Happy and You know It
by Laura Hankin
Praise for Happy and You Know It:
“An engrossing and compelling story of the lengths women will go to convince the world–and themselves–that they’re as happy and successful as society expects them to be. It’s what would happen if the women from The Nanny Diaries met the women from Sex and the City in the social-media age. I devoured it in less than 48 hours.”—Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost and More Than Words
“The perfect mix of frothy fun, twisty mystery and social satire, Happy and Your Know It is a guilty pleasure of a book that is impossible to put down. Laura Hankin creates complex characters with lives that, like their Instagram feeds, are never as they seem. This is the summer read for book clubs, beachgoers and playgroup moms everywhere.”—Kristy Woodson Harvey, bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple
“A juicy look at how the other half lives, Happy and You Know It is a page-turning treat in the tradition of The Nanny Diaries and Momzillas. This story of social-climbing and dark secrets heralds a delightful new voice in women’s fiction.”—Jamie Brenner, bestselling author of The Forever Summer
“Laura Hankin balances a sharp eye for the mad dynamics of a high-stakes playgroup with warm understanding of the occasional desperation of new motherhood. This book is bracing, fresh, and hilarious, like sticking your head in a freezer on a hot day.”—Judy Blundell, bestselling author of The High Season
“Hankin has concocted a delicious, rollicking story that features a captivating ensemble of cosmopolitan moms and a down-on-her-luck musician who’s paid to entertain their kids. Packed with laughs and unexpected twists, think Liane Moriarty meets Sex and the City–simply irresistible.”—Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
“A skillful unraveling of desperate secrets and self-deceptions. Witty, unsettling, and all-too-believable. I raced through to the end.”—Emma Rous, USA Today bestselling author of The Au Pair
“Imagine if your hilarious best friendtold you a really juicy story about a gaggle of rich new mothers While also delivering a sharp commentary about the expectations put on women. That is this book. Bonus for the excellent twist you won’t be expecting. Put it on your list, kids.”—Stephanie Wrobel, author of Darling Rose Gold
JENA’S REVIEW
Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clap your hands for this book! And I hope to surely show you how much I enjoyed this novel.
I savored every page because each one is filled with heart and understanding. Yes, there are plenty of closeups of our current times, and snapshots of what it’s like to be mother of a baby when you were used to being an independent woman. In an Instagram world, are we still real?
We meet a playgroup of Mom and their babies, the lifestyles of the rich in New York City. We also get know Claire, a young musician who entertains the playgroup. Their worlds aren’t as disparate as they first believe. Each Mom in the playgroup is a well-developed character, as is Claire.
At the beginning of the story, we are part of a wild scene which is not resolved until the end. Even though we know that there is some kind of problem, there are more twists and turns in this tale than a Chutes and Ladders game, as the wheels on the bus come off.
Engaging, insightful, fun exciting- I highly recommend this book. And I’m also glad that my kids are adults and fine! Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Looking for more books to read? Please visit my Book Promotions page and explore all the latest releases. Extracts, blurbs, reviews, author info, books links- all waiting for you!
Laura Hankin has written for McSweeney’s and HuffPost, among other publications. The viral videos that she creates and stars in with her comedy duo, Feminarchy, have been featured in Now This, The New York Times, and Funny or Die. She grew up in Washington, D.C., attended Princeton University, and now lives in New York City, where she has performed off-Broadway, acted onscreen, and sung to far too many babies.
About the Author
