I struggled through most of this book and had a hard time keeping focused. While I thought I knew what was happening, I found I was wrong, but the book just didn’t do it for me— the characters were not like able which made it difficult for me to really get wrapped up in the story.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Marie and Nina, two best friends, with one having a greater stake in the relationship. Marie felt that if she could only be a little more like Nina, she would be happy. When Nina becomes sick, Marie tries so hard to fill Nina's shoes, as a mother and a wife. As she becomes more involved in the family, Marie uncovers some unsettling secrets.

While the premise of the story was interesting, I wasn't able to relate to the characters and get involved in the story.

I loved this book! Thank you for the ARC. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that I wasn’t leaving reviews on netgalley and was solely sharing on Instagram. My apologies. Huge fan of this author! I actually received the tangible copy.

Not as suspenseful as I'd like and found the characters to be very unlikeable. This plot feels overdone. I realize my review is a tad late to the game.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I’m starting to think maybe this author just isn’t for me. Her latest book didn’t work for me and this one didn’t either, I wanted more suspense and surprises and instead was bored. Her books always sound better than they are for me

This book just didn't hit me where I thought it would and was not a book for me. It started as a slow burn, didn't gain momentum for me and although the ending was good, it didn't leave me as a great book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Hamilton and Graydon House for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

A very dark psychological thriller where everyone seems to have many secrets and everyone is somehow connected. Nina's dying wish is that Marie makes sure that her children are okay and that her husband finds a suitable partner. Marie believes that by moving in and replacing Nina, getting pregnant and marrying Nina's husband, she if fulfilling Nina's wish. Not everyone sees it that way. Good page turner.

A good book. A good story. A quick read. Would recommend to someone who is looking for a change in pace. The story line is alittle slower but still read quickly.

This is the first book that I read by this author but I surely will be checking out both past and future works by her.

There is nothing more than Marie wants and that is a child. And secondly would love, and covets, the life of her best friend, Nina, who has it all. A husband, Stuart, who loves her, 2 children, and the proverbial white picket fence. Until, the horrible news that Nina has only a few months to live.

Nina asks Marie to keep several requests and promises. Marie being the absolute loyal friend will do just that. To love and watch over her 2 children as much as she does, not to have her husband choose another woman that is unworthy, and if so, Marie must step into the role, and to keep the family home where her children have so many memories.

This book had my head spinning. Characters that have deadly secrets, betrayals, lies, hidden agendas, and forced alibis, all to protect the family. But one character has the biggest secret and the perfect setup that encompasses all the players in this story.

This story will definitely have you turning the pages trying to figure out who the master manipulator is.

Did Marie keep the promises she swore to? That you will have to find out on your own!!!!

A nail-biting and chilly read!!!!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Last Wife by Karen Hamilton.

Uuuuugh, this may have given me an ulcer. Here's the thing, just no. The premise is ridiculous from the get go. Two friends, one dying, makes the other one promise that she will take care of her family when she's gone. Friend agrees because she can't wait to take over her friend's life. But dead friend was also sketch as hell, so, bummer for new wife!

Stop, it was creepy and so unbelievable. And come on, can we give women a bit more credit? I just couldn't.

Marie and Nina are best friends and are inseparable. Nina, who has a terminal illness, asks Marie to please make sure her children are looked after when she is gone.

When Nina passes away, Marie did exactly that and more. She always wanted to live in Nina's shoes, and now she has the chance. Sneaking, crawling and manipulating her way into Nina's family and life.

An interesting and chilling read.

Definitely a slow burn but very twisty! As a seasoned thriller reader I really enjoyed this one. It's one that kept me on my toes until the very last page. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author!

I think this is a pretty solid domestic thriller. It kept me engaged throughout. It was fast-paced and easy to get into.

I didn't love the characters but I don't think I was supposed to.

I think of you are looking for a fast fun thriller then this is a good book for you.

This one really wasn't for me - it started out slow and was full of unlikeable and unreliable characters. Its more of a domestic drama and its irritating when they are labeled as thrillers

Slow to start, picks up in the middle, then becomes a total free for all. Way too much is happening by the end. I was also so confused by Marie’s motivations part of the way through the book, then her thoughts right themselves at the end. Lots of characters included that only add pages rather than plot importance to the story.

The author was trying to do too much. 2/5 overall.

Thank you so much to Graydon House and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a super disappointing read for me. I really enjoyed her first book The Perfect Girlfriend but I really struggled with this one. It was very dull and I absolutely hated the main character Marie and how manipulative she was and how much she lied.

This wasn't really a thriller, it was more of a domestic drama with really no twists or surprises. If there were any, they were so bad that I didn't even notice them. The book did start off very strong and I was intrigued at the beginning expecting a fast-paced entertaining read but it had no thrills and I quickly lost interest.

I won't give up on Karen Hamilton's books but this one definitely wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many secrets that continues to develope through the story and had me guessing until the very end. It did take me a while to really get into this one but once I did it was hard to put down.

I've put off writing a review for The Last Wife because I wasn't sure what I thought about it. Let me state up front that I am very over and done with unreliable narrators. Done. If you give me a little mixed up, a little crazy, a little unsure of yourself, that is one thing but narrators that are deliberately misleading for the sake of misleading the reader then that is a plot that has worn thin. It was fun the first one, maybe three times, but it's been a few years now that these books keep hitting the shelves and, really, they aren't even being tweaked to give us something new. It's, literally, the same story, second verse. And, ultimately, there you have it. That's my review in a nutshell. I could tell you that the writing flowed, that there were twists along the way and the characters were interesting but none of that could overcome the big flaw - unreliable, lying narrator.