Some stories celebrate love; others explore loss but very few shine a light on the everyday miracle of women holding each other up. In Conflicts of Interest, Hannah Wall gifts readers more than a romance or a family drama; she gives us the Mum’s Chain, a circle of mothers who laugh, argue, tease, and comfort one another through life’s hardest choices. Their group is a lifeline for Cassie, reminding us all that friendship is survival, and community is power. Hannah’s writing captures these bonds with humor, tenderness, and truth, creating moments that feel less like fiction and more like life.
The Mum’s Chain in the Story
At the heart of Conflicts of Interest is Cassie’s unshakable bond with her closest friends, a group lovingly called the Mum’s Chain. Millie, Harper, Willow, Nicky, Val, and Suki aren’t just side characters; they are the voices that steady Cassie when her world threatens to collapse. Each woman brings something different: Harper’s protective fire, Val’s humor, Willow’s sharp wit, Nicky’s resilience, Millie’s grounding wisdom, and Suki’s honesty. Together, they create a community that feels as real as any friendship circle readers may know. Hannah Wall writes these women with vivid warmth, layering in their banter, quirks, and unwavering support. They don’t always have the right answers, but they always show up with wine, with laughter, with fierce loyalty. It’s this dynamic that elevates the book beyond a romance, turning it into a portrait of how women’s friendships become the invisible scaffolding that holds entire families together.
Community as Survival
Hannah Wall doesn’t just write about friendships; she writes about survival. In Conflicts of Interest, Cassie’s world is messy and unpredictable, but the Mum’s Chain acts as her safety net. These women share childcare tips, trade stories over late-night chats, and, when needed, defend each other with unapologetic loyalty. In moments when Cassie falters under the weight of secrets and responsibilities, it’s her friends who remind her she isn’t alone. This is where Hannah’s writing feels extraordinary: she captures not the idealized version of friendship, but the lived reality of it, the interruptions, the teasing, the brutal honesty, and the unconditional care. For readers, these scenes become more than narrative texture; they feel like recognition. They remind us of our own circles, the people who keep us standing when life tilts sideways. In Hannah’s world, community isn’t decoration. It’s lifeblood. It’s how her characters endure, and how readers feel seen.
What makes the Mum’s Chain unforgettable is not just their loyalty, but their humor. Hannah Wall writes their banter with such natural rhythm that readers feel like they’ve pulled up a chair at the table. From joking about writing a ‘shit shows guide to parenting’ to swapping confessions over wine, these women remind us that laughter can be its own kind of medicine. Amid custody battles, secrets, and heartbreak, their moments of silliness provide balance, proof that even in chaos, joy survives. Hannah’s gift is in making these exchanges feel effortless. She doesn’t force the comedy; it bubbles up through the characters’ personalities, just as it does in real friendships. And she isn’t afraid to let honesty cut through the laughter when needed. By blending humor with raw truth, Hannah creates friendships that feel alive; imperfect, messy, and beautifully real. It’s this honesty that makes her storytelling extraordinary.
Part of what makes Hannah Wall’s writing so authentic is the way it draws from her own life. As a stay-at-home mum and former nursery worker, she understands the challenges, joys, and hidden struggles of parenting. Her time with Home-Start, a community group for mothers, adds another layer of depth to her storytelling, she knows how vital support networks can be. That lived experience seeps into Conflicts of Interest, giving the Mum’s Chain its realism and heart. Hannah doesn’t write idealized characters; she writes women who could be your neighbors, your friends, or even yourself.
Why It Matters
Conflicts of Interest is more than a story of love and secrets, it is a celebration of community, laughter, and resilience. Through the Mum’s Chain, Hannah Wall honors the extraordinary strength found in ordinary women. Her writing doesn’t just tell a tale; it captures the heartbeat of real life.