Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Madison March is a tradwife living her best life on a ranch in Montana with her controlling husband Michael and four, soon to be five, children. She is an influencer with thousands of followers all eager for Madison's Instagram videos showing her perfect life and family. But is what you see actually the truth or a case of smoke and mirrors. When Cally is appointed as tutor to the children she's surprised to be asked to sign an NDA, promise not to post anything on social media and agree to remain on the ranch until the end of her contract. Meanwhile Madison is receiving messages from a would be tradwife, Brianna, a young pregnant woman living on a homestead with her boyfriend and estranged from her family. Told from the perspectives of the three women, this is an intriguing glimpse into the lives of so called influencers with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Madison has 4 children and an Instagram life of perfection…..,she hires a nanny to look after her children and the facade on her perfect life starts to slip! Addictive and gripping with well written characters! Thoroughly indulgent and enjoyable!

Was this review helpful?

Tense, smart, and utterly addictive, this thriller hooks you from the first chapter and never lets up. The twists are genuinely surprising, each one upping the ante without losing credibility. Richly drawn characters bring depth to the danger, making every choice feel razor-edged. It's a flawlessly executed story that keeps your heart racing until the final line.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed. I thought it was an interesting concept and it reminded me a little of the Mormon wives reality show (but obviously with twists involved) and I think if you love that kind of content you’ll definitely enjoy this book

Was this review helpful?

I hated all the characters and it made it so hard to get through. I needed at least one likable aspect to try and get through this book.

Was this review helpful?

Oh this one had me smiling and nodding along in agreement that this is most likely how most of the influencers lives are in reality. Some of the plot I found unlikely and a bit contrived but I think it will be a big hit.

Was this review helpful?

Liane Child wrote this well and was engaged with what was happening with the secrets of this book. The characters had that charm that I was looking for and thought worked well overall as a twist. The plot was everything that I was wanting and enjoyed the overall feel of this.

Was this review helpful?

This book was interesting. It’s not often I think of the homestead community or what all goes into being a social media influencer, but this book has both of those AND a mystery all mixed together. I will say however there were times that I predicted what was going to happen, the ending though I did not see that coming! This was definitely enjoyable and well worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

This was a brilliant read. I loved the exploration of trad wives and how the reality of their life can be very different to the reality presented on social media. I loved seeing how Madison's recording interrupted normal family occasions like Christmas and how much thought and effort went into keeping up her appearances online.

The mystery of this kept me guessing until the end. I thought the way it pulled together the two different storylines was really clever and I could not have guessed at all.

A brilliant read. Highly recommend it and I'll definitely be looking out for more books from Liane.

Was this review helpful?

5 stars

I wasnt sure at first what i was reading and that it was my cup of tea. I persevered and im glad i did wow what a twist completely did not see it coming absolutely loved it in the end.
I have already recommended it to other people

Was this review helpful?

I’m sorry but this book is horrible. I admit that I’ve only read like 25% of it but good grief it’s awful. I’m sure there are a few women who would live like Madison but there can’t be many. And she’s by far not perfect. Her instagram is based on lies. Her life is a lie. Her husband is a jerk. Even the help are awful.

The children are possibly the only innocents and they are being taught how women are beneath men. That they are pawns for men. Women can’t have any kind f of freedom.
I won’t be finishing this one. It’s just two deep into male superiority for me.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc.

Was this review helpful?

Now I am one of the first to admit to not really engaging in social media, especially all the hashtags, Instagram and all that malarkey. So this was the first time I had come across the tradwife hashtag. Its meaning is obvious, traditional wife, but what does it actually mean? The author delves into the world of social media, tradwife, the perfect family and the obsession with stats and the ideal shot.

The author has created a small main cast of characters, well, there are two sets really. One being Madison March, the other being a follower of hers. Cally is a young woman who has come to work as a tutor for the March family. Before she starts, she has to agree to some pretty strict rules. No posting on social media, nothing about the March family, not ever sharing or telling anyone, ever of her time there. They have followers, reputations to maintain, and the image or brand cannot be tarnished.

Madison shares, or maybe it should be, sells her lifestyle with images. They are wholesome, family-oriented, the meek wife putting all the hours to make sure the family home, the children and the meals are all freshly made, on the table when her husband walks in the door and generally bending to how he feels a wife should behave.

The thing is that this is not all that it seems. Something is going on in the background, and Cally senses something. But she also finds herself wrapped up in this traditional family homestead lifestyle. By the end of the story, there were several reveals. The main one I didn't see coming at all! But it made a lot of sense.

This is a story that shows a way of life that women used to have. there are still those who believe in this way of life and that is completely up to them. The addition of sharing all this lifestyle and positive imagery with others, though it is a snapshot into lives and not their actual life. The story starts well and the characters are introduced, and as the story gets more involved, the real deal about the lifestyle emerges. It is dangerous, demanding and manipulative. There are also some darker secrets that have to emerge as well.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a domestic thriller set in the US, it has a large mystery embedded and I did find it very addictive. If you are a fan of fiction, family dynamics and thrillers then this is one that you may like. I would be happy to recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

Could not put this down!!

Okay so I will admit I requested this because of the hype. Aren’t I glad I did.

I flew through this book in 24hours.

Nothing could have prepared me for some of the twists and turns in this one.

Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

I read that someone else said 'this book is like a trainwreck that you just can't stop watching' and I feel this! I devoured this domestic thriller.
The book follows the life of Madison March and her very secluded family. Madison claims to be the First Lady of trad wives. Her social media presence speaks of a loving home, devoted husband and a wife who does it all...Cooking healthy meals for her family, homeschooling her children and keeping herself fit. But is there an undercurrent of deceit going on? When Madison hires Cally to be her children's tutor, she struggles to trust the girl with their 'in-house' secrets. What is hiding behind closed doors in this seemingly fabulous home?
About 2/3 of the way through the book, things fell into place for me and I was in awe how I didn't see the plot twist coming. As it seems to need to be in most domestic thrillers, the characters aren't necessarily likeable. If you're at all familiar with the 'trad wife' idea, then this book will suck you right in. I felt like I both hated and felt intrigued by the theme.
The ending wasn't a cliff hanger but yet it left the mind open to the possibility of a second book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Liane Child and HQ Digital for allowing me this e arc version in exchange for my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I have missed the entire tradwife influencer thing but this book was so entertaining it kept me really engrossed and I just had to keep reading for all the hooks. It worked so well and loved the ending.

Was this review helpful?

The Trad Wife’s Secret is a wild ride that totally exposes the fake “perfect life” behind influencer culture. Liane Child takes tradwife vibes and flips them on their head with tons of twists and dark secrets. Madison March’s story is messy, intense, and impossible to put down. If you’re into smart thrillers with a little bite, this one’s definitely worth a read!

Was this review helpful?

The title of the book, The Tradwife's Secret, grabbed my attention, the blurb did not put me off the book, although it did not give much away and I am pleased I had not read any spoiler reviews.
This was an enjoyable, quick read. Liane Child takes the trend of #tradwives and the modern need for influencers to share their "perfect" lives, whilst millions follow them and comment on them on social media and weaves a gripping story with unexpected twists.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review..

Was this review helpful?

Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Liane Child, HQ Digital, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this novel, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.

This book has been my most anticipated read of the year. I did not even read the whole blurb when I picked this novel up. I was sold by the cover, first and foremost. The title and tagline drew me in. When I finally got around to reading the book, I was elated that it came with high praise. It came with such a high build-up, and I am always wary that a book may not live up to the hype. This was on the verge of being such a book. It was only after I read the first chapter that I read the premise. Now that I was clued up about what to expect, I was on the lookout for clues about the perfect/imperfect life and there were subtle hints from the start.

Little comments about the times content were shot, the number of people serving the family (i.e., the housekeeper, the chauffeur, the nanny), the NDAs that are part of the employment contract, and the way the March couple spoke to each other set alarm bells off in the earlier chapters and those bells just kept on ringing until they reached a crescendo. From start to finish I was on an emotional rollercoaster with each of the main characters, be it because of the choices they made, the lies they told, the misguided trust, or simply because they were who they were. Most of the characters have likeable features, so it was an emotional battle with myself when I developed strong aversions to them.

I like that it was told through the viewpoint of the different female leads who seemed to have overlapping personalities. Coupled with the flawed, difficult to like, but also dislike characters, were the short chapters. With 75 chapters (including the epilogue), the book was a fairly easy read although I became a little unstuck when we reached the climax. I suspect tis might be a ‘me’ problem. Things just seemed to go from quite straightforward to a complex unveiling rather quickly. I found it snuck up on me unawares.

Owing to the points that personally confused me, I did not enjoy the book quite as much as I thought I would, but I was pleasantly surprised to read something that was quite novel. At a time when Netflix is filled with documentaries about influencers, this hits the market at the right time and gives readers a glimpse of what it sometimes takes to build a perfect façade.

The book is a 4 out of 5 stars read for an audience that likes a bit of drama, expects the unexpected, and loves to see the villain get their comeuppance. The editing was vigilant, and the story kept a great pace, revealing little by little as the book progressed. It is definitely worth a look.

Trigger warnings: Domestic abuse, miscarriage, general violence.

Was this review helpful?

The rising world of Tradwives, particularly Tradwife influencers in politics fascinates me. It is a life and view point that is so very different from mine. I had come across the Tradwive’s secret while perusing Netgalley and knew as soon as I read the description that I would be requesting it. Cheers to being approved by HQ digital and immediately downloading it.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and found myself becoming pretty engrossed in Madison March’s, life, and the work and secrets it took to create and maintain it. Madison gave me the Ballerina Farms vibes and made me really curious about how such popular TradWife influencers are able to do all they post about without help. Definitely food for thought.

As my family and I were in Montana last summer, I really appreciated it the setting of the book. The addition of Kelly, as the tutor from Boston was an interesting touch as was Brianna journey in Wyoming. Each woman’s story and the forces that made up their lives and choices, propelled the book and kept me guessing as to what would happen next.

There are many twist in this book as well as scenes of violence. Living in isolated areas with heavy winters and dominant forces certainly contributed to that. They all come together to make one very intriguing read that definitely has me thinking about the power and trickery of social media.

Was this review helpful?

An entertaining and engaging mystery about a Tradwife influencer whose real life does not resemble the perfect images of home-making and wholesome family life that her social media presence implies. That Madison is not who she makes out to be is very quickly apparent to Cally, who is hired to home school the children, but other darker secrets emerge as the story progresses. This is a great depiction of the fiction of online influencers and the lengths they are prepared to go to in order to promote their image.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Was this review helpful?