Quick read domestic thriller. Multiple families lives intersect on Hawthorne Lane where the houses are big, but the secrets are bigger. Told from the wives point of view the story has a few twists and surprises, but also some parts of the story you see coming from a mile away. A fun little read for an afternoon by the pool.

I devoured this...

Full of twists and unexpected turns, juicy characters, spicy dialogue and fantastic pacing, I was hooked from Page One.

This domestic thriller about a splashy neighborhood in New England showcases the lives of the residents who live on Hawthorne Lane. A murder occurs on Halloween but who is it and why were they topped? We get multiple POVs and everyone is hiding secrets that range from domestic violence to miscarriage.

Buckle up!

Thank you to Ballantine for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Stephanie DeCarolis delivers a suspenseful and entertaining ride in Wives of Hawthorne Lane, a domestic thriller that peels back the polished façade of suburbia to expose the secrets lurking underneath. Set on a picture-perfect street known for its pristine homes and neighborly charm, the story kicks off with a shocking murder during the community’s beloved Fall Festival—sending ripples of suspicion through the cul-de-sac.

The narrative follows four women—Georgina, Audrey, Libby, and Hannah—each hiding something they’d rather not come to light. DeCarolis does a commendable job fleshing out her characters, giving each woman a distinct voice and compelling personal stakes. Their intersecting lives and layered backstories give the story a propulsive energy as tensions build toward Halloween night.

While the central twist wasn’t entirely shocking, it was well-executed and satisfying enough to hold interest until the end. The pacing kept me turning pages, and I appreciated how the suspense was balanced with emotional nuance. The ending tied things up neatly without feeling forced, making for a gratifying conclusion.

Overall, Wives of Hawthorne Lane is an engaging and enjoyable read for fans of neighborhood dramas with a dark twist. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it delivers exactly what it promises: a gripping tale of secrets, lies, and the high cost of keeping up appearances.

I enjoyed this one. It was fast-paced and told from different POV. Will be reading more books by her.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Wives Of Hawthorne Lane' by Stephanie DeCarolis- expected release date of 09/16/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Quite a few of the reveals were predictable, and super common tropes were used, but the writing was good. Took a bit to get all the female characters straight, but once I did, it was smooth sailing for the read. The Peter/Dean meeting Libby storyline was far-fetched, as was the fact that the blame for the murder ended up being pinned on Colin, but overall, this was a decent, murder mystery read!

Perfect for fans of desperate housewives without the smut. This group of women are really fun characters. There is a duel timeline to keep you wondering who the murderer and victim are. trigger warning for victims of dv.

This was a very quick read for me. I love a good multiple narrator suspense novel. This book follows the lives of 4 women in an upscale neighborhood. As you are reading, you know their lives are going to cross in some twisty way. Not only did they cross but in some of the most unexpected ways. The suspense and conclusion are really good in this book.
That being said, there is a lot of domestic abuse in this book. It hurts to read about these women’s stories and could be a trigger for some.
I think this book would be an excellent book club choice and there are even discussion questions provided.

This was a fun and easy summer read with an interesting cast of characters navigating the suburban McMansion neighborhood life.

The wives if hawathorne lane , is a tale of the lives of the rich women of hawathorne lane. Each one has there own secret and each ones secret affects the others

This book kept me interested, kept me guessing and was hard to put down. Some of the male characters were absolutely despicable and got exactly what they deserved. The domestic violence was hard to read at times but when it is unfortunately a part of life for many, validating that reality instead of pretending it doesn’t exist is important. I enjoyed that aspect of found family among women who in the beginning have seemingly nothing in common other than their large bank accounts. Thank you to netgalley and random house for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Wives of Hawthorne Lane by Stephanie DeCarolis. The residents of Hawthorne Lane have seeming perfect lives. What goes on behind closed doors turns into twisty, intriguing, and compelling domestic psychological thriller. The ending was unique surprise.

Thank you to the author, Ballantine-Bantam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Desperate Housewives on steroids! Fast paced story of an elite neighborhood and their crazy husbands. Be prepared for domestic violence and lots of drama. Thank you for the ARC.

Twisted. Compulsive. Consuming domestic psychological drama.

There are some authors you just connect with through their writing. Stephanie Decarolis is one of them for me. Every book of her ls has drawn me in and have completely immersed me with her clear and conversational narrative. It’s accessible and modern, not overly redundant. Her writing is full of twists and turns but grounded. They keep me engaged and have me endlessly guessing. The short chapters and fast paced dialogue made this story build momentum quickly. The pace was steady throughout and explored seemingly ordinary lives that hid dark secrets. The main characters were suburban women navigating toxic marriages, hidden pasts, and a public facade. While the mystery and tension was the main focus, the protagonists had rich inner worlds where the women wrestled with shame secrecy and identity. These elements gave the story higher emotional stakes.

Overall, Stephanie Decarolis delivered another twisted and all consuming domestic psychological thriller. It will pull you in and keep you hooked throughout. If you love psychological thrillers by Liv Constantine and Mary Kubica, you will most likely love Stephanie Decarolis’s books too.

Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine for an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Not all is as it seems on Hawthorne Lane. On the outside everyone has the perfect life, but on the inside there are a lot of secrets and domestic abuse. So who was killed on Halloween night and who was the killer? So many possibilities. Great character development told from multiple POV. It will keep you guessing until the end.

I just love suburban suspense stories filled with neighborhood secrets. This one gripped me from the start and had more than one surprise moment. A near-perfect summer read!

Give me all the neighborhood thrillers full of drama and secrets!

Someone has been murdered on Hawthorne Lane on Halloween night.. but we don’t know who yet. We get the POV of all the women on the lane who all have their own secretive life, as well as a woman on a different lane who wishes she could be in a neighborhood like Hawthorne.

Once I got everyone’s story straight, I was totally invested! Neighborhood/domestic thrillers are some of my favorites and this was done so well - everyone’s story lined up and at one point I *audibly gasped*

All of this with a very satisfying ending that left nothing unfinished, I will highly recommend this - especially to fans of Shari Lapena and Sally Hepworth. Give it a read!

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Ballantine/Bantam and NetGalley for my ARC. Pub date 09.16.25

I really enjoyed this book. The cast of characters were varied but well-developed. The twists and turns were great, and I especially liked how long it took to tie the story together.

Well done.

I appreciate the opportunity to preview the ARC.

This book was an enjoyable and engaging read. The plot kept my interest throughout, and the pacing was well-balanced.

The writing style was clear and effective, making the story easy to follow.

Overall, I would recommend this book to others. It’s a solid read that offers both entertainment and thrilling, and it’s a good choice for anyone looking for a fast paced thrill.

Review of Uncorrected eBook File

Newly-married Hannah Wilson and her husband, Mark, have just moved from New York City into their home at 5 Hawthorne Lane. She’s determined that they will be happy here.

Libby Corbin, separated from her husband, Bill, frets over her son, Lucas, as she navigates single parenthood. She hates the Bill seems so much less concerned about everything.

Audrey Warrington struggles to keep the spark in her marriage to Seth alive. He travels so much that Audrey finds herself with another man in her bed.

Georgina Pembrook is busy posting to the Sterling Valley Community Board, reminding everyone about the upcoming [three months away!] annual fall festival on Hawthorne Lane. In addition, she’s fretting over her almost-eighteen-year-old son, Seth.

And now it’s Halloween and Detective Frank Olsen is investigating a body on Hawthorne Lane.

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Well-defined characters, an intriguing murder mystery, and a plethora of sec rets all work together to keep readers involved in the telling of this tale. Sadly, none of the women are truly likable and their husbands aren’t likely to evoke much sympathy, either. And, despite the beliefs, Hawthorne Lane isn’t the pleasant little street it’s purported to be.

The idea of neighborhoods and secrets [think desperate housewives] has been a setting for many stories, but Hawthorne Lane is different in that the women ultimately find strength with each other. The multiple points of view keep the story moving in this tale of domestic suspense. Domestic abuse, secrets, and lies keep readers guessing as the unfolding story slowly reveals the women’s fears.

Also included are a reader’s guide and discussion questions suitable for book clubs.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheWivesofHawthorneLane #NetGalley

The premise of this book isn't new--a group of wealthy neighbors, a murder, flashbacks to the weeks and months leading up to the murder--but it's very well done. The author did a good job of teasing out the secrets held by each of the wives and of subverting some of the reader's expectations. I also thought the characters were well-drawn and multi-faceted, for the most part. A very enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.