I absolutely loved everything about this crazy creative thriller from beginning to end. I will give nothing away.

ane is a dog walker for wealthy clients in a Georgia suburb. It is there; she meets Eddie Rochester.

Eddie is handsome and also single. His wife Bea and her best friend Blanche died in an accident at a lake. Eventually, things progress, and. Jane f finds herself living with Eddie and engaged to be married.

The story is told mostly from Jane’s point of view, But its seamless moves from present-day to the past to fill in the blanks. Everyone in this story had secrets, Jane, Eddie, Bea, and Blanche. Other character's stories unfold as the plot progresses, adding intrigue and suspense to the plot.

I couldn't put this book down. The plot and the characters sucked me in from the first page to the last word.

This was a very creative but modern retelling if one of my favorite classic books, Jane Eyre. It wasn’t as great as the source, but it was an interesting 21st century adaptation. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy in exchange for review.

4.5/5

I don't usually read thrillers, but when I do I am pretty easily surprised. Because I spend so little time in this genre I haven't become familiar with certain plots and various twists that people who love this category have come to spot a mile away. That being said...nothing here was surprising.

I should also mention that I've never read Jane Eyre, so while this book is supposedly a modern retelling of that story, that meant nothing to me as I am not familiar with the original.

The characters are all fairly cardboard and fit perfectly into their assigned character descriptions.

Jane (not her real name) - Rough and tumble young woman who grew up in the system and thinks she's FAR more clever than she actually is but anyone with half a brain can see right through her. Harboring a secret that, once revealed, is a COMPLETE let-down and barely a secret worth hiding.

Eddie - Super hunky and charmingly rich widower who plucks Jane from her mundane life as neighborhood dog-walker and gives her the life she's always dreamed about. Also harboring a secret that kind of doesn't make sense.

Bea (not her real name) - Perfectly perfect cliched (supposedly dead) wife of Eddie who may not have been as perfect as everyone thought she was....and also may not be dead.

Blanche - Another perfectly cliched rich and bored housewife and best friend to Bea. Unhappy with her marriage (though we never know why) and jealous of all Bea's success. Very much dead.

Tripp/Emily/ Various Neighbors - A blend of superficial people who add very little to the story and are pretty much interchangeable.

As for the ending...yeah, I saw it coming, and given how little of this genre I actually read, that's pretty sad. None of it made much sense...I really don't want to give anything away, but the actions and reactions of some of the characters were just so completely unbelievable, and the will at the end made no sense, but whatever.

I'm giving this three stars because, while I didn't find it particularly original or shocking, it is an extremely readable book. You won't love the characters, but you won't dislike them so much that you don't want to continue. Not a horrible way to past the time.

My favorite book of all time is Jane Eyre. So when I saw that this book was a contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre, I had to read it! If you haven't read Jane Eyre, I think you would still enjoy this book. But I think one would appreciate it more if you have read it because of all the references to it. The author uses many names and similar scenarios that are in Jane Eyre.

For example, the main character is named Jane, her love interest is Eddie Rochester, and surprise, Eddie's assumed to be dead wife likes to be called Bea, but her real name is Bertha! And the title doesn't lie, Bea is hidden away upstairs! Also, instead of Jane being a governess to a young girl named Adele, our modern Jane is a dog walker for Eddie's pooch which is named Adele of course!

This is a fun, light read with a nice twist of the Jane Eyre story. Instead of English gothic, it's southern gothic as it takes place in Birmingham, Alabama. Jane falls in love with Eddie who is rich, handsome, and charming., but he also has his dark moments and a horrific temper. This Jane isn't as sweet and innocent as the original Jane. Everyone has secrets in this version, including Jane, Eddie, and Bea. Everyone in the community believes that Bea drowned in a boating accident along with her best friend. But Bea's body was never found and her friend might have actually been murdered. Will Jane be in danger next, and why is Bea locked away upstairs? You'll have to read this book to find out!

I am probably not the target audience for this book, but I did finish the whole thing. This book is definitely plot-based, and the characters feel like caricatures. Of all of the rotating POVs, I found Bea's the most intriguing. A lot of the book was difficult to believe, ranging from plot points to character motivation. Still, the book has a great sense of pacing, and depending on your tolerance for the characters and the plot itself, it's definitely a page-turner. The plot reminds me of something that could be a LIfetime movie. Not for me, but I can definitely see other people enjoying this book if this is the sort of style and read that appeals to them.

The story centers around Jane who seems to be running from something, as she alludes to some trouble she has left behind in Arizona. She has found a job dog walking in a fancy neighborhood that is a ways away from her dilapidated apartment she shares with her roommate whom she barely knows, but was there when she needed somewhere to go. She is enticed by the big homes, the shiny jewelry the women wear, and the riches they seem to swim within but detests them, all the same. As she walks one of her clients’ dogs around the neighborhood a car screeches out of a garage and nearly runs her and the poor dog over, as she manages to fall out of the way. The man behind the wheel steps out to apologize and invite her in for a coffee. As she steps inside his house, she becomes entranced by this man and starts visualizing how she can make this world her own. The only problem is, his wife and best friend are believed to be dead on an accident on the water and she may not be quite sure if the man, Eddie is truly innocent.

The book was a fast read and definitely kept me guessing quite a ways through the book. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending and had a love/hate relationship with Jane throughout, which may have been the author’s intent. Overall, I enjoyed the story but was looking for a bit more.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and Rachel Hawkins for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Wife Upstairs in exchange for my honest review.
Jane, a young dog walker, stumbles into the world of affluence and privilege in a wealthy Alabama suburb. Her move from the edge of poverty to a the country club elite is quite a stumble.
The mysteries of three separate characters converge in this suspenseful novel rift with twists and lies. When we recreate ourselves to hide our past, is it inevitable that our true character re-emerges? How far will we go to maintain the facade? Will we lie, deceive and even murder?
The Wife Upstairs is more driven by plot than character development which left me wanting more substance. I would put this in the summer read category and recommend to my friends.

This is one creepy but compelling thriller. I liked that there were alternating perspectives that slowly revealed the truth while also racheting up the suspense. An appealing read if you like a book that keeps you guessing and where all of the characters have shades of gray. Fans of Mary Kubica's The Good Girl would enjoy this a lot!

A great solid story start to finish with rich characters and a unique was of telling the story.
Jane has secrets to keep about her past, in fact her name isn’t even Jane. But her secrets are nothing compared to her new beaus secrets. Eddie seems like a dream come true, a rich handsome widower. Jane thinks her life has finally changed, from poor foster child to rich housewife. But is everything Eddie says true? Murder and deception boil through this book and the very end has some twists and turns you won’t believe.
I enjoyed this read very much, I didn’t find it crazy suspenseful or edge of my seat but the story and characters were so awesome it didn’t matter. It was a solid steady read.

I love Jane Eyre.
The best part of this book for me was seeing characters from Jane Eyre translated into The Wife Upstairs... the best would have to be Adele. It was very creative.

Aside from the names, while there are similarities in the story to Jane Eyre, if you changed the names I may not have immediately made all the connections.

The story did stand on its own, it did not depend on Bronte lovers.
I thought it was interesting and suspenseful enough.

Wow what a twisty suspense novel! I really enjoyed reading The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.

There’s so many things about Jane that invoke my sympathy.. She’s had a rough life so she steals to make ends meet- and sometimes she enjoys taking things from the rich people who won’t miss their trinkets.

Jane is insecure but tries so hard to act like she belongs in the rich neighborhood. She’s spent her whole life faking it and pretending she belongs. She gets a job walking dogs for all the rich families and then.... she meets Eddy
Not only does he get a dog for her to walk- he actually starts asking her out on a date. They move fast- and soon she’s living with him.

But there are dark rumors surrounding his wife, Bea and her best friend, Blanche who went missing from their boat. Jane isn’t sure what to think when she starts hearing rumors. At first she suspects Blanche’s husband, Tripp. Then she thinks he may be innocent. She isn’t sure what to think- or who she should trust. As the gossip continues to swirl around Eddie and Tripp, Jane gets pulled into the mystery.

I thought the writing was very good. The narrative alternated between different characters which was great as it helped with the tone, flow, and perspective. Very good reading and the ending sure surprised me!

Wow.. The plot twists and turns were incredible. Couldn’t put this book down. This is the definition of on the edge of your seat thriller. I must’ve thought I figured it out a few times only to be more shocked.

Jane Bell has secrets, and a past she is running from. But when she decides to become a dog walker for the residents of Thornfield Estates, she finds herself no longer wanting to run, and eager to become “one of the girls.” The mysterious deaths of Bea and Blanche, 2 of Thornfields perfect Southern wives, and the loss felt by their widows, Eddie and Tripp, allow Jane to weave her way into the lives of the residents. However, their secrets are bigger than Janes, and she finds herself in the middle of a whirlwind romance and a murder investigation. But will Janes hopes of becoming a wife of Thornfield shatter before her eyes as the secrets of Bea and Bertha reveal themselves? Full of twists and turns, Hawkins captivated the reader through multiple narratives and an ending that leaves you wanting more!

Great suspense filled novel full if lies and half truths. Told in three different point of views, this story was a great retelling of a classic that will keep the reader on their toes with the twists! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow!!! I need more from this author. I was so surprised and read this one quick!! I coul not put it down. I'm going to have this one as my book club read soon!!

An updated version of Jane Eyre. Quick & easy beach read. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#thewifeupstairs #rachelhawkins #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arc #bookstagram #stmartinspress if you are looking for #drama #mystery #intrigue this books has it. The best part was the wild left turn the ending took. I love it when an ending is something I didn’t see coming. And y’all. I didn’t even see that coming 😱 a man and a wife so in love. One day the wife and her best friend vanish. A husband lost without his wife falls in love with the dog walker. The other husband. Implicated in his wife’s death. Where will the wild take take us??! Well. You’ll have to read to find out. #augustpick #bookreviews #bookrecommendation #booklover

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins follows Jane, a dog walker in the upscale neighborhood of Thornfield Estates, who alludes to a mysterious and sordid past. When she meets wealthy widower Eddie while walking a dog, sparks fly. Eddie's former wife, Bea, went missing with her best friend Blanche during a boating accident and they are both presumed dead. Bea was the founder of Southern Manors, a lifestyle brand that Eddie now runs. Jane is wedged into this opulent life that she's never before experienced, even if she doesn't quite belong.

I really, really like this one! I have a soft spot for anything gothic and this book does not disappoint in that department. With Bea's presence lurking around every corner, it really does give off a strong Southern Gothic vibe. I think the best part about this thriller is that the characters aren't who they appear to be and that everyone has a different side to them. Some characters are more two faced than others and the fun part comes from reading up to the end to find out the real truth. I highly recommend this one!

Awesome psychological thriller.
I love these kind of books where you have to read the whole thing before you find out key answers.
Just when you think you have it figured out the author changes it up on you.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.