Thank you to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for this e-arc book. All thoughts are my own.


Ten years after an unspeakable tragedy caused Claire to flee her hometown, she finally feels content. She finally opens up and allows herself to go on a date. It’s with Erik, but he has a messy life. His ex-Annabelle is still deeply engrained in his life, and he has three children, including a set of twins.

Just when Claire thinks that life is going to be good now, a woman from her past arrives and threatens everything.

Will everything she’s worked so hard for during the past decade fall apart?


This book was sheer perfection. What a book about forgiveness and what it takes to be a “good” mother. This book explores some non-traditional thoughts, and deeper meaning to being a good mom. This book also really made me question what can be forgiven, and how long we should go before forgiving someone. I think all too often we are our own biggest critics, and are least likely to forgive ourselves, and that was showcased throughout the pages in this novel. I adored Maribeth Fischer’s writing. It was so beautiful and vibrant. Funnily enough, when I requested this book on netgalley, I mistook her for another author, but it ended up being a happy mistake, because I cannot stop thinking about how much I loved this one. The characters were so well written and developed. I enjoyed how the plot unfolded. It was done in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation, and that’s not a normal feeling when I’m reading contemporary fiction.

This book does deals with trauma and I would say if you have triggers surrounding birth and associated conditions then please proceed with caution. I was a little thrown by them, but I think that the book handles the topics well and with the care that they deserve.

This book really challenged me although I do wish it came with a trigger warning for those in the postpartum period. These are absolutely instances/conditions that must have light shed upon them as they are not talked about often enough. This book really shows how although life events can absolutely shatter a person, it shows that they can put the pieces back together in a different way and still be whole. It also shows how we take advantage of relationships at times and how, we can heal some relationships if given enough time and understanding. It was such an example of learning how to love ourselves and letting others love us in spite of ourselves (loving all parts or at least understanding that the bad parts of our history don’t make us bad people.) I also enjoyed the very layered group of friends turned family and how that played out when truth was not at the forefront. It was an intense but necessary book!

Thank you to Dutton Books for the ARC; all opinions in this review are my own

Here are some words that rose into my mind as I have been contemplating writing this review: riveting, emotionally thrilling, memorable, and . . . . comparable to Jodi Picoult's intricate novels of family, relationships, and being human. The story is so unique, and the characters are all believable and likeable, even when at their worst. I loved the theme of happiness-- what it really is, whether or not we deserve it, how long it lasts . . . etc. This is a novel that I will remember!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of this book. All opinions in my review are my own. To be honest this book absolutely gutted me. That being said I do think it was beautifully written, especially in the description details. I could picture everything so vividly and I truly enjoyed the writing style. I do think it absolutely needs some trigger warnings due to the subject matters throughout.

Claire is a single women living in Wisconsin after experiencing a horrific tragedy that altered her life forever. She meets Erik who is a divorced dad of 3 and all the whole is harboring this massive secret that could and will alter their life forever. Reading about how she becomes enmeshed in his life and his family's life while still having an immense about of guilt about the tragedy she experienced 10 years earlier was absolutely captivating. Throughout the book she wrestles with feelings of unworthiness and fear and I was interested from cover to cover. The subject matter was very intense and quite triggering for me but I still loved it as a whole. Thanks for the opportunity to review it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of A Season of Perfect Happiness. This is a story of learning that you can forgive yourself of this you did when you were young. I loved everything about this book.

This was a well rounded story about the emotional turmoil that a parent goes through navigating their past, present and future and recognizing who you used to be vs who you are currently. Not that everyone goes through what Claire did, but there can definitely be a “before” and an “after.” The main theme of this book is a look into the lies we tell, the secrets we keep and how to navigate relationships regarding this delicate balance. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced copy.

I loved this story. It was so real. I could feel all the emotions. My own mother dealt with postpartum depression after she had my brother and went back to work. I remember how off I thought she was acting. It wouldn't be until years later, and the birth of my second son, that I would fully understand what she was going through, as I too, battled postpartum depression. It's hard for anyone to understand what goes through your head and the emotions you're struggling with inside. As a woman, I feel we need more books like these. Books that are real, feel real, and others can be like wow! I am so happy that Claire was able to save her marriage, and her friendships, and that she knows her daughter knows she loves her. I think this book is my favorite read so far this year. 5⭐️

I absolutely fell in love with this book and its cast of characters. Real people, real situations that flowed beautifully. Claire has spent 10 years regretting a terrible accident that caused her to leave her hometown, her parents and everything she loved. When she meets Erik and falls in love, she finds family in his children, his ex wife Annabel and their best friends Eva and Gabe. Life becomes beautiful and more than Claire could have ever hoped for. Until one day someone from her past comes back and upends everything Claire has built for herself. The author portrayed mental illness with a soft hand and in a believable way. Everything about this story was just so well done. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

This is a lovely story about a woman (Claire) rebuilding her life. I love books like this. I like to get lost in someone else's life and Maribeth Fischer provided that escape from me in a touching way.

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer Claire moves to Wisconsin, telling herself it is to start over after a family tragedy, but she is really running away and hiding. She meets Erik, a divorced father of 3 children, and gets wrapped into his life with his ex and their college friends. Can she allow herself to be happy? This novel is told in reflection from the protagonist. Immediately it sets a tone of tension and sadness that did not dissipate over time, it may have ramped up. I was so anxious reading this book! Knowing that things were not going to work out the way Claire wanted made me jump at every turn, cry at her tragic past, and wince when secrets were decided to stay secret. If you like a good cry and palpable tension this book is for you.



SPOILERS: As a therapist, I will say that this book handles mental illness with care and compassion. It discusses a topic that no one wants to think about with grace and dignity. Many of the characters backstories are full of trauma and the arc from that to who they are when we meet them in the book, rings true. The way Erik, Claire, and Annabelle parented their neurodivgerent son was amazing. As a mom, this book was often hard to read for many reasons, which shows how beautifully it was written, I was totally allied with the characters. But also, as a mom, it was nice to see how many of the parents in this book loved (as a verb) their children; putting their kids needs above their own, for better or worse. Thanks to Dutton, Penguin, and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! This is the story of how a woman who was broken rebuilds her life, creates new friendships, and regains a family. The first 30% of the book hinted at a huge secret Claire was keeping from her new boyfriend and her new friends. I felt this part of the book was drawn out a little too much and Claire’s fear of the secret getting out was on almost every page, and it was starting to aggravate me that I didn’t know what this secret was. But once she opened up to her boyfriend, Erik, the pace picked up. The blending of Claire’s new life with her past and her growth was amazing to read!

I thought this book was so sweet and constantly pulled at my heartstrings. The relationships between the characters were so real and genuine and it felt like they became my friends throughout the book. There were parts of it that felt a little bit slow to me but overall, such a sweet book of redemption, friendship, and forgiveness!

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton/Maribeth Fischer for the complimentary e-book in exchange for my honest review.

A SEASON OF PERFECT HAPPINESS is a tough but worthwhile read. When the marketing materials says "an unspeakable tragedy," that's a good indication of what lies within these well-written pages. The author hints and drops clues about what happened in Claire's past, and I began to get impatient for the big reveal. It came just in time, and wow, it packed an emotional punch. This is not a story for highly sensitive readers. However, I enjoyed Claire's voice and her attempts to rebuild her life, including a romantic relationship with Erik. Her ability to also develop a relationship with his ex-wife and their kids was admirable -- and also ratcheted up the tension. It's interesting and a bit surprising how many years the story ends up covering. The author did a good job of tackling this difficult mental health issue (no spoilers here) and the trajectory of healing, including what it means to love someone with all their faults and tragic past. Are there limits to what you can forgive?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer tells us the story of Claire’s life ten years after an unspeakable tragedy.

I found this novel to be heart wrenching at time with believable and likable characters. This is a compassionate book about someone who made a seemingly unforgivable decision that comes back to haunt them.

I enjoyed this book, definitely hooked me early - the pages turned easily!

This book. My goodness. The amount of times I was wiping my eyes and rooting for their love! Second chance romance will always be my favorite trope. Everyone deserves to be forgiven.

Oh I just adored this book and characters. Claire had to leave her home (Delaware) because of a horrible accident that happened with her daughter. She flees to Wisconsin to start a new life where she falls in love and meets her best friends.... the only thing is- she hasn't told anyone about her past.

It is a beautiful book about friendships, secrets and pasts... 4 stars because I truly don't understand why she wouldn't share what happened to her and why she felt it was such a big secret.

Highly recommend!!

I cannot even begin to imagine the feelings that Claire has lived with since the accident. That black cloud would be following you around if it isn't hanging right over you all the time. How do you find that happiness again? And yet she thought she almost had. Something is always changing though. Something out of your control. If not in your life, in the life of someone you know. Is there ever a season of perfect happiness?

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer takes one into the story of Claire’s life ten years after an unspeakable tragedy.

This engaging, emotional novel has believable characters and a story that pulls you along with it. It can even make one feel compassionate towards a character who has made a seemingly unforgivable mistake.

Publication Date 20 Aug 2024
Penguin Group Dutton

I loved this book! My stomach was in knots the whole time waiting for the other shoe to drop. And finding out Claire’s secret was absolutely heartbreaking. It’s definitely a mental illness that is not talked about enough. I loved all the friendships that Claire had and how normal she felt after everything that had happened. It really makes you think about postpartum issues in a different light. I will definitely be purchasing this book when it is released!

Maribeth Fischer's A Season of Perfect Happiness is beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, all wrapped in one.

We gradually learn the secrets of Claire's past and what she's been running from. When she finds herself falling in love, she's worried that her secrets will come out and ruin her newfound love (which she's not sure she deserves) and the group of friends that come along with her new beau.

Gradually we learn more and more about her past life, while her connection grows stronger with her new group of friends. This group is the group of friends everyone wishes they had, wishes they were a part of. They take care of each other, they're not just friends, they are family.

When the secrets of everyone's past threaten to unravel the whole group, they must decide if love and their friendship is strong enough to stand the test of time.

I loved it. Hauntingly beautiful.