A Deep and thought provoking book. Not a typical read for me. I’m used to reading mystery/thriller or romance. Not a big just fiction person. But I did really enjoy this book. How even though it seemed to just go through somebody’s life; it was so much more than that. The ability to really make you think and take in the bigger picture of the themes presented. I gave a different perspective that I didn’t know I needed.

Wow, this book was an emotional roller coaster, but I loved every minute of it! Maribeth Fischer writes a beautiful and sad portrait of a woman with a heavy past who must decide whether she can open herself up to be loved, and forgive herself.

Claire has moved to Wisconsin from Delaware under mysterious circumstances. She gives little away and holds herself at a distance from others - until she meets Erik, with whom she falls for hard and fast. Erik has three young children and an ex who is still a big part of his life. Claire melds into their group of friends and feels happiness like she hasn't felt in years. We as readers are given clues that this will not last, and the story is revealed in a compelling manner with lovely prose that is tender, gripping and emotionally charged. I appreciated how the book sheds a light on mental health issues and the stigma that is still present.

I will enthusiastically recommend this to readers who like women's fiction with family drama.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Author, Maribeth Fischer, brings us the characters Erik and Claire. Claire is running to forget her past and Erik is starting over after a bad relationship. The story line is full of intense emotions and life-altering experiences, weaving together themes of divorce, deception, postpartum struggles, and more. It's a deeply layered narrative where each chapter unravels new complexities, exploring the raw and often messy aspects of human relationships and personal growth. The story is rich in conflict and emotional depth, capturing the turbulence of life as characters navigate a maze of secrets, broken bonds, and the challenges of starting over. While I enjoyed the book, it may be extremely painful for someone that has struggled with postpartum depression. It would have been an excellent platform for the author to educate others about the condition. The portrayal feels somewhat surface-level. A more in-depth exploration could have provided readers with a better understanding of the complexities and realities of this important issue. The author includes the use of "GD", which is totally unnecessary for the story. 3+ stars

You don't want to miss this one. Such suspense kept me reading far longer than I had planned. What happened to make Claire run away from her home in Delaware? And why is she keeping it all such a secret?

Loved this one

This emotionally charged book had me hooked right from the beginning. A family tragedy has occurred and the main character, Claire, moves to Wisconsin in search of a new life as she deals with her past. It’s a story that is hard to tell but in this author’s capable hands it becomes a page turner. The characters feel so real as they move forward in their lives. Tragedy, pain, love, forgiveness are all interwoven as we experience the growth of all the individuals. This is not my first book by this talented author and I just wish she would write them a little more frequently!
Thank you to Dutton Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced digital eGalley.
#ASeasonOfPerfectHappiness #MaribethFischer #NetGalley

This is a beautiful story about strength, courage, friendships and second chances. The author put a lot of time and thought into this amazing storyline, it pulls your heartstrings It's heartfelt and emotional with exceptional characters who will remain with you long after the book has ended. This interesting and moving story was hard to put down and well worth the read.

While this book wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea, it was extremely well written. There were so many amazing metaphors and lawyers within the words. It’s definitely has the potential to be a 5 star read for some people.

I felt that all of the main characters were incredibly toxic, except Eva. I also felt that the book didn’t really pick up until 30% through which made it difficult to continue . There was something overall that just rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Penguin Group for this eARC

This book, truly, is a tearjerker. I found myself constantly moved by the story of love and second chances, a trope that never fails to touch my heart.

The narrative introduces us to Claire a decade after a harrowing event that drove her from her Delaware hometown. She's made a new life in Wisconsin, where she meets Erik, starts a relationship, and is quickly embraced by his circle. The full extent of Claire's past isn't revealed until a quarter of the way through, though hints are dropped early on. As her history begins to infiltrate her present, it creates significant upheaval in her new relationships. The portrayal of adult friendships in the novel is enviable, showcasing the lengths to which they go to shield one another from pain, and the solidarity they exhibit, despite not always leading to positive outcomes.

At times the themes may be somber, but the journey is immensely rewarding. The climax is particularly gripping, making it an excellent selection for book clubs, sparking deep discussions. It's a challenging read, prompting introspection on profound questions such as the essence of motherhood and the extent of personal sacrifice for the sake of others' tranquility.

*****Readers should be warned that the mental health issues broached in the plot may be difficult for many readers.*****

<b>Inside this book you will find a devasting mix of the following:</b>
- Reflections on life after trauma
- Fresh starts and second chances
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Female friendships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Emotional reads
- Wisconsin setting (Waukesha County)
- Secrets, lies, and betrayal
- Well-developed characters
- Framily (friends that are family)
-Second Chances

<b>Content Warnings:</b>
-Mental Health Representation
-Postpartum Psychosis
-Harm To A Baby
-Infidelity

Wow, this book was an emotional rollercoaster. So many deep emotions were laid bare on every page of this book.

While I haven't experienced any of what the 6 main characters have, I felt their pain so deeply. Claire, the main character, deserved so much in her life. It sucked, after all she went through, that it took her so long to realize it.

The other 5 people, all suffered in their own ways too. The author did a fantastic job of telling each story, and making it so believable and thought-provoking.

I would definitely recommend this book!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer is a wonderful and emotionally-driven novel about love, second chances and forgiveness.
Her characters are vibrant and alive, and tend to leap off the page and move into your life for the duration of the book.
A well written and engaging story!

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

If you're looking for a perfect book to close the summer with you aren't going to get much better. When I received this book I didn't know if I would like it. From the very first page I could not put it down. I read on a Saturday and never left the house. It's about a woman named Claire who had something happen to her in her life that slowly unspools in the story. It's character that you love and get frustrated with. I'm sure there will be some people who say I didn't like her. Well you're not supposed to. You're there to understand her and the people who are all flawed in their own ways. They all try and work things out but sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. What makes this book so special is that the author magnificently rolls out the story so that by the end you will weep like a baby like I did. I did not expect to be moved so much by this book. I would recommend this book to everyone I know because there is something for everyone to learn from this book. This will be a word of mouth book so be the first one to spread the word. You won't regret it. Oh and read the acknowledgments at the end of the book. It's an amazing story how this book came to be!! Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the read. I'll be gifting this book to all my friends!!!

This is a moving, tender story about family, motherhood, relationships, and connection. There are moments of mundane, normal, daily family life balanced with highly emotional, resonant moments that challenge the characters and their relationships. There's a lot to chew on in this one.

A SEASON OF PERFECT HAPPINESS by Maribeth Fischer is a stunning, complex, emotionally devastating study of motherhood, friendship, sacrifice, and atonement. It is an examination of whether some sins are too grave to be forgiven and looks at the damage caused by carrying secrets.

This is not an easy book to read or process. I found myself putting it aside in order to think through the questions it raises: What does it mean to be a good mother? How much of ourselves are we willing to sacrifice to bring peace to others? How can we expect others to forgive us when we can’t forgive ourselves. This is a book that forces you to look at the ugly parts of ourselves we hide from others.

Ms. Fischer has created a fully fleshed out character in Claire. She is multidimensional, sympathetic, infuriating, and so very damaged. In short, she is human with all that it entails. While this book presents challenges and poses hard questions, it is beautifully written and worthy of your time.

An unexpected delight for me were the many references to places I’m quite familiar with. It’s not often I find a book set in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Each local connection got me further invested in the characters and story and each was like discovering a hidden jewel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer is an emotionally compelling novel of love, friendship, and forgiveness.

Claire is an incredibly well-drawn, sympathetic character. She lives with incredible guilt and sadness for a tragic incidence in her past. She left everything behind to start over, but Claire is still unable to forgive herself for what happened. She closely guards her heart from pain but will a chance meeting with Erik change her mind?

Erik is divorced with three children and he is surprised by his reaction to Claire. He is close to his ex-wife Annabelle and they co-parent their children with little strife. Erik is a great father and kind-hearted, but how will he react once Claire reveals her past to him?

Claire and Erik’s relationship is so sweet but self-doubts make it difficult for them to withstand unexpected problems. Claire is very involved with Erik’s children and she shares a close friendship with Annabelle. But when the truth about Claire’s past comes to light, she realizes just how fragile her relationships are.

A Season of Perfect Happiness is a marvelous novel that will made readers laugh and cry at various points in this captivating story. The characters are flawed yet immensely appealing. The relationships between the characters are very heartwarming. Difficult subject matter is deftly handled with sensitivity. The conflicts are realistic and Maribeth Fischer brings this charming novel to an incredibly heartfelt conclusion.

Thank you Maribeth Fischer for this absolutely beautiful, heartbreak of a book! Reading Claire's story made me question what secrets are worth keeping and how I would ever move beyond a tragedy like what happened to her. This story of second chances was wonderfully written, and I could hardly put it down even though I gasped out loud and had tears streaming down my face at various points in the book.

Readers should be warned that the mental health issues broached in the plot may be difficult for many readers. I do not have personal experience with such traumatic events, and even so, I was emotionally distraught during parts of the book. I was impressed, however, with the realistic reactions and responses of all of the characters to situations, and even though I did not always agree with what people did, it seemed like a natural reaction.

I loved the examples of adult friendships that were portrayed through the characters in the novel, and I was even envious at times of the close bonds these people had maintained through the years. The secrets they had kept from others to protect them from hurt, and the support they showed for each other was admirable even though it did not all work out positively.

Thank you to Netalley and Dutton for the digital ARC of A Season of Perfect Happiness by Maribeth Fischer. The opinions in this review are my own.

A novel of second chances. Claire has rebuilt her life after unspeakable tragedy but she's not living fully until she meets Erik, a divorced father of three, and Erik's ex-wife Annabelle, who becomes her best friend. There's a serious sense of foreboding through much of the novel, all related to Claire's secret, which won't be revealed until she tells Erik. Can they build a relationship? Much of their life after centers around his kids, especially the neurodiverse Spencer who connects with Claire more than others in his life. But then just as it looks as though life is going to be oh so sweet, there's a surprise that threatens it all. No spoilers from me. You will feel for Claire (and her parents) as she navigates life. This addresses tough issues,doesn't sugar coat them, and it will make you think. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. a good read.

I absolutely loved this book. What happens when a terrible thing has happened in your life,
and you try to move forward? The main character has learned to put up walls around herself,
avoid getting close to anyone, and NEVER talk about what she did. But one day, she meets Erik,
and slowly builds a life with him. They are happy - until the inevitable happens.
#aseasonofperfecthappiness #netgalley

Wow! This is such a beautiful story. Words that come to mind include redemption, forgiveness, healing, heartache, joy, loyalty, and deception. And all those things make up life. Claire has been through horrific trauma. She doesn’t believe she deserves happiness, but meeting Erik turns that thought on its head. His three children with Annabelle are a bonus, as are their best friends Eva and Gabe. But what happens when long-held secrets are revealed? Will there be judgement or forgiveness? Understanding or disdain? Read this wonderful book to find out!

A Season of Perfect Happiness - Maribeth Fischer
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Would you? Could you? Choose a season of perfect happiness if you knew it was going to end and that you wouldn’t remember? This question is the premise of Maribeth Fischer’s upcoming A Season of Perfect Happiness. She explores answers beautifully through the life of Claire. Claire is clearly reeling from her former life in Rehoboth Beach as the book opens in Wisconsin. We learn of her sorrow - the loss of a child and then a marriage. Her move to Wisconsin is one of survival. At first she doesn’t even dream of a new life. As she finds one first with Erik and then with his friends, she lives it in a constant kind of fear waiting for her past to catch up with her. The reader is equally unsettled in the way that the content is structured - we feel suspense and fear, joy and sorrow right beside Claire.
Those feelings are what largely makes the novel such a success for me.I would not necessarily describe this as a book of suspense, and yet, I was on edge the entire time I was reading. What had Claire done? What will happen? Why on earth were so many secrets kept? Structurally, the novel is divided into parts and introduced with parts of a play that is part of the story. With Claire we come to know Erik, his children, his ex wife Annabelle, Eva, and Gabe. Together they create a season of happiness - one of best friends, but secrets abound. Through this template and flashbacks and glimpses forward, Fischer explores several things: the power of art - through Claire’s collages and the theater, friendship, a neurodivergent child and the power of family. She explores mental illness (I’d be more specific, but spoilers would definitely lessen the impact of the novel.)
And ultimately, very skillfully and compassionately, Fischer explores a woman finding her voice. For me this through line was the strength of the novel. Claire’s growth is powerful. I think as I am reading that she is stronger than I could ever be, and then, she grows stronger. Her development challenges me to accept no less than the best in terms of my own willingness to accept some of what life brings. I feel like in some ways life consists of seasons of happiness interspersed with times of anger and sorrow where we forget happiness for a while. So even while the circumstances of Maribeth Fischer’s A Season of Perfect Happiness may seem extreme to some - all can relate to its rhythm - an excellent and thought provoking read.

Messy. Complex. Intense. These are three words that immediately come to mind when describing A SEASON OF PERFECT HAPPINESS by Maribeth Fischer. I pretty much inhaled this book over the weekend, book friends. I couldn’t put it down. I’m extremely grateful to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. It was a true gift as it incorporates all of my favorite themes like marriage, motherhood, and female friendship. Some books just randomly land in your lap at the perfect time, and feel like they were made for you. This is that exact type of book for me. I’m definitely the target audience for it.

The reader meets Claire ten years after experiencing a tragic event, which causes her to flee from her hometown in Delaware. She moves to a new town in Wisconsin, and seems to have settled in quite nicely. She meets a man named Erik, begins dating him, and is welcomed by his family and friends almost immediately. We don’t know exactly what happened to Claire until around the 25% mark in the story, but you’ll have your suspicions. Soon enough, her past begins to seep into her present, and causes some major rifts and complications in her new relationships.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Mental health representation
- Reflections on life after trauma
- Fresh starts and second chances
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Female friendships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Emotional reads
- Wisconsin setting
- Secrets, lies, and betrayal
- Well-developed characters
- Friends feeling like family

The subject matter will feel a bit heavy at times, but it’s SO worth the read. The conclusion kept me on the edge of my seat. I was holding my breath, biting my fingernails, and on the brink of tears multiple times. It was intoxicating! I really can’t recommend this novel enough!

5/5 stars for A SEASON OF PERFECT HAPPINESS!