Title: Happy and You Know It
Author: Laura Hankin
Release Date: May 19th 2020
Genre: Fiction
A dark, witty page-turner about a struggling young musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of overprivileged babies and their effortlessly cool moms, only to find herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….
After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.
There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.
Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.
This book is one of those unexpected surprise reads that I ended up enjoying.
I started the book and was kind of iffy. These women were a little annoying. I couldn’t relate to most of them. I gave it a chance and kept going. I am SO glad that I did! While some of the characters were annoying to start, I had changed my mind about most of them by the end. There are twists and turns I didn’t see coming. That is what made this book enjoyable for me. I love when I don’t see how a book is going to end! The author had a plan and I am glad I stuck it out! Secrets, lies, and deceit make for a pretty good read.
I am open to reading more from this author and look forward to seeing what she releases next. I give this 4 stars.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*
The Literary Vixen 