Yes another great read by Shari Ryan. Fantastic characters that kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime. This one hooked me early on and just never let go. Lots of secrets and lies, I had no clue who to trust. The reveals were chilling.
Thank you NetGalley, Shari Ryan and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

My Husband's Past by Shari J. Ryan is a fast paced psychological thriller which will have your head spinning.
The storyline is well paced and the characters are fleshed out well.
If you want a book with excellent pacing, with more than one jaw-dropping twist thrown in, then look no further.
My Husband's Past is a riveting read that will keep you glued to the pages until the final chapter.

Wow, this book is one of those reads that just makes you feel super tense, and then ratchets it up to 11. The whole book was an amazingly tense thriller full of surprises and unexpected twists - I went back and forth so many times thinking I had everything figured out, until another twist came along, changing my mind….it was a great ride!

And once everything was revealed - wow! To say that I was speechless is is an understatement. There’s a lot of moving parts in this one, and the author really uses all of them to make the story more compelling and multi-layered than just a straightforward romance-gone-bad novel, which wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting.

The ending is a bit open-ended, which I normally don’t like, but in this case, it works, because this book really is all about questions and “what ifs?” The main questions are all answered, but there’s some suspense left hanging. It’s great for this particular book.

Basically, if you love domestic suspense and high intensity mysteries, this is a great book for you!

2.5 ⭐️ This review WILL contain spoilers.

Plot:
Jessica is spooked by an email that claims her missing best friend was being stalked by her new husband and that he had something to do with her disappearance, over twenty years ago. Jessica must unveil what her new husband is hiding and who is sending these mysterious emails.

Review:
What unfolds in this book, is a series of events that has the real potential to be a great story, however it does fall short in some very important areas. To make my review fair and constructive I’m going to start with the areas where I think the author missed the mark and then finalise with the areas in which I think the author got it right.

Where the author missed the mark:

1) The narrators are unreliable - This isn’t always a bad thing; I love an unreliable narrator if done correctly. However; this falls short. Quite early on, I found myself to frustrated with Jessica because it was extremely obvious she had something to hide. She constantly thought about going to the police or asking the right questions of Griffin but she always found a way to completely skate over logic and move onto the next bizarre choice she made. Her character was unlikeable and erratic from the get-go. I understand Jessica was quite deranged, but this was way too obvious.
2) Character choices - why did Jack just go along with a murder? Why did he choose to marry someone so unhinged? Why would he cheat on a clearly unstable woman? None of this makes any sense. Just like everything that Jessica did, their choices made no sense.
3) The pacing was off - the short chapters are clearly a stylistic reading tool and usually I’m here for it, as it makes books more digestible. However, they often felt unfinished, stopping randomly. Most of the chapters felt unfinished or like I was missing something. In fact the whole book often felt that way, I kept having to re-read chapters because I felt for sure I was missing important elements. I often wondered if there were paragraphs missing in the middle of chapters too because the writing was a little too sporadic for my liking.
4) The language - quite often I found myself reading certain lines and thinking the author was writing for a school assignment and they had to get specific language elements into the work. The use of this was a bit excessive and I felt took away from a great plot. I don’t need all the flowery description to connect with a story and the book’s characters.

What the author did well:

1) It was a mystery - I found myself desperate to know what exactly happened to Izzy and what the connection was between Griffin, Jessica and Izzy. I kept turning the pages to understand and that is always a plus.
2) The characters were quite well rounded - despite what I’ve mentioned above, for the most part the characters were well rounded and had some real depth to them. I wish at times some of the lesser characters had more time spent on them to fully flesh them out. In particular, Jack and Natalie.
3) The plot - what a great premise! The overall story, mystery and the then/now elements really worked. It added a sense of longing in me that kept me interested and wanting to know more.

Overall this wasn’t a bad book. I actually quite liked giving a new style a chance and I’d certainly pick up another book by this author to compare notes, this just needed a bit more refining for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published 24th September 2024.

A truly addictive read that you’re not gonna want to put down! Jess is happily remarried to Griffin, a caring & loving man who’s given her a second chance at love when she starts to receive emails from her best-friend Izzy. The only thing is Izzy disappeared 20 years ago and has been presumed dead.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Secrets that were never to be revealed…events that should’ve never happened. This was one of those edge of your seat thrillers! I loved the pacing of this book. The story drew you in from the first page!

Shari J. Ryan’s My Husband’s Past is a gripping exploration of love, secrets, and the shadows that can haunt even the closest relationships. From the first page, Ryan pulls readers into a world where the past and present collide, creating a tension that’s both intriguing and emotionally charged.

I enjoyed this book. The first few paragraphs were gripping and made me want to continue reading. It had a few interesting twists and turns I was not expecting. The ending left me wanting more. I would definitely read more from this author

This book gripped me from the very first page and I found it hard to put down.
Every time I thought I learned something new, something else happened and my thoughts changed.
A fast paced psychological thriller with an interesting storyline and good characters.
This author has written a lot of excellent historical fiction books set around the Second World war which I have loved. This change of genre from her for me was also really enjoyable. But for me the ending left me thinking ‘What?” and because of this I dropped my rating down by a star *** No spoiler alerts**

My Husband's Past by Shari J. Ryan is an exciting thriller with a couple of awesome plot twists!

You think you know your best friend, but do you?

You think you know your husband, but do you?

You think you know your wife, but do you?

Lies. Deceit. Betrayal. Stalking. Murder. This book is a perfect mix of ingredients for a thriller!

20 years ago, Jessica's best friend, Izzy, tragically went missing during a senior bonfire night. Jessica is convinced Izzy's disappearance has something to do with a mystery boyfriend that no one has met yet. 20 years later, out of the blue, Jessica receives an email from Izzy's email address claiming that she's alive and that Jessica is incredibly close to the person that ruined her life all those years ago. So close, in fact, it's her husband. Jessica's life begins to spiral as she questions everything - what REALLY happened during that bonfire? Who did she marry? Is she and her children safe?

Shari J. Ryan takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions. One minute, I think I knew who did it and the next, I was fully convinced someone else did it - and I love that Shari J. Ryan was able to create that level of suspense!

Wow!! What a book. I was not expecting the twist, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!! This is a 4.5 rating for me only because I felt like the ending was very abrupt and left a lot of questions as to where the characters ended up. It definitely left it open to interpretation, as well as the opportunity should the author want to write bonus material or even a second book or novella. But because of that abruptness in the ending, I would not quite rate it a 5. This book reminded me a lot of Freida McFadden's books, where you can never guess the ending or the culprit. I thought it was a riveting story that kept me curious throughout the whole book. By the end, I didn't trust anyone!! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and the unexpected! I would definitely read another book by this author, as this is the first one I've read of hers. Very enjoyable.

Wowzers! This is one wild ride of a read. There is a massive twist you won't see coming and that ending! Oh my! Completely propulsive and very well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

What a nail biting book. full of twists and turns a real page turner

Thank you for the opportunity to review the

I’ve never read anything by this author before. I really enjoyed this one a lot. I highly recommend it.

This book had me up until 3:15 am. I was hooked from the first email Jess received. I was left guessing who was truly behind it all. Jack? Griffin? Natalie? Jess' employees? I even suspected Jess' daughter. Then just when I thought I knew....I surely did not!

I never saw Jess' confession coming or Jack's involvement. Honestly my heart broke for both Jack and Griffin. Both men wanting to be loved and deserving it while both being stuck in loveless marriages with this woman. Also, those poor kids being so scared of Griffin, when he was indeed innocent behind it all. I was so sad for them.

I really wish there was more from Hannah's point of view and her getting the payback for her sister and Griffin. I haven't been this bamboozled by a plot in a long time and I enjoyed every moment of it. I will shout it from the rooftops this is a solid 4.5 ⭐️

My Husband's Past
by Shari J. Ryan
Pub Date: September 23, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A jaw-dropping psychological thriller that will have your mind spinning as you race towards the final twist. Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.
This was a new author for me, but it kept me reading!
Present day Jess receives an email from her still missing friend Izzy. Jess’s immediately reaction is that this must be a prank as no one has seen Izzy since the night of the bonfire. –
The email message states – “Remember I was being stalked? My stalker is your husband.
You're in danger. Run. Compelling novel.

My Husband’s Past by Shari J. Ryan was a quick read, not because of the length of the story, but because I was reading as fast as possible to find out what was happening! I love this type of story and need to find more like it.

Nothing is what it seems and you cannot trust anyone, or even assume to know what is around the corner. When I read a suspense, please keep me guessing! I love being shocked and left thinking about the book long after it ends.

After reading this, I had to hunt down and download some other novels by Shari J. Ryan. A new must-read author has entered the chat!

My best friend disappeared twenty years ago. I thought she was dead. But today I’ve received a message that makes my heart stop. It says it’s from Izzy. And she’s blaming my new husband for her disappearance…

I stare at the email in horror. I’ve only just put what happened to Izzy behind me. My life is so different now. I have two perfect children, and the perfect husband at last.

“I couldn’t just say nothing. You remember I was being stalked? My stalker is your husband. You’re in danger. Run.”

My blood turns to ice as I look at my charming, caring husband. Is this some kind of joke? Griffin is kind, he’s safe.

But as he smiles at me, the doubt starts to creep in. The way he always asks me about my childhood, pressing for information about my friends. The way he always wants to know where I am…

I thought my best friend was dead. I thought her stalker killed her.

If the email isn’t really from Izzy, then who sent it — and what do they want from my family? But if it is, am I living with the man I’ve feared for twenty years? And if he can’t hurt Izzy, will he settle for me instead — or worse, my children…?

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you, Shari and Bookouture, for the opportunity to be one of the early readers of this book. I'm so grateful and delighted!

My Husband's Past is a thriller that features Jessica and Griffin, a seemingly perfect couple whose lives are turned upside down when a long-lost email from a missing friend surfaces. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a web of lies, secrets, and a past filled with trauma that threatens to shatter their carefully constructed world.

The author masterfully builds suspense, slowly unraveling the truth in a way that keeps you guessing until the very last page. The twists and turns are truly shocking. The book explores the complexities of friendship, family, and marriage, and how the weight of the past can haunt us even in the present. It's a story about the power of secrets, the fragility of trust, and the lengths we'll go to protect those we love.

Overall, it's a definite YES and I'll be recommending this to my friends! This book has made me want to read her other works.

Wow I certainly didn’t see that ending coming! Once I started this book, I raced through it. It’s a greatly enjoyable domestic thriller.
This is my first book by this author, however it certainly won’t be the last.

To say this book takes you on a wild ride is a vast understatement. It’s the first thriller in a while that’s had me completely engrossed in the action, not wanting to put it down. My brain went crazy trying to figure out how it was all going to play out.

For the first half of the book, I was like “wow, this is absolutely a 5-star read!”. I was hooked. As the action really picks up and some of the twists are revealed, there is a suspension of belief required. I’m not against some level of far-fetched storylines though and was still completely engaged in the plot.

What unfortunately dropped a star off was the ending. Even after reading the last page, I flipped a couple more pages and thought “that’s it?”. I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger per say, but there’s definitely loose ends with no sequel in sight, which as a reader is frustrating. I get that sometimes the author wants to leave what happens up to the reader’s imagination, but there were too many gaps to do that with this one IMO.

I can’t overlook the absolute roller coaster of a story this was though. It had me hanging on for dear life, and I truly enjoyed it. If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, fast-paced domestic thriller filled with heart-pounding anxiety/tension and crazy twists, this is absolutely the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.