I LOVED this one!

Both main characters are the perfect blend of sympatric & deranged. Their stories are very compelling separately and alternating between B and Jane made this one a very quick read. I listened to the audiobook and the narration made an already compelling story absolutely unputdownable! Having lived in a neighborhood like this in the south, I found her cast of secondary characters VERY realistic as they are believably cliquey and sweet, in a way that makes you want to hate them but you really can't.

My only critique of this book is that the idea of "the wife upstairs" literally being the situation was pretty unbelievable. I have a house with a large master closet, and is there space under the stairs that I might not go through frequently? Sure. Would I fail to notice if there was a full room behind it with a person in it? No. Especially no if it had an obvious key pad. Still, if you can manage the suspension of disbelief, it's a fantastic, one-sitting read.

I will start off by saying that I am not a mystery/thriller reader. With that said I absolutely LOVED this book and I loved listening to it on audiobook!! This is a story of a young women (Jane) caught up in the murder mystery of two couples. You see the lives of five different individuals play out in multiple POVS. I loved that there was twists that you never saw coming for all the characters in this book!

I would rate this 4.5 stars. The only reason why the 1/2 start drop is because the F-bomb is dropped so many times in the book it made it almost uncomfortable.

Trigger warnings: Murder, alcohol abuse and infidelity.

I went into this book completely blind and had no real idea what I was getting into besides a psychological thriller. What I got was a little bit of a southern romance complete with a Real Housewives vibe. I also got a bit of unreliable narrators that pulled me in and made me wonder who to believe all throughout. The twists and lies all made this domestic thriller compelling and an interesting read that was told from 3 POVs.

I had the chance to listen to an early copy of the audio and the narrators did a terrific job of portraying the 3 POVs. This story is told mostly from Jane and Bea's POV with a little bit of Eddie thrown in. I would've liked to hear a little more from him, but this was a story strong on the female aspect.

Jane is a character that has come from the wrong side of the tracks. She is running from something but we never really get too deep into that. We do know that she doesn't come from much and she is trying to 'level up'. At the beginning of the book, she is a dog walker in an upper crust community. That is where she meets some of the "real housewives" of her neighborhood, as well as Eddie Rochester. He is a widow, but is still young and good looking and someone that the other women keep their eyes on. But when Jane catches his eye, their relationship quickly develops into more than either of them could expect. Jane's story is about what she came from and where she wants to go. Her POV is all in the present. Then we have Bea's POV. She was the wife of Eddie. Her story is about about the past. Who she is, was, and so on. So, what woman do you want to root for and what is Eddie's role in all of this. How did he become a widow and is there anyone that is innocent in this story?

The audio was a great listen and they did a great job with the story. I'm still not sure if I really liked any of the characters, but I really wanted to root for Jane, even when I knew what she was doing and the lies being told. Then there are the other main and supporting characters. I felt like they all could've come straight from a Real Housewives series. This is the book for all you Housewives lovers that like a bit of a thriller twist to your romance. It's entertaining, well told and will keep you on your toes.

What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. The author has crafted a modern version of an homage to Jane Eyre with a little extra of the creepy factor. So many terrible people behaving in unimaginable ways. We meet Jane, who is the product of a terrible childhood spent shuffling from relative to relative and eventually spends time in foster care with some terrible families. She escapes emotionally damaged and both literally and figuratively a new person. She winds up in Alabama walking dogs for a community of Stepford wives who live in McMansions, all dress alike and rarely if ever have a kind word for anyone, even their besties. These are not nice women on their very best day. They all seem to live by the motto “ he or she who dies with the most wins”. Jane meets Eddie when he almost runs her over and in short time she has moved in and replaced his wife who mysteriously vanished with her best friend and both are assumed dead. And so begins the road to a whodunit with more twists and turns than a formula one race track. The narration is spot on and draws you in and from the first few moments.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing this audiobook with me.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins is set to publish on Jan 5, 2021. After hearing this was a modern day gothic retelling of Jane Eyre I was most definitely intrigued. It was good. I definitely enjoyed the ride. I guess some things but enjoyed the twist of things I didn’t see coming. I was given an e-arc of this by St Martin Press and an audiobook by MacMillian Audio and I can say that I liked the narration. It definitely added to the story. Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for advance copies in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to this dark and twisted reimagination of Jane Eyre. Jane, not her real name, is hired as a dog walker to the Thornfield Estates where she falls for Eddie Rochester who is getting over his first wife Bea's death, but Bea is alive in a panic room...Why? That is what the reader will find out in this tale of murder, lust, greed and fake identity, I enjoyed this listen very much. My only issue was the non linear jumping around of the various perspective s. A little hard to follow.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced readers audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Jane is a dog walker in her early 20s working in an exclusive Birmingham neighborhood. Jane has a past that she would like to keep private. She meets and gets involved with the newly widowed Eddie Rochester whose wife and her BFF died in a boating accident. This is a solid thriller told from multiple POVs. Jane, Eddie and Bea all have personal histories that are they don’t want exposed. There were multiple twists that I did not see coming.

Solid narration by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne and Lauren Fortgang.

Spoiler: There was one detail that really annoys me...how could you not exit a room? I don’t want to say more.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Wife Upstairs is a retelling of the classic Jane Eyre that is told by two narrators. Jane grew up in the foster system and is running from her past as a dog walker in a bougie neighborhood in Alabama. She strikes up a relationship with Eddie, a man who's wife has been missing and presumed dead for about 6 months. Jane finally has her foot into the lifestyle she's always wanted, but the ghost of Eddie's wife saturates all her attempts at fitting in to the community. Our other Narrator, Bee, is Eddie's wife and she tells her point of view from a different timeline than Jane. What secrets is Eddie hiding, and will they prove lethal to keep?

This book was great! Everything about it really flowed. The narrators did a great job making the story immersive and exciting and the pacing by the author was done exceptionally. The non-linear timeline was easy to follow and had you thirsting for more from each main lady. Jane was a great character to watch unfold and her role she plays in this story is one unlike I have ever seen in a novel like this before. Bee is a bit more predictable but still a well written character. Eddie really steals the show though. He gives Gone Girl vibes throughout the novel. Did he do it? No way....but then again....it had to be him. This book will keep you guessing and the twists won't leave you disappointed.

Four stars for this novel, and the narrators did such a great job! I recommend this to anyone 14+ who is looking for an escape from reality and a great thriller.

Jane Eyre set in the deep south? Ok you have my attention. Now throw in some really unlikeable characters and I will certainly take the bait. Leave me guessing until the very end, well now you have me hook, line and sinker.

Our story involves the ultra fancy Alabama neighborhood's plain Jane dogwalker. But who is Jane actually, do we ever know? She catches the eye of the recently-widowed Eddie Rochester. His wife Bea (crazy wealthy from her successful business) and her bestie Blanche, died in a terrible boating accident bodies never recovered (uh huh). Eddie quickly moves Jane in and well down the rabbit hole we go.

This book has more secrets and surprises than most domestic thrillers these days. Every turn around the mansion and there is something new we discover from one of our 3 narrators. They are all super unreliable and really unlikeable. But this is all good with me, I love these details. There were some flow issues and a couple parts that bugged me with the pacing. Overall this was a great 4.5 star read for me. I switched back and forth between audio and ebook. I enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an Audio ARC of The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This audiobook book was perfect!!!! I sat captivated all day listening to this snarky audio which left me bemused and riveted. This was a fun twist on the Jane Eyre classic, now set in suburban Alabama, where women obsess over the right yoga clothes and fret about southern home tzatchkies. Jane is running from her past, hoping to fit in but little does she realize she’s about to stumble into an even bigger mess. Eddie is handsome, charming, rich but he has a missing wife.

Rachel Hawkins has written a psychological thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a story that’s full of humor and charm and a real page turner. This audio was an absolute delight and one I’ll be recommending to EVERYONE!!!!! Kudos to the multi cast narration, especially Emily Shaffer who voiced Jane.

I really enjoyed this story, but I did not enjoy the narration. The thick southern accents, though slightly accurate, were distracting from the true tale.

An amazing crazy and messed up thriller which kept me moving on excited to craving for more.
This is a prime example of what the world sees is not always the truth. The whole book you feel
like you are on the edge of the cliff waiting for the rocks to let loose and you fall into the abyss.
Jane Bell, the dog walker, comes from a troubled background and finds a chance at a new life
with Eddy Rochester, a wealthy widower. Through the story you get a glimpse of how petty rich
southern women can be. The lies come to light little by little but will the truth come out before it's
too late. This thrilling book keeps you guessing till the last words fade into nothing.
Narrator by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne, and Lauren Fortgang in an amazing way. You are
able to understand each person individually.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review and provider feedback on “The
Wife Upstairs.”

A thriller was just what I needed! I had a good time trying to figure out what exactly happened with Bea, Blanche, and Eddie and there were some fun plot twists. The pacing is quick and this was an easy audiobook to listen to.

Something I really liked about this was the changing points of view. I thought we'd only get Jane, but there were a few others that helped give a full picture of what happened. Some things weren't as they seemed and everyone is hiding secrets. Jane has a mysterious past she's running from, Eddie may have a dark side, and Bea and Blanche's friendship might not have been all roses. The different narrators for the audiobook also helped me keep track of who was talking when we switched.

One of the plot twists wasn't totally unexpected, but I liked how things played out. I also thought the ending was a bit creepy and still have a couple questions about motives and if anything else will happen. A great end for a creepy story!

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book kept me entertained. I was chugging along fully invested in the story and what was going to happen. And tried to figure out what was happening. I generally can guess what’s happening and am usually right. And I was here too. I still enjoyed the book. Would have liked a more finished end.

I'm so disappointed in this book. I liked the narator, I liked the story, I liked the setting... I hated the strong language. I know I sound like someone's grandmother and it's not like I haven't heard the words before but the use of profanity ruined this book for me. I'm probably the only one but I'm sad about it.

The story- It was ok. No surprises for me. This story is full of unlikable characters who all lie. It did build suspense fairly well, as you never knew when a secret would be exposed.

The narration- This is read by three narrators- overall, it was OK. The majority of the book is from Jane's perspective- In the beginning, it sounded very robotic to me. And fast. Not that I minded fast, but the book is set in Alabama, so it seemed strange. But Jane is not from Alabama and when doing voices for other characters, she slowed it down a lot. Bea's perspective- There isn't a ton of this, but the narration was fine. Eddie's perspective- even less than Bea's- again, fine. Easy to listen to and understand.

I was given a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Most people will enjoy this book- I don't regret reading it, but I have incredibly high standards for thrillers/suspense, so it was just OK for me.

Audiobook review: The Wife Upstairs is a 3 person narration depicting the life of former foster child, Jane, who is now a dog walker for the young elites in a "I have money and you don't" development in Alabama. This Jane is voiced as a somewhat jaded but hopeful young woman always looking out for a way to get a step up. She comes across as judgmental and snarky which proves a plus when trying to fit in with the South's version of the neo-wealthy valley girl. At times the Southern accents veer off track to a 1990's version of a valley girl. The chapters were clearly separated and easy to follow. Following the multi-person story-line was equally easy to do.
The story centers around Jane and her crush on a local (read good looking/wealthy/young) widower, named Eddie. They meet cute and he goes out to buy a dog so she can walk it and their relationship can develop. Lurking in the background is Jane's roommate who she would like to hide as he is a direct threat to her moving up in the world. And another smallish problem comes in the form of former friends of the deceased wife, Bea, and her equally dead best frenemy, Blanche.
As Jane and Eddie fall in love murder is discovered in this genteel backdrop. Can love conquer all and who will it have to conquer to succeed. Jane has to decide between love and money.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early audiobook for a review. All opinions are mine.

This was amazing. I am so obsessed with the modern retelling of classics trend that has been happening in books lately. The narrators of this were fantastic. The southern setting of this was done very well and mixed well with the gothic tone. I was definitely surprised by many things that happened at the end. Loved.

I don't think I read the blurb for this one. Honestly, I saw that Kirby Heyborne was a narrating, so I grabbed it. I'm not sorry I did either.

Told in alternating viewpoints, we meet Jane and Eddie. Jane, the dog walker. Eddie, the recently widowed.

Obviously sparks fly.

But...there's more. There are secrets and lies and manipulations happening in Thornfield, the small community where Eddie lives and Jane works.

On the surface, everything looks peaceful and happy. Serene. Perfect.

Underneath the surface, those secrets and lies...take us on a crazy ride where we don't know who is telling the truth, who is lying, or who the "good" guy is.

Reminiscent of Gone Girl, this book kept me guessing and left me thinking everyone got exactly what they deserved in the end.

The Wife Upstairs
by:
Rachel Hawkins
Publishes 1/5/21

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5

A mysterious ex-wife
Secrets held
Ignoring all of the red flags

What I liked:
Great characters

What I disliked:
Too formulaic for me

Perfect for:
Fans of THE LAST MRS PARRISH
Fans of ummm, JANE EYRE