Publication Date: May 5, 2026
A dynamic, honest, and beautifully written novel about a young mother who returns to her small—town Wisconsin home after living in a cult—like “Mommune,” and what happens with the other women in her family as they each navigate the constraints, complexities, and joys of modern motherhood.
Cass Simon never expected to return to small—town Wisconsin—not after escaping life inside a cult—like “Mommune” and falling under the spell of an online mom—fluencer. But with nowhere left to turn, she finds herself back under her family’s roof, carrying more questions than answers about what it means to be a mother.
Waiting for Cass is her own mother, Remy—hardworking matriarch of the Baumhaus supper club. Remy’s love for her children is fierce but tangled with old grief and the fear of letting go, especially as she prepares to say goodbye to the family business that has anchored them for generations.
Beside them stands Hilary, Cass’s older sister—an artist and devoted mother whose divorce has shaken her belief in herself; and Erin, a Simon by marriage, who is quietly battling heartbreak as she struggles to find gratitude for a pregnancy that both terrifies and redeems her. Each of the Simon women pursues her own vision of motherhood: Cass’s instinct for protection after trauma, Remy’s hope to be a harbor her daughters can always return to, and her sisters’ hard—won wisdom about letting go of perfection.
Set against the backdrop of a vibrant, sometimes claustrophobic Wisconsin town, this dynamic and beautifully honest novel explores forgiveness, the bonds—and boundaries—of family, and the deeply personal journey of discovering what it truly means to be a “good mother.”
Families have a tendency to be incredibly messy. Take the Simon family as an example.
Their story unfolds in The Supper Club Saints by Claire Swinarski. Matriarch Remy, now widowed, is poised to sell the family’s restaurant. Life takes an interesting twist when her middle child, Cass, comes home after being caught up in what is described as a “mommy cult.”
The story focuses on motherhood and the different ways the Simon women approach it. Hilary, the eldest child, navigates life as a divorced mother who wants to balance a career as an artist. Erin, married into the Simon family, yearns for her baby while also being scared.
Relationships are at the core as old hurts and new scandals erupt. Through it all, the family members adjust and support each other. Remy’s past offers an interesting secret unknown to her children.
The Supper Club Saints explores the power of forgiveness and family.
Claire Swinarski was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she still lives with her family and writes stories for readers of all ages. What Happens Next was her debut middle grade novel and was followed by The Kate in Between and What Happened to Rachel Riley, which was an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title, a Cybils Award nominee, and an Edgar Award nominee. These were followed by Take It from the Top. She thinks wandering around a library can solve 95 percent of life’s problems.
