A large family on a homestead, millions of followers on Instagram, money, a husband who adores you, and a secret you’ve hid for over a decade.
This book built a mystery up and didn’t leave enough room to end it right. It needed a few chapters to explain more of what happened.

This is a great book! Love the cover and it fits the book so much! I highly recommend this book! You will never look at housewife’s the same again!!

Liane Child’s The Tradwife’s Secret is a sharp, unsettling thriller that delves deep into the curated world of influencer culture and the dark underbelly of performative femininity. At its center is Madison March—an Instagram darling who has crafted an immaculate brand centered on obedience, simplicity, and wholesome motherhood. With four angelic children, a rugged husband, and a picturesque homestead in rural Montana, Madison embodies the “tradwife” ideal to her millions of followers. But behind the filters and perfectly arranged tableaux lies a disturbing truth: Madison’s life is a high-gloss illusion, built on secrecy, control, and fear.

The novel unfolds through the perspectives of three women. Cally, a long-time follower and the new live-in tutor for the March children, arrives on the homestead expecting a dream job—and instead finds herself stripped of her autonomy, warned to stay silent, and gradually disillusioned. Thousands of miles away, Brianna, a young woman hoping to model her life after Madison’s, begins to sense that the online “trad” community she idolizes might be more trap than haven. And then there’s Madison herself: both perpetrator and victim, carefully maintaining the façade while privately navigating her own traumas and manipulations.

Child excels at peeling back the layers of online influence—how it’s built, monetized, and ultimately weaponized. The narrative deftly explores the psychological weight of performance and the dangerous extremes of traditional gender roles. Madison, in particular, is a standout: a morally ambiguous figure who is difficult to sympathize with but impossible to ignore. Cally provides a grounded counterbalance to Madison’s unreality, while Brianna’s emotionally resonant arc shows how aspirational lies can reshape the lives of ordinary women seeking refuge from modern burnout.

The plot is fast-paced and twisty, with short chapters and multiple POVs that keep the momentum going—though the transitions between narrators can sometimes be unclear, especially early on. The middle section drags slightly, and a few elements—such as Cally’s backstory and the characterization of Madison’s domineering husband, Michael—could benefit from more depth.

Still, these are minor issues in what is otherwise a bold and juicy read. The atmosphere is deliciously menacing, and the story crescendos into a viral scandal that forces all three women to confront their roles in maintaining or resisting the systems that confine them. In a genre that too often centers male violence and female passivity, The Tradwife’s Secret offers a refreshing shift—spotlighting flawed, complicated women who find ways to challenge the expectations placed upon them.


If you're drawn to the sinister side of social media, curious about the costs of curating perfection, or just craving a thriller with real bite, The Tradwife’s Secret delivers. It entertains, but it also provokes, asking important questions about power, performance, and the price of being perceived as “ideal.” Thank you Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Well, overall a quick read that was both interesting and infuriating. However, I was waiting for a huge secret (given the book’s title!) and I was definitely let down.

I’m fascinated with the concept of trad wives (though I fundamentally disagree with the movement), and I really enjoyed the parts of this that lifted the curtain on trad wife influencer accounts—and how they don’t actually do everything; just like everyone else in the influencer world, they have PR people and assistants who make their lives easier.

I hated the husband, and think dudes like him are absolutely what’s driving the rise of toxic masculinity in the country right now. They aren’t the center of the universe like they want to be, so they become toxic.

As the various secrets were revealed, I kept rooting for Lori and Callie, and don’t know how I feel about the ending. But overall, a good read that was pretty quick!

This book had so much potential!! The twist was good and could have been amazing with some work! I’m not sure what stage this arc is in but it felt incomplete compared to other arcs I have received. Almost like a first draft with no edits yet. There are some plot holes and some details in the book that need some work.
I could see this being so good if it was reworked a little. The ending was pretty good and I liked how this book showed the life of these Instagram influencers and how a lot of times it’s not always what it seems.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper and the author for sending me an ARC copy of this novel.

A marriage is between two people. And their millions of followers. Madison March is the perfect wife, with the perfect family and the perfect life.

She spends her days baking sourdough and picking vegetables from the garden while watching her children play in the fields surrounding her Montana homestead.

Dinner is always on the table for her husband and they end their days sitting on the porch, watching the sun go down.

It’s a life anyone would dream of.

And it’s all a lie.
This book is a good depiction of what we see happening in the world today via social media. Since the pandemic, it appears that many are choosing to stay closer to home, live more simply, and feed their sourdough (no judgement, I bought the supplies). Lie on social media is obviously not always as it seems and Madison March certainly has some skeletons in the closet. I think given the timing, it was smart by the author to release this book. I did find it a bit slow and contained some unnecessary information that didn't add to the great twist. If there was time, I would lose Cally and just focus on Madison and Brianna. The underlying moral of the story is there along with some pretty disturbing truths and this is what kept me engaged. The timing of this release is good as we just saw the release of some influencer documentaries hit popular streaming services.

Pub Date: 5/27/25
I gave this one 3 loaves of sourdough 🍞🍞🍞

This one started really slowly, i didn't like the POV of Cally at first. Then once I continued reading it I really enjoyed it and finished it within 2 days.

This book is DARK and heavy on women hating themes. So triggger warning for people who are affected by ridiculous sexism. It was still a delicious thriller with outrageous twists and turns and could very possibly leave the door open for a future sequel. It has the darkness of “A Simple Favor” and a touch of Gossip Girl to make it extra juicy. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

What I Liked:
This thriller was fantastically crafted. I read a lot of thrillers and did not see the last twist coming! If I’m surprised, I am pretty impressed with a book. Readers will enjoy the multiple narratives and the twists. I feel that many people love to hate the tradwife movement and you’re given plenty of reasons to roll your eyes, feel superior, and question the women in this role.

What I Didn’t Like:
There were a few passages that cited distance using meters and it threw me off when the book is set in Montana in the United States.

The Trad Wife’s Secret is a twisty, unputdownable thriller that pulls back the curtain on the curated perfection of influencer life. Madison’s picture-perfect world is as captivating as it is chilling, and watching it unravel is pure reading pleasure. If you love domestic thrillers with a dark edge and social commentary, this one is a must-read!

Thank you Liane Child, Harper 360, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#thetradwifessecret #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC of The Tradwifes Secret!

The Tradewife’s Secret was more of a 3.5 stars.

Not going to lie the title is what drew me in and I’m so glad it didn’t disappoint. I love books that give us a look behind an influencers life, especially when it’s full of drama, lies, and twists. It’s one of my favorite subgenres.

I will say my only gripe with this book is the narrative it seemed to push about all traditional wives/marriages. I am more traditional (stay home with kids, homeschool, cook, clean, believe in God), but that doesn’t mean I have no agency, I don’t believe in human rights (I’m pretty left leaning on most things), or that all traditional husbands are abusive, controlling men. It was a bit unfair to paint all “traditional” marriages as an all or nothing sort of thing.

BUT, when I reminded myself it was just a book and maybe it’s not that deep and it says nothing about me or my life - I had a great time! Madison was such an interesting character and the lengths she would go to keep up her facade was so wild to read about it.

A fun popcorn thriller that you can read in one sitting.

This book delves into the world of traditional wives and influencers providing a fascinating exploration of modern societal norms and personal identity. The interplay between a seemingly perfect lifestyle and the underlying complexities creates an engaging narrative filled with tension and unexpected twists. The fast pace and unpredictable plot are key elements that keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next surprising development. It definitely earned a 5-star rating in my eyes!

*The Tradwife’s Secret* is an addictive, drama-filled page-turner that hooked me from the very first chapter. Liane Child paints a picture of a seemingly perfect homesteading influencer mom—four kids, a charming rural life, and an online following that eats up every curated moment. But behind the filtered photos and wholesome videos, there's so much more going on.
Beyond the drama, it's also a sharp look at influencer culture, especially how some “tradwives” and family vloggers use their kids and personal lives as content. In today’s age of curated perfection on social media, this story felt both entertaining and relevant.
If you love domestic suspense with a modern, influencer-era twist, this is definitely a must-read. I couldn’t put it down!

I was really intrigued by The Tradwife's Secret but ultimately this was just an okay read for me. The first half of the book was exciting but began to fall flat around the midpoint. It also felt the author was trying to cram every theme that came to mind into the book. I also didn't find it to be very "thrilling". Still, I think many will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the advanced copy. The Tradwife's Secret publishes on May 27, 2025.

4 stars

I have been absolutely fascinated with tradwife culture since it started popping up..
This book was great, I loved seeing the dark side come out. The he twists, and the characters…*chefs kiss*

5 enthusiastic stars! I absolutely loved this book. I have a weird fascination with fundies and how they like to make their lives out to be the only good way to live. I have a feeling more of the women are just as fake and fed up as Madison was.

I had only recently discovered what Tradwife meant and was intrigued. This book wonderfully wrote how social media affects our lives and how most everything that is seen online is planned and purposeful and, most importantly, not always true.

Warning for those with trauma that there are moments of physical abuse.

This book kept me guessing on what would happen next and there were several twists that had me shocked! Intriguing, gripping and would recommend.

This book releases May 27th. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in return for my honest review.

What a thrilling ride! Tradwife influencer, Madison, has so many people fooled except for the ones who live and work with her. She is not what she seems. Plenty of juicy secrets and plot twists are unearthed in this novel. I enjoyed the multiple narratives in this book. I think the author developed the characters well, and I learned a lot about tradwives. I’ve never heard of them before reading this book. This book had me truly engrossed; and from the ending, I wonder if there will be a part two.

The twist! Madison March is the tradwife, but not who you assume her to be when the cameras are off. The story is a fast one with twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. This book is extremely timely in today’s online cultural atmosphere. I definitely recommend picking this one up! Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc!

Welcome to the world of the traditional wife social media influencer, the "tradwife" in the book's title. The couple -- and their four kids -- are at the center of this novel, which takes place on a remote Wyoming homestead, and across social media feeds as they navigate their days. Oh, and they have plenty of off-camera help with a housekeeper, a children's tutor -- because of course they are home schoolers -- a driver and a few other assorted others to set up the perfect meals, exercise programs, and stuff that just brings in the clicks. But then things get ugly as the tradwife rebels under some very dark circumstances. We start out with the family rejecting the big city hustle and "sticking it to the man, and living their best life" becomes a test of wills. Keep those clicks up becomes a chore to find something controversial and more "clickbaity." And then there is the essence at the tradwife core because the woman should submit to her man, and that he knows best. How these issues get resolved -- and how their social followers react -- will drive forward the plot. Highly recommended.