37. Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

Set over a rainy Friday in the London suburb of Arlington Park, Cusk’s novel explores the lives of a group of privileged mothers. Juliet, a teacher who delights in leading her school’s literary club, has a breakdown and cuts off her waist length hair. Amanda, obsessed with keeping her house immaculate, has to deal with children writing in red marker on her white couch. Maisie wonders why her family left London in the first place, and feels smothered in the suburban area. Christine struggles to throw a dinner party for the group of neighbors, but ends up drunk and mad at her husband. Almost all of the characters show up for Christine’s dinner party to end the dreary evening, where they are left wondering about the way they are living their lives.

Each main woman has her own chapter of this novel, yet characters flow into each other’s lives throughout the long day. This is an honest depiction of suburban life, including being frustrated with your children, partner, and how life turns out. Most of these women think that having a large home and money will make them happy, but they soon find out that these things bring the opposite. For readers who enjoy the novels of Julie Myerson and Maggie O’Farrell.