A deliciously wry, yet still just as gothic, modern retelling of Jane Eyre that takes on Southern suburbia with ruthless charm. An excellent addition to a thriller summer reading list.

I felt this one was just average until I hit the ending. Don't get me wrong, it kept my attention but nothing stood out as memorable until the end. And then I knew I loved it. Everything all comes together. Great read, well put together. Definitely recommend.

This was a fabulous and twisty take on JANE EYRE, and I loved every delicious moment of it. I love JANE EYRE and tend to be wary of modern spins on classic novels, as so many tend to over-rely on the source material. However, Hawkins injects so much Southern charm and domestic suspense into this novel, it feels very much like its own being, with just the small nods to its inspiration. This was so gripping and I tore through most of it in a single sitting. A new must-read author for me!

Even a few weeks after reading this book, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. On one hand, it was a decent thriller that had me questioning what was going to happen next. On the other hand, it seemed way too farfetched how quickly Jane and Eddie fell for each other when they barely knew each other. And how quickly she moved in! There was a decent twist at the end with Bea, but I feel like the book ended strangely. I will definitely read more by this author!

I really enjoyed reading this Southern Jane Eyre thriller. In Birmingham's wealthy subdivision Thornfield Estates, dog walker Jane meets Eddie Rochester. And the book takes off from there. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises even if you are familiar Jane Eyre. The author does a good job with building the suspense and the ending was just right. Enjoy this page turner.

The Wife Upstairs by, Rachel Hawkins, was a retelling of the classic Jane Eyre. I was rooting for our Jane as she moved up the ladder in her new neighborhood, away from her “trouble.” Drama and trouble seemed to follow her to her new love interest.

There are lots of twists and turns and a lot to discover in the neighborhood.

Thanks for the review copy. I felt lost for part of the book but found it ok. The writing was good but couldn’t get into the characters.

This was a quick read but an awesome thriller! Even though it was a bit predictable at times, there were enough twists and turns to keep my attention. I honestly could not put it down.

Not a favorite of mine-Starting to wonder if this author just isn't for me. I found myself having a hard time feeling motivated to continue on with it.

This was a suspenseful novel! Jane is tired of walking dogs for their rich owners. She sets her sights on one of the wealthy owners. She’s determined to win him over and maybe she can give up her dog walking. But she’s also aware that he just lost his wife in a boating accident. All at the same time Jane gets involved with the different neighbors and tries to keep her past a secret.

A nice and easy thriller. No one is who they say they are, the beauty of being able to reinvent yourself in every moment of life. An interesting read so closely after Verity.

Rachel Hawkins has taken the "bones" of Jane Eyre and built a contemporary thriller around them. Readers who are familiar with Jane Eyre will recognize the characters, but the story as written is a really good stand alone thriller, whether you are a Jane Eyre fan or not.

A troubled young woman has moved into a residential area that promises her many potential clients for her dog walking services, but also many chances for her sticky fingers to her finance her dreams. When a young widower with an intriguing back story moves into the area, our dog walker sets her sights on becoming his next wife. The story moves quickly, I had to turn back pages to see if I missed clues. It's not long, I read it in one sitting. With enough twists and surprises, it made for a great trip through Erye country again.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins was a modern day throw back on the classic story of Jane Eyre but so much better. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne and Lauren Fortgang. This was the first book that I have read by Rachel Hawkins. I was impressed with the way Rachel Hawkins managed to keep the plot suspenseful and was able to add twists at all the right moments. I can’t wait to read more books by her. The characters in The Wife Upstairs were well developed but not particularly endearing. They were perfect for this book, though. I was drawn into this mystery thriller right from the beginning and had trouble turning the audiobook off. It was fast paced and held my attention from beginning to end. I had been unable to predict the ending. I did not see it coming and it was so good.

Jane was a twenty-three year old woman who had spent most of her childhood in the foster care system. Those experiences had helped her become good at reading situations and judging people. Jane was wise beyond her years but not in a good place financially. She had recently arrived in Birmingham, Alabama from Arizona. Jane carried a secret around with her. She avoided friendships and personal involvement as a result. When she arrived in Alabama Jane found a job as a dog walker in a wealthy neighborhood. Thornfield Estates was an affluent gated community with lots of identical looking McMansions. Soon she built up a pretty good business. It wasn’t that these housewives couldn’t walk their own dogs it was just that they could afford to have a dog walker. Over the years, Jane had gotten good at spying things of value that would not be missed. Jane used those skills to take things from the homes of her dog walking clients. These small trinkets, that Jane was able to slip out of the houses of her unsuspecting clients, supplemented her income. One rainy day, Jane was out walking one of her client’s dogs when she nearly collided with a very handsome man pulling out of his driveway. This was how Jane met the notoriously handsome Eddie Rochester. Jane was smitten as soon as she glanced into his green eyes and was met by his charismatic smile. Over time, Jane and Eddie became involved with each other and Jane moved into his beautiful home. They eventually became engaged. Eddie held secrets close to him, too. What really happened to his wife and her best friend? Only Eddie knew for sure but he kept that secret hidden from all.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins was truly a suspenseful mystery thriller. I was so glad to have had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook published by Macmillan Audio through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jane, an orphan with a shady past, works as a dog walker in an affluent neighborhood in Birmingham, AL. She falls for recently-widowed Eddie Rochester, but naturally, things aren't what they seem. This modern retelling of Jane Eyre was the best thriller I've read recently, and I absolutely devoured it. And let's face it: all thrillers with "wife" in the title are excellent.

When I was in high school, one of the few classics I enjoyed reading was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins is a Jane Eyre retelling featuring Jane, a dog walker in an affluent neighborhood in Alabama who is trying to escape an ugly past, and Eddie, a wealthy presumed widower whom she meets while working. Eddie's wife has been missing for months after a boating accident and he takes quite an interest in young Jane. He could be her ticket to a better life, one she's always wanted, but they both have a lot of secrets to overcome.

I really liked this as a classic reimagined. While I knew the plot of the original, I never knew if Hawkins would stay true to it or if she would decide that 175 years of perspective might have changed how we see some of the characters. Social climbing may not have been the original Jane's goal, but this Jane wants to improve her station in life. The mystery of who Eddie's wife was and what happened to her kept me turning the pages late into the night. This was a fun thriller. Add it to your winter reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of The Wife Upstairs.

This book grabbed my attention right from the start and didn't let go. I kept trying to figure out the twist until the end.

When I picked this book I was new to Rachel Hawkins and her work. The Wife Upstairs made me an instant fan.

The story was so well done and the characters were interesting and also frustrating, but I think that's how it was supposed to be!

Hawkins is a new addition to my must-read list of authors. Pick this one up and dive into the mystery that has you questioning whether or not you've figured things out, or if you're just as confused as I was.

Loved this thriller! Loved the characters! I wish I had a little more on what happened with the husband and wife and maybe even a little more background but overall, really enjoyed!

This was a fun read! It was quick and packed chock-full with drama! It was a fun nod to Jane Eyre, but with a unique twist!

Rachel Hawkins has quickly become a favorite of mine, and this book is a prime example of why. I love her style, even when it is a reworking of previous literature. Her talent speaks for itself, and I am constantly blown away by her books. 10 out of 10!