Bad On Paper Podcast: Episode Summary Episode Title: All the Other Mothers Hate Me Book Club
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Release Date: June 25, 2025

1. Hosts' Highs and Lows

Olivia's Update:
Olivia begins by sharing her discomfort with her current ergonomic setup, leading to back and shoulder pain. She discusses her struggle with an unsupportive chair and the strain of typing on her laptop. [00:48]

"My chair looks like someone was churning butter in it for centuries." – Olivia Mentor [00:48]

To alleviate her discomfort, Olivia turned to yoga, specifically a video titled "Yoga for Writers" by Adrienne. This practice, coupled with her new mini standing desk on wheels, has significantly improved her posture and reduced her pain.

"My back feels so much better today. My shoulders, neck, everything, so much better." – Olivia Mentor [03:03]

Becca's Update:
Becca shares her sense of post-draft freedom after submitting her latest work. She describes feeling refreshed and delighted by her ability to decompress, despite minor setbacks like a failed museum visit that turned into a shopping trip.

"I feel delighted to be decompressing." – Becca Freeman [05:30]

She also recounts a publishing scare where her submitted draft went unnoticed, fearing her editor had quit or her contract was rescinded. This anxiety was later resolved when she discovered the email had landed in her editor's spam folder.

"The book is not being canceled." – Becca Freeman [09:04]

2. Book Club Discussion: "All the Other Mothers Hate Me" by Sarah Harmon

Plot Overview:
Olivia provides a high-level summary of "All the Other Mothers Hate Me," highlighting Florence's journey as a former girl band star and single mother in London. The story revolves around Florence investigating the disappearance of her son's bully, suspecting her own child might be involved. [11:40]

Initial Impressions:
Becca expresses her enjoyment of the book, appreciating its blend of fun and depth. She categorizes it as upmarket commercial fiction with a perfect balance after a "literary heavy" spring.

"I absolutely loved this. It was so fun." – Becca Freeman [12:24]

Genre and Pacing:
Olivia finds the book to have the pacing of a thriller, appreciating its fast-paced nature and the unique mashup of mystery, humor, and social commentary.

"I thought it was such a fast-paced, genre mashup of mystery, humor, social commentary." – Olivia Mentor [14:11]

Becca, on the other hand, perceives the pacing as medium and feels more connected to the humor and character dynamics than the mystery itself.

"I thought that the humor and voice was really what made it for me." – Becca Freeman [28:26]

Character Analysis:

• Florence: Both hosts discuss Florence's unlikable traits, debating the balance between her being a flawed individual and a devoted mother.

  Olivia: "Florence being a questionable Mother... challenging me." [22:30]
  Becca: "She was a funny person... I'm on her side because... you're not wrong." [24:09]

• Dylan: Olivia appreciates Dylan's quirky character, while Becca feels his involvement in environmental activism was underdeveloped.

  Olivia: "I loved how weird he was. He had his own specific set of interests." [35:10]
  Becca: "He was doing something added in... could have just left it alone." [38:26]

Comparisons to Other Works:
Becca compares the book to "Finley Donovan" series and "Killers of a Certain Age" by Diana Raybourn, noting similarities in tone and character dynamics. She also draws parallels to the Netflix show "Ginny and Georgia," highlighting the similarities in single mother protagonists with complex pasts.

"It reminded me so much of Ginny and Georgia on Netflix." – Becca Freeman [16:21]

Reception and Reviews:
The hosts note the mixed reviews on platforms like Goodreads, where the book holds a 3.55 rating. They discuss how unlikable characters, especially mothers, can polarize readers, particularly parents who might find Florence's actions uncomfortable to empathize with.

"This is getting pretty mixed bag reviews... you love it or you hate it." – Becca Freeman [24:09]

3. Future Adaptations and Casting Thoughts

Olivia and Becca delve into the potential TV adaptation of the book. They fantasize about casting choices, suggesting actors like Florence Pugh and Juno Temple for Florence and speculating on who might play other key characters.

Olivia: "Florence Pugh has this edge to her." [42:09]
Becca: "I was thinking much zanier. Like, I was thinking, like, Juno Temple." [42:30]

They express excitement about seeing how the humor and dark elements of the book will translate to the screen, hoping for a balance between goofy and serious tones.

Becca: "I hope you get to see more of the girl group in it." [43:55]

4. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Book Club Pick

The episode wraps up with a brief discussion about their upcoming July book club pick, "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, chosen by their listeners. They express enthusiasm for the book's setting against the 1980s space program and its epic love story.

Becca: "I'm very excited. I'm even more excited because... 'Titanic'." [49:26]

They encourage listeners to join their Facebook and Geneva groups for more discussions and to stay tuned for future episodes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "My chair looks like someone was churning butter in it for centuries." – Olivia Mentor [00:48]
• "I feel delighted to be decompressing." – Becca Freeman [05:30]
• "The book is not being canceled." – Becca Freeman [09:04]
• "I absolutely loved this. It was so fun." – Becca Freeman [12:24]
• "Florence being a questionable Mother... challenging me." – Olivia Mentor [22:30]
• "I thought it was such a fast-paced, genre mashup of mystery, humor, social commentary." – Olivia Mentor [14:11]
• "I loved how weird he was. He had his own specific set of interests." – Olivia Mentor [35:10]
• "It reminded me so much of Ginny and Georgia on Netflix." – Becca Freeman [16:21]

Conclusion

In this episode of Bad On Paper, Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter offer a candid and engaging discussion on Sarah Harmon's "All the Other Mothers Hate Me." They explore the book's intricate character dynamics, blend of humor and mystery, and its reception among readers. The hosts provide insightful comparisons to other works and contemplate the potential for a TV adaptation, making this episode a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in the book or looking for their next read.