Member Reviews
This book is a master of psychological drama and twists and turns a plenty. I thought I had it all worked out only to be blindsided at the end. A great thriller.
This was a slow burner but so grippng and well written. The characters and storyline was great and I would definitely buy more from this author
I ended up listening to the audiobook of this one and really enjoyed the experience! I wasn’t the biggest fan of An Anonymous Girl, so reading these authors’ debut felt risky and I wasn’t expecting too much but I loved it! I found the same writing style and plot twists as You Are Not Alone and loved every moment. Although I predicted the big twist, the telling of such a relationship was a hard but raw read and I can’t wait for the next book!
I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. . At times I felt like giving up on it but carried on with it. Overall a good read but a bit slow in place.
Slow to start, but worth the effort. As the twists and turns increase throughout the tale, you will inevitably find yourself hooked and turning pages a pace.
Wowowowowowow! Absolutely thrilling storytelling. When the plot began to unravel my jaw literally dropped. This writing pair have achieved such a unique and intelligent take on abusive relationships, the likes of which I haven’t read before. So clever, so exciting and so worth a read. Phenomenal!
Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
This book has the most brilliant twist 40% of the way through. I immediately ordered a copy for my mum who also loves thrillers! I felt that the second half could have been have a bit more jeopardy but on the whole, great book and would recommend!
I am going to find it hard to review this book since it is a thriller and I feel like you can almost say too much and spoil thriller just by reviewing them. What I will say is I don't often give thriller five stars but this book was the exception, I could not put it down even when I wasn't reading it it was calling out to me and I just wanted to be able to devote a chunk of time to binge this! this book is very pacy and twisty and very well written and that's all I feel I can say other than READ IT!! if you enjoyed B.A Paris Behind Closed Doors, The Girl On The Train and The Woman In The Window you will enjoy this too :)
I really disliked this book - it felt formulaic, the 'twists' were laboured... I prefer not to write negative reviews unless a book angers me, and so I am only reviewing here.
I’ve rounded my star ratings up to 3.5. It’s going to sound strange that I’ve not given this a higher ranking in my personal thoughts yet I’m about to give this a fabulous review.
Let me explain my thoughts.
This is a domestic psychological noir (in my mind) and it’s all cleverly done.
The first 30-40% was a “pick up book, put it down with ease” and just get on with whatever my private daily life needed my attention.
Then come back to book.
I didn’t mind if I couldn’t pick the book up until later........
Unlike the second half of the book!
It was slow pacing.
I had no expectations of this book as I hadn’t read anyone’s reviews. Yes I heard “oh it’s brilliant” to it’s “OK”
I think it lands somewhere in the middle quite nicely.
The thoughts around a wife, ex wife, is not new. But what was cleverly revealed as I read from halfway onwards started to pace faster, started to ignite my interest and keep me invested in this read.
I’m unable to give spoilers because I’d recommend you read this for yourself. It’s good. It’s clever. The premise is ace even though it’s not new. The finality of it all was very good and left me satisfied that it concluded that way.
So you see, I enjoyed this a lot, but it didn’t stir my juices at the beginning. I hardly ever give up on a book because I’ve proved to myself that it might be halfway before things clock in. I was right about this too.
That said, I’m looking forward to reading more from these authors.
Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan publishers.
Why would an ex-wife want to sabotage the wedding of her ex and his new squeeze? Jealousy would be the usual motive,but not in this strange, contrived tale of matrimonial fallout.
We have the usual triangle:
running-from-tragedy Vanessa, now the ex-wife;
beautiful-and-perfect Emma soon-to-be-new-wife,
and bringing up the rear is Mr Perfect-in-every-possible-way, obviously handsome, successful, knowledgable Richard. But is he? Ah well, therein lies the tale.
Vanessa has taken it upon herself to “save” Emma from Richard's clutches. She goes to extraordinary – and preposterous – lengths in her attempt to achieve this, and all – ah bless – for altruistic reasons. Of course, like all women dumped for a newer model.
Clunky writing and bad grammar abound:
“.....Usually at these types of social events, my face hurts from smiling by the end of the evening.”
“....Richard hadn't hurt me bad...”
The authors have spoon-fed every little detail to the reader just in case she/he can't work it out, and then we have some real oddities: Since when did stockings hurt one's stomach? Why does Vanessa have to describe her notebook as her “black Moleskine notebook” every single time? Once would be enough.
Even with all this, this story goes nowhere; it's a big non-event. Not the worst book I've read this year, but certainly sits among those labelled Contrived and Overworked.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy to review.
So happy to be given a whole budget to replenish our senior shelves in the school library. The books in there are far from appealing at the moment and I have been delighted to find books here that will intrigue, captivate and engross my senior students.
This is a fantastic read with characters they will be able to connect with, a pacy narrative and an ending that will provide plenty to talk about. There is a real interest in 'grip-lit' amongst our senior readers and I feel that they will love this one!
It's great to read a book that does not feel formulaic and gives some credit to their reader's intelligence too. Young people are very fussy about the books they choose to read and in this time-precious day and age it really has to be something above and beyond the ordinary to get them to put down their devices and get their noses stuck in a book.
I think this is one book that will capture their imagination and keep them turning the pages until the end. This is definitely going onto my 'must-buy' list and I really look forward to seeing what the young people themselves think of this twisty, clever and engaging novel.
Started off well but then went downhill. It was too predictable and then the story went the way of one book I have already read and with another book I have read thrown in later too. Just felt unoriginal and that was when my enjoyment of the book stopped.
I really wanted to rate this higher, but aside from the fantastic twist, the rest of the book just didn't hold up that well. It starts slowly, with a lot of background information shoehorned in, and I don't know if I would have continued reading if I hadn't known there was something big coming. Then, bam! Twist! And I thought, "Wow, this changes everything, this book suddenly got good," but the rest of it kind of meandered around a bit. Isn't it interesting how much your perception of a book depends on your expectations going into it?
Also, the very final twist was one of those that comes in so late, and with barely any effect on the narrative as a whole, that there's no point. And you're just like, "Right, OK... why?"
Wow!!!!!
I read this book in one sitting, I was expecting run of the mill psychological thriller with some plot twists, however, this was not the case I actually got hooked into one of the best Psychological thrillers I have read in a long long time.
Told from the perspectives of the main characters this books examines domestic abuse and how the victim is left reeling and feeling and is desperate for this not to happen to another woman.
However, of the two stories that are going on who do you believe. The ex wife or the fiancée.
I would highly recommend this book, if you only read a handful of books this year make sure this is one of them.
You know when you pop your earphones in your bag or pocket, perfectly normal then 10 minutes later they look like a bored sailor has been practising knots on them? This book is the equivalent of how twisty that is.
You'll realise from the blurb it's hard to describe the plot of this book without giving things away. So I'll just say it begins with two stories playing side by side. There's Vanessa, broken and obsessed ex wife of Richard. And then there's Nessie, wife to be of Richard. And that's as much as can be revealed without completely spoiling the book.
So is it any good? Well it's actually quite fantastic. I'll fully admit the big reveal did take me completely by surprise....I realised after the clues were there but to for me they were not major red flags. But that's kind of where the issues start. Suddenly it's twist after twist and after awhile it's a bit too much of a good thing. The last twist felt a bit pointless. But it's a small thing. It's a really enjoyable story that pelts along to a satisfactory conclusion....if you skip the epilogue!
Yay, yay, Bookworm's...It's time to jump up and down, do cartwheels down the street and high five each other, because this is getting the elusive 5 stars from me!
It's been a while now since I've read a genuine psychological suspense novel and, until reading this book, I didn't realise just how much I've missed them. That is due, in part, to the fact that this read was just such a fantastic psychological roller-coaster ride that I found myself slightly bashed about by the end, but with a huge smile on my face.
I don't want to say too much, if in fact anything at all, about the plot. This is one of those books that you need to read blind, which may be a tad difficult because of the hype that surrounded its release. As I'm writing this review, I realise that it would be very difficult to write about the plot without giving something away, and I definitely don't want to do that. All I will say is this - the blurb pretty much summarises this book perfectly - Assume nothing.
This is a book that is written in 3 parts and there are twists and turns along the way for you to enjoy, and one that will definitely knock you right off your bicycle. This is also a novel that will keep you engrossed, dying to pick up the book and read whenever you can. That alone deserves 5 stars if you ask me! The plot is great, and also very clever, and there were a number of times throughout the book when I would think to myself just how difficult it must be for the author (in this case, authors) to write such a book without letting something slip at some stage along the way. I'm sure that was no easy feat, and probably took a great amount of editing, so well done to the publishers as well.
Anyway, please do yourselves a favour and pick up a copy of this book. If you're a lover of the psychological thriller / suspense genre, then this is one not to be missed. It was clever, crafty, well plotted and planned, with characters that were very real. I loved it, and I hope you do too.
2.5 stars
THE WIFE BETWEEN US is crafted to be clear that whatever you are thinking, expect the opposite. When you think you know who is who, you don’t. This is a suspense about marriage, first wives, fiancées, ex-wives, controlling husbands and a smattering of friends and family.
I’m honestly kind of disappointed having heard a lot of hype for this book. I heard it was twisty and it is, but in a predictable way. There was only one twist I didn’t see coming and that honestly was underwhelming. It’s defintely a book of two halves with a much stronger first half and a fizzled-out second half.
Not one of the characters, including the three main characters were likeable. However, Richard was vile, a sneaky and manipulative kind of vile. He was incredibly well-written but I didn’t feel the female characters were as strongly written.
Clearly there is a lot of love for this book, but it just didn’t work for me. I want less predictable suspense when I chose to read in the genre.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Absolutely fantastic book had me gripped all the way through with delicious plot.
Outstanding read 5stars all the way.