All Lauren, Ronnie, and Andrea want is to be a good mom. They have enrolled their kids in the prestigious preschool Silver Swans, one that they may not have even been considered for except for the economic downturn that left openings in enrollment for them to step into. They’re not exactly like the other mothers though, the ones who have had kids there for years. The ones standing together at the welcoming breakfast. The ones judging them.

Lauren was once a programming whiz, inventing popular game apps and selling them for big money. But she got pregnant and married quickly, and while her husband Graham is supportive, Lauren has been struggling with her hormone levels, leading to incidents of postpartum rage.

Ronnie is beautiful, but with an edge. She is a single mother dating the preschool’s male kindergarten teacher Lane. Ronnie’s daughter Esme is 4 and is a very happy child. But that’s probably because she doesn’t remember how it was that she and Ronnie came to live in California. It’s a secret that Ronnie hasn’t yet shared with Lane, but it means that she’s always looking over her shoulder for her past to catch up.

Andrea is still getting used to being a mother to Arthur, who is also 4. She’s talked to Arthur a lot about the changes in their family, and he seems to understand. Andrea wished that it was that simple for the rest of her family. But her father, a wealthy man with strong ideas about what he wants of his children, will not listen. It took a lot of time and a move to the West Coast for her to become comfortable in her skin. But not everyone would feel the same if they knew more about her family, about her past.

But after that first day, the short day for the kids to meet their teachers and classmates, while school principal Piper talked to the parents about the opportunities their children will have being at Silver Swans. She introduces her assistant Carson, who Andrea, Ronnie, and Lauren take an instant dislike to. But while the three moms and fast friends share a little Bailey’s in their coffees, someone else is putting notes for the moms in their kids’ backpacks.

Notes that tell them they’re not welcome at Silver Swans.

And when they go to the school to talk to Piper about the notes, Piper is attacked, and the three moms are questioned by the police. They say they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and worry about their individual secrets. But the investigation reveals that there are a lot more going on at Silver Swans than just childcare and early education.

Sara Shepard’s Safe in My Arms is a look at an upper class preschool and the hidden lives of the parents. From domestic violence to financial shenanigans, from hormonal changes to disowning family, these mothers bring with them a variety of issues and reveal even more. This thriller is filled with secrets and twists, surprises and lies, all wrapped up in the exclusive neighborhoods of the ultra wealthy.

I really enjoyed the story of these women. Safe in My Arms is a fun read for summer. As someone who never felt like I fit in with the crowd, I loved the characters of Lauren, Ronnie, and Andrea. Seeing the moms from the perspective of outsiders brought a lot of texture to the story, and the secrets that they kept and uncovered showed creativity and compassion for those who feel like they are outside of the norm. Safe in My Arms is a beautifully written look at motherhood in all its inherent messiness, making it a great book for anyone who has ever had kids or parents.

Egalleys for Safe in My Arms were provided by Dutton through NetGalley, with many thanks.