I REALLY enjoyed this!! The “influencer” storyline kind of roped me and I was curious to see how this would go. I was pleasantly surprised! I feel like the characters were well-developed and completely disliked two of the men, in particular; the author did a good job at getting you to feel anger towards them.

Madison March has it all. The perfect life, perfect kids, perfect husband and SHE is the perfect mom and tradwife. Or.. is she? From the outside it sure appears so, but there’s more to this family than meets the eye.

I can’t wait to read more from Liane Child!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for this ALC.

. Madison has it all, perfect life, kids, husband, follower count. What could be the problem? This faced paced thriller dives into her and you see what it’s like living the trad life.

3.5 Stars (Rounded Up)

I really enjoyed this! It was extremely fast paced, which I love in thrillers. I loved the different POVs and getting to know each character. The only complaint I have is I don't think the twist made perfect sense. I won't spoil anything but there are certain aspects that don't make sense once you find out what the twist is.

With that being said, the twist absolutely blew my mind! I was not expecting anything like that at alllll. For this being Liane Child's debut novel, it makes me extremely excited to check out her future work as well.

Thank you!

I enjoyed this very much. And even though I figured out the twist about halfway through, I liked the concept of a look inside the makings of a trad life and with some of the recent true crime stories, it was fun to get a look at all the fakery. And seeing it all unfold from Callie's eyes was a great viewpoint. The only reason this was a 4 star was because of Callie's back story. I get they needed a reason for her not to leave, but the reason was a bit unbelievable. But still a very quick, fun read/listen.

This was a great audiobook- in that I don’t think I would have physically read it. The story was unique and the characters were interesting but it wasn’t for me.
Recommend it as a fast paced, intricate story with a focus on social media

I did enjoy this book and the author did well in tying everything together at the end. I felt so bad for Breanna and could have strangled Madison and Michael many times.
The story was well written and the narrator did a great job keeping me engaged. So well that I had to adjust my sleep timer a few times and stayed up too late last night listening to the story.

The men in this book are insufferable. I wanted to kick them in the face. This book was not what I expected based on the blurb but was still so fun. It was like a guilty pleasure reality tv show. It had a great twist at the end and I really enjoyed the narration of the audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for my ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Fake social media presence, infidelities, arraigned “marriage” for a copy cat style “perfect life”, and big secret uncovering it all.


This triple POV is PERFECTLY done. Perfectly written.
It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Did I expect the outcome/secret! NO MA’AM. Can’t wait to read more from this authors

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this book in exchange for my review.

When you see the influencers or celebrities that look like they have it all together - perfect clothes, home, family, hobbies, etc - do you ever wonder what their life is really like? This book gives you a peek behind the camera. Madison looks like she's got it all going on, but when the camera is off, it's a very different story. Within the first chapter you stop asking yourself "what is the perfect wife's really like?" and start thinking "I'm not doing so bad .... my gravy might turn out lumpy, but at least I'm not crumbling slowly with a plastic smile on my face."

Madison keeps fighting for everything. Something goes bad, she zigs. Her husband acts as though it's 1950 America, she zags. And through it all, smiles and adjusts the lighting.

And that's just the first few chapters! Like a train wreck that you can't look away from, I had trouble pressing 'pause' on this audio because I wanted to see what happened next.

It's not a boring book, but does follow the recipe of a thriller, a domestic or psychological thriller. You really have to leave reality off the table and just go along with a book being a book. Also, maybe keep a notepad handy to make notes as you go, because it's just a lot.

3 stars because I liked it, it kept me entertained, but it's not ground breaking. It could keep you entertained when you're bored, though.

The Tradwife's Secret is a fun thriller to read, it delves into the lives of trad wife influencers and a particular family. Madison March is the influencer, who looks like she does it all on her own, but really relies on a staff with ironclad NDAs to run her household. Callie is a tutor from Boston who has her own reasons for wanting to move in with the Marches to tutor their kids. The book is told from a few female points of view, and includes many blurbs from social media with a lot of hash tags, My only complaint is that it's a little heavy handed at times, most of the male characters are kind of caricatures, like when the man is complaining about someone and says something like "they probably got the vaccine."

The audiobook narrator was great. I couldn't stop listening.

This was so much fun, I devoured this story in a day!

Madison March is a Tradwife influencer with millions of followers. She produces perfectly curated content of bread making, child rearing and taking good care of her hard working man from her Montana homestead. After years of branding her idyllic lifestyle, Truly Madison has become the name and face of Tradwives everywhere. Her life is an inspiration to so many…and it’s all a lie.

I loved this one so much! It was such a unique and fresh take on the ‘influencer’ trope that I, obviously’, can’t get enough.

TW for domestic abuse.

Fantastic narration performed by Lauryn Allman who managed a full cast of characters.

Thank you Netgalley, HarperAudio Adult, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on May 27, 2025

this was not *good.* but, i did finish it instead of sleeping. and i'm a little bit obsessed with the sociopolitcal implications of tradwife culture.

Liane Child’s debut novel, The Tradwife’s Secret, is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the curated world of social media influencers and the darker realities that may lie beneath. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a Montana homestead, the story follows Madison March, a prominent “tradwife” influencer whose online persona embodies domestic perfection. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that Madison’s idyllic life is a carefully constructed façade, hiding unsettling truths about her marriage and personal history.  

The novel’s structure is particularly compelling, as it weaves together the perspectives of three women: Madison; Cally, a newly hired tutor with her own secrets; and Brianna, a devoted follower aspiring to emulate Madison’s lifestyle. This multi-voiced approach offers a nuanced exploration of themes such as domestic control, the performative nature of social media, and the complexities of female identity within traditional roles.

In summary, The Tradwife’s Secret is a timely and compelling read that challenges perceptions of perfection and examines the often-hidden struggles behind curated online identities. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and those interested in the intersection of social media and personal authenticity.

The Tradwifes Secret was a story that sucked you into the world of a traditional family where the woman is apparently supposed to know her place. Now while I found myself getting angry at some parts, it was no way because of the author but because I was so enveloped in this that I was feeling the anger from Miranda and the silent pleading of Laurie. I felt like I was truly part of this world and lived it and in a strange way it made me feel a sense of self respect while I was getting ready for work this morning. Turning on BOSS mode. All in all this was fantastically written and such a crazy thing to think of if this exists?!

Thank you Harper Collin’s and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I just finished The Tradwife's Secret by Liane Child and was lucky enough to experience both the audiobook and the ARC. I quickly became hooked—listening and reading every chance I got. The story completely drew me in.

The audiobook was fantastic, thanks in large part to Lauryn Allman’s outstanding narration. She brought each character to life with distinct accents and tones, making it easy to follow who was speaking. Her pacing was spot-on, and her storytelling style kept me fully engaged from start to finish.

The Tradwife's Secret by Liane Child is a gripping thriller set in the wide-open landscape of Montana. Madison appears to be the perfect tradwife—embracing traditional gender roles, raising four children, managing an idyllic homestead, and sharing her picture-perfect life on Instagram alongside her equally perfect husband. Living with them is Lori, Madison’s loyal childhood friend, along with a team that supports both the homestead and her social media presence.

But everything begins to unravel when Cally, a new tutor, joins the household. She quickly bonds with Lori and starts challenging the carefully curated world Madison has built. As Cally digs deeper, long-buried secrets begin to surface—each one more shocking than the last.

This was a true page-turner, full of unexpected twists. I especially appreciated how seamlessly everything came together in the end. The final reveal caught me completely off guard. I highly recommend picking up The Tradwife's Secret when it hits shelves on May 22, 2025!

*** Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a great book for anyone curious about the tradwife lifestyle or what might really be going on behind the curated images. The first half almost felt like it could have been following a real-life influencer—it was that realistic. I’ll admit, the beginning felt a bit slow and repetitive, and I wasn’t quite sure where it was going. But then came the plot twist—and I did not see it coming. The timing was perfect, and from that point on, I was completely hooked. I tore through the second half.

Took off one star for the slow start, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Liane Child!

Review: The Tradwife's Secret by Liane Child
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)
Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener's Copy of this audiobook.

The Tradwife's Secret by Liane Child is a domestic thriller that delivers a few entertaining moments but ultimately feels more familiar than fresh.

Writing: ★★★☆☆
The prose is clean and easy to follow, but perhaps too straightforward. Much of the narrative relies heavily on telling rather than showing, which strips some tension from scenes that should be more emotionally charged. It works for accessibility, but lacks the nuance that might have elevated the story's atmosphere and stakes.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
The central premise had promise: a seemingly perfect "tradwife" hiding a dark secret! However, the execution was predictable. While there were a couple of jaw-drop moments that briefly jolted the narrative to life, nothing about the core plot felt new or surprising. This is the kind of story that unfolds exactly how you expect it to.

Characters: ★★★★☆
The women in the story, particularly Madison, had some flair and dimension, and their conflicting motives added interest. The male characters, however, were largely flat and functioned more as plot devices than fully realized individuals. Still, the female perspectives made the multiple POV format worthwhile.

Impact: ★★☆☆☆
While this was a decent listen, it's not a book I'll likely remember or recommend. It didn't offer new insight or leave a lasting impression. It was more of a filler between more memorable reads.

Kept Interest: ★★★☆☆
I didn't struggle to keep listening, and the pacing was decent, but I wasn't gripped. I found myself looking forward to moving on to the next book rather than lingering in this one.

Audiobook Performance:
A highlight of this experience was the narrator. Despite the story being told from three different perspectives, only one narrator was used; they did an impressive job differentiating the voices. It added clarity and character to the story and showcased a strong range of vocal talent.

Final Thoughts:
The Tradwife's Secret is a competent, if conventional, domestic thriller. If you enjoy stories about hidden lives behind curated perfection, this may scratch that itch...but don't expect it to break new ground.

The Tradwife’s Secret by Liane Child was an emotional onion of hidden secrets.

Madison March is the perfect trad wife to Michael on their generational homestead. She’s the perfect mother to her 4 children and they’re the picture perfect family in front of the camera to their millions of followers. I can guess who the author was pulling from as inspiration.

There were multiple POV’s which helped to tell the story. I thought I had everything figured out. I’m happy to say I had it all wrong and did not see the hidden twisted coming at me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had to Google “tradwife” because I had no idea what it meant, but once I did, I dove into the book and wow, the drama did not disappoint! A few chapters had me a little lost with all the names popping up, I kept thinking, Wait, who’s this? But stick with it, because the last chapters? Ooooooh, what a twist! Everything clicks into place, and all those characters make sense. Great plot, unexpected turns, and a sprinkle of murder.

Review: The Trad Wife’s Secret by Liane Child
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Coming May 27, 2025

This was FANTASTICALLY ENTERTAINING! First off, I’ve never heard of a Trad Wife before and now that I know what it is…..NO THANK YOU! I loved the inside look into the “influencer” life, aka fake life. I honestly wasn’t too surprised the lengths some people will go to appear perfect and this book had it all. The storyline was excellent and I had absolutely no clue until it was revealed how all the characters were connected. A truly gripping read from the start.

A special thanks to NetGalley and this author for this advanced audio version of this book for my honest opinion.