3.25-3.5 STARS

Boasting an intriguing premise, I was beyond excited to delve between the pages of “The Exes’ Revenge.” But as promising as this premise is, it ultimately fell short of my lofty expectations. While I like the concept of three women seeking revenge on their ex, the story lacked any real suspense, causing it to drag. Still, the story does have its merits.

Ridiculously over-the-top, this reads a bit like a soap opera--unrealistic, but addictive just the same.

This was a terrific ride... Just think- a man who has taken advantage of women and those women cross paths and decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. There is a thriller element as well as in depth looks at abuse, cheating heart and learning about yourself.

The Exe's Revenge  by Jo Jakeman is an interesting debut thriller.  "Originally titled Sticks and Stones". Ruby, Imogen,  and Naomi

A wickedly dark debut thriller about three women....

Ruby, Imogen,  and Naomi, all three have been involved with the same man,  Phillip Rochester, who was abusive and controlling. The one thing all three have in common, they revenge against him. 

A dark and emotional thriller that deals with sensitive issues, domestic violence,  abuse,  secrets, some dark humor, wit, sadness,  and the coming together of three women who become free from their abusive, policeman husband/boyfriend and find a solidarity. Think of the "9 to 5: movie years ago. Traumatic and compelling.  "The Exe's Revenge" may not compel to all readers,  I found it to be an interesting story, usual and a bit unpredictable.  #NetGalley, #TheExesRevenge, #JoJakeman,

 

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however,  these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

 

 

Rating: 4

Heat rating: mild 

Reviewer: AprilR

This is an emotional, psychological thriller. Three women, 2 wives, and a girlfriend, are forced to show an abuse husband/boyfriend exactly how fed up they are with him. The first wife has her blinders on, the second has a son with the abuser, and the third wants to marry him. From the very beginning, I wasn’t sure who I could trust. While there is never any excuse for abuse I felt like there should be more to the story. There had to be another side to Phillip and the three woman’s story. Boy, did I learn that story.

The Exe’s Revenge is unique in that you know from the very beginning that Phillip dies, that is how the book starts. Now, you have to read the rest of the story to find out the why, when, and how of his death. It is not quite as you would expect. There were the hard parts, the physical abuse parts, but there was also a little bit of dark humor, friendships formed, trust gained or lost, and twists that I didn’t see coming.

I have no doubt that this will not be a book that everyone will enjoy. I personally really liked it. I was pulled in, had to keep reading, and actually just recommending it to a book club group.

Phillip Rochester is dead. Attending his funeral are his first wife, Ruby, his current wife, Imogen, and his girlfriend, Naomi. His young son, Alistair, is at home.

Phillip was a police officer and a hard, selfish, mean, domineering man. He had abused all of the three women in his life and now they are so happy he is dead.

Philip was living with Naomi in a nice home but he had yet to finalize his divorce from Imogen because, of course, he wanted to cheat her out of everything he could before signing on the bottom line. Imogene had thought she truly loved him, but his abuse over the years has proven that divorcing him and getting him out of her life is her goal.

Naomi is realizing that she has made a mistake hooking up with Phillip. He treats her the same as every other woman. Naomi had been brought up in foster homes after her mother dumped her on her grandparents and took off. Shortly after, her grandparents died and Naomi is lost in the foster care system.

Ruby is a vet and loves her dogs. She always thought that with lots of love she could change Phillip. But, by now, we know Phillip.

When Imogen refuses to roll over and cave into his demands for a divorce that leaves him with everything, things get really nasty. That’s when all three women decide to take matters into their own hands to show him who really has the upper hand…or do they?

This is a really good story. There are some funny parts, some sad parts, and some violent parts that made me cringe. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but it’s one you don’t want to miss. Ah, but revenge is sweet. This is an all-around well-written book. I would even like to see it made into a movie. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Phillip Rochester, a cheater, manipulative man who does not mind humiliating, blackmailing, and betraying anyone to get what he wants, and that includes the women he had in his life.

When he wanted the divorce, he blackmailed his wife. And because of an accident that occurs with him, she - Imogen - gets the time to reverse this situation.
The strange thing is that she has the help of two other women: his ex and his current girlfriend.

Mystery, thriller and comedy, all in one story.
No connection with the caracters.
3 stars

If you’re looking for a suspenseful, cat and mouse thriller with a thoroughly despicable villain and resourceful protagonist(s), look no further. This book took me by surprise, because it went in directions that I did not expect. It starts at the end, and then tells the backstory that leads up to that event. Within that backstory, there are further flashbacks that explore deeper character motivations. While this may sound like it’s confusing, it really isn’t. Each chapter is labeled with a time stamp that shows the reader exactly where they are in the full story. This was unique, because it allowed the backstories of the far past to be interspersed with the immediate action without making it seem like it was jumping all over the place. The growth of the characters was natural, not contrived. The villain was just evil personified; this was chill-inducing because it was realistic. There are (unfortunately) people like this in society. The cat and mouse aspect was extremely well-done, and the feeling of claustrophobia that it induced at times is exactly what I love in a good thriller. It is difficult to give a review of a psych thriller, because it’s better that a reader go in with as little info as possible. I will say that the subject matter may be difficult for some people dependent on their life experiences (it didn’t bother me). This was a well-paced, hard to put down book, and I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book entertaining, but not a stunner. Exes’ out for revenge meet the women of 9 to 5 (without the humor). At the beginning the storyline felt believable, but quickly became unrealistic. That did not take away from the entertainment value, but just made it a fun, beach type read for me.

The Exes' Revenge is a tale of three women, Imogen, Ruby and Naomi, married, divorced or involved with Phillip Rochester. Ruby was his first wife. More mother to him due to her age, they have stayed friendly and involved in each other's lives since the divorce. She thinks he can't do anything wrong. Imogen is her current wife, although they are separated and going through a contested divorce. They have a son together, and a violent history. Naomi is the new girlfriend, who caused Phillip to leave Imogen. She is young, from a broken home, and believes her offers her something she's never had before, a stable home. Imogen and Phillip fight and he ends up locked in her basement. She unknowingly involves the other women in her plan to see that she (and now they) all get what is fair and just. Phillip has never been one to sit back ad let things happen and he retaliates. But how far will both sides go to get revenge?

Suspenseful, engaging, and funny, this book keep me on my toes guessing what would happen next. Every time I thought it couldn't surprise me more, it did. I loved the story and the writing. It was definitely a page turner that kept me up past my bedtime a few nights.

I received an advanced copy for review. My opinions are all my own.

I enjoyed this book very much! I love how three woman were envolved and how their stories all unfolded! Very good book!

Imogen, Ruby and Naomi have one thing in common: Phillip, the man they all fell in love with. Imogen's love for Phillip has been over for a long time and she is finally getting the divorce and freedom she's been waiting for. Until Phillip threatens to get the house and the custody of their six-year-old son. Desperate and ready to do anything to protect her son, Imogen does the unthinkable. And when Ruby, Phillip's first ex-wife, and Naomi, his new girlfriend, get involved, things quickly spiral out of control. How far will these women go to get their revenge and finally be free of the man they once all loved?
The beginning was a bit slow, but as I kept reading I was soon captivated by Imogen's story and found myself reading late at night to see how the story would end. The three women at the centre of the story are well-developed, flawed, and completely different from each other. Their relationship is complicated, but circumstances and needs bring them together and it was fascinating watching them learning to trust each other.
Jo Jakeman's writing is clear and captivating and she deftly writes about complex themes such as domestic violence, abuse and loss. This is a dark and compelling debut thriller that will keep you glued to the page.

This debut thriller had so much potential, and all the elements are there. The problem is that those elements are taken to the extreme at times. The story started off well enough, if a bit different than the norm. We know some key points from the get go, and the book then goes on to give us the details. For about the first third of the book, it was interesting and had me asking all the right questions. However, from there, it starts to spiral and the further it goes, the less believable it becomes. There are some interesting twists along the way - some of which were a little too easy to see coming, but even those did keep me reading to see if I was right. There were also some things in the last part of the book that had me scratching my head. Phillip was already unlikable and the exes had plenty of reason to want revenge, so I didn't understand the need for extra layers of badness. For me, that part took away from the story more than anything else, and caused the last part of the book to be somewhat messy. Nevertheless, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. Had the story been tightened up a bit and not gone so far over the top, it would've been a much more entertaining read. As it stands, it ended up being just a middle of the road read for me.

The book begins with the funeral of Philip Rochester, decorated police officer. But that is only a façade. Philip is cruel, manipulative, cheater and all around jerk. Philips’s death is investigated and his police buddies treat this as a murder of a great guy. His wife Imogen who he was in the process of divorcing was facing the loss of custody of her only child. Also involved with Philip is his ex-wife Ruby, who can’t seem to accept that they are divorced. Waiting in the wings is Naomi, young and beautiful and ready to become wife #3. When the women get together and compare notes they become bonded over getting revenge on Philip. I enjoyed all the twists and turns in this book and delighted in their revenge of this man with no redeeming qualities as far as I can tell.

Will also be reviewed on Kobo & B&N under the name IrishEyes430 as well as the links provided.

“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell no fury like a women scorned.”
Willam Congreve

Phillip has been abusing women and power almost his whole life. Ruby, his first wife, makes excuses, till his true colors come out. Imogene has been cast aside for his newest fling. She’s still mourning the loss of her first child and is a doting mother to their son. Naomi is Phillip’s current fling and she’s finding out what a mistake it is. Until one day events put these 3 women together and they cannot left Phillip get away with one more punch.

This book delves in Domestic Abuse. It’s upsetting to read about. As frustrating as it is to understand why women stay, the author does a great job explaining how men like this can take control over women’s lives, and prey on certain types.

This books starts and ends at a funeral, and then gives you the backstory. You will simultaneously cheer and jeer these women. You will find out how an abuser can work his game, until he can’t.

Well written, dark situations, vivid details. Look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and the Author for this read!

This will pull you right in and have you turning pages even though you know the ending at the beginning- sort of. Phil is just horrible. Horrible. Imogen is his second wife- he left her for Naomi-and he hasn't signed the divorce papers but NOW he wants them done asap AND he wants her and their son out of their home. Ruby was his first wife; Imogen never liked her and she doesn't trust her. These three- Imogen, Naomi, and Ruby find themselves in an odd and awful situation when Imogen gives into an impulse and first cuffs Phil and then locks him in the basement (don't feel sympathetic to him.). They make a number of mistakes which result in him getting loose and things escalate. A lot. There's a lot of unpleasantries in this but it's so darn readable that I kept reading it. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is incredibly plot driven and it would be perfect for travel.

Imogen and Phillip are getting divorced. They are both done with their marriage, but Phillip is making things more difficult with his controlling and abusive attitude. For one, Phillip is demanding Imogen and their son move out of the house by the end of the month, and every time she says no to his demands, Phillip threatens to sue for sole custody of their child. Imogen is frustrated and threatened with Phillip's behavior, so much so, that she finally snaps when Phillip shows up unexpectedly at the house one night. When Phillip's new girlfriend and his ex-wife also show up unexpectedly, things get even more complicated.

Told from Imogen's point of view as she tries to deal with a controlling husband and a messy divorce. Imogen, frankly, seems a bit of a doormat. Until she's not. She has been in an abusive marriage for years, but never felt she could do anything about it. Phillip is the abusive husband, and while he's occasionally physically abusive, he's always controlling and threatening. He's the kind of character readers love to hate. The other women in Phillip's life are his girlfriend, Naomi, and his ex-wife, Ruby. Naomi is young and beautiful, so, of course, Imogen hates her, even though she's happy to finally be rid of Phillip. As Imogen gets to know Naomi a little better though, she learns all is not perfect in her and Phillip's relationship either. Lastly, Ruby. The ex-wife and staunch supporter of Phillip.

I love a good revenge story, and this one seemed to have the right mix - three wronged women (wife, girlfriend, and ex-wife) and one narcissistic jerk. This was an entertaining read, but not what I was expecting. Each woman has a different history with Phillip, and each woman has a different issue with him. Plus, Phillip has things happening in his life that the women aren't even aware of. This makes for a story that is all over the place. While it starts out somewhat believable, it gets more outlandish as even more things happen.

With dark humor and some crazy situations, this is a fast-paced, fun read. Entertaining, suspenseful, and twisty.

I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Exes’ Revenge is an excellent little thriller about three women who unlikely come together to make their ex pay for everything he’s done. The main character, Imogen, has been separated from Philip for years and they are in the process of finalizing their divorce when he tells her he wants her and their son out of their house by the end of the month. Philip left Imogen for his current girlfriend, Naomi, a woman with a sad past and seemingly dull brain. Then there’s Ruby, Philip’s ex-wife. Philip left her for Imogen years ago, but she is still in his life and supporting him and his terrible behavior.

A situation (that I was NOT expecting) arises that causes the three women to band together and make Philip pay for the horrible things he’s done and continues to do. Without saying more about the plot, I have to confess that it went in directions I didn’t see coming, and the suspense kept building, then simmering a bit, then building again. The character development is so well written and you really start to care about these women who become unlikely allies with the same mission. I have to say I was sad when the story ended because I wanted to know more about what happened after the events in the book.

I would highly recommend this to fans of suspense and unexpected twists.

Thank you to author Jo Jakeman, Berkley Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Phillip Rochester, “three” was more a curse than a charm as the controlling and abusive monster finally meets his match. Imogen had been beaten down in their marriage and now Phillip was giving it to her on the chin in their divorce. There is strength in numbers and Imogen will find that she has allies in the most unlikely places against Phillip as his ex-wife and his current girlfriend join forces in a twisted and deadly game of revenge. Will they prove that revenge can be oh so sweet or should they take the high road of forgiveness?

THE EXES’ REVENGE by Jo Jakeman is a devilishly devious thriller that has twists one cannot see coming, events that are as darkly humorous as they are frighteningly too realistic.

Well-written and engaging in a slightly sinister way, this is human nature at its most offensive and human response at its most daring.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!

Publisher: Berkley (September 11, 2018)
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Genre: Suspense
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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“””I had been so unhappy for so long that it had been preferable to feeling nothing at all than to be in wounded anew every day. This new brand of hatred demolished the wall and I could see a light shining some way off”””

“””it felt like I was wearing someone else’s clothes and they were rough and heavy on my shoulders”””

Three exes brought together against their one thing in common....wanting revenge against Phillip. The first, his first love. The second, mother of his child. The third, his new gf who finally met his true inner demons. What unfolds is brilliant revenge. Admit it, we all know someone who wishes this upon someone, be it the aggressor or the victim. I loved this fast paced, couldn’t put it down until I knew how it would unfold, domestic thriller debut and look forward to seeing more Jo Jakeman novels.

***spoiler—the bra scene??? Brilliant!!! But intense, but admit it, hilarious.

Wow - what a debut novel this is for author Jo Jackman. The villain is so very, very bad. Every time he appeared on a page, I wanted to punch him in the face. The suspense is crazy a real page turner that I stayed up late in the night savoring. Readers of suspense and thrillers, as well as haters of exes, will enjoy this book!