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The Housewife
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 03:39:35
10 copies available
U.S. only
From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
51 people are currently reading
31127 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Barelli
14 books2,674 followersNatalie Barelli lives in Australia with her family where she is forever thinking up ways of killing people and getting away with it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 716 reviews
May 7, 2026
Well, this book hooked me from the very first page with its sarcastic tone and its anti-heroine Jodie, who has a mission any reader can support and easily resonate with—despite her peculiar and complex behavior. Some parts of the storyline reminded me of The Housemaid, but honestly, who can resist a fast-paced, twisty, McFadden-style page-turner? That alone was a huge selling point for me.
Especially the first half of the book was brilliantly executed—unputdownable, clever, and full of tension. I kept guessing what would happen next: Will Jodie prove that the evil husband killed his first wife? Will she get caught by the maid who keeps sniffing around her? I was this close to giving it five stars—maybe even ten. At certain moments I literally laughed out loud at Jodie’s word-diarrhea in front of people, her strange yet oddly ultra-logical way of thinking, and the way she navigates social situations. I also absolutely hated the rich, snobbish women who gave her the cold shoulder—we were clearly meant to root for our girl.
However, in the second half, the pace became a bit repetitive, and many of the twists—especially the identity of the real perpetrator—felt too foreseeable. I didn’t fully enjoy how everything was resolved, because some of it felt a little far-fetched, particularly the legal-thriller elements that were added into the mix. The ending itself was good, but I think everything could have been wrapped up more smoothly. It felt like the author had perfectly executed the entire plot, but near the end she became a bit unsure about how to reveal all the facts and deliver justice to the characters.
That said, I still truly enjoyed this dark-comedy-meets-mystery-thriller and especially Jodie—our sarcastic, possibly on-the-spectrum, “perfect wife” with impeccable cleaning skills and incredible cooking and baking talents. I would absolutely want to be friends with her… as long as she doesn’t serve me anything in Steuben glass. 😅
Quick Plot Summary
The story opens with Jodie sitting in an interrogation room, covered in blood, casually giving the police cleaning tips about their desk while mentally planning her return to what is now a crime scene. From there, the story jumps back in time so we can learn more about her.
Jodie, in her early thirties, is married to the famous and well-published psychologist Roy, who is at least ten years older than her. Their whirlwind marriage raises eyebrows because Roy’s previous wife, Deborah, died by suicide only six months earlier—and now he’s married to Jodie, who looks eerily like a younger version of her.
Jodie isn’t just a brilliant cook and an obsessive cleaner—she’s also very good at keeping secrets. One of those secrets? She spent five years in prison, and she has no problem going back if it means avenging her sister… who just happens to be Deborah. Yes, she is married to her dead sister’s husband, and she strongly suspects he murdered her. She’s determined to prove it, even though everyone in their social circle sees Roy as a saint—and his devoted maid, Marie, watches Jodie like a hawk, just waiting for her to slip up.
Overall
I’m rounding my 3.5 stars up to a 4, even though I didn’t enjoy the second half as much as the first. It’s still an addictive page-turner with a sharp sense of dark humor and a satisfying dose of vigilante justice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this unputdownable mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Especially the first half of the book was brilliantly executed—unputdownable, clever, and full of tension. I kept guessing what would happen next: Will Jodie prove that the evil husband killed his first wife? Will she get caught by the maid who keeps sniffing around her? I was this close to giving it five stars—maybe even ten. At certain moments I literally laughed out loud at Jodie’s word-diarrhea in front of people, her strange yet oddly ultra-logical way of thinking, and the way she navigates social situations. I also absolutely hated the rich, snobbish women who gave her the cold shoulder—we were clearly meant to root for our girl.
However, in the second half, the pace became a bit repetitive, and many of the twists—especially the identity of the real perpetrator—felt too foreseeable. I didn’t fully enjoy how everything was resolved, because some of it felt a little far-fetched, particularly the legal-thriller elements that were added into the mix. The ending itself was good, but I think everything could have been wrapped up more smoothly. It felt like the author had perfectly executed the entire plot, but near the end she became a bit unsure about how to reveal all the facts and deliver justice to the characters.
That said, I still truly enjoyed this dark-comedy-meets-mystery-thriller and especially Jodie—our sarcastic, possibly on-the-spectrum, “perfect wife” with impeccable cleaning skills and incredible cooking and baking talents. I would absolutely want to be friends with her… as long as she doesn’t serve me anything in Steuben glass. 😅
Quick Plot Summary
The story opens with Jodie sitting in an interrogation room, covered in blood, casually giving the police cleaning tips about their desk while mentally planning her return to what is now a crime scene. From there, the story jumps back in time so we can learn more about her.
Jodie, in her early thirties, is married to the famous and well-published psychologist Roy, who is at least ten years older than her. Their whirlwind marriage raises eyebrows because Roy’s previous wife, Deborah, died by suicide only six months earlier—and now he’s married to Jodie, who looks eerily like a younger version of her.
Jodie isn’t just a brilliant cook and an obsessive cleaner—she’s also very good at keeping secrets. One of those secrets? She spent five years in prison, and she has no problem going back if it means avenging her sister… who just happens to be Deborah. Yes, she is married to her dead sister’s husband, and she strongly suspects he murdered her. She’s determined to prove it, even though everyone in their social circle sees Roy as a saint—and his devoted maid, Marie, watches Jodie like a hawk, just waiting for her to slip up.
Overall
I’m rounding my 3.5 stars up to a 4, even though I didn’t enjoy the second half as much as the first. It’s still an addictive page-turner with a sharp sense of dark humor and a satisfying dose of vigilante justice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sharing this unputdownable mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓, 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑰 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑴𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒚.”
✄┈ 𝘑𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴. 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥—𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.
This book was entertaining from beginning to end — it completely hooked me, and I honestly had a hard time putting it down.
It’s an easy, fast read, and the short chapters were definitely one of the best things about it.
However… I have to say this: I guessed every single twist before it happened — every time 😅 From the very beginning, nothing really surprised me.
Jodie was a bit strange, which makes sense considering everything she did. I did admire her determination to finish what she started. But at times, she honestly annoyed me — especially the way she kept pushing Deb for answers, like she was interrogating her and didn’t know when to stop.
The ending was good, but not quite the payoff I was hoping for. The person who did the worst thing got off too easily, in my opinion…
Overall: A fast-paced and addictive read, but a bit predictable with an ending that didn’t fully satisfy me.
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ |𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑🧹
⤿ i really need to catch up on my ARCs, so let’s start with this one. 👀
ⓘ Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🗓️ Pub Date: June 30, 2026
✄┈ 𝘑𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴. 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥—𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.
This book was entertaining from beginning to end — it completely hooked me, and I honestly had a hard time putting it down.
It’s an easy, fast read, and the short chapters were definitely one of the best things about it.
However… I have to say this: I guessed every single twist before it happened — every time 😅 From the very beginning, nothing really surprised me.
Jodie was a bit strange, which makes sense considering everything she did. I did admire her determination to finish what she started. But at times, she honestly annoyed me — especially the way she kept pushing Deb for answers, like she was interrogating her and didn’t know when to stop.
The ending was good, but not quite the payoff I was hoping for. The person who did the worst thing got off too easily, in my opinion…
Overall: A fast-paced and addictive read, but a bit predictable with an ending that didn’t fully satisfy me.
˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ |𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑🧹
⤿ i really need to catch up on my ARCs, so let’s start with this one. 👀
ⓘ Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🗓️ Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Such a fun read from beginning to end! I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Jodie, our main character, showed such determination to get what she wanted. Though she was infuriating at times and kept me on edge, I have to applaud the author for writing her character the way she did.
#TheHousewife #NetGalley
Jodie, our main character, showed such determination to get what she wanted. Though she was infuriating at times and kept me on edge, I have to applaud the author for writing her character the way she did.
#TheHousewife #NetGalley
January 26, 2026
A psychological thriller that includes some dark, snarky humor is one of my favorite things. When the main character gets tired of everyone at the party saying how happy her husband’s dead wife was and she blurts out, “Then why did she shoot herself in the face?” I knew I was in for a treat. Jodie is such a great character. The plot is terrific and it’s a hard one to put down. I loved everything about it!
My only request for the publishing industry is please, please, please stop making all book titles similar to The Housewife, The Housemaid and My Husband’s Wife. I think I’ve read 9,008,003 of those this year and it’s only January. This is such a clever book that deserves a more unique title. Like, maybe, “Why’d Ya Shoot Yourself In The Damn Face, Deborah?”
My only request for the publishing industry is please, please, please stop making all book titles similar to The Housewife, The Housemaid and My Husband’s Wife. I think I’ve read 9,008,003 of those this year and it’s only January. This is such a clever book that deserves a more unique title. Like, maybe, “Why’d Ya Shoot Yourself In The Damn Face, Deborah?”
April 8, 2026
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my gifted advanced reader copy of The Housewife all opinions are my own.
I loved this one!! What a deliciously dark and entertaining thriller read. I love when we have a main character that is a bit whacky but for all the right reasons (kind of??) morally grey but also good for her - you know those types of characters !?
Jodie had dreams of being the perfect housewife and now she is to the Mr. wonderful renowned psychologist Dr. Davies. As her happy wife happy life living becomes her new normal their marriage starts to become more than what it seems on the outside. Did I forget to mention she’s the second Mrs. Davies and the first one died tragically and unexpectedly just a bit before Jodie and Dr. Davies whirlwind romance ?
I loved this one!! What a deliciously dark and entertaining thriller read. I love when we have a main character that is a bit whacky but for all the right reasons (kind of??) morally grey but also good for her - you know those types of characters !?
Jodie had dreams of being the perfect housewife and now she is to the Mr. wonderful renowned psychologist Dr. Davies. As her happy wife happy life living becomes her new normal their marriage starts to become more than what it seems on the outside. Did I forget to mention she’s the second Mrs. Davies and the first one died tragically and unexpectedly just a bit before Jodie and Dr. Davies whirlwind romance ?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Natalie Barelli, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
#TheHousewife #NetGalley
This is definitely a 5 star read. it hooked me from the very first page. I loved that the whole book had lots of twists and it was an exciting read. If you are also a fan of Freida McFadden I think you will enjoy this book!!!
Pub Date; June 30, 2026!
#TheHousewife #NetGalley
This is definitely a 5 star read. it hooked me from the very first page. I loved that the whole book had lots of twists and it was an exciting read. If you are also a fan of Freida McFadden I think you will enjoy this book!!!
Pub Date; June 30, 2026!
April 20, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this one, and as a big thriller reader, I went in with high expectations. I’m happy to say it really delivered.
From the start, the story pulled me in and kept me engaged the entire time. It’s one of those books where you keep wanting to pick it back up just to see what happens next. The pacing was strong, and the tension built nicely throughout, making it a very easy, bingeable read.
The twists and turns were well done and kept me guessing. Even when I thought I had an idea of where things were going, the story still managed to surprise me, which is always a win in a thriller.
Overall, this was a solid, entertaining read and definitely worth adding to your TBR if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers when it’s released on June 30th 2026
From the start, the story pulled me in and kept me engaged the entire time. It’s one of those books where you keep wanting to pick it back up just to see what happens next. The pacing was strong, and the tension built nicely throughout, making it a very easy, bingeable read.
The twists and turns were well done and kept me guessing. Even when I thought I had an idea of where things were going, the story still managed to surprise me, which is always a win in a thriller.
Overall, this was a solid, entertaining read and definitely worth adding to your TBR if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers when it’s released on June 30th 2026
March 14, 2026
Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion. This was a good quick thriller and it gives frieda vibes. I do think the ending was a bit over the top but it was still good nonetheless
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is so much fun. Well, for a thriller with murder 🤣. It is fast paced with short chapters.
Jodie has married a wealthy doctor. They married very quickly and shortly after his first wife's death. Jodie wants to know what happened to the first Mrs. Davies and she is conducting her own personal investigation. Her husband may have something to hide but then, doesn't everybody?
There are so many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a new twist would pop up and I would be wrong.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Jodie has married a wealthy doctor. They married very quickly and shortly after his first wife's death. Jodie wants to know what happened to the first Mrs. Davies and she is conducting her own personal investigation. Her husband may have something to hide but then, doesn't everybody?
There are so many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a new twist would pop up and I would be wrong.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of The Housewife by Natalie Barelli in exchange for my honest review!
Wow! This is hands down the best thriller I’ve read in a while. The Housewife completely hooked me from the start and never let up. It’s twisty, gripping, and incredibly entertaining, I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Every chapter left me wanting to read more and the tension kept building in the best way.
If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, this one is an absolute must-read. I loved every minute of it!
Wow! This is hands down the best thriller I’ve read in a while. The Housewife completely hooked me from the start and never let up. It’s twisty, gripping, and incredibly entertaining, I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Every chapter left me wanting to read more and the tension kept building in the best way.
If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, this one is an absolute must-read. I loved every minute of it!
January 20, 2026
4.5 🌟 I had the best time reading this book! So many little twists here and there. I thought I was smart and had it figured out and then everything was turned upside down. The writing was great and the pacing was perfect. I didn’t want to stop reading it and now I’m sad that I finished.
Thank you to NetGalley for this great arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for this great arc!
January 18, 2026
My first 5 star read of 2026 — and what a way to kick things off.
This book had me in a chokehold from the opening chapters. I read it in three sittings because once I started, I genuinely didn’t want to stop. Did I struggle to put it down? Yes. Did I guess the twists? Not even close.
Natalie Barelli takes a familiar domestic setup — a whirlwind marriage, wealth, power, and a glamorous new life, and turns it into something deeply unsettling. As Jodie steps into the role she’s always wanted, it becomes clear that nothing about her marriage is as perfect as it appears. The presence of Roy’s late first wife hangs over everything, and the slow drip of revelations keeps the tension ratcheting higher with every chapter.
The twists are sharp, well-timed, and completely pulled the rug out from under me. This is the kind of thriller where you think you’re ahead of the story… until you very much aren’t.
This is my second Natalie Barelli book after Finder’s Keepers, and once again it’s a solid 5 stars. I’m officially at the point where I’ll read whatever she writes next. She’s fast becoming an auto-read author for me, and definitely deserves more noise about her writing.
This book had me in a chokehold from the opening chapters. I read it in three sittings because once I started, I genuinely didn’t want to stop. Did I struggle to put it down? Yes. Did I guess the twists? Not even close.
Natalie Barelli takes a familiar domestic setup — a whirlwind marriage, wealth, power, and a glamorous new life, and turns it into something deeply unsettling. As Jodie steps into the role she’s always wanted, it becomes clear that nothing about her marriage is as perfect as it appears. The presence of Roy’s late first wife hangs over everything, and the slow drip of revelations keeps the tension ratcheting higher with every chapter.
The twists are sharp, well-timed, and completely pulled the rug out from under me. This is the kind of thriller where you think you’re ahead of the story… until you very much aren’t.
This is my second Natalie Barelli book after Finder’s Keepers, and once again it’s a solid 5 stars. I’m officially at the point where I’ll read whatever she writes next. She’s fast becoming an auto-read author for me, and definitely deserves more noise about her writing.
March 5, 2026
⭐️3.0 This was a fun read, thank you to Net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.
The first part of the book had me hooked immediately, loved seeing the tension build page by page. However the middle section was a little bit longer than was necessary. The mc had me internally screaming and 😦 by some of the questionable things she got up to.
Overall it was a pretty good story. I know many people will eat this up!
The first part of the book had me hooked immediately, loved seeing the tension build page by page. However the middle section was a little bit longer than was necessary. The mc had me internally screaming and 😦 by some of the questionable things she got up to.
Overall it was a pretty good story. I know many people will eat this up!
February 26, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Natalie Barelli, but The Housewife wasn’t my favorite of hers. I’m not sure why it took me 4 days to get through it, but the first half felt very slow and it took me a while to really get into the story. While it didn’t completely hook me like her previous thrillers have, I still enjoy her writing style and suspenseful concepts. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her next thriller.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Unhinged, Twisty Secrets
full review ⬇️
I went into The Housewife on one of my usual book blind dates and within a few chapters I realised this was going to be one of those twisty domestic thrillers where absolutely nothing is what it seems. It was a great time!
The story follows a seemingly perfect suburban housewife in her seemingly perfect suburban life which of course meant things start unraveling pretty quickly.
Secrets were piling up, the tension built and the ‘just one more chapter’ feeling kicked in hard early on.
This is the kind of thriller that leans into the drama and suspense of domestic life including marriages, friendships, appearances and the pressure of looking like everything is perfect on the outside.
What I really enjoyed was the pacing. This book gave me similar popcorn thriller vibes to Freida McFadden. It moved quickly and kept dropping little pieces of information that made me rethink everything I thought I knew. Every time I felt confident about where it was going, something shifted.
The main character Jodie was perfectly unreliable. I was constantly wondering to myself ‘do I trust you?’, ‘should I trust you?’ and ‘why do I feel like I absolutely should not trust you?’ 😅 I’m not sure what it says about me but unhinged female leads are possibly my favourite characters ever.
If you love fast paced psychological thrillers packed with secrets, messy relationships and wild unhinged moments (think Dear Debbie / Mad Mabel vibes) this one is a very entertaining ride.
A big thank you to Poisioned Pen Press and NetGalley for the sneak peek.
Vibe check: Unhinged, Twisty Secrets
full review ⬇️
I went into The Housewife on one of my usual book blind dates and within a few chapters I realised this was going to be one of those twisty domestic thrillers where absolutely nothing is what it seems. It was a great time!
The story follows a seemingly perfect suburban housewife in her seemingly perfect suburban life which of course meant things start unraveling pretty quickly.
Secrets were piling up, the tension built and the ‘just one more chapter’ feeling kicked in hard early on.
This is the kind of thriller that leans into the drama and suspense of domestic life including marriages, friendships, appearances and the pressure of looking like everything is perfect on the outside.
What I really enjoyed was the pacing. This book gave me similar popcorn thriller vibes to Freida McFadden. It moved quickly and kept dropping little pieces of information that made me rethink everything I thought I knew. Every time I felt confident about where it was going, something shifted.
The main character Jodie was perfectly unreliable. I was constantly wondering to myself ‘do I trust you?’, ‘should I trust you?’ and ‘why do I feel like I absolutely should not trust you?’ 😅 I’m not sure what it says about me but unhinged female leads are possibly my favourite characters ever.
If you love fast paced psychological thrillers packed with secrets, messy relationships and wild unhinged moments (think Dear Debbie / Mad Mabel vibes) this one is a very entertaining ride.
A big thank you to Poisioned Pen Press and NetGalley for the sneak peek.
May 2, 2026
Thank you to the Author and Netgally for the ARC. below is my honest and personal review.
This was such a solid, quick thriller read.
The Housewife by Natalie Barelli follows two sisters who come from a rough upbringing but end up on completely different paths. When one sister is murdered while the other is in prison, everything changes. Once she’s released, she makes it her mission to find out what really happened—and that means getting dangerously close to her sister’s husband.
I really liked the premise of this. It felt different enough to keep me interested, even if I could guess parts along the way. What kept me hooked was how everything slowly unraveled. The deeper she gets, the more secrets come out—not just about her sister, but about herself too.
It’s a fast, engaging read that definitely kept me turning pages. I’d say it’s around a 3.75 for me, but easily rounded up to 4 because it held my attention the whole time and delivered a satisfying ride.
If you like twisty, character-driven thrillers that you can fly through in a couple sittings, this is worth picking up.
This was such a solid, quick thriller read.
The Housewife by Natalie Barelli follows two sisters who come from a rough upbringing but end up on completely different paths. When one sister is murdered while the other is in prison, everything changes. Once she’s released, she makes it her mission to find out what really happened—and that means getting dangerously close to her sister’s husband.
I really liked the premise of this. It felt different enough to keep me interested, even if I could guess parts along the way. What kept me hooked was how everything slowly unraveled. The deeper she gets, the more secrets come out—not just about her sister, but about herself too.
It’s a fast, engaging read that definitely kept me turning pages. I’d say it’s around a 3.75 for me, but easily rounded up to 4 because it held my attention the whole time and delivered a satisfying ride.
If you like twisty, character-driven thrillers that you can fly through in a couple sittings, this is worth picking up.
February 11, 2026
Talk about plot twistss!!! WHAT
Messy secrets, sharp twists, and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
The story kept me HOOKED from beginning to end.
The characters were compelling, the tension was perfectly built, and the ending was sooo incredibly satisfying.
Highly recommend✨
Messy secrets, sharp twists, and plenty of jaw-dropping moments.
The story kept me HOOKED from beginning to end.
The characters were compelling, the tension was perfectly built, and the ending was sooo incredibly satisfying.
Highly recommend✨
April 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! This was my first thriller ARC, and I have to say I devoured it. It’s a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me engaged.
The plot moved quickly and kept me guessing, with some unexpected twists. I will say that the female main character is not really likable and the story wasn’t exactly what I anticipated from the synopsis. But the suspense and the sense that everyone is hiding something made it a gripping read. It may not have been perfect, but it held my attention.
Overall, it was a solid read and reminded me why I love psychological thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! This was my first thriller ARC, and I have to say I devoured it. It’s a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me engaged.
The plot moved quickly and kept me guessing, with some unexpected twists. I will say that the female main character is not really likable and the story wasn’t exactly what I anticipated from the synopsis. But the suspense and the sense that everyone is hiding something made it a gripping read. It may not have been perfect, but it held my attention.
Overall, it was a solid read and reminded me why I love psychological thrillers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For fans of Freida McFadden & Sally Hepworth, this one's for you! From the very first page, I was hooked. Snarky Jodie had me rooting for her from the get-go! The pacing was exactly like a Freida McFadden book & the quirk reminded me of Sally Hepworth. The chapters flew by, and I was half-way through the book before I knew it. Jodie is married to a renowned psychologist, but this is not his first marriage. His first wife, Deb, allegedly committed suicide; however, the presence of Deb continues to loom largely over the house. Deb is all any of their friends talk about. When her husband starts to become distant, she starts questioning about what happened to Deb. And when she can't get the answers she wants, she does her own investigation. And from here, twists & turns abound. I totally was gripped by this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞?"
I'm a long-time fan of this author, and I was thrilled to see this upcoming release that pulled me in immediately. Jodie marries Dr. Roy Davies after a whirlwind romance and steps straight into what should be a dream life in Beverly Hills, only to realize the fantasy has teeth. Roy is often cold and distant, his friends treat her like an interloper, and the house itself feels haunted by the presence of his late wife, Deborah. As Jodie settles in, it becomes clear that Deborah did not simply fade away, and the more Jodie learns about her reclusive final years, the more uneasy I became about what really happened inside that perfect home.
What really got under my skin was watching Jodie start to question everything around her while also doubting herself. I could feel the pressure building as she uncovered more about Roy’s controlling behavior and disturbing past, all while knowing she was trapped by her own secrets. The psychological tension is relentless, and I found myself constantly second guessing what I thought I knew. The house, the marriage, and even Jodie’s role as the “perfect” wife all start to feel like a carefully constructed house of cards.
The tension builds until it's uncomfortable, and when things fly off the rails, it's in the best possible ways. This book is deliciously dark, completely addictive, and emotionally charged enough that I lost track of time and kept reading with that awful, dreadful knot curled tightly in my stomach. I was rooting for Jodie while feeling genuine dread about whether she would get out in one piece. If you love domestic thrillers that slowly tighten the screws and leave you breathless by the end, this one delivers in a big way. So many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy. This one will publish June 30, 2026.
I'm a long-time fan of this author, and I was thrilled to see this upcoming release that pulled me in immediately. Jodie marries Dr. Roy Davies after a whirlwind romance and steps straight into what should be a dream life in Beverly Hills, only to realize the fantasy has teeth. Roy is often cold and distant, his friends treat her like an interloper, and the house itself feels haunted by the presence of his late wife, Deborah. As Jodie settles in, it becomes clear that Deborah did not simply fade away, and the more Jodie learns about her reclusive final years, the more uneasy I became about what really happened inside that perfect home.
What really got under my skin was watching Jodie start to question everything around her while also doubting herself. I could feel the pressure building as she uncovered more about Roy’s controlling behavior and disturbing past, all while knowing she was trapped by her own secrets. The psychological tension is relentless, and I found myself constantly second guessing what I thought I knew. The house, the marriage, and even Jodie’s role as the “perfect” wife all start to feel like a carefully constructed house of cards.
The tension builds until it's uncomfortable, and when things fly off the rails, it's in the best possible ways. This book is deliciously dark, completely addictive, and emotionally charged enough that I lost track of time and kept reading with that awful, dreadful knot curled tightly in my stomach. I was rooting for Jodie while feeling genuine dread about whether she would get out in one piece. If you love domestic thrillers that slowly tighten the screws and leave you breathless by the end, this one delivers in a big way. So many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy. This one will publish June 30, 2026.
January 25, 2026
The cover pulled me in, the story had me immediately hooked, and the twists left my mouth on the floor! This was fast paced non-stop fun!
Jodie and her renowned psychologist husband had a whirlwind romance and married quickly. His friends aren’t nice to her and there’s pictures of his dead ex -wife everywhere. Something strange definitely happened and Jodie is going to figure it out!
Go in blind, don’t read any spoilers and enjoy what’s sure to be one of my favorite books of the year! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Jodie and her renowned psychologist husband had a whirlwind romance and married quickly. His friends aren’t nice to her and there’s pictures of his dead ex -wife everywhere. Something strange definitely happened and Jodie is going to figure it out!
Go in blind, don’t read any spoilers and enjoy what’s sure to be one of my favorite books of the year! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
February 3, 2026
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was fast paced and hooked me from the beginning - I didn’t want to put it down. I liked that the twists were sprinkled in throughout the book instead of all thrown in at the end. Bonus: I also really love the cover!
This was fast paced and hooked me from the beginning - I didn’t want to put it down. I liked that the twists were sprinkled in throughout the book instead of all thrown in at the end. Bonus: I also really love the cover!
April 22, 2026
Really great domestic thriller! Fans of Freida will love this
March 30, 2026
4.25* HEART PALPITATIONS READING THIS. Highly recommend, especially to fans of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid or if you’re just looking to have a fun time with questionable (read: infuriating) characters 🙂↕️
April 16, 2026
We love an unhinged woman out for revenge 👏
This was my first book by Natalie Barelli, and it definitely won’t be my last.
Jodie was such a strong, interesting main character. I loved the glimpses into her past, as it made her feel real and gave me a deeper connection to her story. She had just the right mix of humour and edge, which made her even more compelling to follow.
The tension in this book was SO well done. There were so many moments where I felt genuinely anxious, needing to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
I thought I had the twist figured out… and then BAM…I absolutely did not. I love when a thriller can still surprise me, and this one delivered.
It felt different from a lot of thrillers I’ve read recently, with a great balance of emotion, suspense, and a touch of dark humour.
Fast-paced, engaging, and impossible to put down.
This was my first book by Natalie Barelli, and it definitely won’t be my last.
Jodie was such a strong, interesting main character. I loved the glimpses into her past, as it made her feel real and gave me a deeper connection to her story. She had just the right mix of humour and edge, which made her even more compelling to follow.
The tension in this book was SO well done. There were so many moments where I felt genuinely anxious, needing to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
I thought I had the twist figured out… and then BAM…I absolutely did not. I love when a thriller can still surprise me, and this one delivered.
It felt different from a lot of thrillers I’ve read recently, with a great balance of emotion, suspense, and a touch of dark humour.
Fast-paced, engaging, and impossible to put down.
February 25, 2026
Absolutely brilliant!!! Could not put it down. It kept me gripped throughout! Twists and turns and a likeable but unhinged main character.. I will definitely read more from this author! Thank you @netgalley for the ARC 🙏
May 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
✨ What This Book Gave Me
Unreliable characters, shocking twists, and that constant “just one more chapter” feeling. It was tense, dramatic, and full of secrets that kept unraveling in the best way.
⸻
💛 What I Loved
* The jaw-dropping twists (seriously… I did NOT see some of those coming)
* The addictive, fast-paced writing style
* Messy, morally grey characters
* The constant tension and suspense
* That satisfying “everything is not what it seems” vibe
⸻
⚡ Why I Kept Reading
Every time I thought I had it figured out, something shifted. I needed to know the truth, and the pacing made it impossible to stop reading.
⸻
🧠 Final Thoughts
I was completely obsessed with this one. It’s the kind of thriller that pulls you in instantly and keeps tightening its grip until the final page. Dark, dramatic, and full of twists—exactly what I want from a psychological thriller.
⸻
📚 Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely—especially if you love twisty domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators and shocking reveals.
✨ What This Book Gave Me
Unreliable characters, shocking twists, and that constant “just one more chapter” feeling. It was tense, dramatic, and full of secrets that kept unraveling in the best way.
⸻
💛 What I Loved
* The jaw-dropping twists (seriously… I did NOT see some of those coming)
* The addictive, fast-paced writing style
* Messy, morally grey characters
* The constant tension and suspense
* That satisfying “everything is not what it seems” vibe
⸻
⚡ Why I Kept Reading
Every time I thought I had it figured out, something shifted. I needed to know the truth, and the pacing made it impossible to stop reading.
⸻
🧠 Final Thoughts
I was completely obsessed with this one. It’s the kind of thriller that pulls you in instantly and keeps tightening its grip until the final page. Dark, dramatic, and full of twists—exactly what I want from a psychological thriller.
⸻
📚 Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely—especially if you love twisty domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators and shocking reveals.
March 5, 2026
⭐️3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of The Housewife! I really liked our FMC, Jodie an unapologetic anti‑hero who lets us live inside her chaotic, feral inner thoughts. I loved every second of it. I can’t even blame her for the mess she gets herself into.
Some moments were predictable, but others genuinely caught me off guard. Overall, it was an enjoyable, fast read, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.
Pub Date: Jun 30 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of The Housewife! I really liked our FMC, Jodie an unapologetic anti‑hero who lets us live inside her chaotic, feral inner thoughts. I loved every second of it. I can’t even blame her for the mess she gets herself into.
Some moments were predictable, but others genuinely caught me off guard. Overall, it was an enjoyable, fast read, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.
Pub Date: Jun 30 2026
April 13, 2026
3.5 🌟 Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book and liked the main character. The pacing was fast, so I flew through it.
However, the storyline didn’t feel very unique, and the twists also didn’t really surprise me. It still managed to be very entertaining, and I did like how the book ended.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read that I had a great time with.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
However, the storyline didn’t feel very unique, and the twists also didn’t really surprise me. It still managed to be very entertaining, and I did like how the book ended.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read that I had a great time with.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the early release version of this The Housewife!
Talk about an absolutely gripping domestic thriller. My heart was racing in the best way possible. There were many characters that all played a pivotal role in the story, but they weren’t always in your face with importance. When they become important players of the story, the shock is well worth it! Some parts were pretty dark, and I had to kind of take a beat before going on so make sure to check the trigger warnings.
Talk about an absolutely gripping domestic thriller. My heart was racing in the best way possible. There were many characters that all played a pivotal role in the story, but they weren’t always in your face with importance. When they become important players of the story, the shock is well worth it! Some parts were pretty dark, and I had to kind of take a beat before going on so make sure to check the trigger warnings.
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