wow!!! an absolute page turner of a thriller! i read this in 2 sittings! an absolute must read for this year.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Newly married Natasha has the perfect house, a loving husband and a beautiful little girl called Emily. She’d have it all if it wasn’t for Jen, her husband’s ex-wife who just won’t leave them alone …

Then Nick and Emily disappear. Natasha turns to Jen, Nick's ex to get help. But can she trust Jen? I really loved this book until the very last page. It leaves you hanging, You don't really know what is going to happen, so I am not sure if this is the first book of a series. If it is ok, if not then the ending sucks.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not a big fan of narratives told from different perspectives, particularly when there are also "thens" and "nows". Part One of this book is told by Natasha "then" and Anna "now". Part Two is told by Natasha "then" and "now", Jennerifer "then" and "now" and Anna "now". Whilst reading Anna's story I thought I'd got very confused, but then everything clicked into place.
This story told a very twisty tale, making it difficult to put down, consequently I read it in half the time I usually take to read a book.
The ending was a little unsettling as it was left open - possibly for a sequel, although I'm not quite sure where that would go, but who knows......
In a nutshell - an intricate and intriguing plot that kept me rapidly turning the pages right to the very end.

What a twisty, memorable ride this turned out to be! The story begins with an intriguing prologue set in a hospital. The plot then unravels through alternating chapters narrated by Natasha and Anna. Natasha has a wonderful marriage and lives a life of luxury with her husband, Nick and daughter, Emily. The only issue with her picture-perfect marriage is Jen, Nick’s ex-wife, who seems to be in their lives a bit too much. Naturally, Natasha is not too pleased about this. Things take a nastier turn when Nick and Emily disappear. The second narration tells the story of a woman on the run. We don’t get to know much about Anna until later in the story. However, it was easy to feel the tension in her story. I kept wondering who was after her and why.

This story is very well narrated. It is captivating and full of surprises. The plot is masterfully developed and so were the characters. I had some clear favorites from the first page. However, my feelings about other characters kept changing with each new chapter. Not knowing what would happen next is what I enjoyed most in this story. I couldn’t predict any of the twists and I love the fact that the author just kept them coming.

With a fast pace, complex characters and well executed twists, this ended up being quite an enjoyable, addictive read. I finished reading this book yesterday but I am still thinking about the reveals. I definitely recommend this to fans of this genre. What a brilliant, riveting, psychological thriller!

It's an OK book. Not good, but OK.

It's well written and engaging. It's just that the plot - though I guess that's sort of clear from the synopsis as well - is nothing new. The twists and the story itself reads as something been-there-read-that and because of that I was missing the WOW moment to call this book awesome.

It's a bit towards commercial-some-things-too-far-fetched-for-realistic-imagination as well, if you like that sort of thing.

I would recommend it to thriller seekers who don't read more than a dozen books a year and are looking for a twisty, slightly horrifying tale involving marital lies - and that's up many people's ally.

Thank for NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A twisty novel of suspense that will make you question everyone!!

Wow, what a read!! This was my first novel by Jess Ryder and as soon as I finished I added her previous two to my Amazon cart because I am so excited about this book. Jess has an incredible gift with story telling, and so I looked her up to learn a bit more about her. Jess Ryder the author is actually a pseudonym for Jan Page, a screenwriter, television producer, and novelist. I do think that explains her gift with crafting a good psychological thriller—it isn’t so different from how television producers and screenwriters create the elements that guide the viewer through the story they want to tell.

About the Book

Natasha is a barista struggling to make ends meet, when she is struck by a car with a handsome businessman driving it while biking to work. After a whirlwind courtship, Natasha and Nick are married and have a beautiful daughter named Emily. Natasha is so happy being a mother. In fact, everything would be perfect if it weren’t for Nick’s ex-wife, Jen. Nick is patient with Jen, and Natasha lets him be because her and Nick’s relationship is strong and stable.

And then one day, Nick leaves to take Emily to daycare while Natasha has a lie-in. When Natasha goes to pick up Emily from daycare, she discovers that Emily never showed up. Frantically, Natasha runs home, calling local hospitals. But when she arrives home, she notices something unexpected—all of Nick and Emily’s things have been packed up and taken from the home.

Natasha is struck by confusion, grief, and anger. She doesn’t know how to reach Nick, but she has an idea. Swallowing her pride, Natasha reaches out to the one person she thought she’d never need anything from—Jen. After everything that has happened, can Natasha really trust Jen? And does she have a choice?

Reflection

Can you imagine how crazy that would drive you??? To come home and realize your husband has disappeared with your daughter, and you had no idea it was going to happen. The lack of answers and closure alone (aside from missing your daughter and husband) would honestly drive me mad! I felt infuriated on Natasha’s behalf during this sequence.

I loved the way Jess used the present story of “Anna” on the run to counterbalance where we were at in the main story. We know SOMETHING happened that led to a life on the run, but getting there is the fun part.

Jess has a gift with plot structures and twists. I was confused as to what was going on for about the first 30% of the book, but by 40% the book was just mind-blowing twist layered upon lies layered upon story developments. I was captivated! I was actually reading Jess’s blog and she has a fascinating piece about writing twists in psychological thrillers.

In her own words:

“I’d describe [twists] as the deliberate misleading of the reader, encouraging them to make false assumptions and draw wrong conclusions about the narrator/s, the plot, the identity of the characters, their motivations and ambition, or how they are connected to each other. As the book progresses, the reader creates a fictional world in their own imagination and then, at a time of their choosing, the writer brings it crashing down.”

I’d never thought of a twist as a way of the author misleading of us! Of course, that is absolutely what a twist is. But what an interesting way of manipulating our imaginations. To help us create a richer backstory through subtle clues, only to then tear that apart with a simple shift in perspective or additional detail—one small missing piece of the puzzle with enormous implications. I loved this description!!!

I will be reading more from Jess Ryder, and I hope other readers find her book as captivating as I did!

Thank you to Bookouture, Jess Ryder, and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love psychological thrillers and novels filled with suspense--particularly those with unreliable or suspicious female narrators. Thankfully, I've seen a rise in popularity in the genre in the last two years and The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder certainly falls into that category!

Officially being released in three days (grab your Kindle copy for only $2.99!), Ex-Wife follows Natasha, the "other woman" turned wife, as she navigates her relationship with her husband, her daughter...and her husband's annoyingly needy ex-wife, Jen. Told as a split narrative--using Natasha's and a mysterious character Anna's perspectives--the story largely follows Natasha after she one day discovers both her husband and daughter missing, her bank accounts are closed off and she's been locked out of her house. Using unlikely allies and resources, Natasha is on the relenting quest to get her daughter back safely. 

I haven't read Jess Ryder's work before, but promptly added her two other suspense novels to my Goodreads "to-read" list. The story definitely had me guessing along the way, as we discover who Natasha can trust and who's to blame for her family's sudden disappearance. Without giving any spoilers, I did have a sneaking suspicion that one of the major plot twists was about to happen--but ultimately still enjoyed the novel. Beyond just a good story, readers get to explore the theme of forgiveness--of others and of yourself. Additionally, Ex-Wife gives perpetual suspense-readers something that we rarely, if ever, get--a first-hand glimpse into a supposed villain's thoughts and motivations. Finally, Ryder somehow manages to deliver an ending that is both satisfying and also a bit menacing...with maybe the ever so slightest hint at potential for a sequel?

Compelling plot + crazy ex-wife + new wife (formerly the mistress) + perfect (or controlling?) husband + adorable toddler = one heck of an emotionally charged wild ride! Very few characters in this book are who they initially seem to be. Though, some of them are – so how do you know who to trust? The answer: you don’t.

There was one moment in The Ex-Wife where I got actual goosebumps and said, “NO WAY!” out loud! Some of the plot twists were frustrating because I wanted Natasha, the current wife, to think what I was thinking and not do the thing she was going to do, but there were some that threw me off completely.

The ending almost led me to believe there could be a sequel or continuation of this book in the future, however I think it was just the perfect mix of ambiguity that the ending to a thriller should have. It’s not a complete cliffhanger; while it does leave you with questions, it’s satisfyingly done.

This was the first book of Jess Ryder’s that I have read, but it will certainly not be the last!

Thank you to the author & publisher who provided an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! An amazing, wonderfully twisted, roller-coaster of a story that had me glued to the pages. A story that has stayed with me, masterfully written, the tension ratcheting up, making you so involved in the lives(and deaths) of the characters that you are disorientated when you get back to reality. Brilliant! One of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read!

This is definitely the best psychological thriller that I’ve read this year. It’s a true page turner with lots of twists. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed every page.
I’m giving it a huge 5 stars and would highly recommend to anyone.

I love the mystery and anticipation when starting a new book and a new author, it's like entering a new world of unknowns. I really enjoyed this book from the start, we meet Natasha who is a young lost soul trying to find her way in life but not doing very well, she meets the charming rich and handsome Nick when he happens to knock her off her bike, Nick is however married to Jen but soon Nick and Natasha begin to have an affair which results in Natasha falling pregnant and Nick leaving Jen to marry Natasha, we then hear from Jens side of the story. I really enjoyed the start and felt I had an inclination to whom Anna is but I couldn't have been more wrong so that was a pleasant surprise, however half way through I found it somewhat unrealistic although I know it's only a fictional world I became a bit bored of jumping from Natasha to Anna to Jen, the ending left me unsatisfied also... what happened to Jen? Was she still on Nicks side? Did Nick ever make it out of hospital I also couldn't stand Jens neediness and desperation, I enjoyed Jess Ryder's writing style it reminded me of my favourite author Shalini boland but I just found the story to be a bit drawn out with a confusing ending. Thank you to netgalley for my copy for an exchange for an honest review.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read.. The story is a masterpiece, the characters are brilliant with lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. This book will stay with me for a very long time.

Buckle up, readers! Jess Ryder takes you on an epic ride of gut-wrenching, intruiging and mind-boggling proportions with “The Ex-Wife”.

Nick and Jen are happily married; or are they? Natasha’s and Nick’s fateful encounter on the streets of London puts an end to that marriage as their affair turns into a pregnancy. Why won’t Jen accept that her marriage is over? She keeps showing up, worming her way into their lives, their home and family gatherings. Why doesn’t Nick tell her to bugger off? Ohhhh, I was so angry for Natasha.

This story is told from the then and now perspective of Natasha, Jen and Anna. Who is Anna? Yes, my guess was wrong. At times, this POV can be confusing, however, I found that it flowed perfectly as the story unfolded.

Ryder will keep you guessing, keep your heart pounding, keep you turning those pages as fast as you can devour the words. Just wait till the final scene... you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you, NetGalley for the free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

You will probably fly through this one in a half a day. This fast paced rollercoaster of a psychological thriller will have you at the edge of your seat.
A perfect life literally ran into Natasha aka Tasha when millionaire stud man, Nick aka Nicky (referred to only by Jen) smashes his car into her on her way home from work one day. So... THAT'S a relationship red ⛳️! Anyway, life is just Hunkey Dorey with her posh house, posh husband, and her beautiful daughter. Except for Jen! Ugh she's so annoying (as every stereotypical ex-wife would be). She's always... there, pushing her way into their family life, calling him "Nicky"! 'Nicky, Nicky, Nicky' (gag) Nick doesn't help though. He's always giving her the time of day! Well it seems Natasha does what she can to tolerate it all until one day... 
Her world comes crashing down. Everything she knew about her life is rubbish, garbage, dust, gone! After she discovers that her husband might not be who she thinks he is, his ex may be more bat shit crazy than she thought, and there may be others she can't trust to tell her the truth, she has to learn to toughen up and trust no one. Her daughter is her number one priority and she'll stop at nothing to get her back! 
I'm actually sweating as I type this review. It had my heart pounding and feathers ruffled! I believe any lover of psychological thrillers would agree... this is definitely another 5⭐️ book by the wonderful Jess Ryder! 
Thanks Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for our honest review! Honestly... is a definite must read!

Natasha is happily married, with a loving husband and a beautiful baby girl. The problem is that her husband's ex-wife Jen is still part of his life. Natasha is coping with that difficult dynamic well enough, but truly falls apart when her husband and daughter are suddenly gone without a trace. Needless to say, her entire life falls apart. Her resources are now quite limited, and with no one to trust and to rely on, she enlists the aid of Jen.

This story is told from multiple viewpoints, including "then and now". While ordinarily this would bother me in a book, it was done quite well here, and lent quite well to covering the twists and turns in this captivating story. Ultimately, this is a story about secrets.This dark, chilling story truly kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a true psychological thriller. The ending was truly a shock. I definitely am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Date of publication: June 5, 2018

4 STARS

First of all, I love when the husband is psychotic. BUT Natasha magically gets the life she's always dreamed up; rich older husband, and a baby girl. Although she can't seem to get rid of his ex wife Jen. Jen had me so angry at many points at the beginning of this book, oh i love how the author could get my emotions that high! I even wanted her GONE!

When Natasha learns from her husbands driver, Sam, that he has been going to Jen's house late at night when he is supposed to be on business meetings Natasha realizes she needs to leave (which she does with little emotion?? girl power) BUTTTTT a huge twist comes into play before that happens!

Anna's character is one that will REALLY shock you once you find out how she comes into play. I liked the tie in with her. The ending of the book was a little thrown together for me. I wish the final scenes were explained a bit more, I wouldn't have even minded it being a little longer because of that! Hayley, Nick's sister, was such an evil character oh my gosh I despised her. Kudos to the author for having such well developed characters!!!

Easy read with plenty of twists and turns but just too far fetched for me to really enjoy it. I do think it will be a popular summer read though.

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book in 24 hours. Once I started it, I could not put it down. I really liked the way the story unfolded. It started with someone in an apparent coma and you don't know who that is, then most of the book is in flashbacks from Natasha, the current wife and then later from the ex-wife Jen. Meanwhile, someone named Anna is in hiding and is worried about her safety in current day. All this could have been confusing but it wasn't at all because it was well written. Knowing that someone was on the run and in fear for their lives made the flashbacks all the more suspenseful because you want to know who is in hiding and from what. It was also really difficult to tell who could be trusted and who couldn't be, which further added to the suspense. The pacing was great and I never got bored with the story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

After I finished this book, I gave it a standing ovation.

Brilliant, twisty, twisted. Ms Ryder, you really know how to mess with our heads! When Part 1 ended, I screamed "WHAAAAT? ARE YOU SURE?"
The whole book was like this - full speed ahead twists and turns on the windiest street in the dead of night. In a rain storm. When you can't see where you are going and you just hope you don't drive off the cliff. Yep. That was this book for me.

I love when a book tricks me. I was waiting to turn to a page and find a note from the author that said " HA GOT YA AGAIN" in blood red ink. The Ex-Wife was psycho, creepy, and awesome. Brilliant.
I am not going to give any cliff notes on this book because you need to read it and see for yourself. Trust me, please.

Thank you so much #Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my free ARC in return for my honest review.
My review: ALL THE STARS!!

My head is still spinning after that roller coaster of a ride that Jess Ryder has just taken me on! Seriously, it was fantastic!

This' is the story of Nick and his current wife Natasha and their child Emily. Nick was formally married to Jen, who is still everywhere in their lives. Then one day Nick and Emily go missing without a trace. Can Natasha trust Jen to help her find her daughter.?

This is one twisty story that will have you thinking you know what happened and then bam! Told from alternate viewpoints this is such a fantastic story that you will be addicted to. You just have to know what happened, how and why. So many lies, cheating and trust issues!

Thanks. To Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions