Wow...absolutely loved this book. Fast paced, full of twists that I didn't see coming. Whilst I thought I knew where the plot was going mid way through, how wrong could I be.

Beth had a troubled childhood, her mother left her as she was approaching her teens, and a secret from her school years has continued to weigh on her ever since.

Separated from her husband Jacob, she has 2 children she adores and a circle of friends to rely on.
One morning a stranger arrives on her doorstep, claiming to be her mother. Beth welcomes her into her life, overjoyed at this reunion. However at the same time, Beth's life seems to be falling apart in other ways. Everybody she thought she could trust seems to be turning against her.

Absolute great read, moments of uncomfortable reading but highly recommend.

What happens to a young girl when she is abandoned early in life by her mother and has to live her life without her? A psychological thriller is what. Author Jackie Kabler introduces her readers to Beth, a young woman whose mother unexpectedly leaves her as a child to live out her life with her father. When we meet Beth she is an adult with a good career, two children, an ex husband and new wife who she begrudgingly really likes. Seems like a simple enough life, right?

It is until that long lost mother reappears and becomes a part of her life again. This is a really great story and while I had it about figured out before the big reveal I was definitely pulled in and enjoyed the journey along with Beth. Quick paced and easy to read this is a good book to sit down and read anytime you need. a little bit of a diversion from every day life.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy for my honest review.

This is a decent enough thriller with intriguing characters.
It was a little slow and the ending predictable, however still enjoyable.
Overall, it was a 3 star read for me.

This book was a slow burner. It’s been a while since I’ve DNF’d a book because I am usually pleasantly surprised in the end. That was for sure the case here.

The character development is spot on. It reminded me of a Tarryn Fisher novel in this regards, and the slow burn.

The main character is Beth who’s mother walked out on her and her dad at 10. What unfolds is a story of a heinous childhood act, and an unraveling present. You know when Beths mother suddenly appears that something is amok, but how long will it go on before Beth figures it out.

While Beth did some horrible things as a teen, you connect with her because of what she’s going through. It was uncomfortable to have these emotions because of the outcomes of her emotions, but it does make you think about why people act out. Everyone has their own personal battles. This book makes you examine those.

Overall I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5 but I’m also rounding up because I loved the ending. Thank you netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC of this book.

This is a pretty average thriller in my opinion, some of the twists are good but the ending is quite predictable. It will work well as a beach read as it’s fast and the characters are well-detailed. I just wish it was more unique as I feel it’s a story that has been done time and time again.

Well you know a book is pretty amazing when you actually exclaim WTAF in full out loud at a key moment. Thankfully no one was around and I didn't have to explain, but once again Jackie Kabler has managed to keep me on my toes throughout.

I think at times I had thought about various of the outcomes and my mind flitted on most of the truths, but I couldn't quite figure out the specifics and I was still very shocked as everything is revealed.

But the journey to get there was utterly addicting, kept me on my toes and had me feeling rather creepy at times, with some of what Beth was experiencing.

This is a book that starts of relatively gently all things considered, but before long it all ramps up, and events become a lot darker, a bit sinister and although you may like me have some theories, as to what is going on, I would suggest you won't be able to predict the exact nature of how everything occurs and all the consequences.

And then there are other twists that through me completely and well I just love a book that keeps me on my toes.

The blurb tells you everything you need to know about the plot, anything I would add would definitely be counted as spoilers which I avoid, and it really does cover the key points and had me intrigued to read at any rate.

What is though fast becoming rather apparent is just amazingly talented Jackie Kabler is. I really enjoyed her cozy mysteries, but since she has started writing psychological thrillers well her skill, storytelling and well the dark twisted part of her mind are just superb and seem to be getting more and more impressive by the book, and they started at a high level!

I couldn't get enough of The Happy Family, loved the characterisation, writing, and just everything about it.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

This wasn't the mystery/thriller vibe I was expecting. It didn't excite me or keep me interested from the beginning. For someone who thoroughly enjoys an "edge of your seat" thriller, this one just wasn't for me. Even though there were some mysterious characters at the beginning, it just wasn't enough thriller. Thank you, NetGalley

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

It was ok. It wasn’t great. It wasn’t atrocious. It was just meh. Found myself more interested in getting to the end than the characters or the narrative

Jackie Kabler is a great writer and I always enjoy reading her novels. There are only so many plot lines in a psychological thriller and many authors use similar storylines to entertain us, How they do it is the important factor. The pacing, the tension, the red herrings. . The main character. Do we root for her? Do we even like her? Here we have Beth, a professional, outwardly successful woman, abandoned by her mother, and who has trust issues. What if her mother comes back, what if Beth’s life turns into a nightmare? Will Beth see it, or dissolve into the spineless, naive and rather hapless woman we usually discover a third of the way through. The writing kept me hooked and the final reveal, although a little predictable, will keep me coming back for more.

Loved reading this book. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and finished it in one sitting. Highly recommend.

What a great read. Yes many of these are similar it doesn’t take away from the story here. Beth was abandoned by her mother as a child only to reappear 30 years later.

We all know what’s coming next ... Beth’s life will begin to unravel yet she won’t suspect her mother as the culprit. Will Beth start drinking? Is her life actually being sabotaged?

A thriller is as a thriller does. Enjoy!

Thank you netgalley and Harper Collins UK for allowing me the opportunity to read The Happy Family in echange for a review

This was a very fast paced psychological page turner. The story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.A definite rollercoaster but thats what makes a great thriller.

I knew right from the start something was wrong especially when things that were happening and the character just brushed them off. I loved the characters except for one but they were well developed and this one is my favorite by Jackie Kapler.

I Definitely recommend. Looking forward to her next book,

My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own

Is it me or do these type of books keep having the same plot as the rest I've previously read?!
Anyway this was a good quick thriller with great twist add in the mix! I enjoyed the characters they were intense and real!
The ending was a little bit of a let to me because I seen it coming but nonetheless its an interesting book!

I have to say that this book was exactly as expected, which was kind of a let down. The latest in a string of gaslighting psychological thrillers where the main character has no clue as to anything going on. Beth's mother walked out on her and her father when she was only 10 years old. Now she has reappeared, 30 years later, eager to reenter Beth's life. Beth quickly forgives and forgets and enfolds her mother in her happy life - good job, great kids, friendly with her ex-husband and his new partner, etc.

Inevitably, it all goes downhill from there. Her close friends and neighbors begin avoiding her. Her coworkers don't have the time to chat anymore. Strange events keep happening around the house - documents missing, thermometers settings changed, the trampoline she built falling apart on its first use. Beth writes it off as her own scatterbrained nature, dealing with all of the changes in her life. But then the events escalate to horrible invasions of privacy on social media, seen by everyone in her professional and personal life. These aren't just coincidences, someone is sabotaging the life she worked so hard to build. Who would want to do this and will she be able to stop them before her life is completely destroyed?

If you've ever read a thriller, you know what's going on, here. It's quite obvious to the reader yet to no one in the story, least of all, Beth. It's the 'why' that will keep you reading, and that showed some creativity on the author's part. It almost makes up for the bulk of the story that we've seen so many times before. Readers need fresh storylines to keep their interest and I know this author can deliver. I hope to see that in her next one.

Beth's mother Alice walked out on Beth and her Father when Beth was 10. Decades later, Alice shows up on Beth's doorstep and they begin to rebuild a relationship.
The premise is intriguing and the writing snappy making this a fast paced and bingeable thriller. I particularly loved how Beth's increased drinking and confusion played with the emotions making her an unreliable narrator and keeping you on your toes.

#TheHappyFamily #NetGalley
Kabler's best work till date.
Beth was 10 years old, her beautiful, wild mother Alice walked out and never came back. Beth’s life since hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but now she is happy and settled, with a successful career, a loving family and a beautiful home.
An unexpected visitor…
Then one day there’s a knock at the door. Alice has returned. Overjoyed to have the chance to rebuild their relationship, Beth invites her mother to move in.
A life that comes crashing down…
At first, everything seems wonderful. But then Beth’s friends begin to drift away, strange things start to happen at home, and rumours begin to circle about her past. As the mysterious events around Beth become darker and more dangerous, she is forced to question everything. Is somebody in her life trying to destroy her happiness? And how far will they go?
What happened next? Read this book to know.
I loved the main characters. I loved it's ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for giving me an advanced copy.