While the description and cover of Homemaker appealed to me, the book did not hold my interest. I didn't care about the characters or the mystery they inserted themselves into. Possibly a younger, faster reader might appreciate this novel before moving on quickly to another book..

Was there a book one I missed? I am so confused and feel like I was dropped into a story where everyone hates each other, jobs don’t make sense and the main character is just off. I wanted to like it but it just didn’t make sense to me and I feel like I missed something so critical prior to reading

Homemaker was definitely not what I expected.

There is so much thrown into it.
I liked the main character and her relationship with ex-husband and ex-mother-in-law. There is a strong female friendship that really made everything better.
The love interest was also solidly done but dialogue at times was a bit weird at times.
I also couldn't understand the feelings of community toward the MH as past happenings were not her fault.
It referred to a lot of social issues and while I do appreciate books talking about important things this one felt too forced and too much.

A Delightful Escape with a Twist! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This cozy mystery was everything I look for in the genre—charming, clever, and impossible to put down. The small-town setting was so vividly described that I felt like I was walking the streets alongside the main character. The amateur sleuth was smart, relatable, and had just the right amount of curiosity (and stubbornness) to dig into the mystery.

DNF @ 36%

I didn't mind this book, though it was just a little too convenient that everyone (and I mean everyone) around the FMC was just soooo woke. It's off putting because nobody in real life is like this.

Ultimately, the story and the characters just didn't grip me enough and I have a TBR list as long as my arm, so I had to let this one go.

Not a bad book overall, just not my cup of tea.

DNF@ 33%

I got a third of the way through the book and am still not interested in the mystery at all. I doubt my feelings will change beyond this point. The main character is ok, but she's putting herself in the middle of something that has nothing to do with her and I don't really know why she cares so much. Other than to make herself the center of attention.

Prairie Nightingale is my new favorite kind of amateur detective: sharp, stubborn, and refreshingly self-aware. Homemaker had me hooked from the first chapter with its blend of domestic drama, witty insight, and a central mystery that unraveled in clever, unexpected ways.

When Prairie’s former friend Lisa vanishes without a trace, what starts as casual curiosity quickly turns into full-blown obsession (in the best way). Prairie’s unique brand of sleuthing—equal parts intuition, homemaking wisdom, and good old-fashioned nosiness—makes for such a fun ride. She's not your typical PI; she's a multitasking mom who uses her eye for detail (and people) the way others use forensic kits.

I loved how the book balanced humor with emotional depth. Prairie’s voice is funny and warm, but there’s also a real sense of loneliness and reinvention in her journey. Plus, her dynamic with the ever-so-irritated (and possibly interested?) Agent Rosemare adds just the right amount of slow-burn tension.

The plot itself kept me guessing, with just enough red herrings and juicy secrets to keep me flipping pages late into the night. My only (small) complaint? A couple of threads wrapped up a little quickly at the end, but honestly, I was enjoying myself too much to mind.

Highly recommend for fans of cozy-ish mysteries with an edge, character-driven storytelling, and smart women solving problems their own way. I really hope this turns into a series—I’d follow Prairie into any neighborhood scandal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it's well plotted. The mystery is full of surprises and twists, and it's very entertaining.
appreciated the strong storytelling and was glad to meet the well-developed characters.
Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine."

I picked up Homemaker without even glancing at the synopsis, and I’m glad I did—it was such an enjoyable surprise. Prairie, a single mom with an unshakable curiosity, has a knack for asking the questions no one else dares to. After making headlines by cracking the Nathan Carmichael case, she finds herself drawn into the mystery of a fellow mom’s disappearance, teaming up with an FBI agent in the process.

One of the most compelling parts of this book is watching Prairie’s growth, both as a sleuth and as a person. Her thought process is fascinating to follow—though I’ll admit, at times her leaps in logic feel a bit scattered, leading to the occasional illogical conclusion. Still, that’s part of what makes her so human and relatable.

Knox portrays Prairie perfectly: the quintessential nosy neighbor who might embarrass her kids in public, yet also a fiercely independent single mother who never stops asking questions or looking for creative solutions. The subtle flirtation and slow-burn romance woven into the mystery add just the right amount of charm without overshadowing the plot.

Homemaker is a cozy mystery with warmth, wit, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment of the series!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a homemaker turned sleuth who investigates the murder of another homemaker.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I found the main character to be so annoying and I just couldn't get into the story. I also felt like the author tried to cram in too many social issues that it was just too much.

I hope others love this one.

Homemaker by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare is a delightful and engaging read that blends romance and personal growth. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and the story skillfully explores themes of identity, ambition, and what it means to truly "belong."

I really enjoyed the take of a "Homemaker" helping solve the case. I loved the main FMC's relationship with the FBI agent on the case, that was my favorite part.

And the mystery kept you wanting go read more

This cozy mystery novel really snuck on me. I was expecting all the genre conventions. What I didn’t expect, and was pleasantly surprised by, was the feminist themes throughout the book. It’s remarkably refreshing to see the acknowledgment that stay at home Moms are just as much part of the feminist project as working Moms. Prairie Nightingale is a divorced mother of two who struck a unique arrangement with her ex-husband. She created a “business” that made her CEO as homemaker. She kept the ex-mother in law and gained an assistant, personal chef, and babysitter. Meanwhile, one of the Moms from school has disappeared. Prairie makes it her business to find out what happened. This leads to her logging heads with FBI Agent Foster Rosemare. All of those scenes were delicious! Oh, and the setting is a breath of fresh air: Green Bay, Wisconsin. This book was insightful but it also hummed along, as I turned the pages to see what happened next. I see that another book is coming next year. Count me in!

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

So, I had mixed feelings on this one. I almost didn't finish, but in the long run I'm glad I did. The mystery aspect was intriguing and well done. I very much enjoyed the MLM storyline and definitely saw the correlation between it and another well know scheme. It did keep my attention and I was content with the ending.

My issues were with Prairie herself, honestly. I found her kind of unlikeable. The whole homemaker business she was running made no sense to me, she paid all these people to run the home, so what was she so busy doing? Well, getting into other people's business I suppose. I dont begrudge her the help, all caretakers need help, but she acted like she needed a full time staff and that she was so busy all the time? But what was left to do? Dont get me wrong, she deserved the help! She earned it, but why was she complaining about being so busy all the time? However, I will say that it does make sense in the setup for the rest of the series. If she does end up pursuing the idea she has in the ending, she will definitely be busier. It was just a little hard to identify with. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series. Once I let go of my own grievances with Prairie, I did enjoy the book.

This was an okey read for me. A little bit slow, boring and not much happened so it was hard to keep going. But the ending was quite good.

I was really excited to read this one, and the plot and characters seemed great, but it sort of dragged for me. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it was that kept me from getting into it, but I know there were a couple points in the book that I felt like I had missed an inside joke or background information, and was confused about what was happening.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Homemaker is about Prairie Nightingale, a literal homemaker who has a knack for getting information. When a local woman goes missing, Prairie starts asking questions. But is she getting in over her head with her investigation?

I liked the narrative about how police don't always get the full picture, because I think that can often be true. Prairie definitely notices things they didn't.

Other than that, I can't say I loved this book. I didn't really understand her "homemaker" business. I also had a hard time believing people would talk to her so easily about private things, even if they didn't previously know her. I can see the investigators taking tips, but not working directly with her. The characters seemed like they didn't care about the outcome at the end and that bothered me. Then there were also some mistakes, such as the years being wrong in a couple spots. Overall, this book wasn't for me.

In Homemaker, Prairie Nightingale is a professional mom and housekeeper. She has everything down to a science, except for friendships with other moms. These went away when she discovered the horrible things that Dr. Carmichael was doing to his patients. However, when a fellow mom and homemaker goes missing, Prairie is determined to find out what happened to her. Can she find Lisa alive before it's too late?

This book was fantastic. It felt like reality TV meets an MLM documentary meets crime thriller. It was perfectly dramatic and kept me turning pages to find out what happened next. And the drama was broken up nicely with small explorations of grief, finding yourself, personal growth, and romance.

The only thing that kept this from a 5-star rating was the pacing. It felt really fast in some places and much slower in others.

I am excited to see where the authors choose to take this series and I am already impatiently awaiting the arrival of book 2.

This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

I absolutely loved Homemaker! Prairie is a wonderfully unique and deeply authentic protagonist—complex, grounded, and relatable. The story beautifully explores real, meaningful relationships, filled with nuance and imperfection. The mystery of a missing local mother—someone from the very group that ostracized Prairie after her divorce—adds tension and emotional depth to an already rich narrative. I especially appreciated how neurodivergent and LGBTQ characters are integral to the story, portrayed with care and authenticity rather than as tokens. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) It's a heartfelt, thoughtful, and compelling read that stayed with me.