I thought this was a great read from the very first page you get hooked in, each chapter held my interest & left me wanting more. I loved the dual POVs from Jill + Wendy. The twist at the end completely blindsided me.

★★★★½ ROUNDED UP ⬆️⭐️

Jill and Wendy were best friends, until something happened to one of their children. Now, one woman thinks the other knows the truth behind what happened and is determined to get the other to admit it. The book is written mostly as conversations between the two women as they share a weekend away together. Tension builds, and lies and secrets are slowly revealed, taking the reader on a twisty ride through grief, bitterness and self-preservation.

This was a 5 star book for me. I did not see that ending coming and was kept on my toes the whole time, grabbing whatever time I had to read. It was absolutely amazing

This was so good and fast paced,

It keep me intriguing all the way long.

Definitely recommend to be this on TBR for 2025.

Sue Watson's novel Wife, Mother, Liar is about secrets and dishonesty. Jill and Wendy, previously pleasant neighbors, face a strained relationship after their children attend prom, but only one returns. Unfortunately, I failed to connect with either women since their poor ideals and aggressive personalities made them unapproachable. The story meandered, drawing out the mystery for too long, and the ending was disappointing. While the final revelation was entertaining, the tale might have been more exciting and less predictable. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eCopy to review

Wife, Mother, Liar is a thriller with interesting characters and their relationships, however the plot was a little predictable at times.

The plot centres around the life of Claire, a woman who juggles the roles of a devoted wife and mother while hiding a web of secrets. As the story unfolds, Claire's seemingly perfect life begins to unravel when long-buried truths come to light. The narrative delves into themes of trust, deception, and the lengths one will go to protect their family.

An easy read with relatable characters

Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson is a tail of deception and secrets. Jill and Wendy are neighbours and friends, but when Jill’s son and Wendy’s daughter attend their prom and only one of them returns, their friendship is put to the test.

I didn’t gel with either of the female characters. Both Jill and Wendy had ugly traits in their personalities and questionable morals. The plot, for at least 70% of the book, went round in circles, never getting to the point, always keeping the reveal just out of reach of the reader which eventually became frustrating. We finally get an answer to what happened to Jill‘s son that night in the last quarter of the book, and even that felt flat. I did enjoy the twist in the end chapter but I do feel the story needed more excitement and less repetition.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.

It's battle of the next door neighbors after a sixteen-year-old goes to prom in a limo and doesn't come home. His date was the daughter of the long-time friends in the house across the way.

Jill is the grieving mother. When Leo did not come home, she lost her identity.

Wendy was the mother of Olivia, Leo's date. Why can't they give Jill any answers?

Perhaps a weekend in Wales with wine and starwatching will shake loose some answers? Or will there just be more questions.

Watson gives us this story from both Jill and Wendy's perspectives. There were times when I felt like things got a bit repetitive early on, but this book takes off like a house on fire in the last half of the book. One of my favorites from Sue Watson. She is most certainly one of the queens of the popcorn thrillers. 🍿🥤

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Just when I thought I’d had everything figured out when reading this book a new twist would be revealed! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, the narration from two protagonists was a new style for me but once I got my head around who each character was I enjoyed this writing style. Throughout the book we were given layers of different stories that I did not expect to all be relevant until the very end of this book. This book really makes you consider how much you really know about your friends and neighbours. This was an easy and enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more from Sue Watson.

This was an okay read with twists all over the place but nothing surprising and I found myself feeling rather underwhelmed.
Told from the perspectives of Jill and Wendy who are neighbours and friends. They even had a child close together. Jill has Leo, her only son and Wendy has her third, a daughter called Olivia.
When Leo and Olivia go to the prom together and only one of the children returns alive, nothing can ever be the same again
This is a very complex plot and there are some seriously disturbed characters. None of who are likeable in any way at all.
Lots of things seem to happen although it doesn't really - it's just Jill and Wendy talking at each other.

There are some surprises at the end but those didn't really add to the story. This just wasn't for me.

When two neighbours who also happen to be best friends drift apart, it sounds like a wonderful idea to have a weekend together in Wales.

With so many secrets and lies, is it possible for them to overcome their problems and go back to how they were?

This is a hard book to review, as I don’t want to give anything away or spoil it.

The story is a dark and gripping thriller that flowed well. There were some parts that left me gobsmacked.

A tale of grief, revenge and protection, with an ending that came completely out of the blue.

How far would you go to protect your child?

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson is a thriller about two neighbors/best friends whose friendship dissolves after an incident where one of their children ends up dead. Jill is portrayed as an overly obsessive, anxious and controlling mother and wife. Recently separated from her husband, who is a serial cheater, Jill invites Wendy to join her on a quiet weekend getaway, determined to find the truth of her son Leo's death.

Alternating between Jill and Wendy's perspectives, the story starts off pretty fast-paced and I was halfway through with the book before I knew it. My only complaint is a lot of the story felt repetitive and a lot felt like it was unnecessary when Jill and Wendy walks us through what happened in the past. Felt like they kept repeating the same thoughts over and over -- information we already know.

While the ending didn't take me by surprise, I was caught off guarded by some of the twists in the story. Some of the red herrings also felt unnecessary. Overall, I was entertained by this page-turner and would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, author Sue Watson, and publisher Bookouture for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

It all started with a lie and everything ended up with redrum.

Before I give my review, I just wanted to say how cool and charming Ms. Sue Watson named her books. Well not all of her books, I believe it was just 2. You, Me, Her and our book review for the day, Wife, Mother, Liar. 3 single word title, not a 3 word title, like The Housemaid's Secret or These Hollow Vows, no offense to those books, I just saw them in my bookshelf to make as an example. Not a 3 word title that makes a phrase, but 3 individual words that somehow makes no sense but they do. I'm probably not making it make sense but... It's just kinda appealing and playful for me.

Moving forward to our book review. Wife, Mother, Liar. Revolves around 2 mothers, Jill and Wendy, who by the way are good friends and neighbors since the early days of their married life. They both gave birth just a few weeks away from each other, so basically their children grew up side by side. But this friendship took a different turn when both their children attended the prom and only one of them came back home alive.

Navigating the secrets and deceptions with a 2 narrative point of view, makes me question my emotional state. I don't know if I should feel angry, confused, heartbroken, or empathetic. All I know is, if you want to read this book, go ahead blindly, don't track it on goodreads, don't read any reviews with spoilers in it, and experience the ride for yourself.

I rated this 4 ⭐! (considering that it's an Uncorrected Proof, that's high) And hands down to Ms. Sue Watson for another very twisty read. Also thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC 💕

*All opinions are my own.*
Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson is a compelling domestic thriller that expertly weaves together secrets, betrayal, and suspense. Jill and Wendy have been friends for over 20 years. Sharing milestone moments together such as new marriage, some tragedies and motherhood have bonded Jill and Wendy as well as their husbands Tim and Robert. When they both get pregnant within weeks of one another, Jill and Wendy hoped that their children would have a close bond as well. As they grow up together they become rather close and start a relationship. Wendy is thrilled her daughter Olivia has moved on from a bad boyfriend to find herself with Jill's son Leo. But Jill is less than pleased and tries to deter Leo from being with Olivia. Then on prom night tragedy strikes when Olivia and Leo go to prom together but only one child comes home. As some time passes, in a bid to resolve their differences of opinion as to what happened that night, Jill invites Wendy on a weekend getaway to a secluded Welsh cottage. As the women try to resolve their disagreement of what happened that night, their conversations and dialogue reveal the backstory of their friendship and the secrets each one hides. The alternating POV between Jill and Wendy really makes these characters real and fully fleshed out. By the end of this book you will be shocked at each new twist that comes as Watson effortlessly highlights how fragile friendship can truly be.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sue Watson, and Bookouture for this ARC. Expected publishing date is January 10th 2025.

Two unlikable leads ( which isn’t a bad thing) and a slow start ( which for me is always a bit difficult!) but the second half definitely had a lot of unexpected twists and kept me turning the pages ( well technically I was clicking the kindle remote ) pretty fast . A very unexpected ending as well - I definitely didn’t see all that coming. !

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jill has had a life full of loss-she’s lost both her parents, had several miscarriages and her husband is a serial cheater. Now that her husband is finally leaving her for someone else, she decides to leave town. Her best friend and neighbor, Wendy, is also having relationship trouble, so she decides to ask Wendy to come with her to escape to Wales for the weekend. But while they’re away, secrets come to light that threaten to destroy both of the women.
While there was a lot of “telling” there wasn’t a lot of “showing” until about 75% into the story. I could have used a little more excitement-after all both these women had a lot of stuff to deal with and a history between them, but most of the story was them talking about each other and to each other. Once the action got going, it was quick page turning to see what was going to happen.
It’s told from their alternating POV and the ending tied up the story well.
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Bookouture for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Wife, Mother, Liar
by Sue Watson
Release date January 10, 2025

We are taken on a white-knuckle ride through the unraveling life of a woman who appears to have it all: a devoted husband, a loving son, and a best friend who’s practically family. But beneath the surface of suburban perfection lies a simmering cauldron of deceit, obsession, and deadly secrets. This is a psychological thriller that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go.

From the opening pages, Watson weaves a web of tension that tightens with every chapter. The story is narrated by an unnamed protagonist, whose perspective shifts between her roles as a wife, mother, and, ultimately, a liar. This structural approach isn’t just clever—it’s disorienting in the best way possible, forcing readers to question their loyalties and assumptions at every turn.

What makes Wife, Mother, Liar so compelling is Watson’s ability to create characters who feel disturbingly real. The protagonist is deeply flawed—jealous, paranoid, and at times unlikable—but her humanity is undeniable. Her actions, no matter how extreme, stem from a place of love and fear, making her both relatable and terrifying.

If you’re a fan of domestic noir, untrustworthy narrators, and endings that leave you reeling, Wife, Mother, Liar is an absolute must-read. Watson doesn’t just tell a story; she constructs a psychological labyrinth that you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve turned the final page.

Susan Watson’s Wife, Mother, Liar is a gripping domestic thriller that expertly layers secrets, betrayal, and suspense. Told through the perspectives of a wife, a mother, and a liar, the story unravels a perfect life riddled with cracks that deepen as lies come to light.

The characters are complex and flawed, their hidden motives adding to the tension as the plot builds toward a shocking conclusion. Watson keeps you guessing with well-timed twists, though the pacing occasionally falters in parts. Still, the story’s emotional depth and dark revelations make it a compelling and satisfying read. A must for fans of domestic thrillers with a sinister edge!

#NetGalley #WifeMotherLiar

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A Gripping Thriller Full of Secrets and Twists

Sue Watson delivers a captivating story with Wife, Mother, Liar, a psychological thriller brimming with intrigue, emotional intensity, and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Diane, a seemingly perfect wife and mother, whose life begins to unravel when an anonymous message brings buried secrets to light.

Watson does an excellent job of creating realistic and complex characters, particularly Diane, who faces tough moral dilemmas while trying to protect her family. Themes of trust, loyalty, and the ripple effects of lies are masterfully explored, making the story relatable and thought-provoking.

The pacing is fast, and the twists are effective, although some might feel slightly predictable for seasoned thriller readers. However, this doesn’t detract from the overall tension and suspense that keep you hooked until the very end.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with emotional depth and well-developed characters, Wife, Mother, Liar is a fantastic choice.