While predictable, this was a good read and kept my interest.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This slow burn mystery/domestic thriller is told in “before” & “after” chapters. With a “rich people behaving badly” plot, it had me hooked from the start. Unreliable characters had me assuming the worst of the wrong people. Loved this one! Hits shelves on June 24!
*Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this advanced reader copy.

Nora is the much-younger second wife to attorney Will, a golden boy in the social set of tony Winter Park, FL. Will’s first wife is still very much a part of the ruling elite in their small town, making Nora’s ability to fit in difficult…until she meets neighbor Este who quickly becomes her best friend and lifeline in the shark-infested waters of Winter Park society. When Will is murdered, Nora becomes the primary suspect and she undertakes her own investigation to find the real culprit and prove her innocence. What she learns is that Will was on the verge of exposing widespread fraud and corruption that would ruin the lives of some of the people closest to him, giving them the motive and opportunity to kill him.

I didn’t always like Nora’s character or buy her as an amateur sleuth, but I did enjoy this murder mystery set on the warm, wealthy Florida coast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This a fun and entertaining beach read about rich people behaving badly.

Este was my favorite character.

Rounding up to 4 stars.

I just didn't like this book. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and storyline.

I was just left underwhelmed.

Happy Wife is an exciting mystery that reads in reverse since you discover someone is missing in the first chapter but then as the book continues it becomes more involved as the mystery becomes more deadly and a surprising ending but quite satisfying for almost all concerned. Recommend you read it for reading pleasure.

Rich people being horrible - decent murder mystery that kept me hooked. A glimpse into modern day Palm Royale

Twenty-something newlywed Nora has just married a rich older man and gets absorbed into his glamorous world in Winter Park, Florida. Then, he goes missing and she must figure out what happened to him before she becomes the target of the investigation. Read it if you like light mysteries with rich people behaving badly.

The ending was a bit predictable, with one slightly implausible detail, but overall, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book will be a great beach summer read! I kept wanting to continue turning the page to see if my suspicions of the murderer were correct, which turns out they weren't after all. My favorite character was definitely Este with her no-BS-tell-it-to-you-straight personality. I kinda wish the relationship between Nora and Marcus would've been developed a bit more at the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Nora is trying to win over her new husband’s judgmental and obscenely wealthy friends by throwing him a fabulous birthday party. Everything seems to be going well until Will is nowhere to be found the next morning.

This was mysterious and entertaining. In addition to the central mystery, this was an interesting exploration of a marriage with an age gap and class gap. Nora is a compelling character and I kept turning the pages to see how the story would unfold.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

In Happy Wife, Nora, marries Mr. Perfect, Will Somerset. The marriage launches her into a world of wealth and privilege, but also lies and malice from the other wives in Will's social circle. When Will goes missing, Nora learns the true depths of their hatred. It sounds heavy, but it is actually a sweet story that goes between the present and past when Nora and Will are first falling in love. I really liked Nora and her friend Este. I didn't love the casual approval of drug use and I felt like I kind of never fully knew Nora and I wanted to understand her a little better. Overall, great beach read kind of book that will suck you in from the start! Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of this book!

I liked Nora. She isn't your typical protagonist in a situation such as this but I rooted for her. I also questioned her multiple times. It made for an interesting story. She was a party of one for the most part when dealing with people outside of her immediate family. It led to an entertaining domestic psychological thriller. I wish some outcomes would have been different but then that wouldn't make it what it was, right? I'll recommend it. It is an easy and fast read.
Thank you tothe publishers for an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I'll bump it up to 4 stars.

Happy Wife was entertaining and I enjoyed never quite being sure what was truly going on with most of the characters. The story was not quite predictable and ultimately satisfying overall.

twistiy thriller with interesting vibes, although the ultimate killer is perfectly in that murderer goldilocks zone which might make it feel predictgable. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a great read. I loved the descriptions of Winter Park, Florida. I loved the younger wife/rich older man troupe. The characters are fun and I enjoyed going on the journey with Nora to find out what happened to her missing husband. This is a great thriller with twists and and a well developed story.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

As someone from Orlando, Florida, this felt like it was written for me!!! And also about people I personally know. I loved this so much. I loved the mystery and twist this had. It was fun and fresh but also kept me engaged the entire time. Highly recommend.

Happy Wife started off a little slow for me but overall it was a good, solid read. Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a classic "poor young woman marries rich older man" story, but the setting is somewhat different: Winter Park Florida, which if you visited (as I have twenty years ago) breathes old money and tight society, a perfect place for a duck out of water tale. Although Nora is the main character of the book, I think her friend Este is the star. The villain of the story is who the reader might suspect from the beginning, but as he/she reads through may doubt at times or suspect another "red herring". It is a bit of a surprise who the killer is, but it does make sense. Although it is not a typical happy ending with all the loose ends tied up, it is a satisfying one and hopefully Nora and her best pal Este will stumble upon another mystery to solve to shake up Winter Park.

In Winter Park, Florida, where established families mingle with wealthy newcomers, 28-year-old Nora Davies struggles to make a living as a country club employee and feels out of place. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she falls for and quickly marries Will Somerset, a recently divorced, 46-year-old lawyer and father. Their whirlwind romance and marriage scandalize Winter Park society. However, Will vanishes the morning after Nora's birthday party for him, throwing the community into turmoil. The story alternates between Nora and Will's courtship and the frantic search for him, forcing Nora to confront the central question: Where is Will? "Happy Wife" is a suspenseful and witty novel about marriage, money, and hidden truths, set against a backdrop of high society and featuring memorable characters. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.