Ireland

Ciara Dunphy is married to Gerry and mother to 4-year-old, Bella, and baby Finn. Bella is very vocal about her hatred for Finn. Ciara has become an Instagram sensation with thousands of followers as she shares her skin care solutions. She’s a prickly person and Gerry tries to help her. They live in a nice home and Gerry provides well for her.

Next door is Mishti Guha and husband and their daughter, Maya. Hers is an arranged marriage and she and her husband are not well-matched. They are from Calcutta and Mishti is lonesome for her family. He ignores her, leaving her unhappy. However, she has found a friend in Ciara who has taken her under her wing.

Another neighbor is Lauren who lives with Sean and is mother to Freya, 6, Harry, 4, and Willow, a toddler. Ciara looks down on them because she feels that the children are well supervised. Sean doesn’t have a real job and depends on Lauren for money. She inherited the house from her mother.

We see these women interact together and learn about their private lives and the secrets they carry. There is longing for friendship, infidelity, and more.

I did not like Ciara even from the start. Her fake persona and arrogance were eye-rolling. I felt sorry for Mishti but didn’t know how she could get out of her unhappy situation. Lauren was funny in that she seemed to thumb her nose at what people thought. This is a book that is sad in many ways and made me mad as well. Thought-provoking. Enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So sorry I could not finish this. The beginning is completely filled with how tough Ciara finds her life of raising children and how disdainful she is of the other mothers in her group who share tips.

Boom! Right off the bat, the book starts with a dead body. The rest of the book shows of all of the people that won't be sorry that Costs is gone.

Ciara has it all, and she is a social media influence who details everything on her accounts that are secretly generating revenue that he husband Gerry is completely unaware of. The majority of the other women in their small Irish village listen to Cuara, which leads to ugly mean-girl behavior.

Mishti, an immigrant Indian woman is Ciara’s best friend. She’s unfortunately in an unhappily arranged marriage to Parth and misses the warmth of her native India. Lauren loves motherhood in all its disheveled glory but is the only one of the three in a partnership, not a marriage. Her freethinking, hippie ways have always labeled her the village odd duck. She has never been friends with Ciara, having managed to make it on her bad side when they first met.

Mishti was my favorite character, Lauren was eh but Ciara was downright despicable. These women either can't manage to stand up for themselves or, in the other direction, don't give a damn about other people at all. This was an interesting, quick read.

I really enjoyed this book. A great story line & the drama & suspense was good. Definitely recommend!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is definitely a twisted domestic thriller with a cast that is quite frankly not at all likable, lol. Seriously there is the face these characters try to show the world and then there are their true faces and what they do behind closed doors. If these are your ‘friends’ do you really need enemies? I have to say Dirty Laundry is a fitting title because there is an awful lot of it! Though I only ever saw a few episodes I couldn’t help but be reminded a bit of the show Desperate Housewives. I believe this is Disha Bose’s first novel and as such I think it’s an impressive debut, and I’ll be interested to see what she comes up with next. 3.5 stars. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Dirty Laundry.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2109COZ2ERZE4/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I was quickly drawn into this story. I had lots of guesses but never truly figured out what had actually happened. I love when a thriller keeps you guessing and surprised you at the end.

I enjoyed all the characters - even the unlikeable ones. There were so many personality types in this book and I could picture each person as if they were actual people in my life. It reminded me of a really juicy episode of Real Housewives but with full access. I appreciate when stories are relatable and show that every relationship has flaws and every person has skeletons in their closet and it’s not always what they portray on social media.

I was entertained throughout the whole story. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the twist at the end. It wasn’t the most thrilling, edge of my seat type of story but it had a twist that is tangible and one that I’ve never seen used in a story before. The buildup was nice and the conclusion doesn’t disappoint.

I will be posting this review on Goodreads, Amazon and Instagram.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5049798550

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqqQkjXrEmg/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I really enjoy finding debut authors. Disha Rose didn't disappoint me. I really liked the short chapters which makes it a real page turner so it was a quick read for me. This book deals with modern day issues, such as Internet power and bullying are dealt with organically and in unconventional ways. This is above average in the twisty domestic thriller category. I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to read her next book.


Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group. Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Online, Ciara has a perfect life with perfect children and a perfect husband. In real life, though, Ciara is nothing like the image she has carefully cultivated. Her life would be perfect if her neighbor, Lauren, would take her disorganized, messy life and leave the village. Lauren will not go, so Ciara begins to make Lauren an outcast in their small village. Not that Lauren isn’t used to it. She grew up in this village and was bullied mercilessly by the same women she desperately wanted to connect with. She finds a friend and ally in Mishti. Mishti, originally from Calcutta, finds Ireland cold and wants to return to her family. Friends with Ciara, Mishti begins to see what type of person she is and starts to distance herself from Ciara. Then, one morning, Ciara is found dead in her house. Who wanted Ciara dead, and why? The answer to that question might shock you because nothing is what it seems about Ciara’s death.

Dirty Laundry was different from what I thought it would be, and you know what? I enjoyed it. As I read it, I did compare it to soap operas (mostly Days of Our Lives). The author did a great job of portraying the downfall of the Queen Bee of the local mom group in that village. I couldn’t get enough of it.

Before I get into the review, I want to inform you about this book’s trigger warnings. They would be:

Cheating (Ciara, Parth (Mishti’s husband), and Sean (Lauren’s partner) cheated on their SOs constantly. For the most part, it wasn’t graphic.)
Adult Bullying (Ciara led a group of women in bullying Lauren, and this did extend to Lauren’s children. Ciara was vicious with her attacks against Lauren, online and in person)
Childhood Bullying (Lauren was bullied by the other children in her village her whole life. The author showcased a few examples in the book. Also, Lauren’s children were bullied by the children of Lauren’s bullies. It was never shown, but Freya, her oldest daughter, did mention it a couple of times in the book)
Stalking (Before Sean and Lauren had children, Lauren stalked an ex-girlfriend of his and attacked her)
Arranged Marriage (Mishti and Parth had an arranged marriage, which Mishti didn’t want)
Marital Rape (There was one scene where Parth forced Mishti into having sex with him)
Neglect (Ciara neglected her children, Bella and Finn. The baby was only picked up or comforted if it was for online pictures. Mishti did pick up Finn at one point in the book to comfort him, and Ciara blew up at her)
Drug Use (Ciara was addicted to pills and used Parth to write her a prescription. Sean and Lauren used pot recreationally)
Depression (Mishti was depressed since she got married and had her daughter. She had let herself go and could barely make herself do things)
Mental Illness (Ciara was a narcissist. I do believe that Lauren had a mental illness. She revealed that she would have missing periods, and there was one point where she blacked out after Sean started hooking up with his ex-girlfriend).
Domestic Violence (Parth pushed Mishti around at least once during the book. Sean and Lauren had a very volatile relationship, which consisted of verbal and mental abuse of each other)
If any of these triggers you, I recommend not reading the book.

I rarely flat-out disliked a character right from the beginning of a book. Ciara falls into that category. I don’t know how to describe her other than evil and narcissistic. She doesn’t care who she hurts and how they get hurt as long as she gets her way. And if you were in her crosshairs, forget about it. She would hurt you any way she could. But, I was surprised that she was willing to do what she did to Mishti. I figured that Mishti was exempt from Ciara’s shenanigans. But I was wrong. And I was doubly surprised at who she was sleeping with. Never, in a million years, would I have picked that person. My sympathy lay with her husband. And guess what? I didn’t blame him at all for his actions at the end of the book.

I couldn’t quite get a good handle on Mishti until her scenes in Calcutta. I felt terrible for her because she was trapped in a lonely marriage. But, as her storyline went on, I started to like her. Yes, she made mistakes, and yes, she was punishing herself for them. But, she resolved some of her regret and guilt when talking to her ex-boyfriend. I also liked how she wasn’t surprised when discovering Parth’s secret. I loved how her mind said, “How can I use this to take a trip back to Calcutta?” I was also not surprised at what she did at the end of the book.

Out of the three main characters, I liked Lauren the best. She got off on the wrong foot with Ciara, but she was a new mother with zero support from her partner and was operating on zero sleep. I didn’t blame her for being snippy. I also understood why she wanted to fit in with the other moms in her village. She tried to patch things up with Ciara until certain things were revealed. And you know what, I would have done the same thing, confronting Ciara. Unlike Ciara, her children’s happiness came first, and it showed. Freya, Harry, and Willow were happy, well-adjusted children. I was surprised by what she did at the beginning and her actions at the end of the book. I couldn’t help but feel that everything would be pinned on her.

The main storyline centers on Ciara, her murder, and the events leading up to it. The plotline does jump around quite a bit, but I didn’t care. As I said above, it was like I was reading a script for a soap opera. The author clearly states who the chapter is about and how far before Ciara’s murder, the events in the chapter took place. There was so much to unpack in each chapter, and the author did it wonderfully.

There were several sub-storylines with Parth, Sean, and Gerry (Ciara’s husband). Each storyline adds additional insight into how and why Ciara died. I loved reading them because of the extra understanding I got.

The end of Dirty Laundry was a free for all. The author told Ciara’s death from four perspectives (Sean, Gerry, Parth, and Mishti). Each view had an element that threw Ciara’s death into a new light. I am not going to go much more into the end. But, as I said above, Lauren will get the raw end of the deal because of her history with Ciara (and notice how she wasn’t on my list of people at the beginning of the paragraph).

I would recommend Dirty Laundry for anyone over 21. There are violence, language, and non-graphic sexual scenes. Also, see my list of trigger warnings.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Disha Bose for allowing me to read and review Dirty Laundry. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

There's lots of suspense in this story. It kept me guessing till the end. It's a page turning domestic thriller with lots of drama. The characters are very interesting and well developed. I really enjoyed it.

Dirty Laundry is a captivating and intriguing novel that delves into the complex relationships between neighboring friends and foes. Bose skillfully weaves a clever web of intrigue between three unique characters, providing readers with intimate insights into the challenges of marriage and motherhood. This novel is both juicy and riveting, offering a dark and entertaining glimpse into the lives of those around us. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, "Dirty Laundry" is a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging novel.

Wow this is a train of messed up characters with all something to lose and something to keep secret but one of them loses it all anyway, despite how hard they try to hold it together. This is an intense read that you can't put down until the last page.

I always adore a good mama drama and Dirty Laundry delivered. With characters I loved to hate, an arranged marriage, infidelity, an Instagram famous mom, and more mean girls than any one town deserves, this novel had it all!

Ciara was such an unlikeable character it was fun. I really liked Mishti and her backstory and watching her grow. They made an unlikely duo but it worked. Lauren was a tough character and I didn't quite have her pegged. I always imagined her as meek and passive, but she was really anything but (except when it came to her marriage).

I loved the mystery. Bose slyly lets us know our ringleader is dead - it was so nonchalant I almost missed it! - and then we get to spend the rest of the novel trying to figure out who did it. I loved that there was no investigation, just a flashback to see how we ended up there.

The formatting of the novel was really well done. With the dual timeline that totally wasn't overdone and the multiple narrators, I had a really hard time putting this one down.

If you love novels with cliquey women, judgy parents, and drama for days, this book is totally for you!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy.

Finished ✔️ Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

3.5 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: April 4th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No

A twisty tale of murder and live gone wrong.
It was decent and kind of enjoyable.
Yes, I’d recommend

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I usually need at least one character that I can support in a story to enjoy it. But there really wasn't anyone in this book - - I mean NOT A SINGLE ONE. The only ones that seemed to be at all innocent were the children and honestly I feel guilty saying it but they were often annoying. Seriously though, the adults in this book were all behaving badly and had zero redeeming qualities. Even the ones you thought were somewhat neutral end up having some sneaky and devious tendencies.

All that said, I was glued to this bad boy. I needed to see how everything played out because there was a lot going on plot wise and too many potential guilty parties. The title was definitely appropriate - - Dirty Laundry - - everyone's dirty laundry was on display in this book. And if it wasn't on display, then you could wait a minute and it soon would be.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This was a great fast-paced novel that was easy to binge! I really liked the multiple POVs as the month leading up to Ciara's death is chronicled. I liked the way the end circles back to the beginning, but the book ended so abruptly that I felt like I was just left hanging.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ:
🧺 love a domestic thriller in a small village setting
🧺 relate to attempting to balance it all as a perfect mom
🧺 enjoy a cliffhanger

Dirty Laundry, by Disha Bose

Short Take: Some interesting elements that don’t quite gel.


Duckies, I have been away from the computer most of the day, so this review will be a bit short. That said, I spent the day hanging out with one of my oldest & dearest friends, and I regret nothing.

Lunch, shopping, real talk about serious personal stuff, and the kind of giggles you only get with someone who’s been in your life for three-quarters of it, well… you get the idea. I’m a big believer in Chosen Families, and I know that my life is definitely richer for mine.

That said, the women of Dirty Laundry clearly never got that memo.

Three very different mothers live in one small Irish village: Ciara is the glamorous trophy wife and social media influencer. Mishti is the immigrant from India, with an unhappy arranged marriage. And Lauren is the outcast weirdo, whose children are always loud and frequently nude.

Ms. Bose has crafted a sort of Mean Girls: The Later Years, and although she has a brilliant grasp of how fraught and full of undercurrents relationships between women can be, I just couldn’t fully get into this book, mostly because I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. My biggest issue was Ciara - a bottomless pit of need, a perfectly textbook narcissist, caring only for her own needs and wants, she requires constant attention and validation.

And therein lies the problem - she’s TOO textbook, too hollow. Her various relationships and flirtations don’t always make a whole lot of sense, her motivations are generally murky.

Lauren and Mishti are a little easier to understand, although still not very relatable. Mishti’s doormat lifestyle was frustrating, and Lauren’s history of [spoiler] was just weird and snuffed out any sympathy I had for her. And maybe I’m overly optimistic, but I’d like to think that most of us outgrow our various high school petty grudges and cattiness and fear of being ourselves once we pass thirty.

But if you can look past those elements (or even enjoy them?), the story itself is engaging, and the setting is marvelous. And I will toss the author an extra neuron for an ending that wasn’t what I expected.

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and a nice cup of tea).

Thank you Disha Bose,Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. A clan of mothers who are neighbors is what others would look and envy but when one of them ends up dead... murdered to be exact their carefully curated world comes splitting open. This domestic thriller plays on the idea that nothing is as it seems. The carefully picked story lines and background for each character makes can make you feel like you know these people in real life. A great book that was full of twists and kept me wondering how it was going to end. I couldn't put it down

Right from the first page, this book has a Liane Moriarty feel to it. The characters are so real, you would recognize them on the street. Their interactions are typical of any community you know. It's almost a twisted Mayberry feel. The synopsis is good, read it and you'll HAVE to meet these women and see what the excitement could be. Disha Bose shows some serious skills when bouncing back and forth between characters and timelines. She didn't lose me at any time......it was easy to see the surprised looks on the faces when Ciara is killed and her dirty laundry is NOT the dirtiest revealed.

For a debut novel, Bose has set her bar pretty high. Can she top it.....we'll have to wait and see.

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose is a domestic suspense story with characters you are not sure to love or hate but that will intrigue you from start to finish. By all accounts Ciara Dunphy has the perfect life. A loving husband, her kids, friends and a successful following. She should be at the top of the world, right? But you never know what is truly happening behind closed doors. On the other hand, her neighbor Lauren’s life seems to be a mess. No control over her kids, partner and no friends. Mishti is so happy Ciara pulled her under her wing and is her friend. But is everything is real as it seems?

As we learn about all three women, their husbands and lives, we realize nothing is as it should be. Ciara is not happy and does not love her husband. Lauren loves her husband but knows he is never truly hers. Misti does not feel for her husband as she should, but wants to build a good family, but at what cost? As their lives come crashing together and one of them is found dead, who will be left standing? I was intrigued by the characters and their stories and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Happy reading!

Dirty Laundry is a novel of small towns and the pitfalls of social media,

Ciara Dunphy is the acknowledged leader of her small village. She is the original mean girl and rules with an iron fist, who would ever imagine someone would want to kill her? The story covers the lives of three couples and their power struggles for relevancy. Ciara is a very unlikeable social media influencer who treats her family and friends horribly. Then there is Lauren the unmarried local with an older deadbeat parrtner and three children, Finally is Mishti a transplant from India in a loveless arranged marriage. Lauren has attracted the ire of Ciara who goes out of her way to make the rest of the village shun her. Mishti is the gullible (or so Ciara thinks) sycophant that Ciara needs to make her life complete, Then there are the husbands. Gerry who allows himself to be bullied by Ciara, Sean the unfaithful layabout married to Lauren, and Parth the arrogant, distant husband of Mishti. All have a reason to dislike Ciara, but which one has the motive to kill her?

This book was an interesting look into small town village life and the fakeness of social media. While the story was interesting none of the characters were very likeable so I was unable to fully enjoy the story. I hope to see more from the author as the writing was excellent.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Ballantine and the author for the chance to read and review this book