The Tradwives secret was so good, I don’t understand that negative reviews at all, like continue reading and buckle up people because this book was plot twist after plot twist. I’m someone who does a lot of social media stuff so it was nice to have the insight on how not every post is as it seems. It was also nice to see the other side of tradwifes that we don’t want to think about.

The Tradwifes Secret
By Liane Child
Narrated by Lauryn Allman

Published May 27,2025

The twists in this that I NEVER saw coming had me on the edge of my chair. Madison March has a “perfect” life, or so her followers think she does. There was so much drama and secrets and SO MANY lies. I had never heard this term before this book, but it makes sense now. But this was a great thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I thought that I might like this book from the description but I found myself not connecting with the characters in any way. So sadly I have to put this on my DNF list.

Loved the twists and turns in this one. I would definitely recommend to those who like suspense and thrillers!

This was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The twists were fairly believable and at least well explained.

In a word, <i>The Tradwife's Secret</i> is boring. I was expecting a suspense/ thriller when in reality there was no real plot to this novel. It was chapter upon chapter about each female character incessantly hinting at each of their big secret with underwhelming final reveals. The "twist" was easily guessed halfway through the novel. Since I listened to the audiobook, I will say that the narrator was decent... except when it came to male voices. If you're thinking about reading this one, I'd suggest you pass on it.

Callie is a broke young adult who needs money--and working as a tutor for the internet's most famous trad wife influencer is the fastest way she can think to get it. But when she finds out not everything is as it seems online, she's isolated in rural Wyoming with only her wits to help her out of the situation.

Madison seems like the perfect wife on the surface. But Callie realizes she has a lot more help than she lets onto online. And Callie is determinded to get to the bottom of her deceptions.

Overall, this thriller hooked me right away. I had to know what Madison was hiding and how she got to where she was as the queen of the trad wives. There were lots of threads to connect, and everything was wrapped up nicely in the end. The middle sagged a little for me, but other than that, I really enjoyed this book. The characters felt real--who among us hasn't seen a "Madison" figure online? And it was hard to know if we should root for her or against her, which, to me, is always a sign of a good book!

I recommend this book for those who are interested in the ride of tradwifery online and its effects on our culture.

The synopsis of this audiobook immediately drew me in, and it definitely delivered on its promise. While I found the ending somewhat predictable, it was still an entertaining and engaging read. I especially enjoyed the dual timeline, which added an intriguing layer of mystery and suspense as the lives of the two trad wives slowly intertwined.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice an underlying political tone and what felt like a one sided portrayal of trad wives. Though it didn’t take away from my overall storyline, I had hoped for a contrasting character or perspective to show that not all women in this lifestyle are victims or forced into their choices.
What truly made this book stand out for me was Lauryn Allman’s narration. She brought these characters to life in vivid, sometimes chilling, ways that made them feel truly diabolical. Overall, this was a fun and fast paced read.

*Thank you to Liane Child, Lauryn Allman, HarperAudio Adult | HQ Digital and Netgalley for the ALC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

The Tradwife's Secret is an addictively toxic psychological thriller that had me absolutely hooked. The story packs a punch but also explores the seriousness and control that can happen with the traditional gender roles. It is filled with secrets, betrayals, manipulations, violence, control and thrills. The author did a fantastic job at exposing what effect control and manipulation can have on a person and the repercussions.

Madison is a deeply complex character, both being the victim (by her husband) and the abuser (to her audience and staff). She was very hard to like but I think that was a little bit of the point. I still couldn't look away. The other characters Lorie & Cally brought different perspectives to the story which I appreciated. The twists were definitely good, maybe a little over the top, yes but I still enjoyed them and found they worked for this particular storyline.

Overall, this was an addictive read that is impossible to stop reading. You just need to know what is going to happen. It has a satisfying ending and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @harperaudio & @lianechild for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Tradwife's Secret started off really strong.

I am vey captivated by the tradwife trend in that I am repulsed by it, the women buying into it and the influencers who preach it, so I felt like this was going to be much sharper than it was. Instead, it gets lost in trying to do too many twists and turns and big reveals and is weighed down by constantly telling instead of showing. And the telling caused the narrative to suffer because the telling would take place in extremely disjointed and unnatural dialogue. For example—and to avoid spoilers, this is made up—say if a character stole something and proved that they didn't. At the end of the novel, there would be some kind of dialogue that's like "Remember how I said I didn't steal that thing? Well I did, and I got away with it because I am really good at stealing and everyone was dumb enough to believe that I didn't." Like…okay? Cartoon Network-esque villain. It made the characters feel like caricatures who tapped their fingertips together while they thought they were outsmarting us.

This could have been so much MORE. The storylines within would have been sad if they'd made more sense. There are also a lot of plot holes. We literally never learn the reason Madison ultimately wanted to be a wife and a mother from the very beginning because it never seemed like she genuinely believed in the tradwife content and simply wanted to be an influencer. She seemed very disconnected from both being a wife and a mother from the start. There is also a lack of clarity surrounding her husband's first wife and ultimately what happened to her. I don't understand the intention behind hiring the tutor. At first I thought that it was so the kids could actually be exposed to ideals the March family disagrees with, but it ultimately became unclear.

However, this was a lot of fun. If you suspend belief and try not to play too close attention to the fact that things go a little off the rails and stay there, you'll have fun. The narration was enjoyable, but I really struggled with the performance of the "male voices."

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, HQ Digital, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC!

3 ⭐️s

* If you like Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, momtok, or have a fascination for family vloggers, this is the book for you.
* voice acting is amazing. The narrator does an amazing job of creating distinct voices for each character in a way that isn't overexaggerated.

Liane Child manages to craft a fascinating world around a rising trend all with an enticing mystery that keeps you wondering what will happen next. Not only that, but the narration is amazing! The narrator really gives every character their distinct personality.

Thank you to NetGalley, Liane Child, and Harper Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. Narrated by Laryn Allman, this was a captivating and intense thriller from start to finish.
The story shines a spotlight on the darker side of the "tradwife" trend, exposing the toxicity and manipulation that can hide beneath its polished surface. It also explores the addictive nature of social media and the difficulty of breaking free from the need for constant validation.
Laryn Allman's narration brought the characters and tension to life beautifully. A compelling and thought-provoking listen—I highly recommend it!

I’m always up for a juicy drama, and this one delivered with a sharp, retrospective dive into the toxic world of social media and the darker side of influence. At its core, it poses the chilling question: How far would someone go for fame and fortune?

I saw someone describe it as a “reality thriller”—and I couldn’t agree more. It’s deliciously dark, wildly unhinged, and utterly addictive, in such a haunting way. A compulsively readable ride from start to finish.

Blending domestic suspense with psychological thriller elements, the story fearlessly tackles heavy themes like domestic abuse, submissiveness, and toxic masculinity. While a few of the twists were somewhat predictable, they were no less satisfying. It’s such a fast-paced read, you’ll fly through it in no time.

A reminder that echoes throughout: Nothing is ever what it seems…

The Tradwife's Secret is a gripping psychological thriller that peels back the carefully curated façade of influencer Madison March, whose seemingly idyllic tradwife life on social media hides dark secrets and mounting tension. The audiobook, which I enjoyed courtesy of NetGalley, stands out for its immersive narration and well-drawn characters, particularly as the story shifts perspectives between Madison, a new tutor, and a young follower, each revealing new layers of deception and vulnerability. While the early chapters focus on establishing Madison’s picture-perfect world, the pace quickens as secrets unravel, delivering satisfying twists and a sharp critique of online perfection and traditional gender roles. This is a compelling listen for fans of domestic suspense and anyone curious about the realities behind social media’s glossy surface.

This book is a twisty ride.

We meet Tradwife blogger and Social Media Sensation Madison March. She is struggling to create content for her popular but declining page while being the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker. Things are rarely as they seem. When she hires a tutor for the kids, one she hopes won’t attract her husband like the last one did, strange things start happening on the ranch and Madison March is trying hard to hold all her lies together before her life goes up in smoke.

I don’t read a lot of thrillers but this one instantly drew me in. Social media is just as much a pivotal character in this book as Madison March. Madison obsessively works to try to find content and make herself relevant in a growing crowd of Trad wife influencers. What you don’t expect from this book is just how much of a complete sham her entire life is. Madison is smart and she has used her brain to create a complete fiction and build the life she wants to portray to the world. Some twists you won’t see coming, some twists you will but what is so refreshing abbot this novel is that it says so much without ever taking a real stand. I have to say that this book is unsettling but in the best way. I enjoyed the ride and it kept me engaged until the end. I listened to this on audio and the narration drew you into the story in the best way. Fun read and work adding to your TBR. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and voluntarily leave a review.

The way this book gave me anger issues! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book has multiple pov's. It starts off introducing Madison March and her husband Michael with their four kids. Madison, "The queen of Trad life", runs a social media platform showing her Tradwife life. We are also introduced to Brianna, who just recently joined her high-school boyfriend Jonah to be homesteaders. She is having a hard time coping with her new lifestyle and seeing all the Tradwife's on social media, making it look easy. Cally is the March's new tutor.

It was very fast-paced and keeps you wanting more. I could not stop listening, the drama, the audacity some characters had! and that ending was all over the place but at the same time putting everything into place if that makes sense.

A huge thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Audiobook Review: The Trad Wife’s Secret by Liane Child
Narrated by Lauryn Allman

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and truly appreciate the opportunity to discover and read new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book from Liane Child—and I believe it's her debut—and while I always appreciate getting to experience a new voice in fiction, this one just wasn’t for me. The Trad Wife’s Secret follows the lives of three women, diving into their choices, relationships, and secrets. It did include a few unexpected twists that kept me listening, but overall, the core message felt confusing and left me with mixed feelings.

One of the major themes in the book revolves around the “trad wife” movement, and I found myself uncertain about the author's stance. At times, it seemed the book might be critiquing or satirizing the idealized version of submissive, ultra-traditional womanhood—but then there were moments where it felt like those ideals were being endorsed. If the latter was the intent, it’s a tough sell for me, especially considering the current global conversations around politics and women's rights.

That said, the narration by Lauryn Allman was well done. She delivered solid pacing, distinct character voices, and emotional inflection that made it easier to stay connected to the story, even when I wasn’t fully connecting with the content. Her performance was a highlight in an otherwise mixed listening experience.

While The Trad Wife’s Secret wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I do appreciate the opportunity to listen and review. I’ll be interested to see how Liane Child develops as an author in future works.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

I was intrigued by the premise, but ultimately I didn't care enough about the central tradwife influencer to get through the book. But I also don't really align with the traditional, subservient values, so that might be why I had a hard time investing.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this one. I am normally very hard to please when it comes to thrillers and mysteries, but this one had me genuinely scratching my head until the end. I found the twist to be unexpected, which was a great surprise! I thought the narration was very well done.

Thank you again for the ARC!

After more than a decade, the @_TrulyMadison_ account is gone. While her many fans mourn, the haters are ready to celebrate. Was the violence at the March family homestead a tragedy – or the inevitable conclusion of a toxic lifestyle?

Before the headlines, Madison March was the face of tradwife perfection – baking sourdough, picking herbs from her garden, raising beautiful, well-behaved children, and sharing it all with millions of devoted followers. But behind the picture-perfect feed, her marriage is fraying fast, and the lies she’s told – to her audience and herself – are becoming harder to hold together.

Told through three sharply contrasting perspectives, The Tradwife’s Secret explores the dark side of curated domesticity and the blurry line between performance and control. In addition to Madison, there’s Brianna – a new homesteader desperate to replicate her idol’s online life, only to find that real life is far messier. And there’s Cally – a private tutor from the East Coast who’s agreed to educate the March children in exchange for a hefty bonus, but who’s starting to question whether her silence is worth the paycheck.

This is a twisty, fast-moving domestic thriller that plays with social media personas and tradwife aesthetics in a smart, engaging way. I especially enjoyed the structure – the intercut perspectives added momentum, and the “Greek chorus” of comments at the top of Madison’s chapters was a clever, efficient device for showing how public opinion both fuels and feeds off her curated life. While I found some of the male characters a little too one-note in their toxicity, I understand the point being made – though I would’ve loved to see the men written with the same nuance the women were given. That said, there’s a well-timed twist late in the story that genuinely caught me off guard. Some moments felt a bit rushed or heightened for drama, but I think that’s part of what makes this a solid “popcorn” thriller – fast, sharp, and designed to keep you turning the pages. Overall, a fun and thought-provoking read with some bite.

Recommended for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with a satirical edge, particularly fans of stories about influencers, messy marriages, and the hidden costs of keeping up appearances.