Happy & You Know It

by Laura Hankin

A dark, witty page-turner set around a group of wealthy mothers and the young musician who takes a job singing to their babies and finds herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….

After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for overprivileged infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.

There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her perfect life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the cool women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.

Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood—exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women—while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Adult, Mystery, Book Club

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2020

About the author

Laura Hankin is the author of HAPPY & YOU KNOW IT, A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN, and the upcoming THE DAYDREAMS. She's written for outlets like McSweeney's and HuffPost, while her musical comedy has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. She lives in Washington, DC, where she once fell off a treadmill twice in one day. Contact her on Instagram/Twitter: @LauraHankin or Tiktok: @laura_hankin

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the universe of “Super powered trust fund Manhattan penthouse moms”! They can’t be defined as regular stay-at-home moms. They are full of energy with their shiny, beautiful hairs, wearing their designer clothes (especially blouses) or casually Lululemon yoga pants, drinking wines, already lost their pregnancy weights, running around from different activities to another social gatherings.
Now they created a play group for their children but instead of their babies, they all play no work and of course that situation makes them not dull but so entertaining group of people. The group leader Whitney, once upon a time white trash girl, now a sophisticated, beautiful mom played her cards right and charmed a handsome, rich husband Grant. She is now an instagram star sharing the group photos and telling how she is having an amazing life.

Now they need a musician play songs to entertain their babies and we’re introduced Claire, replaced by another singer from her old band, jobless, penniless, rejected, ex- church singer and ex-rock star, welcomes into those mothers’ world to sing their babies: “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!” where the book’s title coming from.
Slowly Claire feels motivated by those mothers’ positive energy. Even she stands still after seeing the hostility of Amara, one of the mothers resigned from her job on popular late show, raising her problem child, caught by Claire at the bathroom of Whitney in inappropriate position. She gets used to quirkiness of Meredith and Ellie, the arrogance and know-it-all attitude of Gwen and silent, peaceful antics of Vicki. Those women turned into her best friends and she starts to enjoy her time spending with them which helps her to forget her regretful past and her failed carrier attempts.

She befriends Amara and shared her secrets about her wounded past. But one day she also finds out the biggest secret which will turn her world upside down and helps her see from a different angle of those shiny mothers’ world. Nothing as it seems, everything she knew about them is bucket of lies.
So what is going to happen? Will she face with those mothers? Is one of them conducting a master plan? Are they both liars, cheaters? Which one she could really trust? Did she put her life in danger for trusting them so much?

This book is getting darker at each page and full of surprises and twists that you never see it coming. The final revelation connects with prologue perfectly. I liked the dark humor of the story and author’s sarcastic approach to the rich young penthouse’s mothers’ lives. It was more enjoyable than any “Real housewives” series.
The character development is fantastic. I mostly liked Amara and her relationship dynamics with her husband, her failures and her fears about being a bad mother, her efforts and natural way of dealing with her problems earned a place in my heart. Of course I also loved Claire, her efforts to be better version of herself and chasing her dreams.

I liked the chapters, the stories of these different women and conclusion of their stories. It’s a fresh break to read dark humor, women’s fiction genre which I really enjoyed the intelligence and writing style of the author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing to share this amazing ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.

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[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was okay but I feel like it was missing that something to make it great. I love stories like this that follow a bunch of rich privileged moms and then someone new is getting sucked into their world, it’s one of my favorite tropes - but I feel like this would’ve worked so much better as a thriller, as opposed to a contemporary.

I really enjoyed the first 200 pages, I was invested in all the entertaining drama and secrets, but then once we get into the part with the TrueMommy drugs and the drug distribution and how they though they were taking vitamins, not drugs I started to lose interest. I just didn’t really care a whole lot about this storyline. I was more invested in the interesting friendship between Amara and Claire, and Whitney’s character in general.

This just didn’t really go in the direction I was hoping it would, and I just think this story is missing something. Maybe it’s because I read so many thrillers but this premise would’ve worked great as a thriller 😅

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Yayy!! This is a BOTM option this month****

Well hello....mommy club book! What a refreshing book this was. I flew through this entertaining read in less than 24 hours. Not being a mommy myself (except for my adorable dogs) I wasn't sure if this would be a book I would click with. No worries here! If you have a sense of humor, like some entertainment and like a little mystery and frenemy type behavior...this is it!

This book was a snarky adorable look at motherhood struggles, life struggles and fricking funny all wrapped into one. Get this...it opens with a "rich looking" woman running down the streets of NYC in a fur coat in the middle of August..with vomit all down the front of her...with a group of women chasing her...in their heels...wth right??? Don't worry no spoilers here, that is literally from Chapter one.

Whitney created a mommy club for NYC mommies to share and bond with their daily struggles. The club is a great support but often turns into a bit of a competition between the mommies. Whitney has made the club "famous" by splashing their picture perfect mommy moments all over Instagram.

Enter Claire...the hip musician the mommies hire to entertain their babies. Hold up...do people really do this?!! Claire has secrets of her own..why does she flip her you know what when she hears the ever so popular song Idaho Eyes? Can she bond with these mommies?

My favorite character was Amara. Real to life, often questioning how she got herself classified a "mom." I loved her snarky behavior and my heart went out to her as she struggled in her new role.

Surprise!! I didn't expect a bit of a mystery rolled up in this one. There is a mastermind behind the mommy club..yep you heard me! Some twists and turns that completely caught me off guard.

This book was so entertaining. I often felt like I was reading about The Real Housewives of NYC mommy edition! BTW I would watch that show! #guiltypleasure Rich, poor you all get pooped on the same!

Thank you so much to Berkley for this ARC via Edelweiss. I highly enjoyed it!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Hankin has joined us in The Behind the Pages group for a spoiler-free Q & A . To see what she had to say about Happy & You Know It you can find the thread here

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hurray! I am happy, and I want to show it!! Happy & You Know it was another book from that stack of not my normal that surprised me. Again I find myself feeling like a little kid on the playground wanting to share my joy with everyone or more like wanting to share my joy with friends and a bottle of wine!

There is no shortage of books out there that explore "Mom culture," wealthy moms and their struggles with keeping their image while raising their little joys or terrors. It can often feel like a playground of drama. Well, Laura Hankin takes this overused storyline and creates a fresh, exciting, and delicious playground for us to emerge ourselves into!

Things do start off feeling like satire; however, there are a few turning points that take this story and characters in a thrilling, delightful and fun direction that took me by surprise. The drama is smart and fun, the suspense had me anticipating the outcome of each of the character's conflicts and secrets. Some of the characters are likable, and some not so, each with some vulnerability to provoke some emotions. The dialogue between them is fun, entertaining, smart, witty and balanced nicely with some snarkiness. There are some twists and turns that kept me on my toes!

I had some fun with this, and it kept me entertained, and I want to sing about it! With all the sadness going on right now, I just want to find some joy, and I am going to sing! If you are happy and know it and want to show it share it with me!!

I received a copy from the publisher.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected delight

Was a bit nervous as I first started this book, thinking it would be all about rich women and their play dates for their privileged children. While that does serve as the backdrop of this story-line, there’s so much more to uncover within the pages.

Claire misses the opportunity of a life time when her band shot to stardom… without her. Now she finds herself reduced to playing kiddy tunes for toddlers at play dates around New York City. Offering a glimmer of hope, Claire has just been hired by Whitney to play at her home for her group of friends and their children. She is welcomed with open arms by all. It doesn’t take long for her to see not everything is as shiny and happy as it appears on the outside.

Laura Hankin writes an intriguing contemporary novel that will keep you captivated throughout. Even has a few surprises sprinkled in along the way!

A buddy read with Susanne

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy & You Know It is such a unique read! It centers around an elite group of mothers who hire a musician to sing to their children.

Claire is the musician hired to perform for a play dates for these Park Avenue moms. She never imagines she’d fall in love with this work, but she does. She even grows to like the well-to-do moms.

Each of the moms has some drama and secrets of her own. Claire becomes closer and closer to them, and what she finds is a darkness she never could have imagined.

Happy & You Know It has humor in the unexpected places. It addresses some important contemporary issues such as judgments on motherhood and social media-laden lives. But mostly, I thought it was a story of friendship and the powerful bonds women can form with each other. Overall, it’s a feel good book with plenty of depth and cleverness.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[mimi (depression slump) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy and You Know It is not exactly a thriller or a mystery. In fact, I didn't understand what all the fuss was about until the scam was revealed and, even after that, it doesn't really improve.

I could say I was shocked to find out the truth, the secrets and all the many reasons men are trash with their own children, but I wasn't. Nothing is thrilling in this story, nothing is surprising about a bunch of moms that grow their children on their own even if they have husbands. And truth is, what happened is bad, but still, it doesn't feel right to blame the only woman who wanted to create a better life for herself.
It's sad, more than anything else. It's a sad reality that women live every day.

But, once you adjust to the pace of it, I still think it's okay.
The narration is slow, with lots of descriptions and flashbacks, focusing mainly on three characters. Nothing is left to the imagination and nothing is left unanswered.

↠ 3 stars

[Theresa Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WONDERFUL novel. For the first part of it, I couldn’t figure out why I was turning the pages too fast to take notes, which I usually do when there are this many characters involved. There’s Claire, who was unceremoniously dumped by her band for another singer who was curvier and sexier, which would have been rough on its own, but what’s worse is that shortly after they made the change, they catapulted to fame and have the number one song in the country, while she’s taking on unglamorous jobs like being the cheery singer for the playgroup of babies of six excessively wealthy New York stay-at-home moms who spend an extravagant amount of money on things like health supplements.

The novel is told from some of the moms, too. I had more sympathy for some of them than others: Missing having their day jobs while maintaining their skinny physiques and pretending there are no challenges with being a mom, even to a child with a behavior disorder because, of course, they are perfect in every way.

The novel gets to be even more of twist-and-turns page turner with a supremely satisfying ending.

Highly recommend.

Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 19, 2020.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to really get into this one but soon after I was hooked. And I don't think you necessarily have to be a parent and/or active on social media to find this to be a worthwhile read.

Claire is a musician who is struggling to make ends meet so she takes a job as a playgroup entertainer for a group of privileged mothers and their babies. Not the most exciting gig especially considering her former band is experiencing fame and fortune without her. The longer Claire hangs around the moms, the more she realizes this group is just full of secrets.

The story follows Claire and some of the mothers in the group so you end up with quite a few perspectives. While there is some humor in the book, I actually was surprised that it was a thought-provoking novel. With social media such a part of everyday life for so many, there seems to be this added pressure to present a picture perfect life when most of us aren't living that reality at all. The story explores some of the messed up consequences of trying to uphold a certain lifestyle for appearance sake. And of course the criticism that mothers seem to face no matter what they do is something the author also touches on in the book.

I do recommend this book if you enjoy reading women's fiction. It's entertaining, but not a fluffy read as there truly is some substance. The author also manages to throw in a few twists which was an added bonus.

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire lost her gig with a band right as they hit it big. She is down on her luck and in need of a job. So when a upper class mommy group needs a singer? She is on it!


Once she gets into these women's lives she realizes that maybe they aren't just the upper class housewives that she originally thought. I so want to call them the house ho's like I do in real life but I can feel the trolls fingers just a burning.


This book is just pure fun. Especially if you a nosey, catty heifer like I am.


Then plot twist...I actually started to like a few of these women.


Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

[Book of the Month]

Why I love it
by Zibby Owens

As a mom of four kids, a New Yorker, and the host of a literary podcast, I love reading stories that poke fun at the craziness of modern motherhood, especially those that take place in Manhattan. After long days of caretaking—especially now in the coronavirus quarantine when I’m (supposed to be) overseeing homeschooling—I crave the moment when I can fall into bed and crack open a book that I know will make me laugh. That’s why Laura Hankin’s debut novel, Happy & You Know It, was the perfect read for me.

Laura writes with quick-witted humor and a keen observer’s eye about Claire, an aspiring musician who reluctantly becomes a children’s playgroup entertainer to make ends meet. When her path intersects with one stereotypical Upper East Side playgroup, she becomes a part of their lives in unexpected ways. Not only does she begin to uncover some of their closely held secrets, but she also finds, to her surprise, compassion and a sense of sisterhood.

At times happy, at times sad, Happy & You Know It will remind readers like me that no matter how different women may seem on the outside, when you dig a little deeper to that magical place of vulnerability and truth, we’re really all quite similar. (Just try to overlook the green juice.) Thanks to Laura for providing such an entertaining read during these stressful and uncertain times.

Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/happy-you-...

[Tucker Almengor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

"Women don’t have to be perfect to be worthy."

I don't really know where to start because this book was all over the place in the best way possible.

So, what's this book about?
After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for overprivileged infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.

There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her perfect life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the cool women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this but then I re-read the synopsis and was newly intrigued because it reminded me of That's What Frenemies Are For which I absolutely loved so I dived right in.

I admit this book had a slower start but I pressed on and I am so, so glad I did because at the midway point things really started to get crazy. There was so much drama and chaos. Each little plot point was expertly weaved into the story and just added to the overarching story.

I don't want to spoil the ending because it was definitely one of the greatest parts of this book but I do want to talk about how absolutely outstanding it was. It was funny, shocking, and dramatic and honestly, I could just read it over and over again.

I also liked the themes of self-love and how people's lives look so much better on social media than they are in real life. There was also exploration of cheating and spousal relationships which was interesting.

Overall, this book was dark, deep, and dramatic and I absolutely loved it.

Bottom Line
5 stars
Age Rating - [ R ]
Content Screening (Mild Spoilers)
Positive Messages (4/5) - [Sticking together, perserverance, honesty]
Violence (3/5) - [
Sex (2/5) - [Sexual themes, Kissing]
Language (3/5) - [F**k, D*mn, Sh*t]
Drinking/Drugs (5/5) - [Recreational drugs, Drinking]
Content and Trigger Warnings - Drug usage, Drinking, Cheating
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Publisher: Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
Genre: Women's Fiction/Thriller

----------------

5 stars HOLY MOLY! that was a wild ride

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[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy and You Know It , Laura Hankin's new novel, is an insightful, humorous commentary on the pressures of motherhood.

Claire has impeccable timing: she gets kicked out of her band just before their meteoric rise to fame. Now, barely able to make ends meet and filling her spare time with alcohol, she’s forced to take a job as a musician for a children’s playgroup.

But as hellish as the job sounds, the wealthy mothers whose infants make up the playgroup take a shine to Claire. There’s Whitney, the group leader whose Instagram presence as a super-mom belies the anxiety and boredom she feels in her everyday life; Amara, who would rather be working than mothering but she still worries that her baby might be lagging behind developmentally; and Gwen, the know-it-all mom always happy to dole out advice.

Even though the women involve Claire in some of their activities, she envies their perfectly put-together lives. That is, until she realizes why everything seems so manageable, and discovers these women are hiding more secrets than Claire can imagine.

"Women had to grapple with a choice that men never did while remaining uncomplaining and generous so that they didn't nag their husbands straight into the arms of less complicated lovers. And now moms weren't even allowed to acknowledge how much work it all was anymore."

This was a quick, enjoyable read, one of those “sure, the rich are different but are they happy” books. There’s humor and melodrama and some sharp observations about motherhood and marriage and the pressures of trying to hold it all together.

Hankin has definitely written a fun and thought-provoking book!

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.

Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant, Insightful and Totally Hilarious!

What’s a girl to do when she’s fired from her job as the lead singer for an up and coming band? Become a musician for a children’s playgroup of course! Sounds less than stellar I know, but thankfully the pay is good and believe it or not the “Mommies” are actually (dare I say), nice.

When Claire accepts the gig, she has no idea what she is getting herself into. She is accepted by the Mommies in a way she did not anticipate. Little does Claire know that nothing is as it appears. Claire however is up to the challenge.

This novel explores friendship, motherhood, social media and power in the most extraordinary of ways. It is intuitive and extremely funny (juicy even) and it often had me laughing at the hijinks that ensued. “Happy & You Know It” by Laura Hankin is clever, extremely well written and has brilliant plotted characters - whose storylines kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could to get to the end. This was my first novel by Ms. Hankin and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

This was a fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group and Laura Hankin for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 7.12.20.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a big YES for me. I think of this as as sort of literary adult cousin to Gossip Girl meets Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng. It's a story about women, and the expectations placed on them by the outside world and each other, and about the secret parts of ourselves that we try to hide in the pursuit of perfection.

It is smart, but perhaps more importantly, to me, is that it's hilarious. Laura Hankin has such an acerbic wit and sharp viewpoint, and she tells the stories of difficult women making bad decisions so well. I fell in love with the women of the upper east side playgroup so quickly even as I watched their story arcs unfold with a deep sense of dread in my gut.

Just a perfect summer book, with enough edge, drama, and tension to keep you turning the pages no matter how many dishes might be sitting in your (my) sink.

[Lauren Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was hot trash. No other words for it. I expected a funny hot take on Upper East Side moms but it's barely amusing and hardly a hot take, so I found myself just annoyed by these idiotic women and even more annoyed by a story that was straight nonsense from start to finish. I felt like this was all over the place with nothing really to tie it together, aside from some contrived plot about supplements the women are taking that fits into like 5% of the overall story, but ends up being the climax? As it was happening I was just like, cool, I don't care about this at all??? Because all of these women are vapid and insane and it really doesn't matter to me what happens to any of them. Even her anti-hero Claire is pathetic and impossible to like. A hard no from me.

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - still catching up! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, fun, and a bit twisted! Claire is a twentysomething reeling from her unexpected departure from the band Vagabond, as another glamorous singer has turned from temporary help to her permanent replacement. As the band rockets to fame, Claire feels betrayed and doesn't know where her life and career is headed. She then stumbles onto an opportunity to become a singer to babies at a playgroup for rich mothers, and her initial reluctance to accept the position full-time quickly disappears as she becomes fully integrated into the group. Led by Instagram influencer Whitney, level-headed Gwen, and sharp-tongued but unfailingly funny Amara, Claire is swept away by the everyday luxuries these women have and quickly becomes a permanent part of the sisterhood. But can sisters truly keep secrets from one another? Are any of these women as happy and as "Instagram worthy" as they seem?

I was immediately charmed by our protagonist Claire and could certainly relate to the time of uncertainty young women experience in their late 20s (especially 'still' being childless at that age) and appreciate that Hankin chose to focus on the pros and cons and ups and downs of motherhood in the current era. What could have come off as another blase exploration of social media and its perils was instead a light and at times quippy take on the good and bad of being a stay-at-home mom, gentle jibes at the patriarchy, and the lovely friendships between all of these women. Chock full of pop culture references, this book kept me giggling but also had so much heart, I was fully invested from the first page to the last. As secrets are revealed, the reader realizes none of these women are what they appear to be, and the ending was as shocking as some of the thrillers I've read!

This was a fabulously fun read I would definitely recommend! 4⭐

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a deliciously devious delight this was! Claire has recently lost her job as a lead singer in a band. To pour salt in the wound the same band has just skyrocketed to major fame. but Claire cannot let her family and friends back home know that she has failed so she needs to find another gig in the big apple. This is how she finds herself singing “When You’re Happy and You Know It“ to a penthouse full of glamorous mommies and their privileged babies. Whitney, Amara and there fellow beautiful mommies have bonded over their new little ones. they show up to their playgroup with their hair and makeup perfect, drink some wine, sing some songs, and take pictures. Claire finds herself warming up to this group of women and before she knows it she is sharing her own secrets with them. but under their shiny façades these ladies all have some pretty big secrets of their own that could destroy everything at a moments notice.

what a wildly fun ride this was! These moms were all such a hot mess. Really makes you think about how we really do not see the truth when it comes to social media. The story bounces between Claire, Whitney, and Amara and I thought this was the perfect blend it really kept the book moving. I was so invested in the story I found myself talking to these characters while I was reading. And can you believe it they did not listen to me? this book was absolutely better than I was anticipating. Definitely made me clap my hands!

This book in emojis 👏🏻 🎸 👶🏼 🤱🏻 🍷 📸

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Lori Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is not as it seems with these lil posh mommas!

Quick, fun, light entertainment. Sometimes it’s nice to just lose yourself in other people’s crazy dysfunctional lives. Reminded me a lot of a Liane Moriarty novel. Ending a bit much but along the lines of what I’d expected. 4 stars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will not remember a darn thing about this vapid palate cleanser in 2 days, I guarantee it. Not only that, but in the 2 days before I forget the entire plot of this book, I will recommend it to exactly zero people. All the characters are miserable, none of them can be honest to save their lives, and they swear like sailors. Profanity is not a dealbreaker for me but it was too much in this one. And I could have done without the smutty details of a trashy affair, thanks.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire is in her late twenties and struggling with the loss of her music career. Her former band replaced her just before they hit it big. She still has bills to pay though, so she takes a gig as music leader for a playgroup. As Claire gets to know the moms, she is surprised that she starts to like them. The moms seem to have it all together, but there are secrets under that glossy exterior.

The mom group consists of six women. Whitney is the group leader and has a picture-perfect lifestyle. Amara is the mom struggling with the loss of her career. Gwen is the one with parenting advice. Vicki is the peaceful hippie. Meredith and Ellie are mostly interchangeable and don't bring much to the group. Claire is the outsider. She's single, childless, and the group's new music leader. Claire is not a mom, but she starts to connect with the other women and care about them.

A contemporary novel about motherhood and friendship. Humorous and twisted. There are moments that go deeper and reveal a darker side, but overall, this was fun and light read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Brinkman]

Is motherhood as miraculous as the momstagram posts make it look?

After her former band shot to Superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to take a gig as a playgroup musician for infants on New York's Park Avenue. She's the most surprised of all to discover that she is smitten with her new employers: wealthy, shiny, energetic mothers who seem to have it all. But as Claire gets pulled into the world of the magnificent mommies, she discovers what's really hidden behind the glamour.

It turns out some problems can't be fixed with bedazzled Birkins and binkies.

A story of babies, betrayals, and bad decisions. A tale of struggles, spilled sippy cups, and secrets.

Trigger warnings for drinking, homophobia, insensitive remark about babies and heroine, lots of body talk, drug use, cheating, drinking, underage drinking, mention of dead children, talk of disordered eating, body shaming, suicide, loss of parents, grief, steamy scenes, cancer scare, mention of conversion therapy, vomiting, and divorce.

A huge thank you to Berkeley and Laura Hankin for my giveaway arc win!

Sarcastic, strong-willed Claire's life had becoming increasingly out of tune since her Vagabond days. Wether singing or taking care of those that matter to her, she was extremely dedicated. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed the morally gray girl's journey of rewriting her own life song.

Playgroup pals? Snarky sisterhood? Compassionate competitors? Likeably dislikable, these wealthy women obnoxiously toddled with judgmental parenting wisdom and true life worries. Shifting chapters revealed unexpected surprises amongst the uniquely crafted building blocks of Amara, Whitney, and Gwen's lives. I loved the group's dynamic, but I wish we could've gotten to know Meredith, Ellie, and Vicki more.

Babies, kids, and adults, were all still learning from our scrapes and stumbles. It took a few chapters, but it wasn't long before I was entranced by this character-driven story of modern mommies, music, and money. Light gallows humor had me sympathetically chuckle- cheering through various trials of motherhood, friendship, and secrets. Quick and surprisingly twisty, Laura Hankin's fiction also provided and interesting commentary on how social media an societies endless endeavors can pass judgment on women.

Mothers, the mothered, and everyone in between will be amused by Happy and You Know It's over-the-top realness.

I'd clap my hands for Happy and You Know it.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My May BOTM, and I must say, I loved it! It's a clever, witty, snarky foray into the lives of privileged mommies and their overprivileged babies, with a surprising thriller aspect!

After her former band rose to stardom after letting her go, struggling musician, Claire, lowers herself to accept a job as a once-a-week playgroup musician for wealthy moms and their barely-able-to-walk babies in NYC. Claire is instantly smitten with the moms and vice versa, but she quickly finds herself pulled into not only their glamorous lives, but also into their dangerous secrets as well.

The characters are engaging, and the plot is super fast-paced. I absolutely adore Hankin's writing style - her sarcasm and snarkiness had me in stitches! The plot is filled with both humor and shocking twists, but somehow they flow perfectly - what starts out as a subtle mockery of privileged moms quickly morphs into a domestic thriller, which is both unexpected and positively fun.

Overall, a surprising read that was just what I needed this week. I'm already looking forward to what Laura Hankin will come up with for her next book! 4 hashtagging-Instagram-mommies-aren't-always-what-they-appear-to-be stars!

[Tinichix (nicole) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick easy read. To me a good vacation/summer read. I had other things going on so didn’t finish this as quickly as I would have liked to, but this could easily be a weekend read. There were a lot of characters but for this particular story it worked. There were a couple that were possibly not necessary but the number of characters wasn’t a deal breaker. The story was easy to follow. I didn’t find myself overly attached to any one character and I do miss that when it doesn’t happen. Otherwise this was quick and easy to follow and I did have some laugh out loud moments.

[tane'a · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was full of tea and messiness and i was here for it

there’s just something about rich mom drama that is always top tier💀

the twist at the end surely took me by surprise but i still ate it up LMAO

[Mary Lomie George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third book by Laura Hamlin and it’s definitely the best one I’ve read by her so far! I was hooked the entire time. I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a Thriller, but it definitely had some twists and turns like one! I didn’t guess the twists either which I love! The audio book version is great!

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy & You Know It was extremely refreshing. Not only is it well written, but it was blessing me with unexpected content throughout the entire story. From the blurb I expected a young musician doing a job that she didn’t want by running a children’s music play group. What I got was the “rich Manhattan mommy” experience that could translate perfectly into a television show. I swear, there are laughs, tears, and even a bit of mystery. There are a few instances in this one that I found extremely relatable as a stay at home mom. There are also things that happen that had me shaking my head thinking, “what the heck is wrong with these people?” And I sort of think that was the point. I don’t want to spoil the book, but what I can’t leave without saying is that this book is very entertaining. It took me awhile to read it, because I had life things going on, but trust me I did not want to put it down. I can see this one ending up having quite the buzz once it arrives.

Available now!
*ARC

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I ended up having more fun with this book than I thought I would. I think maybe it would've resonated better if I was a mommy in a mommy group? As such, I think I related more with Claire than with anyone else, since she was basically on the outside of this and just trying to figure things out. Boy did she get more than she bargained for!

I read this a bit as a satire but I do think this book touches on some interesting topics. The image to look perfect... especially via social media. The need, as a parent (or woman in general) to do it all and still look perfect. To be the wife of a wealthy man and either losing your own identity or thinking of how the hell you can get out without losing the lifestyle you're used to.

The beginning really drew me in and then lost me a little bit with all the characters and background information. Then I stayed because I was super curious on how it was all going to unravel. How will she learn about her and how will they learn about that and where will they all end up?! From watching 10 seasons of Housewives, I felt like I was reading about the Mommy Elite and the first season just ended!

Maybe there's a bit more fluff than substance but this is a highly entertaining read. Moms of upper-class Manhattan unite! And it's a good lesson that we ALL have problems - no matter our monetary status. Don't let social media fool you.

[exorcismemily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Happy & You Know It is an upcoming dramatic novel about a glamorous group of young moms in New York. The synopsis gave me Gossip Girl vibes, so I was excited when I heard about it!

The book starts off really well with a mysterious opening, but unfortunately, I feel like it never really lived up to the beginning. This story was slower than I expected - there was a lot of background info on characters that I hadn't really been given a reason to care about yet.

Some interesting elements were introduced, such as mental health, race, drug use, leaving a megachurch, etc., but none of these ever really went anywhere. The book was fairly lighthearted, but still attempted to have important topics woven in, and it felt out of place. I guess I wanted more of a balance - either have everything be light, or go deeper into these topics.

I was surprised by the villain, and I always appreciate that. I thought I had everything figured out, and I didn't. This ended up being a middle-of-the-road read for me, but I still had fun with it overall.

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to be harsh, but nothing in this story was really worth reading about. Everything was played up to a less than exciting ending. Claire’s “secret” was silly and was never really developed. It would have been nice if the Marco character had some contact with Claire. The mothers secrets were just as trivial.

I couldn’t understand Claire’s anger and betrayal at the mothers when she had no stake, just a paycheck. Especially when she was no saint herself. I hated how she became a busy body and so self righteous. This is when I truly felt done with this book.

The ending was forgettable, and slightly unrealistic when it came to all caring for the one daughter. Such a Disappointment!!