"THE SECOND MRS. STROM" was my SECOND-favorite "Paul Strom" book.

Yes, author Kaira Rouda's "BEST DAY EVER" (the first "Paul Strom" book and one of my BEST BOOKS EVER) was a very, very tough act to follow.

A standalone read, "THE SECOND MRS. STROM" spotlights the one-year wedding anniversary of one of my favorite fictional delusional narcissists Paul, and his new young, gorgeous wife Cecilia.

Both husband and wife have different agendas.

Although this book was pacy and entertaining, it lacked the thrill factor of "BEST DAY EVER".

(Perhaps my expectations were too high????)

Many of the twists were contrived and eye-rolling. Plot holes were plentiful.

Also, this book was released seven years after "BEST DAY EVER".

(That is a long time to wait for a sequel).

I listened to the audiobook read by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard. Both narrators did an outstanding job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Also, this book was released seven years after "BEST DAY EVER".

(That is a long time to wait for a sequel).

I listened to the audiobook read by Nick Landrum and Laurence Bouvard. Both narrators did an outstanding job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a audiobook advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review

I’ve read all of Kaira Rouda’s books, and this is by far my favorite. I loved these crazy ladies and enjoyed watching Paul squirm! Five stars.

Kaira Rouda’s "The Second Mrs. Strom" is a thrilling sequel to her previous novel, "Best Day Ever." In this gripping follow-up, Rouda delves deeper into the world of narcissistic sociopaths with a narrative that’s both suspenseful and engaging.

The story centers around Paul Strom, a character you'll love to hate. His manipulative, controlling, and despicable nature is portrayed with such intensity that he becomes a fascinating yet infuriating figure.

Rouda’s writing is excellent, with well-developed and complex characters that add depth to the story. The plot is perfectly paced, filled with twists that keep readers on edge. Whether you’re turning pages or listening through an audiobook, the experience is equally compelling. The narrator’s performance is great, bringing Paul’s character to life with clear, impactful voice work and perfect pacing. This sequel is a fast-paced, entertaining read—ideal for a cozy night in with a glass of wine or a bowl of popcorn. If you’re a fan of dramatic, suspenseful thrillers, this book is a must-read. 4 stars! My friends at @thrillerbookloversthepulse can't stop talking about this one. Make sure and add it to your to be resd list.

Please note: while "The Second Mrs. Strom" can be enjoyed as a standalone, reading "Best Day Ever" first enhances the experience, providing valuable context and background.

PUB DATE: Aug 16, 2024

Thank you @kairarouda, @thrillerbookloversthepulse, and @netgalley for the ARC & ALC.

#thrillerbooks #thrillerbookrecs #bookreview
#booksofinstagram #tbr

Thanks NetGalley and Kaira Rouda for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

The Second Mrs. Strom observes a couple's seemingly idyllic anniversary celebration in Paris, which gradually reveals their true identities. While the novel presents an intriguing concept and a few unexpected surprises, its shortcomings are evident. The characters lack appeal, and the narrative becomes monotonous and dull. Nonetheless, a suspenseful thread motivates the reader to continue, ultimately rendering the book a decent read.

The author keeps your guessing through entire book on who is going to kill who at the end. I love how she built up your annoyance with the characters. Paul is not as bright as he thinks he is. What irony he loves mystery/thriller books. Great read!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ competitive relationship
✨ secrets
✨ cliffhanger


✨ I was put off first with the book cover but don’t be fooled. The book was amazing!
I thought it will a typical story of a girl looking for a rich husband but the plot has a different direction of secrets. Both of them are so competitive to each other but they weirdly love each other🤦🏽‍♀️
It was a complicated one and definitely worth the read.


✨ the story has a cliffhanger I believe as it doesn’t add up with the whole scenario and I wish it could be.
The cover itself is the only one put me off but everything from the first chapter to the end is amazing!



✨ Thankyou bookouture for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.


🫶🏼shaye.reads

The people in this book are all horrible and so is this story. I felt this book was predictable, at times repetitive and frankly disappointing. The premise has been overdone, and there were no growth in one horrible character in the story. The ending was bad. I just didn't like this book .

If you like reading a story about horrible, vindictive, narcissistic people then this is the novel for you.

Paul Strom has married again. But now he's the rich one after his stint at being a boy toy has ended with his paramour's death. Cecilia is everything he wants after his disastrous first marriage and the loss of his two sons (see first book). She is young and beautiful and will help him take Hollywood by storm. Unfortunately, he doesn't really know her very well at all. And she has her own ideas about what this marriage is going to do for her.

This was just too much nastiness for me. Both Paul and Cecilia are such hideous people that I could barely get through this though others might like this kind of psychological drama. At first, I was drawn in and hoped that perhaps the whole plot would turn out different than expected, but, alas, it was predictable and thus I just read the twisty mess to get to the epilogue. I was not happy with the conclusion either. Definitely read Best Day Ever first before you tackle this one if you really think you need more.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along with the e-book, both provided by the publisher. I really wanted to like this one, but I do not like this type of trope where bad people get away with so much evil behavior. I liked the voice of the male narrator, but the female's voice was like nails on a chalkboard and got on my nerves with the breathy high-pitched sound.

Paul Strom is back with a new wife and enjoying their year anniversary in Paris. Paul is just as egotistical as ever, and I was here for it. I loved that in this book we got his perspective as well as his second wife, Cecelia’s. It was nice to see that Paul might have met his match with her! This book was fast-paced and well-crafted, and I loved trying to piece everything together.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators. I would have liked the same narrator for Paul from Best Day Ever, but understand the books were published 7 years apart so that might not have been possible.

Thank you Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, Bookouture, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC of this audio book! I love a good domestic suspense, and this one did not disappoint. This is the second book for Mr Strom. I read Best Day Ever so long ago, and while I remember loving it, a lot of the details were fuzzy. Honestly, you don't need to have read the first book to jump right into this one. I loved that I didn't know which spouse to hate more, and even after finishing the book, I still don't know. That's what makes the book so fabulous! The narrators were great, but the male really grabbed the character and ran with it, I even began to hate his voice. I was totally entranced by the audio. This was a wonderful book I will definitely be sharing!

What a dysfunctional, wild ride this book was…Phil and Cecelia, the epitome of a power couple in a happy marriage, are on a trip to Paris. The novel is described as a as a psychological thriller (but I felt it was more of a drama with one decent twist ending) and told in dual point-of-view (the two narrators in the audio did a fantastic job!) with and now and then format. As the story progressed, I could not stand either main character whatsoever yet could not stop reading/listening to the train wreck that was unfolding. Hypocrisy and toxicity oozed from the plot…Phil and Cecelia’s marriage was unhealthy, they hated each other and each had their own agenda as to why they were still together. This book was like finding a Chinese hairless sphinx kitten/cat thingy that is truly hideous but feeling so sorry for it you take it home and it becomes your constant companion.

Paul Strom, inherits a fortune after the death of his "companion" Esther. At her funeral he meets the beautiful Cecelia, it was love at first sight. After a whirlwind romance, they get married before moving to California.

Paul decides to whisk Cecelia away for a romantic getaway to Paris to celebrate their first anniversary. The romantic trip very quickly turns sour.

This was an interesting read with timelines and POVs flipping back and forth, which is found a little confusing at times. I didn't find the storyline particularly surprising and predicted most of what was going on fairly early in the book. It was still and enjoyable read.

I found the narrators voices to be pleasant to listen to.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Second Mrs. Strom" is the thrilling sequel to Kaira Rouda's "Best Day Ever," the book that first hooked me on her writing. I couldn't get enough and eagerly sought advance copies of her new releases when they became available!

As soon as I started listening to the audiobook, Paul's unforgettable selfish and whiney voice came rushing back, making me shiver with disgust and fascination. The narrator did an outstanding job of returning me to Paul's world. I couldn't wait to see him get his comeuppance!

While "The Second Mrs. Strom" is a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading "Best Day Ever" because it's just that good. Paul's despicable and self-centered nature is genuinely memorable. A year into his new marriage, he's in for a rude awakening when he realizes his new wife, Cecilia, won't bow to his every whim.

This book is a wild, exciting ride filled with wit and suspense. Watching Cecilia toy with Paul and put him in his place while he obliviously embarrasses himself is pure entertainment.

Thanks to Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for the advanced reading. copies provided via NetGalley. I received copies of the audiobook and ebook from the publisher. All opions are my own.

Paul and Cecilia, after a whirlwind courtship, are in Paris celebrating their first anniversary. Though they initially seemed madly in love, cracks are starting to show in their relationship, and both harbor ulterior motives for this trip. The story is told from the perspectives of both main characters, with past details revealed as the book progresses.
This was my first Kaira Rouda experience, and I was not disappointed. The pacing of this novel is masterful, with a thrilling contrast between the present-day timeline, confined to a single day, and the flashbacks spanning several years, intensifying throughout the story. Some of the reveals felt a bit too convenient, as if they were thrown in to see what stuck, but the ending was satisfying, and the pacing was good. Both narrators were quite good and easy to listen to, making the audiobook format highly recommended for this one.
It wasn't intense, but the twists were good, if not entirely gasp-worthy, and the storytelling was compelling. There's a prequel titled “Best Day Ever”, but this book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the Advanced Listeners Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest review.

When I say I was hooked to this book, I am not exaggerating. I was not expecting to be pulled in right away. The husband’s POV was unexpected but I love stories where we get both POV’s and this book is extremely engaging from the very beginning. The narrators did a really wonderful job. I was a little confused about who Esther was to Paul but the book does a good job of clearing up any mysteries/questions I have. I like to be surprised. I like how the author eases you into the character of Paul. He seems like a normal rich man who falls for a younger woman but the way she untangles his character slowly is really interesting and realistic. I had all the characters figured out wrong which is good because I like to be kept on my toes and about mid way through I realize this with the flashbacks between the present and past, which is well done here. Also, I love that they are in Paris. It’s a good setting for the story and I love how the Eiffel Tower was saved for the end of the trip and the climax of the book. The plot twist with Cecilia was unexpected because the author does a great job of building her up to be a sweet, normal character. I’ve been interested in reading this author’s work because she seems to have interesting books and I am not disappointed. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time so I highly recommend this book.

The insufferable Paul Strom has returned! This book is just as captivating as the first.

Paul and his new wife, Cecilia, celebrate their first anniversary in Paris. He's still obnoxious and arrogant, but Cecilia has a few tricks up her sleeve.

These two, Paul and Cecilia, are a perfect match for dysfunction, creating a tension-filled narrative. I particularly enjoyed the perspectives of both characters and the excellent audio narration.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a free copy of this book.

The Second Mrs. Strom by Kaira Rouda ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow!!! I enjoyed this (audio)book so much. I didn’t realize this was a sequel so I will be reading that next. (The best day ever). The main character was insufferable and none of the characters were likable which I found entertaining.

Thank you Kaira Rouda and NetGalley for approving my ARC request

The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda, the sequel to 'BEST DAY EVER'! Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my #GIFTED copies! I listened to the audiobook and read the ebook! My opinions are voluntary and my own!

Has Paul Strom met his match with his young, new wife, Cecilia? I think so! While in attendance of his “older lover’s” funeral, Paul meets Cecelia. Young, ambitious, beautiful and broke. Paul has just been left a fortune and needs a new wife!
Cecilia will be perfect as the next Mrs Strom — malleable, subservient and future mother to his 3 future children….well, that’s his dream at least.

Unfortunately, for Paul, Cecelia isn’t as malleable as he’d like and he is turning back to his old ways.

When Paul and Cecelia go to Paris for their first year Anniversary, Paul has a surprise for her, but, unbeknownst to Paul, Cecilia may just be at him to the punchline!

My thoughts:
Woah! Just as ‘BEST DAY EVER, I LOVED this wicked thriller! Oh, Paul, I love you so much, you narcissistic psycho! You are just too funny and way too confident! A speedy, fun and entertaining read that fans of Freida McFadden must read! This can be read as a stand alone but would be better to read the first book!

The Second Mrs. Strom is a solid thriller with some wild twists and turns!

Overall I thought the premise was good- an older man with a hefty inheritance marries a younger, beautiful woman. They’re celebrating their one year wedding anniversary in Paris. It’s told from the perspective of both main characters, and past details are revealed as the book goes on. Some of the reveals were a little too convenient for me and by the end it seemed like twists were being thrown at the wall to see what stuck. It felt like quantity over quality. The ending was satisfying, though, and the pacing was good.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and the narrator can absolutely make or break an experience. I found both voices a bit irritating, which maybe was purposeful?

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved it!! Very well written and had me hooked in the first chapter. I have not read the first book, but appreciated that the story was not lost without having that kind of background. Very much hoping for a third book and will definitely be reading the first book!