I got this book from NetGallery.

The book is about Natalie, a single mother who starts working at a new school after her divorce. To her horror, she meets Lucas there, whom she knows from the past. He doesn't seem to recognize her, but he still shows the same behaviour as in the past. She becomes friends with his wife Olivia. Suspicious things are happening and Natalie doesn't really know who is behind it. Does Lucas secretly know who she is? Or is it her ex Theo?

It is a nice book. It is easy to read, is very exciting at some points and you become a bit suspicious yourself. Sometimes I had a bit of trouble putting the book down because you actually want to know who is behind it. Sometimes it is a bit predictable, but there were still a number of things that I didn't see coming.

I just don't quite understand the summary on the back of the book. If you read the summary, it seems written from Olivia's point of view but the book is mainly described from Natalie's point of view. I think my summary above fits the book a bit better.

I really enjoyed this book. I advise you to only start reading if you have the time because it's difficult to put it down.

Thank you so much for letting me read this book.

It was brave of the author to have a sexual predator of under-age girls as a main character in her novel. The plot was cleverly thought out but I found the first half of the book filled with so much unnecessary information that I almost gave up reading.

Lucas Hanson was the school soccer coach when he groomed fifteen year old Natalie. For two years they had an intimate relationship until her parents relocated to another town, moving her out of his reach.

It's now twenty years later, Natalie Amaryllis has returned to her home town after gaining a position as a teacher in her old school. On her first day at work, she's horrified to discover that she'll be assisting Lucas Hanson, evidently a well liked colleague at the school. He doesn't recognise her!

For weeks they work together in the same classroom, yet Lucas still doesn't recognise Natalie. Whilst twenty years is a long time, I couldn't accept that Lucas had no inkling that he'd 'known' Natalie all those years ago. Unbelievable!

The last quarter of the book improved, yet it's Lucas's astounding memory loss which earns my 2* rating.

This is my personal, unbiased opinion, judging by the amount of high ratings, I'm in the minority. With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a hard book to put down! This is an excellent thriller/domestic drama. It was a nice change having a strong, intelligent female main character.
Natalie’s life is finally calm and easy. She has an excellent co parenting relationship with her ex, a new job at her daughter’s school and a home right next to her new job. Unfortunately for Natalie, a villain from her past also works there.
I loved Natalie’s character and how she overcame all the bad choices/circumstances she had as a teen. She put helping other women first and made sure they wouldn’t suffer as she did. It was nice to see women working together and overcoming painful experiences together.

"The Innocent Wife" by Sally Royer-Derr is an amazing psychological thriller. This book keeps you guessing to the end, and you just don't want to put it down.
Natalie has taken a new job and she moves to be closer to the job. She is raising a little girl with her ex husband while learning the in and outs of her new job. When she meets one of the teachers at her new school, trauma from her past comes back to haunt her. As she is dealing with the past, she starts to notice weird things around her house. As she tries to figure out what is going on, will she put herself and her daughter in danger?
Highly recommend this book!

This was a really well done thriller novel, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed figuring out what was going on. The characters were everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening with them. I thought the twists were well done and was glad everything worked. Sally Royer-Derr has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

My first book by Sally Royer-Derr & wow was it a page turner.
Olivia & Lucas have been married for six years, and he means everything to her. When she meets his colleague, Natalie, she doesn't understand the look of hatred she sees & feels from her however, the two women become friends. Olivia starts to learn that Lucas has been lying to her & may have had multiple relationships with underage girls. She was underage when she & Lucas first became involved.

This book takes a deep dive into relationships, take some unexpected twists & turns I didnt see coming. This story is told from multiple POV's but was easy to feel connected to the two female characters and circumstances they were dealing with. The story moved at a good pace, although slower in the beginning, it did pick up.

I loved reading the friendship develop between Olivia & Natalie & what length they went to, to protect Haley.

Many thanks to Netgalley,the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book and leave an honest review.

This is a hard review to write without spoilers. The Innocent Wife (as opposed to the not so innocent one) tells a story full of lies, betrayal, stalking, rape, grooming, and sexual abuse. The characters are well described, especially Natalie and Olivia, and the school setting is realistic. Sally Royer-Derr delivers a novel that addresses some of today’s serious problems and leaves the reader with thoughts that last beyond the final pages. This is definitely a novel worth reading. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sally Royer-Derr for this ARC.

Sally Royer-Derr’s The Innocent Wife is a compelling story that delivers the twists and turns readers crave in the psychological thriller genre. With a strong focus on female solidarity and resilience, the novel offers an engaging narrative that keeps you invested until the very last page.

One of the standout aspects of this book is how it brings women together in the face of adversity. Royer-Derr skillfully highlights the power of connection and collaboration, creating moments of emotional depth that complement the suspenseful plot. The twists are well-placed, adding intrigue and keeping readers guessing without overshadowing the story’s core themes.

While the narrative itself is gripping and well-written, the title and summary might not fully align with the story’s actual direction. However, once you dive into the pages, the compelling plot and character development make up for any initial confusion. It’s clear that Royer-Derr has a talent for crafting tension-filled moments while weaving in themes of empowerment and strength.

Overall, The Innocent Wife is an engaging and enjoyable read that stands out for its exploration of relationships and resilience. Fans of the genre will appreciate the twists, but it’s the emotional undertones and strong female characters that truly make this book memorable. Despite some misalignment between the title and the story, it’s a novel well worth reading.

It pains me to give less than three stars, but I didn't enjoy anything about this novel. There are just so many books out there to choose from in this genre and many are much more compelling and interesting. There was just so much inner dialogue and much of it was repetitive. There were lots of coincidences in the plot which made it unbelievable. The main characters were not likeable and they didn't seem to make any progress. Some details regarding daily life were unnecessary yet other details were missing which left some of the story feeling disjointed.

This book had me hooked right away! Natalie and Olivia tell a story about a man named Lucas. Lucas has weaved his way into their lives and turned it upside down. The twists and turns and short chapters make this book hard to put down.
The topic can be heavy, but the author did a great job of not lingering on the topic. This page turner will keep you wanting more.

Full of likable characters, a strong female lead & women supporting women.

The story takes some unexpected turns and has some twists I didn't see coming.

All in all I really liked this book. Although the subject matter was heavy, the suspense and mystery kept me turning pages as quickly as I could manage.

Highly recommend if you're looking for a fast paced domestic thriller, with a strong female lead and a plethora of interesting characters added into the mix. Bonus points if you enjoy books with parts that take place in a school setting.

Many thanks to netgalley,the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely read more in the future.

The Innocent Wife is a past paced, well written domestic thriller. I liked the character development throughout and enjoyed the plot. I personally would have liked a couple of twists as is my personal preference as I like to be kept guessing but having said this you know where the characters stand in this story.

Overall I enjoyed this book and found it a good, easy read that I would recommend to others.

The Other Woman by Olivia Hanson is a gripping and fast-paced tale of secrets, betrayal, and the complexities of marriage. Olivia’s life seems perfect: a loving, successful husband, Lucas, and a beautiful home. But when she meets Lucas’s new colleague, Natalie, the subtle flash of hatred in her eyes sparks a series of events that shatter Olivia’s perception of her marriage.

As Olivia befriends Natalie in an attempt to clear up a misunderstanding, she uncovers a web of lies that exposes the darker side of her seemingly perfect life. What follows is a powerful and emotional journey, as Olivia realises that her husband is not the only one with secrets, and she is far from the innocent housewife she once thought she was.

Told from three perspectives, this novel weaves a thrilling narrative full of suspense and twists, drawing readers into a world where appearances are deceiving and nothing is quite as it seems. With strong character development and an engaging plot, The Other Woman is a must-read for fans of psychological drama and domestic thrillers.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Innocent Wife is a slow burner worth staying for!! Lots of twists and well-developed characters make this a compelling story. A total page-turner!

Was quite slow starting however I always give a book a 100 pages to grab me in before I DNF and this grabbed me around page 75. It was a good read after that and I enjoyed it. It was quite twisty and very suspenseful.

thank you for giving me the opportunity to read advanced copy. I was hooked right from the start! Not only does it have a great plot twist, but also shows how damaging toxic relationships are. How narcissists perfect this amazing image of theirs to the outside world, that in reality is nothing but monstrous. Great read! Looking forward to next books of this author

Another great read by Sally Royer-Derr. A deep dive into our relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. And oh my word so many secrets! Loved the characters and stayed up way past my bedtime because I could not put it down. Be careful who you trust in life!
Thank you NetGalley, Sally Royer Derr and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The third Sally Royer-Derr book I have read and enjoyed. Gripping tale of human relationships and how life transpires. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Wow - what a fantastic ride that was. It kept me guessing right to the end.
My first Sally Royer-Derr book but certainly not the last.
This story moves along at a great pace, keeping me hooked and flipping through the pages to see what happens next.

The characters were so well developed.
I love the interaction between Natalie and Olivia and how their friendship develops. Also love their protectiveness of Haley.
What strong women these two are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Olivia has been married to Lucas for six years, and he is her everything. When she meets his colleague, Natalie, she doesn't understand the look of hatred she sees in Natalie's eye. The two women become friends, and Olivia starts to learn that Lucas has been lying to her and may have had relationships with underage girls, as she was when she and Lucas first became involved. Meanwhile, Natalie has her own secrets and she will do anything to protect herself and her daughter.

This is an intriguing story told from multiple points of view. It is easy to feel a connection to the two women and the plights in which they find themselves. The book unfolds to a dramatic conclusion, which for me came at 2 a.m. because I couldn't close the book until I knew what happened!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.