Genre:
Fiction
Format:
E-ARC
Publisher:
Berkley
Release Date:
May 19, 2020
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A dark, witty page-turner set around a group of wealthy mothers and the young musician who takes a job singing to their babies and finds herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….
After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for overprivileged infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.
There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her perfect life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the cool women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.
Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood—exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women—while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.
My Review
When Claire Martin takes some time off from her band to help her boyfriend, her band moves along without her and shoots to stardom. They let her know she is no longer needed. So, she has no choice but to make a new life for herself. Her boyfriend is now out of the picture and she needs a job.
Claire auditions for a local playgroup as their musician for wealthy infants and their mothers. It’s not what she planned for her career, but would do for now. She quickly learns that their wealth does not mean they are happy women. Each mother has their own story and their personal issues. Claire finds herself getting close to them all.
The best way to describe this book is a dark humor, sad and dramatic look at motherhood from several different angles. Claire has her own outlook as a single woman with no children suddenly thrown into a group filled with babies. Not only does each mother have their own personality, but so do their babies.
This book reminded me of Sex and the City, but the married with children version. Each character is interesting and well portrayed. The storyline had a few different subplots. I did find the story a bit slow in some spots. Probably because there are so many characters and each one had their own back story to tell.
The characters are quite realistic…some could be friends, some not :) It kept my interest until the surprising conclusion.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I haven't read anything by this author but I may find a copy of this, it sounds good.
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