Kaira Rouda’s “The Second Mrs. Strom ” is a well-written novel that captures the reader’s attention with its intriguing premise and rich character development. The narrative style is engaging, and the author’s attention to detail brings the settings and characters vividly to life. However, despite these strengths, the pacing of the story felt somewhat slow, which made it challenging to maintain a consistent level of interest throughout. While the book has its moments of brilliance, the sluggish tempo detracts from the overall experience. Nevertheless, fans of detailed, character-driven stories may still find it worth the read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this Arc!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #TheSecondMrsStrom by #KairaRouda. This is a book about revenge. Paul thinks he has married the perfect woman, but he couldn’t be more wrong. After his first failed marriage, this time it will be different. But the second Mrs Strom has other ideas. She knows all about his affair and there is one other secret……..

Thank you to @bookouture, @netgalley and @kairarouda for an ARC!

I recently read Best Day Ever, which is the prequel to this, and it was so good so I was so excited when @thrillerbookloversthepulse got the early release of this one! It was even better than the first!

Paul Strom is the best Unlikeable husband and he definitely outdid himself with his new wife. He was back with his narcissistic self, and just like with the first book, Kaira Rouda had twists and turns that I didn't see coming. After the explosive ending, I really hope there is a 3rd book!

If you haven't read Best Day Ever, you should definitely get your hands on it in anticipation of this release in August! Totally worth it!

I started The Second Mrs. Strom unaware that it was the sequel to a previous book. I don't know if having read the first book would have changed my opinion at all, but I could not get invested in this story. Paul's narration was clearly meant to be unlikable, but it came off so over-the-top that I found it hard to read and it went into my DNF pile before I could get to Ceclia's perspective. Clearly a lot of other reviewers really enjoyed the book, but it was not for me.

This book earned the whole 5 stars and honestly I would have given more if allowed. Kaira Rouda is a master author! At this point I know that her books will be great! This book is not an exception. It kept me up and into the book when I should not be!

There is not one truly like able person in this book lol, and I mean that in the best way possible! No one in the books I what they seem: Paul is clearly conniving and narcissistic and his new wife Cecilia seems to be just a pawn in his game but all of them have secrets and skeletons in their closets! This was a page turner for sure like all the others by this author who is quickly becoming a fav!

A fun, fast paced follow up to Best Day Ever, The Second Mrs. Strom offers us another look into the life of Paul Strom.
If you enjoyed the first book you'll definitely enjoy this one as well. Has Paul once and for all met his match?
For a more indepth review, check out my youtube video here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r9S3XR1ESo

Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture for the copy of The Second Mrs. Strom by Kaira Rouda. With her typical immersive writing, Rouda has written a fun and fast perfect beach read. I despised the two main characters, Paul and Cecilia, but it was hard to stop reading about them and their twisted machinations. I didn’t read the first book Paul was in but trust me, this book had enough about him to last me for a long time! Paul was so self-absorbed he missed so many clues about what was happening. I loved the intriguing story and the numerous surprising reveals. Will there be a book three in this saga? 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

The Second Mrs Strom
🌟🌟🌟🌟

When I received this book as part of the thriller book lovers promo group, I was so excited to read and find out how the husband wife troped was going to play out and boy I wasn’t disappointed.

Paul Strom is back. This time, he has a new wife, Cecelia, and they're in Paris to celebrate their one year anniversary. But once again, both have ulterior motives for their last night. 

This was another brilliantly written story filled with unhinged and untrustworthy characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and just kept hoping that Paul would finally get what he deserved. I had kind of hoped there would be a point where the two Mrs Stroms met, but maybe there will be another? Finding out this a follow up novel I can’t wait to go back to read the first!

I didn’t read book 1; ch 35 does spoil book 1, so it didn’t really matter. It filled in all the narcissistic horrid details of Paul’s life previous to Cecelia. While this was fast paced and easy to read, it was woefully predictable.

Paul is back in The Second Mrs Strom and he is met his match in Cecelia.

He just doesnt know it .

Yet.

Paul is in his devious sociopatheic way has inherited a fortune and is living the life.

A wife and children will complete his perfect scenario.

His bride Cecelia has other ideas.

She is out for revenge .

Cecelia can out plot and out maneuver Paul and that's not easy.

When he finally figures out he is losing control (while in vacation in Paris) the final games begin.

Kaira Rouda takes the reader down quite the twisted path that will have you turning the pages as quick as you can.

I found myself routing for Cecelia, not that she is much better than Paul.

Perhaps more finesse.

Settle in for a wild read you wont be disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a nail bitng read.

Author Kaira Rouda was not finished with her narcissistic character Paul Strom from Best Day Ever (2017) as she continues his story in The Second Mrs. Strom in this twisty psychological thriller coming out August 16.

Paul has been the playboy since his first marriage blew up five years ago, finding favor with the rich, twice-married, twice-divorced Esther Wilmot in Palm Beach. Esther has been showering her lover and companion Paul with gifts including a Bentley, and in death, she has rewarded him with her entire estate.

At Esther’s funeral, Paul, ever on the make, flirted with the lovely Cecelia Babcock who had designed the funeral program, asking her to marry him after a short courtship. They live in a mansion in Malibu as Paul is breaking into the whole Hollywood producer scene. Now they are in Paris celebrating their first anniversary, though both have a hidden agenda.

Cecelia feigns love with Paul to carry out a master plan that has been in place long before she met him at the funeral, not the coincidence he thought. Paul, while seemingly doting on Cecelia, has already had an affair, securing his mistress in her own bungalow in Brentwood.

How far will each spouse go to secure a future that each believes is entitled to them?

Kaira Rouda is a writer of suspense novels that explore “beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.” The Second Mrs. Strom is a standalone book but pairing it with the Best Day Ever makes for a double-dip read. A master of the psychological thriller, Rouda lives in Southern California with her family and is always at work on her next novel.

My review will be posted on GoodReads starting July 10, 2024.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Another good book by one of my go-to authors, Kaira Rouda! She always tells a good story. Paul and Cecelia are newly married and newly wealthy, living a life of luxury. It is told from two perspectives, Paul and Cecelia, as they move from Florida to Malibu and take a trip to Paris for their first anniversary. This is a fast-moving book. This is a perfect book to get lost in for a while! I recommend this book and all of Rouda’s books.

This was a fun read!! I was sucked in quickly and read this rather quickly. Paul is back and is just as unlikeable as ever. His inner voice and thoughts are so awful, snarky, and even a little comical sometimes. His new bride, Cecelia, was a character who I was unsure of. I had a hunch of her true colors, but wasn’t completely sure if she was as awful as her husband or not. The main twist was one that I never predicted or saw coming. The author’s description of Paris were fun to read about as well as the food. I would have loved more flashback scenes between Paul and Esther. This novel was well written and the storyline was expertly crafted. I would definitely recommend reading this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for the ARC

****Publishing August 16, 2024****

Paul’s second wife, Cecilia, is a much younger wife than his first! With having a beautiful young wife, he is always trying to be one step ahead of her because he can’t trust her! But can he keep up?

Paul has an image in his mind of what his marriage to Cecilia is supposed to be. One where he can control her, but when her behavior doesn’t fit his “perfect wife”, he starts to get angry and starts to question her. Cecilia feels she can’t do anything right in Paul’s eyes! Is it what it seems? Is Cecilia in the marriage for his wealth? Will Paul fail a second time?

I love Kaira Rouda’s books! Just when you think you have figured it out, she puts in twists and turns you don’t see coming! It makes for a page-turning and entertaining read! It’s one you won’t want to put down! A perfect book to take on vacation!

Even though this book is a sequel to Best Day Ever, it can be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to Bookouture, I was provided an ARC of The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

He’s back!!! Paul Strom returns in all his narcissistic sociopathic glory. In this fast paced excellent sequel to “Best Day Ever,” Paul has surprisingly found himself another wife. Devious Paul has not changed his ways with wife number two and is soon up to no good as she soon has tired of his selfish ways. But as luck would have it the new wife is incredibly smart and has her own agenda with the new marriage. Set during a anniversary trip to Paris, this book is impossible to put down.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 because of the twists near the end.

This is a psychological thriller full of narcissism, betrayal & revenge. I found the beginning slow & hard to get into. The banter between the 2 main characters (Cecilia & Paul) came across sophomoric and over the top sticky sweet to be enjoyable or even likeable (by design?). However, 3/4 through the pace picked up & the twists started to happen. Most that I didn’t see coming.

Favorite Line: “When he laughs he looks like a horse. Big teeth, mouth too wide. Ears pointy. I’m not threatened anymore. He isn’t charming. He’s a horseface.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture & Kaira for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

The perfect follow up to Paul’s story but a stand alone in its own right for Cecilia This story had my jaw on the floor

I am still reeling from this book weeks after reading it! I really enjoy books with unreliable narratives, and i felt my stress levels rise every time we followed Paul’s perspective. I have a lot of very strong opinions about Paul for sure. Overall this was a nice paced thriller with gripping characters and a plot that keeps you guessing what’s going to happen!

It’s been years since I read Best Day Ever but Paul is the type of character that is unforgettable and being back inside his world was so entertaining. It’s not often that a thriller makes me laugh but Paul is so unhinged and over the top I couldn’t help myself. I think going into this knowing as little as possible is the way to go, it’s such a fun and wild popcorn thriller, knowing nothing really made it a blast for me. If you like domestic suspense with unlikable and untrustworthy narrators this is for you. If somehow you missed the first book definitely read it first, you’ll be happy knowing the backstory of this man.