Alex 1st husband Freddie disappeared 10 years ago and out of the blue shows up at her front door when Alex and her new husband Carter (Freddie's best friend) are on their way out the door to celebrate their anniversary. This book did have a few moments of suspense about the past with Freddie's disappearance and in the present with the threats happening to Alex but when it came down to to the end of the book, the ending was pretty predictable and didn't have a whole lot of surprises that I like to have when reading a mystery book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC copy of this book!

When I read the premise to this book I knew I had to have it.

The storyline is twisty right from the second that Alex’s first husband returns after being presumed dead for the past decade.

Very fast paced, short chapters - each ending on a cliff hanger.

The epitome of a popcorn thriller as far as I’m concerned.

One of my favourite books of 2025 so far!

The Husband Before You had such an intriguing premise. This was my first book by A.J McDine, and I was totally hooked.

Picture this: Ten years ago, Alex’s first husband Freddie walked out one night and never returned, leaving her with their two young daughters. After seven years of waiting, she had him declared dead and eventually remarried. Then, out of nowhere, Freddie shows up on her doorstep. Where has he been all this time? And why has he returned now that Alex has finally moved on with her second husband, Carter?

Told from the POV’s of both Alex and Freddie,darting between the present and the past, things get juicer when cryptic notes begin to slip through the mailbox.

This was twisty, but beneath the thrills, I connected deeply with Alex’s mix of grief and hope: her struggle through postpartum depression, the pressure to present a picture‑perfect family, and the messy reality of loyalty and love.

Many thanks to Bookoture, A.J McDine and Netgalley for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5*
Have you ever seen a ghost? I haven’t and I think I might freak out if I ever did. Maybe a similar reaction to Alex’s when husband Freddie knocked on her front door when he’d disappeared 10 years previous and she’d had declared dead.

What ensued was addictive. It was one helluva ride!!!! Alex doesn’t know what the hell had happened of the past years and neither did I! I needed to know what had happened to Freddie to make him leave and where he’d been. I also wanted to know who was behind the unsettling notes Alex was getting. Was it someone who knew what had happened 10 years ago or was something else going on that Alex didn’t know about.

This is my first taster of McDine’s writing and boy was it a taster!! I was drip-fed nuggets of information to help me solve the puzzle. As the pieces slowly slotted into place, my reading pace picked up. I needed to see whether I was right with my suspicions, not just in the present but also in the past. Cracking read!

The Husband Before You is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that had me flippingggg pages! Just when Evie thinks her life has finally found its rhythm (remarried with kids and a fresh start), her supposedly dead first husband shows up at her door. Alive. And warning her not to trust the man she rebuilt her life with.

A.J. McDine’s writing is sharp, suspenseful, and perfectly paced. I loved not knowing who to believe, and while I thought I had it figured out at one point, I absolutely didn’t. The tension builds with every chapter, and the final reveal was satisfying.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an interesting premise revolving around a woman caught between her ex husband who disappeared and mysteriously reappears after she marries his ex best friend. It felt drawn by and some parts dragged but it was wonderful story.

This book was a bit slow to start but then really started to pick up after about 25% and I really enjoyed it.

I blame The Husband Before You for making me seriously sleep-deprived! I couldn’t stop reading AJ McDine’s latest psychological thriller.

Alex’s first husband Freddie disappeared a decade earlier and now she’s married to his best friend, Carter. So when Freddie appears on her doorstep, it’s quite the shock. Oh, what a tangled web of lies and presumptions and grudges! The characters are extremely well-developed and engaging. Although I guessed who the antagonist was, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. It’s a fast-paced, breathless read and one that you shouldn’t miss.

Thank you to Netgalley, A J McDine and Bookouture for my advance copy.

I was drawn in to the story from the very first page. And I thought I knew where it was leading but I was wrong.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review. Great story and one I would definitely recommend

Where has he been? And, why is he back now that she has finally moved on?

“DON’T TRUST CARTER” he says speaking about his former best friend- who is now her SECOND husband.

“I KNOW THE TRUTH” one of the eight anonymous notes, slipped through the mailbox reads…

Alex,s huband Freddie went missing years ago and is now declared dead. She is also now married to his best friend Carter and they have a baby together. Carter has helped bring up Alex and Freddies other children and they are living a happy family life. All this is thrown into turmoil when one day Freddie appears on their doorstep!
I really enjoyed being absorbed by this book and trying to find out what had happened to Freddie and who Alex would choose. There is more to the story and it has just enough twists to keep the reader interested.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. What would you do if your husband, who died ten years ago, showed up at your door? I'd probably pass out on the spot. I thought I knew all of the answers, but I was not close.

This was my first A J McDine read and it certainly won't be my last! This was such a well-written thriller; and I was hooked from the very first chapter because it just drew me in with the fact you were thrown straight in! Even though I had guessed the twist as to who was behind what was going on, I was still hooked and wanted to see how it all unfolded. There were also small twists along the way which i didn't see coming!

If you know me, you know I love a multiple POV, and getting both Alex and Freddie's POV from both present day and 10 years ago, just added whole other dimension to the story! I really felt for Alex and how she must've felt with Freddie returning, I just wanted her and her daughters to get the answers that they deserved✨️

The Husband Before You follows Alex, who is married to Carter who she has a son with. She has two daughters from her previous marriage with Freddie. One day 10 years ago, Freddie seemingly vanished off the face of the death, never returned, and was presumed dead. Until now.

There is a knock at the door, and Alex answers to see Freddie staring back at her. All Alex wants is the answers as to where Freddie has been for the last 10 years, and why he decided to come back now. She then starts receiving threatening notes through the door, and feeling like she's being followed and watched in her own home. Which starts off a spiral of paranoia, distrust, and uncertainty. Alex thinks she knows who is to blame; but does she?

Thank you again to A J McDine for sending me an ARC copy of this book for review!
*All views and opinions are my own*

3.75 🌟

I just didn't enjoy this one as much as others from this author. It was almost too easy to guess what was gonna happen. I was kinda bored for a large portion of the book, and the ending felt open-ended to me.
I did enjoy the audio as Tamsin is such a fantastic narrator, and the male narrator was great as well.
I will still run to pick up more reads from this author. This one just wasn't my favorite.

**the t swift mentions low-key annoyed me

Wow wow wow!

I loved this book! The tropes, the lies and deceit. I was transported into the main characters POV and felt so many emotions right along with her!
So good!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I'm obsessed with this authors work. I've loved every single book I've been fortunate enough to read.

I guessed the person quite early on but it was enjoyable watching it all unfold to the end.

A brilliant must read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW what a wild and tangled tale of love, loss, regret and betrayal. It starts out with a young family, dad is a pediatrician, and mom stays home with a four-year-old and a new baby. Both parents are overworked, overwhelmed and exhausted and a diagnostic error is the catalyst for the rest of the story. Despondent, the dad gets drunk and walks away from his life. After seven years missing, he's declared legally dead. Mom's best friend, a nurse and dad's best friend from medical school are there to offer mom help and comfort throughout all the bad times. Then twist after twist it's a roller coaster ride to the end. It gets so intense and almost impossible to put down. This is an addictive psychological thriller that shouldn't be missed.

he Husband Before You is my favourite of McDine's books to date.

I found myself so wrapped up in Alex's story, before I knew it I'd finished. Yep, it was another of those so good, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting kinda reads!

The person you loved and assumed dead just waltzes back into your life as if nothings happened...WTAF, what a situation to find yourself in!

Unreliable narrators and their dilemmas had me questioning everything! Who could I trust?

It's a pacey read, full of intrigue and suspense. Predictable in places, but nevertheless an enjoyable and engaging read.

I really enjoyed The Husband Before You (kindle edition) a psychological thriller by A.J. McDine.

Alex has moved on with her life after pronouncing Freddie her first husband who left the family home ten years ago dead.

Alex is now married to Carter who was best friends with Freddie and has two daughters from her first marriage and a two year old son aged two with Carter.

Just when Alex thinks she has got her life back on track anonymous letters start popping through her letter box with the message "The truth will out." These letters send shivers up Alex's back and she cannot fathom out who would send her these messages.

After ten years Freddie walks back into Alex's life and the saying goes "Three's a crowd." comes into play.


Gemma a friend of Alex and also a Nurse at the same hospital as Freddie and Carter and is a constant in Alex's life.

Alex's life is under threat but from whom? This fast paced psychological thriller will keep you guessing right up until the end with an absolutely amazing twist.

Another great read that I couldn’t put down as I needed to know the outcome for everyone. A duel timeline with alternating character chapters, the short chapters make you want to read ‘just one more’ in this gripping domestic drama. There’s a few twists and jaw dropping moments, the tension builds steadily as the past and current times unfold. Another automatic read author for me as I love the reality of her characters and the stories.