Her Beautiful Life

By: Brianna Labuskes

Narrated by: Moniqua Plante, Jess Moran, Maria McCann

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 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.

©2026 by Brianna Labuskes. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Labuskes’s critique of social media takes aim at soft targets, but she pulls off some truly surprising and unsettling twists along the way. Psychological thriller fans will get exactly what they came for.”—Publishers Weekly

Keeps you interested

A good story that keeps you very interested and engaged. Lots of man bashing. I definitely could have done without that.

Very nice story but….

Really enjoyed this story, liked the character building, the twists, most everything but the virtue signaling. I’d really like to find some stories that don’t feel the need to always virtue signal at me and just tell your story. We’re intelligent enough to have our own opinions.

We always need someone

Love the it was written the story it’s. Showing us what truly can be right in front of our eyes. Story of friendship and protection of the ones we love. How far are we willing to help.

Wickedly brilliant!

Her Beautiful Life by Brianna Labuskes

Labuskes explores the complexities of relationships, unresolved trauma and personality disorders.

One of the most important aspects of Labuskes writing, is how well she develops her characters. This time the author presents us with a story of two women who met, became roommates and then best friends to end up parting ways.

Time goes by and one of them finds her way as a wife, mom of six and influencer. While the other becomes a journalist and decides to try to get to her old friend through an interview.

Everything goes as planned and they finally meet again, unfortunately for Holland, Cat is not the same, not even close to the woman she once met. And something…something is off, at least for Holland. But is it?

My thoughts 💭

Labuskes is superb when it comes to human behavior! I must grant it to her, every character is extremely well developed, so round!
Sometimes I wonder, how is it possible to get inside the mind of a mentally ill person with so much care!

And not only she develops beautifully intricate patterns but also takes the reader by the hand to guide us all through a journey of discovery, awareness and even a kind of a wicked understanding. Thank you! 🙌🏼

After all, what do we really know about parasocial relationships?

Best friend

This was a great read. How 2 ladies come together and one being the protector