The Husband Before You is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that had me flippingggg pages! Just when Evie thinks her life has finally found its rhythm (remarried with kids and a fresh start), her supposedly dead first husband shows up at her door. Alive. And warning her not to trust the man she rebuilt her life with.

A.J. McDine’s writing is sharp, suspenseful, and perfectly paced. I loved not knowing who to believe, and while I thought I had it figured out at one point, I absolutely didn’t. The tension builds with every chapter, and the final reveal was satisfying.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an interesting premise revolving around a woman caught between her ex husband who disappeared and mysteriously reappears after she marries his ex best friend. It felt drawn by and some parts dragged but it was wonderful story.

This book was a bit slow to start but then really started to pick up after about 25% and I really enjoyed it.

I blame The Husband Before You for making me seriously sleep-deprived! I couldn’t stop reading AJ McDine’s latest psychological thriller.

Alex’s first husband Freddie disappeared a decade earlier and now she’s married to his best friend, Carter. So when Freddie appears on her doorstep, it’s quite the shock. Oh, what a tangled web of lies and presumptions and grudges! The characters are extremely well-developed and engaging. Although I guessed who the antagonist was, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. It’s a fast-paced, breathless read and one that you shouldn’t miss.

Thank you to Netgalley, A J McDine and Bookouture for my advance copy.

I was drawn in to the story from the very first page. And I thought I knew where it was leading but I was wrong.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review. Great story and one I would definitely recommend

Where has he been? And, why is he back now that she has finally moved on?

“DON’T TRUST CARTER” he says speaking about his former best friend- who is now her SECOND husband.

“I KNOW THE TRUTH” one of the eight anonymous notes, slipped through the mailbox reads…

Alex,s huband Freddie went missing years ago and is now declared dead. She is also now married to his best friend Carter and they have a baby together. Carter has helped bring up Alex and Freddies other children and they are living a happy family life. All this is thrown into turmoil when one day Freddie appears on their doorstep!
I really enjoyed being absorbed by this book and trying to find out what had happened to Freddie and who Alex would choose. There is more to the story and it has just enough twists to keep the reader interested.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. What would you do if your husband, who died ten years ago, showed up at your door? I'd probably pass out on the spot. I thought I knew all of the answers, but I was not close.

This was my first A J McDine read and it certainly won't be my last! This was such a well-written thriller; and I was hooked from the very first chapter because it just drew me in with the fact you were thrown straight in! Even though I had guessed the twist as to who was behind what was going on, I was still hooked and wanted to see how it all unfolded. There were also small twists along the way which i didn't see coming!

If you know me, you know I love a multiple POV, and getting both Alex and Freddie's POV from both present day and 10 years ago, just added whole other dimension to the story! I really felt for Alex and how she must've felt with Freddie returning, I just wanted her and her daughters to get the answers that they deserved✨️

The Husband Before You follows Alex, who is married to Carter who she has a son with. She has two daughters from her previous marriage with Freddie. One day 10 years ago, Freddie seemingly vanished off the face of the death, never returned, and was presumed dead. Until now.

There is a knock at the door, and Alex answers to see Freddie staring back at her. All Alex wants is the answers as to where Freddie has been for the last 10 years, and why he decided to come back now. She then starts receiving threatening notes through the door, and feeling like she's being followed and watched in her own home. Which starts off a spiral of paranoia, distrust, and uncertainty. Alex thinks she knows who is to blame; but does she?

Thank you again to A J McDine for sending me an ARC copy of this book for review!
*All views and opinions are my own*

3.75 🌟

I just didn't enjoy this one as much as others from this author. It was almost too easy to guess what was gonna happen. I was kinda bored for a large portion of the book, and the ending felt open-ended to me.
I did enjoy the audio as Tamsin is such a fantastic narrator, and the male narrator was great as well.
I will still run to pick up more reads from this author. This one just wasn't my favorite.

**the t swift mentions low-key annoyed me

Wow wow wow!

I loved this book! The tropes, the lies and deceit. I was transported into the main characters POV and felt so many emotions right along with her!
So good!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I'm obsessed with this authors work. I've loved every single book I've been fortunate enough to read.

I guessed the person quite early on but it was enjoyable watching it all unfold to the end.

A brilliant must read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW what a wild and tangled tale of love, loss, regret and betrayal. It starts out with a young family, dad is a pediatrician, and mom stays home with a four-year-old and a new baby. Both parents are overworked, overwhelmed and exhausted and a diagnostic error is the catalyst for the rest of the story. Despondent, the dad gets drunk and walks away from his life. After seven years missing, he's declared legally dead. Mom's best friend, a nurse and dad's best friend from medical school are there to offer mom help and comfort throughout all the bad times. Then twist after twist it's a roller coaster ride to the end. It gets so intense and almost impossible to put down. This is an addictive psychological thriller that shouldn't be missed.

he Husband Before You is my favourite of McDine's books to date.

I found myself so wrapped up in Alex's story, before I knew it I'd finished. Yep, it was another of those so good, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting kinda reads!

The person you loved and assumed dead just waltzes back into your life as if nothings happened...WTAF, what a situation to find yourself in!

Unreliable narrators and their dilemmas had me questioning everything! Who could I trust?

It's a pacey read, full of intrigue and suspense. Predictable in places, but nevertheless an enjoyable and engaging read.

I really enjoyed The Husband Before You (kindle edition) a psychological thriller by A.J. McDine.

Alex has moved on with her life after pronouncing Freddie her first husband who left the family home ten years ago dead.

Alex is now married to Carter who was best friends with Freddie and has two daughters from her first marriage and a two year old son aged two with Carter.

Just when Alex thinks she has got her life back on track anonymous letters start popping through her letter box with the message "The truth will out." These letters send shivers up Alex's back and she cannot fathom out who would send her these messages.

After ten years Freddie walks back into Alex's life and the saying goes "Three's a crowd." comes into play.


Gemma a friend of Alex and also a Nurse at the same hospital as Freddie and Carter and is a constant in Alex's life.

Alex's life is under threat but from whom? This fast paced psychological thriller will keep you guessing right up until the end with an absolutely amazing twist.

Another great read that I couldn’t put down as I needed to know the outcome for everyone. A duel timeline with alternating character chapters, the short chapters make you want to read ‘just one more’ in this gripping domestic drama. There’s a few twists and jaw dropping moments, the tension builds steadily as the past and current times unfold. Another automatic read author for me as I love the reality of her characters and the stories.

Alex's husband Freddie just dissappears one day and is not seen again until he turns up on the doorstep ten years later. By which point Alex has presumed he's dead and has finally moved on in her life and married again. OK she has gone on to marry Carter, who was Freddie's best mate, but let's not dwell on that too much. Alex is happy. And, through everything has stood her best friend Gemma.

But, this story isn't just about Freddie returning and everyone just getting back to a new kind of normal. Nope, because A J McDine goes one better than that. The Husband Before You is told in a past and present narrative, the majority of the story is told through Alex in the present day, and Freddie in the past. And this is how we slowly build up a picture of what resulted in Freddie disappearing.

I have got to admit I really flipped and flopped in my thoughts on Freddie. There were times when I felt sorry for him. He's a paediatrician and in a highly stressful role. Trying to juggle work and home life. But, then there were times I really hated him. His perception on what Alex was going through. And, how she was struggling. This dynamic was great as I'm sure a lot of people could relate to these characters.

Interspersed through the story is an element of mystery. We're not told the whole story, and it's kind of drip fed to us. We as the reader start to form opinions and judgements of the characters and their decisions. Which I find a really good concept.

I really enjoyed this book, I would say it’s one of favourites by this author. Gripped from the start with a great first chapter, I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. A really good psychological/ domestic thriller with short chapters which I think is so much better to read. I highly recommend this book

The Husband Before You by A.J. McDine is a thrilling psychological drama that will keep readers questioning every twist and turn until the final page. The story follows a woman whose seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when her first husband, who she believed had died ten years ago, reappears out of nowhere.

The premise is gripping from the start, as the protagonist is forced to confront her past when Freddie, her deceased first husband, appears at her door. Now married to Carter, her second husband, and with a growing family, she has finally moved on from the heartache of losing Freddie. But his return, accompanied by a cryptic warning about her second husband, throws everything into chaos. As old wounds are reopened and secrets begin to surface, the protagonist is left to navigate a complex web of lies, trust, and fear.

McDine does an excellent job of building tension, creating a sense of dread and uncertainty as the reader is drawn into the protagonist's world. The dual mystery of whether Freddie is truly back from the dead and if Carter is hiding something sinister keeps the suspense high. The psychological turmoil the protagonist experiences is palpable, as she wrestles with her feelings for both men and the fear that one of them might be a threat to her family.

The characters are richly developed, with Freddie's sudden reappearance adding a layer of mystery and intrigue. The story is filled with emotional depth, and McDine expertly explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the dark secrets people keep hidden.

The Husband Before You is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. If you're a fan of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers, this book is a must-read. It’s a compelling tale about love, trust, and the dangerous lies we tell—and that are told to us.

Alex has been a widow for ten years and has rebuilt her life with a loving husband and wonderful children. She opens the door one day to the first husband who is alive and standing there - can you imagine? There's a lot going on here and the author does a very good job of keeping us informed. Good read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!