Joanie Book Club: Q&A With Sarah Harman, Author of All The Other Mothers Hate Me

Calling all book lovers - the Joanie Book Club is back! This month, we're sitting down with Sarah Harman, author of All The Other Mothers Hate Me...

Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for chatting with us here at Joanie. Let’s start things off with a bit of background, can you tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an American living in London. Before I became a writer, I worked as a TV news journalist. Nowadays, I spend most of my time hunched over a desk or (more often) procrastinating by pacing around my neighbourhood in search of new coffee shops that I ‘need’ to try.

All The Other Mothers Hate Me centres around an ex-girl band star and her 10-year-old son, who becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of one of his classmates. What inspired you to write this story?

I like the idea of writing a mystery for people who don’t usually read mysteries. Like if Fleabag and Nancy Drew had a baby, that’s kind of the vibe I was going for.

Do you have any general tips for aspiring writers? What helps you most when you’re sitting down to start writing?

Haha! Well, I’ve only written the one book, so I really shouldn’t be giving anyone writing advice. I guess when I was starting out, I tried to write something that I thought would amuse my girlfriends. I think sometimes it helps to have a specific reader in mind and write for her.

We’re avid readers here at Joanie, and there’s nothing we love more than a good book recommendation. Tell us – what’s your favourite EVER book, and what book did you enjoy reading most in the last year?

In 2024, I bought the God of the Woods by Liz Moore purely because I loved that drip of pink paint on the cover. I ended up staying up all night and binging it one go - which isn’t something I ever do. That book was impossible to put down!

Outside of work, what do you get up to in your spare time?

I absolutely love living in London. For me, it’s the best city in the world. I’ve actually got memberships to a bunch of the major tourist attractions: Historic Royal Places, the Tate, and, of course, the Wetland Centre in Barnes, where some of the book is set. My friends make fun of me for being a cheesy tourist, but I love an afternoon at the museum or a day out at Hampton Court Palace. I feel like if I’m not making time to enjoy the sights, what’s the point of being in London?

Finally, which Joanie pieces are you loving most right now?

Oh, I love a jumpsuit. It’s so nice not to have to think about matching a top and a bottom… Right now, I’m enjoying the The Mork Boilersuit. The print works equally well for a kid’s birthday party or an afternoon at Kew Gardens, which, let’s be honest, is how I’m spending most of my weekends.