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To the outside world, Asha has it all. As a deeply rooted resident and community leader, she is the glowing, maternal heart of her neighborhood. When Hilary - fragile, lonely, and eager for connection - arrives, Asha naturally takes her under her wing. Their bond forms fast over morning coffees, with Hilary clinging to the one person who finally "understands" her. But gratitude soon sours into a dark fixation. Hilary doesn’t merely want to fit into Asha’s world; she wants to consume it.
- Asha - Head of the mom group in the neighborhood
- David - Asha’s husband
- Hilary - New mom in the neighborhood
- Molly - Asha’s friend
- Kristy - Asha’s friend
- Shelly - Asha’s friend
- Julie - Hilary’s cousin, Asha’s new neighbor
- Landon and Marty - Kristy’s sons
- Joel and Mira - Asha’s children
- Asha befriends Hilary.
- Hilary starts copying everything Asha does and wears.
- Asha starts to notice small things going missing from her house.
- When Asha gets sick, Hilary takes over her PTA duties for a few weeks and becomes close with Asha’s friends.
- Asha finds out via Instagram that Hilary had been stalking her for a year before she moved to the neighborhood.
- Asha tracks down Hilary’s ex-husband, who tells her Hilary is dangerous and that Asha is not the first woman she has targeted.
- Hilary makes Asha look unstable, and all of her friends start to turn against her.
- At a PTA event Asha drugs Hilary’s drink.
- While giving a speech at a PTA event, Hilary poops herself while wearing a white dress.
- Hilary yells that Asha did it to her, then runs away with diarrhea running down her legs.
- Everyone believes Hilary and blames Asha.
- Asha and David move to a new neighborhood.
- Asha goes to a book club meeting at Julie’s house.
- When Hilary walks into Julie’s house, Asha screams and storms out.
- Hilary tells Julie and the neighbors that Asha is unstable, and they all agree to avoid her.
Sara Lea establishes a captivating premise right out of the gate. The narrative jumps between Hilary and Asha’s perspectives with the short chapters that make the book a quick read. The writing itself is sharp and pulls you in quickly, building up high drama as the tension between the women escalates.
Where the plot loses a bit of steam for me is the conclusion. After such an intense build-up, the final payoff feels a little underwhelming. However, the pacing and the strength of the prose make it a solid experience overall. If you like shifting perspectives, toxic friend groups, and fast-paced narratives, then you will enjoy this book.
- Emotional manipulation
- Stalking
- Gaslighting
ASIN: B0GJ13KLBZ
Publication Date: July 3, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
