Other People's Houses By Abbi Waxman

MarilynW

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman, Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)

Other People's Houses is brutally blunt but funny. Stay at home mom, Francis, is the fix it woman. She's the one who does the car pool for everyone, the person that is home when another parent needs something taken to the school for their kid. Always dependable, so dependable she is called Saint Francis. But Francis walks in on her married neighbor Anne, during Anne's romp on the floor with her younger lover, and finds herself in the midst of a mess. Anne is married, things get very chaotic, as Anne's affair sets the neighborhood abuzz, and we get to experience the story from the viewpoint of several of the folks in the neighborhood.

Francis's inner and outer dialogue seems to be based on a foundation of the F word and I do think I would have enjoyed this story in the print version rather than the audio version because it's easy to skim over all the foul language when reading a book, not so easy when the book is blaring in your ears. Francis also seemed to be channeling her inner ten year old boy at times and maybe that's a mom thing, having to deal with kids day in, day out...I don't know, but that's the excuse I'm giving her. I've never been a mom so I'm on the outside looking in on life with kids, car pools, soccer practice, and volunteering for school committees. This was a crudely funny listen for me, and I did enjoy the story, in a "glad it's you and not me" kind of way.

Pub April 3, 2018

Julie

Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman is a 2018 Berkley publication.

Blunt, but absolutely hysterical!

Frances is “that” mom- the one who helps everyone, runs the carpool, is overrun with motherly instincts, but who also earns herself the slightly sarcastic nick name of 'Saint Frances'.

But, when she inadvertently catches her neighbor, Anne Porter, in a compromising position, she is forced to contend with the fall out as she finds herself inexplicably involved. But, Anne’s affair also prompts her to take a closer look at the state of her own life and marriage, which might be in a bit of a rut.

Enter in an eclectic cast of characters, all facing a moment of crisis and you have a poignant, but rip roaring, laugh out loud funny “Married with kids” expose.

This book will make you wonder just what, exactly, your neighbors may be getting up to- and will convince you that you’d probably rather not know.

Anytime a couple you thought of as stable, suddenly breaks up, it can have an unnerving effect on you. This is the case here, to some extent, as well. Both Frances and her husband are shaken up by Anne’s affair, worried about their own relationship, as their lives evolve around their kids and the community more than one another- yet, up until now, they seem to be pretty content and comfortable in the marriage, even though the spark has died out.

However, as their neighbor’s marriage crumbles, literally right before their very eyes, they voice deeper concerns, admitting there are definitely some worrisome issues in the marriage. I felt a little uneasy, and worried about this couple, pulling for them, but not one hundred percent sure things will ever change for them.

But, Frances also has her hands full with her fourteen- year- old daughter, Ava, who is a walking, talking bundle of hormones, pushing Frances as far as she can, which is nearly a pitch perfect portrayal of the angsty, tumultuous, and stress ridden time for both mother and daughter. I loved this part of the story the most, I think.

But, there are others in the neighborhood, and part of France’s carpool, who are going through uncertain times. Bill’s wife, Julie, has been absent for a long time, but not explaining the absense to the reader, leaving Bill to take care of their child alone. Meanwhile, Iris wants another child, but is afraid to broach the subject with her wife, Sara.

Some characters are sympathetic, and others were harder to warm up to. But, all of them are a little recognizable in some way or another, making this neighborhood, community, and all its inhabitants feel like people you can relate to, or empathize with to varying degrees, understanding the various stages in life they are at, and the crisis points they are facing.

Somehow, Abbi Waxman manages to nail the realities of married life once you have kids, jobs, and a thousand responsibilities, and how easy it is to get bored, to take those closest to us for granted, to make enormous and regretful mistakes, and just how easy it is to fall into a complacent routine.

Her observations are so spot on it’s a little uncomfortable at times, but she still manages to find humor in life’s difficulties and stresses and absurdities. Just like in real life, there are ups, downs, pitfalls, mistakes, and regrets. Some will work hard to get back what they lost, others will work to keep from losing what they have, others will decide to accept their fate, but at the end of the day, there is still love, family, forgiveness, and friendships, and a sense of community that can be every bit as important and just as comforting.

This is in many ways, an adult wake-up call, a cautionary tale- but it’s also a delightfully funny, and all too realistic look at life, marriage and family that will resonate with anyone and everyone.

Miranda Reads

3.5 stars

The Written Review

“Sometimes life is just what it is, and the best you can hope for is ice cream.”

Frances Bloom - neighborhood carpool coordinator - has long been privy to her neighbor's private lives.

But when she accidentally stumbles upon Anne Porter in the midst of a passionate affair....well...this just takes the cake.

Frances knows it's not her place to say anything but at the same time...there's no way something this big will be kept secret in their neighborhood. She just hopes the fallout isn't too bad.

But Anne's torrid affair is the lest of the carpool families' problems - whether it be kids, a missing spouse or yearning for another life.

Frances soon finds herself navigating a moral minefield that could make or break a marriage.

This book was surprisingly good!

This book follows four separate families and their children as they navigate their busy, busy lives. Each time we swap families, we sink into a new narrator and new outlook on life.

I particularly loved how "real" everyone felt - the highs and lows of parenting. The love and loss of life.

That couldn't have been easy with SO many people in this book!

Abbi Waxman has just this brilliant way of turning a sentence and breathing life into it.

“It was one of the paradoxes of parenting that the children you wished you had were actually the versions of your own children that other parents saw.”

I also loved the positivity in this book - the families come in all shapes, sizes, ages and orientations - and Abbi does a wonderful job with her characters.

“I don’t think she let herself go, Charlie. I think she just lets herself be.”

Meredith (Trying to catch up!)

3.5 stars

Other People’s Houses is an aptly titled novel about parenthood, marriage, family, and friendship. There’s also a lot of gossip, drama, and snarkiness!

It’s hard to write a summary due to multiple POVs and plotlines, so I am just going to focus on the main ones.

Frances, or “Saint Frances” as some of the bitchy soccer moms refer to her, is the main voice of the novel. Frances runs the neighborhood carpool, happily carting off the children of three other neighbors on a daily basis to and from multiple schools. She is the glue that not only holds her own family together, but also that of many neighbors. Wanting to constantly lend a helping hand, she sometimes oversteps boundaries and inserts herself into the drama of her friends and neighbors. Of course she has some flaws, and her weight is the focus of a lot of discussion. I could have lived without this aspect of her character, as it felt cliched.

When Frances walks in on her neighbor Anne in a compromising position, she struggles to be a supportive friend. Anne’s family implodes, resulting in more neighborhood drama. Anne and her husband also have main POV’s, as does Frances’s cousin, Iris, and her wife, Sara.

What I really like about Other People’s Houses is that it feels very realistic, with all the good, the bad, and the ugly that goes on behind closed doors mixed in. As I wrote above, Frances is the driving force, but the blurb made it seem more like the focus was going to be about Anne, and while Anne’s story takes up a good chunk really it’s about Frances. I found the narrative to be a little uneven--I wanted more from some characters, and less from Frances. I also wish the characters were a little bit more nuanced and less cliched.

Overall this was an enjoyable, entertaining read.

Thank you to Elisah at Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC!

Berit Talks Books

4.5 Wonderful and Snarky stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

From the minute I picked up this book I was sucked into the lives of these characters.... Abbi Waxman did a phenomenal job of bringing to life these characters..... they were so real, so relatable, so compelling.... as a mother of three living in Southern California, who live through the PTA,AYSO, and a teenage daughter.... I found so much of this book so relevant and laughably true.... The scene in this book at the PTA meeting where they were debating Cotillion lessons had me in tears... The struggle is real!

Francis is the glue that holds this book together as well as the neighborhood.... she drives all the neighborhood kids to school, is always there for everybody when they need her, and is always putting everybody else before herself.... she also had a sense of humor about herself, her family, her life, and the world in general, I always love that in a character.... if Francis and I were to live on the same block we would absolutely be friends and she would never find me on my living room floor in a compromising position.... promise..... however this did happen when she went to retrieve toilet paper rolls from Ann’s house.... imagine this you drop your neighbors kid off at school and she is devastated because she forgot to bring toilet paper rolls needed for craft time (and as anybody knows who has had a child of elementary school age those are always a big must when it comes to craft time).... so you decide to do the (neice) thing and go back and retrieve those lovely toilet paper rolls from your neighbors house and then you walk in on your neighbor/friend Ann in an extremely compromising position and not with her husband.... soon enough everybody finds out what Ann is up to and the entire neighborhood goes sideways.... especially Charlie, Ann’s husband.... i’ll stop there with anything about the plot, I want you to read this for yourself and enjoy the journey... it is a fabulous one!

This is a book about love, pain, family, friends, children, and everything else that makes up a life.... told very realistically with a huge dose of humor.... this book is going to make me look at my neighbors in a whole new way.... what is really going on behind that front door? Who really are the people in your neighborhood?

Strongly recommend to anybody who enjoys a character driven book with tons of laugh out loud moments and an extremely relatable plot....

PS: AYSO stands for American Youth Soccer Organization ⚽️

*** thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***

Melisa

4.5 stars! Happy pub day to Abbi Waxman and Berkley!

I have not laughed out loud this much and this loud at a book in who knows how long. One hilarious line after another. I bow down to your comedic delivery, Ms. Abbi Waxman. She has taken some serious topics and added some light to them, well done.

I found the central character of Frances to be my favorite - she was absolutely hilarious, and I kinda wish she was a real person because I would want to be her friend. This cast of characters all had their quirks and I found them all to be very real.

I’m actually sad this one is over, I’m going to miss these crazy characters - gimme more Abbi Waxman now! And lucky for me, I just found Waxman’s previous book at a used book sale last week and I jumped around a bunch of people to get my hands on that one stat.

Definitely for adult eyes only! - Rated R for language and adult situations.

This was a Traveling Sisters group read and I loved hearing everyone’s thoughts.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsay L

4 stars! This was a fun, hilarious and highly entertaining novel!

Frances (“Saint Frances” as some of the snooty PTA and soccer moms refer to her) is the central character who is a stay-at-home mother to three children. She is also the carpool mom for four other children who live on her street (yes, you read that right, she carpools seven children to school every day!). I adored Frances from the very first page. Her character is so witty, snarky and quirky that I couldn’t help myself from laughing out loud many times while reading. Witnessing Frances dealing with her children, her husband, the neighbours, the carpool kids, PTA meetings, her personal thoughts and more all had me giggling through the pages of this charming and delectable story.

We meet several neighbours on Frances’ street, all of whom she deals with on a regular basis during school pick up and drop off among other activities. I enjoyed each character and the different aspects they brought to the story and to Frances’ life. Following Frances through her daily/weekly routine was an amusing and unpredictable journey that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a Traveling Sister Read and was such a fun treat to share with my sisters. We had a lot of laughs discussing this one!

A big thank you to Edelweiss, Berkley Publishing Group and Abbi Waxman for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Norma

OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES by ABBI WAXMAN was an extremely enjoyable, entertaining, and fast read that isn't like any other "neighborhood" book that I have read lately. I absolutely loved visiting this neighborhood.

It's a realistic, charming, humorous, and dramatic tale with some laugh out loud moments to lighten the mood of some of the serious topics in this book. I absolutely loved our central character here, Frances Bloom and her snarky commentary. She was relatable, interesting, and quirky. Would definitely recommend giving this one a go and visiting this neighborhood for yourself!

This was a Traveling Sisters Group Read, and thank you so much for another wonderful reading experience ladies!

Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Berkley, and Abbi Waxman for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review!

The Traveling Sisters Review will be posted soon on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com

COULEE is a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
Where I live I am surrounded by Coulee's! :-)

JanB

Do we really need another neighborhood book that focuses on the domestic dramas of the people who live there? As it turns out, yes we do! Especially one as irreverent and wickedly funny as this one. The focus is on four families and told mainly from the point of view of Frances, the neighborhood’s car pool mom. She’s the woman you’d want as your best friend. Nicknamed St. Frances, she’s always ready to help anyone in need and puts everyone else’s needs above her own. She truly does have a heart of gold, but she cusses like a sailor, and her thoughts are irreverent, snarky, and witty. Many of them are thoughts we’ve all had but wouldn’t dare say out loud. It was real and relatable, and she had me chuckling more than once.

One day St. Frances runs to a neighbor’s house to retrieve a forgotten school supply for one of the car pool kids and finds her neighbor Anne in a compromising position. This revelation creates a ripple effect that affects everyone and leads them to look at their own relationships a little more closely. How well do we really know our neighbors, our children, and sometimes even our own spouse?

Families and relationships are messy and I loved how irreverent, relatable, and real this was. Underneath the humor serious issues were addressed, ones that many of us can relate to. I was hooked from the first page to the last. This book needs to be on everyone’s summer reading list!

* be aware there is quite a bit of profanity, including f-bombs. I was put off by it at first, but was able to tune it out quickly

* I received an ARC of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions are my own.

*Read with the traveling sister group, you can read this review and others on their blog:

https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com

Chelsea (chelseadolling reads)

This was fast and fun! I definitely didn't love it anywhere near as much as I loved The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, but this was a fun ride and I'm glad I finally got around to it.

Diane S ☔

3.5 Charming and so much fun, but not without it's serious side and some devastating consequences. What goes on behind the doors of the families in your neighborhood? Behind the facade of the perfect marriage, the woman who is always meticulously groomed, the one who always seems to have it all together? In this neighborhood, filled with mixed couples, all with one child or more, there is apparently much going on behind the scenes. Ones secret is soon to be exposed, and in a very big, loud, public way. This revelation will cause the others to re-evaluate their own lives, their own marriages.

I recently said I was tired of books with soap opera drama and unfeal, over srittencharacyers, women straight out of Desperate Housewives, but I had this to read. Already committed to read it and it was a sisters read so......... Sometimes it all in the tone, this was told in a light hearted manner, with much we humor. These characters were not cardboard characters but like real people,people you have in your neighborhood, can identify with them and their situations. In fact, there wasn't much in this book that I couldn't imagine happening, and much that I identified with. Mother overload, definitely, tired of meal planning or wondering whether one was feeding their family the right, nutritional food, check. Could go on and on, parts of one character, maybe parts of another.

So as far as women's fiction goes this was a winner, also a wonderful change of pace that just might have changed my mind about reading books featuring a neighborhood or group of friends.

ARC from Edelweiss.

Jasmine from How Useful It Is

I started reading Other People's Houses on 10/23/2018 and finished it on 11/4/2018 at 1:05am. This book is an excellent read! I love it right from the first chapter. The characters' day to day life are realistic and can be relatable to many readers. I like following Frances' view. I like her "trust but verify" rule when comes to her kids. I like her blunt humorous thoughts on the weight she gains, what she eats, and the battle she goes through when she wants to have a chat with her teen daughter. I like following Iris' views because she gives a clear honest opinion about lesbian marriage. That bit of mystery with Bill's wife keeps the suspense and mystery going. Anne's story is interesting to read as well.

 This book is told in the third person point of view following Frances Bloom, stay at home mom, as she drives 7 children to school in her minivan. She has 3 children of her own and the rest are her neighbors' children. The second view is Anne. Frances stops by Anne's house to pick up the toilet tubes that Anne's daughter Kate forgets and caught Anne unexpectedly having fun on her living room floor. The third & fourth views are of Iris and Sara, where Iris is Frances' cousin. The fifth view is Bill Horton, neighbor across the street from Frances. The sixth view is Michael, Frances' husband. The seventh view is Charlie, Anne's husband who is very patience with Kate. These four families all live in the same neighborhood. They are all connected to each other through their children.

 Other People's Houses is very well written and a fun read! I like that I don't have to wonder what the characters, both main and supporting, are thinking because there are snippets of their inner thoughts when the conversations occur. There's more swearing than I'm comfortable with but luckily the 14 year old is the youngest to use bad words. This book gives a clear view of what a stay-at-home mom do. It is definitely a good read for those who are married with kids. I like the kids, especially Milo and Theo. Theo is such a sweet older brother to Kate. That twist at the end was unexpected. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!

Pro: fast paced, page turner, humor, realistic, family, marriage,

 Con: none

 I rate it 5 stars!

***Disclaimer: I won a copy of Other People's Houses from a Goodreads giveaway hosted by the publisher. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest. 

xoxo, Jasmine at
www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details  

Kendall

I know what you're thinking... another neighborhood book?!

No.. ladies and gents what a deliciously addictive novel about a suburban neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles focusing on four families.

What more can you want from a novel?! Gossip, lies, secrets and humor ALL in one!

Let's meet our main character Frances Bloom. She is the "carpool" mom that takes all the kids to school. One morning, she accidentally walks in on one of her neighbors having an affair. Of course, the word travels like lightning and boy does it spread!!! All of the neighbors start questioning their own lives, families, and children.

What I really enjoyed about this novel was how Abbi beautifully balances the right amount of humor and seriousness throughout this story.

Can I also say.... I cuss like a sailor (well haha maybe I should work on this.... ) but the language worked perfectly in this one.

Abbi had me laughing out loud the majority of this novel. Characterization is a definite strong point!!

This one is definitely one to put on your radar! I enjoyed this overall and look forward to more from Abbi Waxman.

Huge thank you to Elisha, Berkley Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.

I read this as part of our traveling sister group. Always such a fun time with you ladies and love hearing all the thoughts! Please see their blog for the full sister review:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/

4 stars
Publication date: 4/3/18
Published to GR: 4/2/18.

Tucker

I think we’ve all wondered what goes on inside our neighbor’s houses, and as the long-time car pool mother for her block, Frances Bloom knows and sees a lot of her neighbor’s secrets (sometimes much more than she wants!) Abbi Waxman’s new novel, “Other People’s Houses” takes us inside these houses and relationships, primarily through the viewpoint of Frances. She’s a wise and witty woman who frequently finds herself getting more involved with these families than she would like. Abbi Waxman knows how to write humor and snark, but she’s also a keen and insightful observer of the joys and difficulties of family life. This is a charming and realistic story with believable characters and situations I think will resonate with many readers. It’s also very, very funny!

Thank you to Elisha Katz, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews)

Do we really know what goes on behind the doors of our neighbors? Francis Bloom learns first hand when she interrupts her neighbor, Anne, having an affair. A forgotten art project leads to her bad timing and will cause a ripple effect on many lives. Francis earned her nickname “St. Francis” for being the reliable neighbor who drives everyone's children to school and she is quick to help in an emergency. After her shocking revelation, she is left to wonder if this is an isolated case or the norm for her friends.

The balance of the neighborhood is then thrown off balance when Anne’s husband finds out about her affair. The neighbors all witness the aftermath of their split and everyone begins to question their own relationships. Can a marriage be repaired after a breach of trust?

Abbi Hoffman’s novel inspects marriage, child-rearing, and mundane tasks with a touch of humor. I loved that she weaved Lily from her book The Garden Of Small Beginnings into the story. Other People’s Houses is a refreshing and honest view of life.

Jessica

Other people's houses is a cute and refreshing read. An affair, cancer, and family issues are all discussed. Abbi Waxman does this in her typical lighthearted way. I recommend Other People's Houses.

Full review:
https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...

Sarah Joint

Brutally honest, quirky, and hilarious. This book takes you deep into the lives of several family units in one neighborhood. Often sweet, generally funny, occasionally sad, but always interesting. If you're craving some domestic drama that will make you laugh and really think about relationships, this might be for you. For a lot of readers, they'll recognize themselves in some of the characters. As I'm childfree, it was actually a nice bit of escapism for me.

It's just another day for Frances Bloom, stay at home mother and wife. She has plenty to do, and never seems to have time for it all. She is the "carpool mom", graciously taking some neighborhood children back and forth to and from school every day as well as her own. She doesn't mind it a bit, which may be part of the reason why some other mothers have given her the not-completely-complimentary nickname "St. Frances". Her usual routine is disrupted a bit when one of the children tells her she's forgotten some craft supplies at home. Of course, they are SO important. Always affable, she assures the kid she'll run back to her house and grab the ever so important toilet paper rolls and bring them back. She doesn't count on catching her neighbor Anne in flagrante... with a man's head between her legs. And that man is not her husband.

description

Frances decides to keep the secret to herself (except for her husband, of course) but only a few days later, Anne's husband kicks her out. It isn't long before the whole neighborhood is talking, and the indiscretion of their friend causes other couples to have doubts about their own relationships and start examining them more closely, looking for faults. Anne's infidelity will affect more than her own family.

I really enjoying getting to know each character. There are four families to keep track of, and a handy list at the beginning of the book so you don't get lost. I honestly thought I'd be more confused than I was. I only ended up going back to the list two times. For the most part, even the kids have their own personalities and are easily distinguished. This is an enjoyable read full of juicy drama that will make you laugh.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

Kelly (and the Book Boar)

Find all of my reviews at:
http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

I actually read this book a couple of years ago, so if you are interested in what I had to say you can find it
HERE. If you know me, you know I’m not generally much of a re-reader so you’re probably wondering why an exception was made. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Abbi Waxman’s upcoming release I Was Told It Would Get Easier and found myself smiling from ear to ear when the mom in that book, called a mom from this book. Everyone – meet Frances. She’s the epitome of a best friend. Don’t know the difference between a regular friend and a “best” friend? Well, it looks a little something like this . . . . .

I encourage all you fellow momcom/chicklit/whateveryouwanttocallit fans to spend some time with Frances (and the rest of the families in her neighborhood). Hopefully you’ll find her as funny and endearing as I do and she’ll make you want to be more like her when you grow up like I am feeling right now. Please note, however, I called dibs on her being my best friend already so don’t even think about stepping into my territory or I will hurt you : )

I originally gave this 4 Stars, but I just loved it so I’m giving it all 5. And now I’m going to have to re-read The Garden of Small Beginnings because there’s a dang callback to Lilli from that one!

Kelly (and the Book Boar)

Find all of my reviews at:
http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

If you’re looking for a character like Madeline in Big Little Lies (but prefer to leave the dead body out of the picture) Abbi Waxman’s Other People’s Houses might be the book for you. The story here is the aftermath of what happens when one of the neighborhood wives is caught in flagrante delicto by the carpool mom. So obviously there’s some real shit to deal with, but I’m going to choose to focus on Frances . . . .

You can decide for yourself if you would like to challenge me to a death match in a dark alley in an attempt to steal her from me. But I’m warning you . . . .

“Let’s not get into the atom splitting of who’s doing more work, stay-at-home parents or not; let’s just agree it’s a shit show for all of us, and move on.”

Wait, it gets better. Like analyzing your toddler’s fave television program . . .

She watched Steve do his thing, and continued her inner debate about how Salt and Pepper could have managed to conceive and produce both Paprika and Cinnamon. Salt was a crystal, pepper was a seed pod from a plant, paprika was also a seed pod. OK, so yes, she could see that, but cinnamon was the inner bark of a tree. She had wondered this before, which is why she had Wikipedia’d all that stuff and had, in fact, a fairly high level of knowledge about the international pepper trade as a result. It still bothered her, and she worried that Mrs. Pepper was a little tough on Paprika, especially once the baby came.

But the following is the line that sealed the deal . . . .

Frances pulled off her sweatshirt and bra, enjoying that first scratch of tit-freedom.

If you're an old lady with floppy mom tits, you totally know after that moment you're like . . . .

The only thing I didn’t agree with 100%???

“If you and I divorced, I would sew my vagina shut, get fifteen cats, and let myself go completely.”

Why get divorced? My husband and I have been married going on 22 years and I’m picking up a new kitten after work tonight . . . .

The other characters are nearly as good as Frances. Don’t believe me? Go read my friend
Kristie’s Review. I'm with her and can’t wait to read more by this author.

I checked my copy of this book out from the library, but this is one instance where I really wish I would have known about/requested/received/whatever an ARC so I could have been shoving it down everyone’s throat before it was even released . . . . but I wouldn’t have been able to share the magic which is Frances quotes so maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t.

Barbara

“Other People’s Houses” by Abbi Waxman is the perfect beach or travel read. The novel is full of sympathetic and knowable characters, which is Waxman’s specialty.

As the title suggests, this story is about a neighborhood and the families inside. In this neighborhood, everyone likes each other, has children in similar age groups, and are supportive in the neighborly way. Waxman kindly provides the cast of family characters along with the neighborhood map of the character’s homes. At the start of the novel, I did reflect back to the map and cast, but after a third into the novel, I had it straight in my mind.

The main character is Frances Bloom who has a special need to be helpful and busy. She places her children first and is the first one to volunteer to be helpful. The neighborhood is humming along well, until Frances unfortunately finds her neighbor Anne Porter in a “compromising position”. Sadly, Anne’s husband finds out as well, and the whole neighborhood dynamic is tilted.

Waxman explores neighbors as a community. One affair spins the logistics and relationships of the neighborhood into chaos. Plus, the affair brings out insecurities of marriages.

What I enjoyed is that the parents kept the children innocent. This neighborhood didn’t drag the young, sweet babies into the adult nightmare. The children felt something awry but didn’t feel the full impact of the affair.

It’s suburbia drama with witty dialogue a laugh-out-loud moment. I’m a Waxman fan and will read all her novels.

Victoria

Splendidly entertaining and endearing! I could have read a few hundred pages more of Waxman’s hilarity. Watch out Ms. Moriarty, there’s a new gal in town and she can deliver a wickedly funny narrative with plenty of neighborhood shenanigans.

This is not a review as much as a recommendation. For a good time, call Abbi Waxman!

Brandice

Other People’s Houses started out as a strong read for me - It was entertaining and a lighter, humorous read, but at some point it fell off a bit. I wanted to finish the book to see how the story would play out but it lost momentum for me.

The story centers around an LA neighborhood, where Frances, a mom of 3, assumes the street’s car pool duty, which includes several children of various ages attending 3 different schools. Frances can’t help but to help everyone, it’s just in her nature. One morning she stumbles upon her neighbor Anne engaging in questionable behavior, which sets off a series of events among the residents and local community. Some of the characters are cousins, some are friends, and some, just acquaintances. I thought most of the female characters were well-intentioned, good people - caring moms and wives. I was a little indifferent toward most of the men, in part because I felt like they were less-developed characters.

Other People’s Houses is about family dynamics (both marriage and parenting) as well as friendships, and has a strong thread of humor throughout the story. It’s also a reminder that we don’t know everything going on with our neighbors (or friends). While my interest did wane instead of peak, I enjoyed it enough that I’d read more from Waxman.

Megan Hoffman

As last month's Book of the Month Club pick for me, it wasn't one that was on my radar but was bumped up on my TBR list because I generally trust BOTM's picks. After reading I can say that while it was a fun, quick, and easy read, it wasn't phenomenal. It was largely forgettable and I didn't find myself needing to turn to the next chapter impatient to know what happens.

Overall, not a bad book but not one that I feel I'll be recommending or picking back up in the near future.

Should you buy it?: I would pass on this one, personally. It'd be a great one to pick up from the library but I feel it's just not interesting enough to buy at this point.

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Dana

Other People's Houses is a domestically delicious drama taking place on a suburban street in Los Angeles focusing on four families. It starts off fun right away with a cast of characters and a cute drawing of the map of the neighborhood.

Frances Bloom is the "car pool mom" and narrator of the story. One morning she walks in on her neighbor in the midst of an extramarital affair. As word begins to circulate, all of the neighbors begin questioning their own relationships - adults and children.

I absolutely loved this book. Peppered with great metaphors and some raunchy language, the book is wonderfully written, hilarious, witty, sad, and very insightful. It covers very sensitive issues, yet it is humorous, encouraging and uplifting. I have never laughed out loud so much while reading a book. I cared for each character and felt I knew them well, even the children -they felt like best friends. I wish I could run over and have coffee with them now!

Another favorite of the year!

Skyler Autumn

2.5 Stars

Other People's Houses is just that a look into the houses of the people you call neighbours, you may live beside these people all your life, have duelling garage sales with them, organize carpool, your kids may even be best friends but at the end of the day are you truly aware what's going on behind closed doors. This realization couldn't be truer for Frances the local super mom and carpooler extraordinaire when she walks in on her neighbour in a precarious position with a man that is definitely not her husband. Suddenly Frances world is turned upside down as she finds herself thrown amidst the drama that unfolds.

Other People's House was alright. The story (if you could call it one) was fine while I was reading it but I found myself shortly after completely forgetting plot points and characters. It's been a week since I've read this book and I only have a vague idea of what I just read. Not exactly memorable to say the least.

All and all it was fine, and isn't that worse then bad? At least with the bad books I can go on a rampage of anger with my review or they illicit a passionate response but this was just meh. A completely forgettable read. So as one reader to the next I'd pass on this book because it makes you feel absolutely nothing and where's the fun in that?

Bkwmlee

After a series of heavy reads, emotional reads, ones that tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry, I was desperately in need of a lighter read to help boost my spirits. I had Abbi Waxman’s Other People’s Houses on my list of “ARCs past publication date that I need to get to” and since I knew this author to be a humorous writer, I decided to move this book up the list. It turns out I made the right choice, as this was a fun read, one that was filled with snarky humor and realistic characters who dealt with everyday issues that most of us could relate to. The central character in the story is Frances Bloom, a middle-aged mother of three who enjoys helping others despite the overload of responsibilities she already has on her plate with running her own household as well as being the carpool mom for her neighbors’ kids. After Frances accidentally walks in on Anne Porter – the mother of two of the kids she carpools to school – having an affair with a man that wasn’t Anne’s husband, she finds herself reluctantly pulled into the fray when, a couple days later, the secret is revealed in the worst way possible. Meanwhile, the other carpool families also have secrets of their own that they are more than willing to push to the back burner for the time being while they navigate the trials and tribulations of family life and raising kids. Anne’s affair ends up impacting all these families in ways they never imagined and eventually causes them to re-examine their own lives and marriages.

While I did enjoy this book quite a bit overall and found the characters easy to relate to, I was not able to connect a whole lot to the story on a personal level as I initially thought I would, probably because I’ve read too many books with similar setup recently (families with kids all living in the same neighborhood dealing with every day issues of school, running the household, etc. whose lives are suddenly upended when an unexpected event occurs). In fact, this particular story reminded me of Sally Hepworth’s The Family Next Door, except that this one was much lighter in tone and way more humorous, not to mention much more irreverent with its fair share of swearing and various sex-related references. With that said though, I actually enjoyed these characters far more and felt that the interactions between the couples in this one were more realistically portrayed and in line with what many of us would see in our neighborhoods. The couple I actually enjoyed reading about most were Frances and Michael, as the hilarious way they would often banter back and forth while they tried to navigate the joys and frustrations of life with 3 kids reminded me of couples I know in real life.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and one that I felt was much needed during this particular “down” phase that I’ve been going through. Though there were some serious issues that did get brought up in the story, those were dealt with appropriately without being heavy-handed and the light tone was maintained throughout, which is credit to the author Abbi Waxman’s story-telling skill. This one is definitely recommended, though with the caveat that this might not appeal to all audiences due to the abundance of “colorful language” (which, in my opinion, was more than expected but certainly not excessive).

Received ARC from Berkley via Edelweiss

BAM (When we vote, we win; grab 'em by the ballot)

First of all, I'd like to thank Elisha Katz at Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an arc paperback copy of this new book which will be on sale 4/3/18. This novel is a delight: witty, laugh-out-loud funny, insightful and even a little painful at times.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? How well do we really know other people: our neighbors, our friends, even our own spouses and children?

Frances Bloom is the carpool mom for the seven kids from four families in her suburban L.A. neighborhood. One day she walks into her neighbor's house unannounced to pick up a forgotten school project and discovers her friend Anne in a compromising situation. What happens next? Can something this big be kept secret? And if not, what will it mean for this family and ultimately all the families in the neighborhood, as each examines their own relationships?

Waxman gives the reader much to think about as she delves into these four marriages. Can one be unfaithful sexually but still love a partner and want to stay in a marriage? Do one's responsibilities always come before personal happiness? Can trust ever be rebuilt once it has been destroyed?

And when it comes to one's children, especially teenagers, how much privacy should they be afforded in their search for self?

Some pretty weighty topics but the author handles these and others with compassion, insightfulness and a lot of humor. I found myself laughing hard and sharing outrageous bits with my husband on several occasions. Waxman can be so irreverent! I predict you will enjoy meeting the neighbors of Larchmont as seen through her eyes.

Nikki Joyce

Four utterly hilarious stars!

Hats off to Abbi Waxman for creating an entertaining neighborhood/family drama that had me hooked from the start! Blending laugh-out-loud moments with serious life topics, Waxman provides a realistic look at the ups and downs of life and parenting. Chock-full of characters and interesting storylines, Other People’s Houses explores the lives of four families living in the same neighborhood, and it covers everything from carpool, to gossip trains, to little kid meltdowns, to teenage drama, to adult incidents (and then some!).

I found Waxman’s book wildly entertaining and relatable. For those with kids, check it out! The humor surrounding parent life (PTA, Saturday morning soccer, etc.) had me in stitches.

On the flip side, Waxman also addresses some very heartbreaking family scenarios. While full of humor, the writing does not take away from these serious topics. Waxman does a nice job maintaining the seriousness of these events while still providing a funny read.

**Sidenote: Contains quite a bit of profanity and some adult content.

I look forward to reading more from Abbi Waxman!

**Another great read with the Traveling Sisters! As always, a fun and entertaining group read!

Jonetta

Frances Bloom, stay-at-home mother of three, is the connection between four families who live on the same block in Los Angeles. She voluntarily carpools their seven children to school each day, ranging in age from 4-to 14-years old, and often helps in other ways. They all seem to have lives that are working well from outward appearances but that notion gets destroyed when Frances walks into Anne Porter’s home and finds her in the throes of passion on the floor with someone other than her husband Charlie. The repercussions of that affair strips away the doors and walls of each of these families, exposing their truths and realities.

While there are multiple points of view presented, Frances is the dominant and serves as the filter for those that follow. Her insights are raw, outrageously funny and authentic. She’s a reflection of the modern parent who is sincerely working to have meaningful relationships with her children and spouse, making decisions in the moment as to what to let go and what has to be managed. Anne’s betrayal shatters some of that idealism that earned her the nickname (behind her back) of Saint Frances. This is an extremely messy story that’s well written, with humor, irony and heartbreak deftly dispersed throughout the story. The other characters, though having secondary voices, are richly developed and nuanced.

I was hooked from the beginning and there is nothing predictable at all. This is a realistic view of the those in other people’s houses that dismantles preconceived notions of who they are and what they’re managing. I’m definitely going to read more by this author as this is a clever and insightful story on a topic that’s been covered ad nauseum. This is different.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review)

Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman is a witty, funny (in parts), and interesting peer into the lives of four neighborhood couples. I laughed a lot at some of Fran's astute observations and some of the antics in her household. Her relationship with her husband, and children, is healthy and real. Two of the couples separated, one amidst a huge emotional explosion and the other under more poignant circumstances (I don't want to spoil). Much of this book rang true, parts were a bit kitsch, but then, so is life at times.

Title	:	Other People's Houses
Author	:	Abbi Waxman
Rating	:
ISBN	:	-
ISBN-10	:	9780399587931
Language	:	English
Format Type	:	ebook
Number of Pages	:	352
Publication	:	First published April 3, 2018

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