I really enjoyed this read! It envolving small village drama and playground drama for the parents. It was a good read, however some things could be taken out or not written as much, however overall enjoyed.

I am a big domestic noir/ thriller girl and this just wasn't what I was expecting. In saying that, I still loved it!!! It was beautifully written and the characters are just so realistic and relatable. You know these people, you understand these people, you've been in these situations and that keeps you interested until the end. There's no underhand scheming to steal someone's life or anything but there is still your daily life type scheming which was also really fascinating. I could see this being loved by anyone who liked little fires everywhere or big little lies and such, it's that kind of book rather than "turns out I married a serial killer". The fact that it's not my genre and I still really enjoyed it and flew through every page does speak for its self. Highly recommend

This book had me engrossed from the outset and kept me engaged throughout.

Rachel, mum of three-Reuben, Maia and Tessa, has left her husband, Will, to build a new life with her partner, Erin. This is a source of outrage for the mums in the PTA who start a petition to prevent even the existence of same sex relationships being taught at school.

The story is told from the perspective of several characters and I thought that this may be confusing, however each character had a strong and authentic voice and I don't think some of the stories would have had such a profound effect if the author hadn't done this.

I found Laura's story particularly engaging. As a struggling single mum, she has resorted to working as a sex worker at night in order to provide for her son, Max. This was an interesting thread which illustrated the difference between her life and the more affluent members of the community, like Rachel.

Maia's story was also very well covered. Newly sixteen and angry with her mum, she embarks on her own exploration of sex, but it isn't as exciting as she had thought it would be.

I liked Erin's story of adapting to her role as stepmother. Rachel was also quite a character and her encounters with the PTA mums made me smile- especially the cake fight!

I really enjoyed this read and will definitely look out for more by Sara Stovell.

Thanks indeed to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Other Parents, it’s got a good set of well rounded characters all facing their Owen issues and trying to deal with small village drama.
I didn’t get any thriller or mystery vibes from this book though which I’m disappointed about. Sarah’s writing style would be perfectly suited to a thriller!
Very good (but I don’t normally review dramas!)
4/5

This is definitely a contender for the best book I have read this year. It was gripping and really evoked the imagery of a playground mafia that it enabled me to imagine just how tyrannical it could be. I found it both claustrophobic in areas and moving in others and I didnt know what to believe or who to believe. It was twist after twist right until the very end and even then I didnt really know whether i trusted anyone or anything. It is such a great book, I loved it.

Some books about the viciousness that goes on behind school gates are just too good to pass, and this book was exactly that! I loved the way the storyline flowed and alternated between the two women, with their seemingly different circumstances but caught in the same educational battle.

Other Parents - Sarah Stovell

A domestic / village drama centred around a school, characters include the Headteacher, the high flying lesbian doctor / medical researcher and the single mother forced into prostitution. We get to know all their families and the PTA scandals.

The first book I've read by this author and I'm happy to admit this was on the edge of my reading comfort zone. I love Liane Moriarty's 'domestic dramas with darker undercurrents' and I was hoping this book would appeal in the same way, and in many ways In did.

Very good characterisation with depth and nuances, a wry, frequently very funny observational humour and a plot that builds up gradually in the background.

I wouldn't really class it in the 'Mystery and Thrillers' genre, but it was an entertaining, tender and moving read and I really enjoyed it overall.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ

Rachel and her new partner, Erin, appear to have it all: they're deeply in love, live in a beautiful house, and have interesting jobs. However, Rachel's three children, or at least two of them, aren't happy about the new relationship. They manage to muddle along until Maia, the elder daughter catches them having sex on the kitchen floor. This, along with homophobic parents starting a campaign against the new inclusive sex curriculum at the local primary school, brings more upset into their lives than they'd like. It's nothing compared to the shocks that are awaiting them.

Sarah Stovell has created a really good set of complex characters. Not all are fully rounded, the head of the PTA is a little bit cliched for example but for the most part they are sympathetically drawn and like all good characters have their good and bad points. Stovell also deals very well with the issue of sexual consent and does so in a sensitive manner.

Although parts of this book were very dark I enjoyed this novel and will seek out more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.