This read was a solid, consistent ride throughout. Though it lacked twist and turns, the cool, lyrical way in which the first-person narrative gave insight into the mind of the criminal protagonist provided a steady build up to the climax and denouement.
Personally, I appreciated the amount of back story and character history. I don't think it's always an easy feat to make a villain come off as deserving of sympathy, but that was the case for me towards the protagonist. The jilted lover/scorned woman trope was not beat to death, thanks to the bits of her psyche and history that were revealed throughout and the struggles that she faced in the aftermath of each of her poignant losses were described in poignant detail.
The abrupt shifts between past and present was a bit jarring at first but not insurmountable or detrimental to the enjoyment of the reading experience, in my opinion.
As a fan of alternative perspectives, this was a great read that didn't take as much effort to enjoy as your typical thriller. Overall, a nuanced and intellectual novel.

I just reviewed The Vixen Amber Halloway by Carol LaHines. I loved the plot but the pacing was slow.
#TheVixenAmberHalloway #NetGalley

if you're expecting a thriller, i would say this is more literary fiction with a splash of thriller - which is more my jam.

i love themes of obsession and this satisfied that itch. there are valid comments about it being repetitive, but so is obsession so i feel like that was sort of the point.

a quick-paced read that was entertaining until the end. thank you for the eARC!

The Vixen Amber Halloway was an interesting read. I really enjoyed it and will recommend to my readers who enjoy women's psychological fiction. Ophelia was a very complicated MC, which I appreciated.

I really liked the premise of this book but unfortunately felt like it was lacking. It became very repetitive and the overuse of the words espied, viz. and to whit made me start skim reading. I don't think I would class this as a thriller but more literary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

I requested a copy as I found the premise to be very interesting. The Vixen paints a picture of a woman scorned and then details the events that lead to her downfall. Ophelia is very unhinged following the discovery of her husband’s infidelity and she lets her situation get the best of her. She becomes a woman undone.

The story was very repetitive and I honestly did not want to finish reading it. For commitment purposes, I did and I have to say I was disappointed as I felt it was lacking the potential I felt it had. I also think this was more of a fiction novel and not a thriller as advertised.

The concept of this was really good and was what made me eager to pick it up. But I wasn’t a lover of the writing. A lot of repetition, however it does coincide with the theme of obsession. The book did drag on a bit at some parts. Overall, I still liked it and would read more from this author. Thanks so much for the ARC!

what drew me to this book was first, the cover (very pretty might i add), but the synopsis really sweetened the deal. i love unhinged women, i love reading about their inner introspection, and most of all, i especially love when they’re just a tad bit unreliable. ophelia is every single thing i love to read in a story like this: the jilted ex lover unable to let go, plummeting from the best of the best— a college professor, even— to the worst of the worst we see on the news.

ophelia is an interesting character to me. at first glance, her romance with andy seems picture perfect. they get married, go on a honeymoon, their sex life is great— everything is fine. but there are cracks, when you dig deeper into the story. through the interwoven past and present, bits and pieces of her story are unravelled until we finally culminate in one triumphant moment of her trial, and the understanding of how she was made into this jaded, obsessive woman. she’s a little unreliable in that she has an inherent bias for her own view. andy, in her eyes, is the villain. amber, the seductive harlot. herself, the innocent, martyred wife drawn and quartered by the public eye in light of her crimes.

ophelia is such an unreliable narrator because she skews things often very obviously to her perspective, but yet we have no indication of what’s an exaggeration of her own mind or what’s true. i flip flopped between feeling bad for andy & amber and almost being convinced that they were the villains— not that a story like this has villains, because everyone has at least some fault in this (except my sweet mallory). that’s the brilliance of reading from the perspective of someone so convinced of their own justification. you don’t know what’s real and what’s not, which brings us to my next point:

the non linear narrative. i quite liked it- something about cutting back and forth between the past and present, the downfall and ophelia’s decedent of madness feels right to me, because i can see very easily how ophelia’s mental state wasn’t just the result of a mental break overnight, but a slow moving, irreversible avalanche of abandonment issues catalysed by andy’s infidelity. her headspace is very twisted place to be, but these psychiatrist appointments give us a reason why she turned out this way.

my minor gripe with this book: the writing. i don’t know if this was for any particular reason, but ophelia’s voice seems a little.. cold to me? she expresses herself fine, but something about it feels a little impersonal. it’s not an ideal style for me to have in a book centering on obsessive love and jealousy- i’d expect to feel passion and rage from the writing than anything. ophelia sounds almost detached, clinically so, which i feel doesn’t quite fit the tone of the book. (it sounds a little research paper-y, maybe because of her job.) even though the book isn’t boring, the style makes it a little less easier to get through.

overall, though, this was a fun and quick read! thank you again for the arc <3

3 stars

This was almost a DNF for me. I only continued (and sped read) because of the commitment.

This was a very boring and repetitive book. Unfortunately tagged as thriller, and it was certainly not that. I guess it picked up a little at the end but not enough for me to recommend it. The writing (as in sentence structure and words used) is t bad at all, it’s just a book that has a really good premise, but it isn’t something brought to fruition.

I was excited to read this based on the description, but I don’t think this should be marketed as a mystery/thriller. The tags on NetGalley are misleading. This is purely literary fiction.

The story itself is overwritten and repetitive. I realize that Ophelia is quite unwell, and I typically adore an unstable narrator, but I think this may have been better in a shorter format. It definitely didn’t need to take so long to establish that Ophelia had cracked. The last 25% picked up significantly, but I was a little bored for the other three quarters. The ending is what I’d expect from literary fiction.

I had trouble getting into this one. It started out really strong, and I enjoyed the writing and how short the chapters are. But it eventually got too repetitive for me. Everything that was happening would suddenly relate back to another time in the narrator's life whether it was the beginning of her relationship with her ex-husband or when her mother abandoned her. It got to the point where I felt I was reading the same sentences over again. I think this would have made a really great short story if it could have just stuck to the storyline as it was happening. I really loved the perspective of the narrator but overall by the end of the story I felt like it was lacking. There was all this build up and I didn't love the end.

There was a lot I loved about this book. A story of vengeance, obsession enhanced by the unreliable narrator who also happens to be rather witty. I found this book really compelling, the short chapters and timeline switches really worked to build the tension fed into the feeling of instability and unpredictability. Whilst I found the characters and emotions of the characters convincing, and loved the writing, I think the plot (specifically ending) were the reasons that I didn’t give a higher rating overall. Thank you to Net Galley and the Regal House Publishing for the ARC!

This was alright, not great. I love the concept of an unhinged wife falling apart after her husband moves on with another woman. I also like the concept of it being told from the (rambling, obsessive) woman’s perspective. It’s very stream-of-consciousness as she hilariously justifies things like living in a crawlspace next door while spying on the couple.

The book wasn’t even that long, but it was still too long. My friend was right that this would have been better as a short story. I guess in the end it wasn’t anything new, but still entertaining. This was alright, not great. I love the concept of an unhinged wife falling apart after her husband moves on with another woman. I also like the concept of it being told from the (rambling, obsessive) woman’s perspective. It’s very stream-of-consciousness as she hilariously justifies things like living in a crawlspace next door while spying on the couple.

The book wasn’t even that long, but it was still too long. My friend was right that this would have been better as a short story. I guess in the end it wasn’t anything new, but still entertaining.

This was the unhinged female main character novel I needed. The plot had me flipping pages, needing to find out the ‘how’ because you already know the ‘what’. We know Ophelia is in jail and we know it’s for the murder of Amber. But what exactly happens? Ophelia takes us back, step by step through her (terrible) choices and increasingly chaotic behavior. This was clever and addictive but there was something not quite perfect about the writing style for me. Some strange word choices and so much repetition. I honestly thought it was translated.

An absolute pleasure of a read, a beautifully engaging and brutal portrayal of a woman pushed to breaking point. Gritty, unflinching and dark, the writing is superb and the plot unfolds at a fast pace. The characters are complexly drawn creating a page-turner. Highly recommend.

Let me tell you, you’re in for a treat - a treat for anyone who has ever been heartbroken, justifiably so, and raging.

Here’s a book so crazed, it will make your past endeavours pale in comparison - unless you have stalked an ex and their newfound mistress to the point of moving into their home.

No? I thought so.

Set to be published in June 2024, The Vixen Amber Halloway shares a heart-wrenching account of one soon-to-be-ex-wife's psychological breakdown, looking for answers to surviving abandonment.

Having discovered her husband’s infidelity, Ophelia descends into gradual madness by surveilling her husband’s comings and goings. The book reveals its gloriously unhinged essence when Ophelia does the unimaginable - and moves into an abandoned building next door to her husband’s mistress.

Utterly uncomfortable and, yes - unhinged, the book still offers valuable contemplation. Can a man ever be satisfied? Can a woman ever overcome the trauma of abandonment? Can the past live on without ruining the future?

Ophelia’s reflection on her life before falling victim to infidelity marks the central theme of the plot, with traditional stages of grief replaced by increasing obsession, forms of revenge, and murderous rage.

The thorough study of the other woman offers a captivating perspective, as Ophelia gets to know her husband’s mistress. From initial hatred to a more considered analysis, Ophelia gains an understanding of the woman who now cohabits with her husband - a vixen, a siren, yet just another vulnerable person underneath her seductive exterior.

Ophelia is the ultimate anti-hero - revengeful and scornful, cold and calculated, without an inkling of wanting to change. For heartbroken readers everywhere, The Vixen Amber Halloway will provide a respite, finding comfort in the extreme.

While mistaking obsession for love, and control for caring, Ophelia is undeniably relatable in her emotional distress - and it makes for a compulsive read.

I found myself highlighting several of Ophelia’s inner reflections on abandonment, childhood trauma and its impact on her mental state. By experiencing the gradual collapse of the life she had built, Ophelia came to learn more about who she is, and why she acts the way she does.

The Vixen Amber Halloway will prove a valuable read for those not easily triggered by uncomfortable topics of life’s darkest hours.

An unusual approach to a story line and I found it difficult initially to get into. It needs perseverance. Given time it all unfolds with added tempo drawing you to the conclusion.

It is about thought and development as much as about action.

Perhaps some editing would help. I found the flow disturbed by errors with words.
Overall a different and thought provoking story.

I thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this before publication

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕. 𝑵𝒐 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆-𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑.

The vixen of this novel is Amber Halloway who has cruelly wrecked college professor and scholar of Dante, Ophelia’s marriage. Her life, in fact! Handsome Andy Fairweather, director of sales for medical supplies, and Ophelia’s attentive, devoted, beloved husband once swore that their love was a gift, even renewing their wedding vows after five years in. Andy, her anchor, the one person who drew her out, attempted to change her traumatic childhood, who tried to teach her to love herself, has broken their sacred vows with a younger, energetic, sexy colleague. A dimwit who cannot spell, Ophelia learns, through perusing sleazy emails between them. She will not allow for a surprise attack, no way will she sit back and let Andy disappear from her life, like her mother did when she was a child. Not this time!

Andy’s desire for Amber is a runaway train, careening towards all Ophelia holds dear, and her scheme to end things between them backfires, putting the nail in the coffin of their marriage. Andy turns things around, casting himself as the wounded victim and leaves Ophelia for good. There are no apologies, instead where there was once love for her Andy has filled his heart with disgust, protecting the little homewrecker instead, treating Ophelia as if she were poison or a parasite draining his soul. As he moves in with the interloper and goes on to live his life where the grass is greener, and his bed filled with a sweeter, tastier fruit, Ophelia descends into madness, lurking from the pits of her own personal hell. There will be no moving on nor rising reborn from the ashes, she intends to remain a part of his world by concealing herself, watching from the shadows, obsessing over the lovers and their routines. During the day, she pretends she is getting on with things, even goes on a blind date but her dark heart is only alive when she is tracking Amber and Andy, torturing herself as witness to their bliss. Never did she think she would become a voyeur, a stalker, a danger to the man that professed to love her happily ever after.

From the beginning the reader is aware this spurned wife has ‘stepped over the threshold’ of sanity, that she is in prison, and is witness to her fall as Ophelia unravels, confesses her deeds, and reflects on the oozing wounds of her rotten childhood. What has brought her to this delusional state, surely it isn’t soured love alone? She was the injured party, wasn’t she? Can’t we see her side? Perfectly engaging, provocative, darkly comedic at times, and criminal, I devoured this story. Of course, anyone who has ever been in love can relate to the pain and dangerous rage flowing through Ophelia’s veins. Funny to review this on Valentine’s Day, but we must examine love in all its forms, even marriages that end behind bars and under a psychiatrist’s care. If you are one of the betrayed, discarded, take heart- you can partake of one woman’s revenge from the safety of your bed, keeping it fictional. Yes, read it! LaHines is a hell of a writer!

Publication Date: June 11, 2024

Regal House Publishing

I didn’t like this book very much but I don’t have a reason why. Normally this is right up my alley- maybe it was a little triggering?

I did like how quick the book was. And the short chapters. I wish I had better feedback.

Okay, I'm torn on how to rate this and I think this stems from what I thought the book was going to be. I'll begin by saying I LOVED the author's writing. Her use of language just sucked me in and I could not stop reading. The story started off tense and you know the main character is unhinged but you root for her anyway. I stopped rooting for her when she....well I don't want to give it away but that part was not necessary. You'll understand what I mean when you get to it. Anyway, the story was good until it wasn't. The ending got crazy out of control...which is fine. But the most disappointing part was the ending. I'm sure the author meant it this way but I felt empty finishing it. I wanted more of a conclusion. Anyway, story gets 2-3 stars and the writing gets 5. Make of it what you may.