Wow! Just wow! This book has left me reeling, and will be one I think about long after I’m finished! This is the kind of book that sticks with you.

Elana is a young struggling widow, who lives with her daughter Phoebe, when she meets the wealthy, handsome and charming Jackson. After a whirlwind romance and wedding Elana learns that Jackson’s two previous wives had little girls too, and theirs went missing. As his control on her tightens, and her suspicions grow, will she and Phoebe make it out?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page until the very last, and What a wild and intense ride it was. I will heed there are several triggers of a wide variety of abuse. It’s a hard read, but a very well written domestic thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

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B O O K • R E V I E W📖
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the RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

the PUBLICATION DATE: 10th October 2022

the REVIEW (possible spoilers)🤫
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✨This had me HOOKED. I say that a lot don’t I…..😂. I couldn’t stop reading as I just had to know what was going to happen!

✨I felt so bad for Elana and Phoebe BUT how could she be so naive! Everyone knows if it sounds to good to be true it usually is🤦🏼‍♀️.

✨The amount of anger I had reading this was crazy! Jackson was a complete piece of shit!

✨At times it was a tough read but it was so eye opening to read about how domestic abuse isn’t just violence and can be about total control.

✨Overall it’s a gripping read with a brilliant ending! I’d definitely recommend this one!

Everyone dreams of finding that perfect soulmate. That partner that completes you, to have a family with, to lay down roots, especially if your first husband has died in a horrible accident, leaving you a single parent of a young girl. That’s exactly where Elana finds herself when she meets Jackson, the man of her dreams, and a man that accepts Phoebe as his own. So perfect. The perfect marriage. The perfect life. But how do you know when in all actuality, you’ve met the devil at the crossroads. Sold yourself and your daughter for creature comforts and a chance at a “perfect, money laden life?”

This thriller was an action packed punch from start to finish. The lies. The deception. The choices Elana had to make. This will keep you up late at night flipping pages watching Elana struggle to make it out of the spiderweb Jackson has caught her in.

There are trigger warnings in here including child abuse, spousal abuse, murder and the cutting off and imprisonment of a spouse and young daughter in the den of the devil. Some of the scenes are graphic and cause a gut wrenching cringe reaction. The story itself flies along.

This is one I will recommend to anyone that loves thrill books with a complex mystery to solve. As long as you can handle the tension that builds including the above mentioned triggers, this is not one to miss.

This is my first book I’ve read by the author, but it most definitely won’t be my last!

In this tension-filled psychological thriller, Elana is desperate to find a way to get away from her husband Jackson. Although leaving Jackson will be dangerous, causing Elana to remain in a state of constant terror, seven-year-old daughter Phoebe‘s safety is paramount, Elana is doing everything that she can to get them away. Like a commanding officer in the military, Jackson has order after order that he issues to Elana, leaving her very little freedom to find and execute an escape plan.

Although they have only been married for a year, Jackson's true nature showed really quickly. Elana has no doubt that he had everything to do with his first two marriages failing. At first, however, she only knew of his prior marriages. What Elana did not know is that each of his ex-wives had a daughter. And each of their daughters had disappeared without a trace. Now she is more determined than ever to get her and Phoebe away from Jackson before she loses her precious daughter.

At some point, the FBI might seem like the route Elana will choose. But, can she trust them enough, or find enough proof to escape her horrid, controlling and abusive husband? What is it the FBI is looking for to stop Jackson once and for all. If Elana looks for that elusive thing, could it cost her everything? Her life? Phoebe? Jackson is rich, successful, powerful and cruel. Elana's options are few.

Jackson was a really loathsome character. It was so hard to imagine how Elana felt day in and day out, especially when all she wanted to do was to protect her child. I was torn between wanting to throttle Jackson and wanting to grab Elana and Phoebe in a group hug. In this thrilling read by Jenna Kernan, the tension never let up. The twists were a true surprise as this book and this book was yet another one-sitting read for me as I kept hoping for a good resolution for Elana.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Just finished reading the book. Couldn't put it down, being a mom and a woman fet many emotions and got really mad with a few characters. A book with a very good plot, keeping you interesting through the whole way. Definitely recommend it 😊

This was a good psychological thriller, it’s a domestic thriller about what happens behind closed doors. Full of suspense throughout which keeps you turning pages. The characters were good, the plot was great and the style of writing was perfect. I have read other books by this author and haven’t been disappointed with any of them. I look forward to reading the next one. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

I mean… I don’t even know where to start with this one. It’s one of those books that will stick with you (ie: Behind Closed Doors). This whole book had me gasping out loud. It was such a wild read, and the end was done perfectly! I absolutely recommend adding this to your TBR when it is released October 10th. Just wow!

I liked this one! I listened to the audio version and finished it in under 24 hours. The narrator was great, distinguishing voices for all of the characters- and there were quite a few! Lots of twists and turns with a satisfying ending.

Elana is happily married to Jackson and Jackson acts as a doting stepfather to Phoebe. To an outsider, the family is picture perfect family. But soon, Elana learns a dark secret about Jackson--Jackson had lied to her, he had married before twice and his daughters are missing. Now Elana wondered if she and Phoebe are same.

This was a slow-burn thriller although towards the middle of the book, the book started getting fast-paced and started getting more twists and turns. You have a controlling husband, money, power and privilege all played out and for Elana, it felt like a complete Cinderella theme. This was all too direct to me, already predictable and would know what is going to happen in the end so I would say not much twists and turns you would normally expect in a good psychological thriller. The characters to me feel like moaning and bland although I started liking Elana towards the end. The ending part wasn't bad as I predicted that this was what was going to happen next. Kind of had Behind Closed Door by B.A Paris vibe in this book.

Overall, if you like a slow burn domestic thriller then this one is for you--worth 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Being a new reader of Jenna Kernan I had only requested The Ex-Wives a few days ago..Boy was I surprised when I was approved so quickly. So thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for approving me. I could not put this book down, it had me from the very beginning.
The story has Elana a widow and young daughter falling for Jackson. A very charming, rich man who sweeps both of them off their feet. He treats Elana like a queen and gives her everything she could ask for and more. Yet something is not right once his ex wife storms into their pre wedding dinner and tries to persuade Elana to not marry Jackson. He is not who you think he is. The women is taken away and Jackson convinces Elana that she is crazy and she only married him for his money and place in society. So the marriage takes place and then things start to go sour.
Elana finds out that Jackson didn't just have one wife he had two.That whenever one of them tried to leave him their daughters disappeared.. Now all Elana can think about is her daughter Phoebe. Is he the one behind these two young girls disappearances? Then things really get bad. He has her tracked through her phone, purse and under the watchful eye of his brothers wife. Plus Jackson wants a son so what is wrong with Elana that she is not pregnant. Things really get hairy when the FBI approach Elana about helping them put Jackson away. How can she this is the man who saved her and Phoebe from poverty he can't be this evil creature.
Elana is stuck because Jackson has so much control over her she cannot think about escaping, but she must save her daughter. How can she, who can she turn to when the whole town is under Jackson and his brothers thumbs. When she finally figures out what to do there is a good chance that Elana will lose her life to save her daughter. She must find a way out especially when he has Elana arrested for drug charges and endangering a minor. Phoebe has a broken arm due to Jackson pushing her. He blamed it on her mother.
This book has suspense, thrills and showed what a mother would do to protect her child. As I read this book I thought of women who go through this nightmare everyday. Maybe if they read this book it would help the get out of a very bad situation. Bravo Ms. Kernan on writing a book that I would truly recommend to all my friends, but a book that might help someone not be afraid to get the help they need to escape a bad situation.
I hope to read many more of Ms. Kernan's books. and hopes she continues to write these thrilling books.

I was so rooting for a happy ending to this book..
Not going to say if there was or not to spoil it.
Great suspense, and we'll written to make the story believable and find yourself totally involved in the storyline.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Ex-Wives’ written by Jenna Kernan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Elana is swept off her feet by Jackson Belauru who’s the mayor of Bald Cypress and with his two brothers runs the town. He controls Elana and her seven-year-old daughter Phoebe, chooses their outfits that are always in pastel shades, tells Elana what she can and can’t do and who she’s allowed to talk to, and there are cameras that watch her every move. When she’s told that Jackson has been married twice before and both women’s daughters were abducted at the age of seven, Elana realises that she’s married to a dangerous sociopath. How can she get away from him when she fears that if she crosses him the same will happen to Phoebe?

I found the first half of ‘The Ex-Wives’ slow and laborious reading and I was tempted to give up but I’m so glad I didn’t as by the time I was half way through it turned into a gripping psychological thriller that had me completely captivated and I devoured in a day. The characters are well-described, Elana who I wanted to stand up for herself although I totally understand why she couldn’t, and Jackson an abusive tyrant who enjoyed inflicting fear. This is an action-packed rollercoaster of a thriller that has explosive ending and I’ll definitely be looking for more thrillers by this author.

4.5⭐️

Such a difficult, but brilliant read 😭🔥

It took me a while to get into this read, but as soon as I did, it was unputdownable! I really think Kernan cleverly crafted the first half of this read to drag a little to symbolise the length of time Elana put up with her abusive husband Jackson. 🔥

This read made me tense, angry and upset as I read about both Phoebe and Elana’s suffering at the hands of Jackson. Elana missed the major red flags early on in their marriage and I really sympathised with her. 🚩😢

This psychological thriller is a brilliant read, and although it’s a piece of fiction, it really does remind the reader of the reality of domestic violence. Elana was controlled in all aspects of her life, from where she went, to who she met, to where she shopped, to what she wore. At times, this was a difficult read, but the clever writing style makes you push on through the book to try and help Elana find the truth about the missing girls and leave the violence she suffers from her very narcissistic husband. 😔🩸

I really recommend this thrilling read which is packed with emotion and contains a few twists.🔥

Many thanks to Jenna Kernan, NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC which is published on 10th October 22! 📚

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️

Unfortunately, I had to put this down after a few pages. It seemed a bit too horror to me than thrilling mystery. I felt uneasy reading and I didn’t want to continue.

Tense captivating thriller. I could not put it down. The suspense builds and you root for the protagonist. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. A definite page turner.

*Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for this Ebook in exchange for my honest review

Realistic, involving and attention keeping thriller

Elena meets the man of her dreams, who is happy to take on her daughter and change their lives for the better for ever. Jackson might be a bit controlling at times, but Elena accepts this is just showing concern for Elena’s wellbeing and happiness. A nasty ex-wife makes an unexpected appearance, at least unexpected to Elena who hadn’t been aware Jackson had been married before but, well these things happen. Some time later it begins to dawn on Elena that some of what the ex-wife said might actually be true.

Missing children from the past, a husband who becomes very different to the man Elena fell in love with, and gradually, from within her seemingly perfect new life, Elena starts to become very afraid for herself and her daughter. My hopes, and fears for Elena rose and fell in line with hers. The story was unsettling, but no way was I putting it down until I found out what happened to Elena and her daughter.

I really enjoyed reading this because it seemed so plausible and had me wondering again and again what I would have done if I was in Elena’s position. An involving, at times hard to read (because I was worried for Elena and her daughter), well written domestic psychological thriller that kept my attention throughout.
2nd thriller I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed them both!

Single mother Elana's dreams seem to have come true. She and her daughter now live in a beautiful house with her new husband Jackson. Everything seems idyllic. Sure Jackson has a few quirks like prefering both Elana and her daughter to wear feminine clothes in pastel colors, but where is the harm in that? Soon Elana starts to suspect that something might be off with Jackson. Things that seem like quirks before Elana now sees as controlling. She wants to leave him, but there is just one problem with that....Jackson has been married twice before and those women also had daughters....who went missing when they tried to leave him.

As Elana digs deeper into his past she discovers that her perfect life is actually a nightmare. I found the book to be well-paced for the most part and I enjoyed the mystery elements. Once I crossed about 54% I couldn't put it down! It's a nice thriller to read over a weekend. I would recommend to fans of Mary Kubica, Liv Constantine, and Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkanen.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to Jenna Kernan, Bookouture Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC which did not influence my review.

I found the pacing to be a bit too slow initially, so at first it was difficult to get into. Then the last quarter of the book suddenly ramped it up to super speed.
The characters aren't likeable (most aren't meant to be) and although you obviously feel awful for the wife - I felt equally frustrated by her.
I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc ebook.

I asked for more Jenna Kernan books and I did receive! The Adoption was one of my favorite books this year and this one was great too. Her books are always a little longer than I usually prefer but I fly right through them. It’s magic!

Elana is living a Cinderella story, by all outward appearances, married to Jackson. She was a single mom, widowed, and just getting by when she was swept off her feet by this guy. He sounds too good to be true and that’s because he is. Sometimes you don’t know you married a dud until you’re stuck with them!

We find out he has a history of his ex’s kids going missing so as much as she wants to leave, she’s terrified of something happening to Phoebe. Jackson is the mayor, his older brother is on the city council, and his younger brother is a tater head cop.

On a trip to NC for a fishing thing(male pissing contest), she is planning to flee, but a situation presents itself that could be even more appealing..

Again, this was great. My biggest issue is that from the beginning the FBI is trying to help and she’s too afraid to tell them anything. Not usually a fed fan but everyone local is in his pocket so it felt kind of like “WHY?”.. I almost wish that detail wasn’t added because it made some of it feel like some suffering was for nothing, but I do understand that abused people don’t always react how we’d like or what’s reasonable, given the stress they’re under.

Also the constant “she’s so lucky” “I’m so lucky” “This is like a dream!” “He has money but isn’t too tall!” was laying it on a bit thick lol we get it, he’s rich.. and insane.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. Another banger by this author.

Jenna’s first book, The Killer’s Daughter, was brilliant. Unfortunately, this one, The Ex-Wives, is not one of her best books. I found the subject matter to be quite depressing. I hope Jenna goes back to the subject area she does best for her next book.