I guess I’m in the minority on this one but I really had a hard time reading this. Without giving the absurdly strange plot away, most of this was so unrealistic to the point of being comical, but not in a good way. The characters were horrid and completely unbelievable and the plot just got stranger and stranger. I feel like a good psychological thriller must have a modicum believability to it to be successful and this just didn’t.

This was a decent domestic thriller that kept me questioning what in the world was actually going on--and that is the best kind! There were some parts in the second half of the book that I felt were a little farfetched, but I usually don't have an issue suspending belief when reading a book, so it didn't bother me much. It was super fast-paced and downright crazy, and I really enjoyed it!

First I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishing house, and the author for allowing me an ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 to 4 stars

Poor Phoebe. She has put on a few pounds and has taken to eating ice cream and drinking wine while being a social unicorn. So I really liked Phoebe. She was rich and loved the finer things but she had no interest in being a baby factory for her boring therapist husband. Then something happened to Phoebe. And I have to stop or I will give things away. While I was reading this book, I could almost see the movie playing in my head. I'm not sure if it would be a really good lifetime movie or a blockbuster film but it has potential.
Overall, the characters were good and mostly relatable. The solution to the dilemma half way through the book was slightly unbelievable but this was still a good story.

This domestic thriller by Allison Dickson is a solid 4 stars! Interesting premise, told from differing viewpoints. Contains prescient plot points given the state of things. Good for fans of Ruth Ware, Gillian Flynn, etc.

I really wanted to love this one, but it was too bizarre and unrealistic. I had to put it down halfway through. The writing wasn't very good, the concept hardly unique, and overall it was just ... uncomfortable. I'm actually very surprised it got picked up by publishers. I did hear there was a twist ending that I never got to, but the fact that I didn't get there should say something.

I was up until 2am finishing this book! That hasn't happened for me in a long time. Phoebe Miller is in a rut. After four failed IVF attempts, she realizes that she doesn't want children and is pretty sick of her husband too. Her business tycoon father recently passed away and his many sexual transgressions are exposed in the media leaving her a virtual shut-in. She spends her days drinking wine and eating ice cream and keeping track of the blue car that parks in front of her house most days. She is sure that it is someone watching her. Meanwhile, a new family moves in next door. She becomes friendly with the mother and even friendlier with the just turned eighteen son. There is a murder and everyone is a suspect. Setting aside the fact that nobody bothers to call the police about the dead body, I was enthralled with the whodunit aspect of this story.

This book was BONKERS!

And I like bonkers.

Told in two parts. This one follows Mrs. Miller, and the "other" Mrs. Miller. Phoebe Miller has inherited lots of money from a pretty crappy dad. And now that he's gone - she's a rich bored house wife with entirely too much time on her hands. She drinks too much, has let herself go, and is dangerously close to having her marriage fall apart.

She's got someone watching her, a new, strange friend who moves in across the street, and a "very" close "secret" relationship with the woman's son as well. And I won't spoil anything about the "other" Mrs. Miller but its a fun ride when you find out who she is!

Cue the domestic thriller craziness.

All hell breaks loose and the dark and twisty emerges. While somewhat far-fetched and highly unbelievable things take place and round out this twisty story, it was still a fun ride to go on. Cleverly thought out and highly entertaining. A fun read.

I likrd both parts of this, and although I found the "twists" easy enough to guess it was still an enjoyable and well-written book. The Other Mrs. Miller is definitely worth your time and I look forward to reading more by Allison Dickinson!

This was a fun easy-to-read mystery. I enjoyed the way the book was split into two halves, and I enjoyed both parts. The first part, in which the reader gets to know Pheobe, along with all her flaws, helped create the tension that was fully explored in the second half of the book. While some parts of the second half were a little bit too convenient, and I personally was a little let down with the final few pages, I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes to read suspense, psychological thrillers, or mysteries.

The Other Mrs. Miller kept me guessing until the very end, and also sometimes I find myself still thinking about this book! I really liked Phoebe's character, even though I didn't like the things she did. She was very easy to relate to. (Even though she was rich and unhappy.. and I am not!)

Thanks to the publisher for my advanced galley. All opinions are mine.

Domestic drama with an implausible plot and extremely unlikeable characters.

Phoebe and Wyatt Miller live in an exclusive suburb of Chicago. She's a wealthy heiress and he's a therapist. Phoebe has become a sort of recluse since the bad press about her jerk of a father has been on the news after his death. A few interesting things start happening in the quiet neighborhood, however, and she's all about new beginnings. First, there's the blue car that sits in front of her house on a daily basis. Then, there are the new neighbors -- a woman who wants to be Phoebe's BFF, her husband, who seems like a bit of an abusive jerk, and their 18-year-old son. Nothing goes well on the cul-de-sac as events and emotions spiral out of control. NO SPOILERS.

This novel is divided into two parts with different narrators. You will enjoy this if you have the ability to completely suspend disbelief and just go with the improbabilities of the story. I wasn't expecting it to go the way it did and I found myself rooting for all the wrong people. The characters are all just totally nasty and I couldn't find any redeeming characteristics in any of them nor did I find their actions and reactions understandable at all. It just made no sense, but I can't say more without giving it all away. I'm sure others will enjoy this one much more than I did -- think soap opera of the bizarre. Some reviewers said the book was "fun" so perhaps I just didn't approach it with the right attitude!

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishers for th e-book ARC to read and review.

I loved this unputdownable book!
It was a thrilling, unnerving read. The characters were realistic. The plot was gripping and fast-paced. Run, do not walk, out to get this fab book.
Thank you NetGalley.

An over the top, incredibly unbelievable thriller that's way too much fun of a read. Part bored houswife, part alcoholic, part affair, part murder?

Although the plot of the story is unbelievable the writing sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go. This thriller keeps you entertained while you suspend your sense of logic and just ride with the storyline. The author does a good job keeping you invested in the plot and work your way to the twisted conclusion. #TheOtherMrsMiller #NetGalley

I'm on the fence about whether this book entirely worked for me. I think the 'interlude' chapters told by a mysterious first person narrator were a bit weird. In the first section, they worked much more than I think they did in the second section. The device of the second section switch to a new narrator was an interesting way to keep the story going. At times the book read like an amateur romance novel - especially the first section, and I think that was the most unbelievable part of the whole thing. I just wasn't convinced, given the character development, that Phoebe would have the relationships she did with the neighbors.

The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson is a recommended domestic thriller.

Phoebe Miller, 32, inherited a fortune from her father, David Noble. Her father also left her with the fallout from his years of sexual misconduct. Already an unhappy woman, Phoebe has now isolated herself in her suburban Lake Forest, Illinois, home where she drinks too much and tries to avoid going out in public. She has also started a log recording the time the car with a delivery company's sign on it parks in the cul-de-sac. She feels like the woman inside is watching her and may be a reporter. To make matters worse, her therapist husband Wyatt wants to have children; she's no longer interested and becoming increasingly fed up with Wyatt.

Then a family moves in across the street and it changes Phoebe's world. Vicki Napier is an outgoing, excitable woman who is quickly becoming Phoebe's best friend. The problem is that her eighteen-year-old son, Jake, is becoming Phoebe's lover while Vicki's husband seems to be an alcoholic with a temper. The woman in the car is still watching the drama unfold, but Phoebe is too busy to keep track of her any more.

The novel is divided up into two parts, with part two decidedly different from part one, but most of the same players involved, and it starts with a major twist. Someone has been murdered, but the real question is who is responsible. Everyone is a suspect and trust is fleeting. Part two requires you to suspend disbelief and keep with the story for the resolution, even though the twist is unbelievable. The writing helps pull it all together.

While none of the characters are particularly likeable or trustworthy, and the plot becomes increasingly improbable, Dickson does manage to keep your attention on the narrative in spite of it all. It was relatively easy to ignore many of the coincidental occurrences that were required to keep the plot moving forward. You also have to accept Phoebe's affair with an 18 year-old. This is one of those novels that is engaging and will hold your attention, but you do have to accept the premise put into place and go with the action as it unfolds.

This would be a good choice for and airplane book or vacation read. It's an entertaining way to pass the time.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/07/the-other-mrs-miller.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2901623429
https://www.librarything.com/work/23114257/book/171046064
https://twitter.com/SheTreadsSoftly/status/1151992653245898752?s=20

I cant believe there isn't more attention being paid to this stellar offering from Allison Dickson. The Other Mrs. Miller had an interesting premise, and Ms Dickson definitely kept the promise of that premise. The characters are clear voiced and complex. The pacing is even, the tension builds rapidly. The plot is tightly woven and the twists and turns arent telegraphed. Each time I thought I had a handle on the story, I lost it just as fast! I keep thinking of things to talk about, but I dont want to spoil it for you! I finished reading The Other Mrs. Miller over the weekend, and I'm still thinking about the clues I missed and the mistakes I made. I think it might make a fun book discussion selection. I hope there are plans to offer film rights, because I had an easy time visualizing the action. I look forward to Ms. Dickson's next book. 4.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Phoebe Miller is depressed and self loathing and drinks her days away while her husband is at work. Her only means of entertainment is the blue van parked outside near her house that she sees daily. She's pretty sure that she's being watched. Phoebe's father, who recently died, was a big wig executive who was recently accused of using his power to sexually abuse many women. So, Phoebe's pretty sure it has something to do with that. Her new neighbors have her attention as well. Phoebe cant help but notice the combative couple and their good looking son.

This book is so entertaining. There's nothing that made it stand out from other thrillers as far as the story line goes. But, the way that the story is told is what makes it different. Even though heavy subjects are discussed, there is a levity that makes the book feel almost comedic. I really enjoyed it. The absorbing characters draw you in to this wild ride of events. There are moments that are beyond outlandish, but I didn't care, because it fit with the writing. It was fun to read. I couldn't put it down. And the end is predictable. But, it didn't matter. I couldn't stop reading.

I would recommend this to any reader who is into thrillers and may be looking for one that is told with a different angle. I went into it expecting the same old tropes, but I was pleasantly surprised that those tropes were turned and twisted in a way that made this one stand out.

The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson is one of those books that you read and simultaneously shout at the characters to stop making such bad decisions. The characters are on a trainwreck and all you can do is keep reading. Phoebe is dealing with the fallout of her father's death as revelations come to light that he harassed multiple women throughout his life. Halfway through the book there is quite a twist. Keep reading for the satisfying conclusion. Read and enjoy!

I received a digital advance reader’s copy of The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson from the publisher (Putnam) in exchange for an honest review. The Other Mrs. Miller is scheduled for release July 16, 2019.

The Other Mrs. Miller is about a woman (Phoebe) who is very much adrift. She has no career, no children, no friends, and no hobbies. She lives with her husband who she is rapidly drifting away from. Phoebe’s father has just died, leaving her a lot of money and a lot of scandal. Phoebe sees this scandal as life-altering, convinced that everyone is judging her for her father’s mistakes. The sadder truth is the world may not be aware of her at all.

A new family moves in across the street from Phoebe and her husband, bringing freshness to Phoebe’s life. She makes a friend in Vicki and feels a long forgotten attraction for Vicki’s eighteen year old son. Around the same time, a car begins to linger in the neighborhood. Phoebe notices the car, but can’t tell who is inside, or what their purpose might be. These events bring freshness to Phoebe’s stagnant life. She is suddenly a woman on the brink of change.

This is the story set up by Part 1 of the novel. Phoebe is relatively well developed, a woman dealing with realistic situations, though her reactions may be a bit outside my experience. The characters Phoebe interacts with (primarily Vicki and her son) are also well developed, leading us to become attached to Phoebe and these characters. Phoebe’s husband is less developed in this part of the story, hiding in the background, with only brief glimpses.

While reading Part 1, I was thinking a lot about the title of the book, trying to figure out who the Other Mrs. Miller actually was. I had a lot of possibilities, and was very curious which of them might turn out to be correct. Around 45% of the way through the novel, this question was answered. It was not on my list of possibilities, which was a surprise.

While it was nice to have a twist that I didn’t figure out ahead of time, this answer turned the story in a completely different direction. With the answers given in the first chapters of Part 2, I began to question why Part 1 was even part of the novel. The plot that had been established, and the characters that we had been introduced to and grown attached to were gone. The focus of the story shifted to characters that were very vague in Part 1, characters that we did not know very well, and were not invested in.

For me, this turn did not work well. With the shift in plot and characters, the story did not manage to pull me back in in Part 2. Some of the appeal of Part 1 was the realistically portrayed characters and situation. In Part 2, choices made by the characters felt unrealistic, things they were pushed to do to make the plot work. This was partly because these characters were not developed for us in Part 1, so as a reader I struggled to believe their actions.

I am very curious about other reader opinions on this novel. It was very different, and I appreciate the author trying something new. I wonder if it was more successful for other readers. I would also pick up future novels by this author. I am curious what she might come up with next, and hope that what she tries will be more successful in the end.