I love Jane Eyre (and all gothic fiction) so I was super excited to see that this was a Jane Eyre retelling. And I think The Wife Upstairs was a great reimagining of the original story. It was very loyal to the source material while putting a unique and modern spin on it.

All the book’s main characters — Eddie, Jane and Bea — were complicated and a bit unlikeable. All of them were striving for some measure of emotional and financial security and willing to use others to attain it.

I liked the way that the book peeked inside the lives of the residents of Thornhill Estates to show what was behind the cheery facade of charity benefits and fancy cars. Bea’s company was also a Kate Spade/ Draper James kind of business that traded on quippy slogans embroidered on tote bags.

The story of what exactly happened to Blanche was interesting and we heard versions told by several different characters. Who was telling the truth? Who was using whom?

The Wife Upstairs had steady suspense and several fun twists. The ending wasn’t exactly what I expected, which I loved.

This was given to me by netgalley in exchange for an honest review. "Jane" grew up in the foster system until she aged out. She changed her identity and has been trying to make a better life for herself. She takes a job as a dog walker in a high-end neighborhood in Birmingham where she meets Eddie, a widower who lives in the house of her dreams. Eddie's wife and her best friend both disappeared in what is believed to be a boating accident. But then the best friends body is found and questions and suspicions start to form.
This is written from 3 points of view, Jane, Bea (the wife) and Eddie. This was well written and nicely broken up into sections so that you didn't have to wonder whose story was being told. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Rachel Hawkins.

An intriguing story as Jane, Eddie and Bea get caught in a weird situation. The neighborhood set up is a little reminder of a Stepford wives club where all the ladies gossip and compete for sameness. There are so many secrets in the neighborhood to be uncovered. It is intense as the story pans from the point of view of each of the three main characters revealing a little more each time. It will leave you to decide if they each got what they justly deserved.

This is my first Rachel Hawkins book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!! It had the thriller feeling to it that kept you guessing and I read ALOT of thrillers but I didn't figure out what was going on & who did it. I would highly recommend this book to thriller lovers. Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for my early review copy.

You would think that naming the book The Wife Upstairs, there wouldn't be a lot of mystery. We already know there's a wife hidden upstairs. But why was she there? When will Jane find her? The fact we knew she was there didn't detract from the mystery at all - - there was enough tension to keep the reader involved and guessing!

The author did a great job of building the tension and though I can't say I liked the characters, they were believable and fit the story perfectly. Just when I thought I had everything figured out - - nope - - that wasn't it!

I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it. All I can say is this is full of twists and I really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley and Rachel Hawkins for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jane Eyre is one of my favorite Charlotte Bronte books so I was so excited when I was approved to read The Wife Upstairs, a modern retelling of Jane Eyre! I loved the Southern Gothic/Stepford wives vibes of this one and tore through it in 24 hours!

Right away we know that Jane is a lowkey grifter. Jane isn’t even her real name. She’s walking rich ladies’ dogs in the bougie Thornfield Estates when she meets Eddie Rochester. Eddie is rich and handsome… what more could a girl want?!

But as Jane gets to know Eddie more and learn more about his late wife, Bea’s death, Jane begins to question the truth of Bea’s tragic demise.

Jane is such a snarky queen and I loved it! The scenes where she had to bite back her rage and something ridiculous and out of touch that some of the rich characters said felt so true. Jane reminded me a bit of Nina from Pretty Things who I also loved.

If you’re a fan of twisty thrillers or Jane Eyre then definitely check this one out!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJG_EXUAsqG/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3702069828?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I will also post a pub day post on 1/5/21.

This was a great book and it had all the things I like - family drama, suspense, wealth, bitchy ladies, a good twist... It began strong and had the reader sympathizing with the main character and rooting for her. Her back story played out in alternating chapters which I liked. With out saying too much the turn that the book took was very intriguing and I spent the rest of the book trying to figure it out. I enjoyed all of the characters even the stereotypical ones and the unlikable ones. I also thought the ending was just right for this book! A recommended read for sure!

Wow! This book was amazing. The title tells you right away his missing wife is probably hidden upstairs. I thought it was giving away too much by naming the book that. However, the author manages to build up the suspense about Bea and her time upstairs while becoming invested in Jane. The author makes you think you know what is going on and does a great job of investing you in certain characters while disliking others. In the end, the author throws you for a loop and gives you a twist that some may have seen coming but I did not! Cannot wait to read more by this author.

This was my first novel by Rachel Hawkins-I was immediately hooked. I really enjoyed this book. While some of it reminded me of books I have previously read, a lot of it had me guessing until the end. My ONLY compliant is that I think they could have developed some of the characters or story lines a little deeper by making the novel a little longer. Overall, would recommend, and would definitely read another book by her.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an eARC!

I sped through this book! I expected it to be another predictable domestic thriller, and parts of it were, but it didn't feel repetitive or predictable at all! I really enjoyed reading it.

I didn't particularly like any of the characters, which worked for this story. Jane and Eddie were both so manipulative, I got sucked into finding out who would end up "winning". The back and forth between Bea's and Jane's points of view allowed for the plot to happen and eventually end with a twist. Definitley a quick read!

Publication date: January 5, 2021

okay wow! I enjoyed this one immensely and it kept me guessing until the end. I loved the layers of deception and the fact that every character has bad in them - it's hard to peg down one victim (well, ultimately, it's the people who get murdered right?). I would definitely recommend this to a friend - the writing was phenomenal and super fun. I love thrillers but often find them predictable and boring by 40% through. This was not like that at all! I also love the cover design and would certainly buy it for a friend. My only suggestion or improvement is that I would like more of a rhythm with the changing perspectives. It was clearly done out of convenience than as an artistic merit, so I would love to see it in a pattern so it is not a distraction

I was SUPER shocked to find out that this gothic, twisty, in-your-face thriller was a DEBUT novel! Right from the first page Hawkins draws the reader in so well, you immediately are seeing thinks from Jane's perspective, as a loveable semi-con artist, that the reader doesn't realize there may be more trickery afoot! From the title, you have a guess, but as you read, you wonder if Eddie has a dead body upstairs or what. And WOW is the reader in for a SHOCKER when they find out exactly how bad Eddie has been! Or has he? With so many cons a foot, you're not sure who to believe! THIS is the book you need on your reading list for the new year, as it's going to be the one everybody is talking about, and for a very good reason! Don't miss this one!

*I have not read Jane Eyre*

This book is absolutely incredible. I thought I knew what was coming, which didn't even take away from my enjoyment because it was so well written.

Thing is? I was completely wrong about all the thoughts. And that made it even better than I already thought it was.

Now, for those that already know Jane Eyre? Maybe it wouldn't be that impactful. I have no clue, but from my perspective? It was incredible.

This novel takes the characters and plot points from Jane Eyre and recasts them into a suspense story set in modern-day Alabama. I love retellings, and the shifting of Jane Eyre into a dog walker in a fancy housing development is a good choice. The opening scene with the snotty Mrs. Reed who sends her out walking in the rain is well done. Hawkins doesn't worry too much about staying exactly true to the characters as Bronte wrote them, so both the Jane character and John Rivers are a little bit of a surprise.

It's also a very twisty mystery, and I didn't guess the ending, even though in retrospect I totally should have.

While I enjoyed the mystery, characterization, and reshaping of plot points, the pacing was not great. It takes a very long time for the suspenseful part to emerge - in fact, just when I was wondering how much longer she could string out the romance between Eddie Rochester and Jane, a plot twist emerges. Once the suspense gets going, it feels less exciting than I think it's meant to be.

This, however, could also have something to do with the audiobook narration. I alternated between the audiobook and a kindle copy, and I wound up listening to the final third. When Eddie takes over the narration, it's spoiled in my mind because the narrator is very sleepy sounding. Eddie's supposed to be a bit of an enigma, but the narration sounds a little like a deer in the headlights.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and read it really quickly, but I also wished it was just a little bit better.

Big Thank You to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for allowing me to read and review this one! Out on January 5th!

Okay so, this book first caught my attention because I loved the cover, you don’t usually see pastels on the thriller/mystery section lol
But then I found out it was a modern retelling of Jane Eyre which is one of my absolute favorite classics so I knew I had to read it.

I read this in one day, it was everything I could have hoped.
Rachel had plenty of the Jane Eyre vibes that I loved while also making the story her own so I actually wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.
I also loved the Dark and Mysterious personality Jane had in this book. I love a narrator you aren’t sure you can trust.

Who knew this well known story could make such a fun domestic thriller.

For this one I swapped between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook. I enjoyed the multiple narrators for this one and did not find them confusing.

The storyline for this one was enjoyable. I’ve never read Jane Eyre so I don’t have the original story as a comparison. I did enjoy the storyline, but found myself having a hard time connecting with any of the characters. I just couldn’t see any of them as super relatable or likeable for that matter. The storyline itself was enetertaining and not easily predictable. I think my lack of a connection with the characters kept me from being wowed by this one like so many others were. For me this one gets 🌟🌟🌟💫

I feel fully sated.
Amusing characters and an absorbing plot had me feverishly turning pages.
This was my first Rachel Hawkins and it by no means will be my last.
Much love to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my DRC.

This book is soo good! The Wife Upstairs is a super twisty, suspenseful novel that you won't want to stop reading. It's a modern, Southern homage to the classic, Jane Eyre. A very compelling story that will keep you engaged and guessing throughout, even if you weren't a fan or the original story. It was definitely one of the top thrillers that I have read this year, it really exceeded my expectations and comes highly recommended!

A page-turning re-look at a classic

Jane is a dog-walker in the glamorous Thornfield Estates subdivision. Until she meets Eddie Rochester. Widowed, Eddie is Thornfield's most talked about resident. His wife, Bertha "Bea" Rochester--founder of the Southern Manor line of furniture and accessories--died in a boating accident with her best friend, though Bea's body was never found. As Jane gets to know Eddie, she can't help but fall for him: he's rich, handsome, and protective. He can offer her a life of security and love that she's never had. But she's also fascinated by the tale of Bea, who built herself up from nothing through her company. Can she ever compare to Bea--and win Eddie's heart? And what really happened the night Bea and Blanche died?

"...and later, I'd look back at that moment and wonder if I somehow knew what was going to happen. If everything in my life had been leading me to that one spot, to that one house. To him."

I read this book solely because it's billed as a loose retelling of Jane Eyre, which is one of my absolute favorite books. Loose is definitely the right word for it, but this also a gloriously fun read with some exciting twists and turns.

The Wife Upstairs is a page-turner that kept me frantically reading. Yes, parts of it are somewhat predictable, but Eddie is a fascinating rogue and Jane a mysterious lead. Who is telling the truth, what happened in the past, and what on earth is going on now--you'll find yourself swirled up in all these questions as you flip the pages.

Overall, this a foreboding and enjoyable thriller, with plenty to entertain its readers.

"There's a trick to spinning lies. You have to embed the truth in there, just a glimmer of it. That's the part that will catch people and it's what makes the rest of your lies sound like truth, too."

When I found out that this is a dark and twisty retelling of Jane Eyre, I knew I had to read it! Jane Eyre is my absolute favourite classic! Thank you St. Martin's Press, author Rachel Hawkins and NetGalley for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on 5 Jan, 2021.

The Story: Jane Bell, a dog walker in a wealthy gated community called Thornfield Estates crosses path with the recently widowed and wealthy, Eddie Rochester, who lost his wife, Bea, in a recent boating accident. Her best friend, Blanche perished in the tragedy too. Soon, Eddie and Jane fall for each other and their engagement later would mean an upgrade in Jane's life. But Jane is haunted by her dark past and it is catching up with her. She also begins to suspect that Eddie may somehow be involved in Bea's death.

My thoughts: You don't have to read the classic to enjoy this book as the story is so good and I loved the different twist of this classic. But if you've read the classic, I think you'd be able to appreciate the different spin in both the plot and characters more.

To be honest, I never liked Jane in this story but I understand why she acted the way she did. I wish that there is more story to her past which I find really interesting and I want more. I liked reading about the lifestyles of the housewives in Thornfield Estates. It was fun and filled with drama!

I love it when a story surprises me with a shocking twist in the end and this book did that! It was clever and an unexpected one.

Overall, this is an interesting retelling of Jane Eyre and a must read if you're looking for a good thriller! It is addicting and entertaining!

Reader, I ENJOYED this book.