I was super excited to read this. I don’t watch this type of reality TV but I do enjoy reality TV in general and loved this being the background of a murder mystery. The premise worked really well for about the first half, then it started to lose steam for me. I got more interested when the murder happened, but this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I thought this would have some Finlay Donovan silliness, but it was less than I was hoping for.

Look alive Girls, Gays, and Theys, we've got another Hot Girl Summer book on our hands. A murder mystery satire of a certain Bravo channel show, The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey, exhibits some really great and entertaining things:
-MESSY women who make no bones about that.
-Queerness and all its complexity on full, unflinching display.
-all the drama you could hope for from a trashy reality TV show, but in book form.

I expect to see anyone who is anyone reading this book on beaches, flights, and in-between sexy trists this year.

Anna Dorn, excuse me, Astrid Dahl, you've really nailed it again. (By the way, I'm hijacking my own review to insist that you read Perfume and Pain, Exalted, or anything else the author cooks up. You won't regret it!)

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

Reading this book truly does feel like binge watching a season of trashy reality TV: it delivers some fairly mindless entertainment, has plenty of dramatic moments and plot twists, and while sometimes it makes you roll your eyes a bit, you can't help but wanting more. The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey is the perfect example of a 'fun thriller'.

Now let's get into it (there will be spoilers from here on out, you have been warned!)

Characters- The Goddesses themselves are fine. Considering they are meant to be reality TV stars, it's not exactly a criticism to say that they feel a bit flat at times. I had a tough time understanding Carmela's character. She is meant to be the hot-headed "mean girl" of the show, but I wish we had been given a bit more time to truly get to know her before she dies. When we do spend time with her, she tends to rise to anger much faster than seems believable, which made her seem more like a caricature then I would have liked. She didn't feel BELEIVABLE. Honestly, I had a similar problem with most of the characters, and to some extent I could forgive this, I mean the book is a satirical take on reality TV, I wasn't expecting it to be full of fully fleshed characters. However, it would have been a nice subversion of the expectations that come with reality TV to have these characters be a bit deeper. Carmela was unrealistically angry, Vallerie was unrealistically stupid, Eden was unrealistically cold, etc. I kept finding myself hoping that these characters would surprise me by being more than one-note stereotypes, and sometimes I truly thought we were moving in that direction, but it just never happened. 2/5 for the characters.

Plot (and twists)- The concept of a trashy reality TV show turning into an accidental murder mystery is what initially drew me in to this book. I love a fresh, slightly off-the-rails plot like this, and I'd say that it delivered on this. The twists that this story takes absolutely do not hold back. I mean, killing off your main character halfway through the story? Who does that? There were so many times during this read when I found myself saying "wait, WHAT??" which resulted in a lot of strange looks from my fiancé (love you B). Now, not all of these twists worked for me, there were a few that felt a little contrived (the whole reveal with Luz, the Leo/Carmela Murder), and some that I had pegged from the beginning (Pierre drugging Birdie, Bianca being behind Shady Di). Honestly though, because of the sheer number of twists this story threw at me, I didn't mind that not all of them landed. The author decided to go all in on embracing the ridiculousness of this story and I can appreciate that! I give the plot a 4.5/5

Pacing- This is where one of my biggest issues with this story comes in. This book jumps around A LOT. It's difficult to tell just how much time is passing, but at different points throughout the book, the story just leaps forward and it's a bit disorienting. This makes my issues with the characters so much more obvious, because instead of unraveling the emotional journey they're going on, the author just has one of the characters info-dump what all gone down over then past weeks/months/whatever. This makes connecting with the characters SO MUCH HARDER. It feels a bit like the author was forced to shorten this book, so she had to just remove entire chunks of the story and reduce them to a quick recap. The worst instance of this comes just before Hope dies, when we learn that her concert did not go well, that her and Renee have been having an affair, that Hope has begun to adjust to being on the show, and that Hope is pregnant, all in one little burst. This is so much to take in all at once, and the way it's delivered is very unnatural. On top of this, it's next to impossible for me to care about Hope and Renee's relationship when we DONT GET TO SEE ANY OF IT. These two had some real chemistry and I'm so disappointed by the author's choice to just glaze over the entire relationship. Hope dies almost immediately after we learn about the affair, and for the rest of the book Renee is sad about losing this "love" of hers, but since the reader never got to see the two of them together in this context, it's hard to buy into this lament. I really dislike these jumps in the plot and would love to know why the author chose to include them. 1/5 on the pacing.

Writing- This book's POV was a bit too messy for me. We switch between a lot of different character's viewpoints, and it ends up being too much in my opinion. I enjoyed the inclusion of the confessionals, but I could have used a clearer direction in how this story was framed. I suppose that when your main character dies part way through the story, it's bound to mess with the perspective, but still, I think it could have been cleaned up. Also, this book got quite repetitive at times. One character would make a comment or have some insight, and then in the next few chapters, other characters would spit out the same idea, in almost the exact same way. It started to feel like there was a lack of distinction between how each character was written, and at times I really wish the author had done more 'showing' and less 'telling'. It's okay to let your audience piece some things together on their own, we don't need every detail chewed up into baby-sized bites for us, thanks. 3/5 in the writing department.

Ending- Okay, I was NOT a fan of Renee and Eden getting together, that felt disrespectful and weird to me. Renee talks about Hope as if she is the love of her life (although like I said, we don't get to see them together in that context, so it's hard to feel out the true nature of the relationship) so for her to hook up with Hope's cousin after she dies is wild. It feels like Renee (and the author) are just replacing Hope with Eden, and that didn't sit well with me. Altogether, the ending was a bit unsatisfying for me. It's implied that Eden is going to go back to working with Huzzah, essentially erasing all of her character building. And the mystery elements came together too quickly for me, making the end of this book seem rushed. I felt like this book peaked in the second half when all of the twists were dropping, and then it just didn't know how to bring it all together for a proper ending. It was a bit... half-baked? 2/5 for the ending.

Final thoughts- I enjoyed certain aspects of this story a lot more than others, and overall, this one is just a mixed bag for me. Despite its flaws, I would still recommend this book for the right audiences, namely, those looking for a quick thrill that doesn't require deep thinking. A beach read, maybe?
Astrid Dahl certainly has a lot of ideas bouncing around in her brain (I wish I could read a book about that.... oh wait) and I think with a bit more editing, this story could have been truly great. Still, I enjoyed my time with the Garden State Goddesses as is. 3/5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Let me just say I am a HUGE fan of reality tv, and this is what drew me to this book! Unfortunately, it fell flat. A lot of crazy stuff happened in this book that you would think would be entertaining, but it was all so unrealistic and by the time I got to the end I didn’t care what was happening. It all came so easily to the characters to figure out motives for the killers. I wish I could say I recommend this to people who enjoy reality tv, but I cannot.

"The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey" is an intriguing blend of mystery and humor that offers a unique take on the traditional whodunit. The story revolves around a group of women from New Jersey, each with their quirks and secrets, who find themselves entangled in the investigation of a murder that unexpectedly brings their pasts to light.
The dialogue is witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, effectively capturing the sarcasm and spirit of its setting. The characters are well-drawn, and while some come off as stereotypes, they’re crafted with enough depth to keep readers invested in their fates. However, the pacing can be uneven, with certain chapters dragging a bit, which disrupts the overall flow of the narrative.
The author’s ability to weave humor with darker themes is commendable, but at times it feels like the story oscillates between comedy and seriousness without fully committing to either. Despite its shortcomings, I found myself entertained and eager to solve the mystery alongside the characters. Overall, "The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey" is a fun read, especially for fans of cozy mysteries, but it could benefit from tighter pacing and more robust character development. A solid 3.5 stars!

I would like to thank Simon & Schuster for providing me with an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is unhinged and so much fun! If you've ever watched the Real Housewives franchise, then grab this book! Being from New Jersey, the Jersey housewives were always my favorite, from the table flipping to the sprinkle cookies and the tax evasion. If you're looking for martini weilding, leopard wearing, loud, Italian women, then snag this book!

In opposition to being uncool, I requested this ARC from Simon & Schuster and found myself very well, indeed. This book did not make me want to flip any tables over.

It was my first Astrid Dahl novel, and she is definitely now on my list of authors! Set around the fictional sibling of the Housewives franchise, Garden State Goddesses, The Really Dead Wives of NJ focuses on the filming of a new season of the drama, deceit and delicacies of the wealthy and elite women of New Jersey. Established frenemies meet Hope, the newbie with a bag full of secrets and a past she’s on the run from. When mayhem leads to murder, the contrived television conflicts make way for something more sinister and real. And the show’s producer, Eden, is now in the position of resolution more than fabrication. But all of these women have claws, and more than a little bite. So who is responsible?

Reading like an amalgamation of various housewives franchises (though Jersey and Potomac linger on my mind), Dahl creates something queer, juicy, thrilling and new. It’s the type of book you read in one sitting and can’t put down. For fans of Housewives, it hits all the right notes from confessionals to title cards to table flipping. It’s a lot of fun, crackling with electricity and holding your attention throughout. There’s nothing like a messy woman with a secret. I certainly hope this one gets renewed.

This started as a fun, silly and then crazy read. If you’re a fan of any of the Real Housewives reality shows, you will likely enjoy parts of this, at the very least. The catty drama was great and very typical of this type of reality show. In fact, one incident reminded me of an actual scene from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Ha! However, what starts as a bunch of rich women hanging out, being bitchy and bickering with each other morphs into a murder mystery. Unfortunately, the story somewhat lost me at this point. There isn’t much depth to the murder, the suspects or the investigation, and the death puts a damper on the entertaining and lighter vibe from earlier in the book. Still, if you’re a fan of the shows, it’s a quick read and probably worth checking out. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC.

As a lover of all things housewives, I jumped at this one. It was okay, but I didn’t really get into it until over half way through the book. The first half was just a retelling of actual housewives episodes, and there were plenty of predictable bits. Overall, it was fine, but not a love for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon Shuster for an e arc in exchange for an honest review!
I don't even know where to start. I loved perfume and pain so much and have been craving a book that felt like this book forever and this was one of those books. I love reality tv and i love lesbians so this was perfect but i won't lie it didn't pick up for me till part two and once i got to part three i literally couldn't put the book down at all. cannot wait to see what more anna dorn and astrid dahl put out!

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey starts strong but doesn't quite stick the landing.

In this murder mystery set inside reality television there are interesting characters, satirical jabs at known reality tropes and a lot of tension.

Astrid Dahl does a beautiful job of setting the scene of the drama-- creating the players and the scenarios-- I read with heightened tension waiting to see who the victim was and who the suspects were, but in that last act the book falters a little.

There's the clear suspect and the clear red herring. And the hidden secrets we're striving to find along the way-- they just can't be as bad as what the reader created in their heads.

It's still a fun read, especially if you've watched reality shows.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

I had high hopes for The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey based on its premise. As a fan of the Real Housewives franchise, I was super excited to dive into a book that promised all the drama I consider a not-so-guilty pleasure. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver.

While the book was undeniably fast-paced, the pacing felt rushed. The story frequently jumped around in the timeline, often without clear markers to guide the reader, making it difficult to follow. This lack of cohesion made it hard to stay invested in the plot.

The storyline also wasn't believable. It was just too much and in a very short amount of time. The writing could have been better for a plot that was very promising. What could have been a fun, over-the-top thriller ended up being a disappointment.

Rating: 2.5/5

When I say slow burn- I mean slloooooow burn.

The book was intriguing and I was absolutely on board to read it as it sounds great. The story was well written, it just didn’t keep me enticed and on the edge of my seat or intrigued as I had hoped.

Definitely a fun read- worthy of a recommendation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited for this book. I love trashy tv, I love thrillers, and I live in New Jersey. It should have been a match made in heaven! But now, after trying (and failing) to get through this book, I'm actually really upset that I hated it. I pre-ordered this book before I even saw it pop up on Netgalley, and then thought it was a no-brainer when it did pop up. I was excited to read it and jumped right in after I finished what I was in the middle of, and almost instantly got turned off. There are so many issues with this and I'm honestly really shocked that Simon and Shuster picked this up.

The writing is what did me in. The author doesn't seem to have any grasp on how to write in third person. This probably would have even been done better first person, as it seems many other reviewers also failed to connect with the "cast members". What got me the most though, and what ultimately led to me putting down this novel before I could finish it, was the overuse of names. It was as if the writer didn't trust that we could keep people straight. Like she was allergic to the word "she", only because there were two women in the scene. Not only that, but this is written in the third person, and there were a lot of "had done this" in there, which didn't make any sense and should have just been written with the word in past tense. I'm really surprised an editor didn't clean both of these issues up. I think the writer had a solid idea, but was lacking in just about everything else. The characters were flat and uninteresting, the stakes didn't feel very high, which is detrimental to a thriller, and I was just plain bored. The fact that the prologue opened up with the "action" and then we didn't see any of the resulting aftermath shortly after that really took me out of it and slowed the pace of the book.

Ultimately I'm super disappointed in this. My local Barnes and Noble mistakenly put it out early and still sold it to me, but I plan to return it at the store, and I'll probably never read something from this author never again, and I'm side-eyeing Simon and Shuster from now on, too.

Bravo fans, this one is for you. As the author notes, she’s a fangirl, and this book is steeped with references you will absolutely understand if you’ve been an active participant in the Real Housewives universe through the years.

This was fun, entertaining and had me guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed it. The only complaint I had is that it could have been a little longer with more of the storyline developing, specifically in the middle of the book.

Dnf @ 28%

Had an amazing premise but unfortunately poor execution. The characters seemed like caricatures of the real housewives and all were so unlikable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

3.5* This was a fun twist on a cozy mystery story. It follows a reality show similar to that of the real housewives. You get pretty much every character's perspective and the mystery unravelings in a fast-paced way. If you like reality TV and mystery novels this is one to pick up!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this. It comes out on January 14th!

Listen, if you're like me, and you're an avid fan of any of the THE REAL HOUSEWIVES franchises, you'll appreciate Astrid Dahl's THE REALLY DEAD WIVES OF NEW JERSEY. It's basically an ode to all of the ladies, and under three hundred pages, it's an easy read. If you like reality tv, camp, bickering housewives, murder mysteries, sapphic romances and a bunch of Italian women screaming - buckle on up bambinas! I can't say I was entirely surprised by the ending, but I read it so quickly that I didn't mind the time I spent reading it. To be honest, this is a very mid-tier book for me, but will it make you want to binge all of the Real Housewives episodes? Absolutely.

Special thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl, and wow—what a ride! This thriller had me hooked from the first page. The characters are totally over-the-top, just like the Real Housewives (which I love, by the way), and that made the whole thing even more fun. The twists and turns kept coming, and every time I thought I had it figured out, something else shocked me. I couldn’t put it down—it’s one of those books that’ll have you saying, Just one more chapter, until it’s 2 a.m. If you’re into thrillers or love a bit of drama, you’ve gotta check this one out!

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl is a campy, satirical mystery that takes inspiration from reality TV dramas like The Real Housewives. The plot centers on Garden State Goddesses, a fictional show filled with outlandish characters, sharp humor, and dark secrets. When a murder disrupts the glamorous chaos, the show’s producer, Eden, is thrust into a tangled web of rivalries and lies as she tries to uncover the killer.

This debut novel has been lauded for its witty humor, over-the-top drama, and a fast-paced mystery that keeps readers hooked. Fans of dramatic storytelling with a satirical twist, especially those who enjoy guilty-pleasure reads or pop-culture parodies, will find it a highly entertaining escape.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.