Early in Jonathan Dee’s fifth novel, The Privileges, wealthy stay-at-home mom Cynthia Morey plays poker with her two young children, equipping them with sunglasses and bandanas to shield their faces from giving away their hands. When she notices one of her Manhattan neighbors—apparently confused by the sight of two children dressed like unabombers—staring into their window, Cynthia chastises the woman for her nosiness. She punctuates the outburst by saying, “Our family rules!”

This is one of many moments in The Privileges when Cynthia exhibits her extremely high esteem for herself and her