🕰️ ARC Review – The Tradwife’s Secret by Liane Child 🕰️

A “perfect” wife. A flawless home. A life that looks like it’s stepped straight out of the 1950s… but with secrets bubbling just under the surface.

This book sucked me right in — part psychological thriller, part domestic suspense, and 100% addictive. I loved how it played with the idea of appearances vs reality, because let’s be honest: behind every polished smile, there’s usually something messy hiding. 👀

The atmosphere had me unsettled the whole way through, the twists were sharp enough to keep me guessing, and every chapter ended in a way that made it impossible to stop.

If you’re into stories about hidden lives, shocking secrets, and the kind of reveals that make you sit back and whisper no way, then this is one to add straight to your TBR.

Huge thanks to Liane Child, NetGalley and Publisher for my ARC copy 💌

This is the 2nd book I’ve recently read featuring a “Trad Wife” something I had never heard of until recently, but makes a fascinating subject.

Liane Child’s The Trad Wife’s Secret is a chilling, fast-paced psychological thriller that peels back the glossy veneer of the #tradwife lifestyle to reveal something far darker beneath.

At the center is Madison March, a social media influencer who appears to live the perfect life—homeschooling her children, baking sourdough, and tending to her husband in their idyllic Montana homestead. But behind the curated Instagram posts lies a world of coercion, control, and secrets.

Told through the voices of Madison, young tradwife-in-training Brianna, and newcomer Cally, the story explores the disturbing dynamics of traditional gender roles, the pressure of online life, and the emotional toll of living a lie.

This is a great book for fans of domestic noir and I found it both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Trigger Warning: There are some uncomfortable and upsetting themes including domestic violence and coercive control.

I just loved this book! I wasn’t too sure at first as it is set in Montana and I wondered if it might be too American for a Brit but I became hooked very quickly and couldn’t put it down. It was full it twists and turns that I just never ever saw coming right up until the very end. It was such a clever plot, so modern and up to date and just so compelling! Madison’s secrets just kept on coming!
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

A surprising book. Yes, the clue is in the title “secret” but more than one secret is revealed. I won’t give any spoilers but most of the “action” is towards the end and I had to read on until the finish. I liked the writing style. Madison March is the trad wife - a new term for me - an instagram poster and influencer showing off her perfect life. But is her life perfect? She is married to Michael and they currently have four children. Cally is employed as the children’s tutor. Lori is the housekeeper who seems to have her own secrets linked to Madison’s past. I was intrigued by the Brianna storyline and hadn’t worked out that twist. I really liked this book and Will certainly look for more books by this author.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Review also on my Goodreads account.

Enjoyed this book. A very easy read. Slightly confusing towards the end for about a page until I realised who Briana was.
Not read thus author before but will definitely investigate her other work

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the free copy.

Madison March has a perfect life. A gorgeous ranch, handsome and loving husband, and wonderful kids. At least that’s what Instagram shows. But do trad wives lead perfect lives?

The book didn’t grab me right away but I ended up really enjoying it. There were many twists that happen throughout the book. There’s another character, Cally, whose back story really wasn’t needed, IMO.

After a dark and long reading slump this book was just the thing to get me engaged and excited about reading again.
I really enjoyed the way the story was mixed with the social media aspects and how the writer made me feel different emotions for all the main charecters. Especially such contrasting ones for Bri and Madison.

The title had me hooked and it started out interesting. As it was revealing ( and unravelling) I did suspect the identity twist. Towards the end I felt there was too much explaining of the backstory. Perhaps it could have been done more subtly.
Also thought the loyalty aspect went too far.I doubt anyone would have gone to those extremes.
The actual real story which emerged was totally confusing.
Nevertheless, I did racy through the novel, so it did hold my interest.

I found this book fascinating. Being from England I hadn't really heard about trad wives or homestead etc so I was shocked that this kind of stuff happens nowadays.
I couldn't really describe it as a thriller but it was very interesting, showing how fake people play their lives out on social media.
I did find the one big twist towards the end good.
I'd rate this a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you #NetGalley for the arc

Madison March is a tradwife living her best life on a ranch in Montana with her controlling husband Michael and four, soon to be five, children. She is an influencer with thousands of followers all eager for Madison's Instagram videos showing her perfect life and family. But is what you see actually the truth or a case of smoke and mirrors. When Cally is appointed as tutor to the children she's surprised to be asked to sign an NDA, promise not to post anything on social media and agree to remain on the ranch until the end of her contract. Meanwhile Madison is receiving messages from a would be tradwife, Brianna, a young pregnant woman living on a homestead with her boyfriend and estranged from her family. Told from the perspectives of the three women, this is an intriguing glimpse into the lives of so called influencers with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this ARC.

Madison has 4 children and an Instagram life of perfection…..,she hires a nanny to look after her children and the facade on her perfect life starts to slip! Addictive and gripping with well written characters! Thoroughly indulgent and enjoyable!

Tense, smart, and utterly addictive, this thriller hooks you from the first chapter and never lets up. The twists are genuinely surprising, each one upping the ante without losing credibility. Richly drawn characters bring depth to the danger, making every choice feel razor-edged. It's a flawlessly executed story that keeps your heart racing until the final line.

Really enjoyed. I thought it was an interesting concept and it reminded me a little of the Mormon wives reality show (but obviously with twists involved) and I think if you love that kind of content you’ll definitely enjoy this book

I hated all the characters and it made it so hard to get through. I needed at least one likable aspect to try and get through this book.

Oh this one had me smiling and nodding along in agreement that this is most likely how most of the influencers lives are in reality. Some of the plot I found unlikely and a bit contrived but I think it will be a big hit.

This book was interesting. It’s not often I think of the homestead community or what all goes into being a social media influencer, but this book has both of those AND a mystery all mixed together. I will say however there were times that I predicted what was going to happen, the ending though I did not see that coming! This was definitely enjoyable and well worth the read.

This was a brilliant read. I loved the exploration of trad wives and how the reality of their life can be very different to the reality presented on social media. I loved seeing how Madison's recording interrupted normal family occasions like Christmas and how much thought and effort went into keeping up her appearances online.

The mystery of this kept me guessing until the end. I thought the way it pulled together the two different storylines was really clever and I could not have guessed at all.

A brilliant read. Highly recommend it and I'll definitely be looking out for more books from Liane.

5 stars

I wasnt sure at first what i was reading and that it was my cup of tea. I persevered and im glad i did wow what a twist completely did not see it coming absolutely loved it in the end.
I have already recommended it to other people

I’m sorry but this book is horrible. I admit that I’ve only read like 25% of it but good grief it’s awful. I’m sure there are a few women who would live like Madison but there can’t be many. And she’s by far not perfect. Her instagram is based on lies. Her life is a lie. Her husband is a jerk. Even the help are awful.

The children are possibly the only innocents and they are being taught how women are beneath men. That they are pawns for men. Women can’t have any kind f of freedom.
I won’t be finishing this one. It’s just two deep into male superiority for me.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc.

Now I am one of the first to admit to not really engaging in social media, especially all the hashtags, Instagram and all that malarkey. So this was the first time I had come across the tradwife hashtag. Its meaning is obvious, traditional wife, but what does it actually mean? The author delves into the world of social media, tradwife, the perfect family and the obsession with stats and the ideal shot.

The author has created a small main cast of characters, well, there are two sets really. One being Madison March, the other being a follower of hers. Cally is a young woman who has come to work as a tutor for the March family. Before she starts, she has to agree to some pretty strict rules. No posting on social media, nothing about the March family, not ever sharing or telling anyone, ever of her time there. They have followers, reputations to maintain, and the image or brand cannot be tarnished.

Madison shares, or maybe it should be, sells her lifestyle with images. They are wholesome, family-oriented, the meek wife putting all the hours to make sure the family home, the children and the meals are all freshly made, on the table when her husband walks in the door and generally bending to how he feels a wife should behave.

The thing is that this is not all that it seems. Something is going on in the background, and Cally senses something. But she also finds herself wrapped up in this traditional family homestead lifestyle. By the end of the story, there were several reveals. The main one I didn't see coming at all! But it made a lot of sense.

This is a story that shows a way of life that women used to have. there are still those who believe in this way of life and that is completely up to them. The addition of sharing all this lifestyle and positive imagery with others, though it is a snapshot into lives and not their actual life. The story starts well and the characters are introduced, and as the story gets more involved, the real deal about the lifestyle emerges. It is dangerous, demanding and manipulative. There are also some darker secrets that have to emerge as well.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a domestic thriller set in the US, it has a large mystery embedded and I did find it very addictive. If you are a fan of fiction, family dynamics and thrillers then this is one that you may like. I would be happy to recommend it.