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Valley of the Moms
- Author
- Hannah Selinger
- Narrator
- Teri Schnaubelt
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Publish Date
- 2 June 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 43 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
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. Or: 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.
Critics Review
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“Unsettling, heart-pounding, and full of rich characters and deep betrayals, Valley of the Moms will have you turning pages late into the night, and questioning how much you can really know about the women in your life.”—Daria Lavelle, author of Aftertaste
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“Sleek, smart, and deliciously unnerving—Valley of the Moms peels back the glamorous veneer of privilege and perfection, exposing the dangerous illusion of having it all.”—Kelsey Cox, bestselling author of Party of Liars
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"This thriller leans hard into the domestic drama of suburban mom life...[and] will
appeal to readers who appreciate a detailed suburban setting, complicated female friendships, and deliberate pacing."—Booklist -
“Keenly observed, Valley of the Moms is a tense and twisty dive into the toxic power dynamics of wealthy suburbia, where ‘good’ zip codes mask petty grudges, unspoken rules, and corrosive secrets. Selinger's multidimensional characters and deft use of dual timelines reeled me in and kept me guessing until the very end.” —K.T. Nguyen, author of You Know What You Did
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“Frighteningly realistic and deeply unhinged.”
—People -
“Is there anything better than a dark thriller about suburban moms with secrets? In Hannah Selinger's beautifully written debut, a dead body is found in the frozen Ipswich River, a grieving husband becomes the prime suspect, and a cutthroat cadre of moms closes ranks. Featuring complex characters and a thrilling satiric bite, Valley of the Moms kept me turning pages all night.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
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“In terms of sheer soapy drama … this delivers the goods. It’s an entertaining diversion.” —Publishers Weekly
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"What would happen if the Heathers weren't killed off? Or the Plastics didn't have a redemption arc? . . . If you're looking for your next summer read, this is it. This twisty, suburban drama is reminiscent of Liane Moriarty's 'Big Little Lies,' Celeste Ng's 'Little Fires Everywhere' and Kiley Reid's 'Such a Fun Age,' and is a refreshing take on schism happening within the American middle class."—Jennifer Huberdeau, Features Editor at Berkshire Eagle
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"Recommended for fans of novels full of secrets, lies, betrayal, and bread-crumb clues to how well-dressed, rich, mean mothers can behave badly."—Library Journal
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Details
- Author
- Hannah Selinger
- Narrator
- Teri Schnaubelt
- Duration
- 9 hours 43 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 June 2026
- ISBN
- 9781668656365
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hachette Audio
- Genre
- Crime and mystery fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, Crime and mystery fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction, Family life fiction
Synopsis
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. Or: 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.
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