#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine #CityMouse by @staceylender @KaylieJonesBook

"Debut novelist Lender sharply portrays the corrupt privilege of upper-middle-class suburbanites, and with a twist of her pen, the Stepford Wives take the upper hand over their husbands...The climactic explosion takes everyone by surprise. A bracingly tart portrait of suburban hell."
―Kirkus Reviews

"Lender’s enlightening, beautifully plotted novel dives deep into the notion of having it all while playing with the shallow notions of the American dream."
―Publishers Weekly

"Lender's debut novel is positively irresistible. It's hilarious and insightful and just the type of book any city girl needs to tote to her vacation rental this summer...even with three kids in tow."
―Daytime Confidential

"City Mouse is a sharp and sophisticated novel of suburban life with a narrative voice that is equal parts witty, observant, and vulnerable. A wonderful debut!"
―Susan Isaacs, New York Times best-selling author

"For every city mom who fears death by suburbia--and for every suburban mom who wonders if it's just her--this insightful, funny trip into the secrets behind those picket fences is required reading."
―Maureen Sherry, author of Opening Belle

"City Mouse reminds mothers of that priceless lesson: the grass is always greener...and maybe even alcohol-soaked Astroturf. I tore through this book like a bored, competitive housewife tears through her Xanax."
―Faith Salie, author of Approval Junkie

Priced out of their Manhattan neighborhood, Jessica and Aaron move with their young daughters to the one place Jessica swore she'd never go: the suburbs. But to Jessica's surprise, life in the commuter belt makes a great first impression. She quickly falls in with a clique of helpful mom friends who welcome her with pitchers of margaritas, neighborhood secrets, and a pair of hot jeans that actually fit.

Still, it's hard to keep up in a crowd where everyone competes for the most perfectly manicured home and latest backyard gadgets. And what's worse, as the only working mom in her circle, Jessica sometimes feels disconnected and alone. So she's thrilled when she's invited to a moms-only weekend at the beach, which she assumes will mean new opportunities for real talk and bonding. Instead, the trip turns into a series of eye-opening lessons, and Jessica must decide if she's strong enough to be honest with herself about the sort of life she really wants.

#FirstLine ~ It was the bathroom that finally started us house hunting on the weekends up in Westchester.  

This book was a hilarious and fun look into what it is like to deal with life in the suburbs.  There were laugh out loud moments, as well as moments when the darker side of people shone through.  The characters were well thought out and the story line was both complex and engaging.  I loved that this book had unexpected twists and turns that kept the book perfectly paced.  A great great for the summer.

Stacey Lender grew up in the suburbs of New York City with a god-awful perm and later graduated from Cornell University. She started her career as a roadie and rose through the ranks from luggage schlepper to marketing executive for entertainment brands including Radio City Music Hall, USA Network, Madison Square Garden, Sesame Street Live, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center. Today she lives in Manhattan and Connecticut with her husband and two daughters, and has traveled to all fifty states. CITY MOUSE is Stacey's first novel.