This is my first read by Jessica Payne and I really enjoyed it! Very quick-paced with plenty of twists, it was pretty easy to finish in only two settings! I loved the alternating POVs between characters and time so that we have a better picture of what really happened - but it somehow made me doubt everything even more? The ending was a little predictable, but it didn't take away from it being a pleasurable read. This would be a great book club pick, even for those who don't read too often. Thanks so much for this ARC!

I haven’t had the chance to read a Jessica Payne book until reading Never Trust the Husband, but I definitely will be checking out more from her! This book definitely keeps you on your toes and you try to figure out who killed Madeline. It’s told through the past POV of Madeline and the present POV of someone trying to avenge Madeline’s death. I had a feeling I figured out the twist, but the ending turned out different than I thought. Definitely a solid whodunit thriller! 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC!

Never Trust The Husband by Jessica Payne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Warning ⚠️ This book contains a plethora of lies, secrets, and deceit, that will lead to you questioning your closest friends and the people you love. Read with extreme caution and understand; that this is only a story ;)

This book was worthy of many "wows" a couple of "What the f-cks" and even a few "holy sh*ts" This psychological thriller is full of retribution and revenge! And won't disappoint someone eager for a suspenseful domestic hair-raiser.

Check out this teaser:
""You look so happy in your wedding photo, gazing at your perfect new husband, a glass of champagne held high in a toast. You chose to ignore the warning signs, but he hid more than one secret from you. And now he’s gotten away with your murder…""

#qotd💬 What's the weather like where you are?
In the #pnw we are under severe flood warning (🙄) and snow later in the week.
It's kind of insane

Huge shout out to @thrillerbookloverspromotions for sending me this early copy

#pnwlife #itsalwaysthehusband #jessicapayne #KayleeNeedsANewBook
#nevertrustthehusband #pnwreaders #pnwauthor #booksandblogs
#mailtime #review #bookreviewers #review #bookreview #blogofbooks #flood #floodwarning #rain #snow #winter #winteradvisory #Tuesday #mondayesttuesdayever #thrillerbookpromotions #thrillerbooks
#thrillerlover

If you want a suspense that will having you guessing this it. Madeline is presumed to be dead, and Rachel is trying to find out who killed her. Who can be trusted? Who is guilty? Told in present (Rachel) and past (Madeline) we work through what really happened the night Madeline died.
Semi predictable but very gripping story. The characters are well written both likeable and non-likeable versions.

I enjoyed this book. I thought I had the twist figured out early in the book but I was wrong. I enjoyed the characters and they were easy to get to know and keep separated. I was afraid I was going to be wasting time by reading a book from an author I hadn't read before but it was definitely worth the read. I will look for more books from her in the future. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story centers on Madeline from 3 years ago and Rebecca in the present day.

The story got me right from the prologue where paranoid Madeline finds her suspicions about someone wanting to kill her to be true. Unfortunately this is confirmed a moment too late. And this is exactly where the story completely reeled me in!

Next there is Rebecca who has changed her identity and watches Benji and Gwyn, Madeline's widower and her best friend. They are newly engaged, three years after Madelines disappearance. Rebecca is suspicious that Madeline didn't just have a tragic accident, but that she was murdered. They say it's always the husband but is it in the case of Madeline? Rebecca will stop at nothing to find out the truth....and get revenge.

It was a very intense story especially from Rebecca's point of view. Who is she and why does she want justice for Madeline? The more I got to know Rebecca the more I needed to know and the faster I read! On the other hand, I liked seeing Madeline and Benjamin's romance play out, their roller coaster of a ride story, and what eventually led to the shocking conclusion. Secrets, lies, and paranoia fill this thrilling story. I found Rebecca really interesting. It seems that she knows Madeline but she's had some work done to her physical appearance so that others won't recognize her. It kept me guessing who she was and why no one from Madeline's past recognizes her. I wasn't expecting the twist and it really impressed and surprised me!

So many secrets fill this story, both from Madeline's point of view from the past and Rebecca's view of the present. It kept me reading faster and faster since I was excited to find out the truth. I really liked the story. My favorite character was Madeline who wasn't as naive as her sister Elena believed her to be. But I really didn't like Gwyn especially the more I learned about her. It seemed to me like she was a great friend only when it was convenient for her which annoyed me.

I have read most of Jessica Paynes previous novels, all of which have not disappointed, including this one! In fact, her novels are go-to reads for me! Whenever I see a new novel by her, I will always read them because they are great!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trust me when I say you should check out Never Trust the Husband when it is released on March 5, 2024!

#nevertrustthehusband #jessicapayne #netgalley #bookouture

This fast paced thriller was FULL of twists! Jessica Payne just twirled me around like a ballerina, and my head is still spinning. This book was impossible to put down. I loved EVERY second of the twists and the multiple jaw dropping revelations. The plot was unique, and I wasn't able to foreshadow anything that happened in the end! This was truly an outstanding thriller, and I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks when it's published March 5, 2024!

The book is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Madeline was pushed off a cliff during her honeymoon. It is uncertain whether her husband or her best friend is responsible for her death. Her best friend is now living with Madeline's husband and the two are soon to be married. There are many questions surrounding the circumstances of Madeline's death and speculation as to who is responsible and why.

It's a well-written, entertaining winter read with a good pace. Although the characters are unlikable, they're interesting enough to keep you engaged.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

Thanks for NetGalley and Bookouture for offering this ARC in exchange my honest review.

"Never Trust the Husband" is a highly entertaining and suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of twisty thrillers. Jessica Payne keeps me on the edge of my seats with her intricate storytelling and complex characters. While the subject matter may be dark and disturbing at times, Payne's skilled writing and pacing make it impossible to look away. Surely you would be hooked from the very first beginning. Highly recommend.

Wow, wow, wow! This book was phenomenal!

Madeline dies, and her husband ends up with her best friend. Rebecca wants to figure out what happened to Madeline and starts digging for information to determine who killed her... This story was riveting from the beginning; so riveting in fact that I read in just a handful of hours because I could not put it down! As a Washingtonian myself, I appreciated the settings and knew exactly what Jessica Payne was describing throughout this book.

Just when you think you have it figured out, a twist slams you and sends you reeling. I will definitely be checking out other work by Jessica Payne. Well done on Never Trust the Husband!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Bookouture for the arc in exchange for my honest review. This story was about a women who is missing and dead since right after her wedding to the perfect man. Her husband goes on to become engaged to her best friend and that’s when things start to change. Many things and people aren’t wha they seem !!

Never Trust the Husband by Jessica Payne. Thanks to @bookotoure for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You look happy in your wedding pictures despite ignoring warning signs. Now you’re dead but I won’t stop until you’re avenged.

I read this in two days and lost count of all the twists! I enjoyed the back and forth between POV and timelines. Jessica Payne keeps me guessing and always has my full attention!

“Because they will not get to continue walking free while you will never walk this earth again.”

I will read anything that Payne writes, even if it was a grocery list on the back of a receipt!

This is such a fun domestic thriller that will keep you turning the pages to find out the murderer. Payne knows how to lead a reader astray while sprinkling a few breadcrumbs throughout as clues. Payne is the queen of red herrings! I did catch on to the one clue later on but it was such an enjoyable read that still had me gasping at the reveals. So many unexpected twist and turns that will leave you wondering how did I miss this!

****Many thanks to Bookouture, Jessica Payne, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this book, with my honest review below*

This was such a great thriller with many twists and turns! None of the characters are especially likeable but that kept the tension up. We follow dual perspectives of Madeline and Rebecca, past and present respectively, and both were intriguing, sharing just enough to keep you guessing throughout the novel. The plot focuses on what - and who - led to Madeline’s disappearance in the past and suspected death. While this is a tale of revenge it’s also a who dunnit, and I loved the ride! I recommend this for anyone who wants a thriller they won’t be able to completely guess the end of.

This was a twisty, fun read and a new author for me.

I loved the book was based in Seattle, and some of the characters just weren’t likable. There was a dual POV with Rebecca and Maddie and their different experiences. It’s a medium paced thriller but there is always a lot going on . With so many twists & turns you never know who are you going to believe. I can’t believe I’ve never read a book by this author but I’m definitely checking out her other books.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Jessica Payne for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for a review. Never Trust the Husband is released on March 5th, 2024.

What an amazing, chilling, delicious psychological suspenseful thriller! What a wild ride!

This story hooked me from the very first sentence to the very last one. A newly married woman goes on a hiking trip with her husband and friends and it ends with her getting killed. Why? Is he a monster behind the facade of the seemingly perfect man or is there something more at stake? Who wanted to hurt Madeline and why? The reveal is more chilling and shocking than you'll ever imagine and it just goes to show you can only ever trust yourself.

Thank goodness something a bit different! This read certainly kept me on my toe's. Twists and turns galore and i really didn't guess the end. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy. Big five stars from me.

3 years ago, social media influencer Madeline Hughes died while on her honeymoon - an outdoor backpacking adventure with her new husband and closest friends. Did she really fall or was she pushed? Hmmmm…. 🤔 “With friends like you, who needs enemies?”

Now - her husband and best friend are engaged and someone from Madeline’s past is back to seek revenge. Told in 2 POV’s and timelines between Madeline 3+ years ago (her love story with Benji 💕) and Rebecca, who will do anything to find the truth and avenge Madeline’s death.

I’m torn with how to rate this book. It was a good story and definitely one of the better domestic thrillers I’ve read, but I was disappointed to have guessed some of the major twists long before they happened. It felt like the main protagonist was wearing a large neon sign over their head flashing ‘it’s me!’ 😬 Maybe I’ve just read too many similar style stories to give this one it’s just due. I really think most people will like it, which will play a part in my rating. Also, I genuinely DID like it, but it was never a can’t put down thriller for me. 😔

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up - I really do think most people will love this book, but for me it missed the mark. I’m not gonna completely penalize it for that 🤷‍♀️ Also, it was well written and the chapters were short and easy, fast reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

If my first read of the year is anything to go by, 2024 is going to be such good reading year! And after reading and loving The Good Doctor and now Never trust the husband, this will also be the year I dive into Jessica Payne’s backlist.

Madeline had it all - money, looks, friends and finally love with handsome, charming Benjamin. Except instead of a happy ending, her story tragically got cut short on her honeymoon. Now 4 years later, Benjamin is engaged to Maddy’s best friend Gwyn. And someone is determined to infiltrate their lives and find out what really happened to Maddy on that mountain.

If you love cat & mouse style tales (and I most certainly do, especially when half the time it’s not clear who’s the cat & who the mouse) you will want to get your hands on Never Trust the Husband. I loved the dual timelines, complicated past & current friendships, revenge driven plot and Puget Sound descriptions that made me want to visit Seattle. Did I guess a few things? Sure (inevitable when you consume a lot of thrillers) Did I still have a blast reading this story? 💯

This is the kind of read you’ll want in your beach bag or on a cold winter day curled up on a couch for some uninterrupted mind escape time! All I can say is @jessicapayne.writer you keep writing them & I’ll most certainly continue to read them because I’m most certainly a fan!

A huge thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions @bookouture & @netgalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book started out with a bang, It gripped me right away and had me struggling to put it down. However, it got a little long in the middle and the twist was a step too clever and super unbelievable. Overall, the premise was interesting, but I wish the pacing had been a little better.