The Perfect Ex-Wife

by Winter K. Willis, Abigail Stever (Narrator)

Ramona has spent the last twelve years trying to build the perfect family with her husband and stepdaughter. In their picture-perfect home and neighborhood, she thought she'd finally found the life she always dreamed of. But one thing still haunts her every the shadow of her husband’s missing ex-wife. No matter how hard she tries, neither her husband nor stepdaughter can let go of the past.

Ramona has quietly hoped that time would help her replace the memory of the woman who disappeared without a trace. But when the police show up at her doorstep with new evidence, everything changes. As buried secrets resurface, Ramona is forced to confront the truth about the woman who came before her—and just how far she'll go to protect the perfect life she's built.

Perfect family. Perfect home. Perfect lie.

In this gripping domestic thriller, family secrets unravel and Ramona is pulled into a web of mind games and psychological manipulation. Her once-perfect life spirals into a tense, heart-pounding mystery, filled with suspenseful twists and a twisted past that refuses to stay buried. As the truth unfolds, Ramona must confront her worst fears in a mind-bending, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will leave listeners questioning everything they thought they knew.

A nail-biter of mind-bending suspense and psychological twists, this is one mystery where nothing is as it seems.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Psychological, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published June 30, 2025

About the author

Winter K. Willis is a pseudonym for our two-person writing team. We like to think of it as our band name.

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-crafted mystery with elements of a thriller sprinkled in. Ramona has a loving husband and Stepdaughter. The only thing that stands in her way of utter bliss is a past that won't stay buried. The past comes back with a vengeance and lives are shattered. Although the ending is a bit over the top, I still enjoyed the book overall. Thank you BookSirens for my copy.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramona Naylor has been with her husband Bradley and his daughter, Allison, for twelve years. She loves her life being a wife and stepmother - growing up in foster care, all she ever wanted was a family, and now she has one. Sure, it hurts that her stepdaughter doesn’t consider her a mother, and that she isn’t the love of her husband’s life, but she’s learned to be okay playing second fiddle to Natasha, Bradley’s presumed-deceased wife.

Natasha is still revered in the house, and Bradley and Allison have never stopped hoping she’s alive. She was everything Ramona is not: a great cook, a gorgeous lawyer providing for her family, and from the sound of it, a saint. Ramona and Bradley sleep in the basement, because the master bedroom hasn’t been touched since Natasha disappeared. Her dirty clothes are still in the hamper, her jewelry remains in its place. Ramona has to live with this shrine in her home, but again - she has a family now. That’s what matters.

Over a decade later, the police come to the house and change everything. A body is found, and it turns out to be Natasha. Now Allison knows her mom is truly dead, and the police are focusing on Bradley. Ramona knows he’s not capable of murdering this woman he worshiped, though. She’s going to do everything she can to find out what really happened to Natasha and keep her family together.

This book started off as a solid four star book, then towards the middle is started to lag and I became mildly annoyed with how nobody curses in this thriller. Everything is “what the heck” and “dang it”, and both phrases are repeated soooo many times. Also, all of the characters were, for lack of better words, stupid and immature. I was getting closer to giving this three stars as the book went on, but then the ending really surprised me. The big twist/reveal was something I never considered, and it was bonkers but impressive. That ending has me rounding up from a 3.5 to a 4!

(Thank you to Celestial Bear Publishing, Winter K. Willis and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on December 2, 2024.)

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was full of secrets, lies, and the blurred lines between delusion and reality.
I enjoyed the writing style, the pacing & how these authors leave just enough suspense to keep readers guessing. The alternating POVs between Natasha, the ex wife and Ramona, the current wife was easy to follow and added value to the story unfolding. I was not expecting that ending, I was on the right track regarding “whodunnit” but I was completely wrong about the circumstances as to how it took place. The narration in the audiobook was good, however the narrator was a bit monotone considering there was a lot of jumping back & forth between both POVs.

Overall an enjoyable read that fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy! This was my fifth book by these authors & I will eventually read their entire catalogue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your husband's first wife and mother to your stepdaughter went missing twelve years ago. Still, no one knows what happened to her, and you're left stepping into her shoes and grappling with the heartache and hope she'll someday come home.

And then, the call comes. Authorities found her body. And the investigation begins. Starting with your husband.

I loved this story. Twists and turns, some I saw coming and some I didn't, all were delicious. These characters are all people you'll love to hate. Devious people doing dastardly deeds. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Jill M Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete waste of time. Garbage

I hated every shallow character in this book and it was so ooo long and drawn out that I ended up just skipping to the end. Frequent editing errors as well...a huge pet peeve of mine...where the narrator would switch from first person to third in the same paragraph. Very poorly researched plot, particularly when describing the workings of the legal system and the sudden appearance of a pivotal character with no introduction very confusing. For the first time ever I want my money back.

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard read for me. It started off good but I quickly started to hate the main character. She was a complete doormat for her husband and he clearly didn’t love her and was stuck in the past. His wife was dead 10 years and he had her bedroom completely untouched? The new bedroom for the couple for 10 years is in the basement? Seems so bizarre. And he constantly talked about the love of his life being his dead wife and not the current one.
About halfway through I started to dislike the other main character in the flashbacks. She was a horrible wife and mother and extremely selfish. I didn’t at all feel bad about what happened to her. The ending of the book saved it from a 2 star. I love a crazy twist and a wild ending. If you don’t mind unlikable/naive characters the ending is amazing.

[Kate Cedras · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written fun thriller- however it got too out of touch with reality for me. And as much as I enjoyed it - I also was super ready for it to be over. The mystery surrounding the missing first wife kind of felt overdone. Again, when I finished I thought “DANG!” And realized as annoyed as I was I actually did like and enjoy the book.. and the author has this fun, flowy and super interesting way of keeping you engaged. Enjoyable, worth read and definitely worth the recommendation!

[Charry (SandToSnowStories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found some parts of the story a bit repetitive, but overall, this book was really entertaining! I feel for Ramona since it’s tough to see her let her husband and step-daughter treat her that way. Natasha and David's actions came across as quite selfish, and I honestly expected them to face some consequences for all the cheating. The ending really surprised me—it was a total twist!

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Read with nana (Taylor version⋆｡ ﾟ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose 4 stars bc when I finished the book I felt that "this deserves it "The writing, plot twist, and the plot In general are amazing INCREDIBLE, I highly recommend this book but I moved one star bc I was in a reading slump bc of my uni so if I read it in free days maybe I go to put 5 stars without thinking, and I want to thank the author bc writing Things like that.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Perfect Ex-Wife by Winter K. Willis fast-paced mystery thriller about the past that shadows over the present. That ending twist was just waaaat??

I loved the story and constantly felt sorry for the female characters! All three Ramona, Natasha and Allison were so damaged in one way or another!

Even though the POV and timeline shift between Ramona's present and Natasha's past it was easy to follow the story. I must say I liked Natasha's story better than Ramona's as Ramona constantly acted so desperate for approval, love and acceptance.

Natasha and Bradley were married and had a little baby daughter Allison when Natasha went missing 12 years ago. One day she just disappeared. No one ever heard about her since.

Soon after Bradley married Ramona who became a stepmum to Allison. All that Ramona ever wanted was a perfect home, a perfect husband and a perfect marriage. She thought that by marrying Bradley all her dreams come true. Unfortunitelly she never managed to get out of Natasha's shadow!
And now when the past is catching up Ramona is risking losing everything she fights for. Ramona is not ready to give up and will do everything to keep what's hers.

Thank you Booksirens for this copy!

[Pheadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another page-turner from the writing duo of Winter K Willis about Ramona who is now married to Bradley. He has a daughter, Allison. His first wife, the perfect Natasha went missing and ever since getting together with Bradley, Ramona has lived in Natasha's perfect shadow. But, was Natasha as 'perfect' as everyone has made out? Is Allison just a hormonal teenager? Did Bradley have something to do with Natasha's disappearance? Is Ramona a reliable narrator? We're about to find out now that Natasha's body has just been found and Bradley has been taken in for questioning.
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. 4 stars

[Carrie Gumm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did we read the same book?

I read a few of the reviews for this book before downloading it. I don't understand the good reviews. Especially the ones that said it would keep you guessing. The writing isn't good, the plot is predictable, and also all over the place. It read like the two authors never discussed a plan for the book and never read what the other had written. I finished it hoping it would get better. It didn't.

[Tammy Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I love psychological thrillers and this one was pretty good. Some of the reviews I read shared the readers shock at the ending, however I pretty much had this figured out half way in. But I still enjoyed the book. There were some surprise things with the ending that I hadn't thought about and that made it intriguing. I rounded the 3 stars to 3.5 as this did hold my attention.
If you enjoy these types of books, give it a try.

[Tena Hubble · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I actually finished this book. The two leading female characters are the dumbest, most naive, most gullible, and most ridiculous characters I have ever read in a book. I rolled my eyes during this book so many times it’s a miracle I can still see. I literally yelled at these two fictional characters numerous times. The plot has potential, which is the only reason I stayed till the end, but it was predictable and outlandish. I absolutely would not recommend this book to anyone. I have never given a review this negative and the only reason I gave it one star is because of the author’s effort. I will not however, waste my time reading any more books by Winter K Willis.

[Courtney King · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, a big unexpected twist. I have read better thrillers though. Will definitely read another one this authors books though.

[Sondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keep me reading. Wish there was more in the end

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure where to begin with this one. It has a really good premise. Imagine being married to someone for several years who still keeps a shrine in the master bedroom to his missing first wife. I don't just mean a few photos, I mean everything the woman owned and wont even spend time with you in that space, instead he made another bedroom in the basement for the two of you. You are also trying to raise the rebellious teenage daughter from that first marriage, who you have been raising since she was a toddler. Suddenly the police show up questioning your husband again about his first wife and you realize he is a suspect.

So here's the thing, I'm all for plot twists, I love a good surprise twist. However, there is a difference in giving us a twist we dont expect and being purposely deceptive. What I mean by that, is if you are giving us the point of view of someone, you cant make it seem like they are trying to figure it all out as well, like they were not complicit and knew who the culprit was the entire time. There are a few times you do have to suspend disbelief otherwise you will find yourself debating why particular things could never happen in a real investigation. But isnt that the premise sometimes of fiction, taking you out of reality? Overall, its a decent story, not really something I would call a thriller, more a mystery.


I received an advance copy for free in return for an honest review.

[Valerie Vigil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kept me engaged, if not a little irritated at the characters, so I raced to finish it to get to the answers. Once I got there, I was like I knew it! I didn’t know the reasons but I guessed the who-dun-it aspect.

Present POV

Ramona has been married to Bradley, the love of her life for 12 years. She is step-mother to his daughter Alison and life is almost perfect. Bradley was married prior, to a perfect woman Natasha. Natasha was smart, beautiful, a lawyer and all around perfect wife, mother and cook for her family. Living in the shadows of the first wife has always been a struggle for Ramona, but she loves her family with such conviction and believes one day their grief will finally subside. Natasha disappeared over 12 years earlier without a trace. Life moves on until one day the cops are at their door. What’s believed to be Natasha’s remains are found, and they’re bringing Bradley in for questioning. After 36 hours of worry, he is released but still a suspect. Ramona is in a frenzy. Having grown up in foster care, all she’s ever wanted was a family of her own and she’s not about to let this investigation tear her dreams apart. Ramona will stop at nothing to prove to the world that Bradley is innocent.

Past POV

Natasha is married to Bradley, her high school sweetheart. They live in a small apartment, living paycheck to paycheck. He works as a computer tech, and she works as a paralegal while also attending night school to become a lawyer. Everything was bliss until Bradley made a stupid decision and that gets him fired. Natasha is burdened with being the sole provider, while trying to juggle her dreams. She feels as if she barely has time to shower, eat and sleep before she’s back at it again. Resentment towards her husband builds as he becomes depressed without work, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Natasha was given the opportunity to stay late by a partner at the law firm. David was willing to pay her double to help him with some cases. In their financial crisis, she can’t afford to turn down the offer. Staying late at the office with a the handsome lawyer alone proves to be a bad idea when they grow close and divulge on their personal lives and partners. The closer she gets to David, the more she resents Bradley. A whirlwind affair blooms until Natasha feels she’s not a priority to David. She focuses her efforts back to her husband, giving him an ultimatum to get his life together. Once he does, she believes life is back on track with their original goals well within reach. Natasha becomes pregnant, and doubles down her marriage to Bradley. But working as a lawyer still brings her into the same circles as David, and her pull to him can’t be denied. Bradley is comfort, familiarity, and devoted to her. But David is excitement, ambitious and supportive. Who will she choose?



Spoilers ‼️ ‼️ ‼️

Both the main female characters are naive and delusional in their own rights.

After Natasha’s affair with David, she assumes he will up and leave his wife to be with her. She gets her hopes up time and time again. David didn’t outright tell her that he was going to leave her anytime soon, only confessed it was a loveless marriage. She was so ready to leave and divorce Bradley for this man that she feels betrayed they’re not on the same page. When David lies to her that his wife and him separated, she does it to herself again by believing they’ll be together. But taking the wife’s call while in front of her, solidifies her place as 2nd. You’d think she would be done, but nope. She’s so naive to keep getting dragged back in by this man and his lies. It’s like a start stop motion on their affair spanning years. She’s a smart lawyer yet getting duped in the most obvious sense by this man. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ramona claims her life is picture perfect yet her step-daughter is very mean towards the fact that she isn’t her real mother and doesn’t feel all that close to her even after 12 years! She’s not currently working. Bradley makes it abundantly clear that nobody can live up to Natasha, that she is the love of his life, and that he’s still holding space for her literally and figuratively. It seems as though she’s always being compared to this missing wife and can never be as good as her. Ramona was so dead set in her belief that her husband had nothing to do with Natasha’s disappearance and death, it pointed her out to be a suspect for me. Nobody can be too sure of someone else’s capabilities unless they know the whole truth. Even in some of the earlier family choices, she second guesses if what she did was right and comes to the conclusion that she messed up. But in fact, in some of those, it was just a bratty teen and husband who can’t let go who were mean. She has no confidence in herself. Obviously Ramona was delusional, painting this perfect family life so much to the point she completely forgot about major things that took bad turns. It was a little obvious that she was involved. Especially after planting evidence at David’s and thinking she would just easily break into his home, I knew she was capable of anything.

The only plot hole I seen was the fact that the lawyers assistant said that it wasn’t until after Natasha’s disappearance that David and his wife divorced. She somehow came to know of the affair and left. But when we’re in Natasha’s past pov, it happened before she disappeared. She went to the house and all of her belongings were gone and David finally wanted them to public. That wouldn’t have happened if they were still an item.

💁🏻‍♀️

This story has no wrapped up in a bow, everything comes together happy ending. Which in real life, happens. So I liked that.

[Shirley Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really dumb girlfriend and the story just doesn't ring plausible.

Don't recommend. Storyline is just too crazy. Plus the girlfriend is nauseatingly stupid and annoying. Won't be reading these authors again.

[Meghan Hanold-Parent · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was glad when Natasha was killed because I was ready to kill her.

Honestly not one character was likable. I hated all these people and got so tired of hearing all their way too repetitive thoughts over and over.
The writing style felt very amateurish.
Not my cup of tea.

[Marion Aitken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother reading

The plot is abysmal. Probably the worst book I've ever read. Apologies to the author but this was just horrendously bad. I've read hundreds maybe thousands of books but nothing this bad ever.

[Stephanie Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramona plays second fiddle to Bradley’s ex-wife, Natasha, who went missing twelve years ago. No matter how hard Ramona tries to be the perfect wife and mother to Bradley and his teenage daughter, Allison, they can’t let go of the past. No matter how hard she tries to be a good mother to Allison, she always says or does the wrong thing, and Allison pushes her further away.

The day two police officers show up at their home to tell them they discovered remains of a woman believed to be Bradley’s Ex-Wife Natasha, they bring in Bradley for questioning and from there everything spirals out of control. Family secrets and betrayal reveal themselves in astonishing ways.

The Perfect Ex-Wife is told from Natasha and Ramona’s points of view, and it certainly is a page turner from the start. This story touches on a few themes such as alcoholism, depression, adultery, obsession, erratic behavior, neglect, self-serving behavior and devastating consequences for one’s actions. I have to say obsession and desperation drives the plot of this story and the author brilliantly portrays these actions.

What fascinates me about psychological thrillers is exploration of what is reality or what is perceived to be reality in the minds of the characters. Perception is tricky when it comes to the human mind and how we see and experience the world around us and how we perceive other people’s speech, actions and motives. Our perception could easily be distorted, which may lead to serious and devastating consequences for oneself and others when acted upon. I thought a lot about this while reading this story which leads to the unreliable narrator. The characters’ credibility in the story becomes compromised by the ill choices they make due to their perception of reality and their own selfish wants. We see this abundantly with the characters in this story and it leaves you guessing what is true and what is false. The lines quickly blur as the story progresses and before you know it, things take a drastic turn to events.

What a thrilling and suspenseful story.

Stephanie

I obtained a galley copy from Celestial Bear Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts and spoilers

Pg 52 watching two people in grief and wanting to be part of it. Is she stupid. She doesn't have a role in it at all

53 why are you worried about your marriage fixing his innocence? Why is she latching on so hard

55 her marriage and life seem so sad 

60 I'm rolling my eyes she only seems to make bad choices 

73 why did you have a nice moment with your stressed husband and bring you the topic that's depressing him


87 everyone in this book is cringe and annoying 


138 Natasha likes to get stressed and cheat on her husband. He goes back to work even though she doesn't have to. Gets stressed from the workload and has an affair again 


145 what cost to you ? You cheated on your husband after being busy at work for weeks and he's upset and drinks and it's all his fault 

I87 the only time she's worried about her husband or daughter is when things don't work out with her side piece 


222 how many times will Natasha believe him about not being with his wife when he's lied every time 

225 no kiddle you need to spend more time with her you're always worried about having an affair and being shitty to your husband 

243 fighting to be an example to her daughter of being anything she wants but is barely around her daughter 

281 I'm getting suspicious of David 


Natasha will do anything but not be dependant on a man 


333 the childlike behavior is weird , I wasn't expecting Allison to be someone else's kid 


The husband so badly wanting to believe a lie both during the marriage and afterwards is sad and weird 


How did they prove he wasn't involved? 

Why did the pi pint and then bring guilty and not just her. 

302 how did the crazy bitch know about the seashell necklace 


318 oh she knew about the necklace because she bought it 

321  she would watch him sleep and break into his house that's fucking crazy

All and all could have been better the characters were all difficult to like and they were all bad at self reflection.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This is a new to me author. The blurb sounded good so I thought I'd give this a try. This was not a thriller. It was more of a mystery and drama. The POV and timeline shift between Ramona present and Natasha past. Ramona is currently married to Bradley. Ramona has always wanted the perfect life. Perfect home, perfect husband, perfect marriage. Allison is Bradley's daughter from his first marriage to Natasha. Ramona tries everything to get Allison to like her. The issue is Natasha. Natasha disappeared 12 years ago and was presumed dead. Bradley then married Ramona. However, she never lived up to perfect Natasha. She is constantly competing with the ghost of the ex wife for love, attention, and Bradley and Allison still have the master bedroom in the house just as it was left when Natasha disappeared. Bradley frequently, in conversation, calls Natasha the love of his life. I thought at first I was going to like this book. About half way through I couldn't wait to be finished reading it. Ramona's behavior is totally over the top with her need to get Allison and Bradley to love her. Frankly, it was annoying. I mean, if he's still in love with his missing wife, why stay with him?

The book was well written. However, by 75 percent it took a really crazy turn and I really just couldn't suspend reality that much. The characters were all very unlikable. Not only that, they were unrelatable. I really wish Goodreads had a half point rating system.

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I do not recommend this book.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Ex-Wife by Winter K. Willis is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing from start to finish. The story follows Ramona, a woman desperately trying to be the ideal wife and stepmother to her husband Bradley and his teenage daughter, Allison. But despite her best efforts, Ramona constantly finds herself living in the shadow of Bradley's missing ex-wife, Natasha, whose sudden disappearance twelve years ago left a lingering mystery. Ramona’s struggle to win the love and acceptance she craves is turned upside down when police arrive with shocking news—remains have been found that may belong to Natasha, sparking a series of twists that reveal unsettling secrets about the family.

Told from alternating perspectives between Natasha’s past and Ramona’s present, Willis expertly crafts two unreliable narrators who draw readers into their flawed perceptions and complicated motivations. The book explores themes of obsession, jealousy, and the deceptive nature of memory, giving readers a fascinating look at how far people will go to preserve or escape their realities. Willis’s characters are complex and deeply flawed, which makes them both fascinating and, at times, hard to root for. Ramona’s desperation and Bradley's lingering fixation on his "perfect" ex-wife add layers of tension, leaving readers to wonder who can truly be trusted.

Fast-paced and filled with unexpected turns, The Perfect Ex-Wife is both unsettling and engrossing, with a surprise ending that lingers. Fans of domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators will find this novel a captivating read. Thank you to NetGalley and Celestial Bear Publishing for the ARC!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramona Naylor has been married to Bradley for 12 years. She has strived to be a good wife to him and a good mother to his daughter Alison. You see, it was many years ago that Bradley’s wife, Natasha, disappeared. Police have searched but she has never been found. Father and daughter grieve the loss of the woman to the extent that her bedroom is left like a shrine. Ramona has worked so hard to help Alison with her grief and anger but the girl is often very ugly to her.

Today, the police stop by and ask Bradley to accompany them to the station for questioning as they have found a woman’s body in the woods and pending DNA testing, they are certain that it’s Natasha. Now, Alison is beside herself wondering why her father is taking so long at the station. She refuses any comfort from Ramona. When he returns, he and Alison disappear into the shrine room leaving Ramona behind. That’s when she again notices a small blue car parked out front and it’s the same one that has followed her several times. Who is it and why are they there?

This book seemed to be a bit repetitive at times. I didn’t like Natasha and I didn’t care much for Bradley either. Ramona seemed to be a bit of a ditz without much realness to her. These things made me feel like the book was a drag - that is until the end. Wow. That was very surprising and made me realize how all of the characters appeared to be to the way I saw them. Hope that’s not too confusing. Do give this book a read. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Gwen Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book had me hooked from page one. It did get confusing at times going from Natasha to Ramona talking but I did finally get it all straightened out. I was shocked to say the least at the ending of the book. That is something that I would never have thought of but here again I am not the writer with your imagination and I am sure this is not your first book or as least I hope it isn't, as I am going to be looking for more of your books.

This book revolves around two women Natasha Naylor, the first wife of Bradley Naylor. She disappeared 12 years ago, she is also the mother of Allison Naylor, who was about 2 or 3 when her mother disappeared. The second woman is the current wife of Bradley, Ramona Naylor and they have been married for 12 years. For probably half of the book we do not know if Natasha just disappeared or is dead. Did she get tired of her life and run away? If so was she alone or with someone? And then her body is discovered so we then know she is dead. Was she dead for the entire 12 years?

Ramona desperately wants to be a mother figure to Allison and the perfect wife to Bradley. But she finds herself falling short on both counts, she could never be as good as Natasha was. Bradley tells her as much all of the time and their old bedroom is a shrine to Natasha and the same as the day she left it. Only Allison and Bradley can enter the room. When Natasha's body is discovered Bradley is taken in for questioning. Did he have anything to do with her death?

[Katrina Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Perfect Ex-Wife is an engaging read with a fast-paced plot and an unexpected twist that keeps readers hooked until the final pages. The story moves quickly, making it a compelling page-turner. However, while the plot itself is intriguing, the execution leaves something to be desired.

The main character is frustratingly underdeveloped. Her decisions often feel irrational, her thought processes lack depth, and her inability to hold a job seems more like a contrived plot device than a genuine character flaw. Instead of being a complex or relatable protagonist, she comes across as hapless and one-dimensional, which weakens the emotional impact of her journey.

The books biggest strength is its twist—bold and surprising, yet it could have been executed with more finesse. While the reveal is shocking, it lacks the buildup and emotional weight that would have made it truly memorable. A more nuanced approach to foreshadowing and character development could have elevated it from simply “unexpected” to genuinely jaw-dropping.

Overall, The Perfect Ex-Wife is an entertaining read with a strong premise, but it falls short in character depth and narrative execution. Fans of fast-paced domestic thrillers will likely enjoy the ride, but those looking for a more sophisticated psychological unraveling may find it lacking.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramona married Bradley after his wife disappeared. He had been deeply in love with her, Natasha, and he and his daughter, Allison, still grieve her and keep the primary bedroom as it was, almost as a shrine to her. Ramona knows he doesn't love her as much as he loved Allison but she loves him enough for both of them, she tells herself, and is content to at last be married to him.

Then, a body is discovered in the woods (or field, I'm not sure which) and it's determined to be Natasha and they are treating her death as suspicious. Bradley is their initial target of the investigation but Ramona is determined to find an alternate suspect because she believes strongly that he did not kill Natasha.

Ramona and her fervor is enough to set alarm bells ringing that something is not right here. There are chapters told from Natasha's p.o.v. in the past and you can see that Bradley and Natasha didn't have a perfect marriage. But it's not enough to wipe away the little glimpses of manic obsession that I felt from Ramona towards Bradley.

And my suspicions were vindicated at the end when we learn who the killer is and just how long Ramona has had her crush on Bradley, and the lengths she went to in order to ensure she ended up with him.

[Crystal Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: Thank you to Celestial Bear Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
I quickly read "The Perfect Ex-Wife" and was eager to uncover who was truly responsible for Natasha's murder. I noticed that the book had more repetition than I felt was necessary, which is a trend in many thrillers I've read this year. However, by the final chapters, you can appreciate the purpose of that repetition. Just when you think you've figured out who killed Natasha, the truth is revealed, and it comes as a shocking surprise.

I loved switching back and forth between Natasha's and Ramona's lives. It was so well done that I was reading about Ramona and Bradley's married life and then seeing a glimpse into Natasha and Bradley's marriage. As the author wanted, I was angry at Natasha and how she treated Bradley.

I strongly believe in loyalty in marriage, and it was hard to read about Natasha's affair. Yet, without it, I also don't see this storyline working.

This book was fun to read and kept me on my toes. Once I finally got the chance to start it, it didn't take long for me to read it.