The Wives Of Hawthorn Lane by Stephanie Decarolis, if Hawthorne Lane was a kingdom Georgiana and Colin would rain as King and Queen they have the perfect family but little dude the other residents know that it’s all a façade. Audrey lives with and loves her husband Seth and Author who has been depressed due to recently going through a life-changing career event that left her feeling lonely and cause Audrey to turn to another man. Lily is going through a divorce with her ex Bill and although she doesn’t want to she soon tries to look towards the future especially after learning what Bill has been up to since living alone. The newest neighbor is Hannah who lives with husband Mark and she loves him very much but something from her past is trying to make its way to Hawthorne Lane something she desperately doesn’t want to happen. Throughout the book we learned about the Halloween block party the Georgiana is planning although it’s three months away she is looking for volunteers. Every now and then we get a POV of a 911 collar, a witness and other statements surrounding something that happens the night of it. we also get a POV from Maggie a nanny for a rich family but her boyfriend Dean has a bone to pick with everyone who’s made decisions that have them sitting pretty unlike him who’s addicted to drugs deals drugs beats Maggie and isn’t a nice guy at all and he wants her to rob the people she works for something she absolutely doesn’t want to do but soon thanks to a careless mistake she feels as if she has no choice until she does. keep in mind this is just what the adults are up to… Soon all POV‘s will meet in the end and the ending is something I couldn’t have guessed and also couldn’t have loved more. Talk about women supporting women female rage sisterhood I just loved it all. I really wanted to see what happened to Georgiana but still loved the beginning middle and ending no dragging here. There was so much more I wanted to say but didn’t want to ruin the book because this is a superduper awesome thriller that I absolutely loved.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #StephanieDeCareless, #TheWivesOfHawthorneLane,

Another great read from Stephanie DeCarolis! Such fantastic characters that kept me flipping pages long into the night. Really great storytelling. Filled with secrets and lies, it was hard to know who to trust.
Thank you NetGalley, Stephanie DeCarolis and Bantam Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow! This domestic suspense is riveting! The secrets hiding behind the perfectly accessorized doorsteps of Hawthorne Lane are deadly. And these ladies are so much more than anyone would ever guess, even themselves. The suspense starts with a dead body found on the walking path that circles the neighborhood during the much anticipated Fall Festival. Everything is picture perfect, from the pumpkins, to the homemade treats, to the street vendors, to the fireworks. But just beneath the surface, trouble has been brewing for months.

DeCarolis draws a portrait of a neighborhood full of women with complicated lives and strong motivations, each nearing a breaking point. The twists are stunning. And the plot is impossible to put on pause.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

A true page turner I devoured this book read late into the night.A suburban thriller with so many twists and turns it kept me guessing till the very end.#NetGalley #randomhouse

I picked up "The Wives of Hawthorne Lane" expecting a thriller and found myself in a darker, deadlier version of "Desperate Housewives" that I couldn't put down.

This book had me completely hooked. DeCarolis creates four women I couldn't stop thinking about - perfectionist Georgina, career-focused Audrey with her crumbling marriage, newly-separated Libby, and Hannah hiding a mysterious past. I loved how their polished public personas contrasted with their private struggles, giving each character surprising depth.

I appreciate how sensitively the author handles domestic abuse themes. She captures that paralyzing fear and the difficult journey to freedom without ever feeling exploitative. When the timeline twist hit, I had to rethink everything I thought I knew about these women and their motivations.

January LaVoy's narration blew me away. I often forgot I was listening to just one person - her distinct voice for each character turned the audiobook into an immersive performance I couldn't stop playing.

What resonated most with me was how the story explores family dynamics - both breaking and healing - while examining abuse's ripple effects with raw honesty. The tension between pristine suburban appearances and dark secrets builds to a conclusion that left me satisfied.

Four stars for a thriller that delivers both psychological suspense and emotional depth. I recommend this to anyone looking for their next weekend read that's both gripping and thoughtful. You won't regret spending time on Hawthorne Lane.

Special thanks to Penguin Random House Audio, Bantam, and NetGalley for my advance copy. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

Sometimes it seems like some people have no problems, that they live a perfect and carefree life.That’s how people see those who live on the affluent road called Hawthorne Lane. But, as it turns out, people in such neighborhoods sometimes have the biggest problems. At least those who live on Hawthorne Lane do. In this tale, we go beyond the facade and see the actual lives within these lovely homes. And, for many, these lives more resemble nightmares. When a murder occurs during a Halloween festival on Hawthorne Lane, we discover that things aren’t always how they appear.

This is a fast-paced story and will be enjoyable to many. However, I was uncomfortable with all violence toward women within its pages. I realize that that was the point of the story, but it was too much for me. The characters were well-developed and the settings well-described.

The setup of this story was so juicy with the multiple wives, hidden secrets, and plenty of drama. It definitely kept me flipping pages to see what would unravel next. I really liked the layered relationship, it is an entertaining domestic thriller with a premise that delivers on intrigue.

The Wives of Hawthorne Lane gave me a definite Desperate Housewives vibe, which I really enjoyed. The neighborhood drama, secrets, and shifting dynamics between the characters kept me hooked once things got moving. I especially appreciated how the storylines overlapped and tied together in the end — it felt neat, satisfying, and worth the ride.

That said, the beginning felt a bit slow for me. There were so many threads being laid out that it took a while before the pieces started coming together. While I ultimately liked where the book went, I just wish the momentum had built a little quicker.

Overall, a solid domestic drama with a great payoff, even if it took a little patience to get there. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was a quick, engaging read from the beginning. The women on Hawthorne Lane – Hannah, Libby, Audrey and Georgina – had my attention.

They were getting ready for their Annual Fall Festival which sounded like a huge amount of fun with the works including a firework display attracting a large crowd. What’s not to like with all sorts of homemade desserts, music, costumes and carved pumpkins? Maybe the scream was just part of the theatrics. Or maybe not.

The story had points of view from the four women who weren't especially likable. They could all benefit from a good therapist with challenging situations. They lived in gorgeous upscale homes where no one could see problems except the landscaper. The story kept you guessing the outcome with clues along the way.

It was captivating and had to be difficult to write about with hardships too often encountered by women. It’s upsetting to think about how many aren’t able to get the support they need. It’s a good book for discussions.

My thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 16, 2025.

The Wives of Hawthorne Lane was such an enjoyable read! It had just enough mystery to keep me turning the pages without ever feeling overdone or far-fetched. I loved the way the story balanced suspense with character development, giving depth to the women’s lives while still building intrigue around their secrets. The pacing was steady, and while I didn’t find it to be a jaw-dropping thriller, it kept me engaged from start to finish. A solid, satisfying read for anyone who enjoys domestic suspense with a touch of mystery woven in.

The book starts with a murder on Halloween and backs up 3 months prior, providing the reader with intriguing backstories of the wives of Hawthorne Lane. It’s an intricate buildup of suspense and mystery and you quickly realize the victim and the murderer could be any of the residents on Hawthorne Lane.

Stephanie DeCarolis has written yet another must read filled with unexpected twists and shocking turns that keep you on edge.

Of course, I wanted the answers, but I did not really want the story to end. This was better than I hoped or imagined and I highly recommend it for your enjoyment.

Content warning: Domestic violence

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's the perfect cul de sac - beautiful houses; handsome successful husbands, perfect wives and children. Or is it. Dirty secrets some out in this amazing story of four families and the lies they live with to keep up appearances. Until it all falls apart on events leading up to Halloween. Who is being left behind? Who is dealing with physical and mental abuse? Whose background is coming back to haunt her? It is a story of fear and resilience while keeping up the appearance of perfection. I could not put this book down. Bravo to Stephanie DeCarolis for delving deep into and uncovering suburban myths. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. Highly recommend.

Who are the wives of the exclusive neighborhood of Hawthorne Lane who stick together and never have anything go wrong in their neighborhood?

No neighborhood can be that perfect, right?

Well...things definitely aren't as they seem.

We have affairs going on, secrets kept, unhappy wives, and domestic abuse.

Then the perfect neighborhood is shattered when a murder happens during their annual Halloween festival.

So many people could be suspects because everyone is having trouble with somebody, and the suspense builds because we get no clue who it could be.

Oh the twists...you won't see them coming.

And you know with a title like this​ there is going to be a lot of drama.

Don't miss this one!! 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This was such a gripping thriller—it kept me guessing from start to finish! The twists and turns were cleverly woven in, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another surprise came along. The story gave me strong Desperate Housewives vibes with its mix of secrets, drama, and the hidden lives behind seemingly perfect suburban doors.

I especially loved the way all the characters and storylines connected—it made the neighborhood feel alive and layered. If you enjoy domestic thrillers filled with intrigue, tension, and unexpected reveals, this one is definitely worth the read.

This was not my favorite book. I found parts I was wanting to put it down but kept moving along. I know there are others that will enjoy it so don't want my rating to sway their opinions.

This is easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s an addictive page-turner that will have you staying up late just to see what happens next.

Its release couldn’t be timed better—set on Halloween night, it’s the perfect fall read. From start to finish, the story kept me completely hooked. I read it in two days.

If you love thrillers with a touch of marital drama, this one is for you. I’ll definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my shelf and reading more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for giving me an ARC of this book (ebook version).

If Desperate Housewives were a book, it would be this one. Bonus points for certain characters getting exactly what they deserve in the end.

I thought this one was more polished than the author's other book, The Perfect Sister, and I'm glad she kept coming back to it until it was finished.

After getting into the story it was fun read. Very scandalous if that is your cup of tea. It was a fun story to read and the ending was a surprise to me.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


We get the pov’s from: Audrey, Hannah, Georgina, Libby. We learn that someone has been murdered at Hawthorne Lane and we learn about the events that lead to the murder. This book was a lot of twists and turns and does talk about domestic violence so just be aware of that. I don’t want to spoil anything and I enjoyed this book just as much as The Perfect Sister

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC via Netgalley! (Available Sep 16 2025)

DNF @ 62%.... Now I'm so sad to say this as someone who loves a domestic thriller but I had to DNF this book. I am very familiar with domestic thrillers and I have certainly read some with dark and tragic themes. However, this book is just completely loaded with domestic violence, SA, etc to the point where it feels verrrry overdone (almost exploitative of such sensitive topics) for this particular storyline. Once again, I understand the value of exploring these topics but the way this was discussed and depicted in this book was just really unsettling and triggering for me. I have been exposed to those types of plot points before and always check trigger warnings, but this is depicted throughout every character relationship in this book and occurs so frequently and graphically that it was putting me in a very weird space mentally. Overall, it felt almost exploitative of such sensitive topics and I don't think this is a book for me to continue to push through.