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Hannah Selinger

Valley of the Moms: A Novel

by Hannah Selinger (Author) Format: Hardcover

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Instant USA Today Bestseller

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.

Town & Country's Must-Read Books of Summer 2026 | People Magazine's Best Books of Summer | Apple Books June Staff Pick| Goodreads Guide to Summer's Biggest Mysteries & Thrillers | Publishers Lunch Buzz Books of the Summer | CrimeReads Great Mysteries Set in the Boston Area | The Express Magazine Summer 2026's Darkest Page Turners

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Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Little, Brown and Company
Publication date

June 2, 2026
Dimensions

6.4 x 1 x 9.7 inches
ISBN-10

0316596558
ISBN-13

978-0316596558

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“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

“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

"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

“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

“In terms of sheer soapy drama … this delivers the goods. It’s an entertaining diversion.” ―Publishers Weekly

"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

"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

"[Valley of the Moms is] shaping up to be the standout beach read of the summer."

―Parade

"In this gimlet-eyed, detailed thriller, the story of how one woman in town, Anna Plummer, chafes at the rules that seem to govern Hamilton, is juxtaposed with that of her husband after her body shows up in the river."

―Town & Country

"[An] engrossing suburban thriller...Selinger uses dueling timelines to brilliant effect. How Anna’s battle with her neighborhood parents’ group and Denny navigating the aftermath of her death are tethered doesn’t fully compute until a staggering third-act reveal that had our jaw dropping. The deceit baked into the couple’s picturesque surroundings becomes more pronounced as the story unfolds. Valley of the Moms holds no illusions about how middle-class suburbia really works―and that makes it indelibly unsettling."

―Apple Books

About the Author

Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA, and the author of the memoir Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, “In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love,” is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316596558
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316596558
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1 x 9.7 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #4,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Suburban Fiction (Books)
- #116 in Domestic Thrillers (Books)
- #201 in Mysteries (Books)

About the author

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Hannah Selinger

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Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, "In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love," is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.

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