Sarah Harman shares the journey behind All the Other Mothers Hate Me, from journalism to fiction, a fierce book auction, and its upcoming FX adaptation.

You'll know immediately if this book is for you from the opening line: "The missing boy is ten-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he's a little shit."

That audacious beginning sets the tone for All the Other Mothers Hate Me, a compulsively readable thriller perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Finlay Donovan.

Sarah Harman's journey to publication is just as gripping as her novel. A former foreign correspondent for NBC News, Harman's background in breaking news reporting brings a sharp, fast-paced edge to her storytelling. Her debut became the subject of a fierce bidding war, ultimately securing a major deal—and soon, it'll hit the screen, adapted for FX by The Bear's Christopher Storer.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How All the Other Mothers Hate Me subverts the missing-child thriller trope
• The surreal experience of a nine-way auction for her book deal
• Her involvement in adapting the novel for television
• The cultural and feminist themes woven into her story

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: This week's book list features 30 Amateur Sleuth Novels that will keep you on your toes. From upcoming releases to backlist gems, we've got plenty of whodunits to explore.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Who is your favorite amateur sleuth in fiction? Drop a comment on Spotify—I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Meet Sarah Harman

Sarah Harman is an American journalist-turned-thriller writer living in London. Before making her fiction debut, she spent over a decade covering major global news stories. Her novel All the Other Mothers Hate Me is out now from Putnam, with translation rights sold in 15 countries and a TV adaptation in the works.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 30 Unlikely Amateur Sleuths Are On The Case In This Book Stack

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

Professional Book Nerds: Spring's Best New Books with Amy Allen Clark

Emancipation of Mimi

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason

Fleabag

Young Adult

Bad Teacher

Connect With Us:

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Sarah on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)