John Yunker's 'Young Rich Widows' masterfully blends elements of mystery, suspense, and social commentary into a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Set in the opulent world of Newport, Rhode Island, author Vanessa Lillie brings to life the lives of young, wealthy widows who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight after the mysterious deaths of their husbands. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Lillie deftly navigates the complexities of grief, privilege, and power dynamics within the tight-knit community. Through her skillful prose and finely drawn characters, she invites readers into a world filled with intrigue and deception, where nothing is as it seems. 'Young Rich Widows' is a captivating read that will leave readers eagerly turning pages until the final, shocking twist.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book outside of an anthology that has four authors, so this was a new and interesting read for me! We have four rich widows, as the title suggests, and this story gets pretty deep…

A plane takes off in New York, but never makes it to Rhode Island. Something goes horribly wrong. The plane explodes, killing everyone on board, including four partners of a law firm: Romeo, Peter, Jack and Robin. Their wives are at a party when they find out, and immediately they know why this may have happened.

Krystle is the wife of the law firm’s founding partner, Romeo. Their loser adult son, Rom, also works at the firm.

Camille is Peter’s wife. Sexy, flirty and wealthy, she was having an affair with Jack, and seems to mourn more for him than her own husband.

Justine is Jack’s wife, and they’ve have a toddler named JJ. She definitely noticed Camille’s reaction to the death of their husbands, but she’s just trying to make sure her son is okay through this.

Meredith (stripper name, Tina) is the in-the-closet partner of Robin, the only female partner in the firm. It’s 1985, so they aren’t married, but Robin’s will is made out to her - the closest they could get.

Soon, this story gets some more traction as we find out the law firm owes four million dollars to the mob. The widows are contacted and told of they don’t have the money by New Year’s Eve, things are going to get nasty. This is only days away - they don’t have time to sell their houses or take out loans, they need to find this money that may have blown up on the planes The women race to find the money in time for the boss’s New Year’s party/orgy - they all dress like whores and go through the doors, and that’s when things really get crazy.

This is set in 1985, and I adored the references to music, pantyhose with shoulder pads, mountains of cocaine, and fur coats (also, I loved the part where someone sliced garlic so thin it liquified in the pan, ala Goodfellas). This was a suspenseful and entertaining read; at first I didn’t like the widows, but after a while, the author told me more about them, and a little bond was formed. It looks like there will be a second book about the widows, and I will be there for it! Four stars.

(Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, Kimberly Belle and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

The four partners of a law firm dying in a plane crash on the first page, thinking their last thoughts and regrets? Immediate attention grabber. Young Rich Widows had me enraptured from the beginning. This 80s thriller is twisty, emotionally provocative, and mysterious.

Four windows at a Christmas party learn of their spouses' demises, setting in motion a journey that reveals dark secrets hidden in their relationships. Who was responsible? How far will they go to keep the windows from exposing their secret?

This book has me tearing up, gasping, and second guessing myself. I love the epilogue showcasing an interview between the widows and the authors. The fourth wall break is so unique and funny after a tense read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kimberly, Layne, Cate, Vanessa, and Sourcebooks for this egalley!

This was a fun read. The 4 women (widows) are so witty and fun. This is a mystery/thriller and so many twists and turns you won't be able to tell what will happen next and this definitely will keep you guessing. I was very excited to be able to get the ARC. I have heard so much about this book and wonderful reviews and they didn't lie. This was such a quick easy enjoyable read.

As others have classified it, it was campy - put it in the Janet Evanovich style of writing. The story follows 4 women, widowed by a plane crash that took their lawyer partners. Was it an accident...or a coverup? This could have read tragically, but it was written as a lightweight book, so if you're looking for something to read in a day, this is a good candidate. It was a collaboration by four writers and an interesting experiment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance reader's copy.

Wow! This is such a fun read, I loved the four widows, Justine, Camille, Krystle and Meredith.
Becoming widows brought these four woman together, they would not have chosen to be friends, they could not be more different.
This is a wild, slightly crazy story, completely over the top, but highly entertaining. The four must stick together to find the truth, what brought the plane crashing down that killed their spouses? Was it intentional or an accident? They must protect their inheritance. They are sassy, smart, tough and determined.
Four very talented authors have created this fun fabulous read. Could there be a book 2?
Thanks to Net Galley and SourceBooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Young Rich Widows is about the widows of four lawyers who are unexpectedly killed in a plane crash. The widows seemingly have nothing in common except the dead lawyers, however circumstances force them to work together.

This was a fast read with a few unexpected twists throughout. There were a lot of characters which took some time to get straight in my head.

Young Rich Widows is a captivating mystery-thriller that transports readers straight to the neon-lit streets of the 1980s. The story revolves around four widows, each with secrets to protect, as they unravel the truth behind a plane crash that claimed the lives of their lawyer husbands.
The four protagonists—Justine, Camille, Krystle, and Meredith—are brilliantly crafted. My personal favorite? Krystle, whose complexity and determination stole the show.
The mafia-affiliated law firm backdrop adds an intriguing layer. The mob references are spot-on, immersing you in a world of danger and hidden agendas.
As the widows dig deeper, new threats emerge. Was it a tragic accident, or something more sinister? The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Overall, this novel is a delightful blend of nostalgia, suspense, and female empowerment. If you’re a fan of twisty mysteries and strong female characters, give Young Rich Widows a read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Young Rich Widows is a thriller written by four authors: Vanessa Lilli, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle. I have enjoyed Belle’s previous romantic suspense/thrillers, so I was eager to read this story. Each chapter is told from one of the widows’ point of view, and each widow’s story is written by a different author.

The story begins in 1985 in Providence, Rhode Island, at a Christmas party hosted by a law firm. The party hostess receives a phone call informing her that a private jet carrying her husband and his three law partners has crashed into Long Island Sound, killing all aboard. The widows are flabbergasted because they had no idea that their partners were traveling to New York City that day.

Justine Kelly is married to Jack, the firm’s newest partner. She is mixed race: Ashkenazi Jewish and African American, although she passes for Italian in Providence. She is a former fashion model who is now devoted to her 3-year-old son, Jack Jr. She knows that her husband is having an affair with another partner’s wife, but she doesn’t know which one. She has a friend who lives in public housing and is caring for a very sick daughter.

Camille Tavania is a beautiful, young Southern belle who is married to Peter but having an affair with Jack Kelly. Camille is regarded as a gold digger since she met Peter while working at a jewelry store. She is empathetic with her 15-year-old stepdaughter, Kimberlee, who lives with her and Peter because her mother is an alcoholic. Camille longs for love and wants to be a mother, but understands it won’t happen with Peter, who had a vasectomy.

Krystle Romero is a fat and frumpy mother to three sons and the wife of 24 years to the firm’s founder, Romeo. Krystle is the stereotypical Italian wife and mother. She is convinced that the form’s success is solely due to her husband and wants her son Romeo Jr. to take over. For many years the firm handled Workers’ Comp and auto injury cases for Italian American clients. The newer partners expanded the firm’s practice to include corporate and land development deals.

Meredith Everett is a lesbian stripper who was in a secret relationship with the firm's only female partner, Robin Calder, for three years. Robin had promised that she would announce their relationship at the firm’s Christmas party. Meredith goes by the stripper name, Tina, at a club owned by mobster Salvatore Ponterelli. She knows Romeo Romero Jr. as a frequent client and cocaine user.

Krystle’s uncle, Vincent Rossi, is the family and firm’s lawyer. He informs the ladies that the firm’s ownership will be divided equally among them, since Meredith produced papers establishing herself as Robin’s heir. The ladies quickly find out that the firm’s clients were primarily mobsters and gangsters. Then mobster Salvatore Ponterelli’s men break into Krystle’s home and removed everything of value, declaring that the firm owed them $4 million. Romeo Jr. is kidnapped by Ponterelli and held hostage until the $4 million is repaid.

Supposedly each partner contributed $1 million to a mall development deal involving developer Martin Ellis. Camille is assigned to talk to Martin to try to find out what’s going on while Krystle is the go-between with Ponterelli. The ladies have to work together to clean up the mess they were left with. They all fear for their lives and their childrens’ safety.

Young Rich Widows is a mash-up of The First Wives Club, The Sopranos, and Erin Brockovich. The descriptions of the ladies’ clothes, hair, music, mall development, and the lack of cell phones keeps the reader in 1985. Otherwise, this story could take place in the present day. Each of the ladies’ personalities are very different, although I didn’t relate to any of them. The story moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged trying to figure out how the ladies are going to get out of the mess. I especially want to highlight that the chapters flow seamlessly; the reader doesn’t sense that each woman’s voice was written by a different author. Young Rich Widows is a wonderful suspenseful novel that can be enjoyed by all adult readers.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and SourceBooks- Landmark for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A plane crash that leaves four women widowed. I liked how the four women started off not getting along and the snarky comments and fighting was funny. They soon learn that they must work together to solve the mystery of what lead to the plane crash.

I enjoyed all the 80's music references and the varying points of view from each woman. It was great to watch these women turn fierce and fight back and come out stronger. The ending was leading to sequel so I can't wait to see what happens next.

Grab the popcorn and snuggle in to enjoy this fabulous action packed thriller.

A mysterious plane crash takes out four prominent law partners. Their widows come together to uncover the truth of the crash.

A campy 1980’s story, this is a lot of fun and will keep you entertained. It reminded me of a Jackie Collins novel. Lots of drama and fighting. You won’t be bored.

“Mobsters to the left of me, gangsters to the right. It’s a miracle this place doesn’t spontaneously combust.”

Young Rich Widows comes out 4/2.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Disappointed by this story- expected a thriller from great authors. This felt like a “slap stick comedy” making fun of the mob, the 80s and women in general. The plot was far-fetched and difficult to finish it.
Not interested in the sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The entire plot was unrealistic and not a thriller…more of a mystery.
I felt the writing was juvenile, over the top with the ridiculous scenarios and just overall a bad book…won’t be reading anything further in this series.

This started off as just an audiobook and was made into a book. I loved the snarky widows and their rich and fancy ways. This book had me laughing at the snarkyness that I could picture in my brains. I have heard that people enjoyed the audiobook more, yet I have not listened to it.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @sourcebooks for my free advanced readers copy!

Oh. My. God. I LOVED this GRIPPING thriller! it was UNPUTDOWNABLE! I stayed up all night finishing it. Readers who love suspenseful thrillers like ‘ First Lie Wins’ by Ashley Elston and ‘The Other Mothers’ by Katherine Faulkner will LOVE this fantastic read!

Told in multiple POV’s, ‘Young Rich Widows’ is about 4 women dealing with the serious aftermath of their lawyer spouse’s tragic deaths. Sal, scrupulous mob boss wants his 4 million dollars owed to him and has threatened their very lives to get it back. Scrambling to find the missing millions, the 4 women discover countless secrets and a deadly deal that could have dire consequences for both their city and themselves.

This was a fun read and one of my top reads of the year! TWISTY, thrilling and a reminder of the power that women hold if they stand with each other! LOVED!

I have mixed emotions about this book. Parts of it I really liked. But at the same time lt seemed disjointed. Maybe because several people were involved writing it? It was enjoyable but not great like Kimberly belle's other books. The surprise twist at the end just fell flat to me. I would say read it but do not have high expectations.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a super fast paced, entertaining thriller taking place in Providence, RI in 1985! I really enjoyed the story more because I am local to the area and knew all the places they referenced in the book. It definitely reads as a thriller with lots of action, but I love that there was sprinkles of romance, grief/healing, motherhood, and also friendship thrown in it. Also, the Italian mob in the 80s in RI? Sign me up, because this was so interesting!!

If you’re looking for something fast paced, and wildly entertaining pick this one up, because this group of four widows had me quickly turning the pages to find out how their story would end!

Their story starts with 4 lawyers from a firm based in RI, dying when their private plane crashes over the Atlantic Ocean. Left to clean up the aftermath of the crash, but more importantly the firm is all the lawyers widows. Even though, they are not friends, and some may even hate each other, they have no choice but to work together against the clock to fix the mess their partners left.

This is beyond fun and everyone needs to read/listen to this who hasn’t! It is twisty, suspenseful, and full of revenge and bad ass ladies. I was worried since four (amazing) authors wrote this, that it wouldn’t run smoothly or maybe feel disjointed however, it was the complete opposite. I think my favorite thing was trying to guess which character was written by who! I can only imagine the audio being a blast!

This is a wild ride and I loved all the ladies for different reasons! If you are looking for some kick ass entertainment grab this! It was so good I flew through it in one sitting! Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy!

I love all of these authors separately, so I was thrilled to hear that they wrote a book together! The first chapter grabbed my attention. The rest of it was hard to follow, mainly because of the character chapters. I didn’t feel invested in any of the women because I didn’t feel like their stories were developed. I was confused by each POV, their individual plots and the semi crossovers between the widowed wives, which was a distraction to the overall story.

This book was a fantastic read. Loved it. It was one of the best books I read this year. This book started off with a bang and it keep it up thru the whole book. By the title of the book, you kind of think its going to a sexist book. But it wasn't at all.

Its about a plane crash and the people that were left in the wake of it.

Great read.