Strong female friendships are one of the highlights of Alexa Martin's The Playbook (Intercepted; Blitzed; Snapped) series of romances, and she continues her gift for writing messy, believable friendships in her women's fiction debut, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes. This novel tells the story of Lauren, a single Black mother, and her best friend Jude, an Instagram fitness influencer, who decide to try to be sister-wives of a sort, and buy a house together.
Lauren is worried about losing custody of her precious daughter, Adelaide, to her conniving ex-fiancé, who is a white doctor. Scared that she won't come across as professionally as he does, Lauren turns to Jude for help. Jude, meanwhile, is dealing with her narcissistic mother and the loss of some sponsors. Teaming up with Lauren can only help her image. So Jude and Lauren start a podcast together, Mom Jeans and Martinis, and are shocked at the response they get.
Witty and real, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes showcases the hard things that Lauren and Jude have to deal with: the loss of a parent, custody battles, alcoholism, racism and the mean moms at playgroups. But it also highlights the bond that persists between the two women in spite of everything that's thrown at them. With candor, Alexa Martin reveals the strength and heart and hard work that lie behind women's long-term friendships. Fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde or Kristin Hannah are sure to love Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Flagstaff, Ariz.