From the Publisher:
Suburbia can seem like a civilized refuge, but it hides plenty of sharp edges.
The Paradise Heights Women’s League is proof. When Lyssa Harper invited Harry Wilder—the golden-haired, recently single dad who used to run the corporate world—into the group, she didn’t expect the chaos that followed. Harry arrived with cupcakes and good intentions, and Lyssa became his informal guide to the rules and rituals of gated-community life. She didn’t anticipate that the other members would arrive at his doorstep unannounced with casseroles, leopard-print briefs, and plans to reconfigure his kitchen.
What happens when the neighborhood’s image of the “perfect couple” falls apart? If Harry and his wife can end their marriage, what does that mean for everyone else? Lyssa’s husband, Ted, is a devoted dad but seems more attentive to the Pilates-primed mom circle than to his own wife. The women’s gossip often masks deeper struggles—infertility, infidelity, and eating disorders lurk behind the manicured lawns and polite conversation.
When Harry sets boundaries with his enthusiastic new fan club, he quickly becomes an outcast. Lyssa refuses to abandon him, though, and her steadfast friendship triggers unforeseen consequences for her close-knit group and for her marriage.
Susie Says:
This summary only hints at how compelling the novel really is. Even with a ten-month-old at home and 352 pages to read, I devoured it in two days. I admit I ignored chores, but I couldn’t put it down. Since Twilight, I haven’t been this absorbed in a story or so taken with a leading man. Some plot turns are predictable, but the journey and character development kept me fully engaged. Be warned: there’s a jaw-dropping moment near the end that made me exclaim, “Oh hell no.” It was that surprising.
I loved the book so much I wish I had an extra copy to give away, but I don’t—and I’m not ready to part with mine. I hope readers pick up a copy and reach out so we can talk about it—I’m eager to discuss it because it left me thinking about the characters long after I finished. It’s an engrossing, entertaining read.
Enjoy!
Susie’s Note: I received a copy of the book to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.