My unrestrained thoughts: Tom can rot in hell for all I care. And his parents too, because he is probably like that because of them.
Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!

TW: Domestic violence, unwanted sex, sexual assault, foul language, and abuse.

Gemma Rogers weaves her magic in her latest novel, The Good Wife, where harmless charm hides abuse, and seething anger hides under obedience! The Beswicks look like such a perfect couple – Tom provides, and Chloe nurtures. She is a good wife – she cooks, cleans, and is always present to cater to her husband, Tom. But we get to know soon it’s all a façade, and Chloe is trapped in a controlling marriage. She is isolated from everyone and forbidden to work, meet friends, or just, you know, live.

Help comes in the form of Savannah, an escort she meets at Tom’s company dinner. She’s just the woman Tom would leave her for – what if she paid her to make him fall for her? The plan is soon set in motion, but what follows next is something neither Chloe nor Savannah anticipated. But it’s too late to reserve anything…

I absolutely devoured this book! Tension lurked on every page, underlined with subtle suspense, mystery, and dark humor. I had to stop myself from reading ahead just to see what was happening – it was that addictive! For all the spice lovers (with a dash of cheating), there are more than enough sex scenes. But they were necessary for the plot and were succinct enough to not take the attention away from the story.

The characters ran the show, and everyone contributed equally to the narrative. But I was more fascinated by Chloe’s characterization. I rooted for her, felt nervous and scared for her, and eventually celebrated with her. There were times she frustrated me because she could’ve easily escaped numerous times. But I also know how years of control and conditioning can make you afraid to stray out of the line. It was this frustration that told me that her portrayal is realistic and impressive!

This thriller book gives proper justice to its genre. You can say it has become one of my favorites now!


What I liked

Everyday setting: The story wasn’t extravagant – it was a (not-so) ordinary life of an ordinary couple. And for someone who loves reading stories where something big happens every other page, the book surprisingly held my attention. Unironically, it was fascinating to see how Chloe, and even Tom and Savannah, navigated daily life, even when they were going on runs, meeting parents, or attending to clients. I felt the book read like a personal diary of the three characters, and well, who doesn’t like to snoop into others’ lives?

Tom’s portrayal: Let me reassure you that I hate him – what I am hinting at is I liked the way he was characterized. Making a bad character truly deserving of hate is difficult – which is why I am able to sympathize with a lot of villains. But Tom… oh, he’s utterly despicable. He’s a monster hiding under a charming façade, and he feels so real that I won’t even realize if I’d pass by a Tom while jogging, running errands, or shopping. He can be found everywhere, even in the members of your family. And that’s what I was utterly impressed with.

Savannah’s innocence: I know Savannah is an escort, but there are times when I saw her as this innocent student trying to make ends meet. She was sensual when she wanted to be, but even then, her innocence never left, and it was endearing to see. I don’t know how Rogers maintained that perfect balance between sexy and innocent but it made Savannah much more appealing. And then that little hint in the epilogue – Chloe and her being friends? Oh, we love to see it!


What I wasn’t impressed with

I didn’t feel much difference between the tones of the three perspectives. In fact, if the names weren’t mentioned in the chapter titles, I don’t think I would’ve gotten the fact that three people are narrating their stories. It’s not big of a deal for me and I settled into the book rather quickly, but it was something that bothered me for the first few chapters.

The ending was also something that didn’t sit right with me. After all the delicious buildup, the conclusion seemed abrupt and chipped away my joy at seeing Tom get what he deserved. Even though the perpetrator was hinted at in the epilogue, it just didn’t make sense that Anita would be the one to attack Savannah. It just reasserted how good husbands are lured by prostitutes (that’s what Anita calls her) to make them cheat on their wives. When it takes two to cheat.

But looking past it was easy because I was fiercely happy that Chloe was finally free and ready to turn a new leaf! I would’ve also loved to see what happened with Savannah and Lewis… someone tell the author to write her story, or I would have to resort to writing a fanfiction on her.


My final thoughts?
Full of drama, vile characters, and breathtaking twists, The Good Wife is definitely an unforgettable read. You won’t be able to put it down until you finish it and are left with a cathartic satisfaction. It does contain a fair share of triggers, so check the warnings before you proceed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#netgalley #arcreview

Talk about an engrossing fast paced domestic thriller. This story was so full of suspense and tension that I could not put it down.
Meet Chloe, a young wife with a horrible controlling husband named Tom. She has stumbled on a plan to make him leave her, which involves Savannah, a high end call girl. Can they execute their plan before Tom finds out? Things get twisty and dark from there.
Be faired warned, there's domestic violence (both emotional and physical) and pretty graphic sex in this one.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

The Good Wife is an absolutely unputdownable domestic thriller and it had me utterly captivated right from the very start. This was a book that I found myself so absorbed in that I honestly couldn’t put it down . I just had to know how the whole situation was going to end. I had so many theories going through my head. Tom was one of the most despicable characters I have ever come across and I just wanted to shout out to his wife Chloe to run ! There were other characters to some nice and others not so nice. Packed full of tension and drama this is one book that is going to stay in my mind for quite a while. From start to finish this is a complete page turner and I think one of the best I’ve read by Ms Rogers.

“The Good Wife” by Gemma Rogers was a fast paced edge of your seat book. This story sucked me in from the first page to the last page. It kept you guessing and wanting more.
Chloe and Tom live what looks like a picture perfect life. Tom is promoted at work and opens him to a new world. Chloe is a homemaker and takes care of Tom. But when you take a closer look at their marriage it starts to crumble. As Tom is immersed into something new, Chloe tries to make a life for herself. As the story continues who will come out better?
Highly recommend to all

The Good Wife
by Gemma Rogers
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGAlley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Bestseller Gemma Rogers is back with another gripping, page-turning thriller. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.
New Author for me but I loved it.
I will recommend this book and author.
4 stars

Gemma is one of my favourite authors and I think this could be her best book. It was fantastic and kept me hooked from start to finish. It was packed with characters and I couldn’t put it down. My top read this year so far.

Everything I look for in brilliant thriller is right here, in this book!

Tom controls everything that Chloe does, from what she wears and where she goes, to the ten mouthfuls she may eat from each meal. Tom works for a company which is very much “boys club” and they actually raffle off an escort, Savannah, at their company dinners, right in front of the wives!

Gorgeous Savannah might just be the key to freedom Chloe has been searching for…

Full of deceit, intrigue, lies and gripping twists, this was a fast paced book that hooked me in from the very start. Well written characters and suspense in abundance. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Gemma Rogers and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Wow another gripping page turner. What a rollercoaster of a thriller

Another brilliant book by this author

An unputdownable read that I finished in a day The two women in the story Chloe and Savannah couldn't be any different to each other,one quite and compliant the other confident and differently her own woman,one thing connects them Tom a very unlikeable man who thinks nothing and no-one can touch him.OR CAN THEY?
The subtle hint at the end confirming who was the culprit was genius.
Another great read from the author who has really upped her game with this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This shocking thriller follows Chloe, her husband Tom and Savannah. Tom is a finance director at a large company, Chloe is a housewife and Savannah is an escort trying to pay her way through her studies.

Chloe feels trapped in a controlling marriage, her husband dictates her whole life, and she has been distanced from any friends and family.
When the relationship becomes more volatile, she discovers a possible way out.

Tom loves his control over his wife, but after a raffle win at a corporate event his eyes start to turn elsewhere. He must decide what path he wishes to take for the future.

Will Chloe escape? What lengths will Tom go, to get what he wants?

This thriller is very dark and shocking, it has many scenes of domestic violence and control in a relationship, which at times was hard to read but also made the storyline more tense and powerful.

You hear from all three of the main characters as you go through the chapters, getting to know each character’s point of view. I must admit hearing Tom’s side made me despise him even more and feel even more hopeful that Chloe would escape.

Chloe is a strong character, and although sometimes must show weakness to survive has the determination to keep going in an extremely dangerous situation.

Overall, a dark and shocking thriller, where a wife must discover a way to escape her controlling husband.

Talk about a roller pasternak ride of a book! This is cleverly written with so much depth and layers. The characters are expertly brought to life and all so original and fully captured. It has layers upon layers and some really amazing twists. The plot moves forward constantly and I was so invested from very early on. The author did such an amazing job of humanising the characters and really bringing them into their own and showing the many sides people have. Really well written

A great thriller! This was my first read of Gemma Rogers and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I appreciated the multiple POVs throughout the book - it was interesting to read it from Tom’s perspective as you saw the horrific way he treated Chloe.

Great characters often embody a complex interplay of traits, and a gritty, narcissistic husband can add layers of tension and depth to a story. Such a character might be captivating in his complexity, simultaneously drawing readers in with his charm while repelling them with his self-centered behavior. His flaws can drive the narrative forward, creating conflicts that challenge both himself and those around him, ultimately revealing the depths of human nature and the consequences of unchecked ego.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰'𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔, 𝑰'𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔, 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅.

My first book from this author, and it definitely won't be my last! Chloe tries very hard to be a good wife, but when you're married to a narcissistic sociopath like Tom, your best is never good enough. The level of control he levied over her was truly awful. She wasn't allowed to have a phone, there were cameras all over the house, and my personal favorite, she was only allowed ten bites of food per meal. Chloe realizes that she's trapped, but she has no way to get out.

Then she attends a company party with Tom, and he wins the annual 'lottery', which is a bonus check and another bonus...the company of femme fatale Savannah. When Tom starts to fall for his new mistress, Chloe finds an unlikely ally in this woman as the two scheme to help Chloe leave Tom.

This was one wild thriller, and I couldn't read fast enough! My only gripe was that I found the ending to be a little too abrupt, but that was a minor annoyance. I'll be digging through this author's backlist for sure. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this early copy. This title will release March 5, 2024.

Gemma Rogers does it again ..... I always know im in for a rollercoaster of a read, when i pick up one of this authors books.. Tom and chloe seem to have the perfect marriage, but do they? When tom is promoted indide his firm to a director they are invited to his bosses house for a dinner gathering . When they arrive they are given a raffle ticket, but what is it for??
Savannah is a high end escort and has slept with most of the men that attend these dinner parties.. chloe is the dutiful wife.... yes tom.......no tom. ....he controls everything in her life and has cameras around the house to see what she is doing..... when tom becomes smitten with savannah after winning the raffle, chloe sees a way out. Would it work?? Chloe enrolls the help of savannah but will she play her part??? This is a great book, it kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering would she?? Wouldnt she???
Will tom get what he deserves????
Highly recommend

This book is everything! A fabulous array of characters with some real nasty ones. The storyline is fast paced and engaging throughout. Some brilliant twists thrown in make this an exceptional read.

Another brilliant book by this author. It was hard hitting. So many twists. It took me like a evening to read this book. I couldn't put it down it was excellent.

***TRIGGER WARNING: Lots of sex, actual and implied. Some bad language, extreme control and manipulation. ***

After having loved Gemma's previous thrillers, The Teacher, The Babysitter, The Neighbour and The Flatmate, I was really looking forward to a new thriller by her.

The Good Wife got right to where the action was, by introducing Savannah and Chloe. I admit, not much happened until around chapter 22. Maybe this was intentional to show how sheltered life was for Chloe. If it was, it was the right tactic, and well done.

Gemma Rogers goes deep into their life and the level of control Tom has over Chloe is absolutely terrifying: controlling how much she eats, what she does and wears.

I immediately disliked Tom and, more than once, thought he was highly manipulative, dangerous and downright evil. I found myself scared of him. I was proud of Chloe for trying to get away from him.

I felt uneasy, nervous, scared, hopeful, and utterly gripped by my concern for Chloe. I so wanted her to be less submissive earlier on though, and fight for herself more. I was concerned for what bad consequence that would have for her, given how highly unpredicatable Tom was.

I wanted Chloe to be helped by Savannah, and was thinking "Will she be, or won't she?" I didn't want her to be let down and knew she had to get out of there.

The Good wife is SO twisty and full of suspense. I definitely could not trust Tom, and I was undecided about Savannah, especially given her connection to Tom (his escort).

Thanks to Gemma Rogers, Bolldwood Books and Rachel's Random Reesources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The continuous twists and turns in this suspenseful thriller made it hard to put down! I found it to be a quick read. Even though I felt the ending left a few unanswered questions, I would still recommend this fast-paced book!

I absolutely devoured this book. I loved everything about it. It just pulls you right in and doesn't let go till the very last page. Excellent well written characters and everything is finalized at the end of the story. Definitely all the stars from me.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.