“For fans of Sex and the City and The Nanny Diaries comes this juicy story…that would make even the most meticulously Drybar-ed hair curl.”—Good HousekeepingAs seen in The Washington Post • Good Housekeeping • theSkimm • Good Morning America • ABC News • Book of the Month • Belletrist • OK! Magazine • Betches • Newsweek • Parade • New York Post Best Book of the WeekA dark, witty page-turner about … News • Book of the Month • Belletrist • OK! Magazine • Betches • Newsweek • Parade • New York Post Best Book of the Week
A dark, witty page-turner about a struggling young musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of overprivileged babies and their effortlessly cool moms, only to find 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 wealthy 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 flawless 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 stylish 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.
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This book has what I love, what Brian Moylan calls Rich Women Doing Things. In this case, they are bringing in musicians for their babies play group, and turning to the “wellness” industry for help in being the perfect mother. Great read.
Happy and You Know It, by Laura Hankin, is a funny, twisted story about class, motherhood, and the ever-present wellness industry.
In the beginning of the book, Claire’s band got rid of her, brought in a sexy replacement, and suddenly became famous. She’s depressed and looking for some kind of work, when her cousin gets her a gig playing toddler songs at a playgroup. Claire’s in a bit of a fiction-poor situation, because there are occasional, brief mentions of her other part-time work, but when she wants to call out at the last minute or take time off for a trip, no problem! There’s definitely no boss in the background telling her that she’s responsible for getting coverage or she’s fired and there’s definitely no stress coming from desperately needing that $8/hour to pay her rent. Anyway.
But even fiction-broke Claire is still a different class from the playgroup mommies at her new job. They’re not all on Park Ave, actually, only one mommy lives on Park, the others live in massive apartments or brownstones nearby. These are Insta-perfect stay-at-home moms, with adorable children, and probably husbands with boring finance jobs. Whitney, the playgroup host, even has a popular mommy instagram.
I recently wrote about finding the Insta-influencer life kind of flat in Influence. It works well in Happy And You Know It, with the focus on joyous motherhood, wellness, self-care, and just #blessed. I could see what was aspirational about Whitney’s adorable baby and mommy sisterhood, and I could see her thought process in taking and choosing photos to present that life.
Especially in covid times, we’re constantly bombarded with self-care and wellness ads. Bath bombs for mental health! Scented lotion for relaxation! Essential oils! And don’t forget the magical powers of vitamins and supplements. So, when Whitney’s stylish-motherhood Insta account was offered complimentary vitamins or mommy fitness classes, it all seemed legit to me. And, like Amara and Daniel, I figured the main outcome of TrueMommy vitamins would be very expensive pee. I just loved how readers are led through believable friendship and marriage tangles towards the major, tabloid-worthy conflicts here.
I enjoyed Happy And You Know It, but I have to admit it had a couple moments of too-easy coincidence and a few times when literally any lie would have diffused the dramatic situation. (Whitney could have claimed her shady Wednesday me-time was actually a secret McDonalds binge, for example.) Overall, it’s a fun story of upscale, stylish, competitive mommyhood, as well as a sharp look at the wellness/self-care industry.
Thoroughly entertaining, with characters to root for in spite of their flaws.
Oh, my this was a fun one. As a woman who had started a playgroup of my own—but not as interesting or soap-opera-ish as this one!—I found it relatable and funny. Great characters and friendships.
Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin was an unexpected pleasure! For some reason, I thought this book would be more of a thriller but it’s really a ‘ novel. It’s one of those books that you didn’t know you needed until you’ve read it.
This is a story about a group of mothers within a playgroup. It’s a scandalous read, one filled with secrets, lies, and the worst kind of deception possible. I didn’t think the book was going to take such a , but I loved it! This isn’t just a book about gossip and moms behaving badly either (which is what a lot of people associate with chicklit/women’s fiction novels). It’s actually the complete opposite of that. This is a book about moms who just want to be perfect for their children and in turn, stray from the obligations they are working so hard to meet. I really enjoyed this one for all it’s ups and downs and think the author wrote a unique novel about motherhood. I would definitely read something like this again!
I’m not going to go on and write what my major likes and dislikes are because this book is better read without preconceived notions (I’m so glad I went into it blind) but I will say that I recommend it to those who enjoy women’s fiction with a flair! There’s a minor mystery to the story but it’s no suspenseful like the other thrillers on the market. Instead, this mystery is slowly built into the story. I loved how it all played out!
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Women’s fiction can be a hit or a miss with me, and in most cases, I end up somewhere in the middle. Not so much with Happy and You Know It. Nope, this one is a definite hit. I’m a big fan of dark humor, and Laura Hankin is simply brilliant with it. These women are the types that you love to hate – at least until the twists, and then I found myself actually liking some of them. The focus may be primarily on a group of mothers, but I don’t think you need to be a mother to relate. Honestly, if you have a sense of humor, then it isn’t hard to get into this one. The whole thing is just a thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish – the storyline, the characters, the wit, all of it comes together for a fast-paced story that I won’t soon forget. This may be my first read by this author, but it won’t be my last. Laura Hankin is now firmly on my radar.
Laura Hankin, Author of “Happy and You Know It” has written a unique, entertaining, and witty novel. The genres for this novel are Literary Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present in New York City and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated. Some are manipulative and dysfunctional.
Claire is an out of work singer and musician that now finds the opportunity to be a musician for wealthy mothers and their babies. She plays the guitar and usually sings appropriate songs such as “If You Are Happy and You Know It”. As Claire becomes more involved with the mothers of this playgroup, she is aware of the latest styles, fads, and fashions that these women pay for. These women are now using special vitamins that seem to be giving them tremendous energy and they are feeling good. The cost is astronomical!.
Of course, there is an Instagram Page, and other media where there are so many followers taking all of this in. Each of the women that Claire meets has their own secrets and set of problems. It is almost like building the most intriguing design with special blocks until the blocks come tumbling down!
Of course, the mothers give their babies the best opportunities possible!
I appreciate the way the author vividly describes her characters, events, and settings into a world that seems so wonderful to be in until it’s not. I highly recommend this witty and entertaining novel.
One of the things that attracted me to this book was that it takes place in NYC (I love all things NYC). I did not know what to expect as this is a new to me author. As I started it took me a minute to get into it but once I was I couldn’t swipe to the next page fast enough. This story focuses on a former lead singer of a popular band turned play date musician, and a group of rich moms. I loved how we got to see everyone’s story and surprisingly it wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I could not get enough. It’s different and really captures you. I can easily see this on Netflix one day. Definitely a must read. I can’t wait to read more from Laura Hankin.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgally for the opportunity to read an early copy of this story.
“To Claire, babies were like seeds. Interesting for what they might grow into but, for the moment, just dry, dull kernels.”
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This was my @bookofthemonth pick for May and it was a quick & quirky read about a wealthy group of stay-at-home moms in NYC who feel that looking like the perfect mommy is what life is all about. The story was a bit far-fetched for me in parts, but that’s what makes it a fun read. I enjoyed how the chapters alternated between the group of ladies so you were able to really get to know each of them & their back stories. Being a stay-at-home mom myself, I did find it to be filled with a lot of whining/”poor me” attitudes about having kids which made me wonder if the author is a parent herself. I say this because no matter how annoying, difficult & stressful raising kids can be, there is still a softness towards them that I felt was missing at times in this story. All in all, I would recommend to friends who wanted to read something with a slight feel of the book Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
Happy and You Know It is truly entertaining. Fantastic characters, great humor, and an enjoyable plot. The varied characters that make up this rich mommy playgroup is so entertaining. The writing is witty and fun. The ending twist caught me off guard and it was brilliant!
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.