This was a quick, easy, and gripping book. This was my first book from this author and most definitely will not be my last. Highly recommend

Pretty generic run of the mill thriller. I had pretty much figured out what was going on midway through but it was still a good quick read, perfect for the beach or a lazy day.
Beth, a mother of two, recently divorced and some of the best friends a girl could ask for, was abandoned as a child and raised by her hardworking father. Her mother walked out on her and then Beth was investigated for a suicide she had a hand in causing, although never arrested Beth and her dad moved away to start over fresh. Out of the blue she gets a call from a strange man asking what her name is. Then the following saturday she gets a knock on the door from her long lost mother. With this return Beths life begins to unravel rather quickly. Is it her moms fault?! Is she being stalked and framed?
Read on to find out!

Once again this was another new author for me. It is always a pleasure to discover someone new and then being excited that there are more books by this author to pursue. Throughout this book I kept thinking how complicated family relationships can be, how wonderful are the highs but also how the lows can affect us so negatively. It also made me think about friendships, their strength and fragility. These concepts were very prevalent in this book and I think this is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. A great story with a superb plot and characters that were well rounded. What more could you wish for. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Lots of twists and shocks as a long lost mother suddenly returns and throws a family into chaos. The last few chapters certainly kept me guessing, and I got it right!

I absolutely loved this book. Beth appears to have it all, two lovely children, a friendly ex, a great job and a lovely house but all is not as it seems. Growing up without a mum and and a tragic event at secondary school have terrible consequences for her now. Can she trust everyone? Is everyone who they seem? Her life spirals out of control and she is at a loss as to what to do. The ending could not be predicted. An addictive read.

The Happy Family is a book that will keep you on your toes!

Beth's mum Alice walks out when Beth is only 10 years old, only to return years later. What follows is a very tense and thrilling read!

There were lots of twists and turns in this domestic mystery but sadly I pegged them all right from the start. Even the biggest twist of them all at the end wasn't a surprise. That being said, the characters were well developed and I had sympathy for Beth despite the fact that the truth was obviously right in her face the whole time. This was my first Jackie Kabler but it won't be my last.

Publication date: 4 June 2021

**Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for my review copy.

After reading so many psychological thrillers, this one totally stood out as GREAT! Lots of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page until the very end. The Happy Family definitely kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Beth was 10, her mother walked out of her life never to be seen again. Raised by her dad she always felt the departure of her mum was instrumental in her life choices. Divorced from Jacob and sharing their two children when Beth’s mum turns up out of the blue it’s a welcome sight but not everyone is as accepting of Alice and soon Beth has to understand not all families are happy.
I flew through this and couldn’t get enough. I love Jackie’s thrillers and this was no exception. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A great thriller with a very different storyline than most thrillers! This is a story about how the past and present become intertwined. The book starts out with a slow pace, but really picks up, and the ending is....WOW! Really liked it!

Beth had a tough childhood after her mother Alice walked out on her and disappeared when Beth was just 10 years old. Decades later, Alice shows up on Beths doorstep and after trying to rebuild a relationship, Beths life begins to unravel. Is drink the root of all her problems? Is Beth being sabotaged by her own mother?

A great fast paced psychological thriller!

Wow what a fantastic psychological thriller! I couldn’t put the happy family down, the twists and turns and suspense make for a riveting read.
Beth a divorced mother of two, with a lovely caring circle of friends, has had a tumultuous childhood, her mother walked out of her life when she was young and then she was implicated in a tragic incident whilst at school which has hung over her the whole of her adult life.
Suddenly out of the blue a knock at her door reveals a women claiming to be her long lost mum, Beth welcomes her with open arms and revels in the new relationship that is forming,however all is not as it seems, friends drift away, strange things occur in the house and Beths life starts unravelling! Can this all be attributed to her mum? Tense,twisty themes lead us to a very surprising ending!
A great read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

Drawn in from the first pages really enjoyed.A well written thriller full of twists and turns.Sat down to read a few pages and wound up reading late into the night,#netgalley#harperuk

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for a review. The title does not fit the book...this is not about a happy family at all. This is a character driven novel about deceit and hatefulness and crime. It becomes dark and disturbing but one wants to turn the page quickly to see what will happen next. It reminds me of an early Mary Higgins Clark without the one episode in this one...it is ghastly but keeps on giving...suspicious yet hopeful...an anomaly in novels written today. The reader realizes that one’s actions stay for life....the consequences...I could not put it down although I guessed the ending at the beginning...some of it...not all of it...there was a huge surprise...try this one...you might like it as much as I did. I will look for more from this author...just a suggestion....the title might need to be closer to the reality of the book...

I figured out this mystery from the very beginning. The “twists” were very obvious, relying on a pretty flimsy plot. I found most of the book tedious, full of mundane conversations rehashing the same plot points over and over. Also. I didn’t find any character sympathetic or full of any depth; the main character in particular fell flat for me. I skimmed through the second half of the book and still feel like I wasted my time.

I really enjoyed this book although I have to say I did figure out all the plot twists very early on. That being said, it was still very enjoyable and keep me interested regardless. I love the cast of characters and really enjoy that finally there was an ex-wife and husband that could have a decent relationship!

I give this one between 3.5-4 stars.

Well written book of a woman who has been reunited with her long lost mom that walked out on her over 30 years ago. When Mom returns, bad things begin to happen, and will the secret get out?

Unfortunately, I was able to figure this one out pretty early on, but good enough to finish.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review.

Wow...absolutely loved this book. Fast paced, full of twists that I didn't see coming. Whilst I thought I knew where the plot was going mid way through, how wrong could I be.

Beth had a troubled childhood, her mother left her as she was approaching her teens, and a secret from her school years has continued to weigh on her ever since.

Separated from her husband Jacob, she has 2 children she adores and a circle of friends to rely on.
One morning a stranger arrives on her doorstep, claiming to be her mother. Beth welcomes her into her life, overjoyed at this reunion. However at the same time, Beth's life seems to be falling apart in other ways. Everybody she thought she could trust seems to be turning against her.

Absolute great read, moments of uncomfortable reading but highly recommend.

What happens to a young girl when she is abandoned early in life by her mother and has to live her life without her? A psychological thriller is what. Author Jackie Kabler introduces her readers to Beth, a young woman whose mother unexpectedly leaves her as a child to live out her life with her father. When we meet Beth she is an adult with a good career, two children, an ex husband and new wife who she begrudgingly really likes. Seems like a simple enough life, right?

It is until that long lost mother reappears and becomes a part of her life again. This is a really great story and while I had it about figured out before the big reveal I was definitely pulled in and enjoyed the journey along with Beth. Quick paced and easy to read this is a good book to sit down and read anytime you need. a little bit of a diversion from every day life.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy for my honest review.

This is a decent enough thriller with intriguing characters.
It was a little slow and the ending predictable, however still enjoyable.
Overall, it was a 3 star read for me.