This book was so wildly different and I have conflicting feelings and struggle still on rating it, but I am going with a 3.5 stars for the creativity and the fact that it kept me engaged, even if it was with my mouth hanging open LOL

Kate is a stay at home mom who had always wanted to write, and ends ups the author of steamy romance novels. Which isn't all that out there. But woooo you need to read it to find out where she gets the ideas for her storyline. I just watched the Ashley Madison documentary and it made me think of this book.

This book was intriguing and uncomfortable all at the same time.

As I said, it isn't like anything I've read. It's original for sure.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for allowing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where are my spicy thriller fans at?! 🥵💋
This one is goooooooood. If you liked The Arrangement, you're going to like this one even more! The author slayed this book. The premise, the characters, the ending... Absolutely nailed it. This is a storyline you don't see a lot of, and I loved every second of it. Someone please call Netflix and turn this into an adaptation!

This was an entertaining thriller. I don’t always enjoy books written about authors but I thought it was done well in this case.

This book was fast paced and twisty, never boring or slow. It had a little bit of spice which I always appreciate in a thriller if it’s done well. The characters were interesting and I found this story to be unique. The ending was also crazy, I never saw that coming!

Instagram Tour Stop coming soon!

Thank you so much to Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this gifted advance copy!

Unfortunately this just wasn't the book for me. I truly tried to love it, but I found myself skimming through it. I didn't feel very invested in the story, i wanted more thriller and less drama.

THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT by Lisa Kusel ✨
ARC review • pub date 07.16.24

This book is absolutely unhinged 😂 a steamy romance writer who has absolutely no drive herself, makes an arrangement with her husband that he can be her muse, and she writes best selling books based off his experiences

it’s wild, but I really enjoyed it! The writing style was great, I read most of it in one sitting. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller, maybe a domestic suspense? Either way, it was good!

Read if you love:
-Kiersten modglin books / The Arrangement
-tea
-neighborhood drama
-eccentric characters/hippies

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my advanced copy!

A novel of suspense mixed with some spice? Yes please! THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT a great mix of intrigue, spice making it a book you’ll want to read this summer!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Kate, a erotic romance writer, is happily married to her husband Matt. They seem like the perfect couple, except for their sexless marriage. Because of this, Kate gives her husband permission to go out and have sex with other women as long as he comes home and tells her every single little detail about that experience. In turn, she uses it as material for her books. This lifestyle has been working perfectly for them for years. Then Annie, a widow, moves into their neighborhood with her daughter and completely disrupts their family dynamics. Kate befriends Annie and her wild, eccentric ways, but soon learns that Annie has been keeping secrets that could rip apart all their lives.

I'm not sure that I would label The Widow On Dwyer Court a thriller book, but maybe more of a domestic drama with a hint of a thriller aspect. A forewarning since the FMC is an erotic novel writer, this book has quite a bit of spicy scenes written into it, but they are not very detailed. I would give it 2/5 🌶. So, if that's not your thing, I would skip this one. This book definitely has a unique plot. It kept me turning pages despite missing the on the edge of my seat aspect I like in thrillers. I enjoyed that the author included the book that Kate was writing, so we were getting another story within the story. I devoured this book in one day because I had to know how this crazy, wild ride was going to unfold.

Kate is a successful erotica writer who draws inspiration from real life…kind of. She has absolutely zero interest in a romantic relationship with anyone - including her husband Matt. But they still love each other dearly, so they compromise: Matt is free to go out and sleep with any woman he wants, with one stipulation: he tells Kate all the details so she can use them for her books! When a young widow named Annie moves into the neighborhood, she and Kate quickly become friends, but her arrival threatens to upend their perfect little arrangement.

Well, when my friends at Thriller Lovers the Pulse said this story was wild, they were not exaggerating - LOL! This story was entertaining to say the least. I loved that Kate was always working on her story, so we got to read a book within a book. I wasn’t sure where this story was going but it was a fun journey trying to figure it out! Part slow burn domestic thriller, part spicy suspense thi book was unlike I have ever read before. If you don’t usually read romance, just be aware going into this one that there is quite a bit of spice.

Thank you to BLackstone Publishing and Lisa Kushel for the ARC! “The Widow on Dwyer Court” releases July 16, 2024.

This review will be shared to my instagram blo (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly ;)

This thriller was definitely a different type of thriller! A story within a story with a bizarre agreement in a marriage. Kate and Matt have an odd agreement but it has worked for them. Both are happy, both are excelling in their careers and life couldn't be better. Kate, a spicy romance writer spends most of her days at home while Matt is often off traveling for work. When Matt returns home from these trips, Kate uses his escapades for inspiration in her novels and it all works well. But after one trip, Matt's story just seems different. He has less details, he gets his details mixed up, some of the situation he explains doesn't fit with what he just said and Kate wonders why the sudden change. But she also has other things on her mind with their daughter having befriended the new neighbor and the mother in a way pushing herself into Kate's life. Although Kate knows she should get out more and be friendlier, things seem odd with Annie. She quickly learns she is a widow, she moved here for better air and schooling for her daughter but she also has a lot of medical issues. But as this friendship gets more odd, so does various things Annie says and does. Things that Kate knows she didn't tell her. Turns out Annie has secrets just like Kate and these secrets could change the perfect balance Kate and Matt have created in their marriage. Such a good thriller! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complementary ebook. Thriller Book Lovers the pulse is excited to be reading, talking and posting about this summer thriller! Add to your beach read list!

★ 4 Stars ★
I just finished "The Widow on Dwyer Court" by Lisa Kusel, and it was quite an intriguing story! It's an unusual domestic suspense that reads quickly. The wow factor and unique premise make it hard to put down.

Told from the POV of Kate and Annie, these oddball characters will keep you flipping the pages. Kate is likable enough but not easy to relate to. Her marital arrangement is mind-boggling! Having an open marriage is one thing, but this woman asks her husband to have sex with other women and report back with all the juicy details. Really tough ask, huh?

Annie, the widow mentioned in the title, is strange from the moment she enters the picture. She exudes an unsettling vibe of someone you don't want anywhere near your husband, especially if he's sex-deprived. Kate - get those claws ready, girl!

This book definitely falls into a category by itself! Lisa Kusel deserves credit for the unique plot! The story gets straight to the point, and even though it's not fast-paced, it is intense, suspenseful, and quick!

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for providing this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

The Widow on Dwyer Court has an interesting mashup of suspense, family drama and spicy romance. The book is told in alternating POVs from Kate and Annie who become friends when their daughters meet at school. They are very different from one another but their friendship appears to be genuine until something doesn’t add up. There is an underlying connection that takes awhile to reveal itself but I had my suspicions early on. There’s also some spice added to the plot that adds to the intrigue!

The premise of this novel sounded interesting to me, which is why I decided to check it out. And it was an interesting story overall! I was glad to get both Kate and Annie's perspectives throughout the novel. They had such opposite personalities that it was a surprise when they initially became friends.

I couldn't imagine being in Kate's shoes in terms of her libido. I know that there are people who feel the way Kate does though. I appreciated that the author explored this facet of her personality, as it plays a huge role in the story. And while Annie has a different lifestyle from one I could imagine leading, the author did a great job committing to this character and showing how much she didn't care what people thought.

This is definitely a domestic drama/suspense. I wouldn't categorize it as a thriller though. However, there were some parts that certainly made me nervous for certain characters. I also didn't see most of what was coming, so I was often surprised.

It would have been helpful if the scenes that Kate was writing were done in italics or a different font, as Kate's own narrative interrupted them a lot and it got confusing. I also felt like the ending after all the buildup was anticlimactic. However, the story was entertaining and kept me wondering what would happen next. I just wish the climax and all the intense drama would have come in a lot sooner, so it didn't feel so rushed.

Overall, an enjoyable read that fans of Kaira Rouda and Leah Mercer, amongst others with a similar style, would appreciate.

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Kate: Betty Gilpin
Annie: Eve Harlow
Matt: James Lafferty
Heidi: Amy Davidson
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TW: death of an animal (not shown), explicit (sexual) language at times

This book is a book within a book. At first I was not to happy about that as I wanted the story I was reading more than the book Kate was writing but it all ties in nicely together. 

Now this book was very interesting as Kate allows her husband to basically cheat on her and I honestly find that so weird. Overall it was decent. Would I say it was a psychological thriller? Not really, it’s more of a marital drama in my opinion. 

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion.
Full Review on my instagram May 22, 2024

Kate and Matt have a non-traditional marriage, to say the least. They love each other dearly, but Kate is sex-averse, so they haven’t been intimate in years. But they have an arrangement: Matt is free to have one-night stands with other women when he goes on frequent work trips, but he has to come home and tell Kate every single juicy detail, which Kate then uses as inspiration for writing her newest erotic novel. When a bohemian young widow named Annie moves into the neighborhood, she and Kate become fast friends, but Annie’s arrival threatens to upend all of their lives.

I was so entertained by this unique book, which is a clever mash-up of thriller and romance. If you’re used to typical psychological thrillers, this one might be spicier than you’re used to! This slow burn domestic suspense has the perfect build up to a wild and twisty conclusion.

This is a great book for fans of:
• Spicy suspense
• Dual POV
• Neighborhood Drama
• Book-within-a-book novels

I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before! And we are loving it over here at @thrillerbooklovers #pulsepoint #thepulse.
It’s a domestic drama thriller mixed with some spice. 🔥 I never really thought about reading the two together but it definitely worked for this one.

Kate is an erotica book author and she is happily married. But their marriage is not conventional. She is not interested in sex and to satisfy her husband and also give her writing ideas, her husband is allowed to sleep with other women while away on work trips as long as he follows a few rules. It works for them until it doesn’t….

Annie just moved down the street and has a daughter the same age as Kate’s. Annie is different and quirky. They strike up a friendship quickly but Kate learns Annie isn’t as she seems.

This book was a wild ride and I did not see that ending coming!

"𝑨𝒎 𝑰 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔?
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇?"

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @blackstonepublishing @lisa_kusel and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So. This is not your normal spicy thriller, IMO. I would say this is a BIG slow burn, with an underlying suspense. Mostly because you're waiting to see when the thriller part is going to happen.
Toward the end, you start to see bits unravel and wondering ok, wait - did she kill him, or is she going to kill him?
Yes, there's lots of sex described, but cmon - it's a book about a romance author. What else do they write about?!

This one is a quick, interesting read! Add it to your preorder list ASAP!

PUB DAY:
July 16, 2024

QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️Have you ever met an author in person, and if so- who?
If no, what is your favorite color?

AOTD - I have not, and purple.

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#thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #thewidowondwyercourt #lisakusel #blackstonepublishing #bookbuzz #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #upcomingrelease
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3.5*
This was such an odd book. We have a married mum of one, famous for being an author. She writes erotica but hates sex. So she makes a deal with her husband, Matt. He can sleep with whoever he wants as long as he tells her so she can use the details for her stories. But, unsurprisingly, it eventually goes wrong.
This one was marked as a thriller, but to be completely honest, it was only the last 10/20% of the book that seemed to have any kind of thriller vibes. Most of the book seems to focus on Matt's sexcapades and parts of Kate's book. It was very, very sex orientated, and unfortunately, that just isn't something I enjoy reading. Had I known just how much sex and how little thriller there was, I don't think I would have picked this one up.
However, the writing was great. The last part of the story was twisty and unexpected. There was too much hide the penis and not enough stabby stabby for me.

First of all as others have mentioned, this is definitely not your typical psychological thriller and from the synopsis, you know it’s going to be a wacky and wild ride 😂. And it definitely was! A slow burn with good build up, some spice, and all the entertainment 👌🏻. Best part? Totally unique!

Lisa Kusel….you sneaky rascal. Not only did you deliver a well choreographed dance between the characters but you also produced an unputdownable piece de resistance. It was very clever with some cunningness mixed in. For those that enjoy suspenseful, outside-of-the box reads that make you want to know the untold stories of the whole town, do not pass this one by!!

Wow. This one was.... different. (In a good way I think)

Kate is your typical stay at home soccer mom on the surface. But what many don't know, she also is an erotic romance author and uses a pseudonym. She loves her husband but does not desire sex/physical intimacy and they have not had sex in years. With this, they have made a special arrangement. Matt is able to have one-night stands when he is out of town for work HOWEVER, he has to tell Kate every detail. This arrangement works and they live their lives without issue, that is until Annie enters their lives. In the beginning Kate sees this as the perfect opportunity to have a fellow mom friend. But little does Kate know; Annie has some big secrets of her own.

This book delivers dual perspectives from Annie and Kate as well as pieces of Kate's spicy books.
Spicy, thrilling and oh so twisty!


Thank you, Lisa Kusel, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.