Miranda Gilcrest never imagined she'd be living out the cliché of her husband cheating on her with a much younger woman. And yet mere months after her wedding, she discovers the man who vowed to love her forever is seeing someone else.
She's convinced it's not her husband's fault. It's his mistress who did this. She lured him. Tempted him. Turned him against his wife.
But not for long. Miranda won't allow it. She makes a plan to get rid of this woman. For good.
She didn't want it to end this way, but her husband's mistress has given her no choice. She took something that wasn't hers and now she must be punished.
She messed with the wrong woman. She has no idea what Miranda's capable of. But she will soon.
And by then... it'll be too late.
A fast-paced psychological thriller! Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst and Kiersten Modglin!
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! This book had it all. I did not want to put it down. The twists and turns made my head spin and that ending blew my mind!!!! This author never disappoints. This is psychological suspense at it's best.
This book is about a woman named Miranda who finds out her husband is cheating on her. Instead of walking away, she decides to take matters into her own hands in a way that’s both intense and unexpected. This was a super quick read.
The story of the betrayed wife plotting revenge against her husband and his mistress has been told so many times before that it’s refreshing to find an author like Rowen Chambers who nevertheless can still surprise her readers with an interesting and unexpected twist.
Miranda is a brilliant but socially awkward pharmaceutical research scientist who lives and works in New York City. Though married to Miranda less than a year, her handsome husband Paxton begins an affair with a much younger woman named Ivy. Miranda and Paxton are about 40, the vivacious and athletic Ivy is 25. The devious Miranda, who is both clever and dangerous, devises a plan to befriend the clueless Ivy behind her husband’s back. Her ultimate goal is to punish Ivy for stealing her husband.
Minor characters who play a major part are Miranda’s wealthy mother who cares deeply for her daughter, and Margo who is Miranda’s best if not her only friend.
Like in all good domestic thrillers, not everyone is as they seem and you will not guess their secrets until they are revealed in the book’s second part. Sure, in the final act by simply examining phone records the police will find out who was telling the truth and who was guilty, but the great fun is watching the story unfold in so many unexpected directions.
Thank you, netgallery, for allowing me to review this novel for an honest review. I did enjoy this book from beginning to end. It was not how I thought it would end but better. I do feel it was predictable at times, but it didn't bother me much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rowen Chambers for providing this book, with my honest review below.
My Husband’s Mistress was an incredibly twisty novel that had me guessing as to whether I was reading the story of a woman deluded or one done wrong… or both! We meet Miranda, the wife, and Ivy, the mistress early on. The character that had the most intrigue (in my perspective) is the husband, Paxton. Is he telling the truth or not? Are we okay with his actions, regardless?
I loved the reading journey I went on with this book. Towards the end I guessed at what was happening, but truly it wasn’t until the last 20% or so. I enjoyed this and hat’s off to Rowen Chambers, in a world full of thrillers this book shines.
A bingeworthy popcorn thriller that I couldn't put down!
'Affair thrillers' are a tale as old as time (that I can't get enough of) and this was a pretty good one. I was kept guessing and trying to figure out what's truth because while some things appear to add up, there's also the sense that there's more than meets the eye...
The author did a good job in building suspense and creating mystery, though some of the dialogue felt a bit stilted sometimes. I definitely didn't see Part 2 coming and thought it was very clever! However, the climax was disappointing and very contrived. Like I just expected more after all that.
Still, this was a riveting thriller that I enjoyed sinking my teeth into and I look forward to reading the author's other works.
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for the Netgalley ARC.
I picked this as a beach read while vacationing down South with the family, and it didn't disappoint! I couldn't put it down! Every few minutes I had to spare, my eyes were on the tablet reading. It is twisty and intriguing, and it makes for a great popcorn thriller (my favourite!). The story is told from both Miranda's and Ivy's sides and you get to know the women pretty well. Neither character is very likeable, but that's what makes a story great (what would I have done in that situation?). Then I got to Part 2 and my jaw dropped! I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end and I'm looking forward to reading more of Rowen's work.
Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
I thought this book would be a fun read while traveling on several airline flights. Was I wrong! I can't understand how the book received a 4 star rating. The caliber of the writing was poor, along with unbelievable plot and characters.
Right from the start, I didn’t like the character Miranda. The book then grew on me and kept me reading to find out what would happen next. I wasn’t expecting the twist. A quick read.
I would give this a zero star if I could. Zero. Terrible plot. Terrible writing. And a small twist. But the whole entire book is so far fetched, it should be fantasy. Definitely not thriller 😒
Miranda Gilcrest, devastated by her husband's infidelity with a younger woman, refuses to blame him and instead directs her wrath towards the mistress. Determined to reclaim what was taken from her, Miranda devises a vengeful scheme.
The betrayed spouse is such a common trope, so I thought I knew how this book was going to go. I was very mistaken! This book went in a completely different direction than I expected. I really enjoyed this one, and the twist in Part II made my mouth drop open.
Told from mainly the perspective of Miranda and the mistress, Ivy, you get to know both women well. The characters are not particularly likable, but it makes for a very interesting story.
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of My Husband’s Mistress. I am not sure who the publisher is to thank but what a GREAT READ!!! It was sooooo fast moving and ridiculous which made it fun to read. The plot was a real good one and the ending had a FANTASTIC TWIST!! When I say ridiculous I mean that the conversations were not believable for real life but soooooo good to lose myself in this story. Part two showed everyone’s true colors and it was shocking to find out who they really were. I absolutely loved it. Thank you again.
This isn’t what I thought it was going to be at all. It’s so much more gripping, twisty, nerve wracking and satisfying. Miranda is an interesting character. She’s been married to Paxton for less than a year. She seems so madly in love, so normal for a newlywed. Then Paxton starts pulling away from her and she learns he’s having an affair with Ivy. I loved the first part, which was told from Miranda’s POV and also from Ivy’s. They seemed like two different women. It seemed like the same old story of a man going thru a crisis and having an affair with a much younger woman. But it isn’t exactly like that at all.
It isn’t until Part 2 when we also get to read Paxton’s POV that we start getting a full picture of Miranda’s mental health and the reasons Paxton is having his affair, that there’s so much more going on than what was originally revealed in Part 1. How Miranda navigates the betrayal and how everything is resolved in the end is very satisfying. Loved the plot. Loved how everyone underestimates Miranda. Great book, well written with well developed characters.
This was a fast and twisty read but the main character was so annoying it was hard to take her seriously. The writing was a bit juvenile and most of the dialogue was so unbelievable and frustrating, I found myself sipping some entire paragraphs.
I have a goal set of how many books (E-books) I want to read this year, so I’ve been on it! This book was different than the cozy crime mysteries I usually read back-to-back. For it to kind of be the first one outside of my normal preference, it kept me engaged!
I don’t recall seeing any grammatical errors. If they were any, they were very small and that says a lot right there! A big majority of my cozy crime sleuth stories have so much editing that needs to be done, it turns me off from enjoying the book at times.
The author did a wonderful job with her writing. I loved seeing the POV from each character. That’s something I definitely wasn’t expecting as we got into Part 2. I KNEW Miranda was crazy and we learn in-depth about her mental state during this time as well. Paxton - I didn’t like how he treated Miranda but once the truth was revealed about their marriage, I felt bad for him to some extent.
The ending was somewhat of twist as I envisioned it playing out a couple of ways. I feel like maybe another book is possible to continue where this one left off. We could see years having passed by and Ivy fighting to prove her innocence; Miranda learning the truth about her mom and Margo and her possibly taking action against them because she felt betrayed and used. I definitely see possibilities with that.
I think I started reading this book just last weekend and finished it tonight/morning of May 1st. I wanted to see how this would play out because I thought ‘Helene’s’ identity would be revealed in a different scenario. All of the plotting kept me engaged as I didn’t find this book to have any boring moments.
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 - - cheating husband - revenge plot - manipulative wife - psychological mind games - toxic marriage - obsessed mistress - dark domestic thriller
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - This story follows Miranda, a successful woman who discovers that her husband Paxton is having an affair with a younger woman named Ivy. Instead of choosing divorce, Miranda decides to stay quiet and plan something far more dangerous. She studies Ivy’s life, becomes part of it, and slowly starts playing psychological games that pull everyone deeper into a dark web of lies and manipulation. What begins as betrayal turns into a chilling revenge plan where nothing is as simple as it looks. This book was such a fun and twisty psychological thriller for me. The story moves quickly and keeps the tension high the whole time. Miranda is such an interesting character because she looks calm and perfect on the outside but inside she is calculating every single move. I loved watching how she slowly controlled the situation without anyone realizing it. The drama, secrets, and manipulation made the story so addictive. Every chapter revealed a little more of the truth and it kept pulling me deeper into the plot. The dark revenge vibes and the messy relationship dynamics made it even more entertaining. It is the kind of thriller that feels dramatic, intense, and impossible to put down once things start unfolding. If you enjoy domestic thrillers full of betrayal, secrets, and twisted revenge, this one is definitely worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Right from the beginning got me really hooked in and I can already tell this is my kind of stuff. In the beginning it seems like Miranda is jealous and longing for her husband because she’s lonely and he never gives her any time and this story just takes off right from the first few chapters. We get a multi POV from Miranda and Ivy, which is obviously the pov of the “mistress”. I’m really enjoying the multi POV’s. This is so fast paced, I absolutely am shredding through this and loving the infidelity and mystery of what’s gonna happen between Miranda, Paxton and Ivy. As the story progresses there’s a lot of mystery, lies, betrayal and fire is bubbling to the surface. I personally wanted to strangle Paxton but I love the drama of it all! Miranda seems controlling or “clingy” or controlling. Paxton wants out of his marriage no matter what and he will do what it takes but also on Miranda’s side she will make sure he is hers forever no matter the cost. From part 2 it picks up a lot and we get Paxton's pov as well I thought it made the story more dramatic and juicy. If you like lifetime shows that’s full of lies and drama this book is for you! Lots of fun and entertaining and a quick read as well!
My Husband’s Mistress by Rowen Chambers completely pulled me in from the first pages. I couldn’t put it down, not because of cheap drama, but because of how real and layered the relationships felt.
What I loved most was the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives. Seeing the same situations through different characters’ eyes added so much depth and emotional tension. Every shift in point of view changed how I felt — sometimes my sympathy moved, sometimes my judgment did. It made the story feel alive and painfully human.
The book isn’t just about betrayal; it’s about love, insecurity, desire, and the quiet moments where people slowly drift apart. The emotions were described with such detail that it felt easy to step into each character’s mind. No one felt flat or one-dimensional — everyone had flaws, motives, and vulnerability.
If you enjoy relationship-driven stories that focus on emotions, inner conflicts, and complicated human choices, this book is absolutely worth reading. For me, it was intense, honest, and deeply engaging — the kind of story that stays in your head even after you finish the last page.
Months after marrying the man of her dreams, Miranda finds out that her husband is cheating on her with a much younger woman. Miranda refuses to blame her husband for the affair. Rather, she casts all her blame on the mistress. Miranda devises a plan to win her man back from the mistress.
What a fun and wild ride! I loved that ending! So many thrillers deal with the cheating spouse trope. However, Rowen Chambers was able to come up with a unique plot and offer a fresh perceptive on this trope. I thought I had everything figured out, but when I got to Part II, I was shocked!
This is a fast paced and well written read. There are many twists, turns, and secrets. I raced through it and finished in two sittings. Incredibly difficult to put down. A must read for psychological thriller fans.
Thank you Rowen Chambers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have read enough psychological thrillers to know the bad guy never wins, so I already knew the ending of My Husband's Mistress--until I got to the end. Holy cats! Rowen Chambers included twists and switches constantly, and what I thought I knew, I really did not. Miranda and Paxton have not been married even a year yet, and Paxton has already had enough of Miranda and the marriage. Paxton wants no responsibilities, and he has figured out marriage is not for him. Except being married to Miranda has a hold on him like no other, and he feels stuck. Once he gets to the point where he cannot take it anymore, Miranda doubles down. Paxton's mistress has no clue what is coming for her, and Ivy is too young to be on guard for the likes of Miranda. Great read.
The story was easy to read, the relationship between the characters was well built, and the hints to the main characters mental health were well done. That being said, this book is not a thriller. It was a fast read that I struggled to get through and kept contemplating not finishing it a few times. The twist was predictable, I don't want to give spoilers, but it didn't come as a shock. The ending was good. This book focuses mostly on dialogue between characters and there was essentially no world building, no descriptive writing, other than when it comes to how characters look, and even then it was very basic. I think this would be a great book to read on an airplane or the beach, as long as you're *not* expecting a shocking thriller that would keep you on your toes.
I found the title intriguing. I always imagined that a mistress or the term mistress would apply to a woman who was more sophisticated and a little more worldly than Ivy- the mistress. Ivy is a young, beautiful and likable yoga teacher. Perhaps the term girl friend or love interest would be more appropriate in this case.
The protagonist Miranda has a PhD and is successful. When she finds out that her husband is having an affair, her world turns upside down. There were several things that I found ridiculous- when she realizes that her husband was wearing a new cologne, she wondered why he would buy one without her.
The story moves along at a leisurely pace at first and gradually becomes more complex and dark.
This is another page-turner from Rowen Chambers that had me immediately upon completion downloading all her books I've yet to read. Miranda(36) has had anxiety issues since being a child. Her neediness in all relationships is suffocating. She is also extremely intelligent and accomplished in her career as a chemist. She has been married to Paxton(40), an advertising executive for a year when she stumbles perchance upon him having an affair with Ivy(25) a gym/ yoga instructor. Paxton is a gambler, a risk-taker, a player, and a pathological ouar. Miranda sets about learning more about his and Ivy's duplicity as she can not and will not tolerate anyone leaving her. 4 and a half stars