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The Wife Before
Fans of Verity will be engrossed by this unpredictable novel of suspense as a new bride’s fairytale marriage becomes a prison of secrets. From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Perfect Ruin, this insidiously sexy, twist-filled psycho-drama is reminiscent of the classic gothic tale Rebecca.
BookBub’s Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2022 | PopSugar’s Best New Thriller and Mystery Books of 2022 | SheReads Best Mystery Books Coming in 2022 | Word Wonder Most Anticipated Non-Speculative Releases For 2022 | Goodreads What to Read Next After Colleen Hoover
Samira Wilder has never had it easy, and when her latest lousy job goes south, things only promise to get harder. Until she unexpectedly meets a man who will change her life forever. Renowned pro golfer Roland Graham is wealthy, handsome, and caring, and Samira is dazzled. Best of all, he seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. And though their relationship moves a bit fast, when Roland proposes, Samira accepts. She even agrees to relocate to his secluded Colorado mansion. After all, there’s nothing to keep her in Miami, and the mansion clearly makes him happy. Soon, they are married amid a media firestorm, and Samira can't wait to make a fresh start—as the second Mrs. Graham . . .
Samira settles into the mansion, blissfully happy—until she discovers long-hidden journals belonging to Roland’s late wife, Melanie, who died in a tragic accident. With each dusty page, Samira comes to realize that perhaps it was no accident at all—that perhaps her perfect husband is not as perfect as she thought. Even as her trust in Roland begins to dwindle and a shadow falls over her marriage and she begins to fear for her own life, Samira is determined to uncover the truth of Melanie’s troubled last days. But even good wives should know that the truth is not always what it seems . . .
BookBub’s Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2022 | PopSugar’s Best New Thriller and Mystery Books of 2022 | SheReads Best Mystery Books Coming in 2022 | Word Wonder Most Anticipated Non-Speculative Releases For 2022 | Goodreads What to Read Next After Colleen Hoover
Samira Wilder has never had it easy, and when her latest lousy job goes south, things only promise to get harder. Until she unexpectedly meets a man who will change her life forever. Renowned pro golfer Roland Graham is wealthy, handsome, and caring, and Samira is dazzled. Best of all, he seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. And though their relationship moves a bit fast, when Roland proposes, Samira accepts. She even agrees to relocate to his secluded Colorado mansion. After all, there’s nothing to keep her in Miami, and the mansion clearly makes him happy. Soon, they are married amid a media firestorm, and Samira can't wait to make a fresh start—as the second Mrs. Graham . . .
Samira settles into the mansion, blissfully happy—until she discovers long-hidden journals belonging to Roland’s late wife, Melanie, who died in a tragic accident. With each dusty page, Samira comes to realize that perhaps it was no accident at all—that perhaps her perfect husband is not as perfect as she thought. Even as her trust in Roland begins to dwindle and a shadow falls over her marriage and she begins to fear for her own life, Samira is determined to uncover the truth of Melanie’s troubled last days. But even good wives should know that the truth is not always what it seems . . .
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2022
About the author
Shanora Williams
73 books5,566 followersShanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romance and diverse suspense novels.
She currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three amazing boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services. Visit her at shanorawilliams.com or interact with her on Instagram @reallyshanora.
Follow me:
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Twitter: Twitter.com/shanorawilliams
She currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three amazing boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services. Visit her at shanorawilliams.com or interact with her on Instagram @reallyshanora.
Follow me:
Instagram: Instagram.com/reallyshanora
Facebook: Facebook.com/ShanoraWilliamsAuthor
Facebook Fan Group: Facebook.com/groups/ShanorasSweethearts
Twitter: Twitter.com/shanorawilliams
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,073 reviews
July 15, 2022
In a Nutshell: Oh boy! With such hateful characters, I didn’t care who lived or died. I just wanted to reach the end.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
I don’t know! I just know I wasn’t bored enough to discontinue the book. Maybe the audio version helped.
Ok, there’s one thing I loved.
👌 The prologue. It sets such a nice and creepy tone for the story. But… (continued below)
Where the book didn’t work for me:
☠ (continued from above)…it doesn’t come up in the main story at all. I still don’t know when and why and how the incidents in the prologue occurred!
☠ The characters do their best to aggravate your nerves. Samira is established as a self-serving kind of character right at the start, jobless, mooching off her brother’s money and later Roland’s. (When you realise that she is twenty-eight, the whole thing becomes even more annoying!) Roland is sketched haphazardly - sometimes quiet, sometimes outgoing, sometimes well-intentioned, sometimes evil. Melanie is also sketched in mixed hues. Of these, only Melanie can escape with some leeway as the unreliable narrator because we know her only through her journals. But when the first person narration is by Samira and she deliberately misleads, it is a sign of shabby character development.
☠ Other than the now-overused unreliable narrator trope, we also have the ‘dead wife’s journals’ trope. When this is written well, this trope works wonderfully for domestic thrillers. In this book, the journal entries aren’t written like journal entries but like an author writes a book, complete with direct quotes and detailed description of looks and scenes. Who writes all that in a journal !?! Only a couple of times does it feel like Melanie is speaking through her journal. What is also funny is that Samira took multiple days to read through those journals but Roland completes them within a couple of hours at most. What is even funnier is that the journals were kept out in the open. Two characters in the story know that the journals contain misleading information about their beloved Roland, and yet neither destroyed nor hid them, thus leading to Samira finding them easily. It was so silly!
☠ More illogical character flaws:
• If you are famous, could you go alone anywhere to investigate without the paps following you? Especially when it has already been established that the media hound the character in concern even when they are out on dates?
• If you are filthy rich, would you do your own investigation or hire the best detectives to find out stuff?
• Related to the above: If you are filthy rich, would you call your house your “home” or your “mansion”?
• If you have to locate someone, would you go and ask their recently-released-from-jail rapist where they were?
Sheesh!
☠ There’s a whole load of info dumping at the end about the modus operandi of what happened.
☠ There are a few paranormal occurrences written in to make the writing spookier. The whats and whys of these are never explained.
☠ The chapters are very short, which will definitely aid in going through the book quicker. However, the chapter divisions are weird. Like Melanie’s journal entries also span multiple chapters even if it is a single entry. Doesn’t make sense.
☠ The dialogues seem repetitive at times. The same question/statement that is spoken is repeated within a few sentences, almost as if the characters aren’t even hearing each other speak.
☠ As a domestic thriller, the book ought to have had a few good twists and surprises. But with one exception, nothing came as a pleasantly shocking revelation. Most were twists because of the characters’ abrupt change in stance.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hours, is narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee. I was pretty impressed by her at the start as she gave a distinct voice to the two first-person narrations. But after Melanie’s third appearance, maybe she forgot the separate voice and began narrating both Melanie and Samira the same way. This becomes very confusing when there are multiple chapters for each of them with no clarity on who is speaking. A newbie audiobook listener will be absolutely confused with such an experience. Having a separate narrator for Melanie would have been better.
Also, her narration was so slow! For the first time ever, I heard an audiobook at 1.75-2x speeds and still felt like she was absolutely clear. (This is good in a way, I suppose. I completed the book faster.)
Basically, I am okay with suspending disbelief but the word ‘suspension’ always involves the idea that it is temporary. You can’t expect me to suspend disbelief for an entire book. This story contains mostly done-to-death tropes and average writing. Strictly a one-time read if you feel like going for a slow-burn domestic thriller. Nothing memorable, nothing novel.
2 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Wife Before”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
Someone please send a 5 star adult fiction my way. I am tired of this streak of duds!
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Samira Wilder, basically a classy good-for-nothing, has fallen in love with the rich and handsome pro golfer Roland Graham. The only hitch is that her brother Kellan and her best friend want her to stay away from Roland. Reason? He’s been accused of murdering his late wife, though the crime was never proven and her death was ultimately ruled an accident. Samira trusts her new beau and accepts his proposal willingly, even when it involves moving to his house in Miami, where he stayed during his first marriage. What follows is the usual secrets and misleading communications that make Samira question her situation.
The story comes to us in the first person pov of Samira, and also of Melanie, Roland’s first wife whose communication happens through the journals she wrote.
Where the book worked for me:
I don’t know! I just know I wasn’t bored enough to discontinue the book. Maybe the audio version helped.
Ok, there’s one thing I loved.
👌 The prologue. It sets such a nice and creepy tone for the story. But… (continued below)
Where the book didn’t work for me:
☠ (continued from above)…it doesn’t come up in the main story at all. I still don’t know when and why and how the incidents in the prologue occurred!
☠ The characters do their best to aggravate your nerves. Samira is established as a self-serving kind of character right at the start, jobless, mooching off her brother’s money and later Roland’s. (When you realise that she is twenty-eight, the whole thing becomes even more annoying!) Roland is sketched haphazardly - sometimes quiet, sometimes outgoing, sometimes well-intentioned, sometimes evil. Melanie is also sketched in mixed hues. Of these, only Melanie can escape with some leeway as the unreliable narrator because we know her only through her journals. But when the first person narration is by Samira and she deliberately misleads, it is a sign of shabby character development.
☠ Other than the now-overused unreliable narrator trope, we also have the ‘dead wife’s journals’ trope. When this is written well, this trope works wonderfully for domestic thrillers. In this book, the journal entries aren’t written like journal entries but like an author writes a book, complete with direct quotes and detailed description of looks and scenes. Who writes all that in a journal !?! Only a couple of times does it feel like Melanie is speaking through her journal. What is also funny is that Samira took multiple days to read through those journals but Roland completes them within a couple of hours at most. What is even funnier is that the journals were kept out in the open. Two characters in the story know that the journals contain misleading information about their beloved Roland, and yet neither destroyed nor hid them, thus leading to Samira finding them easily. It was so silly!
☠ More illogical character flaws:
• If you are famous, could you go alone anywhere to investigate without the paps following you? Especially when it has already been established that the media hound the character in concern even when they are out on dates?
• If you are filthy rich, would you do your own investigation or hire the best detectives to find out stuff?
• Related to the above: If you are filthy rich, would you call your house your “home” or your “mansion”?
• If you have to locate someone, would you go and ask their recently-released-from-jail rapist where they were?
Sheesh!
☠ There’s a whole load of info dumping at the end about the modus operandi of what happened.
☠ There are a few paranormal occurrences written in to make the writing spookier. The whats and whys of these are never explained.
☠ The chapters are very short, which will definitely aid in going through the book quicker. However, the chapter divisions are weird. Like Melanie’s journal entries also span multiple chapters even if it is a single entry. Doesn’t make sense.
☠ The dialogues seem repetitive at times. The same question/statement that is spoken is repeated within a few sentences, almost as if the characters aren’t even hearing each other speak.
☠ As a domestic thriller, the book ought to have had a few good twists and surprises. But with one exception, nothing came as a pleasantly shocking revelation. Most were twists because of the characters’ abrupt change in stance.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hours, is narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee. I was pretty impressed by her at the start as she gave a distinct voice to the two first-person narrations. But after Melanie’s third appearance, maybe she forgot the separate voice and began narrating both Melanie and Samira the same way. This becomes very confusing when there are multiple chapters for each of them with no clarity on who is speaking. A newbie audiobook listener will be absolutely confused with such an experience. Having a separate narrator for Melanie would have been better.
Also, her narration was so slow! For the first time ever, I heard an audiobook at 1.75-2x speeds and still felt like she was absolutely clear. (This is good in a way, I suppose. I completed the book faster.)
Basically, I am okay with suspending disbelief but the word ‘suspension’ always involves the idea that it is temporary. You can’t expect me to suspend disbelief for an entire book. This story contains mostly done-to-death tropes and average writing. Strictly a one-time read if you feel like going for a slow-burn domestic thriller. Nothing memorable, nothing novel.
2 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Wife Before”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
Someone please send a 5 star adult fiction my way. I am tired of this streak of duds!
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
December 8, 2022
"He was willing to give me everything I ever wanted. All I had to do was become brave enough to take it."
It's always the husband, right? I guess you'll have to read The Wife Before if you want the answer to that question, but it's been the center of debate for most psychological thrillers since the Gone Girl phenomenon took shape. While this book is clearly a piece of salacious fiction, it does open up the mind to wondering how our decisions early on shape the outcome of our future. How many toxic people does it take to screw up a lifetime? This story touches on some of these thoughts and more as the reader flies through the pages.
Mira isn't going anywhere quickly in life, as she is being mostly supported by her brother and has a major aversion to keeping a job for longer than a week at a time. Once she finds out she won't be on the receiving end of her brother's handouts anymore, Samira takes a waitressing job for an event and meets professional golfer Roland Graham. The two have an instant connection and a whirlwind romance, where Mira promptly learns that Roland's first wife died under devastating and mysterious circumstances. He explains it all away, but was he somehow involved in his first wife Melanie's demise? Mira decides to do her own investigating after finding the wife before's journal entries, and what follows is a wild ride worthy of a Lifetime Channel Movie contract.
If you do not enjoy soapy, over the top psychological thrillers, this might be a hard pass, but I truly enjoyed getting lost in the pages of this story. I did see some of the twists coming, but there were a few that completely took me by surprise as well! It wouldn't be a Shanora Williams special if we didn't have a slew of complicated, unlikable characters, but she is one of the only authors I have experienced who can make you enraged with a character's choices while also feeling for them. Also, I really loved the grand finale. Muahahahaha. If you are looking for a slump buster that somehow manages to be the fastest paced character driven novel of suspense I have read to date, look no further.
Trigger Warnings (include but are not limited to): domestic abuse, substance abuse/overdose, sexual assault, rape, murder.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
It's always the husband, right? I guess you'll have to read The Wife Before if you want the answer to that question, but it's been the center of debate for most psychological thrillers since the Gone Girl phenomenon took shape. While this book is clearly a piece of salacious fiction, it does open up the mind to wondering how our decisions early on shape the outcome of our future. How many toxic people does it take to screw up a lifetime? This story touches on some of these thoughts and more as the reader flies through the pages.
Mira isn't going anywhere quickly in life, as she is being mostly supported by her brother and has a major aversion to keeping a job for longer than a week at a time. Once she finds out she won't be on the receiving end of her brother's handouts anymore, Samira takes a waitressing job for an event and meets professional golfer Roland Graham. The two have an instant connection and a whirlwind romance, where Mira promptly learns that Roland's first wife died under devastating and mysterious circumstances. He explains it all away, but was he somehow involved in his first wife Melanie's demise? Mira decides to do her own investigating after finding the wife before's journal entries, and what follows is a wild ride worthy of a Lifetime Channel Movie contract.
If you do not enjoy soapy, over the top psychological thrillers, this might be a hard pass, but I truly enjoyed getting lost in the pages of this story. I did see some of the twists coming, but there were a few that completely took me by surprise as well! It wouldn't be a Shanora Williams special if we didn't have a slew of complicated, unlikable characters, but she is one of the only authors I have experienced who can make you enraged with a character's choices while also feeling for them. Also, I really loved the grand finale. Muahahahaha. If you are looking for a slump buster that somehow manages to be the fastest paced character driven novel of suspense I have read to date, look no further.
Trigger Warnings (include but are not limited to): domestic abuse, substance abuse/overdose, sexual assault, rape, murder.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
June 15, 2024
3.5* rounded up this was VERY bingeable and very ridiculous but I had a fun time reading it even though most of the characters were a MESSS and the ending was kinda lackluster 🙃 Still wanna read more from her!
June 12, 2022
This epic thriller brings us "Samira meets pro golfer Roland". Samira who is down on her luck feels like a princess walking into an epic love story. Things go south when Samira stumbles across Roland's first wife's journals, who everyone believes was murdered by Roland, but was she?
Samira is very care free character and I must admit that I did not like her in the first few chapters. She came across as a very selfish person. Mid way through I did change my opinion of her. She "grows up", is brave and strong and fights for the truth.
I flew through this book, the writing was so easy and it kept flowing. The plot was a little unexpected and closed the book off nicely.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Samira is very care free character and I must admit that I did not like her in the first few chapters. She came across as a very selfish person. Mid way through I did change my opinion of her. She "grows up", is brave and strong and fights for the truth.
I flew through this book, the writing was so easy and it kept flowing. The plot was a little unexpected and closed the book off nicely.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 26, 2022
THE WIFE BEFORE was a two star read for me. I wanted to make it at least three stars because it held my interest enough to finish it, but the ending just didn't push it up that extra notch I was hoping for.
Three things really bothered me while I was reading this. My main irritation right off the bat was one of the main characters. Here we have a twenty-eight year old who was fired from her job for being late yet again. It seems the poor girl just likes to sleep in. Her brother, whom she is mad at, is cutting her off because his girlfriend is pregnant and they want to get married. Her roommate wants her boyfriend to replace her, and she doesn't seem to pay her fair share anyway. Yet in spite of all this she goes to the clubs! When I was her age I was married with two kids, had a mortgage, a job, some college, and joined the Reserves. Lazy people are a real problem in this country. My feelings about the character influenced how I felt about the story.
My second problem was the profanity. Why do writers nowadays think they need to put that in print? Sure, some folks talk that way, but not everybody. Does including swear words add realism? Why not use your mastery of the written word to show us rather than tell us.
A third thing that bothered me was that a character was reading these journals throughout the story. It seemed that half of this book was journal entries. That in itself was understandable due to the story line, but my problem was the entries themselves. Who writes that much detail in journals? Who can remember every little detail like a writer writing a book? Maybe if you are making it up you can.
What I did appreciate was the short chapters. That made it easier to read just one more page at a time.
This was my first thriller so maybe I am being a little harsh, but the author is famous and the book is a best seller. My negativity here won't affect her book sales, so I can be honest.
This was a Goodreads giveaway which I will giveaway in the hope that another enjoys it more than I did.
Three things really bothered me while I was reading this. My main irritation right off the bat was one of the main characters. Here we have a twenty-eight year old who was fired from her job for being late yet again. It seems the poor girl just likes to sleep in. Her brother, whom she is mad at, is cutting her off because his girlfriend is pregnant and they want to get married. Her roommate wants her boyfriend to replace her, and she doesn't seem to pay her fair share anyway. Yet in spite of all this she goes to the clubs! When I was her age I was married with two kids, had a mortgage, a job, some college, and joined the Reserves. Lazy people are a real problem in this country. My feelings about the character influenced how I felt about the story.
My second problem was the profanity. Why do writers nowadays think they need to put that in print? Sure, some folks talk that way, but not everybody. Does including swear words add realism? Why not use your mastery of the written word to show us rather than tell us.
A third thing that bothered me was that a character was reading these journals throughout the story. It seemed that half of this book was journal entries. That in itself was understandable due to the story line, but my problem was the entries themselves. Who writes that much detail in journals? Who can remember every little detail like a writer writing a book? Maybe if you are making it up you can.
What I did appreciate was the short chapters. That made it easier to read just one more page at a time.
This was my first thriller so maybe I am being a little harsh, but the author is famous and the book is a best seller. My negativity here won't affect her book sales, so I can be honest.
This was a Goodreads giveaway which I will giveaway in the hope that another enjoys it more than I did.
July 2, 2022
First of all, thank you very much to Shanora Williams, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audiobook.
I started out with the audiobook, but soon switched to the printed version of the book. Here and there I tried the audiobook again, but it was like reading/listening to a completely different book. I guess audiobooks just aren't for me and this one was no exeption.
The book was a slow burn thriller. I prefer having more tension and action, twists and turns in thrillers, but, however, this one was flowing easily and somehow held my interest. I got through it faster than I thought and the end wrapped it up quite nicely. Overall, it was a decent book, but it didn't blow me away.
I started out with the audiobook, but soon switched to the printed version of the book. Here and there I tried the audiobook again, but it was like reading/listening to a completely different book. I guess audiobooks just aren't for me and this one was no exeption.
The book was a slow burn thriller. I prefer having more tension and action, twists and turns in thrillers, but, however, this one was flowing easily and somehow held my interest. I got through it faster than I thought and the end wrapped it up quite nicely. Overall, it was a decent book, but it didn't blow me away.
February 12, 2023
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My sister gave me a copy of this author's other book, THE PERFECT RUIN, and I really enjoyed it. Even though I'd never heard of this author before, it was the perfect blend of well plotted and trashy, and I ended up devouring it like the thriller-soap opera it was. When I found out that this author was planning a loose retelling of REBECCA called THE WIFE BEFORE, I was all over that like white on rice. Give me all the drama, please, and if it has a twist of gothic soap, so much the better.
THE WIFE BEFORE is about a woman named Samira who is a bit of a moocher. She's living off her brother's good will as she does underpaying jobs, but all that changes when her brother ends up engaged to his fiancee and she decides it's for the best if they cut ties. Similarly, the heroine's roommate decides she wants to move in with her boyfriend and is tired of Samira half-assedly paying rent. When she takes a waitressing job and hits it off with one of the rich bigwigs at the event, it seems too good to be true. Especially when he invites her to move in with him as soon as he learns that she's having some financial trouble.
But Roland isn't exactly the perfect guy. He might have killed his first wife. And when Samira goes into his ex-wife's she-shed and finds her journals, she sees a very different portrait of Melanie than the rest of the world saw: she's angsty and fucked-up, and put Roland through the emotional wringer with her affairs. Add to that an unbalanced sister with a drug addiction, and there's no telling what either of these women are capable of-- or what Roland might have done to salvage his feelings and reputation.
So I've read the original REBECCA and as far as retellings go... I guess this was okay. It didn't have a lot in common with the original since Melanie wasn't exactly beloved by anyone who knew her. Samira also didn't have the innocence of the unnamed heroine in REBECCA: she was a pretty unlikable heroine, to be honest, and I didn't really see what Roland saw in her. Especially since she started the relationship basically doing as much prying as she could into his deceased ex's life, to the point where I was like, Girl, just take out a sign saying "Nosy snoop, kill me now." You're just that obvious.
I thought THE PERFECT RUIN was a better book (and I loved the Lola Maxwell shoutout in this book). As far as revenge thrillers go, I felt like that one was better executed. This one was kind of all over the place, and it wasn't really a close enough retelling for me to be like, Oh, yeah, REBECCA! But I'm not really sure it succeeded as a standalone, either. It wasn't bad, but it was a frustrating read, and I found myself getting annoyed with all of the characters, and not in a good way.
2.5 stars
June 28, 2022
Okay now. Shanora went on and did the thing y’all! This book was RIVETING!! I literally could not stop listening. The suspense. The mysterious “what is going on” plot. Somehow Shanora topped her own game and did a spectacular job!! This story literally had me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had it figured out..nope! Wrong!! I’m so proud of this book and Shanora’s skills!
April 15, 2022
Awesome thriller from the talented Shanora Williams!!! I love thrillers that keep you guessing and when you think you've figured out the plot and the real story the writer does not only one twist but a couple of major one's your like what the fuck just happened ! This had a Hitchcock vibe not only with different spins on the characters but also atmospheric with a secluded house and journals from the dead wife. This is the second book I've read by this writer and I love her storytelling she knows how to build the story up and take you on a hell of a ride. I will say that at first I did not like Samira, in the beginning she came off very self indulged and a mooch but as she goes on in the story I came to like her and her search for the truth behind her husbands first wife's death. Roland is a great character and plays into the part of the suspious grieving husband who's whispered to have killed his wife. He's very moody and at times distant and even a little scary. All in all this was a awesome rainy day read and I really enjoyed it. Until next time Luv's💗💋
June 16, 2022
This was not the book for me. The main character was cringe-worthy, and the plot was lacking originality.
January 26, 2023
3.5⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, infidelity, domestic abuse, rape reference
Samira is working as a waitress and mooching off her brother a lot ~ what's up with that? when she meets Roland. They have an instant connection and he tracks down her number.
Roland is a pro-golfer that was accused of murdering his wife, Melanie. He claims he's innocent and she believes him even though her brother disagrees.
They get married rather quickly and now she's living in a mansion with no job. To occupy her time she starts reading Melanie's old journals. As she reads page after page after page her belief in her new husbands innocence starts to falter. With nothing else to do she starts investigating on her own ~ will she uncover the truth about what really happened to the wife before?
Told in the 1st person both by Samira and through journals that Melanie wrote during her marriage to Roland. I found the journals a tad odd with their full on dialogue, but they did tell quite a story.
Overall, this was slow going for me, but had some suspenseful moments. There was a nice twist in there and I was mostly kept engaged. This is my first time reading this author and I'd give her a go again.
I was able to listen to a final copy that was narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee for 10 hours and 6 minutes. Her voice was actually so slow at my usual 2x, so I had bump her up to 3x. Which is crazy quick but it worked for this one for me. Ultimately, I feel reading was the better option to be able to decipher when it was Samira vs Melanie's journals.
I appreciate the author's note at the end that explained why she chose to write about these heavy topics. It helped me have a better understanding of the book.
*Thanks to Kensington Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, infidelity, domestic abuse, rape reference
Samira is working as a waitress and mooching off her brother a lot ~ what's up with that? when she meets Roland. They have an instant connection and he tracks down her number.
Roland is a pro-golfer that was accused of murdering his wife, Melanie. He claims he's innocent and she believes him even though her brother disagrees.
They get married rather quickly and now she's living in a mansion with no job. To occupy her time she starts reading Melanie's old journals. As she reads page after page after page her belief in her new husbands innocence starts to falter. With nothing else to do she starts investigating on her own ~ will she uncover the truth about what really happened to the wife before?
Told in the 1st person both by Samira and through journals that Melanie wrote during her marriage to Roland. I found the journals a tad odd with their full on dialogue, but they did tell quite a story.
Overall, this was slow going for me, but had some suspenseful moments. There was a nice twist in there and I was mostly kept engaged. This is my first time reading this author and I'd give her a go again.
I was able to listen to a final copy that was narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee for 10 hours and 6 minutes. Her voice was actually so slow at my usual 2x, so I had bump her up to 3x. Which is crazy quick but it worked for this one for me. Ultimately, I feel reading was the better option to be able to decipher when it was Samira vs Melanie's journals.
I appreciate the author's note at the end that explained why she chose to write about these heavy topics. It helped me have a better understanding of the book.
*Thanks to Kensington Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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April 18, 2022
The Wife Before
is SO. MUCH. FUN! I know that Shanora Williams has been around for awhile, both in indie romance and mainstream fiction, but this book is my first venture into the author's writing and I am so glad that I made dive into this book.
The Wife Before
focuses on two central characters, Samira Wilder and her new, renowned pro golfer husband Roland Graham. Samira is in her late 20s and struggling to keep a job. She hasn't had the easiest upbringing and relies on her successful brother Kell to help keep her afloat. That is, until she meets Roland Graham at a party and the two forge a relationship and eventually get married. Samira's life has completely changed, that is, until she finds out about Roland's dark past with his ex-wife. His ex-wife who was killed in a tragic accident that has been suspicious from the initial reporting. As Samira settles into married life with her wealthy and loving husband, she starts to see fractures in the stories leading up to her husband's ex-wife's death and decides to investigate. Samira soon realizes that maybe it's best to leave the past behind.
Before you say that you've heard this story before, WRONG. You haven't. This books is so fast paced and juicy—I couldn't put it down! I was told after the fact that this book lives in the same universe as The Perfect Ruin, but you don't need to read it to enjoy this book (I can attest to this). This book is for all the Tarryn Fisher fans out there! You need this book immediately. I have very strong opinions about some of the characters in this book, which always leads me to have strong emotions to how a story develops. Although this book has some great red herrings (I like them, but I know this writing technique is not for everyone), I truly think this book delivers a bingeable read with a full fledged mystery. I am a FAN and will be diving into anything that this author writes for us. LOVED!
Before you say that you've heard this story before, WRONG. You haven't. This books is so fast paced and juicy—I couldn't put it down! I was told after the fact that this book lives in the same universe as The Perfect Ruin, but you don't need to read it to enjoy this book (I can attest to this). This book is for all the Tarryn Fisher fans out there! You need this book immediately. I have very strong opinions about some of the characters in this book, which always leads me to have strong emotions to how a story develops. Although this book has some great red herrings (I like them, but I know this writing technique is not for everyone), I truly think this book delivers a bingeable read with a full fledged mystery. I am a FAN and will be diving into anything that this author writes for us. LOVED!
June 11, 2022
Shanora Williams' audiobook The Wife Before checks off all the boxes for a compelling psychological thriller. The deceit, the lies, and the mystery make this book highly suspenseful. The superb audio narrator, Tracey Conyers Lee adds to the listening experience by transporting you into the story with her voice.
Synopsis:
Roland and Samira are newlyweds experiencing the joy of their extremely happy marriage. Roland, a well known golf pro, was previously married to Melanie who died in an accident. Upon moving into Roland's house, Samira finds journals previously hidden by Melanie. After reading Melanies deepest secrets Samira discovers that Meanies death may not have been an accident. Was Roland responsible for Meanie's death? Does Samira have reason to fear for her own life?
Listening to The Wife Before audiobook by Samira Williams has made me a fan. The author's writing style is brilliantly executed and kept me guessing to the end. I will be adding her previously published books to my to my reading list.
The Wife Before audiobook is available on June 28th. (4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, (Recorded Books), for allowing me to review this wonderful audiobook. Your kindness is appreciated.
Synopsis:
Roland and Samira are newlyweds experiencing the joy of their extremely happy marriage. Roland, a well known golf pro, was previously married to Melanie who died in an accident. Upon moving into Roland's house, Samira finds journals previously hidden by Melanie. After reading Melanies deepest secrets Samira discovers that Meanies death may not have been an accident. Was Roland responsible for Meanie's death? Does Samira have reason to fear for her own life?
Listening to The Wife Before audiobook by Samira Williams has made me a fan. The author's writing style is brilliantly executed and kept me guessing to the end. I will be adding her previously published books to my to my reading list.
The Wife Before audiobook is available on June 28th. (4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, (Recorded Books), for allowing me to review this wonderful audiobook. Your kindness is appreciated.
August 16, 2022
This was one of those books that you are more on the outside looking in. It’s a super fast read but there wasn’t that character development I always look for in a book. Anyone who is familiar reading my reviews knows I am not a fan of just one dimensional characters…I like to feel what they feel and almost get into their heads.
Samira stumbles into Roland while waitressing at an elite celebrity function and falls head over heals for the pro golfer. Quickie marriage ensues and she relocates across the country to his mansion. One thing she forgot to do is her research as Roland’s first wife died mysteriously. Upon cleaning out the house Samira stumbles across wife #1 journals. I am totally a sucker for this and love the device of journals but this was just more telling . I think if wife #1 was more of a backstory then just something that was read I would be more invested.
While there a few twists that may shock some readers this plot I have read many times before and wasn’t shocking to me. But I do read this genre way to much so my shock meter may be on the low end. I think if you want a nice fast paced read with a few twists and aren’t familiar with this genre it will work
Samira stumbles into Roland while waitressing at an elite celebrity function and falls head over heals for the pro golfer. Quickie marriage ensues and she relocates across the country to his mansion. One thing she forgot to do is her research as Roland’s first wife died mysteriously. Upon cleaning out the house Samira stumbles across wife #1 journals. I am totally a sucker for this and love the device of journals but this was just more telling . I think if wife #1 was more of a backstory then just something that was read I would be more invested.
While there a few twists that may shock some readers this plot I have read many times before and wasn’t shocking to me. But I do read this genre way to much so my shock meter may be on the low end. I think if you want a nice fast paced read with a few twists and aren’t familiar with this genre it will work
June 14, 2022
Calling all Daphne Du Maurier fans! The Wife Before is a modern-day retelling of Rebecca with an added twist at the end. Shanora Williams' storytelling sucked me in and I loved this book! Rebecca is one of my favorite stories so I soaked up every character, every scene, every moment of suspicion and apprehension... it was great. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy and very happy to have found a new-to-me author with an extensive backlist. You'll know where I'll be if you need me!
Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and NetGalley for an advance listening copy of the audiobook edition narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee. Recommend!
Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books and NetGalley for an advance listening copy of the audiobook edition narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee. Recommend!
October 23, 2023
The Wife Before is such a clever thriller book. I have to admit, Miss Williams hit all the right spot for twist and turn. I have to keep guessing who is the culprit. And the ending... wow! I never knew it is that complicated.
It has been a while since I read Miss Williams book. I miss her books. This book reminds me to go buy her other books. Her writing is always tense and full of suspense.
The Wife Before is more thriller than romance.
5 stars
It has been a while since I read Miss Williams book. I miss her books. This book reminds me to go buy her other books. Her writing is always tense and full of suspense.
The Wife Before is more thriller than romance.
5 stars
July 13, 2022
The Wife Before gives you that rich feeling of glamour, suspense and mystery at first glance and you want nothing more than to dive into it head first. The aura of something tragic and deadly lurks through the pages after you finish reading the prologue and you only get more intrigued as the chapters slowly go by.
Samira Wilder has been down on her luck for the past few years but the one constant she has in her life is her older brother. Keeping a job is not one of her strong suits and if you were to ask anyone, they would tell you that she lacks focus and some more growing up to do. But all of that quickly changes when she has a chance encounter with the famous pro golfer Roland Graham.
Now married and living her most extravagant life, there is something that has been bothering Samira and she's not going to rest until she gets to the truth of what really happened to her husband’s first wife. Was it murder, an accident, or did something else happend to her?
I was really intrigued with this storyline and having read this author’s books plenty of times in the past, I felt like I was going to be left on the edge of my seat shocked and wanting so much more. Sadly that didn't happen and I guessed most of the plot twists early on. Some of the scenes dragged on and I was expecting a lot more suspense and thriller feel to this but I didn't get that. I also had a hard time connecting with the heroine and her flow of things just didn't do it for me.
If you’re looking for a light romantic suspense read, then you might want to give this one a try. What didn't really work for me, just might be the thing that you love.
May 24, 2022
4.5/5
If you’re anything like me when you read the synopsis for this you probably thought it sounded familiar. You would be wrong though and I was too, the author took a basic idea and put her own unique spin on it. I love thinking I have everything figured out in a book only to have the author knock me on my ass with a series of twists and turns and that’s exactly what happened here. This was super fast paced with short chapters that just beg you to keep reading and that’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next with these messy lives and I was hooked, there was definitely some juicy material here making this an ideal summer thriller. Definitely recommended as a weekend binge read, this was really addictive!
If you’re anything like me when you read the synopsis for this you probably thought it sounded familiar. You would be wrong though and I was too, the author took a basic idea and put her own unique spin on it. I love thinking I have everything figured out in a book only to have the author knock me on my ass with a series of twists and turns and that’s exactly what happened here. This was super fast paced with short chapters that just beg you to keep reading and that’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next with these messy lives and I was hooked, there was definitely some juicy material here making this an ideal summer thriller. Definitely recommended as a weekend binge read, this was really addictive!
May 6, 2022
OMG!! I couldn't put this book down, i feel like a fly caught in a web. The first line "He is going to kill me" piqued my interest instantly. Unraveling this mystery with Samira was great, the ending was unexpected.
August 11, 2022
My advice? Just read Rebecca.
Content/trigger warnings: death, drug abuse, infidelity, statutory rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, suicide
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Content/trigger warnings: death, drug abuse, infidelity, statutory rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, suicide
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter| TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
September 11, 2022
That went downhill fast. For such an addictive thriller I thought the reveal would be more exciting but nope, and that's a shame if you ask me.
I dare you not to get immediately sucked in: this author is so good at getting you hooked and at building unlikable characters in a way that you're drawn to them instead of being annoyed at their behavior. Samira, for example, is infuriatingly dumb but you still understand where she comes from and why she does what she does. Likewise, I was very interested in Roland's character and his questionable morality.
Another thing this author excels at (and I can say this with certainty, even having read only this one book by her) is pacing. This thriller is slow-paced and reveals are carefully peppered here and there, but it was impossible to be bothered by this fact because of the addictive nature of the mystery and the writing. Sometimes I wish more thrillers were written this way, instead of trying to constantly divert the reader with red herrings and details that don't matter so that the book is longer and the main twist is placed at the end.
The short chapters and the journals contributed to making this book so readable. I loved the journal entries (I guess I always love when a thriller has this element), although I admit they were missing something for me. Maybe they should have been darker.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it's the last chapters and the reveals that ruined a little of that enjoyment.
I dare you not to get immediately sucked in: this author is so good at getting you hooked and at building unlikable characters in a way that you're drawn to them instead of being annoyed at their behavior. Samira, for example, is infuriatingly dumb but you still understand where she comes from and why she does what she does. Likewise, I was very interested in Roland's character and his questionable morality.
Another thing this author excels at (and I can say this with certainty, even having read only this one book by her) is pacing. This thriller is slow-paced and reveals are carefully peppered here and there, but it was impossible to be bothered by this fact because of the addictive nature of the mystery and the writing. Sometimes I wish more thrillers were written this way, instead of trying to constantly divert the reader with red herrings and details that don't matter so that the book is longer and the main twist is placed at the end.
The short chapters and the journals contributed to making this book so readable. I loved the journal entries (I guess I always love when a thriller has this element), although I admit they were missing something for me. Maybe they should have been darker.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it's the last chapters and the reveals that ruined a little of that enjoyment.
June 8, 2022
Bite Into This Like The Poisonous Apple In Snow White! 😳😯🤯😳🤯🤯
Fluff Me Inside Out & Feed Me Chocolate! Yet another addictive page-turner by this fabulous suspense queen, Shanora! 😍 I read this like a deep, dirty secret I had to unveil, much like Samira with the journals she found. Think, Verity by Hoover colliding with The Wife Upstairs by McFadden and you get this undeniably golden nugget!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Samira is a young lady who just seems to have had bad luck after bad luck. And now, she's recently lost another job and to add salt to the wound, her brother Kell has cut her off from giving her extra money to help because of his fiancée and soon to come baby. Down on her luck, she takes a quick night waitressing job at a wealthy function to make some quick cash, but a hard night turns on a dime when a pro golfer, Roland, lays his eyes on her and chats her up. Very quickly they hit it off and start to date, and within months they end up married and living in his mansion in Colorado. But as Samira tries to make the house her home as well, she uncovers things from his ex-wife and will realize she should've heeded the warnings before about him from others and her conscience.
I haven't flown through a novel like this in a while and I could not tear my eyes away! I legit had to keep reading even as I held a yard bag for my dad to empty lawn clippings into. This was sensationally delish, dark, crazy and intense. It was like diving into a wedding cake before the couple way "I do". Gloriously juicy and the suspenseful thriller vibe was so real, it broke my meter!
Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for this ARC!
Release Date: June 28, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
Fluff Me Inside Out & Feed Me Chocolate! Yet another addictive page-turner by this fabulous suspense queen, Shanora! 😍 I read this like a deep, dirty secret I had to unveil, much like Samira with the journals she found. Think, Verity by Hoover colliding with The Wife Upstairs by McFadden and you get this undeniably golden nugget!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Samira is a young lady who just seems to have had bad luck after bad luck. And now, she's recently lost another job and to add salt to the wound, her brother Kell has cut her off from giving her extra money to help because of his fiancée and soon to come baby. Down on her luck, she takes a quick night waitressing job at a wealthy function to make some quick cash, but a hard night turns on a dime when a pro golfer, Roland, lays his eyes on her and chats her up. Very quickly they hit it off and start to date, and within months they end up married and living in his mansion in Colorado. But as Samira tries to make the house her home as well, she uncovers things from his ex-wife and will realize she should've heeded the warnings before about him from others and her conscience.
I haven't flown through a novel like this in a while and I could not tear my eyes away! I legit had to keep reading even as I held a yard bag for my dad to empty lawn clippings into. This was sensationally delish, dark, crazy and intense. It was like diving into a wedding cake before the couple way "I do". Gloriously juicy and the suspenseful thriller vibe was so real, it broke my meter!
Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for this ARC!
Release Date: June 28, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
July 27, 2022
I delayed writing a review, because I had so little I wanted to say about The Wife Before. I finished it, did not enjoy it, and wanted to be done with it. But NetGalley and Recorded Books were nice enough to give me a copy in exchange for an honest review, so let's get this over with.
The story was a retelling of Rebecca, but adds nothing good and cheats us of the nuances that made the OG so wonderful. Instead it gets pretty ridiculous, and by the end, suspension of disbelief is impossible. We get this big dump of information at the end, too much all at once, to outrageously wrap it all up, and I just thought, "Sure. Whatever. Why TF not?"
We all need a character to like, or at least to become invested in, if we're going to find a novel compelling. Samira, the new wife, is childish and selfish. Melanie, the wife from before, is manipulative and dishonest. The rest of the characters are pretty much cardboard. I found myself not caring what happened to any of them.
I received the audio version, and the narrator somehow forgot along the way to differentiate between characters, leaving the listener with a big "who's talking now?" question to deal with. When you're dealing with flashbacks, with two women in basically the same situation, having a way to know who's who is imperative.
Overall, I say give this one a pass. I wouldn't even recommend it as an easy beach read.
The story was a retelling of Rebecca, but adds nothing good and cheats us of the nuances that made the OG so wonderful. Instead it gets pretty ridiculous, and by the end, suspension of disbelief is impossible. We get this big dump of information at the end, too much all at once, to outrageously wrap it all up, and I just thought, "Sure. Whatever. Why TF not?"
We all need a character to like, or at least to become invested in, if we're going to find a novel compelling. Samira, the new wife, is childish and selfish. Melanie, the wife from before, is manipulative and dishonest. The rest of the characters are pretty much cardboard. I found myself not caring what happened to any of them.
I received the audio version, and the narrator somehow forgot along the way to differentiate between characters, leaving the listener with a big "who's talking now?" question to deal with. When you're dealing with flashbacks, with two women in basically the same situation, having a way to know who's who is imperative.
Overall, I say give this one a pass. I wouldn't even recommend it as an easy beach read.
April 27, 2022
I thought this book was pretty good, though it started slowly for me. The story centers on Samira, who is down on her luck when she meets rich and handsome pro golfer Roland, who sweeps her off her feet. Her brother uncovers some info that makes it look like there is more to the story of his first wife Melanie's death, and Samira then finds journals written by the first wife that seem to corrorobrate his story. Samira isn't sure who to trust. The story is told fully from Samira's POV, with Melanie's journal entries dispersed throughout.
I like a story with an unreliable narrator, which is what you get when Melanie's journal entries don't necessarily match up to the story that Roland paints. That being said, I found myself regularly frustrated with Samira for jumping to conclusions instead of just talking to Roland (or others) to learn more about the events of the past. Most of the action happens in the last few chapters of the book, but I did feel that it tied up the loose ends nicely and provided a couple surprises.
Overall, decent book but I ideally hoped for a little more action as well as a little more connection to the main character. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I like a story with an unreliable narrator, which is what you get when Melanie's journal entries don't necessarily match up to the story that Roland paints. That being said, I found myself regularly frustrated with Samira for jumping to conclusions instead of just talking to Roland (or others) to learn more about the events of the past. Most of the action happens in the last few chapters of the book, but I did feel that it tied up the loose ends nicely and provided a couple surprises.
Overall, decent book but I ideally hoped for a little more action as well as a little more connection to the main character. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2023
Oh I get so sad when I don't like a book that much.
the book was ok. not bad, not amazing. just ok.
it was slow burning, slow paced, gripping at times but... i didn't care a bit about the characters. just not my cup of tea at all. so I prefer say nothing more.
thanks to Netgalley for providing my copy.
the book was ok. not bad, not amazing. just ok.
it was slow burning, slow paced, gripping at times but... i didn't care a bit about the characters. just not my cup of tea at all. so I prefer say nothing more.
thanks to Netgalley for providing my copy.
June 17, 2022
I’m going to keep this super short. This was not the book for me. The characters, particularly the main one, were so cringy and the story was so predictable and overdone. It was one that’s been done over and over and this one didn’t bring anything new to the table.
And the narrator. Oh my stars. I wanted to DNF it so many times just because of how awful she was. I will make sure to avoid any future books she is on.
I’m sure loads of people will enjoy this, but I am not one.
Thanks to Dafina Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
And the narrator. Oh my stars. I wanted to DNF it so many times just because of how awful she was. I will make sure to avoid any future books she is on.
I’m sure loads of people will enjoy this, but I am not one.
Thanks to Dafina Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
October 31, 2023
October Book Club Selection
The story was interesting. It definitely kept my attention, and it was a good conversation piece. However, for me, the characters were weak and not fully developed. The narrator and the characters' language on audio were distasteful and a turn-off.
No shade to the author, just not a good read for me.
The story gave me Verity, (Co-Ho) vibes. There is no specific closure.
Just tell the whole story and stop with the guessing games. So over it!!
What, Who, Where, and Why!!
The story was interesting. It definitely kept my attention, and it was a good conversation piece. However, for me, the characters were weak and not fully developed. The narrator and the characters' language on audio were distasteful and a turn-off.
No shade to the author, just not a good read for me.
The story gave me Verity, (Co-Ho) vibes. There is no specific closure.
Just tell the whole story and stop with the guessing games. So over it!!
What, Who, Where, and Why!!
March 9, 2024
I REALLY enjoyed this one. Such a perfect popcorn thriller that it took me 2 sittings to finish (would’ve been 1 sitting, but, mom life). I didn’t find myself rooting for any of the characters but I tend to love that when it comes to domestic thrillers 😂.
My one complaint - there’s a very quick but short spoiler in here for The Perfect Ruin. I think if we’re supposed to read this in order of publication, that should be stated.
My one complaint - there’s a very quick but short spoiler in here for The Perfect Ruin. I think if we’re supposed to read this in order of publication, that should be stated.
September 28, 2022
This book got so much hype, I had to read it, right? The prologue had me super intrigued… and then… that was it. It took everything l had in me to not DNF this one.
The one positive, the chapters were short, which made for a fairly quick read.
The negatives:
The writing was very juvenile.
The characters lacked any and all development. Like hey we met and fell in love, but we don’t know anything about each other. I don’t even know if this guy did or didn’t murder his wife!? But it’s fine. Marry away.
And don’t get me started on the main character. Loathed her. 28 years old and no job! And mooching off your brother! Then getting mad that your brother can’t give you handouts anymore because he’s getting married and having a baby and wants to save HIS money to help HIS family.
The number of times the word mansion was used to describe the home. We get it. The guy had a mansion! But I highly doubt most well todo folks talk about their homes as mansions. Mansion mansion mansion!
The cussing… why? So unnecessary
The journal entries full of dialogue? Who writes like that? Or the fact they were found in the open, but then it became so necessary to hide them? I didn’t understand that at all.
I could go on and on… 100% do not recommend.
The one positive, the chapters were short, which made for a fairly quick read.
The negatives:
The writing was very juvenile.
The characters lacked any and all development. Like hey we met and fell in love, but we don’t know anything about each other. I don’t even know if this guy did or didn’t murder his wife!? But it’s fine. Marry away.
And don’t get me started on the main character. Loathed her. 28 years old and no job! And mooching off your brother! Then getting mad that your brother can’t give you handouts anymore because he’s getting married and having a baby and wants to save HIS money to help HIS family.
The number of times the word mansion was used to describe the home. We get it. The guy had a mansion! But I highly doubt most well todo folks talk about their homes as mansions. Mansion mansion mansion!
The cussing… why? So unnecessary
The journal entries full of dialogue? Who writes like that? Or the fact they were found in the open, but then it became so necessary to hide them? I didn’t understand that at all.
I could go on and on… 100% do not recommend.
June 16, 2022
I picked this book off the NetGalley Review shelves because it claimed to have Rebecca vibes (I can't pass up a chance to visit the gothic!), and I was intrigued by the plot, which became quite twisty and unpredictable. For most of the story I was thinking--oh no, it's Bluebeard Bluebeard!--but I'm glad the author reached for other threads, and I was entertained.
Were there problematic tropes of excusing domestic abuse? Yes. The author addresses these at the end of the book. I appreciated the perspective and what she hoped to accomplish in this book. I'm not sure I would read a sequel, but I would read more books by this author in the future!
File Under: Tiger Woods Meets a Waitress After a Scandal and....
Were there problematic tropes of excusing domestic abuse? Yes. The author addresses these at the end of the book. I appreciated the perspective and what she hoped to accomplish in this book. I'm not sure I would read a sequel, but I would read more books by this author in the future!
File Under: Tiger Woods Meets a Waitress After a Scandal and....
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