The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey
I’m not a huge reality TV fan but after reading this book, I kind of want to be. There’s so much drama, some of it real and some of it manufactured. Plus so much money! I have to say I understand now why people love The Real Housewives franchise so much. So if you’re ready to learn more about the Garden State Goddesses, one of the most popular shows on the Huzzah streaming network, make sure to keep reading. Because today I’m sharing my full The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey book review.
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What is The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey About?
A propulsive page-turning thriller following the hit reality TV show Garden State Goddesses where secrets are uncovered, intense rivalries surface, and a startling murder propels a producer on a riveting quest for the truth.
On this season of Garden State Goddesses: Getting canceled means getting killed.
When Hope Bennett marries Carmela’s brother, Leo, she becomes not only a Fontana, but a Garden State Goddess—and not everyone is happy. Secrets will be revealed, decades-long rivalries will surface, and a sudden murder will lead to a reality reckoning no one is prepared for—least of all the show’s producer, Eden, who must race to catch a killer and save the most dramatic season of all time. (from Amazon.com)
My Initial Thoughts
I liked the idea of this story right off the bat. At the forefront we have Eden and Hope, two cousins from California. Eden is the older cousin. She’s now an executive producer of the hit reality tv show Garden State Goddesses, about some very rich and very dramatic women living in New Jersey. Some of them are married. Others are divorced. And some of them may or may not have ties to the mafia. Very interesting.
Eden introduces her cousin Hope to Leo, one of the bachelors in the community and the two of them hit it off and eventually get married. That makes Hope the perfect new cast member for the latest season of the series.
So at the beginning of the book, filming for the new season is about to begin. Hope is a little overwhelmed in her new role as Leo’s wife. Two of the cast members are actually her new sisters in law, while the others she has yet to meet. She has more of a quiet and laid back personlity, so she isn’t so sure how she’s going to fit in on the show.
But it’s something that her cousin Eden really wants. And Eden wouldn’t lead her astray. So Hope agrees to join the show. But like all good episodes of reality television, things don’t go exactly as planned.
The Cast Members (I Mean… Characters)
I’ve never watched The Real Housewives of New Jersey, but I imagine the cast in this book is loosely based off of them.
- Carmela – Kind of the Queen Bee. Grew up around the Fontana family and was determined to marry one of the brothers one day. She and Valerie are childhood friends, so Valerie always takes her side in family issues.
- Valerie – Born a Fontana. She’s had trauma in her past that she doesn’t like to talk about. Mother of boys and basically your typical boy mom. Lol.
- Bertie – A rich woman who may or may not know how to handle her alcohol. Her son Pierre takes care of her.
- Renee – A single mother who also owns a jewelry business as well as a brick and mortar jewelry shop. Her daughter is also on the show sometimes, and dreams of being the next Ariana Grande.
- Hope – She’s the new kid on the block! And the new wife of Leo Fontana. She’s very sheltered because she grew up in a religious cult in Northern California. Doesn’t know anything about tv or pop culture. I mean, she’s never even watched Garden State Goddesses.
The Drama
A big part of the story is how Eden, the show runner, really wants a promotion. She doesn’t want to produce Garden State Goddesses. She’d rather work on a bigger and more glamorous show. So it’s very important to her that this season go well. And by well, I mean she hopes to manufacture a lot of drama between the women that will make for great television ratings.
The Murder Mystery
As the story unfolds and the season of the show progresses, characters start dying in rapid succession. I’m sure you could guess that by the title, huh? It’s traumatic for the tight knit community of the show. Eden takes it the hardest. I mean, she’s the one who manufactured much of the drama.
Would I Recommend The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey?
Yes! I really enjoyed this book and could see myself reading it again in a couple of years. The characters were all unique and had interesting backstories. A couple of the storylines really surprised me. I feel bad how things ended for certain characters, but I won’t spoil that. You’ll just have to read the full book by Astrid Dahl to find out!
Do You Need to Like Reality Television to Enjoy This Book?
Maybe. The characters are a little annoying, in the way that the Kardashians annoy me. Haha. Everyone is so fake and money hungry. But I felt like that made for an interesting story. And like I said, I’ve never seen the Real Housewives before.
In Conclusion
If you’re looking for a great poolside read this Summer, make sure to check out The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey. It kept me entertained and it also kept me guessing about what would happen next. These characters have tons of secrets and it’s funny how everything seems to come out eventually