I quickly got caught up in this tale of so called domestic bliss.

Paul and Cecilia are married and celebrating their one year anniversary on a romantic trip to Paris but you can tell from the outset that something is not quite right.

Paul is a millionaire, having worked his way into the affections of a rich lady who dies and leaves him her fortune, so he has it all, a beautiful young wife, a home to die for in Malibu and is a man used to getting his way. His arrogance got my back up from the outset, what he deemed suitable for his wife, expecting her to be waiting at home for him, barefoot and pregnant was his vision but Cecilia has other plans.

I loved everything about it and would definitely recommend reading if you're a fan of domestic thrillers. The narration was fantastic. Thank you to the author and the publishers for an advanced copy. Another hit for Kaira Rouda.

Paul and Cecelia’s relationship is a passive aggressive War of the Roses…They are perfect for each other.

Rouda’s latest novel is a fun read. As the narrative unfolded through the alternating perspectives of Paul and Cecelia, I found myself complacent over the predictability of a scene only to be surprised by the turn of events!

The narration by Laurence Bouvard and Nick Landrum is solid.

Paul’s self absorption matches his lack of self awareness. While Paul’s narcissistic whining is grating, it made me sympathetic to Cecelia for having to suffer his presence.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this title for an honest review.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio/NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early! Before I started this book I listened to the first book, Best Day Ever. So I was very familiar with Paul's history and the type of person he is, the kind of man you love to hate. But just like in the first story he's not as good at hiding his true self as he would like to think. The story has a nice pace and I definitely said "what?! No way!!" out loud at least once! This was a fun one and I highly recommend it!

This could have been a great story but was ruined with extremely implausible over the top scenarios/reveals. The mistress did not neee to be the sister, especially on top of being the daughter. That reveal was wasted too…

I am also aggravated by how often adopted children or children from the foster system are vilified as if we are all sociopaths because we were fostered or adopted.

Other complaints: the dialogue between the husband and wife was unbelievable and ridiculous. This isn’t how a couple speaks …

Publication date: August 16th, 2024
Page number: -
Audio length: 8.5 hours
Narrator: Nick Landrum, Laurence Bouvard
Genre: domestic thriller
POV: Paul
Setting: French vacation

Paul and Cecelia have been married a year, and are spending their anniversary in Paris. At which time a cat and mouse game begins as both have alternative plans for the vacation. Fast paced, constant action. Twists and turns until the very end!


Thank you to author, publisher, NetGalley for advanced audio copy. This is an honest voluntary review.

Narration of this book is amazing! I loved this book so much and the audio version is outstanding!

Paul Strom is one of the most despicable characters ever written. Best Day Ever is my favorite Kaira Rouda book and Paul is now married again and is up to his same old ways. But Paul may have met his match in his latest wife…or has he??? The scheming and twists and turns kept me listening to this book and finished in one day!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture audio for the chance to read and review this book!!!

3.5 stars for this one!

A woman who was once invisible meets and marries a man who changes her life. Despite their lavish lifestyle, she is filled with resentment over his past actions and is seeking revenge. She is determined to get what she wants, no matter the cost.

This book was cleverly written with an intriguing plot. It features multiple timelines and points of view that all converge at the end. Personally, I found it to be a bit slow-paced, requiring me to frequently refocus my attention. While I appreciated the concept of the storyline, it didn't quite captivate me as much as I had hoped.

It took me two days to finish listening to this audiobook. Both narrators did an excellent job of bringing their characters to life. I found their performances enjoyable, but the overall pace of the book was a bit too stagnant for my liking. Despite hearing a lot of positive reviews, my expectations were not fully met.

In general, I found this to be a decent read, although not particularly memorable. I was surprised to learn that this book is actually a sequel, as this information was not clearly indicated. Having not read the first book, I hope that this one can stand alone, as some sequels are able to do.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Told by the two in two intertwining narratives. Paul and his wife Celine are spending their first anniversary in Paris, City of Lights for two souls in love. Paul is wealthy (having inherited a fortune) and much older than Celine who is young, attractive, and fond of purchasing designer goods and jewellry. it seems he is a caring and doting husband, and that his wife is giddy and foolish in love - but as the narratives continue, the story takes on a more sinister tone. Thanks so much to NetGalley for this ARC/audiobook - a magnificent thriller.

Satire is a killer.

I enjoyed how this story was told intertwining the past to present day. The characters were well developed and their stories were eventually reflections of one another. One person isn't better than the next

Not the most subtle thriller. A lot of the time, the foreshadowing sounded like it was spoken differently from the rest of the story to the point where some of the plot twists were incredibly predictable. Other than that criticism, I was absolutely gripped by this book, and I listened to all 8 hours and 35 minutes in one day, resulting in me going to bed at 2am. I always appreciate when a book makes me violently hate and want to murder a character, so this author did a brilliant job writing Paul. The book is split into 2 main POV’s (Paul and Cecilia Strom) and another smaller POV all with their own narrator. Paul’s POV’s were the hardest to listen to and by the end of the story, I had a list of at least 20 horrible things he had done and his terrible justifications for his behaviours. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future. I also found out after reading this book that there is another book about Paul’s first marriage called “Best Day Ever” but I was fine reading this as a standalone.

This really wasn’t my cup of tea. I liked the narrators voices and I liked that the book is written in dual POV. That’s all. The book is written in past and present timeline and it was so predictable to me. The characters are messed up and I didn’t like any of them.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook! This was great! I loved how fast pace this book was. The storyline kept my interest the entire book. I devoured this story! I loved the set up of this book, as a play by play and having back stories of Characters and then having a mystery character narration. I loved the twist at the end!

💄🎧📖AUDIOBOOK REVIEW📖🎧💄

⭐⭐⭐⭐

🥰Thank you so much to Bookouture Audio for the gifted audiobook!

📖Title: The Second Mrs. Strom
✍️Author: Kaira Rouda
📆Pub date: August 16, 2024
⏳Audiobook length: 8 hrs 35 mins
🗣️Narrator: Laurence Bouvard and Nick Landrum

👀Freida McFadden fans this one is for you!!

📖If you're looking for an audiobook you can fly through without wanting to press pause at all, you need to check out THE SECOND MRS. STROM!

👀Don't read the synopsis, it gives way too much away! Go in blind and I guarantee you'll have a blast getting to know this newlywed couple with a couple secrets up their sleeves.

📖It was the perfect length so I was never bored or checking the time, the characters were fun, and the flashbacks via diary entries helped keep things interesting.

👀I definitely gasped at the twist and it made me want to go back and reread the whole book!

🎧Both narrators were fab and easy to listen to. Highly recommend audiobook format for this one! It kept me entertained while I walked, pressure washed my patio, cleaned out my window wells, etc. What more could I want? Lol

Lots of interconnected story’s. Interesting back and forth between the different characters and the timelines.
I’m sure it was intentional. But I HATED the husband. Plot twist was a bit predictable.

Our Miss Kaira Rouda has quite the wicked sense of humor, and she is back in fine form in The Second Mrs.. Strom. I very much enjoyed the audio narration as well as the writing of these two deeply flawed and unlikeable characters who found eachother in West Palm Beach and migrated to Malibu. The suspense builds nicely to the end with frequent literal LOLs almost every other page. What's not to love about the inner thoughts of a former gentleman escort to an old grand dame of Palm Beach who is now petulant that his new love lacks the class of the old lady? I gobbled this book up like a delicious treat and I'm only sad that I now have to wait longer for the next Kaira Rouda book.

The Second Mrs. Strom
Publication Date: August 16, 2024

First, I would like to thank Bookouture Media and NetGalley for this fantastic ARC. The following review is my own. This is my first read by this author and I look forward to more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Second Mrs. Strom" is an engaging blend of love story and thriller that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. The narrative centers on Paul, a man who has recently come into a large inheritance. Paul's life takes a romantic turn when he meets and quickly marries Cecilia. Their love story unfolds against the enchanting backdrop of Paris, where they celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary.

The story is rich with twists and turns, largely revealed through a series of flashbacks that expose the hidden secrets both Paul and Cecilia harbor. These secrets add layers of complexity to their relationship and drive the suspenseful plot forward.

The audiobook's narrators are exceptional, bringing depth and nuance to the characters and enhancing the listening experience. Their performance adds an extra dimension to the story, making it easy to get lost in the world of Paul and Cecilia.

Overall, "The Second Mrs. Strom" is a compelling listen, perfect for fans of love stories laced with thrilling surprises from beginning to end. I will absolutely recommend this one to friends and look forward to its publishing date.

I absolutely devoured this book! It was so good! I really enjoyed Rouda's Best Day Ever and had no idea this was the sequel going into it - what an awesome surprise! The book would have been a standalone hit - and as a sequel it was fabulous. I hated all the main characters in the best way. It was a constant guessing game of who the bad guy was and who would come out on top in the end.

This book was so much fun - unreliable narrators, hidden motives, and unexpected twists make this a can't miss domestic thriller. If you haven't read Best Day Ever - read it and then buckle up for this one when it makes its debut in August.

The audiobook narration was excellent - with multiple POVs all well acted. Overall, this was a super engaging, quick and fun read. This one is a can't miss!

The Second Mrs. Strom is such a fun and wild popcorn thriller that it's impossible to put down! The story is packed with twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. While the characters are decidedly unlikable, their flaws only add to the intrigue and make the drama even juicier. Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook the narration is spot-on, bringing the devious plot and scheming characters to life with flair. If you're in the mood for a rollercoaster of a domestic thriller, this one is definitely worth a listen.

Ugh Paul!! I really enjoyed the first one(Best Day Ever) and flew through this story within a couple of days. It's like the guy never learns his lesson 🤣 The narrators were great.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were so interesting and the way the plot came out was super fun and intriguing. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game that the characters were playing and the tone of the narrators. There were thrills on every turn and the audiobook was so good with great narrators.