The Happy Family

When Beth was 10 years old, her mother Alice walked out and never came back. Despite a troubled childhood coming to terms with her abandonment, Beth is finally settled and happy. A knock at the door one day throws it all in the air when her Mother walks back into her life unannounced. At first her happiness is complete but things soon start to go wrong, badly wrong. Who is trying to destroy Beth's life and how far are they prepared to go to make her suffer.

I enjoyed this one although I had worked out the ending fairly early in the book, it didn't take anything away from the skilful story-telling. The characters are very three dimensional and Beth's confusion and torment is well written. I would definitely recommend this book

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Jackie Kabler's latest tale of domestic suspense THE HAPPY FAMILY.

Having read her previous thriller "The Perfect Couple" , I had high hopes for this book...and I wasn't disappointed. Addicted pretty much from the beginning, THE HAPPY FAMILY is anything but a happy family. But oh how it's dysfunctionality worked!

When Beth was ten years old her mother walked out of their lives and never came back. Now she is forty, amicably divorced from Jacob with two children - Eloise (10) and Finley (7) - and a practice manager for a local GP surgery. Her father who brought her up single-handedly after her mother left is now 80 and living in a care home having suffered a stroke where Beth visits him regularly. Despite the upsets of her childhood and the ensuing adolescent years, Beth has found a happy contentment in her life for which she is grateful.

But Beth has a secret. A deep dark secret which haunts her still. In her thoughts and in her nightmares. And Beth believes it is only a matter of time before her past catches up to her and her secret shame is revealed for all to see.

And then something surprising happens. A knock on the door is about to turn her life upside down as an unfamiliar woman stands on her doorstep. Beth has no idea who she is...until she sees the familiar tattoo on her collarbone. Three stars - one for Beth, one for her dad and one for her mum. No...it can't be...can it? All at once, Beth is overwhelmed by a flood of tears as emotions run rampant at the realisation that the woman standing before her is her mother. She has come back.

Welcoming Alice with open arms, Beth invites her into her home and into her life, asking her to stay for a few days (at first) and then for however long she likes. So thrilled to be reunited with her long lost mother after thirty years, the questions she had about her absent years and why she left just disappear into the background as unimportant. Her mother is back and that's all that matters now. Soon Beth is introducing her mother to her friends and colleagues and they are all incredibly happy for her and accepting of Alice.

And then things start to go wrong.

Almost instantly, strange things begin to happen. Beth loses her keys, not once, but several times. The central heating develops bipolar heating the place up like a sauna despite the thermostat set at the usual temperature. Things go missing or are moved about and Beth begins to wonder if she is losing her grip on reality. Then it seems she is alienating her friends, losing her appetite and drinking far too much. Everyone around her seems to notice the change in her behaviour and become worried, but it's when her children start to suffer that Jacob steps in and tells her to get her act together.

And then videos appear online of Beth...naked...in the bath and rather lewdly in front of a mirror. Not only that, but the videos are linked on several Facebook pages - the surgery where she works, her ex-husband's business page, the care home where her father resides, her friends' pages - all posted from her personal account and is going viral. But the humiliation doesn't end there. It seems a tabloid has picked up the videos and have delved into her background and uncovered the deep dark secret she never wanted to make public.

Within a couple of months, her life has gone from happy contentment to a complete humiliating mess. And the only one who remains in her corner is her mum. Thank goodness she is there to support her. Or is she?

With her life crumbling around her, Beth looks in danger of losing everything and everyone close to her until someone totally unexpected comes to her rescue – a fabulous twist I admittedly guessed early on. But it was still a brilliant twist. So who is Beth's saviour?

There are several twists and reveals in THE HAPPY FAMILY and though I guessed a couple of the big ones it didn't ruin my enjoyment of it. For me, it made the most sense...even if Beth didn't have a clue. But what had me scratching my head was why would Beth take the word of the mother who had only just reappeared in her life (after being absent for the most part) over that of her friends who she knew far better in any case? She was so quick to believe the worst of them on the say so of her mother...and yet didn't question if Alice really had her best interests at heart? She may have briefly entertained the idea but she dismissed it just as quickly also. I realise the woman may have spent her whole life yearning for her mother but after being absent for thirty years, I'd want to be asking some questions. And yet Beth pushed all those aside. Still, maybe Alice just wanted Beth all to herself after being away for so long.

There are so many hints dropped throughout the story that lead the reader trying to figure our exactly what is going on, tying some in knots in the process. There were always going to be questions behind Alice's sudden reappearance...even if Beth failed to ask them. But should we be suspicious? Should Beth? Nothing was ever going to be straightforward, that's for sure, but is it too good to be true? Or are we just set up to be cynical about the obvious? Kabler has certainly played upon the more conspicuous to leave us all scratching our heads wondering what to believe. Is it Beth being gas-lighted? Or is it the reader?

Throughout the story, THE HAPPY FAMILY is, of course, anything but. But the mystery, the suspense, the tension...oh, it was a car crash moment. We simply couldn't look away. We were baited in the beginning then slowly drawn in and by this stage were well and truly hooked as we witness Beth's slow decline into self doubt and self destruction.

Part psychological part domestic, THE HAPPY FAMILY is an addictive read that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of psychological drama and domestic thrillers such as Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater, Sheryl Browne, Ruth Heald, Rona Halsall and Lisa Jewell.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheHappyFamily in exchange for an honest review.

When Beth was a child, her mother walked out and never came back. Now that Beth is approaching forty, settled in with a good career and loving family, her long lost mother shows up at her doorstep, and soon her life begins to unravel.
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I loved THE PERFECT COUPLE, so I was thrilled to get a copy of Jackie Kabler’s latest thriller! When I read her writing, I feel like I can sit back and relax because I know I’m in good hands.

I connected with Beth from page one and found myself immediately on the ride of a single mother juggling a full-time career while caring for an aging father. I felt her joy when her estranged mother showed up on her doorstep, and when things began going wrong for her, I found myself cringing, feeling her embarrassment, confusion and paranoia. Like a good main character in a psychological thriller, Beth starts drinking a fair amount in an attempt to deal, and I must say, under those circumstances, I can’t blame her.

The supporting characters are all incredibly specific and believable, and while Beth tries to grapple with the notion of someone intentionally trying to ruin her life, there is certainly plenty of suspicious behavior happening around her. I’ve seen some reviews stating how easy it is to figure out the first big reveal, but I have to say, I think that’s all part of the plan. It makes the twists that follow all the more shocking! I think Kabler is so adept at what she does that she’s just having fun playing around with what the reader can figure out when.

As thrillers go, this one-part psychological, one-part domestic. It’s a fun, perfect-for-summer page-turner that never gets too dark and ends in a fun flurry of surprises and twists.

This comes out on June 4, 2021!

Thank you One More Chapter and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

This book was just brilliant.

It was so easy to read, the chapters were short and I really struggled to put it down.

It is packed with mystery and I really enjoyed finding out what happened.

It is fast paced and things started unravelling really quickly, I just loved it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Wow, I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this well written, fast paced, thrill ride! It kept me on the edge of my seat with the twisted suspense! Was absolutely chilling, twisty, thrilling, and had one shocking ending! Absolutely unputdownable! Highly, highly recommend!

I started this book after it had been on my Kindle for a while and I had forgotten what the blurb said about it so I was not aware at first that this is a psychological thriller. Certainly, the title does not give that impression. I was gaily reading away thinking of this novel as a family saga and then began to realise that there was more depth and a deeper mystery going on! I think this meant that I enjoyed the book all the more. It is not a particularly dark and uncomfortable read and for that I was grateful, at times it is even light hearted but as you get deeper, you begin to guess at the twists which are revealed in the last portion of the book. Thank you for a good read and recommended.

The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler is a propulsive read that had me racing through the pages. Having read Ms Kabler's previous novels, my expectations were high, and this one did not disappoint.

Beth is a single parent whose own childhood was not an easy one. Abandoned by her mother at the age of ten, Beth got on with things, but has always wondered if she was the reason that her mother left the family. So it is a shock when, thirty years later, her mother, Alice, turns up on the doorstep, hoping to right past wrongs and renew her relationship with Beth. But as Alice settles into the family home, Beth cannot shake the feeling that someone is watching her, and a series of inexplicable events begin to make her question her own sanity. Is Alice's return really the answer to her prayers, or the beginning of a new nightmare?

I love the writing of Ms Kabler, and could not read this addictive new mystery quickly enough. I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever comes next from this must read author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

When Beth's mother returns after many years she so happy to be reunited again she lets strange occurrences pass by. But as she starts to question them deep secrets are about to resurface. I really enjoyed this book. It has so many twists and turns. It's a slow burn read, which I enjoy but as the plot unfolds it turns into a page turning thriller.

I found this book to very enjoyable. I have just finished it and only started it last night.
I felt that the pacing was quite good. The plot was certainly predictable, but nevertheless it is a good book.
Some of the characterisation was a bit too stylised ,
as everything at the start of the book was so very unbelievably “cosy”
Her Mum turning up in her life seemed to be the perfect, smart, conscientious mother we could all aspire to.
A great read, very enjoyable

I've read books by Jackie Kabler before and I was not disappointed with her latest offering, I was completely addicted to reading The Happy Family, it drew me into the story and before I knew it I was halfway through without even realising. It was so easy to read and get swept up with.

Because the book was written in first person it felt as if we were in Beth's head, which lent itself to the nature of the book so well. It felt as if we were falling apart, questioning everything and unsure of who we could trust... I felt myself becoming paranoid just reading the book, it really got under my skin.

There were points that felt unrealistic, with how Beth welcomed her mother back with open arms and with how she didn't question certain things, but when you think that Beth is a divorced mother of two who really has her shit together (really refreshing to read by the way) you can understand why her mother suddenly reappearing out of the blue would throw her off kilter and lead her to make these decisions and assumptions.

Throughout the story Kabler dropped these small hints that built up the tension and lead into this great little backstory that eventually made it's way to the forefront of the book and delivered the mother (excuse the pun) of all twists!

I did not expect the final third of the book to play out the way it did, and while I did guess some aspects of how it would pan out, there others that completely blindsided me and left me sitting with my mouth hanging open.

I also loved how the very end of the book showed everything coming a full circle, it rounded the story off and left me feeling really fulfilled with the story.

On the whole, I loved this book. It kept me guessing, had so many twists and turns that I thought I was on a rollercoaster and finished by wrapping everything up into this perfect little read!

I really enjoyed a previous book by Jackie Kabler so I jumped at the chance to read another! Her books are so fun and addictive! Kept me on the edge of my seat, twists turns and oh so exciting! And that ending I did NOT see coming. Thank you so much, can't wait to read anther by her!

Jackie Kabler does it again with another of her psychological thriller books. I’ve read “The Perfect Couple” and I enjoyed it very much. This time, I did not just enjoy it, but also had unstoppable anxiety feelings while reading it, in a positive way of course. I couldn't guess “whodunnit” and at the same time I’m thinking “how come I missed the clue?”

Beth Holland, a single mother, has a settled and happy life with two children and best friends around her. Until one day, a woman knocked on her door and told her that she was her longgone mother, Alice. Unexpectedly and also grateful at the same time, she welcomed her in her house and also her life. But, things started falling down one by one, her dark secrets also reappeared in her dreams, mysterious events keep happening around her, and make her lose her friends one by one. Until when this will happen, and isn't she supposed to be happy?

It was a fast-paced read, although had a slightly slow burner at the beginning. I liked how the author successfully built the tension feeling of mine reading every chapter, so it kept me engaged. The main character had me “bite my nails” on how she reacted for every mysterious and devastated moment that occurred around her. Maybe this is why this book is being categorized as a “psychological thriller?” :)

If you enjoy and also looking for fast-paced psychological thriller reads, I recommend you to check out this book. Thank you to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. All of my opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Clever! What a cool storyline … and that twist!

Practice manager, Beth has a happy life, two children she adores, a great job she loves and good friends (although all her best friends are much older than she is, around the same age as her mother – 😉 read into that what you will). And, talking of mothers, Beth’s mum walked out on her and her father some thirty years ago when Beth was ten.

After divorcing her husband, Beth not only has a good relationship with him but also with his new wife. Her dad is in a fabulous care home and enjoys being there, and Beth visits him often. She works hard, but has help from Robin to do the school run and keep the house clean. Everything is peachy.

And then, a knock at her door turns her life around, upside down and inside out. The woman who says her name is Alice is none other than her mother, complete with the three hearts tattoo on her neck. Beth is stunned, delighted, loss for words one minute and gibbering like an idiot the next. Her mother has returned.

After inviting her mother to stay a few days (at first), Beth can’t wait to tell her friends and family – even her dad – that Alice is back in her life. Everyone is thrilled for her, and totally accepting of Alice.

Weirdly, almost instantly strange things start to happen. Beth loses her keys a lot, the heating system goes bezerk, “accidents” happen and tempers start to fray as Beth seems to be losing her grip on everything, alienating loved ones … and drinking too much. When everything seems to be going wrong, Beth is glad to have her mum around for support.

There are lots of twists in this story, and just when you think things can’t get any worse for Beth, they do. A long-held secret – something which, since their move to Cheltenham after the childhood incident, only Beth and her father are aware of – suddenly has reared its very ugly head. Beth looks in danger of losing everything and everyone close to her until someone totally unexpected comes to her rescue – yet another fabulous twist. Who is Beth’s saviour? Well, while the twist is hugely surprising, it’s not too difficult to join the dots and find her guardian angel, though Beth does make a meal out of that task!

Overall, a compelling and addictive read that I raced through. Admittedly, it sagged a little in the middle as Beth’s paranoia spiralled out of control repeatedly, but the ending more than makes up for that. As does the witty dialogue and hilarious “menopause” chats she and her friends have at the beginning. As the title says, Beth really did have the happy family.

If you enjoy psychological or domestic suspense, then this book is for you. Give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

Alice left her ten year old daughter and husband years ago. Now a knock on the door gives Beth a great surprise. Her mother is back! She is so excited. Then things go horribly wrong. Her job is in jeopardy. Her child are in danger and a strange man seems to be following her. How could such a happy time turn so fast to terror.
A great psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Thoroughly enjoyed that, a definite keeper. A book that once I started I could not put it down until I finished it!

The disappearance of a young mother throws her family into a turmoil, which is further aggravated upon her return. Some secrets are truly better left way behind....A superb thriller!

Wow! One of those books that puts you on edge early on and you don’t quite know why! Beth is the practice manager at a surgery and lives with her two children having divorced her husband a while back. She has good friends and a good life and sees her father frequently. Her mother disappeared when she was little and she hasn't heard or seen from her since she was small. There is something in Beth's past to do with a girl called Lucy who when Beth thinks she is being followed wonders if this is what it's to do with- a secret only a few know. When there is a knock at the door and there stands Alice, her mother, Beth’s life suddenly changes- the mother she has always wondered what happened to and why she left. OMG one to put you in a spin and not want to put down- one I stayed up to finish as I just had to know where this was going. A cleverly thought out, and well planned plot and most certainly one to keep the grey matter active. One addictive read!

(rest of links as part of blog tour)

This is the first novel I have read by Jackie Kabler. I was not sure when I first started if I would be able to finish it. I did end up finishing it though and I am so glad I did. I would say that this novel is a slow burn story. There is so much build up and it all just comes together at the end.

Without giving much away, it is about a long lost mother who comes home to her daughter after many years of her being gone. Everything for Beth seems to be going so well with her mother being home. That is, until it’s not and Beth’s perfect little life begins to crumble around her.

This story is one where you want to yell at the main character most of the story. But at the end of it all, you end up having sympathy for her and love her. This is such a well written story that has twists around every corner. At the end it is a story of acceptance and redemption.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the advanced read of this novel. All my thoughts and feelings are my own.

10 year old Beth's young life was shattered when her mother walked out and never came back.
Now Beth is a grown woman, divorced and living with her two young children. She has a job she loves and everything seems wonderful in her life, but Beth has a secret, something she hopes no one will ever find out, something that happened when she was a young girl.
Then one day there is a knock on her door and there stands her mother. Beth is overjoyed to have Alice back in her life and her children have a grandmother who adores them. But all is not good as slowly Beth's friends seem to be avoiding her and even things in Beth's home go missing or seem to be moved.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I guessed the ending early on and I thank Netgalley, the author and publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I was thrilled to receive approval to read this as Jackie Kabler is always on my list of favorite authors to read. She does not disappoint in this book! It has a lot of twists and turns that you will not see coming and will keep you in suspense until the very end. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller!

This is the first book I have read by Jackie Kabler and I have to admit I am sold on it.

The premise is that Beth is a divorced women with two children, a boy and a girl. The relationship with her ex and his new partner is excellent and the children are happy to live with Beth and equally happy to spend time with Dad and Crystal. Her father is in a brilliant care home and she visits him regularly. She works as a practice manager for a doctors’ surgery. She is friendly, efficient and happy. She has good friends at work and two very good friends as neighbours. The only blot on her horizon is the nightmares that frequent her dreams. These she associates with the disappearance of her mother when she was very young. She can recall the unhappy woman and can almost understand why she left her father who was 40 years older than her. Still…

Than one day she just appears on Beth’s doorstep and introduces herself and ‘just like that’ – she is accepted, no, welcomed back into Beth’s life. How happy, how joyous. And then things start to go wrong.

Several big reveals, several big twists; one I guessed about half-way through, one I guessed shortly thereafter – but there was still one that did surprise me.

Brilliant book. Well written, well-constructed. Great characters. Just goes to show how easy it could be to de-rail someone’s life though – food for thought!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Oo y’all this one was a good one! Definitely creepy all the way through because you knew the ending was going to be a surprise! Absolutely loved it and the writing was excellent.

I absolutely loved this book. Beth appears to have it all, two lovely children, a friendly ex, a great job and a lovely house but all is not as it seems. Growing up without a mum and and a tragic event at secondary school have terrible consequences for her now. Can she trust everyone? Is everyone who they seem? Her life spirals out of control and she is at a loss as to what to do. The ending could not be predicted. An addictive read.

After reading so many psychological thrillers, this one totally stood out as GREAT! Lots of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page until the very end. The Happy Family definitely kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Beth was 10, her mother walked out of her life never to be seen again. Raised by her dad she always felt the departure of her mum was instrumental in her life choices. Divorced from Jacob and sharing their two children when Beth’s mum turns up out of the blue it’s a welcome sight but not everyone is as accepting of Alice and soon Beth has to understand not all families are happy.
I flew through this and couldn’t get enough. I love Jackie’s thrillers and this was no exception. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Wow what a fantastic psychological thriller! I couldn’t put the happy family down, the twists and turns and suspense make for a riveting read.
Beth a divorced mother of two, with a lovely caring circle of friends, has had a tumultuous childhood, her mother walked out of her life when she was young and then she was implicated in a tragic incident whilst at school which has hung over her the whole of her adult life.
Suddenly out of the blue a knock at her door reveals a women claiming to be her long lost mum, Beth welcomes her with open arms and revels in the new relationship that is forming,however all is not as it seems, friends drift away, strange things occur in the house and Beths life starts unravelling! Can this all be attributed to her mum? Tense,twisty themes lead us to a very surprising ending!
A great read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

Wow...absolutely loved this book. Fast paced, full of twists that I didn't see coming. Whilst I thought I knew where the plot was going mid way through, how wrong could I be.

Beth had a troubled childhood, her mother left her as she was approaching her teens, and a secret from her school years has continued to weigh on her ever since.

Separated from her husband Jacob, she has 2 children she adores and a circle of friends to rely on.
One morning a stranger arrives on her doorstep, claiming to be her mother. Beth welcomes her into her life, overjoyed at this reunion. However at the same time, Beth's life seems to be falling apart in other ways. Everybody she thought she could trust seems to be turning against her.

Absolute great read, moments of uncomfortable reading but highly recommend.

Well you know a book is pretty amazing when you actually exclaim WTAF in full out loud at a key moment. Thankfully no one was around and I didn't have to explain, but once again Jackie Kabler has managed to keep me on my toes throughout.

I think at times I had thought about various of the outcomes and my mind flitted on most of the truths, but I couldn't quite figure out the specifics and I was still very shocked as everything is revealed.

But the journey to get there was utterly addicting, kept me on my toes and had me feeling rather creepy at times, with some of what Beth was experiencing.

This is a book that starts of relatively gently all things considered, but before long it all ramps up, and events become a lot darker, a bit sinister and although you may like me have some theories, as to what is going on, I would suggest you won't be able to predict the exact nature of how everything occurs and all the consequences.

And then there are other twists that through me completely and well I just love a book that keeps me on my toes.

The blurb tells you everything you need to know about the plot, anything I would add would definitely be counted as spoilers which I avoid, and it really does cover the key points and had me intrigued to read at any rate.

What is though fast becoming rather apparent is just amazingly talented Jackie Kabler is. I really enjoyed her cozy mysteries, but since she has started writing psychological thrillers well her skill, storytelling and well the dark twisted part of her mind are just superb and seem to be getting more and more impressive by the book, and they started at a high level!

I couldn't get enough of The Happy Family, loved the characterisation, writing, and just everything about it.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

Loved reading this book. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and finished it in one sitting. Highly recommend.

Beth's mother Alice walked out on Beth and her Father when Beth was 10. Decades later, Alice shows up on Beth's doorstep and they begin to rebuild a relationship.
The premise is intriguing and the writing snappy making this a fast paced and bingeable thriller. I particularly loved how Beth's increased drinking and confusion played with the emotions making her an unreliable narrator and keeping you on your toes.

#TheHappyFamily #NetGalley
Kabler's best work till date.
Beth was 10 years old, her beautiful, wild mother Alice walked out and never came back. Beth’s life since hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but now she is happy and settled, with a successful career, a loving family and a beautiful home.
An unexpected visitor…
Then one day there’s a knock at the door. Alice has returned. Overjoyed to have the chance to rebuild their relationship, Beth invites her mother to move in.
A life that comes crashing down…
At first, everything seems wonderful. But then Beth’s friends begin to drift away, strange things start to happen at home, and rumours begin to circle about her past. As the mysterious events around Beth become darker and more dangerous, she is forced to question everything. Is somebody in her life trying to destroy her happiness? And how far will they go?
What happened next? Read this book to know.
I loved the main characters. I loved it's ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for giving me an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley, author Jackie Kabler, and One More Chapter publishing for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
What would you do when the mother who disappear almost 30 years ago suddenly reappears?
at age 10 Beth's mother walked out on their family never to be heard from as Beth grew up. Now almost 30 years later, Beth feels like something is missing, but what? She has a happy and satisfying life. But what Beth thought might be missing walking back into her life one day and that missing piece was her mother. Now that Beth's mother has finally reappeared, Beth is willing to welcome back her mother with open arms. But as Beth's life begins to fall apart around her, her mother is there to help her pick up the pieces or is she?
This book was slow at times, but overall had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was really going on. While I could guess at some of the twist and turns, I was pleasantly surprised by the big reveal. The characters are well developed and believable. The author's writing style made the book an easy read to finish within a day.
Overall, I enjoyed my first book by author Jackie Kabler and look forward to future new releases by this author. I would recommend this book to those who like domestic thrillers.

This has to be... So far of 2021 my favourite storyline ever!!!
My god- "The Happy Family" had so many emotions running through it I really felt for Beth, I felt it when she was happy and content, and I really felt it when her life started to go a bit pear shaped!!.
This was really well written, and the suspense of the whole book had me reading it in under 24hrs!
I loved that it was set in Cheltenham, with mentions to Bristol & South Gloucestershire (My home town!.)
All the characters were really likable and everything was really well explained, no ends left untied with thoughts you may of had as a reader throughout.
I did guess early on though,-I just felt it in me that the ending was who I thought it would be and it made me cry when the DNA proved it, I couldn't of been more happier.
The storyline also focuses on a fundamental serious issue. I think it was a great thing to add to the book to bring to light the true seriousness of our actions and the consequences of those actions- not only how they can stay with us forever, but the consequences they can make to others lives past or present.
I REALLLLLY enjoyed Jackie Kabler's 'The Happy Family" it's a definite must read and I would recommend to anyone that loves a good gripping, suspenseful thriller, that holds you on edge throughout, yet brings you all the emotions at the same time! 5+++++ stars from me!! 👏👏👏👏

I was new to Jackie Kabler. This book was a wild ride ! I loved the characters in the book . Each chapter just seemed to get better and better.
The book was full of twists and turns and was a compulsive read for me.
This will not be my last Jackie Kabler book. I can't wait to devour more of her books! Amazing Amazing read. Thank you for allowing me to preview this book!

Publication date 4th June 2021, thank you netgalley harper Collins publishers and Jackie Kabler for the digital advanced copy of the happy family.

After 30 years Beth opens her front door to discover her long lost mum. Although this should be the best time of her life, she's privately dealing with incidents that's lead her to believe that her biggest regret and secret is coming back to haunt. Her happiness at her mothers return is dampened as her life seems to be falling apart in the process. Why has someone waited all this time to get rheir revenge, Beth believes they don't want her to be happy and having her mother back is the dream she never expected to come true.


This is one of those books where a really good review could completely spoil the plot. So i will proceed without spoilers.

I loved this book and it turns out that I have read Jackie Kablers book the perfect couple and I loved that one also so it makes sense. If psychology thrillers is your genre of choice the plot and plot twists will be quite obvious from the get go. But I promise you even having worked it out I still was glued to this book.

As the story Is narrated by Beth it is really intriguing to get the story in tiliae from her point of view. Beth as our protagonists is relatable, like the rest of us she's just trying to get by and has some hidden trauma. I believe the author has a skill not many authors do. She was able to show the psychological changes in our character without being so overtly obvious. It's a skill and many readers themselves may not read between the lines.

Beth's excitement at finally having her mum back is just so intense that I as the reader felt her joy and understood the importance of this for her. Maybe I just relate to much to Beth as all her friends are around her mothers age and its strange because as you read about her neighbours and work colleagues it just makes sense. So its a shame when truths are told, they didn't sit right with me.

Then there's the two other women we get to meet Robyn her housekeeper n nanny and a lovely homeless lady Nadia. Both women seem like ladies you want as friends so I just loved the part they play in Beth's life.
Strange thing is her friendships begin to collapse and there's always Robyn seems a tad noisy. But who hasn't had a look roubd when you should be working.

In all honesty to start with Beth's relationships all seem a bit to perfect even with her ex husband and his girlfriend. So the fall out during the book is great to read.


Would I recommend this Book? Yes I would to lovers of the genre those who enjoy Pheobe Morgan, CL Taylor, Louise Jenson and Lisa Jewell you will enjoy the happy family. Yes it's an obvious plot, yes you will scream at Beth throughout but most importantly non of that matters because it's a well written book with likeable characters. Easiest 5 stars this year so far.