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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OMG!!! This is way more than I expected. It was a page turner, which left me speechless and surprised.
The plot follows the story of Madison March, a tradwife influencer, and what goes on behind the scenes of her carefully crafted life.
It explores gender roles in marriage, ‘dangers’ of believing everything on social media and examines some topics/ events which may be triggering for some.
This was twisty and full of drama, flair and turns. I did not see anything coming. The author kept up with the entertaining till the very last page. I love the multiple points of view.
If you love a twisty domestic thriller then you should read this.
Thank you @harpercollins360 for an advanced copy via NetGalley. The review is mine and voluntary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Rape
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was completely hooked by this book from the start. The storytelling was sharp and addictive, with each chapter peeling back another layer of secrets I didn’t see coming. It kicks off with what seems like a picture-perfect housewife—her life looks straight out of a lifestyle blog—but that glossy image quickly begins to crack. When a new staff member enters the picture, things shift in the most deliciously unexpected ways. Both women have secrets, and watching them circle around each other kept me on edge the entire time.
What I loved most is how the story builds its tension—there’s always that sense that something’s just beneath the surface. The twists were clever, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the plot swerved again. It’s one of those thrillers where almost every character has something to hide, and I couldn't stop flipping the pages to uncover what was really going on. If you’re into layered mysteries with social media facades, hidden pasts, and slow-burn suspense, this one’s totally worth your time.
What I loved most is how the story builds its tension—there’s always that sense that something’s just beneath the surface. The twists were clever, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the plot swerved again. It’s one of those thrillers where almost every character has something to hide, and I couldn't stop flipping the pages to uncover what was really going on. If you’re into layered mysteries with social media facades, hidden pasts, and slow-burn suspense, this one’s totally worth your time.
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am sure that this story will delight loads of readers, especially younger ones, but sadly it wasn't for me.
Madison March was living the dream, wife of a wealthy rancher and mother of three adorable young children.
Madison was a social media queen, living a healthy lifestyle in front of thousands of followers who hung on her every word, everyone wanted a lifestyle like Madison's, perfect well behaved, home schooled children, running in the fields, gathering fruit and vegetables to be made into delicious meals, meals that would be on the table when their father came home from the ranch ...........but all was not as it seemed, there were twisted secrets, where did Lori, Cally, Bill, Erica and Noah fit in ? and why did everyone have to sign a NDA.
Although there was an interesting twist to the story I can't really say that it gripped me, I didn't particularly like any of the characters and I found some of it a bit confusing, Possibly I missed the point somewhere along the line. I am not really into the world of "influencers" so I probably shouldn't have chosen this book and as I said previously, there are probably loads of people who will really enjoy it.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary.
Madison March was living the dream, wife of a wealthy rancher and mother of three adorable young children.
Madison was a social media queen, living a healthy lifestyle in front of thousands of followers who hung on her every word, everyone wanted a lifestyle like Madison's, perfect well behaved, home schooled children, running in the fields, gathering fruit and vegetables to be made into delicious meals, meals that would be on the table when their father came home from the ranch ...........but all was not as it seemed, there were twisted secrets, where did Lori, Cally, Bill, Erica and Noah fit in ? and why did everyone have to sign a NDA.
Although there was an interesting twist to the story I can't really say that it gripped me, I didn't particularly like any of the characters and I found some of it a bit confusing, Possibly I missed the point somewhere along the line. I am not really into the world of "influencers" so I probably shouldn't have chosen this book and as I said previously, there are probably loads of people who will really enjoy it.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is voluntary.
dark
tense
medium-paced
I absolutely devoured this. I was totally engaged the whole way though. Trad wife influencers in general fascinate me; the idea of portraying such perfect domesticity when so often there are outside forces propping it up.
The characters were really well developed and all of them had flaws, although I was definitely rooting for some over others. I thought the relationships between the male and female characters was really well done, showing the struggle to find the balance of power in these relationships.
I listened to the audio and really enjoyed it. That narrator was so good that I genuinely thought there were multiple narrators and was shocked to find this wasn’t the case. Each character was so distinct.
Madison March is the perfect tradwife, with a social media following in the millions, with people following her perfect homestead life and her perfect family. Things, however, are not what they seem on camera.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper 360, and HarperAudio for the ARC.
The characters were really well developed and all of them had flaws, although I was definitely rooting for some over others. I thought the relationships between the male and female characters was really well done, showing the struggle to find the balance of power in these relationships.
I listened to the audio and really enjoyed it. That narrator was so good that I genuinely thought there were multiple narrators and was shocked to find this wasn’t the case. Each character was so distinct.
Madison March is the perfect tradwife, with a social media following in the millions, with people following her perfect homestead life and her perfect family. Things, however, are not what they seem on camera.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper 360, and HarperAudio for the ARC.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC Review: The Tradwife’s Secret by Liane Child
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)
Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this gripping novel in advance in exchange for an honest review.
The Tradwife’s Secret is a slow-burn domestic thriller that simmers with tension from the very first page. There’s an eerie undercurrent throughout the entire book—you know something is off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it until it’s too late. And that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
Callie is a fascinating protagonist. Leaving her old life behind to tutor the March children, she’s clearly running from something—or someone. Her secrets are buried deep, and watching them unravel is part of what makes this such an addictive read.
Then there’s Brianna—young, ambitious, and suspiciously sharp. I couldn’t shake the feeling she was going to become more important than she initially appeared. Possibly even dangerous. And I was not disappointed.
Madison, the so-called tradwife, projects the image of domestic bliss, but it’s painfully obvious she’s anything but content. Trapped in a role that suffocates her, she struggles with her identity and the power her husband holds over her. Michael, the husband in question, is chillingly manipulative—playing mind games, controlling situations with unnerving precision. He’s the kind of character you love to hate.
Liane Child has crafted a web of secrets, lies, and psychological warfare that culminates in a brilliantly executed twist. The ending was immensely satisfying, with the true adversary revealed in a way that felt both surprising and inevitable.
Highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers that toy with your perceptions and keep you guessing until the very end.