Happy and You Know It

By: Laura Hankin

4/5 TrueMommy Vitamins

Claire is still reeling from a missed opportunity that could have changed her entire life. Every time that hit song, "Idaho Eyes," pops on the radio, she feels like she's going to lose it. Claire believes she has hit rock bottom, and things can't get any worse. She needs anything, anything to get back on her feet. When her cousin Thea answers her prayers, Claire realizes that you should always be careful what you wish for.

Thea has found a job for Claire: the musician for a mommy and me playgroup. Whitney—the group's leader—works hard to make sure everything is perfect and Instagram ready. With her growing fanbase, Whitney feels more pressure than ever. Amara, a snarky and witty comic relief, is trying to maintain her sanity as a newly stay-at-home mother. Born into money, Gwen will do anything to keep her lavish lifestyle. The other moms of the group, Vicki, Ellie, and Meredith, all have secrets they too wish would stay buried. As Claire enters the world of Upper East siders, she realizes not everything is as it seems. Are these women really as happy as Instagram might suggest?

A little bit of Nanny Diaries mixed with a pinch of A Good Marriage and a dash of Daisy Jones and the Six, Laura Hankin's Happy and You Know It is the perfect mixture of comedy, mystery, thrills, and real life. It was a wonderful read! Though I am not a mother myself, I truly felt the struggles of each and every character. Normally, I hate the fakeness displayed by high-society book characters, but Hankin's character development is so well done, you can't help but sympathize.

I began this book with next to no expectations. I had received it free from Book of the Month for my birthday month, and what a great gift! I expected literary fiction and instead got some humor and thrills added to the mix! The plot twists are wonderful and the various narrators/points of view help carry the story along flawlessly. This book was the perfect escape I needed for the weekend!

Suggested Pairing: The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin