An interesting storyline. There were many twists and turns during the book. Elements that were a bit frustrating, but overall an enjoyable read.

Alex's husband, Freddie, left her without a trace with a toddler and a newborn while she was in the throes of serious post natal depression. Ten years later, she has managed to survive, and even remarried Freddy's friend, Carter, and has a son. When she answers the door and finds Freddie standing there, her world is turned upside down, especially when Freddy warns her not to trust Carter. When strange notes appear and other inexplicable, and dangerous, things happen, Alex is determined to find out who is responsible, even though it puts her and her family at risk.

I enjoyed this book, but felt that it dragged a bit in the middle. Also, the culprit was somewhat predictable and I felt that Alex should have realized it way sooner than she did. That said, I would be eager to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Part of the appeal in reading books like this is trying to figure out what each character’s motive is and flushing out the fakes.
Alex has two husbands and three kids. I thought she was too lenient on Freddie. I would have demanded answers immediately upon his return.
I thought Freddie was very weak. You just don’t walk out of your life when the going gets tough especially when you have two kids!!
I underestimated Carter and I guessed Incorrectly about which husband Alex would choose.
I knew one character was rotten but the scene that had me scream was down by the river and Fleming.
It’s a good suspenseful read.

Alex's first husband has disappeared and after many years she remarries his best friend. Out of the blue, Freddie (husband #1) appears out of thin air. In addition to his reappearance, Alex and Carter (husband #2) have been receiving semi-threatening notes.

Overall, this book was just okay to me. The plot had a lot of potential, but the outcomes were predictable. Freddie's disappearance and his story of where he has been not really dramatic enough to fit into a suspense book either. I liked the book but it lacked the page turning suspense I was expecting.

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

This psychological thriller had me hooked from the very beginning by jumping straight into the action when Alex’s first husband, Freddie, returns after going missing 10 years ago. The dual timelines and multiple POV’s really had me invested in each character whether I liked them or not. Ha! The author’s writing depicts the confused and distressed emotions that Alex is feeling as she navigates this stressful situation which had me really empathizing for her. Although the twist at the end became somewhat predictable, there were a few other twists that made this a really enjoyable read. Overall, this is a fast paced, suspenseful read that I would recommend to any psychological thiller/mystery lover!

Thank you to NetGalley, A.J. McDine, and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn’t put this book down. It immediately opens with Alex and her husband and kids being so happy and then boom, here comes Freddie walking back into his old life on a random day lol. I love how the author incorporated the flashback chapters with the present day and the dual POVs because they were definitely needed in this book! I was left guessing and throwing out theories until the end of the book which I love. At points I didn’t know who to trust and definitely had my detective hat on trying to figure things out. Alex’s world was flipped upside down and she nor I didn’t know who to trust lol ! Loved it. Definitely worth the read if your looking for a good psychological thriller to jump into.

This is a great story of some really unusual circumstances …


Alex is 3 years into her second marriage following the mysterious disappearance of her first husband 10 years previously. The first husband, Freddy, was facing enormous stress from the responsibility of his job as a paediatric consultant combined with the challenges of raising young children and a wife suffering post natal depression.

One night, a knock at the door reveals that first husband Freddy is alive and well…and also a little surprised to discover that Alex has married his former best friend.

Alongside this, Alex receives mysterious insidious notes that further threaten her emotional wellbeing!

This is a superb novel that tells the story of Freddie’s 10 year departure alongside the current state of affairs of Alex suddenly discovering she has 2 husbands!!

I would highly recommend this novel to fans of psychological fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

Talk about a conundrum! Your husband, Freddie, disappeared ten years ago, has since been declared dead and through the search for him and just trying to survive, you fell in love with his supportive best friend, Connor, and eventually married him.

Now Freddie has just walked through the door!

The synopsis was more than enough for me to be hooked; I needed to know why Freddie disappeared, why he decided to come back and why now. I felt for Alex, in an impossible position, but when Freddie tells Alex “Don’t trust Connor”, my heart skipped a beat. Freddie and Connor were best friends; both doctors at the local hospital. What was going on?

The truth gradually emerges through intriguing flashbacks and tension filled present day discussions.

I did realise what was going on way before the ending and there were let downs for me in that the plot wasn’t as well thought out as some of this author’s previous books. There were few weak and underwhelming moments and I feel that with such a brilliant premise, this could have been better than it was.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, A. J. McDine and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I started out very intrigued by the plot - I really wanted to find out why her first husband would leave her and their children. I was quite frustrated by Alex, one of the main characters, when she doesn’t pester him for an answer about where he’s been for the past 10 years!
Most of the adult characters are unlikeable and I struggled to empathise even with Alex and Freddie going through a tough stage in their marriage as their thoughts are so negative towards each other. It was very frustrating to read that a doctor’s wife is clearly suffering badly from post natal depression and mental health issues but he won’t intervene or get her any genuine support for this before it gets worse for them both. I could appreciate how realistic the pressures are on the healthcare workers at the hospital and the catastrophic effects that this has on everyone around the staff and their families, both physically and mentally.
I loved reading the interaction between Freddie and Tomas. It was a lovely, heartwarming moment in between the rest of the tragedy of the story. Characters like Tomas and Aileen truly restore your faith in humanity.
I hated Gemma from the start, she is a horrible, calculating woman and I could see the twist coming from her introduction. The way she talks to Alex is so harsh and not a good friend at all.
The chapters are well paced but I just found Alex’s self doubt frustrating and always questioning herself. It was definitely an easy read and there are some tense scenes throughout.

I love a good thriller/mystery and "The Husband Before You" did not disappoint! It kept me hooked right up until the very last page! Wonderfully written and full of just enough twists to be enjoyable. What would you do if your 1st husband came back to haunt your future?

The action in The Husband Before You by AJ McDine is narrated by Alex, a suburban mother of three and her formerly missing first husband Freddie. Freddie disappeared without a trace ten years prior leaving Alex to raise their two daughters alone. While he was gone, she had him declared legally dead and moved on with his best friend Carter who was previously an item with her best friend, (and nurse at the same hospital where Carter and Freddie) Gemma. When Freddie comes back he finds that Alex and Carter have been raising his daughters and their toddler son as a family. Many questions are raised: why did Freddie disappear, why did he come back and which husband will Alex choose to live her life with, Carter or Freddie?

While there is nothing wrong with this book, there is also nothing super compelling either and often trying to remember who is narrating makes the story hard to follow. An average family drama thriller. 3.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

This psychological thriller had me hooked from the very beginning. I really sympathized with Alex. She endured so much when Freddie disappeared and had to hold it all together to take care of her children. I enjoyed reading her raw thoughts and felt the emotions through the author's writing. The plot was interesting and had me wanting to find out what happened to Freddie when he disappeared. I also had my suspicions about some of the characters in the story. Despite it all, I was able to predict the person involved and their motives. Overall, this was a fast paced, quick read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you A.J. McDine, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Name :- The Husband Before You
Author:- A J McDine
Genre:- Psychological Thriller
A.J. McDine delivers a jaw-dropping psychological thriller with The Husband Before You, a gripping tale of buried secrets, deception, and the haunting return of a man believed to be dead. With its tension-filled narrative and unpredictable twists, this novel is impossible to put down. For ten years, she believed her first husband, Freddie, was dead. She grieved, moved on, and built a new life with Carter, her second husband. But when Freddie suddenly appears at her doorstep—alive and well—her world is shattered. Freddie's first words send a chill down her spine: "Don't trust Carter." Conflicted and terrified, she is thrown into a whirlwind of doubt. Who is lying? Who can she trust? As she grapples with the shocking truth, ominous threats emerge, and she realizes her life is in danger.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes:-
1 Intriguing Premise: The idea of a "dead" husband returning is gripping, instantly pulling readers into the mystery.
2 Unrelenting Suspense: Every chapter heightens the tension, keeping you glued to the pages.
3 Emotional Depth: The protagonist’s struggle between love, grief, and fear makes her journey deeply compelling.
4 Twists You Won’t See Coming: Just when you think you know the truth, McDine delivers another shocking revelation.
Dislikes :-
None.
Overall :- The Husband Before You is a gripping psychological thriller packed with suspense, betrayal, and a heart-pounding mystery. If you love stories that keep you second-guessing until the very last page, this one is a must-read.
My Rating :- 5/5.

The main character in this book is thrown into a love triangle. Who should Alex choose? Were you Team Carter? Or Team Freddie? Perhaps you wanted her to just keep the kids and Fleming - their faithful Golden Retriever?

For me this was another winner from A.J. McDine with some surprising twists and characters you could relate to.

Here are five things I liked:

🤱 Alex suffers from post-partum depression in some authentic passages that make your heart break for her.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👶There are two older girls (Erin and Megan) from Alex's marriage to Freddie and a little guy named Dylan from the second marriage to Carter. They are a lovable bunch of kids and well-represented in the story.
🐕 Fleming, their Golden Retriever, is a faithful companion and gets plenty of page time in this thriller.
👨‍⚖️ We find out who is threatening Alex's family and we see justice done. I appreciate having some closure. This book takes its time and gives us a solid ending.
📚 This author is becoming a favorite for me. I have read three of her titles so far and my average rating is 4.67. Definitely going to read another A.J. McDine.

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

This book made me question my own mental state right along with Alex. It's more than a love triangle, it's a love square! Ha! Great character depth, from the kids to the adults, with such complex relationships. I love the story telling coming from different characters point of views at different times in their lives. My only question and dislike is, how could Freddie have stayed away that long with not much reason and then show back up, unannounced years later and care for everyone like he never left.
A bit predictable with jealousy and revenge coming through until the end!

Well this was certainly a gripping and twisted tale! I wasn’t sure what was coming next in this amazing story! Poor Alex has one husband and then her former husband comes back from the dead! Talk about one too many. Fabulous read!I recommend.

Predictable story with unlikeable characters. I wasn't a fan of the writing either, it didn't really pull me in and make me feel engaged with the story. None of the characters really talked to each other about the important things and there was so much about this that seemed super unrealistic.

3.5 stars

The premise was intriguing—Alex's husband, Freddie, vanished years ago, and just as she’s built a new life with his best friend, Carter, Freddie suddenly returns. I was expecting a gripping, twist-filled thriller, but it didn’t quite deliver the tension I was hoping for.

The dual timelines and multiple perspectives were interesting, but the pacing felt uneven. The big twist was predictable early on, and I never fully connected with the characters. It wasn’t a bad read—just not as suspenseful or engaging as I’d hoped. If you enjoy domestic dramas with a bit of mystery, you might still find it worthwhile!

I started this book on Sunday, and I was so hooked that I couldn’t put it down – I ended up finishing it on Monday, simply because I needed to sleep to go to work! Let me tell you, this book absolutely lives up to its "unputdownable" promise. From the very first page, I was completely absorbed. The plot is so gripping and addictive, and while I did manage to predict the ending (50%), the journey itself was so compelling that I couldn’t stop reading.

This book dives deep into some compelling themes, touching on postpartum depression, general depression, the complexities of friendships, the rollercoaster of motherhood, the ups and downs of spousal relationships, and the myth of the "picture-perfect" family.

What really sets this book apart is its pacing. It moves at lightning speed, and the chapters are short, which creates this irresistible urge to keep turning the pages. Every chapter ends with just enough of a cliffhanger to make you need to know what happens next – I found myself staying up late, not willing to stop until I knew more.

And oh, the twists and surprises! There are moments that completely take you by surprise, throwing you off balance in the best possible way. If you're in need of a thrilling read that will have you hooked from the get-go, this is it. It’s an emotional rollercoaster you won’t want to get off of. I highly, highly recommend it!

Just when Alex thought she had moved on, her world shatters all over again.

Ten years after her first husband, Freddie, vanished without a trace, Alex has built a new life with her second husband, Carter, and their children. Because Carter was Freddie's best friend, it was his shoulder Alex cried on when Freddie vanished, leaving her to raise her two young daughters alone. Finding solace and comfort in one another, their long friendship turned to love and they welcomed baby Dylan after getting married.

But when Freddie reappears unexpectedly, he utters a chilling warning: "Don't trust Carter."

As Alex grapples with resurfaced emotions and mounting suspicion, she begins receiving anonymous, threatening notes leading her to confide her fears and anxiety with her childhood best friend and constant companion, Gemma.

Torn between two men she once loved and unsure whom to believe, Alex must unravel the truth before it's too late.

If you're drawn to psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the final page, this one is a must-read.​

Huge thanks to NetGalley, A.J. McDine, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of its proposed April 1st, 2025 release date.