Prom Mom by Laura Lippman

A Four-Star Book Review

This review is well overdue as I finished Prom Mom back in January 2024. Laura Lippman’s book is mystery fiction that keeps you guessing about its unlikeable characters throughout the story, making it a worthwhile read for me.

Summary of Prom Mom (No Spoilers)

When Amber Glass disappeared from Baltimore, she hoped to escape the nickname the newspapers had given her: “Prom Mom.” After all, what better way to portray a young girl who left a newborn baby to die in a hotel room after prom, claiming she had no memory of a birth? But now, years later, Amber is back and she can’t stay away from the boy who entranced her in high school: Joe. Despite his marriage and success, Joe feels the same, and what proceeds is a twisting mind bender of a story: who loves whom, and what really happened in those early morning hours so many years ago?

What I Enjoyed About Prom Mom

The characters were the strongest part of this novel. None of them are particularly likable, but Ms. Lippman takes care to give them nuanced personalities and quirks that keep you from trusting any of them:

• Amber has the most to prove when she arrives back in Baltimore. Her life was destroyed in high school, and she deliberately sets the stage to connect with Joe.
• Joe seems oblivious at first, but he’s not innocent. He doesn’t stay away from Amber’s flirtations, despite being married, and his bad business deals weigh on him.
• Meredith, Joe’s wife, was one of the most interesting characters to me. She has designed a perfect life for her and Joe, but that perfection is a ruse, as we quickly learn. Meredith has her own goals, and she’s determined to reach them.

What I Wish Was Different About Prom Mom

Prom Mom is a good mystery book. I liked it for the story and the twists, but I thought the plot device of setting the story during COVID was unnecessary. The pandemic was a horrific time period in our history, but it felt like this was a play to get attention.

My Final Thoughts About Prom Mom

If you’re looking for a good mystery novel about a woman on a journey for redemption, Prom Mom is a book for you. With great characters and strong writing, it’s one I’d recommend.