3.75/5 stars rounded up.

Gabby meets a woman younger than her named Ellis at the bar and drunkenly confesses to her that she wishes her husband Fred were dead. Gabby begins to search for Ellis and the truth while also trying to expose Fred's secrets.

I listened to the audio of this book and thought the narration was fantastic. I had no complaints at all. The narration was clear and easily understood and the voice acting was wonderful.

This started off a little bit slow for me and I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one but it thankfully ended up picking up. I wasn't expecting the ending twist. It honestly wasn't even on my radar as being the reveal.

I wasn't a huge fan of the dual perspectives. I find that they're not my favorite unless they're really well done and this one wasn't bad but also wasn't incredible. I found myself in brief moments of confusion while I was trying to get reoriented with the POV. I think multiple POVs are a bit more challenging to keep track of as audio. Because of this, I think the book may have been a bit more enjoyable if I read the book alongside the audio just so I could visually keep track of where I was in the POVS.

I think the ending paid off and there was a lot going on for the last 1/3 of the book. I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

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

I liked the premise for this book, of an older woman complaining about her husband to a young stranger in a bar only for her to turn out to be the one her husband is having an affair with. It felt slow moving, I didn't particularly care for the protagonist and I didn't love the neighbor. I tried to stick this one out but ended up DNF'ing at 70% - I just didn't care about the story at all. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions. This was a miss for me.

Thank you @htpvive @htpbooks and @netgalley for the e-arc and @harlequinaudio for the free alc 💖.

🗓️Out February 25, 2025

✨What it is about:
Gabby and Fred are newly empty nesters, and Gabby realizes she can’t stand her husband anymore. She meets a younger woman one night in a bar and confesses to her she wishes her husband were dead. Her confession sparks a dangerous cat and mouse game, as Gabby realizes that the younger woman might not be who she said she was. ✨

💭My thoughts:
This was a slow burn filled with secrets that was entertaining, but that didn’t really pick up until the very end. However it was the interesting twists towards the end that made the whole book for me. It felt like a lot all at once, but the ending did pack a punch. Gabby, being in a relationship with a serial cheater had enough, but she never thought her world would turn upside down the way it did after a drunken conversation with a younger woman.
🎧The narrator Hannah Curtis did a phenomenal job narrating the uneasiness of the situation, and truly showing the nerves and paranoia Gabby was dealing with towards the end. Overall this was a quick and interesting thriller, so get some popcorn and enjoy the ride.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Read if you like:
👯‍♀️Domestic thrillers
👯‍♀️Empty nesters
👯‍♀️Slow burn
👯‍♀️Quick reads
👯‍♀️Cat and mouse game

⚠️CW: Infidelity, divorce, murder.

When Gabby confesses to Ellis, a random woman she meets at a bar that she's had enough of her husband, Fred, the last thing he expects is for her to get involved with him. But that is exactly what happens. As Gabby pushes forward with the divorce, she investigates Ellis as ammunition and finds out that maybe she isn't as straightforward as she seems. This book was fabulously narrated on audio. I enjoyed the storyline and had trouble turning this one off! I listened to it while I cooked and drove to do groceries and the school pick up. It was twisty, it was fast paced and it was addictive. An overall solid thriller, I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for the book #TheYoungerWoman by #CateRay. Gabby and Fred are empty nesters and Gabby realizes she can’t stand her husband anymore. When she goes out drinking one night, she tells a stranger, Ellis that she wishes him dead. When she finally sees Ellis again, she cannot believe who she is with. She starts feeling like Ellis is not who she seems and digs into what’s going on. Can Gabby figure this out before it’s too late? Such a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you HTP, The Hive, Park Row, and Harlequin Audio for the gifted digital and audio copies!

The Younger Woman
Cate Ray
Publishing Date: February 25, 2025

🎧 Narrator: Hannah Curtis 🎧

The Younger Woman was a unique thriller in the sense that it was a slow burn and much more character focused. If you enjoy domestic thrillers that really dive into the mind and life of the characters, and don’t mind a slower build to the twisty action, you’ll really enjoy this one!

I found myself unsure how I actually felt about this book at points, and I think that’s largely due to the fact that there is such a sense of unease throughout as the characters all feel unreliable and untrustworthy. This is not an action packed thriller, but at the same time, I could not stop listening! I was totally gripped by the subtle suspense of it all and I needed to know how things were going to turn out. I was invested in Gabby and was totally rooting for her to stand up for herself, especially to her awful manipulative husband 😒

🎧 Hannah Curtis did a great job narrating this one! I flew through it over the course of two days and have zero regrets about reading this one with my ears.

The Younger Woman is an interesting domestic thriller, as it dives into marriage & blinded families. Gabby and Fred have been married for a long time, and their marriage is tested when infidelity is thrown in the mix. This family’s drama goes back to previous generations, and hopefully Gabby can break this generational curse with her adult children. The narrator in this audiobook did a very good job portraying these characters.

An overall solid read that I would recommend for those that like slow-burn domestic thrillers. Thank you Harlequin Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I had to DNF this one, which is rare for me. I couldn’t get past not wanting to hear the narrator's voice. Would be willing to try again in print. But the audio was a no for me.

This was okay. I just felt it was pretty basic and the writing was not that great to me. I was not very invested in the story. It had sounded so promising but I was disappointed.

The Younger Woman had all the ingredients I need in a domestic thriller - long term marriage, empty nest, vitriol, another woman, wealth......but when mixed together it felt mediocre. I guessed the plot well before the ending which, I hate to riff on myself, but I'm old with a half working brain, so it's a pretty big when even I can see where the plot intended to go.

On audio, one of the best things about this book was narrator Hannah Curtis. She did an excellent job of telling the story without getting in its way.

I'm giving nothing away because it's in the publisher's writeup - this is Strangers on a Train adjacent and doesn't given enough to have kept me in suspense. A plus though - I listened through the entire book in a day and never considered DNFing. I'll happily give more Cate Ray works a look.

I give this 3 stars! I really had a great time with this audio ARC. I was pretty invested throughout the story and I really enjoyed the narrator. She did an excellent job! I am giving it three stars because (and this probably my own fault because I am VERY picky with thrillers) I feel like so much more could have been done with the ending. TBH, what I wanted to happen, was Fred be behind the whole thing and say that Gabby was the one who killed the hit man and she was crazy just because he still had that one last ounce of hope of getting back with Ellis. I don't know - something crazy like that! I just expect a lot these days and like I said - that's on me.

Book Review: The Younger Woman By Cate Ray 📚🔍
I was thrilled to receive an audiobook ARC of The Younger Woman from NetGalley, courtesy of Ms. Ray and Harlequin Audio. A huge thank you for the opportunity to dive into this intriguing narrative! 🎧

Narration Excellence 🌟 First things first: Hannah Curtis’s narration was nothing short of exceptional! Her ability to capture the nuances of both Gabby and the younger woman added a layer of depth to the story that truly enhanced the listening experience. I was completely drawn in by her performance.

A Dual POV Journey 👩‍❤️‍👩 The Younger Woman tells the story through the dual perspectives of Gabby, a woman navigating the rocky waters of a loveless marriage with a husband who is a serial cheater, and the enigmatic younger woman who seems to have a long con in play. While the premise is tantalizing, the storytelling felt like a slow burn. The plot flowed well, but I found myself yearning for a little more momentum throughout the earlier sections.

A Twisty Ending 🔄 The conclusion certainly packed a punch! So much happened in the last hour and a half that it felt a bit rushed, leaving me with a desire for more clarity on certain twists. This whirlwind of events tied the story up neatly but also left me scratching my head at times, trying to piece together all that unfolded. 🤔

Final Thoughts 🤷‍♀️ Overall, The Younger Woman offers an interesting premise and strong performances, particularly with the audiobook format. While it may have its slow moments and a somewhat chaotic ending, the emotional stakes and character dynamics keep you engaged. I would rate this a solid 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐, as it had the potential to be something truly remarkable but left me wanting a bit more coherence in the final act.

If you're in the mood for a domestic thriller that explores themes of betrayal and empowerment, give it a listen! You might just find it worth the ride. 🌪️💔

Happy reading! ✨

Premise - Gabby is in a new empty nester in an unhappy marriage with a philanderer. She wants out, but she’s not willing to risk losing her house, or the support of her kids. When a beautiful young woman, who she assumes is a gold digger, approaches Gabby at a bar, she spills her misery and confesses she wishes her husband would die. Harmless, right? But then the woman shows up where Gabby would least expect her…

This was a wild ride! One of the twists, the one relating to backstories, caught me so much by surprise that I had to pause the story. The plotting was great and the pacing, too, so I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

The only reason this isn’t a five is the character development - at times they felt a little inconsistent and the kickbutt young woman character just didn’t feel like a real person at all. Even so, they were fun to follow along with, so it’s still a solid four!

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hannah Curtis. She did a great job with the read. It was a simultaneously cozy and exhilarating listen!

Thanks, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this book is so good! The author knows just how to draw you in! It was so suspensful and I could not believe the ending. I loved the character.

This thriller comes out on February 25th and you will want to read it!

Cate loves her house, she was gifted it by her parents when they passed. And now her cheating husband wants to divorce her and talk half of the six million dollar house!

This book has twists you do not see coming and a surprise ending for sure!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was an easy fast read!

3.5 stars
**What Worked:**
- A fresh spin on the classic "younger woman" trope
- A slow-burning tension that keeps you unsettled
- A layered plot that gradually builds intrigue

While *The Younger Woman* didn’t completely blow me away, it had an almost hypnotic quality that kept me engaged despite its slower pace. The premise of confessing dark thoughts to a stranger is fascinating—there’s something compelling about how easy it can be to share secrets with someone you may never see again. That sense of unease lingers throughout, especially with Ellis’s true motives remaining unclear for much of the book.

The suspense is quieter here, more psychological than action-driven, and while I guessed the twist early, I wasn’t necessarily disappointed. The way the past and present weave together adds some depth, and let’s just say, the male character at the center of it all is *insufferable* in the best way—he’s written so well that you’ll want to scream.

That said, the pacing felt off at times. I kept waiting for a big moment to hit, and while the ending brought things together, it didn’t fully make up for the sluggish middle. Still, if you like slow-burn thrillers with a cat-and-mouse dynamic and tangled secrets, this one is worth checking out.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, both the writing and the narrator kept this slow burn interesting. The twist at the end was a bit of a letdown for me, but I would recommend this book to other fans of psychological thrillers/domestic dramas.

Gabby's daughter has just left for college and she's struggling. She also realizes that she hates her husband and wants out of her marriage. But can't ask for a divorce because she could wind up losing he house which means so much to her.

She shares a bit of how she's feeling with her best friend. And then, after several drinks, starts chatting with a woman named Ellis and tells her everything. Because sometimes it's easier to share the truth with a total stranger. Ellis suggests she assist and gives Gabby her card.

Gabby's husband has cheated before and she fears he's cheating again. She tries to reach Ellis without success. Leaves messages and then deletes her number. The back and forth she has with wanting to contact Ellis and not weighs heavy on her. Her husband brings up divorce and tells her he's in love with someone else and it sends her spiraling.

The dual timelines between now and Gabby's younger years help the story unfold. I loved the cat and mouse slow burn of this one. You feel uneasy throughout and although the twist didn't surprise me, I still liked it and found the book very entertaining.

Hannah Curtis did a great job with narration. She built the suspense and allowed us to feel how helpless and panicked Gabby felt at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an ALC.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for this gifted ALC!

It’s a tale as old as time. A grey haired geriatric with a 20 something blonde hanging on his arm. The Younger Woman plays on this trope, but makes it fresh and entertaining.

This book was more layered than I expected it to be, and that’s a good thing. Because I think without that depth, it wouldn’t have been as special. The layers kept me guessing, kept me entertained and made me care about the outcome of our dirtbag male character. God, he was insufferable. I won’t say more without spoilers, but I want to rant in this review about how much he absolutely sucked. The audacity of some people, seriously. She was just trying to make him feel included and then he goes and …

Anyway.

I enjoyed this. It was perfect popcorn thriller material.

I really had no idea what to expect from this audiobook, The Younger Woman by Cate Ray, as I have never before listened to this author's stories. The description of the book sounded very interesting to me (empty nesters, failing marriage, middle age and much more!), so I requested an ARC. At first I was a bit confused differentiating the two main characters but after a bit into the story I was able to follow along without any problems. I enjoyed the narrator, Hannah Curtis, and appreciated the fact that she did not change her voice to reflect which character was talking, but rather the phrases and words used told me who was talking at each interval. I highly recommend this audiobook and I thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC. I highly recommend this book.