Overall good book. Good twists and turns. Definitely recommend to friends !!
Emma was a good strong independent woman whose meeting Matthew was no accident. The twists that came along were unexpected!!

⭐️3.7 Stars⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to First Wife’s Shadow! The beginning of this book was very slow and I was about to give up on it until I read a couple of reviews about people talking about the crazy shock that happens 50 percent into the book. I was almost to the 50 percent mark and decided to keep listening to see if that would change anything for me and it definitely did and after the 50 percent mark things finally started to speed up in the story as well. I loved how creative this story was and how you truly did not know what would happen next even when you thought you were at the end of the book! I felt so bad for the main character by the end of it with the amount of gaslighting she experienced. I definitely recommend this book if you’re into psychological books! Thank you again to NetGalley!💕📚

This was a solid thriller for me. Emma was a loner for most of her life and doesn’t have any children despite getting older. When she meets Matthew, she is smitten. Things move quickly and he is blind to all the red flags. Her friends notice these but Emma looks past it. I enjoyed listening to this book and thought the narrator did a good job as well as the author.

3.5⭐️ the first half of this book and the second half feel like two completely different thrillers and you would NEVER guess some of the stuff that happens by the end

on the one hand, the first ~70% of this book is intriguing but definitely feels like it’s been done before (very Freida McFadden coded). it also felt like a LOT of build up that probably could’ve been 100 pages shorter

but then the last 30% came in and was like a broken rollercoaster. a few good twists, some enraging moments, but ultimately it ended on a smooth note that didn’t leave me feeling any type of way tbh

the audio for this was good, but i can’t say that i would’ve finished it otherwise

Wow-- this book was GOOD!

I can honestly say I had absolutely no idea what was going on & even though I had some hunches-- I couldn't make it fully make sense.

Young & super handsome widower meets a successful & beautiful older woman-- what could go wrong?

Emma constantly feels like she's living in Matthew's dead wife's shadow & the jealousy is brewing. Emma's friends don't trust him, Emma loves him, is it all too good to be true?

Read. This. Book! I could not stop!

Thank you so much Harlequin, The Hive, & NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A rich girl marries a broke widower, things get weird real fast, and suddenly she doesn’t know who to trust. Not her man. Not her friends. Maybe not even herself.


📚 Reasons to Read First Wife’s Shadow
Fast Moving Relationship – Emma falls quickly for a widower, but what starts as love soon spirals into something far more unsettling.


Weird Happenings – From lingering memories to dark doubts, things around Emma start feeling wrong—and she’s not sure if it's real or imagined.


Modern Take on Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier) – This book delivers big “second wife vs. ghost of the first” energy with a sleek, psychological twist.
This is the first book in our Thriller May Series - where I read at least 5 thrillers and decide which I like best. As an audiobook, I thought it was well narrated. There are at least 3 points of view and I never got it mixed up. As I said, it is a take on Rebecca but even if you know the twist in that story, this one might surprise you. It’s a lot of twists, and definitely a domestic thriller.

Gaslighting, what fun! End sarcasm.

I was expecting more of a thriller but this is on me— I’m not a fan of gaslighting shenanigans and like it even less when romantic relationships are used to facilitate said shenanigans.

Emma is older, meets a guy who’s younger and a widow and they start a relationship and gaslighting ensues.

It was ok, hard to tell who was zooming who once everyone got into the pool. I didn’t care for the ending and how everything wrapped up. But that’s like life, no? Not everything wraps up the way you want it to.

Good vocals by Kristin Atherton.

This was definitely a twisted tale. I was really into the first half. I had so many questions. I knew something was way off. But I just couldn’t figure out what and I was waiting for the moment it was revealed. Then there’s a POV switch. I sort of wasn’t as interested at that point. I wasn’t a fan of the new POV and I didn’t love that narrator quite as much. It did add some clarity as to what was going on. It wasn’t super surprising. And there’s a bit more POV switches.

It definitely got twisted! Some surprises. The more that was revealed the less surprised I was by the turns it took. There was one I was definitely mind blown by. I would say I enjoyed the first half more than the second. I think for me the pov shift kind of made it lose its steam. We’re told why but I don’t want half the book to be me being told the story, I want to be in the story so I became less invested.

Definitely some devious characters tho.

4.25 ⭐️ so good and sooo twisty! I listened to the audiobook and I have experienced this narrator before and enjoy their work! This is my first from this author and now definitely won’t be my last. I wasn’t ready for all the connections that made this story so unpredictable and spooky. I was not expecting how the story ended! Definitely a solid psychological thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this 🎧 ARC.

This was a solid mystery thriller with some twists up its sleeve. I enjoyed seeing the plot unfold and a few times when I thought I had it all figured out, I was caught by surprise.

The narrators did a great job of bringing this story to life and I liked that we got both male and female voices.

Overall I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery and thriller novels.

Emma is a wealthy woman who falls fast for Matthew--a younger man--who is a recent widower. His first wife died in a freak accident and Emma's friends are very concerned about all of the red flags he is giving off. This is a book that has so many twists and turns giving too much info would spoil it. Read it!

“First Wife's Shadow” was a pretty solid read. It had enough twists to keep me entertained, even if there were a few moments that made me roll my eyes. Overall, it was an enjoyable book and worth picking up if you're into domestic thrillers.

Enjoyable. Fairly predictable to a certain extent. Predictable as in I figured the overall idea but not the details and the twist. The last part of the book was entertaining and a little devious, too. (Nothing wild just enough to paint the whole picture.)

Most of the characters were unlikeable but just enough, which didn’t make them repugnant. However, somehow by the end I was kind of rooting for them?

Advanced listener copy provided by Harlequin Audio but all opinions are my own.

Emma is a 47-year-old highly successful woman who falls for handsome 36 year old Matthew. The reader (or listener in my case) begins to learn that this wasn't a chance meeting, but rather Emma was a mark who decides to trust her heart, despite the red flags and warnings by her dearest friends. I found that to be a little hard to believe especially for someone who is so meticulous about her life. She never meets or video calls any of his friends or family and elopes after three months. The first half of the novel is told from Emma's POV and it was a nice change to have an alternate POV come in later. I really enjoyed this novel and the twists along the way. The narrator, too, was excellent.

once i got halfway through, i couldn’t stop reading. i had to know how it would end. what a clever spin on the “second wife”trope! the story kept me hooked with its suspense and well drawn characters, and i loved how the past and present intertwined in unexpected ways. a perfect pick for anyone who enjoys drama, secrets, and a bit of mystery.

I dove into Adele Parks' "First Wife's Shadow" expecting a good thriller, and honestly? It delivered. I was hooked. You know that feeling when you're reading and you just have to know what happens next? Yeah, that was me with this book.
The whole setup – husband haunted by his dead first wife, current wife feeling like she's living in her shadow – it's just so juicy. I found myself really getting into Katherine's head, feeling her frustration and that creeping sense of unease. Like, is Matthew just grieving, or is there something seriously off about him? Parks does a fantastic job of making you question everything.
I'm a sucker for characters with layers, and this book definitely delivered. Katherine isn't just some damsel in distress; she's got her own issues and insecurities, and I found myself really rooting for her. And Matthew? Well, let's just say he's complicated. I was constantly switching between thinking he was a victim and thinking he was totally shady.
The ending was good, wrapped things up nicely, but I'll admit, I was hoping for a bigger "OMG" moment. Still, I was satisfied.
If you're looking for a thriller that'll keep you up at night, wondering about the secrets people keep, "First Wife's Shadow" is definitely worth a read. It's the kind of book you'll want to discuss with your friends afterward, dissecting all the twists and turns. I'd totally recommend it for a weekend read when you want to get lost in a good, suspenseful story. You’ll be thinking about the shadows of your own life after finishing it.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
🌶️🌶️

This book had so many twists and turns that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved how this book helped me develop theories about what was going on and then just crush them with a crazy twist. There were countless times in the book where I said, “What the…(I’ll let you fill in the blank 😂)?”

I identified with Emma and her need to control everything and have it planned down to the minute. It was nice to see a strong, successful woman who is unapologetically herself. But then she falls in love with Matthew and it all goes out the window. I too used to get up extremely early to work out and then I met my husband and life happened and I reprioritized everything.

I loved that her friends were so protective of her and tried to help her through everything that was going on. There was also such a realness to the fact that Emma shut them out because she didn’t want to believe Matthew could be bad for her. Even though there were red flags everywhere and so many crazy things had happened. So often people put on blinders when they think they have met “the one.” Nobody wants to see the red flags and think they have been played.

I did not see the big twist coming. My jaw hit the floor. I love this feeling in a thriller. It makes it fun to read. I will say this wasn’t spooky or stressful to read like some thrillers, so if you are looking for that aspect this may not be the book for you.

Kristin Atherton did a great job narrating this book. I loved her posh accent. It really brought Emma to live for me. She was able to give each character their own voice, which I love in an audiobook narrator. It makes it easier for me to keep the characters straight.

If you like books that will keep you guessing and somewhat frustrate you (in a good way) then this is the book for you!

𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑺𝑻 𝑾𝑰𝑭𝑬'𝑺 𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑾 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 is a psychological suspense from @htp_hive & @harlequin_audio published March 18th.

This was a really fun listen with Kristin Atherton narrating. She did a great job with voices and I thought her Emma was perfect!

I enjoyed the way the story was from Emma's perspective first as she falls quickly for a man despite her previously aloof and work-obsessed personality. Her friends feel concerned about this abrupt change and Emma feels a bit jealous of Matthew's first wife who died, but surely those things will work themselves out...right?

I enjoyed this tale, even though it appeared at first as more predictable. The twists did come and it did not end the way I thought it might; so once again I was surprised! I did enjoy this journey, watching the red flags come up and the reveals.

I would recommend this for a fun suspense that has some good final twists that will reward you for not falling for the red herrings!

Thanks to @netgalley & the publishers for this great audio!

Emma has met Matthew and their relationship is moving fast. Matthew is a widower and has very little money. Emma is head of a company and has lots of wealth. Needless to say, her friends are not fans of this new found love.

Matthew and Emma together did not sit well with me from the start. You know something is not right about their relationship. And honestly you are not sure if this is a ghost or if Emma is going crazy or if something else is happening behind the scenes. I love a good guessing game…and this one is definitely that…plus it has some twists I did not see coming.

This story takes you on a chase you won’t soon forget.

I loved this narrator. Kristin Atherton was definitely Emma! No other words for it. She was intense and perfect for Emma’s type-A personality.

Need a quick, twisted thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

"The First Wife's Shadow" by Adele Parks is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that delves into themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of relationships. The story follows the protagonist, who is navigating her life after marrying a man with a complicated past, particularly his first wife, whose shadow looms large over their relationship.

Parks masterfully crafts a narrative that intertwines suspense and emotional depth, keeping readers engaged as secrets from the past unravel. The characters are well-developed, with relatable struggles and motivations that draw readers into their world. The exploration of jealousy, trust, and the impact of previous relationships adds layers to the story, making it not just a tale of romance but also one of personal growth and self-discovery.

The writing is vivid and evocative, allowing readers to feel the tension and emotional weight of the protagonist’s journey. Parks's ability to create relatable situations and complex emotions makes this book a gripping read. Overall, "The First Wife's Shadow" is a thought-provoking novel that resonates with anyone who has ever questioned the impact of the past on their present, making it a worthwhile addition to contemporary fiction.