There is nothing better than a book that keeps you guessing and Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson did just that. I read everything Sue writes because she constantly puts out suspenseful books that keep me entertained from beginning to end.

This story is about two friends, Jill and Wendy. One of them has some deep secrets, and the other is determined to let her know she’s aware of what's going on. They decide to take a short trip together and of course, nothing is what it seems and nothing goes as planned.

It's a clever and twisty story, I highly recommend it!

Synopsis:

She’s perfect. Too perfect…

Wife: For twenty-five years, my husband and I have been the ideal couple. I’m shy, but he’s always been the life and soul of the party, a charmer, so I didn’t worry the first time I caught him a little too close to my best friend, Wendy.

Mother: Then our darling son says he’s taking Wendy’s daughter to prom, the girl I never trusted because she’s too much like her mother. As I snap photos of them, I have a smile plastered on my face, but inside my head I’m screaming at him to stay away from her.

Liar: As flashing lights slice the darkness around our home, my worst nightmare comes true with the shocking news that one of our children is dead. And I can tell my husband, my best friend are both lying about where they were. But none of their secrets compares to mine.

And nobody knows just how far I’d go to protect my family…

Jill and Wendy were friends and neighbors for years. They brought up their children together and suffered joys and tragedies. Now, years later, estranged Jill and Wendy are going away for the weekend. What could go wrong? I found the story dragging in parts, but overall it was a good story about two families. I have read several books by this author, and I look forward to reading more.

A really well written domestic drama that will keep you gripped. The characters are beautifully developed over the course of the novel and are nuanced and complex. the author portrays the uncertainty, complexity and suspicion of grief very well leaving the reader just as confused and unsure. The plot is beautifully paced with a slow unveiling of truths, lies, misdirection and secrets, it keeps you turning the pages. An excellent read.

This is my 5th Sue Watson book and they always keep you on the edge of your seat! This one kept me guessing although I had my own ideas about what had happened the whole way through, I wasn’t quite there though! Good character background, but not the most likeable of characters in my opinion. Easy to read, short chapters and a dual POV, which is always a winner for me. Loss in stars due to me not being sucked in, this didn’t grab me and make me want to not put it down but was definitely good enough to read and would recommend!

I wish I could give this book 10 stars! Holy PLOT Twist Batman!! I think I might need to go to the doctor after reading this book!! The amount of whiplash I have right now can NOT be healthy!! That was the craziest thing I have experienced reading a book, It was like one of those really insanely fast car crashes, crap tbh maybe even a pile up, that you know you don't want to see but can't look away from at the same time!!!

First of all: Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An Honest they will get!

H. O. L. Y C. R. A. P!

This is my first book by Sue Watson, I don't know if these plot twist are normal but you can believe after reading this book I will be sure to find out!! I am quickly going to get another of her stories down on my list! There is no way this is normal, how do people come up with these things!? Are there really people walking amongst us, walking right passed us with novels like this in their heads and we have no idea!!!? These people are Brilliant!! Like How do they do this!?!? These people can NOT be sane!! But who cares! I'm so glad they exist!!!

For some reason when i seen my first list of approvals from NetGalley THIS was the book! I knew it just by looking at the cover somehow, I was like that's gonna be the one!!! I want to read that one! But I STILL made myself go by publication date, this is my 3rd book with the Net & I gotta say that summary REALLY DID NOT PREPARE ME FOR ANY OF WHAT HAPPENED!?! Like i knew it was gonna be juicy whatever it was, and I knew it was gonna be great somehow but in NetGalley's defense I'm not sure there is a blurb in the world that could prepare someone for this book!!! I'm not 100% on what i was expecting but i can tell you it wasn't this! About a half hour into this book I had to pick my jaw up off the floor, so much had gone on already and it was no where near what I expected this book to be about! Then when you think you have it figured out what is happening, finally BAM!!! You just rammed into a brick wall, Because Who the heck could have seen ANY of that happening next!?!?! THEN THE BRICK WALLS JUST KEPT COMING! AND COMING!!!

My first thought when this book was over (after releasing the breath i didn't know i was holding!) was "READ IT AGAIN!!" Because there is no way in heck, as fast as i was reading that i got all that happened!! I swear i picked up this book and devoured it, I read this all in maybe 3-4 hours I'm warning you this book WILL NOT let you put it down!!! My second thought after i was finished was "This is why i don't have friends!!! This is why i take one look at people and pick up a book instead!" These people were suppose to be BEST FRIENDS?!!?! HOW!?!?! Even when they were so called friends the amount of digs at each other every other page is insane! The use of the back and forth POVs so you can hear each others thoughts on everyone and everything was Brilliant!!!! I'll tell you sometimes reading books like this they just repeat the same thing over and over in each POV and it just gets annoying but this was executed Perfectly!

I felt like I stepped into the MOST INSANE 2 HOUR SPECIAL OF DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!!! You know the one we all kept rewinding and rewinding to hear all the juicy bits again and again! We all swear we didn't watch that "trash tv" but behind closed doors we couldn't turn it off!! I feel like i need a rewind!! I might have to read it again after i finish my next book (you know for a palate cleanser ha!) Just to take it all in again! You know how you watch a REALLY GOOD MOVIE then you get the end and you're like "WAIT WHAT!?!?!" and you have to watch it over again to get take in all the important parts, you're like how did we not get that part!? IT'S SO OBVIOUS haha!

I can't say it enough I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! This is probably gonna be my favorite of the entire year! I might hold off on reading it again til the new year so i can say it's my favorite of next year too!!! Then i will go down the list of all of her books, Thank you NG for one of my new favorite Authors!!!

Jill and Wendy are friends and neighbours. Over the years they have shared everything together. They brought their kids up together until one of their children dies and their mother searches for the truth. Friendships are destroyed a secrets are unravelled.

This story is told from Jill and Wendy's perspectives. I found myself second guessing everything. The plot is complex in this gripping read that's filled with twists. The characters are a little bit unhinged. The suspense and tension builds throughout.

Published 10th January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author SueWatson for my ARC of #WifeMotherLiar in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read that I finished in less than a day, though I had mixed feelings about the story. It centers on Jill and Wendy, who were best friends for decades when a tragedy involving their children tears them apart. Jill plans a girls weekend in the remote Welsh countryside where they end up rehashing old secrets and jealousies.

I really didn’t like Jill but I thought the author expected the reader to empathize with her. I thought she was petty and annoying. While I did like Wendy better, I thought that her reaction to the creepy landlord was way over the top. This being said, I appreciated the alternating POVs and the overall quick pacing of the story. I figured out the big twists but I do think it was well done, and felt overall that the turn of events was just sad. I thought the ending tied up the story well.

Overall, while this wasn’t my favorite, I did enjoy it and felt it was a fast paced read. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me so many emotions! No one wants to be put in a position where your child could have possibly harmed someone and they’re getting questioned by police. On the other hand, you don’t want to be the parent that has to deal with your child being taken, possibly by your friends son. No one wants to bury their child period. Such a rollercoaster of emotions with an incredible twist!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two women. Two families. Multiple lives that become so intertwined, it's difficult to tell who to believe when the truth, lies, and secrets come out.

Jill and Wendy have been friends for years, and being neighbors, they thought they had it all, even with having babies close in age together where they can all grow up together. But one fateful night, a life ended, and their lives turn upside down.

Told from two perspectives, the truth, lies, and secrets are revealed with each chapter and as much of a slow burner as this was, once some of the secrets were revealed, I was glued to the pages. While the twists weren't as shocking, they fit the narrative of the book and kept the suspense and drams factor going. There aren't any characters here that are relatable or loveable, but their faults suit their personalities. I think the author captured the characters and wrote them so that you see them for what they are in the end.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing and the story. I'll have to read more from this author!

Just wow.

This was in of the most twisty books I have read in a long time. I loved how there was so many turns I was getting whip lash.

The way it was written back and fourth between Jill and Wendy was perfection. This book held my interest through every chapter. I absolutely would have read this in one sitting if I had the time to do so. Every time I got off work I keep picking it back up excited to see what would happen next.

The way the author wrapped this up at the end made sense and kinda of gave some closure. I will 100 percent read more from Sue Watson.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wife, Mother, Liar - Sue Watson

Sue Watson wrote another great thriller! Wife, Mother, Liar gripped me from the start so I couldn’t put my kindle down.

Jill and Wendy are two neighbors who become best friends and raise their children together. Jill’s son is about to go to prom with Wendy’s daughter and she has a bad feeling about that night and is eager to keep them apart. A lot of dark secrets are bound to come out after that tragic night.

This story is so complex because every character has their own secrets that they’ve tried to keep hidden and as they are coming out we understand how we never truly know those around us. The story overall is so realistic and the characters are truly human that is hard not to put ourselves into their shoes. There is a lot of tension, drama, lies and twists in the story.

I enjoyed the dual POV and the past/present timeline switches. Overall I loved the suspense built and the resolution with the unexpected twist.

Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read the ARC of the book!

I’m not 100% sure how to rate this book. It definitely kept me turning pages, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be.

It’s supposed to be a thriller, and it started out like one for sure! But it ended up more like a drama, which was still interesting, but it seemed like it was missing the thriller aspects I was waiting for.

I loved all the little twists and turns in the story, the second guessing of everything that was happening, and the mystery of it all.

Don’t get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story! It was just not as advertised, I guess.

It actually ended up being quite sad.

My only complaint is that there are unanswered questions and it kind of ended abruptly after a certain event. Other than that, it’s a page-turner!

Instagram review will be on Jan. 11 (my book tour date)!

I’ve seen some really good reviews for this book, but unfortunately, this story didn’t grip me the way it seems to have for other readers.

Jill’s husband Tim has always been a serial cheater, and he’s now leaving Jill for woman named Angela. Jill’s whole life is full of loss - her parents are gone, she’s had several miscarriages, and her miracle son Leo is dead. With Tim leaving her too, she decides to get out of town.

Her best friend and neighbor Wendy is also having problems in her marriage with Robert, so they rent cottage in Wales while Tim is moving out of their house. Long story short, secrets come out during their trip that threaten to destroy both women.

The synopsis is vague for a reason - there wasn’t much of a plot until the end. I kept waiting for the thing that had other reviewers giving this five stars, and there was a surprise in the end, but by then I was already over the story and it didn’t seem very shocking. The writing was good, but the story itself needed more. More excitement, more buildup, more explanations would all have been good, but as the book stands, it wasn’t one that I particularly enjoyed. Three stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Sue Watson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 10, 2025.)

I am so happy and proud to say that I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC reader. As an ARC reader, I am given the honor of reading books before they are published and creating a review of the book gifted. Sue Watson has been one of my favorite authors since 2012 and every time I get to read one of her books, I am always enthralled! This book was captivating from the very beginning. I was intrigued with the characters and couldn’t put the book down because of the well-written story line. Sue is such a dynamic author that she easily kept the story fascinating without adding unnecessary plot points. Since the story had two different viewpoints from both Jill and Wendy, it was able to keep me guessing. An easy recommendation from me to you…you will love this new thriller from Sue Watson!

I am so happy and proud to say that I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC reader. As an ARC reader, I am given the honor of reading books before they are published and creating a review of the book gifted. Sue Watson has been one of my favorite authors since 2012 and every time I get to read one of her books, I am always enthralled! This book was captivating from the very beginning. I was intrigued with the characters and couldn’t put the book down because of the well-written story line. Sue is such a dynamic author that she easily kept the story fascinating without adding unnecessary plot points. Since the story had two different viewpoints from both Jill and Wendy, it was able to keep me guessing. An easy recommendation from me to you…you will love this new thriller from Sue Watson!

Best friends Jill and Wendy are also neighbours. Wendy Married Robert and had three children. She is also more down to earth than her neighbour Jill who is more strait laced and is married to Tim who has a roving eye. She also struggles to conceive. Until Jill finally has a son Leo. When Leo is born their friendship falters as Wendy takes Motherhood in her stride, but Jill is more cautious and doesn’t mix much with other people.
Years later when Leo is attending his Prom he goes to the event with Wendy’s daughter Olivia. But only one of them comes home when Leo is found dead. Jill wonders if Olivia had something to do with it. But no one is saying anything. Jill wants to find out the truth, so she invites Wendy on a weekend away to get the truth whatever the cost.
I found this to be an intriguing multi layered story of friendship, relationships, secrets and lies. I must admit it was a bit slow for me to start and I for me got confused a bit of who is who due to the alternate chapters. It got to the best part and I really enjoyed when Jill was in a coma and slowly what happened that night of the prom was revealed. 4 stars from me.

WOW!! This is my first time reading Sue Watson and WHOA! What a ride. What an exciting & gripping book. I couldn’t put it down. It had me hooked from the very beginning. The twists and turns were amazing. I recommend this book you will not be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC.

This book is very well written and I liked the plot and twists. I wasn't able to predict this book which is always great. I enjoyed the dual point of view. I did feel like it took a while to get into the "twists" but I'm glad I stuck with this!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Name :- Wife Mother Liars
Author :- Sue Watson
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
Wife Mother Liar is an electrifying domestic thriller that delves into the dark secrets buried within a seemingly perfect family. With its layered narrative and suspenseful plot, this book masterfully examines the lengths people go to in order to protect their loved ones—and the lies they tell themselves along the way.
What I like :-
1 Complex Protagonist: The unnamed narrator is a richly drawn character—a wife, mother, and liar grappling with her own secrets while trying to navigate the deceit of those around her. Her inner turmoil and flawed decisions add depth and emotional weight to the story.
2 Unpredictable Twists: Watson keeps readers guessing, with shocking revelations that unravel the picture-perfect façade of the protagonist’s family life.
What I didn't like :-
1 Predictable Moments: Despite the twists, seasoned thriller readers might foresee a few key plot points.
Overall :- Wife Mother Liar is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that keeps readers on edge until the very end. With its exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the weight of secrets, it’s perfect for fans of domestic noir and psychological suspense. While a few elements could have been more fleshed out, Sue Watson delivers a chilling tale that will leave readers questioning how far they would go to protect their family.
My Rating: 4/5

Sue Watson does it again. 👏 I was hooked from the very first page. I love all the test and turns. And that she doesn't add 90 extra chapters of unnecessary bits.