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Her Beautiful Life
The truth of one woman’s private life reveals the terrifying depths to which people will go to deceive in a twisting novel of suspense from USA Today bestselling author Brianna Labuskes.
When journalist Holland Tate is granted an interview with Catriona Bouchard, her former best friend turned mega-popular tradwife, she jumps at the chance to also possibly rewrite their bitter ending. But at the Bouchards’ gated compound, what she finds is not the independent woman she once knew. Cat may have six beautiful children and be married to the man she calls the love of her life, but she’s a ghost of her former self.
With each passing hour behind those locked gates, Holland uncovers dark secrets, darker obsessions, and hidden motives that shine a new light on the events that ended their friendship. Cat’s beautiful life, it seems, is nothing more than an ugly lie.
Even as danger mounts, Cat sticks to the narrative she’s She lives a perfect life with her perfect husband. Holland came to the compound to get the killer story behind that glossy image. Now all she cares about is getting out of there alive.
When journalist Holland Tate is granted an interview with Catriona Bouchard, her former best friend turned mega-popular tradwife, she jumps at the chance to also possibly rewrite their bitter ending. But at the Bouchards’ gated compound, what she finds is not the independent woman she once knew. Cat may have six beautiful children and be married to the man she calls the love of her life, but she’s a ghost of her former self.
With each passing hour behind those locked gates, Holland uncovers dark secrets, darker obsessions, and hidden motives that shine a new light on the events that ended their friendship. Cat’s beautiful life, it seems, is nothing more than an ugly lie.
Even as danger mounts, Cat sticks to the narrative she’s She lives a perfect life with her perfect husband. Holland came to the compound to get the killer story behind that glossy image. Now all she cares about is getting out of there alive.
335 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2026
3904 people are currently reading
11854 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
December 25, 2025
Woowweee! A rollercoaster ride of juicy drama, fractured friendships, and dysfunctional family dynamics, Her Beautiful Life was yet another example of this writer’s insanely talented mind. Centering on a tradwife influencer and her supposedly picture-perfect life, I was quickly sucked in by three well-written POVs and their separate timelines. With oodles of long-buried secrets that acted as a detonator to this family’s impeccably curated world, I didn’t know who to trust and who to look upon with blatant suspicion. You see, the deeply intense atmosphere, claustrophobic vibe, and traumatic past all collided to deliver a whodunnit that shocked me at every turn—especially when that big, giant “WTF?!” twist arrived on the scene. Gasp-inducing in the extreme, I quite literally dropped my book in surprise. Bravo, Brianna, you got me again!
All said and done, this book was yet another slam dunk. Exploring friendship, identity, and obsession with plenty of psychological insight, I was left thinking long and hard about social media and its impact on how both sexes view women today. Paired with the taut plot lines and razor-sharp writing, I couldn’t put this book down from beginning to end. Now, I do have to mention that the climax and conclusion are sure to be quite polarizing despite their deliciously unhinged feel. Ending in a book-throwing kind of way, I promise that it was still beyond smile-inducing for me. I mean, the fact that it took an already great tale of suspense and twisted it into something altogether different—as long as you love a good villain—was brilliant. Clever, propulsive, and mind-blowing, this book will keep you hooked until the very last stunning page. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When journalist Holland Tate is granted an interview with Catriona Bouchard, her former best friend turned mega-popular tradwife, she jumps at the chance to also possibly rewrite their bitter ending. But at the Bouchards’ gated compound, what she finds is not the independent woman she once knew. Cat may have six beautiful children and be married to the man she calls the love of her life, but she’s a ghost of her former self.
With each passing hour behind those locked gates, Holland uncovers dark secrets, darker obsessions, and hidden motives that shine a new light on the events that ended their friendship. Cat’s beautiful life, it seems, is nothing more than an ugly lie.
Even as danger mounts, Cat sticks to the narrative she’s selling: She lives a perfect life with her perfect husband. Holland came to the compound to get the killer story behind that glossy image. Now all she cares about is getting out of there alive.
Thank you Brianna Labuskes and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: domestic abuse/violence, stalking, drugging, gun violence, murder, mention of: kidnapping
All said and done, this book was yet another slam dunk. Exploring friendship, identity, and obsession with plenty of psychological insight, I was left thinking long and hard about social media and its impact on how both sexes view women today. Paired with the taut plot lines and razor-sharp writing, I couldn’t put this book down from beginning to end. Now, I do have to mention that the climax and conclusion are sure to be quite polarizing despite their deliciously unhinged feel. Ending in a book-throwing kind of way, I promise that it was still beyond smile-inducing for me. I mean, the fact that it took an already great tale of suspense and twisted it into something altogether different—as long as you love a good villain—was brilliant. Clever, propulsive, and mind-blowing, this book will keep you hooked until the very last stunning page. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When journalist Holland Tate is granted an interview with Catriona Bouchard, her former best friend turned mega-popular tradwife, she jumps at the chance to also possibly rewrite their bitter ending. But at the Bouchards’ gated compound, what she finds is not the independent woman she once knew. Cat may have six beautiful children and be married to the man she calls the love of her life, but she’s a ghost of her former self.
With each passing hour behind those locked gates, Holland uncovers dark secrets, darker obsessions, and hidden motives that shine a new light on the events that ended their friendship. Cat’s beautiful life, it seems, is nothing more than an ugly lie.
Even as danger mounts, Cat sticks to the narrative she’s selling: She lives a perfect life with her perfect husband. Holland came to the compound to get the killer story behind that glossy image. Now all she cares about is getting out of there alive.
Thank you Brianna Labuskes and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: domestic abuse/violence, stalking, drugging, gun violence, murder, mention of: kidnapping
January 5, 2026
Finally, the tradwife thriller we deserve.
When journalist Holland Tate lands an interview with Catriona "Cat" Bouchard, her former best friend and roommate turned picture-perfect tradwife influencer with a cult following, she sees it as a chance to revive both her career in print media and her fractured friendship with Cat. But once she arrives at Cat's lavish, tightly guarded compound (uhm, "orchard"), it's clear that something is very wrong. And when a suspicious death casts a shadow over the household, it becomes clear that Cat's idyllic life - raking it in by marketing her six children, a handsome husband, and a home straight out of a magazine - may be built on something dark and dangerous.
With all the attention the tradwife phenomenon has been getting in the last few years, it's no surprise that thrillers featuring women who embody that particular role model (whether in real life or, as in this case, on social media) have appeared far and wide. And the latest, Brianna Labuskes's "Her Beautiful Life", is the ultimate tradwife thriller. Combining poignant, thought-provoking commentary on tradwives while also constructing an interesting mystery is no small feat, but Brianna Labuskes manages it beautifully, deftly blending psychological suspense with sharp cultural commentary, exploring the curated delusions of online perfection and the frightening extremes of obsession and submission disguised as serenity. This is less a high-octane thriller and more a slow-burn character study, but one that kept me riveted from start to finish.
Both Holland and Cat are wonderfully complex and deeply flawed, and the central mystery is intriguing - even though the story starts with the discovery of a body on Cat's orchard, we know very little about what actually happened until the very end, the tension building beautifully and with final revelations that are both twisted and satisfying.
Whether or not you're drawn to the recent fascination with the tradwife movement, "Her Beautiful Life" is a gripping, thought-provoking read about identity, control, and the stories women tell - and sell - about their own lives. Glossy, unsettling, and impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Her Beautiful Life" was published on January 1, 2026, and is available now.
When journalist Holland Tate lands an interview with Catriona "Cat" Bouchard, her former best friend and roommate turned picture-perfect tradwife influencer with a cult following, she sees it as a chance to revive both her career in print media and her fractured friendship with Cat. But once she arrives at Cat's lavish, tightly guarded compound (uhm, "orchard"), it's clear that something is very wrong. And when a suspicious death casts a shadow over the household, it becomes clear that Cat's idyllic life - raking it in by marketing her six children, a handsome husband, and a home straight out of a magazine - may be built on something dark and dangerous.
With all the attention the tradwife phenomenon has been getting in the last few years, it's no surprise that thrillers featuring women who embody that particular role model (whether in real life or, as in this case, on social media) have appeared far and wide. And the latest, Brianna Labuskes's "Her Beautiful Life", is the ultimate tradwife thriller. Combining poignant, thought-provoking commentary on tradwives while also constructing an interesting mystery is no small feat, but Brianna Labuskes manages it beautifully, deftly blending psychological suspense with sharp cultural commentary, exploring the curated delusions of online perfection and the frightening extremes of obsession and submission disguised as serenity. This is less a high-octane thriller and more a slow-burn character study, but one that kept me riveted from start to finish.
Both Holland and Cat are wonderfully complex and deeply flawed, and the central mystery is intriguing - even though the story starts with the discovery of a body on Cat's orchard, we know very little about what actually happened until the very end, the tension building beautifully and with final revelations that are both twisted and satisfying.
Whether or not you're drawn to the recent fascination with the tradwife movement, "Her Beautiful Life" is a gripping, thought-provoking read about identity, control, and the stories women tell - and sell - about their own lives. Glossy, unsettling, and impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Her Beautiful Life" was published on January 1, 2026, and is available now.
October 16, 2025
This was such a clever and intense thriller — one you definitely don’t want to miss!
After loving the Raisa Susanto series, I was so excited to see Brianna Labuskes release another book, and she absolutely delivered again.
Filled with buried secrets, fractured friendships, and an atmospheric setting that adds to the tension, this story unravels through twist after twist, keeping me completely hooked from start to finish.
Thank you so much to Brianna Labuskes for reaching out and sending me a #gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly enjoyed every page!
After loving the Raisa Susanto series, I was so excited to see Brianna Labuskes release another book, and she absolutely delivered again.
Filled with buried secrets, fractured friendships, and an atmospheric setting that adds to the tension, this story unravels through twist after twist, keeping me completely hooked from start to finish.
Thank you so much to Brianna Labuskes for reaching out and sending me a #gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly enjoyed every page!
December 25, 2025
Loose threads
I just couldn't connect with this book. I struggled to get into it and it moved slowly for me. Yes, there is a big twist, but there are just too many loose threads in that ball of yarn.
I just couldn't connect with this book. I struggled to get into it and it moved slowly for me. Yes, there is a big twist, but there are just too many loose threads in that ball of yarn.
January 29, 2026
#ad much love for my copy @amazonpublishing #partner
🅷🅴🆁 🅱🅴🅰🆄🆃🅸🅵🆄🅻 🅻🅸🅵🅴
< @
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚍 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗.
Catriona is a tradwife influencer and Holland, someone from Cat’s past has come to spend three days at Cat’s house to write an article on the Bouchard family. But soon someone won’t make it out of the house alive. Holland has to turn over her phone once she enters the house and will be cut off from the outside world.
This is a dual timeline story that dives into the past when Cat and Holland were roommates to current times. The mystery of the past, and what happened between the two women, keeps us intrigued as much as the present does.
Then there’s the chapters with Detective Jamie Alvarez who is investigating the death on the farm.
Intriguing and complex novel that was also so fun to read. I’ll never tire of these tradwife thrillers so keep them coming haha.
🅷🅴🆁 🅱🅴🅰🆄🆃🅸🅵🆄🅻 🅻🅸🅵🅴
< @
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚍 𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗.
Catriona is a tradwife influencer and Holland, someone from Cat’s past has come to spend three days at Cat’s house to write an article on the Bouchard family. But soon someone won’t make it out of the house alive. Holland has to turn over her phone once she enters the house and will be cut off from the outside world.
This is a dual timeline story that dives into the past when Cat and Holland were roommates to current times. The mystery of the past, and what happened between the two women, keeps us intrigued as much as the present does.
Then there’s the chapters with Detective Jamie Alvarez who is investigating the death on the farm.
Intriguing and complex novel that was also so fun to read. I’ll never tire of these tradwife thrillers so keep them coming haha.
December 8, 2025
Honestly, I had no idea where this book was going half the time lol. I loved the premise and was really intrigued from the beginning.
I did enjoy the other characters and the layers they added. Their emotions, relationships, and how messy everything felt. But around the halfway mark, the story started to feel repetitive and I found myself getting a little bored. It picked up again for a bit, but the ending still left me disappointed.
Was I shocked by the twist? Definitely. Was I satisfied with how everything wrapped up? Not really.
Overall, a mixed read for me. A strong concept, some great emotional moments, but the execution didn’t fully land for me.
I did enjoy the other characters and the layers they added. Their emotions, relationships, and how messy everything felt. But around the halfway mark, the story started to feel repetitive and I found myself getting a little bored. It picked up again for a bit, but the ending still left me disappointed.
Was I shocked by the twist? Definitely. Was I satisfied with how everything wrapped up? Not really.
Overall, a mixed read for me. A strong concept, some great emotional moments, but the execution didn’t fully land for me.
December 1, 2025
Thrillers are not my typical read, but I LOVED this book! I wasn't sure about it at first- going between now and then, flipping between characters each chapter- but this is all a smart way to pull this story together!
The three female characters hook you from the beginning with curiosity, suspense, and dynamics. You feel as if you are right there with them.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It continues to get more intense as the book goes on. Brianna Lubuskes knows how to hook a reader! It makes it even more realistic because it's set in today's world with social media influencers and all the stuff that goes on with them and us "normal" folks.
My absolute favorite part: the end! I never saw it coming. I kept thinking: surely this will happen or there's no way.... but guess what? You can't guess because Brianna keeps you guessing! I cannot wait to read it again to see clues that I missed the first time.
I won this book in a giveaway from the author on her social media and it's a book that will forever be on my shelf! Thank you, Brianna, for an absolutely thrilling read!
The three female characters hook you from the beginning with curiosity, suspense, and dynamics. You feel as if you are right there with them.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It continues to get more intense as the book goes on. Brianna Lubuskes knows how to hook a reader! It makes it even more realistic because it's set in today's world with social media influencers and all the stuff that goes on with them and us "normal" folks.
My absolute favorite part: the end! I never saw it coming. I kept thinking: surely this will happen or there's no way.... but guess what? You can't guess because Brianna keeps you guessing! I cannot wait to read it again to see clues that I missed the first time.
I won this book in a giveaway from the author on her social media and it's a book that will forever be on my shelf! Thank you, Brianna, for an absolutely thrilling read!
January 1, 2026
My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyable, not her best book but I still really liked it!!
Journalist Holland Tate is granted exclusive access to Catrina Bouchard, her former bestie turned mega popular trad-wife. Holland of course wants the story, but she is keen to rewrite history and hopefully rekindle the friendship they once had.
What she finds at their compound, is not the independent woman she once knew but a ghost of her former self. With 6 kids, a French billionaire husband and an internet following that rivals all, the Bouchard’s are worth some serious coin… but is Cat truly happy? Holland is going to find out.
So I am going to leave the recap there, this is truly a case of what you see is definitely not what you get. The story is claustrophobic from the jump but you don’t really know why. And when you think you know why…you don’t.
I was got by a couple of these twists, jaw dropped at one, I don’t know if I am out of practice with thrillers or this was just that good but it got me.
For some reason I didn’t really like Holland, it became apparent later for me, but don’t get me wrong Cat is a piece of work as well… truly most of the characters are not that likeable. However, that doesn’t mean we don't want to know what happens, I know I certainly did.
Brianna Labuskes can write… she can tell a story, and this was no different. There are multi-pov, multi-timeline and flashbacks etc etc… all the things that make my heart sing. There aren’t too many characters so you can easily follow along, but if you do get stuck there chapters are listed with who is who and what the time is either then or now.
In my initial statement I said this is not her best book, that is true but for me its a solid 4 stars I really got hooked, I was invested and I was a bit shocked. There are a couple of things at the end where you go… okay girl you have gone a bit out there but…its fiction and its a thriller so you can afford some liberties.
Overall, I really liked it, I think fans of her work will like it and its a standalone so a good easy one to start on if you don't want to start another series (this author has a couple).
Slight spoiler - although I do not intend on spoiling this I will say that I really liked that this was a different take on who the “monster” turns out to be… I didn’t see it coming … and no one is perfect but man… what a doozy!!
Journalist Holland Tate is granted exclusive access to Catrina Bouchard, her former bestie turned mega popular trad-wife. Holland of course wants the story, but she is keen to rewrite history and hopefully rekindle the friendship they once had.
What she finds at their compound, is not the independent woman she once knew but a ghost of her former self. With 6 kids, a French billionaire husband and an internet following that rivals all, the Bouchard’s are worth some serious coin… but is Cat truly happy? Holland is going to find out.
So I am going to leave the recap there, this is truly a case of what you see is definitely not what you get. The story is claustrophobic from the jump but you don’t really know why. And when you think you know why…you don’t.
I was got by a couple of these twists, jaw dropped at one, I don’t know if I am out of practice with thrillers or this was just that good but it got me.
For some reason I didn’t really like Holland, it became apparent later for me, but don’t get me wrong Cat is a piece of work as well… truly most of the characters are not that likeable. However, that doesn’t mean we don't want to know what happens, I know I certainly did.
Brianna Labuskes can write… she can tell a story, and this was no different. There are multi-pov, multi-timeline and flashbacks etc etc… all the things that make my heart sing. There aren’t too many characters so you can easily follow along, but if you do get stuck there chapters are listed with who is who and what the time is either then or now.
In my initial statement I said this is not her best book, that is true but for me its a solid 4 stars I really got hooked, I was invested and I was a bit shocked. There are a couple of things at the end where you go… okay girl you have gone a bit out there but…its fiction and its a thriller so you can afford some liberties.
Overall, I really liked it, I think fans of her work will like it and its a standalone so a good easy one to start on if you don't want to start another series (this author has a couple).
Slight spoiler - although I do not intend on spoiling this I will say that I really liked that this was a different take on who the “monster” turns out to be… I didn’t see it coming … and no one is perfect but man… what a doozy!!
January 27, 2026
I went into Her Beautiful Life expecting an addictive thriller and honestly…the premise is SO good. Former best friend. Perfect life behind locked gates. Dark secrets. Yes please.
But it felt like the story kept circling the same points instead of building real momentum, and the payoff just wasn’t satisfying. It had all the ingredients… and still didn’t land for me. And the ending. So frustrating.
But it felt like the story kept circling the same points instead of building real momentum, and the payoff just wasn’t satisfying. It had all the ingredients… and still didn’t land for me. And the ending. So frustrating.
January 10, 2026
3.5⭐️ | Let’s talk about that ending.
This ending has officially secured a spot in my top five worst endings of all time—and not because I disliked the plot choice, but because it felt like the author simply rage-quit her own book. After delivering an extremely detailed story (often painfully detailed), she seemingly decided, “meh, this is enough effort,” and just… stopped writing.
That said, I genuinely enjoyed about 80% of this book, which is why I rounded my rating up. This is a dual-timeline, multi-POV thriller that blends domestic and psychological suspense, and structurally, it works. However, I strongly suspect this is a story that lives its best life in audio form. I can easily see physical readers struggling to stay engaged during the first 20%, whereas audio smooths over that initial slog quite nicely.
The audiobook is narrated by Moniqua Plante, Jess Moran, and Maria McCann, all of whom did a solid job. There is some unevenness in pacing—everyone narrates on the swifter side (a personal favorite), but the small differences become noticeable once you bump up the playback speed. This feels more like a sound engineering issue than a narrator problem, and while mildly irritating, it’s far from a dealbreaker.
In the end, this was a twisty, engaging ride with a few plot holes that simply never get addressed. And while I don’t need every loose end tied up with a bow, I do expect an ending that feels intentional. Unfortunately, this one felt more like the author dropped the mic… and walked out of the room, and not in a good way.
Would I still recommend it? Yes—with an asterisk and a warning label slapped firmly on the final chapter.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
This ending has officially secured a spot in my top five worst endings of all time—and not because I disliked the plot choice, but because it felt like the author simply rage-quit her own book. After delivering an extremely detailed story (often painfully detailed), she seemingly decided, “meh, this is enough effort,” and just… stopped writing.
That said, I genuinely enjoyed about 80% of this book, which is why I rounded my rating up. This is a dual-timeline, multi-POV thriller that blends domestic and psychological suspense, and structurally, it works. However, I strongly suspect this is a story that lives its best life in audio form. I can easily see physical readers struggling to stay engaged during the first 20%, whereas audio smooths over that initial slog quite nicely.
The audiobook is narrated by Moniqua Plante, Jess Moran, and Maria McCann, all of whom did a solid job. There is some unevenness in pacing—everyone narrates on the swifter side (a personal favorite), but the small differences become noticeable once you bump up the playback speed. This feels more like a sound engineering issue than a narrator problem, and while mildly irritating, it’s far from a dealbreaker.
In the end, this was a twisty, engaging ride with a few plot holes that simply never get addressed. And while I don’t need every loose end tied up with a bow, I do expect an ending that feels intentional. Unfortunately, this one felt more like the author dropped the mic… and walked out of the room, and not in a good way.
Would I still recommend it? Yes—with an asterisk and a warning label slapped firmly on the final chapter.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
December 15, 2025
So Many Moving Parts!
I've read other books by Brianna Labuskes and really enjoyed them. Her unusual characters and her surprising storyline twists make for great reading. Her Beautiful Life has those great elements. Two best friends have a falling out, and ten years later are reunited as one of them, a journalist, is writing a profile about the other, a wildly popular influencer, for a magazine. As the story unfolds, the web of connections, lies, and manipulation deepens until it's hard to tell who is who and what is what. There are so many moving parts in the book. It's told in three different voices, the two best friends' and a police investigator's. It's told in both first person and third person. It's set in the past and the present, in two different locations. The dialog, which is great, is interrupted by long stretches of thinking, reflecting, and strategizing, which breaks up the thread and the pacing. The ending of the book is very unsatisfying (personal opinion) and the characters seem to just sputter and stop. It won't keep me from reading other Labuskes books. This one just wasn't a favorite.
I've read other books by Brianna Labuskes and really enjoyed them. Her unusual characters and her surprising storyline twists make for great reading. Her Beautiful Life has those great elements. Two best friends have a falling out, and ten years later are reunited as one of them, a journalist, is writing a profile about the other, a wildly popular influencer, for a magazine. As the story unfolds, the web of connections, lies, and manipulation deepens until it's hard to tell who is who and what is what. There are so many moving parts in the book. It's told in three different voices, the two best friends' and a police investigator's. It's told in both first person and third person. It's set in the past and the present, in two different locations. The dialog, which is great, is interrupted by long stretches of thinking, reflecting, and strategizing, which breaks up the thread and the pacing. The ending of the book is very unsatisfying (personal opinion) and the characters seem to just sputter and stop. It won't keep me from reading other Labuskes books. This one just wasn't a favorite.
January 5, 2026
I can’t believe I wasted my time with this book. I should have DNF’d it after 2 days of struggling to be invested. The premise of the book was promising. The execution SUCKED!!!! All of the main characters were flat and one-dimensional for me. I will say that the 1 twist in the book was not expected. The ending of the book…..HORRIBLE!!!
I don’t think I will read another book by this author.
I don’t think I will read another book by this author.
January 9, 2026
4.5⭐
Her Beautiful Life is a juicy, unputdownable and toxic rollercoaster ride. I had an absolute blast reading this one. I thought I knew where the story was going but Ms Labuskes completely blindsided me, her mind works in wonderful ways. I was sucked in right from the start and truly couldn't stop. It was so dysfunctional, chaotic and just impossible to look away from. The pacing is on point, never a dull moment she kept my attention from beginning to end. The vibe of the book is truly claustrophobic and unsettling and the author really described everything perfectly without going overboard.
I didn't know which character I could trust and obviously trusted the wrong one by the end. The author completely blindsided me with the twists and turns towards the end. The tension is on high between the characters and it's just so addictive. All the old wounds that resurfaced, the present day secrets and all the cracks in their friendship was what kept me glued to the pages. I needed to know and couldn't stop until I did !
Overall, this was a great thriller that took me on an unpredictable ride and I am not mad about it. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more by this author.
✨️ Thank you to @netgalley & @briannalabuskes for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Her Beautiful Life is a juicy, unputdownable and toxic rollercoaster ride. I had an absolute blast reading this one. I thought I knew where the story was going but Ms Labuskes completely blindsided me, her mind works in wonderful ways. I was sucked in right from the start and truly couldn't stop. It was so dysfunctional, chaotic and just impossible to look away from. The pacing is on point, never a dull moment she kept my attention from beginning to end. The vibe of the book is truly claustrophobic and unsettling and the author really described everything perfectly without going overboard.
I didn't know which character I could trust and obviously trusted the wrong one by the end. The author completely blindsided me with the twists and turns towards the end. The tension is on high between the characters and it's just so addictive. All the old wounds that resurfaced, the present day secrets and all the cracks in their friendship was what kept me glued to the pages. I needed to know and couldn't stop until I did !
Overall, this was a great thriller that took me on an unpredictable ride and I am not mad about it. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read more by this author.
✨️ Thank you to @netgalley & @briannalabuskes for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2026
Thanks NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free copy in exchange for an honest review
The writing's exceptional; it's incredibly well written, with every word and line feeling intentional and meaningful. The social commentary's sharp and doesn't pull any punches. Such a tense read with the feeling of unease building slowly - at a certain point I was so invested that I'd almost forgotten to breathe.
The writing's exceptional; it's incredibly well written, with every word and line feeling intentional and meaningful. The social commentary's sharp and doesn't pull any punches. Such a tense read with the feeling of unease building slowly - at a certain point I was so invested that I'd almost forgotten to breathe.
January 5, 2026
This book landed more like a 1.5 than a 2 for me. This book was wildly heavy-handed in its themes, and at the end of the day, it didn't actually have anything interesting to say about the rise of tradwife influencers beyond pop-culture takes that have already been covered better elsewhere. Moreover, I'm not convinced that this wasn't just a weird projection of the author's insecurities rolled up with caricatures of women - boss babes, women whose lives are wrapped up in their partners, and social media sycophants. Can women exist and interact with each other in normal ways? This author doesn't seem to think so.
January 2, 2026
Her Beautiful Life by Brianna Labuskes. Thanks to @amazonpublishing for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Holland is a journalist and takes an assignment in the home of Cat Bouchard, a popular trad wife influencer. Holland and Cat were are former best friends who had a falling out before Cat married and became an influencer. Holland knows the fire and personality behind the facade, but can she bring it out again?
Trad wife thrillers are the thing right now and I’m not sure I’ve read one I haven’t liked. This one was no exception. The trad wife component took the backseat and the plot is more based on the complicated relationship between Cat and Holland. It’s dual time line but most takes place in the current timeline. After three quarters of the way through it completely starts spiraling. I was in shock with how quickly the drama unfolds. When you think, it couldn’t possibly, it does. This was a five star read for me except one little thing about the ending left me wanting.
“Women didn’t love the way they thought they did. We loved with our veins cut open.”
Read this if you like:
-Female friendship stories
-Trad wife influencer thrillers
-Family secrets
Her Beautiful Life came out 1/1 and is available now.
Holland is a journalist and takes an assignment in the home of Cat Bouchard, a popular trad wife influencer. Holland and Cat were are former best friends who had a falling out before Cat married and became an influencer. Holland knows the fire and personality behind the facade, but can she bring it out again?
Trad wife thrillers are the thing right now and I’m not sure I’ve read one I haven’t liked. This one was no exception. The trad wife component took the backseat and the plot is more based on the complicated relationship between Cat and Holland. It’s dual time line but most takes place in the current timeline. After three quarters of the way through it completely starts spiraling. I was in shock with how quickly the drama unfolds. When you think, it couldn’t possibly, it does. This was a five star read for me except one little thing about the ending left me wanting.
“Women didn’t love the way they thought they did. We loved with our veins cut open.”
Read this if you like:
-Female friendship stories
-Trad wife influencer thrillers
-Family secrets
Her Beautiful Life came out 1/1 and is available now.
December 11, 2025
This one definitely grabbed my attention. We follow Holland, a journalist who gets the chance to interview her former best friend Catriona. Who is now a picture perfect social media tradwife living behind gates with six kids, a devoted husband, and a life so curated. But the second Holland steps into that world, you can feel the cracks forming. Something is off… and the more she digs, the darker it gets.
I loved the tension between old friendship wounds and present day secrets. The vibe is unsettling and for sure claustrophobic. Watching Cat’s “perfect” life slowly unravel had me flipping pages fast!
I loved the tension between old friendship wounds and present day secrets. The vibe is unsettling and for sure claustrophobic. Watching Cat’s “perfect” life slowly unravel had me flipping pages fast!
January 11, 2026
5⭐️
So I basically devoured this in a few hours because it was just THAT good.
The premise already had me curious, but I didn't expect to be so hooked from the start. I'm always a little wary of multiple POVs and separate timelines, because it can be tricky to balance, but Brianna nails it.
Honestly, Holland and Cat are not particularly likable characters, but that's exactly why they're so compelling. They're so flawed and complex, their voices so distinct that it felt like I was reading about two messy people who exist in the real world.
And the twists!! Some I didn't see coming at all, others I suspected, but even when I guessed, the way the author revealed them felt so satisfying. And the ending consolidated it for me. So unsettling, so BRILLIANT.
This was my first book by Brianna Labuskes but it will definitely not be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So I basically devoured this in a few hours because it was just THAT good.
The premise already had me curious, but I didn't expect to be so hooked from the start. I'm always a little wary of multiple POVs and separate timelines, because it can be tricky to balance, but Brianna nails it.
Honestly, Holland and Cat are not particularly likable characters, but that's exactly why they're so compelling. They're so flawed and complex, their voices so distinct that it felt like I was reading about two messy people who exist in the real world.
And the twists!! Some I didn't see coming at all, others I suspected, but even when I guessed, the way the author revealed them felt so satisfying. And the ending consolidated it for me. So unsettling, so BRILLIANT.
This was my first book by Brianna Labuskes but it will definitely not be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
In a sea of influencer and tradwife tropes, this is a good one to read. The author writes beautifully and adds just the right amount of humor to the story. The twists are surprising and it was entertaining throughout. The characters are also well written and the dialogue is good. I read a previous book by this author and enjoyed that as well. I need to look into her backlist. 3.5/5
January 27, 2026
Could not put it down. Just wow. It pulled me right in from the beginning. It was interesting, I loved the tradwife theme, all secrets and layers of this friendship being relived and revealed. I was floored when the plot twist came. I appreciated that I didn’t see it coming. Amazing writing. 10/10 🤌🏼
January 7, 2026
This was such an interesting thriller—I loved it! The story follows a true “trad wife” influencer and her former best friend, told through three POVs, including a detective. The premise completely hooked me and I couldn’t put it down. If you love thrillers, I highly recommend this one. I was truly shocked by the ending, and it definitely gave me major Freida McFadden vibes!
January 8, 2026
HER BEAUTIFUL LIFE BY BRIANNA LABUSKES.
OUT NOW.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
As many of you know I devour anything Tradwife related and this one was absolutely banging.
Loved it.
This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last ☺
OUT NOW.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
As many of you know I devour anything Tradwife related and this one was absolutely banging.
Loved it.
This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last ☺
December 6, 2025
Wanted a good page turning mystery and boy was this it! It was captivating, easy to read, with lots of twists and turns throughout a “who done it” story. Also is a great take on social media and “influencer” effect from all angles. I felt like I wanted to go look up the characters socials because of how realistic it was! Overall, good conversations about modern femininity and a reflection on how social media may be setting us back years in how far feminism has come. Finished this in only few days if you’re looking for a captivating read! Do check warnings for DV content if needed
January 12, 2026
The premise of this sounded so interesting, but was severely let down by this! Definitely was inspired by the whole trad wife ballerina farms controversy/discussions, Some scenes in the book were literally cookie cutter copies of what you saw on social media. The first 30% of this was fast paced and showed promise for a good ol' twisty thriller, but then it went downhill from there. The dialogue was so repetitive, and some parts were dragged out excessively. The ending was SO anticlimactic and I felt like it ruined the whole build up to get us to the twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2026
I found it difficult to engage with this story, primarily due to the lack of character development. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and dual timelines, but unfortunately, I kept waiting (and waiting) for the plot to be revealed. I finally skipped to the last 2 chapters where everything is loosely explained. I rarely rate a book so poorly, but I don’t recommend this one.
I also found the representation of Savannah and the broader Southern culture to be unrealistic.
I also found the representation of Savannah and the broader Southern culture to be unrealistic.
December 5, 2025
Just not a fan of unreliable narrators
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2026
What a wild ride this was! I was blindsided by the story until I reached the end, so buckle up and stay focused; it’s a quick read!
Holland Tate, a journalist, interviews her former best friend, Catriona Bouchard, now a popular tradwife. At Catriona’s gated compound, Holland discovers that the perfect life Catriona presents is built on dark secrets and lies. As danger increases, Holland's focus shifts from uncovering the story to escaping safely.
The narrative alternates between the perspectives of Holland, Cat, and Detective Jamie Alvarez. Holland’s POV unfolds in the present, while Cat’s perspective takes us back into the past, creating a compelling dual timeline that explores their friendship dynamics.
From my own experience, it’s fascinating to encounter people from your past and see how they’ve transformed. Some individuals struggle to mature, while others undergo a complete turnaround. The Cat that Holland meets is a stark contrast to the Cat from her past. Just how much has she changed? For better or worse? You’ll need to dive in and read to uncover the truth! And then there’s Detective Jamie, with her sharp instincts, though it seems she might never fully grasp the extent of the situation.
What happens when deep, dark secrets come back to haunt your past actions? I appreciate books that are well-crafted and meticulously plotted. It’s a clever twist when the past resurfaces to potentially threaten your life! Each character is thoughtfully developed, and the author leaves it to the reader to pick their favorite, though not everyone is what they appear to be. The conclusion takes an unexpected turn, and due to the high quality of the writing, such a powerful ending greatly amplifies the book’s impact for those of us who love thrillers. Well done!
This read is perfect for anyone who enjoys tales of social influencers that blur the lines of reality, dark backstories, and intricate webs of secrets sprinkled with a hint of obsession. I didn’t see the main twist and ending coming, but it was absolutely fabulous. Everything came together seamlessly, leaving me eager for more. At times, it felt unhinged and chaotic, but that’s exactly what obsession and delusion can do to a person. Don’t miss out on this captivating read! I managed to get my hands on it just before its release and made sure to finish it in time to support this talented new-to-me author.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Holland Tate, a journalist, interviews her former best friend, Catriona Bouchard, now a popular tradwife. At Catriona’s gated compound, Holland discovers that the perfect life Catriona presents is built on dark secrets and lies. As danger increases, Holland's focus shifts from uncovering the story to escaping safely.
The narrative alternates between the perspectives of Holland, Cat, and Detective Jamie Alvarez. Holland’s POV unfolds in the present, while Cat’s perspective takes us back into the past, creating a compelling dual timeline that explores their friendship dynamics.
From my own experience, it’s fascinating to encounter people from your past and see how they’ve transformed. Some individuals struggle to mature, while others undergo a complete turnaround. The Cat that Holland meets is a stark contrast to the Cat from her past. Just how much has she changed? For better or worse? You’ll need to dive in and read to uncover the truth! And then there’s Detective Jamie, with her sharp instincts, though it seems she might never fully grasp the extent of the situation.
What happens when deep, dark secrets come back to haunt your past actions? I appreciate books that are well-crafted and meticulously plotted. It’s a clever twist when the past resurfaces to potentially threaten your life! Each character is thoughtfully developed, and the author leaves it to the reader to pick their favorite, though not everyone is what they appear to be. The conclusion takes an unexpected turn, and due to the high quality of the writing, such a powerful ending greatly amplifies the book’s impact for those of us who love thrillers. Well done!
This read is perfect for anyone who enjoys tales of social influencers that blur the lines of reality, dark backstories, and intricate webs of secrets sprinkled with a hint of obsession. I didn’t see the main twist and ending coming, but it was absolutely fabulous. Everything came together seamlessly, leaving me eager for more. At times, it felt unhinged and chaotic, but that’s exactly what obsession and delusion can do to a person. Don’t miss out on this captivating read! I managed to get my hands on it just before its release and made sure to finish it in time to support this talented new-to-me author.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2026
thank you netgalley for the copy in exchange for review!
her beautiful life is a gripping and wickedly clever analysis of parasocial relationships and the different sets of circumstances under which they can form, as well as a chilling cautionary tale of the pitfalls that come with taken what meets the eye at face value.
for the majority of this book, i considered myself mildly entertained by the story as it unfolded, until i reached the "final act," so to speak. there, the connections between all the minute, seemingly meaningless details sprinkled throughout the book began to weave together - my favorite way for a thriller to resolve.
there were several times throughout the book where the message/theme felt a bit preachy--i could see the characters in my minds' eye staring down the lens of the camera into the audience delivering their psa--but i the layers through which the message was delivered made up the difference for me. i turned the last page feeling both satisfied and unsettled in the best way and the itch in my brain scratched.
her beautiful life is a gripping and wickedly clever analysis of parasocial relationships and the different sets of circumstances under which they can form, as well as a chilling cautionary tale of the pitfalls that come with taken what meets the eye at face value.
for the majority of this book, i considered myself mildly entertained by the story as it unfolded, until i reached the "final act," so to speak. there, the connections between all the minute, seemingly meaningless details sprinkled throughout the book began to weave together - my favorite way for a thriller to resolve.
there were several times throughout the book where the message/theme felt a bit preachy--i could see the characters in my minds' eye staring down the lens of the camera into the audience delivering their psa--but i the layers through which the message was delivered made up the difference for me. i turned the last page feeling both satisfied and unsettled in the best way and the itch in my brain scratched.
January 10, 2026
This was my first read by this author and I will definitely be digging into her prior works as Her Beautiful Life was a solid 4 star read for me. Told in multiple first-person POV with an alternating timeline, and opening up with a dead body in the first few pages, Her Beautiful Life is a compelling ride with well developed characters.
Holland and Cat were best friends and roommates 10 years ago, in Savannah, where each were experts in their fields, Holland, a writer and Cat, a pastry chef. They share a lot of characteristics and neither are particularly nice people but are fiercely loyal to each other. Then an event occurs that shattered their friendship, not speaking for 10 years until Holland is invited to Cat’s place in Vermont, to write an article about her, as Cat is now a huge influencer on social media, as part of the tradwife genre. I really enjoyed how the layers of the story developed and the last 20% was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
Holland and Cat were best friends and roommates 10 years ago, in Savannah, where each were experts in their fields, Holland, a writer and Cat, a pastry chef. They share a lot of characteristics and neither are particularly nice people but are fiercely loyal to each other. Then an event occurs that shattered their friendship, not speaking for 10 years until Holland is invited to Cat’s place in Vermont, to write an article about her, as Cat is now a huge influencer on social media, as part of the tradwife genre. I really enjoyed how the layers of the story developed and the last 20% was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
January 12, 2026
Holland and Cat were roommates for awhile and became close friends. But, then they broke up and hadn’t see each other for 10 years. Now, Holland wants to do a journalistic piece on Cat who has become a social media star. Cat and her husband Kris, with their many kids, live on a secluded acreage with intense security. Secrets abound in this story. Kris is found dead near the end of Holland’s 3 day visit. Was it suicide or murder? If murder, who did it and why? But why would a loving husband take his own life? There’s a lot of history to uncover, which gets a little long, but boy does it pick up speed when things start to unravel. I wasn’t a fan of the ending but this is a good thriller. Warning though, there is a lot on the topics of abusive relationships, the trad-wife movement, and stalking if any of those are triggering.
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