This book will take you on a wild ride.

Paula and her husband Tommy take a cruise so that they can discuss starting their family. Paula is a stay at home housewife. Tommy is a successful businessman and together they have a beautiful home but no children which Paula desperately wants.

Guess who else wants that life? Anna. She has also decided to take a cruise in an attempt to snatch Tommy away from Paula. She stops at nothing to try and get rid of Paula - tries to drown her, locks her in a sauna, steals her money and phone, etc. Anna stops at nothing to try and attain what she wants and kills the people that stand in her way. However, Paula only takes so much before going over the edge.

This story is told in the present and gives us sneak peaks in the past.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. I enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to others. Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy.

I would rate this book 3.5-4.0 stars because there were some slow parts that seemed to drag until the climactic ending.

The Life She Wants by J.M. Hewitt is the third book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. iIts a great psychological thriller that starts as a slow-burn and then Bang there are so many twists and turns that has you Hooked!!! and you just want to find out whether Paula saves her marriage to Tommy or to destroy it especially as it is hanging by a thread at the moment! It it worth all the pain to save it??
Then Paula loves the way her Husband makes her feel, But, lately it seems he is pulling away from her and keeps avoiding the big conversation they both need to have about their children etc.

Tommy is so sweet he suggests they both get away and take a cruise, just the two of them! WoW........Paula is thrilled especially as he is making an effort to save their marriage and he even wants to talk about their children! "Has be been knocked on the head by something? Has he done something wrong? Or is he just want to patch everything up??
Whatever, it is Paula is happy and excited just to get away and have some us time!

Then, everything changes when the couple meet beautiful Anna!

Who is Anna?

Is she dangerous?

One thing is, when she appears in their lives everything starts to go wrong for Paula! She finds herself trapped in the sauna.Her beautiful hair is ruined at the salon on the cruise ship! Money goes missing from their cabin.

At first, Paula thinks she’s paranoid and she is losing it! She never suspected Anna.....This is their dream holiday No one is out to get her!!!
But are they? and the million dollar question is Why?! Why ME!!!!

I highly recommend this book I loved it!!!

Big Thank you to the author J.M Hewitt Canelo and Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

my review of The Life She Wants. HOLY CRAP!! Why haven’t I read anything by this author before?!? One of my best friends has raved about her for a long time, but I never seemed to pick up a book. I tell you what though, I’m not looking back now, this book probably has 10 gold stars from me, I absolutely bloody loved it. Obviously I’ll try my hardest to not give anything away, as I think that spoils a book.

It was well written, scarily believable and could genuinely happen to anyone. I personally don’t think any of the characters were likeable as they all had too many faults. Tommy, he’s male and was only thinking with his ball brains. Paula was needy and a bit whiny. Anna (if that’s even her real name 😉 ) is a gold digging hoe lol. They were that unlikeable for me, it’s what genuinely made the book brilliant.

The cruise setting was fantastic as there was quite a bit of imagery and everyone was in close quarters with each other. Not very many places a person can hide on a cruise ship, but it seems a lot of things can be kept hidden on a cruise ship.

I’ve never read anything quite like this before and I’m going to be raving about this for a very long time and that twist at the end, oh… my…. god… I definitely wasn’t expecting that and it definitely threw me off, but not in a bad way.

If you haven’t pre-ordered or bought this novel, then I suggest you do it this very second! I promise you, you will not be disappointed… DO IT!!! Will I recommend this book? What do you think? HELL YES!!!

Wow, this was a real little ripper from J.M. Hewitt. I loved it and read it over 2 sessions. All of Hewitt’s books so far have been thoroughly enjoyable and I am already looking forward to the next one!

I read this book very quickly thanks to such an engaging talented author! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Great characters, setting and storyline. Would highly recommend.

Intense dramatic thriller that kept you guessing until the end - really gripping story with a wonderful twist at the end! I really enjoyed this and couldn't put it down..

Written well with the scenes and a connection with the characters. Although the story put me on edge I had trouble putting it down and had to know what would happen next.

Paula and her husband Tommy are college sweethearts. Now a wealthy housewife, Paula’s entire life is centered around Tommy as he climbs the proverbial ladder of success at work. All she wants from him is a child of their own, but he’s avoided the subject for years now, instead giving her exotic trips to try to distract her. His latest distraction is a cruise to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Little does he know, Paula won’t be distracted again. She plans to get exactly what she wants from him on this trip. However, she may end up losing it all when the couple meets a beautiful woman named Anna on the ship.

Anna grew up with nothing and has continued to have nothing all her adult life, but she’s determined that the cruise to Iceland will change all of that. Her sights set on the successful Tommy, she knows all she has to do to make him and his money hers is get rid of his weak, insecure wife Paula. That won’t be too hard. The cracks in their marriage are on display for all to see, and Tommy’s more than ready to stray into Anna’s bed. But she may have underestimated Paula. Both women have dark secrets ready to destroy them. Both women are ready to fight for what they want.

Full of jealousy, greed, and selfishness, “The Life She Wants” by J.M. Hewitt is a twisty roller coaster ride — minus the big drops that put your stomach in your throat. With a single white female vibe throughout, the book is a domestic thriller that focuses on an unhappy marriage and a single woman out to steal another woman’s husband no matter what it takes. It’s a tale nearly as old as time, but with a twist. Both women have dark pasts and secrets that could destroy them if anyone ever found out. As the war over Paula’s husband Tommy wages, so does the battle with each of their pasts (and keeping them buried).

“The Life She Wants” doesn’t focus on moving along at a fast pace as you might expect for all that happens within its pages. Instead, it focuses on Anna and Paula — and their points of view — and the tension that continues to build between them and in the story itself right up until the end. It moves along at a pace perfect for the plot as Paula suffers disaster after disaster, and Anna makes her moves to get rid of her and snatch Tommy. One woman comes off as a weak victim. The other seems pure evil. But just as there’s a fine line between love and hate, so is there between good and bad.

Totally addictive, “The Life She Wants” is a book that anyone who’s had a troubled marriage and a straying spouse will find relatable. Paula’s reaction to Anna is palpable and realistic — at least at first. It’s the deadly intentions and dark secrets that set the story (and you) on edge — and made me continue to think about how magnificently twisted the story was long after I read the last page.

The Life She Wants is an intense psychological thriller that starts as a slow-burn and then picks up the pace to turn into a story full of twists and drama.

Paula has been together with her husband Tommy for more than fifteen years. She appears to have it all-a good-looking husband who earns a lot of money and is able to afford every kind of comfort, a five bedroom house, cars, holidays, unlimited free time. On the other hand, she has never used her degree, she hasn't got any real friends and her husband refuses to discuss the question of starting a family. Is her marriage in trouble? Is there anything she can do to save itandensureshe still has the life she wants?

When Tommy (unwiling as he is to discuss babies) shows their two tickets for a cruise, Paula is hopeful that maybe things aren't as drastic as she thought. But then aboard the cruise liner, Tommy is back to his usual self-centred behaviour and strange things begin to happen to Paula, including being locked in the sauna. Could their new aquaintance- dazzlingly beautiful Anna- have anything to do with it?

The story is told from three POVs- two of them are those of Paula and Anna and then there are also 'Before' flashbacks from the mysterious third person. Part of the fun of reading this book is trying to figure out who they are. I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters in the book, although I did sympathise with them. The book was very easy to read and it is clear that the author knows how to slowly build the suspense and then surprise the reader with an unexpected twist in the end. Bonus points for using very atmospheric settings that add to the darkness and mystery of the plotlines.

Entertaining, full of drama (especially towards the end), intense, The Life She Wants is the first book by J.M. Hewitt that I've read, but it won't be the last.

Psychological crime thriller fans will not want to miss J M Hewitt’s shocking, complex and compulsively readable chiller, The Life She Wants.

Paula had always believed that her marriage to Tommy was for keeps. Until recently. Troubled that their marriage is hanging by a thread, Paula cannot help but worry about the state of her relationship. Tommy seems to be getting more and more distant with every passing day and, to make matters worse, he seems to be doing his utmost to avoid having a much-needed conversation with Paula about starting a family. Paula does not want to lose Tommy, but she worries that it might be too late for them – until he announces that he’s booked the two of them on a cruise. Paula is absolutely thrilled that Tommy is just as eager as she is to fight for their relationship. Tommy promises her that on holiday they will be able to have their discussion about starting a family of their own. However, their dream vacation might just turn into a nightmare when the couple meet a beautiful woman called Anna.

No sooner have Paula and Tommy met Anna that things begin to go pear-shaped for them. Paula finds herself trapped in a sauna, money goes missing from her cabin and an accident at the salon leaves her with her hair destroyed. Is Paula being paranoid suspecting Anna? Were these incidents just isolated accidents? Or is Anna so determined to win Tommy’s affections that she is willing to do whatever it takes to destroy Paula and her relationship?

Paula has got a fight on her hands, but Anna is not a woman who should be so easily underestimated. As secrets from the past come to the fore, Paula looks set to lose the future she had fought tooth and nail for. Can she save her marriage and have the family she has always wanted? Or will Anna manage to completely and utterly destroy her life?

J M Hewitt hooks her readers in from page one and piles sinister twist after sinister twist in a jaw-dropping, addictive and shocking thriller that is an absolute struggle to put down. The Life She Wants is a creepy and chilling tale about dangerous obsessions, desperate secrets and ruthless vengeance that will have readers clearing their schedules and devouring this book in one go.

A hair-raising rollercoaster ride, J M Hewitt’s The Life She Wants is a must-read for thriller fans everywhere.

The Life She Wants is told from the perspectives of Anna and Paula, as well as a third unknown person in the past, who you are left to guess the identity of until the end.

Every character in this book is unlikeable. Normally that would be an issue for me as I like to have someone to root for, however, for this novel it works.

While not a hair raising thriller, I still enjoyed putting the pieces together for this. I figured out the twist early but I didn’t see the ending coming, I thought it would play out differently.

I recommend this to those looking for an easy to read psychological thriller.

TW: child abuse

Thank you @rachelsrandomresources for organizing this tour.

I really enjoyed this thriller. It was slow paced until the end when it really picked up. Following Paula’s story throughout this book was interesting and it was interesting to read about how the characters in the book ended up being together. We got to read in the perspective of Paula, the seemingly perfect house wife who has a perfect life, and Anna, the single woman who was looking for money. There was also ‘Before’ chapters which followed the story of a young girl but we don’t get to find out who she is until the very end. Finding out who this turned out to be was shocking.

As the story describes, Paula has the life that Anna wants. Anna does everything she can to meet this couple and interfere with their life’s. It was very irritating when Paula’s husband, Tommy, wouldn’t believe what was happening with Paula. I wanted to shout at the book at some points. I could not expect what was going to happen at the end and how far these two women would go. The end was truly shocking and I was not expecting it at all.

I found the characters interesting, I did find Paula put herself in some of these situations which was irritating. Overall I thought the book gave a good insight to the characters lives and there was an amazing thriller aspect to it. I don’t want to say too much more about this book because I want you all to enjoy it for yourselves.

Two women - one man. One is his wife, the other is a woman who wants her life;.. and will do anything it takes to get what she wants.

Paula and Tommy are on a cruise. Supposedly, they are going to be talking about starting a family ..something Paula wants wholeheartedly. However, Tommy seems to be pulling away from the idea. Paula wants to save this marriage at all costs.

When the meet Anna on the cruise, strange things begin to happen to Paula. She gets locked in the sauna. Her hair is accidentally bleached in a salon. Money goes missing from their cabin. No one seems to believe her when she suspects Anna. Of course, with Anna flirting with Paula's husband, things get even worse.

How far will Anna go to get what she wants? What lines will Paula cross to protect her marriage? And whose dark past will return to destroy them first?

This is well-written with a story line filled with twists and turns. It's fast-paced with surprises on almost every page. It is clear that someone has had a horrible childhood.. leading to a deranged adulthood. Every other chapter or so, the reader gets a peek at someone's childhood. The conclusion is riveting and totally unexpected.

Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Grabbing me from the start I couldn’t put this book down.

The author takes on an emotional roller-coaster ride on a cruise with Paula and her husband Tommy who is fighting for their marriage. Both of them wanting different things Could this be the answer? Well not if Anna has anything to do with it. She has her eye on him and from the moment she appears things go wrong with Paula.You cannot help but feel sorry for Paula.

Told from alternative characters POV, with flashbacks to the past.We follow a creepy, atmospheric read with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

The Life She Wants is an addictive read. I was hooked from start to finish and read it in one sitting! It would make a brilliant movie. Psychological thriller fans will love it.

My thanks to NetGalley, publisher Canelo and author, J.M.Hewitt, for the electronic review copy.

This book is such a sinister psychological thriller - totally engrossing, with surprising twists: really good characters and dialogue; well-written and reasonably fast-paced. I really enjoyed it!

Paula and Tommy Ellis live in a large house in Essex; they want for nothing - except Paula, after 10 years of marriage, and on the receiving end of countless excuses from Tommy, really wants to start a family. On a shopping trip with her best friend Julia, their conversation in a coffee shop is overheard by Anna Masi. Anna (known as Gemma) is a carer to aged William and has been fleecing him out of his money for some time. Anna is incensed by what she overheard - she deserved the life Paula had, and she is determined to get it. However, to get Tommy and his wealth, Paula would just have to "go".

When, to avoid yet another "baby" conversation with his wife, Tommy presents Paula with a 10 day maiden voyage trip to Iceland, Paula cannot resist broadcasting it on social media. Circumstances contrive to enable Anna to join that voyage - thoroughly focussed on what she wanted to achieve.

Throughout we have narrative detailing the appalling life of a young girl trying to keep things together for herself and mother - who is a prostitute and drug addict; the achievements she attains and the drastic actions she has to take.
However, all is definitely not what it seems - either in the past narrative or in the present storyline. There's some major twists in this story - chilling - sinister.

I really enjoyed this, really, I did! Good plotting, good characterisation; definitely atmospheric.

Paula and Tommy and have been married for many years and all she wants is to have a family. He is all about his career and keeps having excuses to put off having kids. One day he surprises her with a cruise. She is thrilled, as she seems to think their marriage is in trouble. But when they get on the cruise he seems to have different ideas than she does.
On the first day she goes to the sauna only to find out she isn't alone. There is a naked, beautiful woman in there. She is Anna and when she leaves then Paula finds herself locked in the sauna. Not long after that Anna "saves" her. Of course Tommy doesn't believe that anyone would lock Paula in the sauna. Seems like everytime Paula turns around something is happening to her and it always seems to be when Anna is around. At first Anna and Paula seem to be friends and the first night Paula even invites Anna to eat dinner with her and Tommy. As the days go on though Anna seems to have Tommy in her sights.
This was a quick read in 1 sitting and I couldn't put it down. There was even a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC to review.

The story is told mainly through the eyes of Paula and Anna but there are flashbacks which show the perspective of an unknown girl. I really enjoyed how the book alternated between the present and the past because in my opinion it made everything more intriguing.

I honestly didn’t really like any of the characters but I think that’s the way it was supposed to be. I mean I did feel sorry for Paula at times but I was also like girl are you seriously going to let people treat you like that!! For the majority of the book I was hoping that Tommy got pushed overboard or something.

The Life She Wants is a slow burn psychological thriller that is packed with gut wrenching moments, secrets, twists and betrayal.

Paula and Tommy. Tommy and Paula. They love each other, don't they? Paula feels so safe with Tommy, but after a conflict, things get tense.

Tommy suggests a cruise. A dream holiday should be a dream, shouldn't it? They are both looking forward to it.

Then they meet Anna...

Paula doesn't know who to trust when it seems she's the target of an incident. Are she and Tommy still solid? Or is it Anna?

I enjoyed how gripping this was and the plot about the cruise. I found I was holding my breath in anticipation as to what may happen. There were so many twists and turns.

I found myself wondering if Tommy and Paula would save their marriage, or if they would even get off the cruise ship alive at some points.

The Life She Wants certainly kept me guessing.

Thanks to J.M Hewitt, Canelo and Rachel's Random Resources for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars

You want to save your marriage. She wants to destroy it.

Paula worries that her marriage to Tommy is handing by a thread. She loves how safe her husband makes her feel, but lately, it seems like he's pulling away from her, and he keeps avoiding a much-needed conversation about finally having children. When Tommy suggests a cruise getaway for the two of them. Paula is thrilled. It's Paula's dream come true. Until the couple meets beautiful Anna.

this is a slow paced psychological thriller. I did not like any of the characters, they were a bit one dimensional. Told in the present day with flashbacks from a girls childhood. It's mainly told from Paula and Anna's perspectives but there's also a perspective from someone from the pact. The last 15% it all really kicks off, and the drama is ramped up.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #JMHewitt for my ARC of #TheLifeSheWants in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Life She Wants’ by J M Hewitt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Every year when Paula brings up the subject of increasing their family of two to three her husband Tommy sidetracks her with a bigger house or a new car, and this time surprising her by booking a seven-day cruise to see the Northern Lights. From the moment they meet Anna Masi who has the cabin next to their own things start going wrong for Paula, she’s trapped in the sauna, her hair is damaged in the beauty salon, and she’s deliberately pushed on the outside deck. Tommy thinks she’s being paranoid but it doesn’t take Paula long to realise that Anna is out to wreck her marriage and take Tommy for herself. Despite their disagreements, Paula will do everything in her power to keep her husband and Anna has no idea what she’s facing.

From a slow start ‘The Life She Wants’ becomes fraught with tension and drama as Paula faces one catastrophe after another so that she realises they it can’t just be bad luck and that her life could be in danger. The plot is cleverly written by making me think of the characters in one way only to have a twist later on that completely changes my opinion. The characters of Tommy and Anna aren’t particularly likeable and I’ve kept wanting Paula to stand up to her husband more forcefully, but the deeper I got into the story the more I was in for a shock when I reached the conclusion that was a huge surprise and not at all what I was expecting. I enjoyed reading this novel, I didn’t think I would at the beginning but it grew on me until I couldn’t put it down and kept reading ‘just one more chapter’ until I’d reached the end.