Book Review: The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler

Is there such thing as a happy family? Let’s find out.

Goodreads Blurb

The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler

A mother who disappeared…
When Beth was 10 years old, her beautiful, wild mother Alice disappeared. Beth’s life since hasn’t always been easy, but now she’s 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. Desperate to rebuild their relationship, Beth invites her mother to move in.

A life that comes crashing down…
At first, everything is wonderful. But then Beth’s friends start to drift away, strange things happen at home, and rumours about Beth begin to circle. Someone is out to destroy Beth’s newfound happiness. But who? And how far will they go?

Review

If you like a slow moving thriller, then this is the book for you. Personally, I prefer something more quick-paced, which sadly made this a 3-star read for me. It was frustrating to see Beth become more isolated and traveling down a dangerous path, knowing what was happening to her but waiting to get that resolution (which I think was worth it in the end.

While I empathised toward Beth, I didn’t really like her as a character. I guess that’s mostly because I didn’t understand her. I thought it was a bit too fake that she opened her mother in with open arms, not once getting angry or questioning why she left. Likewise, I thought her relationship with her ex-husband and his new partner was also too good to be true.

While this book wasn’t for me, I’ve seen a number of good reviews online. If you think you might enjoy The Happy Family, you can pick up your copy of the book here.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.