This book had me hooked from the first chapter and I couldn’t put it down! The twist caught me off guard and I am still not entirely sure what exactly happened on the last page (no spoilers!).

Having read The Other Woman, I knew that Sandie Jones would be planting some pretty major twists. I wasn’t disappointed! Surprisingly, many of the other reviewers have said they didn’t see the twists coming. I thought it was semi-predictable, more so than The Other Woman. The clues were easy to track throughout the story. It might be that I had considered several different possibilities, and one of them ended up being right. I wasn’t completely sure until the final pages.

In The First Mistake, the main character Alice is pretty easy to relate to. Other than the fact that her house is worth a couple million dollars, she’s just an average career-focused mom. She goes home and prepares supper for her surly teen and precocious elementary-school aged daughter. I liked her, mostly, and wanted things to work out for her.

Sandie Jones delivers a solid mystery in The First Mistake. I don’t think it’s really a thriller, but there’s suspense in finding the truth behind the lies.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

First off, I read this in one day. This story is so thrilling you will not want to put it down. Extremely fast paced and far from predictable. I literally had chills after reading certain parts.

After reading The Other Woman and now The First Mistake, it is safe to say I am a HUGE fan of Sandie Jones. Cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

I read this in about 10 seconds because I couldn’t put it down. Alice is a successful interior designer with a great husband and two kids; however, her first husband, Tom, died in an accident years ago. Some of her pas is coming back to haunt her and you’re not real sure where this book is going until the end. I loved THE OTHER WOMAN, and I really enjoyed this one too.

I normally don't have troubles choosing what I'm going to rate a book, but this one was a tough one. The First Mistake had an interesting format in which the first third of the book was told from Alice's view, the second third from Beth's, and then the final third was told from both of their points of view, showing just how much their lives had weaved together.

Alice lost her husband but has since moved on. Her husband Nathan is everything she could hope for. He's a good father to the daughter she shares with her deceased husband Tom, and he's a good father to the daughter they share together. But even after 10 years, Alice can't seem to let go of Tom, his place in their marriage is always present, especially because he helped fun the design business she's so proud of.

Beth is Alice's best friend, and they've been friends for a few years now. She's never met Nathan, and while Alice doesn't think that's too odd, perhaps she should. Because Beth has been through the wringer and back, and she isn't happy about where life has placed her.

We follow each of their stories, twisted tales of deceit that they are. For me, until we got to the end of Alice's portion, it was slow reading. I really disliked how much Alice let her love for Tom get in the way of her marriage. Which in hindsight is irrelevant, but for me, was too much. Jones also misused the phrase "another think coming" by writing 'thing' instead of 'think' a few times, which isn't a huge deal, but it's a pretty well-known mistake. I was disappointed in the ending because of how quickly it ended with a very short and vague epilogue. So when I take out the few things I didn't like, the story is good in premise. It's very twisted and it has you constantly wondering what exactly is going on.

I enjoyed The First Mistake by Sandie Jones. This is a domestic thriller that tells the story of Alice and her husband, Nathan. Alice and Nathan own an interior design business founded by Alice and her deceased husband, Thomas. Alice’s best friend, Beth, makes a determined effort to avoid Nathan. Alice has a daughter from a past love who abandoned both of them. In one of the first twists, the reader learns the past love was Thomas. Alice now has to face that her dearly departed may have not been the man she thought he was, and she’s also discovering her current love may not be faithful, either. In true suspense fashion, the storylines take all the right twists and finally meld together to resolve all the questions. Overall, this was a very well-written suspense.

I was provided an advanced e-book by the publisher for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150483

The First Mistake was an entertaining read, but I was hoping for more from this novel. Sandie Jones’s debut novel was so good that I thought this was going to be a repeat of her first. While the author does keep you on your toes and the storyline is easy to keep up with, I did find the previous husband’s constant backstory a bit boring. Overall, it was a fun, light read.

I really enjoyed this book! I love a thriller where you think you know what will happen but then it ends up surprising you. I stayed up way too late last night reading and then woke up early this morning to finish it. Definitely recommend!'

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the book and thought it was a fast read. It had some good twists and turns but I did predict a good portion of it. I either figured it out right before the twist was revealed or I predicted it chapters before it actually happened.

I felt like the ending was a little abrupt and could have used a better epilogue.

Thank you #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #TheFirstMistake!

OMG, let me start by saying 2 things... 1. I absolutely LOVED Sandie Jones’ first book, The Other Woman and 2. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to get approved for a book on NetGalley!!

Ok so as I said this is the second of Sandie Jones’ books I’ve read and it did NOT disappoint! There is just something about the way this author writes that I completely enjoy. The twists are totally nothing I would’ve guessed. There are so many parts where I’m like “wait, what?” or “OMG no way” or “wow! Totally didn’t see that coming” and that’s what I LOVE about this author.

So about the book... Alice is a mother of two on her second marriage after becoming a widow a few years early. Her new husband is Nathan but Alice starts to suspect things aren’t what she thought in regards to their marriage. She questions whether he is being faithful and is constantly comparing him to her first husband, Tom. Then there is Beth, Alice’s best friend. At the end of part 1, trust me, you are going to read that last sentence and be like “Um what?” But wait and keep reading because there’s even more twists! Alice is starting to question everything she knows in regards to her first husband, her second husband and her best friend. And the end is such a good twist! Both of Sandie Jones’ books have now left me wanting more!! I can’t wait to see what she does in the future!

This book was a page-turner and a quick, fun read! Although I was able to guess where it was going at times, I enjoyed the twists and turns and like the author's style. Fun, quick summer read!

Awesome story. The twists and intrigue make for a fast paced plot. Alice is a great example of someone who has tough decisions to make but goes with her gut and rides it out. I'd like to read more from Sandie.

So many twists in this book. I had a reading slump before I started it; this pulled me up by my bootstraps and I couldn't read fast enough. So many mistakes, which is the first one? The ending, however, left me stunned -- it is the type of open ending you need to discuss with a friend.

I flew through this book! The twists and turns were so captivating and kept me reading. Based on this book, I am looking forward to reading other books by this Author.

This was my first Sandie Jones novel and I'm so happy to have found this author through NetGalley. The First Mistake was a great read. I actually read it in one sitting while on a Spring Break cruise. I could not put it down! I usually have a good idea of where the story is heading and I have to say this one kept me guessing!

Warning: this book will make you suspicious of everyone in your life. I'm literally giving my dog the side eye as I write this review? Who is she really?

This book is marketed as a psychological thriller. I found this book to be mind-numbing for the first thirty percent. Nothing really happens. The reader is lulled into numbness as we follow along with Alice's mundane existence: work, marriage, kids, repeat. But that's the whole point isn't it? This setup highlights how easy it is, how necessary it is, to simply trust in the choices you're making, trust in the people you're choosing to share your world. Wake up, exist, sleep. Don't question anything. Answers can hurt. Ignore the red flags because red is for bullfights, and who wants to be in a bullfight when they can instead be blissfully sitting atop a float during a holiday parade? Why be a fighter when you can be the princess? Your happiness is your own doing, so why rock the boat when you've got the honeymoon suite?

Similar to Sandie Jones's "The Other Woman", this book is a nothing-is-what-it-seems book. Is Alice's second husband having an affair? Was her first husband the saint she remembers him as? Is her best friend really her most worthy foe? Are her kids real or aliens? When you reach the last 30-40 pages of this book, you won't know what's real anymore.

It's really hard to review a book like this without dropping spoilers all over the place. So, without pulling off Santa's beard, here's what worked in the book:
1) Alice's desperate need to maintain a normal existence was very accurately portrayed. After going through hell once already, it made complete sense that she clung to whatever she could to make her feel whole again;
2) Alice's blissful ignorance - there were times when I personally understood her actions. Maybe others won't, but I completely got it. It's easier to trust someone. it's a lot harder to be suspicious.
3) Alice's kids provided the perfect motivation for Alice's storyline.
4) The multiple big reveals. As I read the book, I kept thinking "well, how the hell is this gonna be explained away?" But it all worked.
5) This book is definitely timely. We're bombarded with "Dirty John" stories and psychological terms like "gaslighting" and "narcissism" are the new normal in everyday vernacular, so this book fits right into today's culture.
6) The author's cute use of the film "The Other Woman", a favorite of mine. Oh, Sandie Jones, I see what you did there

What didn't work:
1) Alice not asking ANY questions whatsoever. Sure, I agree with a lot of her actions, reactions, and inaction, but there were certain things she did that drove me insane;
2) Alice not telling ANYBODY the big discovery she's made. Doubtful;
3) The pace was a little too slow.

As I read this book, I planned to give it a solid 3 stars. I liked it, and I wanted to know what happened, but it wasn't hitting me as hard as other psychological thrillers. But, after all the reveals, I gave it 4 stars, especially after I sat back and reflected on all the characters' motivations. This story is whacked, but... it actually is pretty realistic.

Thanks to Net Galley and St Martins Press for the opportunity of reading The First Mistake in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing. So many twists that you kind of had a feeling where it may go but then a few turns along the way you changed your mind or cast doubt on that feeling. I flew through this book with its written tales of lies and deceit. Sandie Jones sets up the beginning of the book in a way by introducing the characters of book that makes you want to read more. The author does a great job portraying the main character Alice's mental heath. She lost her first husband in an accident and that caused her to spiral down. Meeting her second husband helps her lift her life but she is still fragile....ten years later. That's when the doubts about her second husband start and her downward spiral seems to start again. Writing how Alice began to take charge of herself in order to save herself was a highlight for me.

Sandie Jones is an amazing author and will definitely be reading all her works.

THANK YOU, MINOTAUR BOOKS!!!

One of the year's best suspense books!

Alice has it all - a wonderful husband, two wonderful daughters, and a great career. She does miss her deceased first husband, Tom, at times, though. After all, he is the father of her oldest daughter. Alice does suffer from a bit of depression and perhaps agoraphobia - seemingly it is mostly under control. Beth, Alice's best friend, is great for her morale. Unfortunately, lately, so is alcohol.

This book develops and develops. - never disappointing. Sandie Jones consistently weaves a web of ingenious mystery and suspense.

MORE THAN a MUST READ!!!

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ability to read and review this gem.

i was not sure of this book when I started reading, seemed much too heavy hearted. . But, thank goodness, I have this quirk about reading a book till the end, I would have missed out on a great book otherwise. I may not have cared about them in the beginning but I sure did as I kept reading. This book creeps up on you, I remember thinking as I kept reading that I was so glad I'm a very fast reader, I would just bull my way through it and be done with it. By the last paragraph I was like, No, it can't be over, I want more of them. This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

This a book to read in one sitting. I couldn't put it down with all the twists and turns. Intriguing plotline and well-paced. It will keep you guessing.