Housemoms

A Novel

By: Jen Lancaster

Narrated by: Maria McCann, EJ Lavery, Jeremy Carlisle Parker

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Three grown women find escape and camaraderie on sorority row in a delightfully exhilarating novel about fresh starts, whether you want them or not, by New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster.

How fast can charity fundraiser CeCe Barclay’s unimpeachable society life come tumbling down?

One minute she’s speaking before Chicago’s glitterati. The next, her financier husband is wanted for embezzlement. Her assets seized and her fall mortifyingly public, CeCe grasps for refuge—and employment—as a sorority housemom at Eli Whitney University, her daughter Hayden’s alma mater.

Tasked with preparing a stately—but in CeCe’s estimation shabby—house for rush, CeCe isn’t the only one navigating a new life. Janelle Smith’s last experience as a housemother was at a Jersey strip club, where she witnessed a mob hit. To keep her safe until trial, WITSEC finds her a new identity and a housemom position on Eli Whitney’s sorority row, where Janelle’s conflict mediation and tolerance for high estrogen levels make her a star employee. For Hayden, a barista at a hopelessly hip off-campus café, the goal is to flee everything Barclay: the money, the scandals, and the exasperating family nonsense. What next?

Though CeCe’s not ready to sell her Chanel bag, she’s open to reinvention. Hayden might even admit she needs help in her new independent life. And Janelle’s due for a personal triumph. But big challenges loom between the alabaster columns of Eli Whitney, unexpected and dicey enough to bring them all together—if only to keep them from falling completely apart.

©2023 Jen Lancaster (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[A]n intriguing and compelling tale with complex characters…look[ing] at the sisterhood formed in sororities that extends to those who work in, and around, them.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The book shines in its emphasis on the power of women having each other’s backs and rooting for one another. This novel is a witty, wild ride and an overall gripping read with unforgettable, wholesome moments.”—Booklist

“Witty and hilarious…Jen Lancaster is like that friend who always says what you’re thinking—just 1,000 times funnier.”—People

It’s Jen Lancaster, enough said!

I am not sure about the ending…is there a sequel coming? I feel like we still have questions about what’s to come on sorority row.

I want more!

Love Jen Lancaster! Now I need to know what happens on the row & with Ginelle’s love life! Love love loved the narration. I thought I would be bummed that Jen herself wasn’t reading it, but it was great.

Fun read

Another fun read from Jen Lancaster. It's been quite a few years since I've read one of her books, and this one reminded me why I like her as an author. It's a quick, uncomplicated read. You will chuckle, laugh out loud, and sometimes be wistful at the characters and their issues. These are unconventional sorority house-moms with the best of intentions, even if they don't always have the required skills.

Total Opposites

Two women find themselves being house mother at sorority dorms. One is in witness protection and the other is trying to survive her husband’s embezzlement of millions from her charity. A madcap adventure during the weeks before and during rush. Great narration.

Fell in love with the characters…

Absolutely fantastic but wanted more! Maria, E.J. and Jeremy so perfectly embodied their characters, and their journey of self-discovery was brilliantly written and narrated. Jen Lancaster…I need more though! What happens next? Where do these unique relationships evolve?! I hope we will hear more!

Entertaining

Found this story fun and entertaining. The narrators did a great job! Fun and whimsical!

Great story, light and entertaining

Loved the story. Whipped through the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Felt like it ended abruptly. I could listen to 10 more hours. Only criticism, as a person from NJ, the NJ accent was totally wrong. Besides that it was a fun and entertaining listen.

Sisterhood

Great story about friendship and second chances. The characters are quirky but they overcome difficulties

I couldn’t stand it anymore!

I stopped listening after 20 minutes. I should have stopped sooner. I just couldn’t take it anymore!

struggle through with NOOOOOO ending!!!

This book was very slow to get into and half of it had a backstory that was not all necessary. About 3/4 of the way through, I FINALLY was interested in the plot and was excited to see how it wrapped up. And then literally...NOTHING! I thought I had skipped a chapter or something. This is the worst ending of a book that I have ever read!