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Author and actress Jill Kargman became a household name by writing about what she knows best: life in New York’s toniest neighborhood, the Upper East Side, where she lives with her husband Harry and their three children. The the die hard Manhattanite is known for her irreverent wit and relatability, both of which helped turn her into a best-selling author—she penned Momzillas and The Ex-Mrs. Hedge Fund—and made her Bravo comedy series, Odd Mom Out, a huge hit. The show is a semi-fictionalized parody of the ridiculous life of New York City mothers, and it returns for its third season this Wednesday, July 12.
We checked in with the Kargman to see what she has going on this summer, and get her must-read summer book recommendations.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Want to smash my phone alarm, groan, force myself out of bed, and hit the shower. I love slapping on a SK-II mask on the weekends.
What are your favorite things to do for yourself on the weekends?
Sleep late, day-drink, hang with kids, go out to dinner. We love brunch at Augustine or Egg in Williamsburg. I also love taking the kids to Smorgasburg; it has a million food stalls and something for everyone.
How do you and your husband find time for yourselves with three kids?
My kids will usually stay with my parents nearby, and Harry and I go to a hotel nearby and pig out and drink a lot and try to recapture our youth. Then we face the music Sunday when the kids are bickering about something, and it’s like the trip never happened. Our fave weekend getaway is Glenmere Mansion which is so luxurious and romantic—and 15 minutes from Woodbury Commons outlet mall.
What are the activities you do for yourself and with the kids?
I try to work out (SoulCycle classes are a favorite pastime), take kiddies to something cultural whether it’s a play or museum or volunteering. And sleep late. Did I mention sleep late?
What’s your Sunday night routine?
I read the New York Times Review, eat Chinese takeout from Red Farm on the Upper West Side (the 11th commandment: Thou Shalt Eat Chinese on Sundays) have Karglings movie night, and watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO before bed. I love him so much.
What are your favorite bookstores?
I love McNally Jackson in NoLiTa and Spoonbill and Sugartown in Williamsburg.
What books are you currently reading?
I gobbled Lena Dunham’s book Not That Kind of Girl, which I loved and was so charmed by, and I just started John Avlon’s Washington’s Farewell. I’m late the the party but Amy Schumer’s Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo is laugh out loud hilarious and the perfect summer read—funny, heartfelt and pure honesty, something I personally crave these days.
Kindle or hard copy? Day or night reader?
Hard copy at night.
What authors do you keep coming back to?
I have reread all of Woody Allen’s books multiple times and always pick out new nuggets of genius.
What are your summer travel plans?
My husband has an office in London so we are plopping there for two weeks. Since I’ll be a lady of leisure there—I plan on lots of café reading.
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