When AJ goes looking for answers in the death of his sister, he never expects to find love in the shape of a sexy and insanely talented woman named Sasha. Say It Again has mystery, intrigue, hot passion and amazing characters put this all together and you have a wonderful way to spend your time loosing yourself in this story.

A must read and the perfect close to this series.

What can I say. Sasha is portrayed in the exact manner as I expected. The story packs suspense, protectiveness, and romance all in one. Making Sasha a person with ties and feelings really put her in a different light. I am sad to see this series end.
I really loved this story read it in a day as I could not out it down.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth (and sadly, final) book in the series. If you have not read any of them yet, then I would recommend that you do, as they are really good. You will meet characters from the previous books here, but actually Sasha's story is quite separate, so you could read this first and then go back. Each story is wonderfully unique and this one certainly is too! Sasha was never a first wife, however, she has been an important side character in helping earlier leads get their happily ever afters. She has always been a mystery... and some of that is peeled away here, but more importantly, she finds someone who wants her, for her, no matter her past.

We find Sasha returning to her German boarding school, which is more like a fortress training soldiers for life. As we get to understand how she was educated, and the lengths that she went to to subvert the system, I think she becomes an even more appealing person. She is given access to information which reveals more about her past, and possibly has an impact on what her future could hold. She also meets AJ, a man in search of answers about his sister's death. He is convinced that it is due to her also being a student at the same school. And thus, the purpose for her visit expands, as well as her finding AJ may be of interest himself... a thought she normally would not allow herself. This leads to them becoming embroiled in a political school battle. I loved all this intrigue, passion, and hope.

A very different story from the previous ones, yet ardent fans will be delighted that we do still meet up with the first wives, and get to celebrate with them what family and love really mean.

Thank you, Catherine Bybee, for a lovely series, one which has found its place on my Must Reread List.

As a final book in the series, this book was suspenseful, intriguing, and interesting. Sasha is a tough cookie and has always been a bit of a mysterious women, but in her own story we learn what makes her tick. This was written in a different style from the rest in the series, but it was a great closing to the series. I recommend this book and love Catherine Bybee.

I really tried to like this book but it was just a bit too slow for me. Maybe because I was nursing a book hangover from the previous book I had just finished, but this just wasn't the read for me at this time. Might try it again in the future though because I've heard good things about this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Really loved the conclusion to the series with this book. Sasha was a very tough heroine to deal with but it was really good.

Brilliant. Loved this book and have loved the series. Totally recommend this and all of her books to read

In the final installment of the “First Wives” series, readers finally get to know Sasha Budanov, the mysterious girl in black who also happens to be a master of disguises. She’s not anyone’s “First Wife,” and this fifth book was not in the original plan.

But, as Catherine Bybee said in an interview, “The first four books in the series were going to be it. However, Sasha commanded attention the first moment she walked on the page and I couldn’t get enough of her once I dreamed her up.” So, here we are with “Say It Again,” a highly anticipated final book of the series that more than lives up to its promise.

“Say It Again” opens with a footloose Sasha who suddenly did not have any directions after all four members of the First Wives club are happily married and starting their own families. With nothing to do, she found herself at the gates of her alma mater, Richter, the boarding school which was her home since she was 9 years old until she graduated from college.

Taking temporary residence at the dorms, Sasha found Richter the same with very little changes. And the change was more of because she was an alumna, hence she had more freedom. Still, old habits die hard so Sasha continued the secretive ways she developed while she was a student.

In a night out in town, Sasha crossed path with AJ Hofmann whose sister Amelia also studied at Richter and was murdered less than a month ago. AJ believed that there was a connection between Amelia’s death and Richter. Sasha told AJ he was grasping at straws.

But two of Amelia’s roommates at Richter suddenly died. Sasha did not believe in coincidences and decided to help AJ. But that help came at a hefty price. It might cost them their lives and more importantly, it might cost Sasha’s heart.

“Say It Again” is first and foremost a mystery thriller. Amelia’s death is a mystery onto itself; but as Sasha dug deeper, Richter was turning out to be ground zero instead of Washington DC where Amelia was killed.

Still, as the story continued, Sasha slowly evolved as she dared to feel love and being loved back. Hence, as Richter’s secrets were unveiled, Sasha’s emotions were also bared to the readers. The James Bond element of the story stayed until the end, but it also became a story of Sasha finding herself, her family and her forever man.

I read the ARC of this book but waited for its release before I write a review because Emma Wilder is named as the narrator for the audiobook. I truly enjoyed the first four books which she also narrated. And I’m so happy that she narrated “Say It Again.” Another great performance by Emma Wilder!

“Say It Again” is Rated M for Mature due to violence and sexual content.

Say It Again was a fun read! While you could read this as a stand-alone, I think it’s much better read in order as the 5th book in the First Wives series.

We’ve seen Sasha as a mysterious smaller role in the other books in the series - I really enjoyed getting to know her more and learn about her life in this book.

I enjoyed it a lot - but think it can be helpful to know this felt very different from the others in the series. The romance felt secondary to me and it was more about Sasha’s past and investigating a murder. If you’ve enjoyed Ocean’s 11 or the tv show Alias - I got similar vibes at some points.

I also really loved getting to see the couples from the previous books - like catching up with old friends. Overall, I thought this was a very satisfying end to the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

Sasha is at a crossroads in her life after fulfilling a long-time mission and having nothing on her agenda she’s not sure what’s next. Ritcher is the military type boarding school that molded her into the woman she is today and so she decides to visit her old school and ends up with a mystery to solve in the process.

Enter AJ. His sister, a previous student of Richter, has been murdered and AJ is determined to find her killer. AJ wasn’t super close to his sister, so he decides to trace her past and find out if it had anything to do with her murder. He hits a roadblock with Richter, they’re secretive sending up all kinds of red flags for AJ, so he hits up Sasha for help.

While the previous books in the First Wives series have been more contemporary romance with a bit of romantic suspense, Say it Again is more of an action/romantic suspense story. Sasha (as the interview below points out) is kind of like a female James Bond. She’s been a savior and protector of the heroines in the past stories, so I’m happy to get the story behind this badass woman! As an orphan in foster homes and then as a student in Richter, Sasha is used to being on her own without anyone having her back, so it’s a new experience to have AJ, Reed, Trina, and the gang at her back providing not only support and protection, but a place where she fits in as family.

The romance between AJ and Sasha was fitted in between solving AJ’s sister’s murder, and evading danger, but whenever they had a minute it was electric and passionate! Even with the intense attraction between them, Sasha and AJ didn’t just jump into a relationship, there was a lot going on and each were focused on finding Amelia’s killer as well as what is really going on at Richter. They got to know each other bit by bit under tense circumstances, forming a bond with an attraction that eventually couldn’t be ignored. The slow progression from attraction to more, felt right for the story.

I really enjoyed Say it Again with the extra amount of danger, action, and thrills thrown into the mix! Never a dull moment with this fast-paced story, and I’m pleased with how it all turned out! There’s potential for more action/thriller/romance books with a few of the characters introduced here. Maybe Claire or Olivia? I guess we’ll see if Ms. Bybee decides to continue their stories. I look forward to whatever she decides to write in the future.

This 5th installment of the First Wives Club focuses on the elusive Sasha - a frequent secondary character in the first 4 books. We learn a lot more about Sasha’s past and see her connect with a potential romantic interest.



This installment of the series is well written and entertaining, the intrigue and mystery portion of the story line is definitely the strongest. Sasha’s potential romantic entanglement, AJ, is an interesting character on his own, but this is very much her story.



This could be read as a stand-alone, but I would advise against it. The secondary cast pulls strongly from the previous 1st Wives Club Books and some of Sasha’s relationships/back story is very much in those books. I would suggest reading the series in order. This book also introduces us to a few new characters, I am hoping we will see some of those stories soon.

I’ve been a fan of this series since book one and been intrigued by the mysterious character that was Sasha just as long. Always in the background, always alone; basically she’s Catwoman. But I had a hard time imagining how Ms. Bybee would make her seem like a real woman. After reading the book, I can see that my concerns were justified.

Sasha, a loner with a troubled past, has helped get her “friends” out of danger for years, and is now at a crossroads in her life. She decides to go back to the school where she grew up, a kind of military/special ops training school that has a bad apple or 12. She meets AJ, a regular guy with a semi-mysterious past and decides to help him look for his sister’s murderer.

I really liked how utterly unique this story was. It was a complete romantic suspense novel, which Ms. Bybee has dabbled in before, but never taken the full plunge. I was also left guessing about the culprit or culprits until the very end, which I enjoyed.

My least favorite part about this book, besides the utterly unrealistic heroine and general lack of romance, was how under-cooked the ending was. There were so many sloppy loose ends and quasi-explained subplots, it gave me a headache. I think the author got caught up in the action and intrigue of the story and didn’t give herself enough time for a conclusion. What’s going to happen with AJ’s parents? What are Sasha and AJ really doing now? What’s going to be the future of the school? All of these questions have vague answers. I think fans of the series deserve more.

Overall, this was a fun read, but you’ll enjoy it more if you realize that the romance is taking a back seat and then completely suspend your disbelief. I really hope Claire gets a book in the future!

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Say It Again by Catherine Bybee is book 5 in the First Wives Series. This is the story of Sasha Budanov and AJ Hofmann. I have read the previous books, but feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Sasha has a somewhat mystery past childhood which now is making her start to want to know what her past holds. This leads her to her childhood school which along the way she meets AJ. Aj wants Sasha help in finding out who killed his sister. This brings AJ and Sasha to start working together which leads to them to start having of course feelings for each other. Enjoyed their story.

Oh, Catherine Bybee you have brought a character that I loved reading about in past books of yours and made her a true hero. Sasha had a history that was very much a secret. She kept to herself, didn’t let anyone get close but was always around, somewhere. She was only a phone call away and she’d be there to lend a hand.

I love that Sasha was kept as a secret, she kept her secrets close, she didn’t open her heart up, and she stayed alone. She lived her life by her rules and held herself accountable for what was happening around her. She was strong, she was tough but as the story continued, I got glimpses into her heart. I saw that she cared and that she wanted to find love. AJ is the perfect person for her. He respects her boundaries and quirks but doesn’t let her settle for less than the best. He pushes her to let him in but understands that there are something he may never know about her. Together they worked perfectly.

This is the last book in the First Wives series and it was the perfect ending. Each book can be read alone but the characters do crossover into each other’s books.

Awesome romantic suspense. This is Sasha’s book. If you’ve read the First Wives Books then you’ll recognize many of the characters. Sasha has mostly worked from the shadows and helped the people she calls friends, which are few. The story has detailed, in-depth information about her life. AJ is a trust fund guy who likes adrenaline rushes. He’s trying to find out who killed his sister and asks Sasha for help. The characters are strong, intelligent and most are well equipped to protect others and themselves. I love how Ms. Bybee gave Sasha a book even tho she wasn’t one of the First Wives. If you haven’t read those books your missing out. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Bybee and to see what her next series is about.

ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley

Say It Again is #5 and the final book in the First Wives series by Catherine Bybee and what a way to end it!!

Sasha has been in all the prior books but has been mysterious about her past. Now we find out more of her past, why she keeps everyone at arms length and that she has a heart hidden underneath many layers...

AJ is determined to find out who killed his sister, goes to Germany to the school she attended while their parents were diplomats there and approaches Sasha for some answers and help..

What happened next will keep you on the edge of your seat, finding some answers but even more questions arise, hot sizzling romance, mystery, opposites make for an intense read!

4.5 Stars!

The odd thing about this book is that first of all, I didn't even know it was coming (I legit thought book four was the end of the First Wives series), and secondly, I initially wasn’t all that interested in a story about this heroine. Nonetheless, I was still thrilled to get my hands on this book because I will read anything Catherine Bybee writes. And this book did NOT disappoint. It was an epic end to a great series, and may even be my favorite of the series!

Sasha is not a first wife, but she’s been on the periphery of all of the first wives's stories. Since the beginning, she’s been this mysterious character and I’m sure I’m not the only one who was still wondering - even at the end of book one - whether she was one of the “good guys” or not. In book two, we learn who Sasha is and why she’s in the lives of the first wives, but she still flits in and out, coming to the rescue whenever needed. Say It Again is Sasha’s story, from childhood until now, and it was fantastic.

At the beginning of Say It Again, Sasha is finding herself at loose ends. With her main target to protect now permanently safe, she essentially doesn’t know what to do with her life. So she makes a visit back to the military-esque boarding school she attended growing up. Once there, she’s approached by the brother of a former classmate. Apparently the woman had been murdered, and AJ was convinced it had something to do with her time at the school. Sasha is skeptical at first, but when she finds out the sister’s roommates are also dead, she does some investigating and comes to believe the brother may be right.

What follows is about 300 pages that had me thoroughly engaged, holding my breath, and tapping the right side of my Kindle as fast as I could read. The writing contained plenty of the clever, witty dialogue I expect from a Catherine Bybee book, but - as with this whole series - less of the romance you normally get. It also had a whole lot of sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, which is NOT something you normally get from Ms. Bybee. This was not the fun, fluffy, feel-good story I would normally anticipate. (As I said before, this is an edgier, grittier Catherine Bybee than we get in the Not Quite series!) Instead, we have a cynical, prickly heroine who can kick just about anyone’s ass, and travels the world in pursuit of the person who murdered her former classmates. Yes, Sasha does end up falling in love, and I loved the times when Sasha and AJ were being transparent and sincere, but for once I’m not even upset with how little romance there was. The fast-paced action and all that was going on was enough to keep me from missing it.

It’s the mark of a truly talented author when they can write a genre they aren’t typically known for - even within a series - and have it still be amazing. I’ve read quite a bit by Ms. Bybee, and already considered myself a big fan. This book just solidified herself a spot on my auto-buy, no-preview-needed list.

I’m sad to see this series end. With Ms. Bybee’s skill in the romantic suspense genre, I’d love to see a spinoff series about the men who work for Reed. And maybe Claire, the young girl from the boarding school could get her own story?! I have no idea what Ms. Bybee has up next, but you can be sure I’ll be reading it.

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I am so glad that Sasha has her story told! I recommend reading the other books in the series so you can get the feel of Sasha Budanov, the unlikely hero in the other series. Sorry that was a major spoiler alert. Sasha Budanov decides she is at a cross road in her life and goes back to her boarding school, where she has basically spent majority of her life there. The school basically trains the kids to become spies, to learn all kinds of things. Sasha meets AJ Hofmann, who is looking into the death of his sister, who also went to the boarding school. AJ is not finding any answers and crosses paths with Sasha, who begs for her help.

I love Catherine Bybee. I have read all of her books except for the time travel series and I have just started that one :). This is the 5th and final book in the series, If you have not read the others it can be read as a stand alone. Each book features a main character and their friends. Sasha, has played some type of role in each of the previous books, more prominently in some.than others Sasha is a very interesting character and we discover how she evolved into the person she is today. Catherine does a good job with suspense and romance you will not want to put this book down. An enjoyable read as ALWAYS! Hard pressed to pick a favorite in the series.

Say It again by Catherine is the final installment to the First Wives series. The story is very interesting and well written. Sasha is a protector for hire. AJ is on a quest for answers hoping Sasha can help him.