna Warren sets her sights on bringing Claire down with her non-stop gossip in front of the whole town! Claire is determined to start fresh as a single mom of three kids by finding a job, and even trying the dating scene, but it's not easy when the spotlight is always on her, so what's a girl got to do to find happiness?
Mom Genes is a humorous chick lit/women's fiction story that explores the complexity of living in the suburbs and dramatizes the relationships within the cutthroat world of suburban PTA moms.
I loved reading
Mom Genes! This was such a fun story, you can't help but lose yourself in the drama and cutthroat parental politics that Claire encounters from the members of the small town Forest River PTA. With a lot of eye-rolling, smirking, and outright snickering, I really enjoyed following Claire and her co-PTA members as they ruled the roost at Forest River Elementary. It was fun to watch as Claire navigated through the trials and tribulations as she started her life over as a newly-single working mom. So pull up a chair and follow Claire as she finds her footing while dealing with the petty parental politics of the Forest River PTA, and the mean girl rumors that circulate throughout the community. With the help of some of the PTA moms, Claire gains self-confidence, while embracing the bonds of close girlfriends that she never thought she would ever have, and even a second chance at finding romance.
I can't wait to read
Boss Mom, the third installment in the
Forest River PTA Moms series. In that book, the reader will follow PTA President Jackie Martin's story. The publication date for the third book in the series is set for February 15, 2021, so don't forget to put that on your TBR list!
Mom Genes is a wonderful story of family, the invaluable bonds of friendships, and the ability to make it through anything that life throws at you along the way.
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
By day,
Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her "characters." She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She's been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodgeball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.
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