Tish is on top of the world. She has married John, the “rich” older man. What’s funny is it’s the cliche, she’s the younger good looking assistant. Tish knows she’s on borrowed time as he’s been communicating with his ex wife Kate as they are co-owners of the company. When John suddenly dies, everything is question. This is a page turner!

Kaira Rouda is really good at making readers feel sympathy toward the antagonist in her psychological thriller novels. This currently applies to Tish in The Next Wife. Even though the story is told from multiple perspectives, including those of the protagonists, I still can't help but want Tish to come out on top somehow.

This novel had a twisted plot that kept me wanting to read and also kept me guessing as to what would happen. I wasn't sure who to side with, even though Kate and Ashlyn presented a clear case for wanting Tish out of their lives. There was lots of interesting drama and the story played out lie a soap opera in some ways. It was addictive for this reason.

The reason I gave it four stars is that the writing style didn't flow as nicely as I would have liked and a lot of the same statements would be repeated over and over. Short sentences were used often instead of elaborating. I also felt like the plot hit some snags from time to time, even though it would bounce back from those eventually. Thankfully, all the malicious scandal kept me turning the pages.

Kaira's thrillers are entertaining and keep me coming back for more. My mom recently read this one and enjoyed it, as well. (She even started another one of Kaira's novels afterward.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Tish: Britt Baron
John: Josh Lucas
Kate: Marguerite Moreau
Ashlyn: Brec Bassinger
Seth: Logan Shroyer
George: A.C. Peterson

An amazing thriller about a woman, Kate, her husband John and his family. John and Kate had the perfect life with a successful company and a daughter, Ashlyn. John left Kate for his younger assistant, Tish. A few years later John is thinking about leaving Tish. On a romantic getaway, something happens and everyone is trying to figure out what exactly came about. Ashlyn is convinced Tish is guilty and will do anything, even putting herself at risk to find out the truth no matter what.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

I loved this thriller and really enjoyed how it all unfolded! I did not manage to get the twist either and I love that in a book when you think you have it figured out and you don't. This was the first book I read by Kaira Rouda and really enjoyed the writing style. Highly Recommend.

Short chapters, messy drama, multiple view points, YES PLEASE. I love when books have shorter chapters because it makes me want to binge the book in one sitting. It makes it so much more entertaining. Throw in some revenge and you'll have me hooked.

This book was gripping. I was sucked in and could not put it down! The concept was so unique, I loved this book.

This is my first book by Kaira Rouda and it didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed all the crazy characters + drama that was packed into this book. If you’re looking for a fun + fast paced domestic thriller, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the gifted ebook.

This was one of those books that I started late at night and then was thinking about the entire next day until I was able to pick up again. I truly enjoyed this book and found it to be gripping, fast paces, and I thought the characterization was brilliant. I really liked Tish and Kate as characters and thought that they were fun to read. Overall I am used to thrillers being scary, so I am thankful this one had some humor to alleviate the tension. Overall, I really enjoyed!

This was a decent thriller I for some reason didn’t care for Tish and she consists of a lot of this book I just didn’t care for her character. Other than that it was a good book, decent twist ending

This was my first Kaira Rouda book and I see what the buzz is about. It wasn't what I expected going in. Told from multiple viewpoints, this book is filled with unlikable character, humor, and so much scheming. You can't help but wonder what is going to happen next. It's twisty with unreliable narrators, a plot device I always enjoy.

The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda is a story of manipulation, paybacks, and revenge.

Will Tish continue to ruin Kate's life? Will Tish get everything that she has ever wanted? Will Ashlyn get over her loss?

Tish
Tish is The Next Wife. She is from a small town in rural Kentucky, and she has a mean steak a mile wide. However, not everything that Tish did was her doing. John was a huge part of what happened, and honestly, he initiated the affair. He also is the one who left Kate.

I personally didn't feel sorry for Tish. Sure she has a bad upbringing, but she could have shut John down at the beginning. However, he was exactly what she thought she wanted. Sometimes taking the easy way doesn't work out. There is a good reason why Tish has no friends or family to speak of.

Kate
Kate is the first wife who married her best friend, had a daughter, and started a company with her husband, John. She is also the one that trusted John with everything, even when she knew he was having an affair. Kate and John were the ultimate power couple, but they both failed to continue working on their marriage. Kate is smart and is more cunning than John or Tish gave her credit for.

I liked Kate for the most part. I feel that she went a little extreme, but I understand her rage and need for revenge. She does an outstanding job at putting everything together. However, I hope that she hasn't set the wrong example for her daughter. I would definitely be her friend.

Ashlyn
Ashlyn is the collateral damage in the war. She had lost her father when he married a woman only four years older than she is. Ashlyn saw what her father did to her mother and how he treated Tish. Yet, she would have loved for her mother and father to get back together. What child of divorced parents doesn't want the happily ever after ending? Ashlyn is one of the few people who once liked Tish, but now that Tish tries to keep John away from Ashlyn, it's a different story.

I doubt that Ashlyn and I would be friends. I do, however, feel sorry for her. Her father was extremely selfish and expected her mother to just put up with it. Yet, her mother is by far no angel, and Ashlyn is aware of all of it. I hope that she finds love and remembers to nourish it along with the business that her parents grew and leave to her.

Five Stars
My rating for The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda is five stars. What a ride this book takes. John seriously didn't know either of the women he claimed to love because he would have stirred clear of them both if he had known them. I adore the ending, and some may call it justice. I think it was perfect. Ms. Rouda is a fantastic author. She kept me guessing through the whole story. I highly recommend this book to all of your psychological thriller readers out there.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A funny entertaining way over the top hilarious read. Different to say the least. Very creepy with not so nice characters. A recommended read.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! I thought it was going to be predictable in the beginning, but the twists kept me on my toes and waiting to see what happened. Definitely a page turner and one to add to your shelf!

Loved this thriller! I thought I had it figured out halfway through but the twist at the end was only a part of what I thought. Very good suspense

My first time reading a book by this author and wow! She shocks ya in a good way. I look forward to reading some of her other books.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the little twist at the end. It's about a young wife who's the second wife and her husband unexpectedly dies and everyone blames her. Did she do it or did she not?? This book kept me guessing and I loved it

Kaira Rouda is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed this book very much. The storyline was engaging. This is a wonderful book for the summer.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Next Wife was a stunning book. I mean I was stunned, over and over, while reading this novel. Each character was complex and had incredible secrets that I could only guess at. Every time I found out another secret, I decided something new about how the novel would end, but I was wrong every single time. I love that.

This is a tough book to talk much about, without giving things away. The mystery began and crept forward sneakily, hoping to take the characters by surprise as well. However, all the characters in this book are smart. Too smart. Kate, the ex-wife, knew too much and never expected it. Tish, the second wife, believed herself invincible in the face of the aftermath. Ashlyn, the daughter, figured out what I never did. And John, the husband, had grand plans. They all played their roles in the chess game that became The Next Wife.

I highly recommend this book. It's a mystery, a thriller, and a highly emotional novel that twists and turns everywhere. I honestly think anyone would enjoy this story and the amazing characters that pull it all together.

I loved this book. It was really interesting, I have not read a mystery of any sort in quite some time. I didn't know what to expect. I really liked how the "accident" happens generally early on in the book and the amount of time it takes to be uncovered. You really think the perpetrator will be caught early on. Near the end, who I thought was responsible changed, and then changed again and then went back. The ending caught me by surprise in that there was not one culprit, but two. Oh and then karma happens to one of two of the wives. I would highly recommend this book for some light mystery. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Ugh. This was not a winner for me. I just don't really feel like there was much of a plot. The ex-wife hates the new wife, husband dies, we don't know who did it. But where was the suspense? It was just a lot of back and forth of "I'm getting the company" "no I AM getting the company" over and over. Every character was horrible and unlikable. I just expected there to be more. Or at least....something.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!