First published 2011
Rose McKenna volunteers as a lunch mom at her daughter Melly's school to protect her from Amanda, a bully who torments her child. When the bullying starts during lunch and sends Melly fleeing to the bathroom in tears, Rose prepares to follow. Then a kitchen explosion rocks the building. Rose faces a split-second decision: rescue her own daughter or help Amanda escape the danger. She thinks she saves both children, but Amanda mysteriously runs back into the school and gets injured. The small community turns against Rose, branding her a villain who chose her daughter over someone else's child. Amanda's mother files a lawsuit. Rose's marriage crumbles under the pressure. Melly faces worse bullying when she returns to school. Rose must uncover what really happened during those chaotic moments to save her family from destruction.
Genres: suspense, contemporary, mystery-thriller, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, family-drama
Setting: School
Period: Contemporary
373 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: abuse, violence