Buckle up, friends, this is a wild and twisty ride!

Abi and Jo have been best friends since high school. Abi was the more popular of the two and defended Jo against the school bullies and they made an instant connection. That is, until Abi got pregnant from a one night stand with Cal, the school hottie. Jo, and every other girl at school, was crushing hard so when she found out about her betrayal, they didn’t speak for months.

That changed after Robbie was born. Abi missed Jo terribly and sent Cal to try and smooth things over and she asked Jo to be his godmother. Jo fell in love with Robbie immediately and even followed the little family when they moved towns.

Jo, a “pick me,” has sat by and watched long enough. Robbie is heading off to college and even though Cal and Abi co-parent, they are no longer a couple. Never really were. Jo sees this as her opportunity and nothing is off-limits. She’s resented her best friend for the ease in which she’s walked through life and now it’s time for Jo to take what’s hers.

We alternate between Jo and Abi, sometimes going back to the younger years with Jo, to see what she dealt with growing up around a best friend whose shadow she was in and a family who always cheered on her little sister first.

It was interesting to hear the different perceptions of what happened between them and it let us know they didn’t exactly have their fingers on the pulse of exactly how everything went down and would have been easier if they’d communicated with each other. Some of it was less “unreliable narrator” and more “oh did I leave out this important chunk of info?” and I didn’t love that but it was so twisty and good I let it go. The relationships between everyone involved are what made the book so interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!

Nicola Marsh's domestic suspense novels are, in my opinion, among the best written. She has the ability to draw the reader into the story from the first page and holds them there until the very last word. Her characters are well developed and interesting. She can even make the villains seem somewhat likeable, until they are not. As expected, this is a thrill ride with plenty of twists and turns.

This book wasn’t for me I’m afraid, it read more like a romance rather than a thriller to me.Abi and Jo have been best friends since high school and they are both after the same man Cal ,and what follows is a a tit for tat game by the both of them.With Cal playing the both of them off against each other,but Abi. has the trump card because she had a son Rob by Cal way back in high school ,and Jo has always been jealous of that fact.And so Jo hatches a plan to get revenge but things start go wrong for Jo.I finished the book but i wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who looking for a thriller to read.A 3 star read for me.

Jo and Abi have been best friends for a long time. When both women start receiving threats in the forms of deliberate "accidents" and spray painted messages on their properties, it seems someone is out to get them both. Can they figure out who it is before it's too late?

Though a bit far-fetched at times (how long can you carry ill feelings about what happened at high school?) , this was still a highly entertaining read. As the story progressed, it seemed there were more and more suspects and I kept trying to figure out who it could be. I'm pleased to say I did pick it correctly but there was another twist that I didn't see coming which really did surprise me! I enjoy this author's books a lot (she also wrote The Man Ban and The Boy Toy!) - the short chapters and dual POV's within this thriller were particularly effective as I was hooked!

The Ex Between Us
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 7/12/22
Author: Nicola Marsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 323
Goodreads Rating: 3.99

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Abi and Jo are best friends. From high school to adulthood, we’ve gone through everything together. Even when I made a foolish mistake and betrayed her in the worst way, she forgave me. She’s godmother to my son and our lives are intertwined. We want the best for each other, always. I introduce Jo to Noah, my new boyfriend, but she does not look happy. She has always been protective of me. But later Jo tells me that someone is threatening her and she fears for her life. But when I receive a note saying, “I want your life,” I’m terrified.

My Thoughts: Marsh is such a talented writer, she had me guessing who the “threat” was throughout the whole story. The way Marsh crafts her stories gives you the feeling of being all alone in the dark and hearing “noises.” The characters were well developed, they had layers of depth, mysterious, and just brilliantly portrayed. Abi and Jo were flawed, however, Abi is the one I related to, I felt Jo was on this rollercoaster of destruction and obsession. The author’s writing style was creative, suspenseful, twisty, and flowed so well. The story is started a little slower by building the characters, with their backstories, the plot is delivered through multiple twits, and the ending is brilliant. This was a fast paced, page turning story that was hard to put down once I started reading. This book releases next week and I highly recommend you pick up.

One of these creepy books that starts out just fine, good people enjoying their lives. There's a bad man around, but people have moved on, or have they? It is horrible how people so close to you can be deceiving, and you're not totally sure whom you can trust.

Weird things happen, jealousy is all around, old acquaintances return, and the reader keeps on turning the pages to find out the truth. The book was nicely written, but I had figured out the plot fairly early on, and there were a few inconsistencies that bugged me, but otherwise it was a good read.

This is my first novel by author Nicola Marsh and it made for a good read.

The blurb reads

"You can always trust your friends. Can’t you?

For as long as I can remember my best friend Abi has been in love with Cal and I could not have been happier for her. What started as a crush in high school, blossomed into the birth of their son and now, even though they are separated, the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Or so Abi thinks. Because for years I’ve seen the way Cal’s eyes wander, the way our female friends flirt around him, the glint in his eye when he sees me. I know it goes beyond just good friends and deep down I’m filled with guilt.

But as I begin to get a little closer to Cal, the threats land at my door, telling me to stay away from him. It seems I’m not the only one chasing a happily ever after. When Abi comes to me terrified and clutching a note saying “I want your life,” I know what I have to do.

Someone wants to take everything I love away from me. But they have no idea how far I’ll go to get what I want."

We meet two women Jo and Abi and the author really weaves a detailed and thrilling story.

The story swaps between each woman's point of view and I really was invested in both characters. They dynamic between them was interesting and as a reader I just wanted to get to find out what was going to happen to these characters.

Nicola Marsh writing really gripped me and I could not put this novel down. I warmed to both of the main characters and would love to read some more in a follow up novel.

A great beach/summer read that will keep you wanting more and more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Nicola Marsh and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A good, well-written domestic thriller. Full of twists and turns and surprises. Recommended.

My Review:
Loved!!!!! Hooked from the very first chapter. What didn’t I love about this one is the real question? I have read this author before and she is so much fun to read. Between her writing style and her story lines I always have a blast reading her books. They remind me of my old high school days with all the gossip, cliques, lies and betrayal. Also, the pettiness and the lengths you go through to be liked. You think when you get older you don’t have to deal with it all still but it’s still there just in a different form. With all that being said. The characters were awesome along with the story line but what I loved the most was that shocking ending. It was twisted and evil. You are like really all this for that. It showed that the past is never really the past and it will come back to haunt you in some way shape or form. I can’t wait to read more of this authors books.

In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The description sounded good but sadly the book didnt live up to it in my opinion. Sorry but this book isnt for me although I am sure that others will love it

the story of two best friends who start getting threats. it will keep you guessing until the end. very good read

I like the back and forth narration.
Just came across as too young adaultish for my reading likes.
Would still try reading more of this author in the future to see if others are the same or not.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

Jo and Abi are friends from school, they moved from San Fran to Fort Chester when Abi got pregnant at 17 with the boy everyone wanted to date, Cal. Cal and Abi co parent but aren’t together and their son Rob has just left for university when we pick up the story.

There is a dual narrative, one for Abi and one for Jo. It also splits in to two timelines, then and now.

I was expecting to enjoy this book but found that the unreliable narrator trope was pushed to the maximum, and I couldn’t get over how immature Jo was.

I saw the twists coming but I didn’t see how disjointed this book was as a positive.

Good for those beginning to read thrillers.

Sadly I gave up with this book after a few attempts of trying to get into it. Sadly for me this book wasn’t fast paced enough and I felt more like I’d gone back to my school days as that’s how all the main characters came across and behaved as if they were still in school.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book sadly not for me although I’m sure many others will enjoy it.

The Ex Between Us by Nicola Marsh


Jo and Abigail have been best friends since junior high and as far as Abigail is concerned Jo is closer to her then a sister. When Abigail got pregnant in her senior year to the boy Jo and every girl in the school had a crush on, they did have a small falling out but after Abigail gave birth to Rob and asked Jo to be his godmother Jo has not left Abigail’s side. Now eighteen years later as Rob leaves for college Abigail is suffering from empty nest syndrome so Jo takes her out to a club to get her mind off her troubles. Abigail meets the most wonderful man at the club, Noah, he is attentive, loving and treats Abigail like no one else ever has. But Jo does not seem happy with Abigail’s new man and appears to be jealous. Just as Noah comes on the scene Abigail’s house starts getting attacked at first the attacks are harmless but then the attacks start getting more dangerous and vicious and Jo’s house is attacked too. Who is doing these attacks and why?


This book is written from two points of view Abigail’s in the present and Jo’s in the past and the present

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Ex Between Us has a killer premise. The story was impactful with a deep plot that evokes emotion on every page. Marsh constantly stokes the flames of mystery.

The story had me instantly with the book cover. Mysterious, the colours remind me of the feeling of sorrow. I had the feeling that the book would be chilling and atmospheric.

The story focuses on two main characters, Abi, and Jo. Abi is struggling after her only child, Rob leaves to go to college. Empty nest syndrome is real, she has focussed her entire life on bringing him up to be the young, confident man he has become. Getting pregnant at seventeen took its toll but she wasn’t alone she had help from her parents, her best friend Jo, Rob’s father, Cal, and his best friend. The novel sets the tone straight away. She knows how lucky she has had it, even so, Cal has never been reliable and dependable, always leaving to go on photography jobs, flirting with other women, and being an absent father in Rob’s teenage years. He was never going to be the one that stayed devoted to their family. She knew, she accepted it but now it was time for her.

Reading The Ex Between Us reminded me of standing in the middle of a forest in the pitch dark, twigs begin to snap all around you, but you can’t see the threat watching. Nothing feels right, and the dark is as much a threat as the person stalking you. Just like the events that are plaguing Jo and Abi. Suddenly they are being targeted with vandalism and messages that allude to leaving a man alone. Abi has no interest in Cal anymore, but Jo still harbours illicit feelings toward him even if she tries to delude herself.

Nicola Marsh has a knack for creating taut plotlines that mess with your head. When Abi meets a new man, Noah, all these events start to ramp up a gear and you start to question just who is pulling the strings. Two old rivals are in town and Abi starts to question if they might be in on the pranks. Who would still be acting like teenagers when they are in their thirties? it’s a question that Abi asks herself time and time again. Lies and hidden secrets begin to unfold, some comforted me, but some created an anxious web of deceit.

Jo wasn’t particularly likable. She had a lot of unresolved trauma and pain from her childhood and unfortunately, it followed her into her adulthood. She has never felt good enough for anyone, and she begins to think she has always played second fiddle to her best friend, Abi. Her mother preferred her, their friends preferred her and her unrequited love, Cal, chose Abi over her. It was a seed – the more she poured her hate into it, the more it grew and became a dangerous obsession.

Jo and Abigail have been best friends since high school. Even a foolish drunken mistake could not keep them apart. As Abigail’s son leaves for college she finally thinks she can begin her adult life again. As soon as she starts dating perfect Noah, her life seems to fall apart.
Told from alternating viewpoints, The Ex Between Us shows that friendships are not always what they seem. Forgiveness is not always easy.

Highly recommended! I was hooked from the beginning.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest review.

I really like this authors books however this one for me tokk the longest to ‘get going’ when it did it was full of twists and turns and a good ending but it took some time to get there,the characters were easy to dislike but thats not always bad in a book……I look forward to the authors next book

I really enjoyed this book! It hooked me in and kept me intrigued the whole time as the past and present played out. I honestly didn’t expect the outcome but I was happy with it. I love a good unreliable narrator lol

I did not finish this book. The premise of this book sounded very interesting to me, but I did not like the writing style. I had a hard time reading the book as everything felt overly explained. Every time something happened, there was too much of a back story for me.
While I didn't enjoy it, I think many others will. I won't be posting feedback on any of my social as I didn't end up finishing the book.