Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Nora seems to have it all. Will, her handsome and wealthy husband, a house in the most exclusive neighborhood, and a luxurious life that many would envy. Being a younger woman and the second wife, Nora has not been completely accepted by their group of friend. It does not help that wife #1 is still around spreading her frosty judgements of Nora. On the night of Will’s 46th birthday party, Will runs to retrieve something from his boat and disappears. Of course suspicions immediately point to Nora. Nora is left reeling, desperate to uncover the truth behind her husband’s vanishing and the web of secrets surrounding their lives.

This is a fast paced, well written thriller that expertly weaves twists and turns throughout the story. I loved the satisfactory one two punch of the ending! Highly recommend!!

This was a quick read, which was great. I love short chapters and dual timelines and this book had both! I didn’t find the twists really surprising but that didn’t ruin the book for me. If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller, this is a great book to read!

Dual time lines, short chapters, and rich people behaving badly. Oh, and murder. Norah was barely keeping it together when she met the suave, wealthy much older Will., They marry and Norah thinks she's settling into the Winter Park community and getting along with her stepdaughter but then she throws Will a brirthday party, he disappears, and all those new friends desert her. She knows she didn't kill Will even if everyone else does so off she goes to investigate. This has some good twists as it barrels to the reveal. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good one for travel.

This was an enjoyable book for the most part. I liked the character of Nora and her tenacity to get justice done. I was not too surprised as to whom the killer of Will was which was a little disappointing. Also, it seemed to drag on awhile after the killer was identified. Almost to the point that I thought there might be a surprise suspect.

I love the cover of this book, I caught my attention immediately. I then read the synopsis and thought that the main character sounded very relatable. I was so excited to start this and really liked this one! I loved the short chapters, dual timelines, the setting and the main character. This is the perfect book everyone needs to read this summer!

What a wild ride. I thought I was reading just a normal story and didn't expect a twist. Not only did I not see the twist, I did not guess it. Interesting story that is a must read, especially if you enjoy reading about the dark side of social media!

This was not the quick fun read I expected. It moved very slowly in the beginning and felt like every other "rich people behaving badly" book I've ever picked up. There's nothing wrong with it, I just didn't fall into it as I'd hoped. I got irritated at the characters, which is predictable and not necessarily a problem - except for the fact that the pacing felt oddly slow for this type of story, especially in the beginning. It made my attention flag and that WAS a problem... This one wasn't a good fit for me.

3.5 rounded up.

A fun, quick, easy book that showcases the extremely wealthy people in Winter Park, Florida. I am always drawn to juicy stories about the obnoxiously rich.

Nora is living paycheck to paycheck when she meets Will, a divorced and very rich attorney. As he brings her into his world she realizes she will never be welcome there. And then he dies and she’s the main suspect.

I didn’t predict the ending and the authors did a nice job casting suspicion onto everyone, including Nora’s only friends there. I didn’t love the plot line with the chef, it felt too contrived.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I sped through this one. The pages fly by and the chapters are short, The twists would make for a good summer vacation read.

Once it picked up, this was a really fast paced read. And who doesn't love a good rich family drama? Nora meets a rich older man at the country club where she works. They have a whirlwind romance and marry. Then Will disappears and Nora is the prime suspect. I think everything wrapped up nicely in the end. I think people would like this as a quick, summer read.

I absolutely loved the setting of this book. It is a side of Florida that you don't often see, and I'm a little biased since I lived there for a few years during my college years. It was so much fun reading about all of my favorite local hotspots (The Enzian!!!). This was a great summer mystery, perfect for anyone looking to see how the other half live while solving a mystery. Nora made me laugh out loud at times, she was so witty and I loved her smart comments. I wish she had more of a backbone throughout the story, because she took a lot of crap until the very end. I don't know that I would have done differently, though. That's my one complaint, otherwise, I love the setting, the story, and the characters.

This was a dual timeline mystery in the present and the past. We get a love story but also the grittier parts of marriage. I love how the backstory was woven in so we could get to know the characters better as things unfold. The chapters were quick enough to leave you wanting more. This is a perfect beach or poolside read. There is mystery, suspense, and who done it. You won’t regret diving into this glamorous world.

I absolutely loved this book! From a struggling young woman to meeting a rich lawyer things couldn't be better. I loved watching Nora find her place and stand her ground. You watch her whole world come crumbling down when her husband goes missing and then is found dead. She fights to clear her name and no longer be walked on by the elite members of her community. I absolutely did not see that ending come and I could not be more obsessed! I couldn't put the book down, I did not guess the culprit at all!
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers and authors for letting me have an arc copy for leaving an honest review. This will be the book of the summer!

As far as mysteries go this was fine. The pacing was a little slow to start but picked up significantly in the back half of the book. Then within the resolution there were some elements that just felt a little too convenient - there weren't rational explanations. Overall I enjoyed it. It was a fast easy read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

DEBUT Collaborative writers Lavender and Shores introduce readers to Nora Davies, a 28-year-old woman who was still working at the country club in the elite town of Winter Park, Florida until she met and fell in love with 48-year-old lawyer, Will, who is recently divorced with a teen daughter. They quickly marry after their whirlwind romance, making heads turn in the community. However, when Will turns up missing the morning after his birthday party that Nora threw for him, everyone is quick to point the finger at the new, young wife as the prime suspect in his disappearance while she tries to figure out where he has gone. The authors explore the complexities of the couples’ relationship due to their social status, their age gap, and the influence of their community’s perception of them. Issues in marriage, friendships, and societal norms are examined while unraveling a mystery that includes a clever cast of characters appearing on the suspects list, some you will love to hate. VERDICT This modern mystery will appeal to readers who cannot pass up the latest juicy scandal in the headlines!

The main character in this book was fun. However the mystery was very predictable and a little repetitive. I also had issues with how slow this book started and found it hard to keep connected.

4.5 / 5 stars; What a fun read! Happy Wife is set in the beautiful Winter Park, Florida - a tropical playground for the rich. The book follows Nora - Will Somerset's young and beautiful second wife - as she goes from swim instructor at the club, to housewife, to person of interest in her husband's disappearance, to vigilantly detective. Will, or "Hot Mean Lawyer" as Nora calls him, is an extremely successful lawyer... but did he finally find the case that would cost him everything? One of my favorite parts of he book was the sisterhood and friendship between Nora and her best friend, Estes - every girl needs her b(Estes) friend.

Happy Wife is not only addictive, but fun reading about the elite, their exclusive clubs, opulent lifestyles, and their secrets. While reading, I found myself looking up pictures of Winter Park and Zillow-ing real estate in the area because the author does such a great job selling the town! I wouldn't mind living there myself and taking boat threw the canals. I would definitely recommend the book for a fun, quick, and light read!

5 stars! It's been a long time since I've read a 5-star thriller. Happy Wife captured me from the first few paragraphs and kept my interest throughout. Even though I guessed the killer within the first two chapters, I was still captivated until the very end. I liked the short chapters and dual timeline, and the setting of Winter Park, FL was fun! Definitely add Happy Wife to your summer reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine | Bantam for the advanced copy. Happy Wife is available on June 24, 2025.

Nora Davies is an outsider. At least to those who live in the overly-affluent community of Winter Park, Florida. Then she has the audacity to marry the Golden Boy—Will Somerset—handsome, successful lawyer, most-eligible batchelor, old money, you get the picture. But things get worse. Will disappears the night Nora throws an over-the-top party for his forty-sixth birthday. Nora is a little slow to involve the police, to avoid a messy and likely unnecessary scandal, which makes her the primary suspect. And kicks off the rumors and gossip and condemnations Winter Park has mastered. From there, things get even more muddy. A great cast of characters, a deep dive into the social hierarchy of the affluent, and a plot that will keep you guessing to the end make this story a true winner. Highly recommended.


DP Lyle, award-winning author (Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series), Lecturer, and Story Consultant and Co-creator of The Outliers Writing University
https://www.dplylemd.com/

Thank youNetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for honest review. Unfortunately I DNF'D this book halfway through due to the flat pacing and character development. I had really high hopes for this book as someone who is a thriller fan but I just couldn't seem to get into the plot.