The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey - Astrid Dahl

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“Despite this, Eden continued to be driven by the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. She wanted to capture the uncanniness of real people.”

Hope marries into a family of reality TV stars on a Housewives-esque show called “Garden State Goddess.” She is thrust into the spotlight of manipulation, truth bending, and reality TV trash moments, all while trying to run from her past across the country.

I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. As a Housewives lover and Teresa Giudice apologist, I was super excited to read this play on the Jersey Housewives. I really loved some of the more subtle Housewives references, personality traits and quirks in each of these girls. However, it turned into being a little too copycat when actual quotes from the real shows were incorporated, as well as very specific housewives traits like a prosthetic leg and a table flip moment. The second half of the book took a thriller turn that was truly unbelievable, not in a good way either. I didn’t really enjoy how they wrapped up the story either. While the mystery was solved, it wasn’t much of a satisfying ending with character development for most of the key players.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Let me just say I am a HUGE fan of reality tv, and this is what drew me to this book! Unfortunately it fell flat.

This book was juicy, I can tell you that, but nothing else much I can say.

I liked the sort of “behind the scenes“ into how reality tv shows work like with how they had to speak present tense and repeat the question for the confessionals. Maybe that is common knowledge, but I didn’t know.

Don’t get me wrong, I love unlikeable women especially when it comes to reality tv, but these characters were unlikeable just because they were either boring, or it was too forced. Carmela was the “mean girl” who hated everyone, but it wasn’t ever entertaining, she was just mean to be mean. And I know Hope was supposed to be the “boring one” but the author really laid thick into that, and that was her only personality trait. Whatever these characters were labeled as that is what they were times ten. It felt so forced so it wasn’t natural.

I didn’t like her but Hope was kind of paid dust. People were sad she died but also moved on super quickly. Her character was built up only for most everyone to be like, okay, that was crazy but she’s gone.

Not a single character in this book I liked. No one to root for, no one to despise. I felt no emotions at all.

I guessed every plot point that was supposed to be a mystery. Everything that was supposed to be shocking about this book I guessed every single one. It was all so obvious. I know this isn’t necessarily a thriller so maybe the author made it easy to guess, but it didn’t make it super fun to read.

I forgot it was supposed to be a murder mystery because other than the first couple of pages it was completely forgotten about until a little after half way through. It went 0-100 in two seconds after part 3 hit. It was moving at such a snail’s pace for the first half of the book then after that everything was bang bang bang all at once. It felt like whiplash.

It was almost so bad that it was good. I was getting so worked up about how much it didn’t make sense than I’m like should I have given this 5 stars maybe this is reality tv material. If the characters were more compelling I could have looked past the bad and nonsensical plot, but nothing about this book worked for me sadly.

I also didn’t appreciate the Taylor Swift hate throughout the book, but that’s just a personal preference.

This next part has spoilers because I have to put this in here since it shows a lot of issues I had with the book. So don’t read past this if you don’t want any.

Here are some of the things that made no sense and was just bad writing in my opinion.

Eden didn’t care about Hope at all and tortured her for ratings, yet was all bent out of shape when she died. I get death is hard to deal with, of course Eden didn’t wish death on her, but she said multiple times she didn’t really care about her and they weren’t that close.

Then Leo was happy Hope was cheating on him so he could be with Carmela. He went as much to say he was worried Hope was actually falling for him because he didn’t want that. And then after Hope died HE was bent out of shape and killed Carmela cause he was upset even though he said he didn’t love Hope. I guess you could argue he thought she was pregnant, but he didn’t even mention a baby while he was mad.

It seemed over the top just to be over the top. Like when Carmela flipped over the table. I know reality stars can get crazy and start throwing punches and drinks, but not THAT crazy.

I know death can affect someone on a greater scale, but that was completely out of character for both Eden and Leo; it made no sense for them to be acting that way.

I think it’s dumb they put Eden and Renee together after Renee was just with Hope, EDEN’S COUSIN, who just died soon before. I get they must have trauma bonded, but come on. Hope was barely six feet under and she already started to have feelings for Eden. Not to mention Eden was saying the entire book how she didn’t want anyone clingy and wanted nothing more than just a hook up, yet she gets with Renee. Make it make sense. I’m glad they had Eden say she was getting bored with being a good person, but that still doesn’t excuse them pairing up so quickly.

A lot of crazy stuff happened in this book that you would think would be entertaining, but it was all so unrealistic and by the time I got to the end I didn’t care what was happening. It all came so easily to the characters to figure out motives for the killers.

I wish I could say I recommend this to people who enjoy reality tv, but I cannot.

Astrid Dahl (aka Anna Dorn) is her first murder mystery novel. I love Anna Dorn's other novels, but this one was just for fun. It's silly and campy, and crazy as hell. This is not as well written as her other books, but it is not supposed to be. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was just okay. If you love campy novels, then you will devour this.

This book was a lot of fun and was exactly what I was hoping it would be. I would consider myself a casual fan of Bravo's Real Housewives but I recognized so many references and jokes. I laughed throughout and had to keep reading to figure out what was going on. The mystery wasn't that deep but I was happy to be along for the ride with these over-the-top characters. The reality series background is the perfect set up and I loved how the chapters were separated with cast interviews.

This is one for fans of reality television. It's messy, it's chaotic, it's got a murder mystery and it's got a lot of unlikable (although I suspect consistent with the genre) characters. Eden, the show runner of Garden State Goddesses, must manage these women (and a man) who don't like one another or themselves and get the ratings up- and she's got to solve a murder. It's a fast read that's, to be honest, a popcorn book. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc, Will make a good beach read.

Shocking twists - reads just like a reality tv show!

To start, as soon as you crack the book - there's a character sheet with information. Just know that it's a lot at the start. You're intro'd to a whole family doing a reality tv show - and Eden, the director, has managed to get her cousin in the mix by one of the family falling for the cousin and marrying her.

This is the cousin's first day of filming (after their scheduled down time). The cousin, Hope, is not used to cameras, being miked up, or the drama of a large family. The wild times start there and completely derail soon after! The story is broken in 3 parts, each one more shocking than the last. As we got to each twist in part 2, my jaw was literally on the ground!

It really did hold my interest and kept me shocked and wondering what would happen next. Even though I guessed a few twists, and I didn't like a single character, I found myself sucked into the plot and where it was all going. It was a fun read, light and easy. I enjoyed it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

As much as I love all the House Wive shows, this book was not for me. There is a mystery element to this book but the overall concept wasn't executed well. There were way to may characters, especially for the length of this book. Thank you, NetGalley.

I don’t think I am the right audience for this particular book. I was just bored most of the time probably because I just didn’t love the satire aspect and found it annyoing and over the type. I can see the appeal for those who like that style of book.

Eden is a showrunner for a reality show called Garden State Goddesses. She sets her estranged cousin, Hope, up with one of the men from the show, meaning Hope will now be part of the series. She’s not super thrilled to be in the spotlight, and some of the women on the show share that sent sentiment as well; becoming instant enemies. The show is working to find its groove with the new addition, which results in a lot of catty manipulation and a dead body. And let’s just say, it won’t be the last.

I love reality tv and I love other people’s drama so this book seemed right up my alley! I appreciated that it was lighthearted and silly at times. What didn’t work for me was that the twists felt a bit obvious, and I would’ve preferred to see it go in another direction for the reveals. There was a scene or two that was absolutely shocking, but the rest fell a bit flat. If you prefer cozy mystery vibes instead of thrillers, I think this book would be great for you!

I tried to get into this one but it was too much for me. I think Bravo superfans will really love it though!

I love the Housewives series, so I jumped at the chance to check this one out. The characters are exactly what you expect. Dramatic and wild and fun. The murder mystery isn't that thrilling, so I rated this lower than I would have. The story itself is very entertaining though and I can see people really enjoying this when they need a break from more serious toned books.

If you’re a fan of The Real Housewives drama, The Dead Housewives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl should be your next read!

This season, a doe-eyed church girl with a mysterious past shakes up the housewives’ world. Secrets unravel, scandals brew, and chaos ensues. Think infidelity, rivalries, and even a nail salon murder! 💅☠️

🔥 Expect twists, turns, arson, and a lot of drama. It’s a fun lighthearted thriller.

Who’s ready to join the Housewives drama? 👠📖

I’m going to be honest and admit that I only picked this up because it is set in New Jersey and I couldn’t resist a Housewife-inspired murder mystery.

This is so over-the-top while still including the iconic Housewives inspiration fans of the show will recognize. I personally loved that the author mixed in fictional Jersey towns with some real ones (every North Jersey cameo made me smile). Thankfully, the real-life show has way less murder, but I think the book did a decent job of giving you reality show vibes. The confessionals were a nice touch and the actual Housewife quotes at the beginning of each Part were a fun touch as well—I actually looked forward to them!

Overall, I thought the storyline was a little predictable in spots and there is a full cast of characters to keep up with, but if you’re a fan, it’s a campy book to enjoy with a glass of wine and some popcorn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This definitely played out like watching a reality TV show. While I love reality tv shows - I wasn't incredibly addicted to this one. It was entertaining and it's interesting enough, but not much more. There is a a murder mystery and the plot felt subpar. It's a very solid book about trashy housewives/ladies so if this is what you are looking for - then it's your book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Garden State Goddesses is one of the Huzzah network’s top reality shows. When showrunner Eden masterminds the marriage of her cousin Hope to one of the Goddesses’ brothers and lands her a spot on the show, some stuff is about to go down. Secrets, lies, and rivalries will all be revealed – with deadly consequences.

This one might resonate with Real Housewives fans, but it missed the mark for me. Since I’m not one for reality tv (or much tv at all actually), maybe I just wasn’t the right audience for this one. The characters are mostly vapid and unlikeable, and the plot (just like reality tv) is fairly shallow and lacking in substance. As a thriller lover, I was drawn to the “Really Dead” part of this book, but the mystery is pretty light and it takes a really long time for anyone to die – and the culprit isn’t much of a surprise either. But if you’re looking for a soapy, campy send-up of a certain subset of reality tv, this might be the book for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me an advance copy of this book.

If you’re a Real Housewives fanatic, I mean a true fanatic and love a lot of chaos, this is for you!

This was so messy and chaotic in the best way. I’m talking more chaotic than Nene’s Pillow Talk night. More chaotic than Joe and Joe tussling at the baby’s christening. More chaotic than Kelly on Scary Island.More chaotic than Shannon falling in her spanx into the hot tub while drinking with the Tres Amigas. More chaotic than Heather showing up at the breakfast table with that unexplainable black eye. More chaotic than Lisa Rinna ready to chop off Kim’s head behind Harry Hamlin. More chaotic than Dorinda screaming at the girls about how she “cooked, cleaned, and made it nice!” If you understood most of these references, this book is for you!

Talk about a fun read! I had a good time spotting all the housewives references while trying to play detective. The author is a woman after my own heart and I hope they continue to write stories based around reality television because I loved the merging of two of my favorite things. I thought the characters were dynamic and the plot was plotting.

There were a few parts that I wished the author had explored a little more when it came to the mystery. Not having those details didn’t take away from the story, but I felt like it would given it an extra something something. Aside from that, it was a solid read and it tickled my pop culture fancy.

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starting 2025 with this campy, dramatic, over-the-top read that was what I imagined the Real Housewives tv shows to be like. (I’ve never actually watched them.) This would be a perfect palate cleanser book. It was easy to read, predictable in the best way, and full of characters you love to hate. The first half of the novel was character driven with the second half focusing on plot and mystery, which was a little jarring but it did give it some substance. It was funny; it was scandalous; it was entertaining.

Fans of reality television, all the drama, and books with lots going on will love this one.

As a big fan of Perfume & Pain, once I saw the author I knew I needed to read it.

This book is murder mystery meets Real Housewives, and I immediately was drawn in. While I enjoyed the premise, I didn’t particularly like any of the characters (they were kind of all bad people???) so I found myself taking a bit longer to get through the book than I normally would.

That being said, I did enjoy this read and have been recommending it to all my Bravo-loving besties!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I am not a Real Housewives fan but I can definitely say that if I was then this book would be great! The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey is a fun romp that blends reality TV drama with murder creating a fun look behind the scenes of one of TV’s favorite franchises.

In the Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl we follow a reality tv show and its cast, Garden State Goddesses. If you like reality tv like Real Housewives this may be a murder mystery for you. Show runner, Eden Bennett, our FMC, needs to recast one of the roles on the show, and she finds that in her first cousin, Hope Bennett. Eden introduces Hope to Leo Fontana, the brother and brother-in-law of two of the cast and they quickly marry and settle down in Shady Pond, New Jersey near the rest of the cast. Carmela takes and instant dislike to the beautiful Hope. But, why? Hope, Carmela, Valeria, Birdie and Renee are the cast of the show and it isn't long before the fighting and table flipping, fake pregnancy, fake will and murder happens. Only the police don't believe it is a murder because healthy 32 year old women die all the time, right? Then there are a couple more murders and Eden with the help of a couple cast members begins to investigate. This was an entertaining read for the most part. It is a little long and a little unhinged - although I think that is the idea. I give this book 3.5 stars and I want to thank Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for my advance reader copy.