Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, authors of the new novel Happy Wife, stopped by Eagle Eye Book Shop to sign copies of their book on June 24. Earlier that morning, Jenna Bush Hager announced Happy Wife as the coveted July 2025 Read with Jenna Book Club pick. Hager made the announcement on the Today Show, where she’s an anchor
"This is such an honor," Shores said, about the debut novel being Hagar’s July pick. "It's such a gift. She's so supportive of writers and she really champions them in a way I don't think a lot of other people in her position would do...She picked us, and I feel like today we got confirmation that it's really real."
Lavender, with a background in film and television, and Shores, with a background in corporate communications, met while attending a function at their children's school, and eventually they became friends. It was during a walk together in a local park when Shores first mentioned her ideas for a story to Lavender.
According to the authors, Happy Wife, is about the main character, Nora Davies, who becomes the second wife of Will Somerset, a lawyer. Once married, Nora finds herself navigating unforeseen challenges when she’s confronted with the reality that not everyone is going to be as happy for her as she is. Ultimately, she finds herself in circumstances where she has to figure out a way to save herself. The novel is set in the affluent community of Winter Park.
Shores said early on she knew she wanted the point of view to be from the second wife’s perspective, and she also knew she wanted the book to be a mystery.
“I had all these pieces, but I didn’t know how to get past some of the barriers,” she said.
That’s where Lavender came in.
"My brain immediately went into hyper-drive, and I could see it," Lavender said, talking about the discussion in the park when Shores shared her ideas about the novel. "I couldn't see the whole thing, obviously. We had to find that together."
And leaning on their previous collaborative professional experience in media and communications, they found it.
At its kernel core, Lavender said the story is about learning to stand your own two feet, relying on yourself, and finding your true north. But both authors agree that above all, they just want readers to have fun and enjoy the story.
Lavender and Shores said they were excited to get the phone call asking them to come to Eagle Eye Book Shop and talk about their debut novel. Shores recalled years ago when she lived in the area and shopped in the bookstore. Now she’s returned to sign copies of her own book.
"It’s a tremendous honor,” she said.
Shores also added that you never know where life is going to take you, and she shared the following advice.
“Don’t be afraid to lean into a good or even a bad idea. You’re going to learn something from it. Just put in your hours however you can,” she said.“I think we’re the luckiest example of how that can work out.”
What’s next for the authors? In July, Lavender and Shores plan to travel to New York City to speak with Jenna Bush Hager on the Today Show. And readers will be happy to know another book is already in the works.
If you missed this event, Eagle Eye Book Shop has more events planned. For details on upcoming events and tickets, visit the Events page on the Eagle Eye Book Shop website.
Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores is published by Bantam Books, a subsidiary Penguin Random House, and is available for purchase at Eagle Eye Book Shop.
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