Plays Well with Others: A Novel BY Sophie Brickman

Plays Well with Others is a wickedly funny and incisive debut novel in the vein of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Fleishman Is in Trouble. This story follows Annie Lewin, a mother of three in the chaotic world of NYC parenting. As a New York Times journalist turned parenting-advice columnist for an internet start-up, Annie navigates the madness of securing kindergarten spots for her children while managing a workaholic husband who is rarely home.

Amidst the competitive frenzy, Annie's life begins to unravel. Her rivalry with Belinda Brenner, a hotshot lawyer with perfectly curated bento box lunches and an effortless Instagram presence, intensifies, pushing Annie to the brink. As her life spirals, her increasingly unhinged antics boost her advice column’s popularity, drawing more clicks and comments.

The turning point comes when Annie commits a ghastly social faux pas that goes viral, forcing her to confront whether she’s any better than the cutthroat parents she has always judged.

Told through a shimmering epistolary format, incorporating emails, group texts, advice columns, and newspaper profiles, Plays Well with Others is a whip-smart, genuinely funny romp through the minefield of modern motherhood. Beneath its satirical veneer, the novel offers a fresh, open-hearted, and all-too-real take on the fierce love, craziness, and challenges of parenting.

Described as "heavenly hilarity for readers" by Good Housekeeping, this novel captures the essence of contemporary parenting with humor and insight, making it a must-read for anyone navigating the complexities of raising children in today's competitive world.