First of all, mystery/thriller is my favorite genre to read. I usually get so into them, I can't put them down and end up finishing a book within a day or two. It wasn't the case with this book. And according to Good Reads reviews, I'm in the minority with my three star review. This book didn't stand out from the rest of the mystery/thrillers. It was just "ok".
This Second Wife was very generic for me to the point of being predictable. Without giving anything away, every time anything dramatic happens in the book, the reader is able to guess the outcome. There was no "OMG!!" twists in this book, which is very important to me for a mystery/thriller. Each chapter is written from a different character's perspective. I found myself flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to see which character's chapter I was reading! I don't know if this was the author's writing or my mind wandering. Another thing I didn't care for in this book was how cheesy some of the plot was. For example, one of the main characters is an artist. One of her paintings consists of a bird with a bloody clipped wing. The painting was supposed to signify her mental health at the she created the painting. It made me roll my eyes.
Bottom line, unfortunately for me, this book ended up being just a "fiiller" for my Good Read Reading Challenge.

I was put off right from the start by the unlikely number of dead people in the pasts of all the characters. That and some very odd behaviour of the step daughter in the graveyard scene.
I didn’t gel with anyone either so although there was a good twist I was beyond the point of being bothered.

I loved this book.
Sheryl Browne has a knack for drawing you into the story and making you feel part of the lives of the characters.
Rebecca goes to her best friend, Nicole’s funeral and is befriended by her step daughter, and asked to go back to the house so her dad can talk to her.
Rebecca finds Richard warm and friendly so when he offers her somewhere to stay while she is house hunting, she accepts his offer.
We get an insight into Nicole’s life through alternating chapters with her and a Rebecca, and soon realise her life with Richard was not happy.
There are letters that she sent Rebecca that are part of the story and I couldn’t understand why Rebecca would fall for Richard when he was her dead best friend’s husband!
Richards daughter Olivia is a nasty piece of work but seems to have met her match with Rebecca.
This story has a few twists and turns and I loved the ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I read The Affair by this author last year and just loved it so I was really pleased to see that she had a new book and couldn't wait to start it.
There is everything in this story, The Second Wife is a chilling intruiging psychological thriller with secrets, betrayal and fabulously flawed characters, the story proceeds at a fast pace and I couldn't stop reading.

I was completely wrapped up in this book from start to finish and if you like psychological thrillers I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one. After reading three brilliant books by Sheryl Browne, I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Wow. What a fantastic book! I woke up thinking of it and hated having to put it down.

The short chapters keep your attention and the plot is good enough to keep you guessing. Just when you think you know what's happening BOOM! a twist you do not see coming!

I loved the way this book was told from different points of view switching from past to present and the ending ties everything nicely together.

This is the second Sheryl Browne book I have read and I have thoroughly enjoyed both. Look forward to reading more.

An easy 5 stars for this great psychological thriller.

What would you do if you received emails or texts from your best friend where her new relationship sounds amazing, but a little too perfect? Then, you start to receive more emails and texts when your friend marries the perfect man and starts to have problems with his daughter? Then, your best friend dies. What would you do?
In this case, Rebecca "Becky" decides to pursue Richard, Nicole's husband to see if Richard was anyway behind the death of Nicole due to the messages she has gotten.
I really enjoyed seeing POV's from Rebecca, Richard, Nicole, and Olivia to see their thoughts and how twisted some of these characters are.
The writing was really great to where I felt the frustrations of Nicole and feel some shock value when the big plot twist was revealed.
I did dock a star because in the first 50 to 100 pages, Nicole keeps referring to her ex-husband as a minsogynst over and over again. I did not mind she called them that, but with it being so repetitive, it bugged me a little because it was something as the audience that we already knew.

Thank you for the early copy!

It was well-done thriller. It kept me guessing until the end. I recommend checking out if you enjoy interesting thrillers.

3.25 stars
This book is divided into 2 halves for me. This first half was at least 4, possibly 5 stars. The writing was suspenseful and clever. I adored the protagonist Rebecca, a strong willed, independent character, in her quest to figure out why her best friend Nicole killed herself. Was it an abusive marriage? Was it mental illness? Rebecca inserts herself into Nicole’s former life, hoping to better understand what happened to her friend. As I started this book, I was hooked, and hard pressed to put it down.

The second half of the book fizzled and was probably more in line with 2 stars, with the ending being 1 star. The twists are revealed early in the plot, which then becomes a game of cat and mouse. It kind of felt like 2 separate stories. I think the suspense of “what was really going on” could have been drawn out until the end. There was also a missed opportunity to end the story with another spectacular twist. As a result, the ending felt far fetched and implausible with a lacklustre resolution. There was also a lot of sexual content that seemed out of place and unneeded for plot development. I admit that by the end, I was tired of all the characters using sex as a ploy.

While the first part f the story flowed really well through the eyes of Rebecca, the second half lacked continuity, and there were gaps in the telling, that sometimes made it hard to follow along. I had to re-read certain passages to understand what was going on and who was saying what. I wish the author had chosen to keep the flow and momentum of the first half all the way through. As new perspectives were introduced (e.g. Olivia, Richard), the story got confusing and lost its thrill.

I went with 3 stars because the story was engaging and kept my interest until the end. It was fast paced and the characters were entertaining. An okay read if you’re looking for a quick and easy psych thriller.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.



The plot

Very good. Kept you guessing. A very cleverly crafted thriller. Would recommend if you like thrillers.

The Second Wife by Sheryl Browne I read in one day – it was filled with twists galore and utterly gripping from the onset. Initially it starts with a protagonist you’ll love, however towards the end you’ll be filled with anger and rage towards characters you thought you could trust. Sheryl continues her trend of intense dramatic thrillers following on from The Babysitter and The Affair, but within this psychological thriller is two stories consisting of Nicole and Rebecca that is centred around one man – Richard! The deeper you head into the plot, suspicions arise about the suicide of Nicole, and just when you think you know where the story is heading…bam, another hard-hitting twist that only adds to the tension.

Rebecca and Nicole were the best of friends and now Nicole is dead. It was ruled a suicide. When Rebecca gets a call from Nicole's widower, she decides to assist him in sorting through Nicole's things. Rebecca promptly steps into Nicole's shoes. After all, they were best friends. Nicole would have wanted Rebecca, and Richard, to be happy. Is this what Rebecca really wants or does she have another motive?

Rebecca is not only re-reading Nicole's last letters to her, but she is carefully perusing them. Meanwhile, Richard's daughter Olivia is interfering at every moment Richard and Rebecca try and spend time together. This is nothing new for Olivia. As it turns it, she treated Nicole the same way.

This chilling story is delivered in multiple points of view and timelines. Admittedly, I had to pay close attention to sort out Rebecca and Nicole. The reason why? Richard treated both women the same way. In all honesty, Richard is truly despicable. Rebecca is determined to get behind the fact about Rebecca's death. If indeed she committed suicide, would those letters reveal clues as to why?

I devoured The Affair by Sheryl Browne, so when I saw this book come up I just had to grab it. Smart move that. This read was spectacular. As if the characters weren't compelling, the twists and turns certainly were, and the conclusion all but threw me. For readers of intense psychological thrillers think, The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved it, very well done, Didn't know what to think about how it would end, It was an enjoyable book.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Nicole was slowly gaining confidence again after divorcing her husband AKA The Misogynist. One afternoon she met handsome widow Richard at an art exhibition. Richard had a grown-up daughter Olivia who he doted on.

After a whirlwind romance Nicole and Richard got married. Pooling their resources together they bought a magnificent house in a village. Olivia also moved in temporarily after her flat share with a friend fell through.

On their wedding day the son of one of Nicole`s friends tried to attack Olivia. When Nicole asked if Olivia could have been mistaken she refused to speak to her. Over the months Nicole writes to her BF Rebecca in France. She describes how unhappy she is and how Olivia is coming between her and Richard.

When Nicole commits suicide Rebecca returns to the UK to attend the funeral. Although Richard is grief stricken, Rebecca notices he finds her attractive. Olivia is warm at welcoming and tells Rebecca her father fancies her.

Richard seemed like a perfect gentlemen so why.did Nicole end her life? Suspicious Rebecca decides to moves back to the UK to find out why Nicole was so upset before her death.

The story was told from the POV of Nicole, Rebecca. Richard and Olivia.

The Second Wife was gripping and I found it hard to put down. I felt so sorry for Nicole who had such high hopes for her new life. When she started to question her sanity, you could cut the tension with a knife.

I liked Rebecca who was more confident than Nicole. When Rebecca got engaged to Richard I thought She o!saying a dangerous game.

I loved the big twist in the story which had me my kicking myself. The Second Wife was excellent but It was spoiled by the unbelievable ending which is why I awarded four stars.

I enjoyed the first chapters of this book. Something is terribly wrong in Richard’s home. His wife Nicole has committed suicide. His ex wife is also dead. Does Richard have something to do with the deaths? I had so many questions going into this story. I love how the author dropped hints along the way that had me questioning all characters. I also liked the inclusion of Nicole’s narration which helped in filling in the gaps as the story progressed and the past and present timelines collided.

About ¾ ways, the book had one hell of a jaw dropping twists. All along, I thought I had an idea of where the story was going. However, I was dead wrong. I couldn’t have guessed just how twisted some of the characters were. Definitely couldn’t have guessed the truth behind Nicole’s death.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the rest of the book so much after the twist. It took a while to get through the remaining chapters. I can’t really explain why though because the writing was impeccable. I guess it’s partly because I couldn’t connect with any of the characters once all the masks were off. I just found them unlikable and the MC Rebecca also didn’t make much sense to me. I have to say that I am in the minority though. Just check out goodreads and you will see that this book has nothing but glowing reviews so my issues could be a case of me and not the book.

I have always enjoyed Sheryl’s books and this was no exception. I was certainly captivated up to the part that I mentioned. I can’t wait to see what else the author comes up with in future.

This was my first Sheryl Browne book and will not be my last. Excellent psychological thriller about a con man and the broken hearts and lives he has left in his wake. Page turner from the very beginning. After a difficult childhood and a failed marriage to an abusive husband Nicole thinks she has finally found the perfect man for her in Richard. She soon finds out that things are not what they seem with Richard and his over possessive daughter Olivia. As Richard and Olivia conspire to make Nicole’s life a living hell, she confides in her oldest friend Rebecca. When Rebecca comes to investigate Nicole’s death things become truly dark. Excellent twisty novel with many plot twists.

After escaping an abusive marriage, the last thing Nicole expects is to meet the man of her dreams, enjoying a whirlwind romance and a 2nd marriage. But all is not sunshine and roses; Richard’s got baggage of his own: previous wife committed suicide and his daughter, Olivia, seems more than happy to drive a wedge between the newlyweds.

Nicole’s closest and only remaining friend, Rebecca, is in France and gets bits and pieces of the story from Nicole via texts and emails and letters. Rebecca is beyond shocked when she learns that Nicole has committed suicide.
Rebecca comes to England to attend Nicole’s funeral, wanting to understand how her friend could have become so despondent. Before she realizes it, she finds that she is also falling for Richard, but even romance can’t keep her from digging a little deeper into the circumstances surrounding her best friend’s death.

This novel is a psychological thriller full of twists and turns and even when you think you’ve figured it all out, there’s still a little more.

Thanks to Netgalley the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nicole would not have committed suicide. Rebecca is sure of it. Even though she hasn't spent one on one time with her long time friend for years, the two have exchanged texts and emails so Rebecca feels like she knows Nicole's mindset. Her new husband Richard is not the gem Nicole thought he would be. And what about her stepdaughter Olivia? Well, that's a whole other issue! Rebecca decides she's going to figure out what happened and moves in. Is that a wise move? Probably not but it makes the basis for a good thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Told in short chapters and in alternating time lines, this one will keep you turning pages.

The following was posted on my blog, shared via Twitter and Goodreads and will be shared through Instagram later today.

I’d never imagined myself succumbing to a state of emotional abandonment where I lost all rational thought, my sense of identity. Lost sight of me. It happens gradually, subtly and insidiously, until you really do believe the madness is ‘all in your mind’.

Thus begins The Second Wife. And right there and then I knew it would be a good one. Yes, I do know better than to judge a book by its prologue, but sometimes you just know, you know? This is Sheryl Browne’s third novel and in my humble and honest opinion, it’s her best one yet.
I loved her first novel, The Babysitter, if you haven’t read that one, do check it out!
I also liked Sheryl’s second novel, The Affair. It was well-written and well-plotted, but I found myself frustrated by the main characters. At times I had to refrain myself from shouting at them to stop arguing and start talking to each other, they were supposed to love each other, how could they not communicate more?! Regardless, I was still a fan, so when I saw The Second Wife on NetGalley I requested it immediately and I was thrilled when I was approved.

The Second Wife's narrative is split between past events (Nicole) and present-day events (Rebecca after Nicole's death). Both are equally suspenseful, and I was racing through the story from the get-go until the very last page.
Now, first of all, I feel like I should give you a bit of a warning about the story: it deals with some delicate issues, but, again in my humble opinion, in a very appropriate, sensitive way. Take Nicole. It’s so interesting to see how she feels after getting out of an abusive relationship, how she tentatively lets another man in. She’s a victim, but she escaped, she tries to pick up the pieces, she has ups and downs but she keeps trying nevertheless, she’s strong and brave and although dealing with the aftermath of a nasty relationship, the abuse is never used as an excuse for any present-day behaviour of hers. Nicole’s best friend, Rebecca, is another strong female character, and with some hidden depths I had not foreseen.
In terms of the plot, I had this hunch, right from the start, a gut feeling. Now, my gut has been known to betray me before, so I don’t trust it all that much. But this time! This time I was RIGHT! How glorious that was! You know how sometimes a story is so predictable that it gets boring? Not this one! It wasn’t predictable at all, I have no idea how my hunch came into being but how lovely it did. I kept reading and reading to find out whether my hunch was correct and when it turned out it was, I was just so happy! (Take that, Miss Marple!)
The psychological angle of this thriller was very well though out and highly intriguing. What psychological mind games can be played on a person before they go mad? And how long before the trickster is so caught up in their mind games that they go mad themselves?

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've read both of Sheryl Browne's other books and really enjoyed them so when I saw she was coming out with another, I didn't have to think twice about picking it up!
It was a very gripping and fast read and the chapter's weren't that long which is always a plus! It had a bit of everything; it was drama filled from the start but didn't seem too dark but just you wait! This is a fantastic example of where tension just builds and builds throughout a book and you don't want to put it down! It was told from several different perspectives which was done so well and I feel like it only gave things away when they were meant to do. I did see the 'twist' coming and this is where I feel like the book let me down a bit. The ending just seemed a bit rushed and I would have liked more of an explanation behind why the ending went as it did as it that came as more of shock that the characters were acting as they were? I'm also a bit confused by what exactly happened to a few of the characters as it was a bit ambiguous - I don't know it was left that way as a mystery so that it leaves you wondering but I just wanted to know what had happened exactly!
Despite this is was a good book and was probably more of a 3.5 star but I just couldn't get on board exactly with how the ending played out! I do love Sheryl Browne's books and will be picking the next one up when it comes out!

The Second Wife is a well-crafted domestic thriller about a woman, Rebecca, who grows suspicious of her best friend Nicole’s perfect husband after her friend uncharacteristically commits suicide. After meeting the husband, Richard, at Nicole’s funeral, Rebecca becomes determined to get close to him and figure out what on earth could have happened to drive Nicole to suicide when she had never said anything negative about their marriage. What secrets were lurking in their marriage that Nicole hadn’t shared with anyone? As Rebecca grows closer to Richard, despite her initial suspicions, she finds herself developing feelings for him and quickly slipping into a life much like Nicole’s. But if she begins a relationship with Richard, will she be in danger of the same fate as Nicole’s?

This was my first Sheryl Browne book, and now I definitely want to explore some of her others! It took me a while to get into it and become invested in the characters, but once I got about a third of the way into it, I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.