This is a modern thriller with a brilliant twist at the end. I did enjoy it but could easily predict the storyline.

I really enjoyed this book. So twisted and suspenseful. I will read more by this author. 5 stars for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I have never read anything by Laura Elliot before purely because her titles haven't grabbed me in the past. I liked the synopsis of this book and was excited when I was approved to review it.

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this story almost from the outset. It was obvious within a few pages how the story was going to play out and I was just amazed at how dumb and gullible our protagonist was. I continued to feel this way with every stupid decision she made through the story.

The ending was predictable, but this could have been forgiven if it had been executed in a way which set it apart from every other domestic psychological thriller which has been released in the last three years.

The Wife Before Me – Laura Elliot

This is the first novel from this author that I’ve read I really enjoyed it. I plan on reading more from her, in fact I downloaded The Stolen Child and it’s on my to be read pile. What I liked about it was that it was a quick read and sometimes that’s just the way I like a book to be.

All it took was a look to change Elena Langdons life, a look across her mothers’ grave to see a small smile. That smile was from Nicholas Madison a handsome stranger when they get chatting they begin to bond over their shared grief. As they continue communicating by email and phone what comes next is a love affair. It was a little slushy for my taste but in all honesty I’m just not a romantic.

Two years earlier Nicholas was happily married to Amelia. Right from the off we are told Amelias story and how one day her car is found in the sea after sliding off Masons Pier but her body was never found.

Back to Elena, Elena and Nicholas have now had a commitment ceremony (unable to marry due to no body) and she has moved in to Woodbine (Nicholas’s home) ostensibly while they sell it and buy a forever family home. Although this is now her home there’s a room in the house that is locked, its Amelias room and no one is allowed in and she can’t understand why.

Over a brief period of time Elena changes without realising or maybe not wanting to she has begun to morph into Amelia. As does Nicholas as initially he’s a compassionate caring man but becomes different and I’ll leave that there. Elena begins to realise that things aren’t, and they appear never more so than when she finds the corner of a ripped page. What she reads on that paper more or less sets us off at a gallop to the conclusion of the novel.

One of the things I liked (possibly not the right word) was that the author chose quite a difficult topic to talk about. There’s absolutely no glamorisation of the manipulation by one of the main protagonists. There isn’t an explanation of why people do and behave they way they so but what is there is maybe a brief insight on what is a complicated complex and very emotive subject


Read for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture

Meh. Honestly that is what I had thought. There were so many clear danger signs from the beginning I wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into Elena!

First - Don't even get involved with a man who says to you "Do you remember that glance we exchanged as your mother was laid to rest? That's when my heart began to beat again" REALLY?? You are at your mother's funeral not at a bar. Seriously 1st red flag.

You move into said man's house and discover that the master bedroom is kept lock since its a shrine to his first wife whose car somehow slid into the ocean off Mason's Pier and the body has never been found.

I MEAN HELLO!!

Now don't get me wrong, I love a good thriller like this but at times this was just a little over the top to me and also very predicatable. I finished it though!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley (unfortunately I forgot it was on my Kindle hence the delay in reading it).

It took me awhile to get into this book, as while Elliot writes descriptions incredibly well, I felt there were times they were too in depth and detracted from the plot. However, the pace picked up and the story became gripping, albeit predictable in some respects, although with unexpected plot twists as well, culminating in a tense final showdown. The characters were well developed, including the supporting characters, although the ending was a little rushed, and at times I found the switches in narration confusion.

I'd be interested in reading more from this author.

Couldn't put this book down, so addictive! Really liked both Elena and Amelia's characters and the flicking between present and past. Couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Amelia as part of Nicholas' character were revealed in the present day. Great twist near the end. HIghly recommended!

I would like to thank Bookouture Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership?

I was immediately attracted by the cover of this book, in the foreground we see a red umbrella upside down and in the background a woman sitting on a bench and a catchphrase saying a lot about this book: "She loves him, he doesn't love him".

It all began when Madison's car fell into the sea, her body was never found.

Two years passed when Elena met Nicholas, she didn't know everything about him, one day she was going to find a letter that would scare her. She will try by all means to find the person who wrote this famous page.

I immediately hooked on the story, which was so captivating, moving at times and full of suspense and twists and turns. The characters were endearing, especially Elena's, in some parts I felt her emotions. Looking forward to reading another book from this author who has an addictive pen.

My nerves are on edge and I have read this book in 24 hours! A gripping thriller which you can’t put down! Highly recommend!

THE WIFE BEFORE ME is CHILLING TO THE CORE!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TWBM is one of my fave reads of 2019. It has EVERYTHING a perfect psychological thriller needs. It’s gripping, atmospheric and makes you want to tear your hair out. I found myself stopping at certain parts and being like wth because it was so shocking but just so beautifully tied together al, the same, All the puzzle pieces just fit perfectly. I should probably stop reading psych thrillers at night for my own piece of mind 😂 I’m making this short because it’s one of those books that you need to go into not knowing much for the element of surprise!

This cover art is gorgeous as well! I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. And I really can’t wait for more from Laura!

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. It's a page turner. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

A little dark, and maybe a little predictable but still very enjoyable read. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

The Wife Before Me by Laura Elliot was a fascinating tale that reminded me a bit of Sleeping with the Enemy in the way that Nicholas, the love interest of both Elena and Amelia, is portrayed. Elliot's use of alternating perspectives adds the the intrigue and suspense of the novel, and overall I found this read to be entertaining and engaging.

I have to admit this book wasn't for me. Just didn't grab me. Gave up a third in. That said it has plenty of good reviews from others so I would recommend giving it a try.

This book was one I could not put down! It was suspenseful and never knew what was going to happen next. Wonderfully written

When Elena spots the handsome, affable Nicholas at her mother’s funeral, she has no idea of what she’s letting herself in for. The story follows the “what really happened to wife number one” formula, but this one adds a twist to the proceedings. Elena was a bit of a wet blanket to be honest and spineless most of the time, so that was annoying. This is a dark novel, so maybe not for those who enjoy gentle romances. It was a bit predictable really, but maybe I’ve read too many books in this genre! I liked the cover and descriptions of the Irish scenery.

Full review to come.
I deeply apologize, but life is a handful lately and I'm using all my free time to read, not review. I hope everybody understands.

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

This book was a good one; a page turner! It is dark and disturbing.

I did find issue with the narration in the book. There are many times that the narrator is not clear and that bothered me.

The middle dragged a bit but it kept me guessing until the very end. I would say at about 70%, I figured out what was going to happen; I like when that happens; I want to be surprised but not over the top where I find it hard to believe.

This is a love story, a mystery, a thriller, and the ending does not disappoint!
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gripping brilliant.

Loved that the characters so real I loved and hated and felt sorry for them
All in the right place