This is a Women's Fiction with a little bit of Romance and Mystery mixed in. This book is told by Beth (widowed and single mom) and Gina (next door neighbor to Beth and Beth's died husband's mistress). This book is I fill about women that are not normally friends become friends and stands by each other. I love this book so much. It is written very well, and the characters are so well done. I also feel the character change and grow during this book, and I love when that happens in book. There is so much put into this book, but it is written so well it takes no time to get though this book. The pacing was great is was not to fast or to slow, and there was enough going on that you did not want to put it down at all. The romance was not very big in this book, so do not pick this book up looking for a romance book because you will be disappointed. The mystery was a little big part of this book then the romance parts, but I would say the mystery is like a cozy mystery book not a thriller or a regular mystery book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author (Jennifer Snow) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on January 12-2021.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This one was pretty twisty- some more obvious than others but still an enjoyable ride. You really do you fall in love with the main female character and the humor lands well. . Solid four and half, but I’ll round up

I cannot tell you how much I was taken in by that cover, by the promise of a dark comedy, a lil murder mystery, and female friendships. I was genuinely excited to read this one, and unfortunately it fell flat on its face (or my face, seeing as I've wasted three hours of my life reading it). I would absolutely not have finished this book if it hadn't been an arc, or if I hadn't been at least a tiny bit hopeful that I'd eventually see some of these 'unlikely female friendships' (hint: we don't). It was a quick, mostly-easy read and that's legitimately the best thing I can say about it because I had some problems.

1) All the women in this book are horrible. Genuinely awful people. So are basically all of the men, for that matter. Speaking of the men - I don't know how you can sell your book as having a 'focus on female friendships' when SO SO much of this book revolves around men. And often ENTIRELY unnecessary men. There was several (and I do mean several) romances shoehorned in, and of course every single man was Greek God Attractive. The female friendships were almost entirely unexplored, very shallow, or just not friendships that any person would enjoy having. At this point I am genuinely concerned as to what the author thinks friendship means.

2) This is honestly one of the bitterest books towards women I have ever read in my life. I think the author was trying to go for some sort of candid humour? But never, and I mean never, have I ever read so many descriptions of breasts. Or so many body comparisons. From the MC saying she's not surprised her husband cheated on her with the ~perfect-bodies yoga instructor, to the yoga instructor saying that the cheating was probably due to the wife's insecurities, and adding in a healthy dose of 'it's always surprising when someone is intelligent and large-breasted' (this is not about the mistress by the way, who is written to be SO naïve). Here's some choice quotes to demonstrate this:

"That's right ladies, this middle-aged, single, divorced/widowed woman without the gel nails, fake tits, and tattooed eyebrows has caught the attention of the hottest man on the planet."

"Everyone always forgot [she] was a triple b threat - boobs, butt, and brains - because she only ever used two of them to her advantage."

"Right, because who expects the stay at home mom with the triple d boobs to save the day?"

3) I do not like infidelity in books - but from the description it was obvious that infidelity had occurred and I knew this going in. What I didn't expect, however, was literally half of the book to be from the mistress' perspective - whining about how nobody offered her sympathy for losing her lover, nobody brought her casseroles, how what the MC + the husband had wasn't real and meaningful like what SHE had with him, how well she got on with the kids of the MC. It was gross. I don't need to spend that much time inside the mind of a naïve 'homewrecker' - no matter how badly she's written.

4) THIS BIT'S A SPOILER AND I DON'T CARE. At one point the mistress is staring at the husband and spontaneously orgasms. This is literally written into the book. And even if I was willing to suspend my disbelief (I am not) - she then wonders if the wife is capable of spontaneously orgasming upon staring at her husband, as if she's special for being able to? Or as if the wife doesn't love him enough to? IT WAS VERY WEIRD.

5) There are multiple romances shoehorned in for, as far as I can see, no good reason. I'm gonna put the next bit behind a spoiler wall but I'd recommend you spoil it for yourself anyway:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
The main romance is between the MC and the cop investigating the case, a case that she is an active suspect in. This carries on throughout the investigation, and when the MC brings forth some info that is incriminating towards herself, right before they're about to shag, he states that he will have to arrest her now. <b>And then!! They decide to wait an hour! So they can shag! And they make some "joke" about her being in his custody!!!!!!! WHICH SHE IS!!!!!!! As if this isn't a real and horrible thing that happens to people, as cops abuse their power, and is actually rape. But sure. Sexy sexy.
END SPOILER END SPOILER

I just can't, esp in 2020, see why you would write such pro-cop, abuse-of-power shit. Including the following quote, when the MC quips to the cop that he must be well paid:

"Nope. We're still overworked and underpaid, dealing with assholes on a daily basis." Grim.

6) The mystery was unfortunately very predictable. And the mystery portion also featured some magic, extremely long-range, spyware pen. Like, I can suspend my disbelief for a spy movie maybe? But for some random lawyer, absolutely not.

Overall, I hated this. I just did. There was so so much wrong with it throughout. The dialogue was extremely unrealistic in places, they had an evil-MIL trope, the brattiest kids you can imagine, and just awful people being awful about each other. I think it was going for some sort of vulgar comedy (ft. murder), but it was a weirdly sexist, anti-woman, looks-obsessed, flimsy romance (ft. murder). At this point, if you told me Jennifer Snow was the pen-name for a horny, male cop I'd believe you.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion, and bravo to whoever designed that cover and wrote that blurb cause I feel wholly swizzed out of a good read. This is out on kindle on the 12/1/21, or apparently available to buy as a physical copy now. Enjoy.

Housewife Chronicles is a captivating combination of mystery, drama, humor, and romance. The characters were delightful, and the story was filled with details that made the book hard to put down. This was a very entertaining read!

[2.5 Stars]

-- Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review --

I seem to be of an unpopular opinion compared to others in regards to this book. I'm conflicted because I found it enjoyable, but there were still major aspects I took issue with:

1) the final twist at the end revealing more about Beth and her knowledge was completely unnecessary and did nothing for the plot. Instead, it just made me frustrated with the fact that we had been told one thing the whole time only for that to be a lie, and it didn't add anything to the story since nothing was done with it except now we knew. I wish Snow had picked one and stuck with it instead of pulling an unnecessary bait and switch.

2) no one cums just by thinking about how hot their fuck buddy is. Especially not while watching him play volleyball with his kids in a public place and the mom right there. Just...no

3) the focus on Beth's body was....a lot. You're just constantly being bashed over the head with how she had a 'mom bod', 'ever-expanding ass', 'flabby tummy', etc.. And it was especially obnoxious when compared to the constant praise of how hot Gina's body was. I hated it. It was mentioned several times that the 'decline in her body' was why her marriage fell apart, and Gina even theorized that Howard left Beth because of how insecure she was. That's bullshit. Howard left because he's an asshole, and Gina was enabling his behavior. It is not Beth's fault that he cheated and there's no need to be focusing on how she gained some weight. It's unnecessary.

4) there was also a constant angle to feel bad for Gina because she lost the love of her life and no one cared. She wasn't given casseroles like Beth was by the other women in the neighborhood and how rude that everyone turned on her. boohoo. I can't with that attitude. Yeah, I understand that it's super tragic how she lost the guy she loved, but she needs to understand that he was not a single man. He was cheating with her on his wife and family. Gina's behavior is not something that's easily forgiven and although Beth later does start to accept Gina, it's not something that's necessary for her to do. Beth is justified in every aspect of being upset with Gina and how she meddled with her life (before and after Howard's death).

5) I found the presence of the love interests really unnecessary. I didn't see what they added to the story other than being the push for Beth to return to her art. But even still, you don't need two dudes for that, one will surely suffice.

Overall, this was an intriguing murder mystery featuring a fun group of kinda friends who become real friends over the course of the story. It's heartwarming to see how they changed and grew together. I even kinda liked how Beth grew to welcome Gina because although it wasn't necessary for her to do, it is a healthy way to move forward. Despite this, I really couldn't ignore the issues I found within the novel and they largely subtracted from my reading experience. I just felt bothered by how unnecessary they were and how they didn't move the story in any purposeful direction.

Housewife Chronicles, Jennifer Snow.

Her husbands death should of been the worst thing to happen to her all year. Of course though there was the affair she discovered two weeks before... with the mistress who lives next door and then when police discover the death was actually a murder... well things start to get very complicated.

This dark domestic comedy is an easy read, with a group of women coming together at their absolute worst and on their absolute worst behaviour. It is tough to like either of our narrators here, but I never mind a narrator that is tough to like. Lots of hopping about whilst trying to unravel a murder that nobody, specifically the deceased’s kids, actually seems all that torn up about. Plenty of raised eye brows on behaviour all around, with lots of dry laughs but not a lot of feeling, this is one to enjoy with a glass of wine or with your bookclub.

This book had it all; murder, infidelity, gossip you name it. The question, who really murdered Howard? It was hard enough for Beth being the scorned wooden, but the choice of the woman he chose to cheat on his wife with! Avoiding spoilers as this is also going on my blog.
I really enjoyed the book and felt bad for both email, most of all his wife, Beth. It’s hard enough finding out that your husband is cheating on you, but when he drops dead of a heart attack 2 weeks post finding out of the affair, well that sucks even more! I did enjoy the ending. I thought this was well written.

Enjoyed it... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3588078436?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

The description of this book was what sucked me in! I loved the domestic suspense angle, although it was hard to follow at times. I will definitely recommend this to my audience, especially those who need something they can't put down!

Book Review for Housewife Chronicles by Jennifer Snow
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

An amazing read, well written, and highly addicted. One of those books that you will find difficult to put down.

A long and happy marriage comes to a crashing end when Beth finds out about her husband, Howard's affair with their next-door neighbor, Gina.

The characters were so relatable and real. The housewives personalities, dilemmas, and struggles

authentic. I loved Snow's writing style, where she covers both Beth's and Gina's point of view, making this novel a true winner.

I would like to thank Jennifer Snow and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Summary:
An entertaining read, full of humor, apprehension, and mystery. Highly recommended !!

When I was first approved to read the Housewife Chronicles, I had low expectations. I assumed the book would be about an affair or some typical housewife drama, but it contained so much more. I love that the author was able to include comedy and romance in a mystery/thriller without it becoming cheesy or confusing. The plot included twists and turns that kept me guessing what happened. I liked the character development and the author’s writing style. I will be telling everyone about this book!

I am sorry to say that this is one of the very very few ARCs I have read on Netgalley that I was unable to get through. I tried multiple times over multiple days but I just could not get past the characters and the writing. I. mean, come on. Hanging out with your husband's mistress and hearing about it ad nauseam, not to mention the so-called friends circle.

I really appreciate each and every opportunity to read ARCs and I do my level best to read and review each and every one but this one just did me in. I apologize for not reading it in its entirety; I made it to just under 50% completed.

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t do romantic, skin deep chick lit & thankfully this book wasn’t that. There was more depth to it, exploring these women’s friendships plus the added bonus of the mystery of who killed Howard. Not a emotional, sobbing read but definitely more than typical “fluff” written to appeal to women. Four solid stars😊

I LOVED this book! It had everything mixed in- love, friendship, scandal, murder and more. I could not put it down & I really hope there will be a sequel. I highly recommend.

Well written and captivating from beginning to end. A long marriage comes to an end when a wife finds out her husband is cheating on her with her neighbor. But it ended in murder - who exactly killed him? I just couldn’t put this book down and was guessing until the end. Think sex and the city if they were all married. I just loved this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A romantic comedy/murder mystery that really made my week! This was a fun ride filled with characters that were total oddballs, some of them lovable and some not. Highly recommended!

AMAZING!! This book really blew my expectations out of the water. I loved the main character and the writing was flawless. So so good and cannot wait to read more from Jennifer Snow!

You'd think that finding out about your husband's affair, (with your neighbor and yoga instructor), just two weeks before he died would flip your world upside down, right?

Well, wait until you discover that the police thinks you're the one who murdered him.

Passion. Deception. Lies. Truth.

Housewife Chronicles is a great book with a hint of mystery, lots of self-discovery and many, many questions about life and how to let yourself trust other people - even the ones you never expected you would.

I totally loved the characters and the writing style, going from Beth's to Gina's point of view on each chapter. Seeing everything that happened from their perspective makes you realize how many different lives people around us actually live, and it was very interesting to be a part of this particular messed-up and confusing reality.

"I'd known what every day was going to look like. No surprises. No drama. No heartache.

Now, everything is uncertain, confusing and spinning out of my control."

All of the housewives personalities, struggles and perfect-looking lives were crucial to the story and I can definitely imagine these women existing anywhere. Secrets and all.

This book gave me a major "Little Fires Everywhere" vibe, considering where they live, the fact that Beth is an artist, the motherhood feelings and the melancholic-dramatic children in the background. Also, if you're a Taylor Swift fan, you'll probably think about the love-triangle story that she wrote on her latest album, "Folklore", which was kind of (totally) incredible for me.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for approving my request! This is my first experience and I seriously couldn't be more excited <3

Housewife Chronicles gives you a little peak into a number of hectic lives, it does so in a nicely written, simple way. It's the kind of book that you can't wait to grab hold of as soon as you get back from work. It has the perfect descriptions, being not too simple or too complex, making it easier to create a mental image of the situations and characters.

The plot follows the lives of a group of very different women that all have one thing in common; they're married, all but Gina - the beautiful, young, attractive, yoga instructor that lives next door to Beth.

When Beth is suddenly faced with extremely difficult challenges, the society of housewives (plus Beth) are unexpectedly there to guide and help her. Beth is unaware as to whether they do so out of friendship, or whether they're plotting something...

In brief, this story captures your attention from the beginning with a number of different scenarios going on that make you want to read the whole book in one sitting. The book mixes romance, with a slight sense of thriller, an amazing and hilarious amount of sarcasm and, most importantly, self assurance.

Why self assurance? Well, all of these women go through difficult times, especially Beth and Gina, but they find a way to get through it. This is pretty relevant for the times we're currently living ourselves in 2020. Above all, the group of women, which you may expect to go against each other, actually form a union together in order to help the one in trouble - it's great for women not to be represented as people that compete with each other, and instead being represented as their own kind of secret, united society.