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Happy Anniversary

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Not all anniversaries are happy.

Three years ago today, my husband was murdered. He died on the same date I lost my high-school best friend in a car crash.

I’ve rebuilt my life since then. I have a steady job as a make-up artist and friends who love me. I’m happy – mostly.

But today is still the anniversary of the two worst days of my life.

So by the time I get home from work, all I want to do is curl up on my couch and distract myself with snacks and cheesy movies.

I open my handbag and find something that shouldn’t be there. Something that sends a shiver down my spine.

A small gift box, my name written unevenly across the lid.

Inside is a message:

Happy anniversary.
Someone is trying to sabotage your life.
And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

And it’s written in a code my best friend invented before she died . . .

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2026

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Sonya Bateman

58 books278 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Janna (Bibliophile Mom).
271 reviews22 followers
February 16, 2026
Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman blends family dysfunction, fame, and the fragile line between reinvention and self‑destruction. It’s a story about a woman desperate to maintain control while everything else crumbles. The book takes you through a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows as it unpacks tragic past in an attempt at a fresh start after a loss. She’s a one‑hit‑wonder superstar who abruptly shut down after a trauma, and watching her navigate grief, guilt, and the pressure of public image adds a compelling layer to the narrative.

The alternating timelines and perspectives helped keep the story moving, especially as the plot dipped into themes of identity, power, and the unsettling ways people justify their actions. I also appreciated the subtle incorporation of AI and how it shaped the dynamics between characters without overshadowing the human elements.

What I Liked:
* AI incorporation
* God complex explored with restraint
* Alternating timeline and narrative

What Fell Short:
* Suicide was repetitive and not handled with the sensitivity it deserved
* Plot and twist lacked surprise
* Took me ages to finish

Overall, Happy Anniversary is a decent mystery‑thriller with a fresh premise that will appeal to readers who enjoy character‑driven tension and messy personal histories. It didn’t fully land for me, but I can still see its appeal for those who love domestic drama wrapped in psychological intrigue.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books, and Sonya Bateman for the advance copy. As always, my thoughts are entirely my own.

~JaNnA~
Profile Image for Noura.
237 reviews5 followers
March 29, 2026
There’s something about Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman that settled under my skin in a way I didn’t expect. Maybe it’s the idea that grief doesn’t just fade it reshapes everything, even the days that are supposed to feel ordinary again.

What made this story feel so personal to me was how it blended loss with this quiet, creeping sense of danger. The main character isn’t just dealing with what she’s already survived the loss of her husband, her best friend, the weight of those anniversaries but also something new, something deliberate, something that feels targeted. That contrast between healing and being pulled back into fear made every moment feel heavier, more meaningful.

I kept thinking about how fragile “moving on” really is. How you can rebuild your life piece by piece, convince yourself you’re okay, and then one small, unsettling thing can unravel that sense of safety. The gift box, the message, the connection to her past it all felt so calculated and intimate, like someone knew exactly where it would hurt the most.

What I loved most is how the story plays with trust. Not just trusting others, but trusting your own memories, your instincts, your understanding of the people you once loved. It made me question everything alongside her who to believe, what to hold onto, and whether closure is ever truly possible.

For me, this wasn’t just about solving a mystery. It was about the emotional weight behind it the kind that lingers long after the final page, leaving you with that uneasy feeling that some things don’t stay buried, no matter how much time has passed.
Profile Image for Nicola Doyle.
578 reviews17 followers
April 20, 2026
Happy Anniversary was utterly chilling. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was a really good story and I loved the concept.

The cover is a little eerie but Iove it. The gift and the broken rose gave nothing away but the imagery was excellent.

The writing is really good and I thought the story flowed well. The book is written in first person and from Indigo's point of view. This worked really well and is perfect for the genre.

The book had a contemporary setting based in California. I liked that. Contemporary settings usually work very well in a psychological thriller.

The characters were fantastic. They were well thought out and developed . The characterisation is wonderful. I liked Indigo a lot. She went through so much during her journey.

I recommed Happy Anniversary. Just be prepared for the chills.
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,756 reviews349 followers
Review of advance copy
March 29, 2026
There’s something quietly haunting about anniversaries ,the way they can creep up on you, heavy with memory and meaning. In Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman, that emotional weight is felt from the very first page, and it wraps itself around you like a familiar, uneasy blanket you can’t quite shake off.

For our protagonist, this particular date marks not one, but two devastating losses: the murder of her husband and the tragic car accident that claimed her high-school best friend. Three years on, she’s done what so many of us try to do , picked up the broken pieces and attempted to build something resembling a normal life. She has her job as a make-up artist, a circle of supportive friends, and a routine that keeps her grounded.

I found myself really connecting with her need for comfort on such a difficult day , the desire to retreat into the safety of snacks, movies, and solitude. It felt incredibly real, like sitting on the couch with a cup of tea, trying to quiet the noise of grief for just a little while.

But then comes the moment that changes everything: the discovery of a small gift box in her handbag. It’s such a simple, almost innocent object, yet it carries an immediate sense of dread. Inside, a message written in a code only her late best friend knew. That detail gave me chills. It’s the kind of twist that makes you pause, reread, and feel that slow, creeping unease settle in.

From there, the story unfolds into a gripping psychological puzzle. The introduction of the MLM scheme and the revelation that its three founders are all connected to her past ,adds another layer of intrigue that kept me turning the pages. Bateman cleverly weaves together past and present, blurring the lines between memory, paranoia, and reality in a way that feels both unsettling and addictive.

What I loved most, though, was the emotional core of the story. Beneath the suspense and mystery is a deeply human exploration of grief, trust, and the lingering shadows of the past. It’s not just about uncovering secrets, it’s about confronting them.

Happy Anniversary is the kind of book that feels perfect for a quiet night in, when you want something absorbing yet emotionally resonant. It’s warm in its familiarity, yet sharp enough to keep you on edge.

Not all anniversaries are happy and this one will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
Profile Image for Karolyn.
1,393 reviews44 followers
April 17, 2026
Here’s my review for Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman

I absolutely loved reading this intriguing and gripping psychological suspense thriller that had me hooked right from the very first page. I just couldn’t put the book down as I needed to know what happened next as I was on tenterhooks for Indigo. Was she safe? Her life was being sabotaged a bit at a time by someone but what did they want? Someone was trying to help her by text on an old Nokia flip mobile phone but could she trust them? The texts were written in a code her best friend Saria invented before she died twelve years ago! I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to read this story. I thoroughly loved the plot and it had been thought out really well to build up the suspense factor. The author was great at setting the scene like filming a movie! The characters were really good, well plotted and intriguing plus there were quite a few throughout the story. Some intriguingly reappear throughout her life. This is a ‘now’ and ‘then’ story with Saria telling her bit, just what was she up to? The story is brilliantly written and I read it in one sitting. The synopsis drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed. This is a twist-filled psychological thriller that I'm pleased I read and I'd like to read more from this author in the future.

Blurb :

Not all anniversaries are happy.

Three years ago today, my husband was murdered. He died on the same date I lost my high-school best friend in a car crash.

I’ve rebuilt my life since then. I have a steady job as a make-up artist and friends who love me. I’m happy — mostly.

But today is still the anniversary of the two worst days of my life.

So by the time I get home from work, all I want to do is curl up on my couch and distract myself with snacks and cheesy movies.

I open my handbag and find something that shouldn’t be there. Something that sends a shiver down my spine.

A small gift box, my name written unevenly across the lid.

Inside is a message:

Happy anniversary.
Someone is trying to sabotage your life.
And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

And it’s written in a code my best friend invented before she died . . .

Love Freida McFadden, Lisa Hall, Jeneva Rose, Teresa Driscoll, John Marrs and Alice Feeney? Put this book on your #tbr list immediately — you won’t be disappointed.
136 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2026
Indigo Voss has had a devastating few years. After losing her best friend, her husband leaves her and steals her life savings—only to later die and leave Indigo with nothing. Struggling to rebuild her life, she holds onto one tradition that keeps her closest friend’s memory alive: visiting the same diner every year on the anniversary of her death.
This year, however, something unexpected happens. Indigo discovers a mysterious phone in her handbag, with no idea how it got there. On it are a series of strange messages written in a secret code—one that only she and her late best friend, Saria, created when they were teenagers. Whoever is sending these messages clearly knows about the code, and the messages seem to be guiding Indigo and warning her that someone is trying to sabotage her life.
With little choice but to trust the unknown sender, Indigo follows the clues while trying to rebuild her life. When she’s offered what seems like the perfect opportunity to solve her financial problems, she joins a small team for the job—only to realise she has worked with all of them before. As the mission unfolds, suspicious deaths begin to occur within the team, and Indigo is shocked to discover that the person in charge is someone from her past… someone who could possibly be the very saboteur determined to destroy her life.
As the coded messages continue to warn her of danger, Indigo must decide who she can trust before everything she has left is taken away.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The author does a fantastic job of making you feel for Indigo—you can’t help but sympathise with everything she’s going through and feel frustrated and angry on her behalf as someone continues to make her life miserable. The suspense builds steadily throughout the story, and the mystery keeps you guessing about who is really behind everything.
The pacing was engaging, and the tension builds nicely toward the end. The final reveal and conclusion were very satisfying and tied everything together brilliantly.
Overall, this was an exciting and gripping thriller that kept me hooked. If you enjoy suspenseful mysteries with twists and emotional stakes, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
Profile Image for Esther Peacock.
479 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy
April 15, 2026
Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman

Not all anniversaries are happy.

Three years ago today, my husband was murdered. He died on the same date I lost my high-school best friend in a car crash.

I've rebuilt my life. My job as a make-up artist is steady. My friends love me. Most days, I'm happy.

But today is still the anniversary of the two worst days of my life.

By the time I get home, all I want is to hide, lost in snacks and cheesy movies.

I open my handbag and find something that shouldn’t be there. Something that sends a shiver down my spine.

A small gift box, my name written unevenly across the lid.

Inside is a message:

Happy anniversary.

Someone is trying to sabotage your life.

And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

And it’s written in a code my best friend invented before she died...

I really enjoyed this read; it was full of twists and turns, keeping you wondering what happened next all the way through. As you weaved your way through the red herrings that were thrown up to confuse, you realise how easy it is today on social media to bring someone to their knees, especially if you know what you are doing. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is well-orchestrated. It was the right mix of thriller, mystery and intrigue.

I have read previous books by Sonya and thoroughly enjoyed them all, to name a couple, The Husband Killer and The Foster Daughter. All her books are worth finding time to read if you have enjoyed this one and are new to this author.

I want to thank publishers Joffe Books, author Sonya Bateman and Zooloos Book Tours for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Ney oh the thrill of it  FN.
223 reviews6 followers
April 16, 2026
My rating is 3.5.

I received this free advance reading copy via Netgalley. Thank you to Sonya Bateman and Joffe Books. This review is being left voluntarily and the opinions are my own.

I'll admit that I didn't read what this book was about before picking it up - I read it purely for the name and the cover, which intrigued me.

The story follows Indigo Voss, a one-time actress whose life begins to fall apart and she doesn’t understand why. She receives a mysterious invitation to an event and finds an old school flip phone in her bag with texts from a mystery informant.

The puzzling thing is that the messages she receives are in a code that Indigo and her best friend, Saria, created in their teens. They were the only two who knew how to use it but Saria died years ago, so who is sending these messages?

I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the coded messages. Even though the author also gave the translations, my brain just couldn't wrap my head around it and I found myself glossing over the code to get to the translated bits. It is a good concept in theory, just not for a reader as inpatient as me.

The majority of the book consists of Indigo's dangerous pursuit of the truth and her attempts to uncover who is behind everything that is going on.

It started off on the slower side but at around 40% in things began to get really interesting the pace really picked up. I found myself racing for the end like my life depended on it!

I guessed some elements of the ending but other bits definitely had me shocked. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend.
181 reviews5 followers
April 14, 2026
A nightmarish story centred around a Pyramid Selling venture with plenty of twists and
turns

Indigo discovers that her husband Roman has emptied her bank accounts and fled the
home they shared. Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, a cop shows up and
breaks the news that Roman was the victim of a robbery and had been shot in the face
and murdered. Roman was killed on the anniversary of the death of her best friend Saria
which makes the hurt deeper. Gradually her world unravels piece by piece as her
showbiz career is ruined by poison messages and she is evicted from her apartment and
her car is repossessed. In desperation she is lured into a Pyramid Selling venture with
promises of huge gains even though her grandmother committed suicide because of
impossible debts caused by an MLM or Pyramid scam
Indigo meets an old friend for coffee and later discovers an old low-tech cell phone in
her bag. She opens the phone and discovers a single text message from an unknown
source warning her of danger. The message is even more startling as its written in a code
devised by her and Saria and known only by the two of them. The mystery messenger
seems to have Indigo’s safety and interest at heart but is drawing her deeper and deeper
into the Web of the Pyramid scam.
The strange names and even stranger nicknames can be a bit confusing but the story is
full of twists and turns and a shock ending. Very entertaining
Profile Image for Akku.
685 reviews19 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 18, 2026
• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - April 14, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- anniversary mystery
- hidden secrets
- past coming back
- psychological suspense
- twisted family secrets

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This story follows a woman whose life was shattered after two tragedies happened on the same day. Her husband died and her best friend was lost in a terrible accident. Three years later, on the exact anniversary of that day, she receives a mysterious box with a coded message that only her late friend could understand. From that moment, strange events begin to unfold and secrets from the past slowly start coming to light.
This book was such a fun and twisty thriller for me. I loved the suspenseful atmosphere and the way the mystery kept unfolding piece by piece. The writing style was easy to follow but still very gripping, which made it perfect for binge reading.
The secrets and reveals were honestly the best part. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, another twist appeared and changed everything. The emotional side of the story also worked really well, especially the grief and the complicated relationships between the characters. It added depth to the mystery and made the story feel more intense.
The pacing slowed down a little in the middle, but the final reveals and the tension at the end made it completely worth it. Overall this was a very entertaining psychological thriller with secrets, suspense and some really satisfying twists.
Thank you zooloosbooktour for the ARC!
Profile Image for Liv Rutherford .
91 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 1, 2026
Not all anniversaries are happy.

Three years ago today, my husband was murdered. He died on the same date I lost my high-school best friend in a car crash.

I’ve rebuilt my life since then. I have a steady job as a make-up artist and friends who love me. I’m happy – mostly.

But today is still the anniversary of the two worst days of my life.

So by the time I get home from work, all I want to do is curl up on my couch and distract myself with snacks and cheesy movies.

I open my handbag and find something that shouldn’t be there. Something that sends a shiver down my spine.

A small gift box, my name written unevenly across the lid.

Inside is a message:

Happy anniversary.
Someone is trying to sabotage your life.
And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

And it’s written in a code my best friend invented before she died . . .

I really enjoyed this book. The writing style flowed. It had me gripped..

Being a huge fan of crime series such as Criminal Minds, CSI, Lie to me etc the premise and outcome was plausible.
The characters were likeable and believable.
I had an inkling about a few of the twists but not all of them.
I would definitely read another book by Sonya Bateman.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this free E=arc in exchange for an honest review.
34 reviews1 follower
April 17, 2026
This book was very emotionally charged and unsettling from the first page and I had no complaints.


Told from the dual povs of best friends Saria and Indigo, the plot jumps between the present day and 10-12 years earlier. We hear more from Indigo, who has gone through her fair share of trauma and devastation.


It felt like a premise I haven't come across before and this was really refreshing.


As a big fan of sci-fi and technological thrillers, I enjoyed the more high-tech elements that the author incorporated, while the secret code used between the friends satisfied the nerd in me.


There was a lot of fantastic misdirection and tension building, and I genuinely didn't know who to trust right up until the big reveal. 


I really felt for Indigo after all she had been through, the situation she finds herself in and the way she is trying to just survive and keep moving forward during a really difficult time in her life.


There were a lot of characters, which I know isn't ideal for some readers. It was almost too many, but the author managed to just about stay on the right side of this line and none of them felt unnecessary so I am okay with it.


I would definitely recommened if you are a psychological thriller reader in a bit of a slump and looking for something a little bit different.
Profile Image for Joanna.
454 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 12, 2026
4 stars for me.

On the aniversary of her husband death Indigo get a present.Inside the box is the message:

Happy anniversary.
Someone is trying to sabotage your life.
And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

Indigo have already lost her best friend before,her husbund before he was killed stole all her money,and now it seems someone wants to ruin her life.

Will she stop them before it's to late?

It was a tension filled read I could not put down.To the end I could not figure it out who was responsible for all Indigo misfortune,and autor did a great job to confuse and twist plot at every corner.Indigo was trying to have a quiet life,after her husband stole all this money and then got killed I admit I was raging for her,I mean did she not suffer enough?The plot thicken and so many people get involved,a lot of them from Indigo past,that have me guessing each character intentions.The only thing for me was lacking epilouge that could wrap up everything more tidier,other than that I think it was a great read.Whithout spoiling the plot it's a pychological thriller that have you second guessing your memories and trusting anyone in your life.My first book by this author and hope to read more.

Thank you Joffe Books publisher for arc,my review is honest and my own.
63 reviews3 followers
April 26, 2026
Twisty, Intriguing, Fast-moving.
As soon as I read the first page of Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman I knew I was going to need to turn off my credibility detector and go with the flow. The story is about Indigo who is a makeup artist specializing in gory monster characters who had a best friend Saria who died on the same day that Indigo’s husband Roman also supposedly died - but did he? A feature of the story is a code developed secretly between Saria and Indigo which is now being used by a malefactor to send threats to Indigo. The code is an intriguing part of the plot but rather off-putting when used at great lengths in the text. As the story progresses my mind became distracted by the number of new characters introduced and their outlandish names. However, the steps taken to reach the conclusion are satisfactorily twisty and the ending nothing like the scenario anticipated at the beginning, so that a reader might enjoy the reading experience and become very involved in this book. I enjoy books which are credible in their setting and offer a smoother reading experience. However, if you enjoy twisty, incredible, fast-moving stories this is certainly “something a bit different for you”.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,804 reviews147 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 22, 2026
Happy Anniversary by Sonia Bateman is about Indigo who is trying to endure the anniversary of her husband leaving and taking all her money and her high school best friend dying in a car accident it happened on the same day years apart and both of them still affect Indigo. On the same day indigo Gets a gnocchi flip phone and is told that someone is out to ruin her life and they also tell her they will be corresponding in the same code her and her best friend Soraya used in high school a code only they knew. So who is this texting indigo and how do they know the code? this is a story where everyone seems to be someone else and even those you think you know turn out to be someone you already knew but now no in a different way. That is not to say this book wasn’t good because I totally enjoyed it although they did have a lot of names especially because more than three people had two different personalities but I still as I said enjoyed it I thought the ending was pretty awesome and I definitely recommend it. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Profile Image for Angel **Book Junkie** .
2,103 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
March 30, 2026
Thank you to Joffe Books, NetGalley, and Sonya Bateman for a copy of Happy Anniversary in exchange for an honest review.

This one? Solidly okay—with a few bumps along the way.

I actually liked Indigo… for the most part. But her whole “woe is me” vibe started to wear thin after a while. And the gullibility? Whew. There were moments I just wanted to shake her and say, “Girl, please read the room.”

Then the story took a sharp turn into techy MLM territory, and I’m not gonna lie—that felt a little out of left field. It wasn’t bad, just… unexpected in a way that didn’t fully land for me.

That said, it did keep my interest. I wasn’t bored, and I did want to see how everything played out. The ending brought some excitement, even if I had the twist clocked about four chapters in (and yes, I was side-eyeing the book the whole time waiting to be proven wrong… I wasn’t).

Final verdict: Three stars. Entertaining enough to keep you reading, predictable enough to keep you guessing if it’ll surprise you—but don’t expect your mind to be blown.
1,913 reviews36 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 2, 2026
Indigo's husband was murdered on the same date as her closest friend died years earlier. As teens, the two girls got a kick out of inventing a code for their use only. When a gift arrived for Indigo with a message on an old flip phone written in the code, Indigo was horrified. Old wounds were re-opened and new ones created. Not only was her husband dead but before he died, he drained her sizeable bank account. She had had brief success as an actress and had savings. In desperation, she agreed to a scheme in order to pay the rent. The coded phone messages continued. So did secrets.

The premise of the story is compelling so it was easy to zip through the pages. However, the characters are juvenile in a frustrating way and some bits of the story are implausible and predictable. Still, the plot gripped me and I enjoyed the feeling of creepy anxiety-inducing tension which hung over me like a dark bank of clouds.

My sincere thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this taut thriller.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
3,017 reviews148 followers
April 18, 2026
I was instantly drawn to this book as I loved the purity of the white cover and then that contrast of the blood red accents.

This is also my third read by this author and having loved my first two reads, I was excited to dive back in.

 

This premise instantly grabbed me and I honestly devoured this read so fast as I just had to know where this would go.

 

Indigo had already been through enough in her life having lost her best friend and years later, her husband too.

What was strange was that both events happened on the same date but years apart.

 

Now the anniversary comes around again and Indigo receives a worrying message which is written in the code that she and her friend made up years before they died.

 

This was such a tense read and I was so intrigued about what had really happened - who had sent the message - and how did they know the code?

Also, what really happened in the past and I really found myself rooting for things to work out fine for Indigo.

 

I loved the writing style which had me gripped from start to finish and I raced through this reading late I to the night.

 

Another great read to add to my growing collection.
Profile Image for thesmokymountainsreader.
177 reviews9 followers
April 20, 2026
This book had me from the beginning. There's just something about anniversaries. Our FMC Indigo is dealing with grief. Her husband was murdered three years ago, and she is slowly picking up the pieces. What is strange is that her husband died on the same date as she lost her high school best friend in a car crash. On the date of the anniversary this year, Indigo just wants to curl up on the couch, eat some snacks, and watch some television. However, she receives a surprise that terrifies her, and now there is a definite mystery to solve.

Bateman has a talent for setting the tone of a book. The tone of this one seems somewhat quiet, emotional, and weighted, mixed with an unsettling past, conflicting memories, and twists! There are some dodgy characters in this one, too! If you like Freida McFadden, John Marrs, Alice Feeney, or Caleb Crowe, you will love this one. The characters are great, the story is very intriguing, and once you start, you won't want to stop until you finish. Thank you to @zooloosbooktours and the author for the free copy. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Diane Elizabeth Taylor.
413 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 5, 2026
"Happy Anniversary" is a gripping exploration of grief and survival that grabs you from the very first page. Indigo’s world is shattered by the death of her best friend, the murder of her husband years later on the same date, and the theft of her life savings. The tension ramps up when she receives an old Nokia phone on the anniversary, containing messages in a secret childhood code, sparking a desperate search for the truth. ​
Told through a dual perspective, the narrative layers emotion and intrigue as Indigo navigates a maze of secrets. While her choices occasionally spark frustration, her resilience and vulnerability had me rooting for her all the way.
I raced through the chapters, hooked by the rising stakes and a stunning ending that I never saw coming.
It is a haunting story of loyalty and the enduring power of love in the face of adversity. A must read for fans of twisty domestic suspense.
My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
Profile Image for Charlie.
199 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2026
Indigo is finally getting her life back on track after losing everything - the savings for her dream home, her home, and her husband three years ago. Just when things begin to feel stable again, something strange happens… 🫣

One evening, she hears an unfamiliar ringtone coming from her handbag. Inside, she finds an old-fashioned flip phone she’s never seen before. Even more unsettling, the phone contains text messages written in a secret code only she and her best friend Saria ever understood. 🤯

But that’s impossible because Saria died years ago, killed in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver. 😩

As more messages arrive, Indigo is pulled into a mystery she can’t explain. Is someone playing a cruel game, or is something far more unsettling reaching out from the past? 🤨

A dark and twisted domestic thriller bursting with tension, emotion, and unsettling surprises. 📖

Big thanks to Sonya and Zooloos Book Tours for the opportunity to be part of this tour. ♥️
Profile Image for Farah G.
2,311 reviews46 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 27, 2026
On the anniversary of a difficult day - the date on which she lost both her best friend from high school many years ago, and her husband just 3 years prior in an accident - Indigo receives an unexpected and far from welcome anniversary present. It's a note warning her that someone is out to get her. And if that weren't bad enough, the note is written in a code that she and her best friend developed in order to communicate privately in high school. Who could possibly be using it now?

Sonya Bateman always delivers interesting stories, and this is no exception. I did guess the identity of the person sending the note, but they were plenty of other twist. You need to suspend disbelief for this one, but it's an enjoyably wild ride!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
488 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 15, 2026
Broken relationships can lead to a multitude of sins.
I found this to be a very good mystery thriller. It also gives an insight into the way that multi level marketing works and how such pyramid selling schemes can sometimes be abused. I had to suspend belief a couple of times that some things described could have happened even though the events concerned were actually feasible.
This is a well written fast moving story with some very complex characters, and is an easy read.
Sonia Bateman has comeuppance with a fiendish plot that evolves over the two time lines involved. The scene with the final reveal is very intense and contains a surprise that readers may not see coming.
Profile Image for Shelly Turula.
266 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
March 8, 2026
Happy Anniversary started off strong but I found I had a hard time staying engaged in the story. The secret code texts were off putting and I skipped over them in the book. I am not sure why the author chose to include the secret code texts in full since it was distracting and part of the reason why I had a hard time staying engaged. That being said, definitely some twists which will keep the reader guessing and I will read Sonya Bateman again. Rating: 3 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date: 14 Apr 26.
84 reviews
April 14, 2026
A complex book which struggles to be labelled. Impart a psychological thriller, but also an examination of trust and emotional investment . As a reader you begin to question the truth of the narrative about the past - dead best friend, scheming ex and now dead husband etc. I came up with lots of theories as the story progressed- mostly way off target but that’s the fun! Hard to review without giving away the plot so suffice it to say an entertaining way to pass a few hours….but I wouldn’t read it again. No fun once the mystery is solved!
Profile Image for Maja.
457 reviews9 followers
April 8, 2026
First things first, thank you Netgalley and also Joffe Books for this ARC!

What can I say? This was surely another great title by Sonya Bateman. It was the type of book that keeps you on the edhe of your seat, and easy to read, making me race through all the chapters simply because I had to know what would happen next. However, minus one star because the story did develope a little too slow for my liking, and there were a little too many characters involved at times.
Profile Image for VickydpBooks.
841 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 14, 2026
Really good book enjoyed and good storyline defo had mixed emotions.

Not all anniversaries are happy.

Three years ago today, my husband was murdered. He died on the same date I lost my high-school best friend in a car crash.

A small gift box, my name written unevenly across the lid.

Inside is a message:

Happy anniversary.
Someone is trying to sabotage your life.
And they won’t stop until you’re destroyed.

And it’s written in a code my best friend invented before she died . . .
686 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2026
Gripping

It's not the best day for make up artist Indigo Voss. Three years ago her husband was murdered, after he had cleared her bank account and disappeared. It was also the anniversary of her best friend's death. When she finally gets home she wants to hide from the world but when she opens her bag she finds a mystery parcel. Who slipped it into the bag and why? This book kept me gripped all the way through. I would recommend it to any one who enjoys a good mystery.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,359 reviews28 followers
April 14, 2026
Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman was an additive thriller and a great page turner that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. I wizzed through this book within a few hours and I loved it, especially as you did not know what was going to happen next, it was very cleverly written form the very first few pages. The book cover was perfect for this book and a good eye catcher.

I would highly recommend Happy Anniversary by Sonya Bateman a very enjoyable read, Great get away read.

Profile Image for Sheila.
3,388 reviews142 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 10, 2026
I received a free copy of, Happy Anniversary, by Sonya Bateman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a wild ride. Indy lost her bff and husband a few years ago, she slowly is moving on, starting over, but then she gets a note, someone is out to get her. An intriguing read.
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