📚 SIMON BOOK BUDDY ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey
By Astrid Dahl
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 4⭐)

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for this #gifted book through their #SimonBookBuddy program, and to NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey really piqued my interest, as I was excited about the prospect of a thriller/mystery with a reality TV flare. There was definitely a lot of salaciousness and over-the-top drama in this read, much like you'd find in any season of similar reality show housewife antics, which was fun.

Unfortunately, there were absolutely no thriller components to this book, and its mystery was pretty minimal and buried within the same reality show writing style contained in the rest of the book. Listed as humor/satire, mystery/thriller, and women's fiction, it's probably true that the book is a little bit of all three of those genres. In my opinion, it's primarily satire, with a whole lot of reality TV sort-of drama.

The book features alternating chapters told from multiple POVs, and there's a mixed media component with confessional transcripts interspersed throughout the story. I didn't really enjoy many of the characters in the book, and their unlikeability didn't contribute to a better plotline. There were occasional laughs and biting one-liners, but meh. For me overall, the characters were either one-dimensional or so far over-the-top that I wanted to just skim through their involvement and move on to the next page.

If you're a fan of the Real Housewives franchise, you're probably going to LOVE this read! If you're not a fan of that kind-of reality show and you're picking this book up because you're hoping for a thriller set within a reality show storyline, this may not be your jam. I think if you go into this one knowing this is a satirical book that reads as if you're watching an episode of your favorite reality show, you'll enjoy this over-the-top ride!

#TheReallyDeadWivesOfNewJersey #AstridDahl #SimonBookBuddies #partner #ARC #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #mysteryreads #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl.

This is a beautiful intersection where murder mysteries and trashy reality TV combine, so if you like both, you're in luck!

The Garden State Goddesses has everything, thick NJ accents, family loyalties, ties to the mafia, and murder. But who is at the bottom of these crimes? And why would anyone want such entertaining broads to die?

It's catty, it's fun, it's silly. Definitely not a bad way to burn through while doing laundry. I recommend the audiobook for all the accents!

For those Housewife of (name a city) fans, this book should be a must read! It is hilarious, dramatic, filled with hate, deceit, egos and murder. It is so very good! The housewives in the story are composites of some of the real housewives. The most fun I had was trying to piece together which real character each character was based on! The book will catapult the reader into the dizziness of the multiple story lines of these well-developed pretty narcissistic characters with an ending made for television!

Hope Bennett is the newest cast member of the Garden State Goddess cast set in New Jersey. She is also the cousin of the producer of the series. She has recently married another cast member's brother, Leo. Carmela, the sister of Leo who is an original cast member and known for causing trouble is not pleased with the casting and will make sure Hope knows it every chance she can get.

The saga starts immediately when one of the housewives is found dead. The reader has no idea which, but that sets the story to go back in time which leads up to who the late cast member is.

Thus begins the story of each housewife, their backstory, their secrets, their drinking and drug problems and much, much more! At the end of each chapter, you will get a taste of each member's "confessional" and what it takes to get something out of each of them.

The story itself is a wild ride you won't want to get off and the ending will make you feel as if you were in an actual season of Real Housewives where there is hairpulling and lying, shock and horror and make-up and hair and drunk women galore! It was a very fun read!

Thank you #NetGalley #Simon&Schuester #AstridDahl #TheReallyDeadWivesofNewJersey for the advanced copy.

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey takes us behind the scenes of the hit reality show Garden State Goddesses. To boost ratings, showrunner Eden Bennett brings her naive cousin, Hope, into the spotlight by orchestrating her marriage to Leo Fontana, a member of the show’s central family. As Hope navigates the treacherous waters of reality TV fame, tensions rise among the cast, leading to a shocking murder that turns the show—and their lives—upside down.

MUST READ for:
🎥 hilarious satire of reality TV culture
🕵️‍♀️ murder mystery
👯‍♀️ messy characters

This one wasn't a five star for me because I think I'm just not as into reality TV culture as I thought I was. But a reality TV fan would probably love it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All opinions are my own. 😊

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl!

Reality TV can be deadly, you just have to know where to look.

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey follows a murder while filming one of those trashy wives of wherever reality show, which immediately tells you that there will be over the top drama, characters, and situations, which is all you need for a fun and thrilling book.

The characters are queer, dramatic, and oh love wonderful to love/hate.

Okay, I was not expecting the content of this book. However, I was surprised at how refreshing the sattire and banter was! I would not say this is great but I am not going to lie because this definitely has potential! I am going to look out for more Astrid Dahl’s work. The Really Dead Wives are f New Jersey is my first from this writer and it was worth the read.

I uhhh mistakenly thought this was about zombie or vampire housewives, so I was a bit disappointed. I don't enjoy the Housewives franchise, so it wasn't really meant for me and that's okay. I did keep reading, just to see where it went but all in all it wasn't my cup of tea. The mystery was not very satisfying. I will tell my housewives loving friends about it and see if they enjoy it more.

It was entertaining from the beginning and a great story to tell. I did however find it kind of hard to keep with the characters at one point because it just felt like a lot going on. All in all I would recommend the book for those who like reality television because this felt like watching a show.

I went into this expecting more of a mystery, instead it focuses more on the reality TV aspect. This book had a lot of potential, I wish the mysteries would have been more prominent, they felt like more of an afterthought on the storyline. I think if you enjoy reality TV you'll like this over-the-top fictional show.

Are you ready to plunge headfirst into the glittering and tumultuous realm of reality TV? If you yearn for the glitz, the glam, and a whirlwind of delicious drama, get set for "The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey." This electrifying debut novel catapults you onto the pulsating set of the must-watch show Garden State Goddesses, where jaws drop, secrets slither, and entertainment is an unstoppable force.

Claws are out, cocktails are flowing, and a fierce group of women prepare to unleash chaos on and off the screen.

The story features a vibrant cast that can be challenging to keep track of! There’s a list of characters in the prologue to help you out. Here are some of the standouts:
**Eden**: The tough-as-nails showrunner who won't let anything stand in her way.
**Hope**: The wide-eyed outsider and talented singer-songwriter from California, who happens to be Eden’s cousin.
**Renee**: A fan favorite and relatable single mother embracing her bisexuality.
**Carmela**: The sizzling Italian diva, equal parts alluring and fierce—her temper matches the high stakes of reality TV!
**Valerie**: Carmela’s bubbly sister-in-law, grappling with her challenges—including a prosthetic foot—she often finds herself out of her depth.
**Birdie**: A wealthy widow with a flair for humor, she navigates life with delirious charm and captivating unpredictability.
**Ruby**: The spunky, hormonal teenager and aspiring pop star, she’s Renee's endearing daughter, ready to stir the pot.
**Leo**: Hope's devoted husband and Valerie's brother, he’s inevitably caught in the web of family drama and scandal.
**Pierre**: Birdie’s adult son and assistant, probably gay, brings intrigue and perhaps a secret or two that could ignite the powder keg of family tensions.

As Eden casts her unsuspecting cousin, Hope—fresh from a sheltered religious upbringing—it's clear that things are set to get wild. Naïve and unprepared, Hope is about to face the storm that is Carmela, but the fiery encounters promise to be hugely entertaining.

Hope’s internal battles and secrets are ones we can all relate to, making her struggle to survive in this environment both gripping and engaging.

I'm not a fan of reality TV myself, especially housewife dramas. I approached this book with zero expectations and found myself laughing and thoroughly enjoying the outrageous escapades. If this chaotic world intrigues you, grab your copy and maybe a bucket of popcorn! The author’s debut is a delightful ride, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

Thanks to the author and Simon and Schuster for this ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
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As a BRAVO fan, I enjoyed this! It gets 3 stars for the easter eggs from RHONJ and other shows, but overall the execution fell flat. The character development wasn't there, and none of the characters (or the plot) felt fully fleshed out. It was rushed, and there was a lot of tell and not show. The idea was great, but it needed more substance to make it a compelling story. Without the Bravo easter eggs, I would've probably DNFed it.

As someone who dislikes reality TV, this book probably wasn't for me but after reading the synopsis, I decided to give it a try. The unlikeable characters and ridiculous outings were entertaining, but I felt that many scenes were drawn out and the story really didn't progress until the murder at the end of the first half. The murder almost seemed like an afterthought and although I did enjoy the conclusion of the investigation, it was pretty obvious who the culprits were from the beginning of the investigation.

The ending of this book does open up the possibility of a sequel, but I believe I am finished with the series as I believe I am not this author's intended audience. However, if you are a fan of reality TV such as The Real Housewives and Jersey Shore and like murder mysteries, you might enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for the opportunity to review The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hated the writing. I disliked the characters. The whole thing was tacky to me. I'mm not sure if its because this was a debut or what but this was not for me.

🍸The Really Dead Housewives of New Jersey🍸
By Astrid Dahl

Pages: 288
Rating: 3️⃣.2️⃣5️⃣
Book Goal 2025: 16/130

✨Did you ever watch any of the housewives shows? If so, which was your favorite?✨

I received this free book on NetGalley and Libro from @simon&sch. Thanks guys!

I went into this book expecting a mystery with some thrilling elements which is what I got. I will say I thought that there would be MORE mystery and less… commentary? It felt like there was a lot of filler information and not as much happening as far as tragedy. I was really hoping when I went into it that I was going to get an edge of my seat thriller but I should have known better. This is VERY popcorn mystery/thriller and less trauma thriller. Which is honestly what I should have expected considering it’s a thriller based off reality Tv. 😆 so unfortunately I did it to myself.

The book was fun and cute. The writing was decent, I think as a mood reader, I just wasn’t in the mood as much as I should have been. If you’re into popcorn thrillers, you will probably enjoy this! If you’re looking for more drama and tragedy, this wouldn’t be ideal.

If The Real Housewives had a murder mystery spin-off, it would probably look a lot like The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey. This book leans into the absurdity of reality TV, giving us over-the-top drama, lavish lifestyles, and plenty of backstabbing—both literal and figurative.

Parts of this book made me actually laugh out loud, which isn’t always easy to pull off. The ridiculousness was exactly what I expected, and the satire of the Housewives world felt spot-on. That said, while the premise was fun, some of the characters felt a little too exaggerated, making it hard to connect with them beyond the surface-level drama.

The mystery itself kept me engaged, and the pacing was solid enough to hold my attention throughout. While it didn’t completely wow me, it was entertaining for what it was—a light, campy thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

If you’re looking for something fun and ridiculous with a bit of murder thrown in, this might be worth picking up. Just don’t expect anything too deep.

(3.5/5 stars)

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey is a queer contemporary mystery by "Astrid Dahl" (aka Anna Dorn).

The book follows a group of people who are creating and starring in a housewife reality tv series from the fictional Huzzah network. I thought that was pretty funny, as a nod to Bravo. In fact, I laughed out loud a few times while reading this book.

It was initially hyped to me as a thriller. In fact, the publisher blurb calls it "a propulsive page-turning thriller." However, it didn't have the pacing that I tend to find in thrillers, so I'd really call this one a mystery over a thriller. I really wish that this book wasn't mismarketed! If I went into it as a mystery, I may have upped the rating a bit, and that's why I'm rounding up for this one.

The beginning felt a little on the slower side for me, but I was absolutely on board for the back half of the book. Overall, the plot felt pretty messy, but I feel like that was at least partly on purpose due to the subject material. In the physical book, there's a cast of characters listed at the front that I found helpful to figure out what was going on.

I really liked the format of the book, which has interstitial chapters that are transcripts from "confessional" interviews. I love seeing mixed media in my reads, and it was especially well done with the audiobook version, which has multiple narrators performing.

If you're a fan of dramatic chaos or reality tv shows, you should give this one a try!

Thank you to Astrid Dahl and Simon Books (@simonandschuster) for my copy of The Real Dead Wives of New Jersey. This book combines so many things I love; my odd fascination with catty reality TV, murder mysteries, and Anna Dorn’s Perfume & Pain. It’s basically the perfect antidote to what’s been a very long work week lol. TheReal Dead Wives of New Jersey reminds me a bit of the old Lifetime show UnReal that was a dramatized Bachelor-style show. I was obsessed with that first season and I might be obsessed with this book.

Blurb:

A propulsive page-turning thriller following the hit reality TV show Garden State Goddesses where secrets are uncovered, intense rivalries surface, and a startling murder propels a producer on a riveting quest for the truth.

I love The Real Housewives. I don't know. I guess I expected a little more out of this one. It was super shallow (yes, I know, but still... I wanted to like at least one character!!). It wasn't even just the characters that were shallow. It was everything really. It was just very surface level. Nothing scratched beneath the surface from characters to plot to setting even—kind of a bummer.

It’s best to go into this book with manageable expectations—if you’re looking for a serious literary mystery, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a fun afternoon with lots of reality tv hat tips, you’ll be happy with this. I think there are a few too many characters to introduce in a book of this length and the plot is pretty shallow and predictable. That said, it’s a silly, simple romp for Housewives loyals.