Laura Hankin, Author of “Happy and You Know It” has written a unique, entertaining, and witty novel. The genres for this novel are Literary Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present in New York City and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated. Some are manipulative and dysfunctional.

Claire is an out of work singer and musician that now finds the opportunity to be a musician for wealthy mothers and their babies. She plays the guitar and usually sings appropriate songs such as “If You Are Happy and You Know It”. As Claire becomes more involved with the mothers of this playgroup, she is aware of the latest styles, fads, and fashions that these women pay for. These women are now using special vitamins that seem to be giving them tremendous energy and they are feeling good. The cost is astronomical!.

Of course, there is an Instagram Page, and other media where there are so many followers taking all of this in. Each of the women that Claire meets has their own secrets and set of problems. It is almost like building the most intriguing design with special blocks, until the blocks come tumbling down!
Of course, the mothers give their babies the best opportunities possible!

I appreciate the way the author vividly describes her characters, events, and settings into a world that seems so wonderful to be in, until it’s not. I highly recommend this witty and entertaining novel.

This was an interesting book. I was in the market for a good "rich people drama," especially when it involves a NYC setting. The "twist" towards the end wasn't mind-blowing, but still added to the drama. This book had me laughing throughout and is a great reminder than money does not equal happiness.

One of the things that attracted me to this book was that it takes place in NYC (I love all things NYC). I did not know what to expect as this is a new to me author. As I started it took me a minute to get into it but once I was I couldn't swipe to the next page fast enough. This story focuses on a former lead singer of a popular band turned play date musician, and a group of rich moms. I loved how we got to see everyone's story and surprisingly it wasn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I could not get enough. It's different and really captures you. I can easily see this on Netflix one day. Definitely a must read. I can't wait to read more from Laura Hankin.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgally for the opportunity to read an early copy of this story.

I ended up having more fun with this book than I thought I would. I think maybe it would've resonated better if I was a mommy in a mommy group? As such, I think I related more with Claire than with anyone else, since she was basically on the outside of this and just trying to figure things out. Boy did she get more than she bargained for!

I read this a bit as a satire but I do think this book touches on some interesting topics. The image to look perfect... especially via social media. The need, as a parent (or woman in general) to do it all and still look perfect. To be the wife of a wealthy man and either losing your own identity or thinking of how the hell you can get out without losing the lifestyle you're used to.

The beginning really drew me in and then lost me a little bit with all the characters and background information. Then I stayed because I was super curious on how it was all going to unravel. How will she learn about her and how will they learn about that and where will they all end up?! From watching 10 seasons of Housewives, I felt like I was reading about the Mommy Elite and the first season just ended!

Maybe there's a bit more fluff than substance but this is a highly entertaining read. Moms of upper-class Manhattan unite! And it's a good lesson that we ALL have problems - no matter our monetary status. Don't let social media fool you.

This book started out as engaging and clever. I liked the witty dialogue and interesting characters. This window into the underbelly of a privileged playgroup was both intriguing and humorous. However, it turned a little dark for me and I had trouble slogging through the middle. I did enjoy the final chapters, the resolution of the plot points and the characters' journeys. Overall, not exactly my cup of tea but I applaud the author and publisher for producing such a unique novel. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Just the book I needed for right now. A mix between gossip girls and a psychological thriller, Happy & You Know It will have you guessing the whole time. It follows Claire, a rockstar who’s fallen from grace, as she takes a job as a musician for a playgroup in NYC. The plot is mysterious and the ending is was unexpected. I loved how each chapter focused on a different woman. It really helped build the suspense while also allowing each character to be a little more complex. A perfect beach read that will have you flipping the pages.

I enjoyed the humour and the storyline of this novel as you follow along on Claire’s experiences with this mommy-and-baby group. All the women in the group have secrets, their own problems, and are not perfect although on the surface they appear to have a perfect, healthy, wealthy and happy life. The group dynamics was quite interesting to read about and I enjoyed reading and watching the story unfold.

There are plenty of characters in this novel and they all come with their own set of personalities that are quite enjoyable to read about. There are also a lot of revelations and twists that I enjoyed reading about and it kept the suspense of what was going to happen next. An enjoyable read that I recommend!

This book was a little disjointed, rambly and went off in some weird directions. I liked Claire and Amara but that was the only good part of the book.

REVIEW- I really liked this book and the fact that it was billed as Mean Girls Meets The Nanny Diaries had me sold! (Two favorite movies to watch) I found that was a very solid comparison. If I recall this is a debut Author and if that is the case, Hankin is going to go far.

I love picking up a book, and breezing through it, no dull lagging moments, just a story that grabs you and holds on. I also love reading stories about the rich and elite, their tragedies, their scandals, and their first world problems. Really it just makes for a fun read!

Thanks to Berkley Pub for gifting me the E-ARC and for inviting me along on the Blog Tour.

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book; women who are mothers that may have lost their own sense of identity trying to “compete” for a place in the world. The insane use of social media in order to fill in their self worth is an issue that is prevalent to not only mothers but to our younger generations as well. I really enjoyed the story line of this book. The characters were well written and the struggle could be felt among them.

It made me a bit nostalgic as my daughter and I participated in a Mommy and Me type class. I can remember sitting in a group with other young children and trying to relate to the parents. Parenthood is an interesting job that we are involved in, it can be all consuming and make us feel as if we would do anything to make sure that we were taking the best possible care of our child; but is there a line that can be crossed? How far is too far? What would you to get yourself back?

When I read the synopsis on Netgalley, I was so excited for this book! Sadly, upon reading it, I decided it was not for me. I ended up giving up on the book around the 20% mark. Despite being 1/5th of the way through the book, nothing about the book caught my attention. I was disappointed because I was so excited for the book and had heard many good things, but Claire's character really irritated me, which made for an unpleasant reading experience for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Laura Hankin for the opportunity to read this wonderful book! 4.5 stars for a book filled with snarky, dark humor, friendship and music!

Claire is down on her luck - she was part of a band that hit stardom and left her behind. Now she's trying to survive by performing for a group of wealthy moms and babies at their playgroup. Claire becomes infatuated with this group of moms who take her into their privileged life. The moms and babies are living the perfect instagram life. Yet they are all keeping secrets.

I adored these characters - especially Amara and Claire. While this is such an entertaining read, it is also a glimpse into how society judges mothers, especially in the time of social media, and how that changes how we feel about ourselves. And just what we will do to change ourselves to fit that perfect image.

Laura Hankins’ addictive new novel, Happy & You Know It follows a group of wealthy Manhattan moms and their Instagram-perfect infant play group and the out-of-work musician who inadvertently turns their lives upside down.

Claire, the musician, is the character I immediately felt was the most relatable of the group. She’s a talented singer who is down on her luck and wallowing in self-pity when we meet her because she got kicked out of the band she was playing in right as they hit it big. Their music is everywhere now, taunting her, while she’s desperately searching for a job so that she doesn’t have to leave New York and move back home, admitting she failed. I felt tremendous sympathy for Claire and wanted to cringe right along with her every time someone mentioned her former band and their sexy new lead singer.

It is when Claire lands a job on Park Avenue playing music for a bunch of wealthy Manhattan moms and their infants that we meet the rest of the main characters. And what a crew these women are! In some ways they are totally unrelatable because of their tremendous wealth and glamorous lifestyles, but on the other hand, their struggles as new moms is something that grounds them all and makes them a little easier to connect with as a whole.

The leader of this pack is Whitney, the social media queen who has a whole Instagram account devoted to showing how picture perfect her life as a mom is and how equally perfect her play group is. Every playgroup meeting is a photo op, and Whitney has amassed a huge following and lots of sponsors who are constantly sending her free things to promote on her account. Then there’s Gwen, who comes from old money, is super reserved and also somewhat of a condescending know-it-all. Lastly, there’s Amara, who has some financial issues and who also has a child who isn’t developing as quickly as the other babies in the playgroup. Amara is constantly feeling like she just doesn’t measure up to the rest of the moms in the group. There are also several other moms in the group but Whitney, Gwen, and Amara are the three who take center stage in this story.

I don’t want to give away any of the juicy details but what becomes apparent as the story progresses is that the more picture perfect Whitney tries to make all of their lives look on Instagram, the more clear it becomes that all of their lives are far from it. They each have their own struggles they’re dealing with, and with the story unfolding from the perspectives of Claire, Whitney, Amara, and Gwen, we are taken on a roller coaster ride that is filled with secrets, drama, and all out scandal!

If you’re looking for a book that will make you forget your own troubles for a while, I suggest diving into Laura Hankins’ addictive new novel, Happy & You Know It. It’s a quick and easy read that is sure to entertain!

This book was a ride. Honestly I was expecting it to take some really dark turns but it ended up being more of an extremely entertaining reality show. I enjoyed it and it really made me reminiscent of those baby days with my oldest taking him to play groups and having all the moms talk baby shop and milestones. It was fun and different, it made me angry and then laugh a beat later. I am more then likely going to buy it for my sister who is a new Mom but will also recommend it to almost anyone, motherhood is definitely a theme throughout this book but it is still very character driven. A solid read.

Happy and You Know It was an entertaining look at the challenges of (competitive) upper-middle-class motherhood and female friendship, focusing on the members of an upscale baby playgroup and the musician they are paying to play to their group.

It's hard to make a group of very privileged women feel sympathetic and relatable, but I think the book did a great job of showing that motherhood and marriage can be hard no matter what your circumstances. At first Claire envies the women and then she comes to see that money doesn't always buy happiness (though it probably makes unhappiness a whole lot easier.)

Claire's backstory was intriguing - she was the member of an up-and-coming band when her boyfriend's sudden illness caused her to miss a couple of gigs. The band found a fill-in singer and suddenly Claire was replaced, sending her into a tailspin. I wished that this part of the story had been focused on more and better resolved, rather than it being a plot device to force her to accept the playgroup gig.

I was enjoying getting the women: their personal challenges, rivalries, and relationships. But then then things took a turn and got a little nutty and chaotic at the end. Books (even non-thrillers) with twists have become a huge thing. Personally I would have preferred if this stayed as just a friendship/motherhood story as I especially liked the relationship between Claire and Amara. And if it had to take that turn, I wish that the character responsible had been better developed so that the twist didn't seem quite so out of left field.

This reminded me quite a bit of Nine Perfect Strangers and I definitely recommend it for Liane Moriarty fans as it has a similar vibe.

Overall I found this really entertaining even if the ending was a little out-there.

A group of young, rich New Yorker mothers are on the Instagram up and up. When the playgroup’s leader starts posting pics of the group to her already popular account, they get pegged as “it” mom influencers. Now they’re getting all kinds of free stuff and all kinds of attention. But it’s hard to keep up the appearance of perfection with unruly babies and dissatisfied spouses at home. It’s only a matter of time before secrets begin to surface and the facade of “having it all” begins to crack.

MY THOUGHTS
If you loved Big Little Lies (and who didn’t?), you’re going to want to read Happy and You Know It. I plowed through the book in a day and loved every word. Sure, I think it helped that this story is almost exactly my life right now: young kids, big PTO personalities, and a whole heap of pressure to measure up and perform. But beyond that, there’s something objectively fascinating about watching a group of perfect, privileged mothers implode so spectacularly. The drama is breathtaking, but there is just enough variety with the characters and their backstories to keep it grounded. What I wasn’t expecting was the fun little mystery component at the end. In short, what a ride. I loved this one start to finish, and already can’t wait for author Laura Hankin’s next book.

A delightful delicious story that would make the real housewives blush. I appreciated the twist which I didn’t see coming and the tone of the writing which kept me guessing. Akin to brain candy; you’ll eat up the Park Avenue drama. Great for fans of Big Little Lies.

The premise of this book sounded so entertaining, but sadly I just didn't connect with the plot or the characters. Especially Amara. I really didn't like her. She was obnoxious, nasty, bratty, and cursed like a sailor. Although I don't curse, I'm not easily offended by occasional cursing in a book if it fits the plot or character, but her potty mouth just overflowed.

I've recently read books dealing with serious and historic subject matter, so the affairs, cursing, and scandals didn't appeal to me. I thought the humor would be a lighthearted, but it was a bit raw and harsh. DNF.

A playgroup of well-to-do women holds many deep and disturbing secrets. Claire, who has been hired to play music for the babies, begins to unravel the sordid secrets.

I flew through this and really enjoyed the plot. Though some of the themes are common to other books of this genre, I found the playgroup setting to be unique and I found myself drawn to Claire. I also liked how secrets were revealed throughout this and the ending was satisfying.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Berkley and Laura Hankin for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have heard a lot about this book and was very excited to be provided a copy to read in advance. The voice of the author in this story is what stood out the most to me. She writes with a unique wit that is, in a sense, snarky and quick-witted, but also very real. I love a plot of "the real world" of those who are rich and the discovery that not everything is as it seems. I wouldn't say this is a thriller but it is certainly an unpredictable mystery that provides appropriate and well planned plot elements that surprise and delight you. I enjoyed it and understand the hype it has been receiving! I can see this on multiple Summer Hits reading lists. I am sure to recommend it to my friends!