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The Wife Swap

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Unknown Binding

First published January 20, 2026

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Lisa Hall

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
Profile Image for Nina (ninjasbooks).
1,635 reviews1,769 followers
December 15, 2025
The wife swap by Lisa hall has all the ingredients for a brilliant psychological thriller. Buried secrets, suspicious characters and a plot thrumming with tension. I love how hall manages to keep the reader guessing throughout the book, not feeling sure about anything. I honestly suspected all the characters and had to read on and follow the clues as they slowly were revealed. Hayley was the perfect nosy character, and the plot was carefully crafted. This is one of those books where I also went back to read things again after the twist was revealed and realized you could interpret things differently when you knew more.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,568 reviews278 followers
December 31, 2025
I read Between Me and You a few years ago and it remains one of my favourite thrillers — memorable and gripping. I was thrilled to see this new release.

Just like her previous book, I was hooked within the first few chapters. I love how this author writes: the pacing, the tension, and the big reveals.

In this one we follow Hayley, an Office Manager whose husband works away during the week. When a new couple move in next door, Hayley finds the first opportunity to introduce herself in the hope they will all become firm friends, but life gets far more exciting than she could ever imagine.

I was on the edge of my seat at times reading this with no idea where the story was going.

Five stars — I loved it.
Profile Image for April.
686 reviews189 followers
January 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | I mean.. in no world should someone think it’s ok to swap spouses and think everything will turn out ok 🥴🥴🥴. That is a recipe for disaster from the start! When Hayley & Nate, and their neighbors Tamsin & Seb agree to do this, I was shaking my head as I could already see how many ways this could go wrong! What I didn’t anticipate how deep the secrets were buried between these couples, and how their complicated pasts would explode! Overall a solid domestic thriller that kept my attention the entire time and I was anxious to see how this would unfold! Thank you NetGalley & Joffe Books for an advanced reader copy.

Publication 🗓️ : 01.20.26

Professional Reader200 Book Reviews
Profile Image for Sonja.
685 reviews27 followers
December 4, 2025
3.5⭐ Thriller with so many twists and turns, page turner but also desperately needs finessing with the smaller details. I wish everyone had softer edges to their characters which would make them more believable instead of all the red flags flying around. The story and where it takes us is quite fun, but Nate comes off as super toxic, so toning down his character would make him seem more ambiguous and more questionably saint or sinner. Hayley is certifiable, with her peeking through knots in the fence and breaking in to the neighbors house. I think everyone needed to be toned down and events needed to be consistently less crazy to pull everything off perfectly. Loved the direction of the plot, but execution needs work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Profile Image for Melissa Suslowicz Bartz.
562 reviews14 followers
November 25, 2025
Loved!!!!! That was such a twisty ride especially that OMG of an ending. I was like WOW!!!!! I couldn’t believe it. I had to read it twice just to make sure I was reading it right. So I’ve read this author before and she never disappoints. You’re in for a real when you pick up one of her books. This book was no different to her others. It was a fantastic read that I just couldn’t put down. The characters all had something to hide. I didn’t know who or what to believe. The plot was definitely interesting but I will say it was so much more than swapping partners. That was only a small part of it. Now let’s talk about that ending. It was shocking and twisted. I would highly recommend this book. It was my favorite so far by this author. I can’t wait for her next one.
Profile Image for Siqahiqa.
602 reviews108 followers
December 27, 2025
The Wife Swap follows Hayley, whose marriage to Nate has grown stale and distant. When a glamorous new couple, Tasmin and Seb, move in next door, Hayley is quickly drawn to their confidence and the excitement they bring to her otherwise routine life.

Things take a disturbing turn when Tasmin proposes a “partner swap.” Despite Hayley's shock, Nate agrees. The following morning, Hayley wakes to a nightmare: Nate and Tasmin have disappeared without a trace. Left alone with Seb, Hayley begins to question whether this was a consensual affair gone wrong or something far more sinister at play.

💭 My Thoughts 💭
Lisa Hall excels at creating an atmosphere of tension and unease. From the moment the swap is proposed, there is a constant sense that something is not quite right. This slow-building dread is one of the novel's strongest elements, keeping the reader engaged despite the controversial premise.

What makes The Wife Swap particularly compelling is that it is not simply a story about infidelity. The mystery surrounding the disappearance and its motivations adds depth and keeps readers guessing. The characters, though placed in extreme circumstances, feel realistic and emotionally grounded, making it easier to stay invested in their choices and consequences.

That said, the pacing is uneven. While the opening chapters and the final act are gripping, the middle section drags and occasionally stalls the momentum. Some scenes feel repetitive, causing the tension to dip before the plot regains its footing. Additionally, the theme of partner swapping may be uncomfortable or off-putting for some readers, though the suspense and mystery help balance this discomfort.

Overall, this book is a solid 3.5 ★ domestic thriller that rewards patient readers with a strong and surprising final twist. Although it suffers from a slower middle section, the atmospheric tension, character dynamics, and impactful ending make it a worthwhile read for fans of domestic suspense.

If you enjoy slow-burning thrillers centered on marriage, secrets, and shocking revelations, and don't mind pushing through a few slower chapters, this book is worth picking up.

Publication Date: January 20, 2026.

📸 : I read eARC I received from NetGalley and edited the book cover in this photo:)

Thank you, Netgalley, for the review copy :)
Profile Image for Catbytheseareads ♡.
838 reviews86 followers
December 5, 2025
After reading the plot of this story I was drawn in quickly it grabbed my attention quickly because I do enjoy domestic drama thrillers. This was to be a married couples swap for the night but turned out to be much much more. There is so many twists and turns from the past to future that will keep you wanting more. The ending was good but the execution needed help so I gave it 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews.
1,324 reviews112 followers
January 20, 2026
First, I want to thank Lisa Hall, Joffe Books and Zooloo Book Tours for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!!! I was really looking forward to reading The Wife Swap by Lisa Hall!!! Instantly, I loved the cover. It grabbed my attention as many of her covers do. Lisa seemed to have creatively written an outside of the box storyline different from most of the rest. I have read a few of Lisa’s books in the past and have enjoyed them. So, I figured I would give this one a go.

However, I was disappointed and maybe it was just me but I was looking for some more spice/heat in the book. After all Lisa did title the book The Wife Swap. We did get an inside look into the one couple's interlude…but not the other one. The flirtation up to that point between the two characters was great but I just needed more.

If you can look past that and the fact that it is a very slow burn book (I prefer books where I am hooked instantly and can read it in one sitting) then this book may be for you. Lisa has a storyline full of unique characters full of creative names that have interesting careers. This is a story full of backstabbing, betrayal, deep routed secrets, and so many twists and turns.

For some reason I got very frustrated with some of the characters at the end of the book and found myself yelling at my Kindle.

The Wife Swap was not one of my favorite books I have read this year. However, just because I was not a fan of it doesn’t mean that you may not like it. Lisa Hall is a great writer who creates amazing stories! Give this one a chance.

Profile Image for Ash.
157 reviews12 followers
January 18, 2026
Reading the summary on this book I was immediately interested because I love a good domestic thriller. Hayley & Nate are a married couple who settles into a boring routine of every day life, so when exciting new neighbors their age move in named Seb & Tamsin, Hayley is already invested. Nate isn’t thrilled about getting to know the new couple at all but Hayley almost becomes obsessed with it. Seb is strikingly handsome in her eyes and Tamsin is the opposite of her plain self so she wants to become BFF. The couple have a night of hanging together & decide to switch spouses for the night but the next morning one couple disappears. This book definitely has you really thinking on who did what and who to trust after so many twists and turns comes out after a big secret is revealed. I really enjoyed the ending once everything came to head because Hayley gave me a headache with some of her decision making. The pacing of the boom started great but in the middle it dredged on a bit because of so much repetition, other then that a solid read. Grateful for my complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for lauraleest_be.
99 reviews10 followers
December 3, 2025
The blurb of The Wife Swap drew me in right away, especially as a fan of domestic thrillers.
The opening reminded me a lot of The Couple Next Door, which initially set a promising tone.
There’s a steady undercurrent of tension, secrets, and unease that keeps the atmosphere interesting.
The story flows quite smoothly at first, making it easy to settle into.
I liked the constant doubt about who could be trusted, though the plot didn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre.
As the chapters went on, however, the pacing began to feel repetitive and somewhat drawn-out.
I also found the main character hard to warm up to, which made it tougher to stay fully engaged.
With its small cast and limited events, the book sometimes felt a bit too closed-off for my taste.
The ending left me slightly disappointed as it wrapped things up far more abruptly than expected.
Overall, it’s a domestic thriller with a strong setup, but one that ultimately didn’t reach its full potential for me.

Thanks to Joffe Books for this ARC.
Profile Image for Kayl_may.
454 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2025
Having listened to four of Lisa Hall’s audios previously. I was looking forward to reading her new novel. The synopsis grabbed my attention and it did not disappoint!

The story revolves around married couple Hayley and Nate and their new neighbours Tamsin and Seb. As the title implies, as the neighbours get friendly, the couples decide to swap partners one drunken night and a complete nightmare unfolds in the aftermath.

This was a gripping story full of suspense. I couldn’t get enough of it, and read it in 24 hours! This was a brilliant page turner that kept me guessing until the very last chapters.

The story is told through Hayley’s perspective and was such an engaging read, which I’d recommend to any psychological thriller reader.

I’m excited to read more from her back catalogue!

Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sharon Valler:  Live Love Read Review.
1,053 reviews19 followers
December 17, 2025
Wow! This is a brilliant psychological thriller! You think it's just a wife swap, but it is SO MUCH MORE! The depth of the plot was crazy good and I was gripped throughout, I devoured it and the twists took my breath away!

Hayley is shocked when, after a drunken evening with the neighbours, they suggest a one night wife swap. She is reluctant but everyone else seems up for it and so she feels she has to go along with it. In the morning, everything has changed, in more ways than I was expecting and I was so completely immersed in the characters, their lives and their secrets. The twists had me floored and I raced to the end, loving the ride!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Lisa hall and Joffe for an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Laurel Nothel.
41 reviews
January 30, 2026
3.5! I enjoyed the first 75% but truly the end got me. I was really hooked all book until the concluding chapters. Hayley and Nate are married and have new neighbors Seb and Tamsin who move in next book. Hayley think her and Tamsin before bffs with all their time spending together, after an evening of too many cocktails Tamsin proposes a couple “swap” for the night. It doesn’t go well and Nate and Tamsin are missing. Seb seemed sketchy the whole book so I really thought he had something to do with it. Fast forward Nate Seb (whose real name is Alex) and Tamsin all know eachother from college (Hayley is unaware of this) because Tamsin’s sister was murdered in college at a party and after all these years she believes it was Nate since Nate and her sister were dating. So she tracks down Nate and that’s why they moved next door, she wanted revenge. Hayley had no idea of any of this and took matters into her own hands to uncover the truth. Definitely a good thriller but I felt like the ending could have been executed better, I’m still confused who did it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Faye Morris.
169 reviews11 followers
January 25, 2026
The Wife Swap by Lisa Hall
🌟🌟🌟🌟

A page turning domestic thriller. Devoured in a day. A new author for me, and I can't wait to read more from her

Really enjoyed this book. New neighbours more in next to Nate and Hayley - Seb and Tamsin. Hayley becomes obsessed and watches their every move.
What follows is a friendship based on lies, distrust and secrets.
Deciding to swap partners for one night, we discover noone is telling the truth. I guessed part, and enjoyed how it ended
Profile Image for K.
543 reviews28 followers
January 21, 2026
Thank you very much to Zooloo's Book Tours and the author for this ARC!

"A shocking final twist" is something many thrillers claim to have, and this is one of the few that I think truly lived up to that.

I'll be honest, with its easy-to-read, gentle start, I thought this book was going to be a decent read, but nothing special. However, as the plot developed, I found myself very impressed at how well the author managed to maintain suspicions about a number of characters without giving away too much or too little - and if you ever thought you were one step ahead of the main character in figuring something out, the author would soon cut you back down to size!

I can confidently say that I disliked everybody in this book, trusted nobody, and still gasped at the ending. A very decent thriller!
Profile Image for Dioni.
79 reviews
December 30, 2025
This story follows Hayley and her husband Nate and their newly moved in next door neighbours Tamsin and Seb. What starts out like a normal friendship between the two couples ends up an absolute nightmare when one night a line is crossed and things get very odd indeed.

This is a tense and twisty, suspenseful psychological thriller that had me guessing all the way through. It really made me feel a sense of unease whilst anticipating whatever was going to happen. The main protagonist Hayley was such an unreliable narrator I couldn’t be sure who to trust and I was left guessing trying to work it all out until the very end.

Overall, I found this to be mysterious and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Kim Anne.
532 reviews8 followers
January 26, 2026
This dark, twisty psychological thriller totally sucked me in. The premise is instantly intriguing, and Lisa Hall does a great job building that uneasy, “this is a bad idea” feeling from the start. The tension ramps up quickly, and I flew through the pages wanting to know how far things would spiral. I really enjoyed the messy relationships and the constant sense that no one was being completely honest.

That said, a couple of moments felt a bit over-the-top, and I wished some characters were explored a little more deeply. Still, it’s gripping, binge-worthy, and perfect if you love domestic thrillers with secrets, temptation, and consequences. Definitely worth a read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ashton Rohrer.
130 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2026
Talk about a wild ride; from the hidden secrets, suspense on both ends and utter obsession this was hard to put down! It was an easy and quick read but the way it had me going back & forth trying to put it together almost gave me whiplash. Just when i thought i did, the ending got me one more time! Such a good read
3 reviews
January 20, 2026
The Wife Swap is about two couples whose lives are forever changed one night when they swap partners. It’s a dark, twisty psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go until the final reveal! It was both entertaining and kept me guessing until the end. This was my first book by Lisa Hall and believe me it will not be my last.

I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Reader copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,029 reviews147 followers
January 26, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for ' The Wife Swap' by Lisa Hall.

This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!! What an absolutely tension packed, suspense filled page turner! An absolute must read!

What an absolutely gripping, addictive and action packed page turner!! Clear your schedules and grab your copy now!!

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done to Lisa Hall on an absolutely incredible, mind blowing and addictive read! I have absolutely NO idea whatsoever how on Earth I have never actually got around to reading any of your books before now but I am very pleased that that silly mistake has now been rectified and I have discovered your incredible storytelling talent. You absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! If you love suspense, tension and red herring packed thrillers then this, ladies and gentleman, is a must read for you!! If you have ever watched the TV series 'The Couple Next Door' then you will love this. I did find that there were slightly too many similarities at the start but that did not spoil the story for me and I wasn't expecting the numerous amounts of twists that were constantly blowing my mind throughout. I just could not work out which of the characters to trust, if any at all, and THAT ENDING!! Just WOW!! I would NEVER EVER have seen that bombshell coming fair play Lisa! This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! What you need to do now is stop wasting your time reading this, run, do not walk and grab your copy of this gripping page turner now. You also need to clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline. I absolutely loved the unique storyline which had me hooked from the very first page to the last. I will not say anything about the storyline as the publisher has done a fantastic job of this in the synopsis and I do not want to run the risk of giving anything away but if you want to know more then grab your copy of this gripping suspense packed thriller today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely RAM PACKED with drama, romance, lust, action, suspense, mind blowing twists, emotion, tension, deceit, red herrings, secrets, heartache, tension, strong and realistic characters, intrigue and so so much more! Seriously people, what are you waiting for?!! Lisa's brilliantly evocative descriptions will have you feeling every emotion Hayley is from anger to fear, shock to tension!! It is one of the most unforgettable and unputdownable books I have ever read!! His brilliant storytelling and writing sucks the reader straight into the storyline with Hayley, the rest of the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle reading the book everywhere I went. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting of just a few hours. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with Hayley and going through her anger, pain, sadness, betrayal fear and much more. Each of the characters were perfectly written and each had their own unique and strong personalities with individual strengths, weaknesses, quirks, flaws and more. You need to clear your schedules because you will not be able to put this book down. AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! The characters were all very strong and realistic and Lisa's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these fantastic characters yourself. I cannot wait to read more books by this incredible author!!

Congratulations Lisa on an absolutely gripping, gritty, addictive, action packed, explosive and must read page turner!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is why I would like to welcome you to my favourite author list and here is to your next guaranteed success!!

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, addictive and explosive MUST READ!!


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Profile Image for Isabell.
244 reviews72 followers
December 29, 2025
Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes

((rating: 3.75))

An addictive psychological thriller with seductive tension and dark twists.

🌫️ Dark domestic drama | ​🔥 Seductive psychological suspense | ​🏡 New neighbors with secrets | ​🔄 One decision changes everything | ​🧠 Who can you trust? | ​🇬🇧​ Southeast London

When I first saw the cover of The Wife Swap and read the description on NetGalley, I was instantly intrigued. I was thrilled when my request was approved. Although I’ve known Lisa Hall as an author for quite some time, this was actually my first book by her—and overall, it left a strong impression.

The story follows Hayley, whose marriage to Nate has quietly withered. Nate is away most of the week for his job as a pharmaceutical rep, and when he is home, he’s distant and distracted. Hayley feels invisible, lonely, and stuck in a life that no longer excites her.

Everything changes when Seb and Tamsin, their glamorous and effortlessly charming new neighbors, move in next door. They represent everything Hayley and Nate are not: confident, passionate, intoxicating. What starts as friendly lunches, shopping trips, and relaxed BBQ evenings slowly shifts into something far more dangerous. When Tamsin casually suggests swapping partners, Hayley is horrified—but to her shock, Nate agrees.

The next morning, Hayley wakes up to a nightmare: Nate and Tamsin are gone—without a trace. Left alone with Seb, Hayley spirals into fear and doubt. Was this a consensual arrangement that went horribly wrong, or has she stepped into something far more sinister?

This book hooked me immediately. I flew through it in just two days. Lisa Hall’s writing style is sharp and accessible, making it easy to slip straight into the story. The short, punchy chapters are a major strength—they keep the tension high and make it incredibly difficult to stop reading “just one more.”

What I enjoyed most was the constant sense of unease. There’s a lingering tension throughout, paired with a nagging uncertainty about who can be trusted. The atmosphere is seductive but unsettling, and that combination worked extremely well for me. I was fully invested and completely glued to the pages until around the 70% mark, when the twists start to surface and the bigger picture begins to emerge.

That said, while the reveals were engaging, some of them didn’t hit as hard as I expected. A few moments that were clearly meant to shock felt slightly flat for me, and the tension dipped as a result.

The pacing was also a bit uneven. The beginning is strong and compelling, but the middle section slowed down and felt as though it dragged a little longer than necessary before picking up again.

The Wife Swap delivers gripping psychological suspense, with the “morning after” twist sending the plot down a darker, more unpredictable path. The characters feel imperfect and human, and Lisa Hall effectively maintains a tense, uneasy atmosphere that encourages constant doubt and suspicion.

However, I’ll admit that I may be in the minority here: the ending didn’t fully work for me. Not only did the ending not work for me, I simply did not understand it. This makes no sense to me at all. I’ve already seen other ARC readers high praise it, but personally, I found it confusing. Without giving spoilers, I struggled to understand why a certain character was involved at all, given what they already seemed to know. For me, that choice undermined the impact of the finale.

Despite that, this was still a compelling, fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish. This book is well worth picking up.

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Joffe Books.
Profile Image for Samantha Gallegos-Thornhill.
74 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2026
I saw this on NetGalley and had wanted the ARC because the concept sounded super interesting. I was not accepted for the ARC (sad) so I picked this up as soon as it got published. I give this book a 3.5 rating.

This is about a housewife named Hayley whose husband Nate is often out of town for work. She gets bored easily and wonders what happened to their marriage because it seems as if they never see each other anymore and just live out these boring mundane days. Then this new couple moves in next door and they are everything Hayley and Nate are not. They are super attractive, have money, glamorous, happily married, and Hayley becomes a little obsessed with trying to get to know them. They end up all being good friends and on a drunken night, decide to do one night of swapping partners. Hayley wakes up the next day wondering how they let this happen but she does not have time to dwell on it because everything from there on out changes.

I devoured the first 50% of this book so quickly. It was super fast paced and I loved reading about the blossoming friendship between the couples. I also was interested in seeing how the attraction unfolds between the four of them. I genuinely was not expecting everything that happened after the swap and did not see where the book was headed at all.

With that being said I think it dragged A LOT from 50% to 85%. The book is not long at all so it wasn't the fact that the book was physically too long, but it was just such a large portion of the book that I feel like I wasn't getting any new information so it became repetitive quickly. I think it did a really good job of making Hayley and the reader feel crazy because you just don't know what to believe or who you can trust. However it went on for so long that I was just like ok I don't care anymore I just need the plot to come to a point.

I still really enjoyed this book and will be picking up more books by this author. It is a fun and short read, I am just impatient lolol
Profile Image for Kath.
3,112 reviews
December 19, 2025
Lisa Hall is now firmly cemented on my "don't even have to read the blurb watch list" for both her standalones, like this, and also her wonderful Hotel Hollywood series which is well worth a look if you haven't already.
So... back to this one... In it we meet Hayley and Nate who are looking forward to finding out who their new neighbours will be and are delighted, well Hayley is, with what they get. Tamsin and Seb appear to be exactly their people. Hayley hits it off with Tamsin from the get-go and the two of them appear to bond. Nate accepts Seb as someone to have a beer with!
All goes swimmingly until one night Tamsin suggests they "swap partners"... What could possibly go wrong...? Well, I'll leave you to find all that out! Suffice to say, it's popcorn munching, car crash watching, compulsive with secrets and lies aplenty and quite a healthy dollop of dysfunctional behaviour thrown in for good measure. And with all the twists, turns and obfuscation, this is definitely one book I will revisit (on audio) once it's released to see what I missed!
The characters were all pretty unlikable but notsomuch as to render them as unworthy of my caring. Maybe the author could have written them a wee bit softer to draw the reader in a bit more and, as such, make the reveals a tad more impactful but it's a moot point.
And that ending... wowsers... there's so much I can say - but I can't... Well, I can say that it blew me away and I didn't see THAT coming... twisty turny right up to the wholly satisfying ending...
Finally, a wee nod to one of the more minor characters, let's have a round of applause for the wonderful Wendy!
All in all a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue which includes one of my all time favourite books - her fantastic debut Between You and Me - if you have't already read it, what are you doing? But go in as blind as you can...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Profile Image for Lisa Ahlstedt.
323 reviews16 followers
January 13, 2026
Hayley Turner is wondering how to turn her marriage around. She is still in love with her husband Nate, but he’s become distant. He works away during the week, but even on weekends he seems reluctant to spend any time with his wife. Hayley is bored and lonely, so when new neighbors move in next door, she’s thrilled to have some new people around. The young couple, Seb and Tamsin, seem to be the same age and both are friendly and welcoming. They invite Hayley and Nate over several times, and both never fail to make Hayley feel special. Seb compliments her design suggestions for their new home, and Tamsin raves about Hayley’s fashion sense. Hayley, who never felt she stood out, suddenly feels seen and valued. One night, after a boozy dinner with their new friends, Tamsin suggests that the couples swap partners. Hayley is horrified, but everyone else seems fine with the idea. Mostly due to the effects of the alcohol, Hayley is persuaded to go along with the proposal. In the morning, full of regret, she returns home to find that Nate and Tamsin are gone. Tamsin has even left her purse behind, but there’s no sign on the couple. As the days pass, Hayley tries to find out what could be behind their disappearance. Have they run off together? Is one of them in danger? Has Seb done something to them? As Hayley tries to investigate, many secrets from the past are just waiting to come to the surface.

I enjoyed trying to figure out what was behind the disappearances and who was behind them. There were several things that I didn’t think added up or were adequately explained at the end. I didn’t really ever understand why Tamsin and Nate went missing. There were also hints of something dark and secret in Hayley’s background, but aside from one small revelation at the end, that was never fully explained, either. The story was interesting, but I thought a lot of loose ends were never tied up satisfactorily.

I received an ARC of this book from Joffe Publishing.
Profile Image for Stephen Clynes.
667 reviews40 followers
December 29, 2025
Hayley Turner and her husband Nate have new next door neighbours called Tamsin and Seb Cooper. A friendship forms and they agree upon a wife swap. Oh dear, I wonder how the four of them will get on?

I found The Wife Swap to be an OUTSTANDING 5 star read. I have not read any of Lisa Hall’s books before and am impressed by the quality of her writing and her skill of story telling. The plot is brilliant and keeps the reader guessing to the very last page. Character development is steady as this story unfolds. If you were looking for a gritty sexy tale of wife-swapping with lots of sex then you would be disappointed. Yes, Hayley and Seb do share a bed for just the one night but that is mentioned briefly and is not a graphic did the earth move for you moment. This story is NOT soft porn easy reading.

The Wife Swap is a British psychological thriller with a difference. The whole story is a first person narrative from Hayley’s point of view. Doubts are raised on every page and Hayley plus the reader are trying to join the dots. I loved the linear time frame and the pacing of the story after that one night when Tamsin and Nate simply disappeared. The clues are there but can you or Hayley spot the lies from the truth? So many lies have been told along the way that it is a struggle for Hayley and the reader to discern the truth, especially as the best lies have an element of truth. Can Nate, Seb or Tamsin be trusted or are they all as bad as each other? I found The Wife Swap to be a thrilling read that would make an excellent television drama series. Lisa Hall has the skills needed to write very good psychological thrillers and I will gladly read another book from her in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Joffe Books for passing me an ARC on the understanding that I post a review.
Profile Image for Lesley Hart.
137 reviews5 followers
January 26, 2026
Hayley lives with husband, Nate, in the house she inherited from her grandmother and which they wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford

When she met Nate, Hayley let her friendships drift, while popular Nate appears to have increased his friendship group and not only works away from home but fills his weekends with time away with friends and colleagues.

Hayley's now lonely existence is boosted when new, young and trendy neighbours, Tamsin and Seb, move in. They immediately take Hayley under their wing and seem always to be there with an invitation. Hayley is flattered and Nate suddenly seems more available for their invitations and gives up his early grumblings about them encroaching on his single-lad plans.

Very early on Hayley sees something between Nate and Tamsin which they wave away. Seb also seems very attentive of Hayley, especially compared to ‘barely there Nate’ and, at Seb and Tamsin’s summer party, Hayley thinks for a moment that Seb might be about to kiss her. An idea she's not averse to in the moment. But at the end of another drink-soaked evening, when the couple suggest they swap partners Hayley's horrified. Particularly when Nate jumps up to take Tamsin back to their house.

The next morning, she goes home to find the house ominously empty and Nate's wedding ring on the bathroom sink. The wedding ring he never takes off.

She can't get hold of either of them, and Nate's car is where he left it on Friday night. Seb seems unconcerned and as Hayley searches for information about the missing pair she overturns lies, suspicious behaviour and a recently taken out two-million-pound life insurance policy.

Wife Swap is an absolute page turner and, as a long-term fan of Lisa Hall, I expected no less. I hope you'll enjoy this high-stakes thriller as much as I did.
Profile Image for Teresa Nikolic.
937 reviews132 followers
January 22, 2026
Hayley is intrigued by her new neighbours and can't wait to meet them. Her husband Nate, a pharmaceutical rep works away all week and Hayley gets bored being on her own every night so, when she finally introduces herself to Tamsin & Seb she's immediately taken in and very attracted to Seb, he pays attention to her, something Nate hasn't done for a while. The four of them start spending time together, albeit with some reluctance from Nate, then one night Tamsin suggests they should swap partners, just for one night and Hayley is horrified when Nate agrees, what she doesn't realise is the nightmare is just beginning when she returns home the next day and knows nothing will ever be the same again.

The Wife Swap is the latest thriller by Hall and, as with her other novels, does not disappoint. I first discovered this author back in 2016 when I read Between You and Me and loved it. This latest one is full of the usual twists and turns that you come to expect from her work and from the first page i was hooked, she creates such believable and intriguing characters that you are just drawn into the story as if you're part of it. Told from the perspective of Hayley we discover how easy it is to be taken in by a complete stranger just by how they look and present themselves and Hayley's boredom with her daily life doesn't help the decisions she makes. The story is based on a wife swap but it goes way deeper than that as we explore all of the main characters backgrounds and uncover something very dark. This is another intriguing read from Hall, with a great final twist that has become par for the course from this author.

I'd like to thank Joffe Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,843 reviews142 followers
January 25, 2026
I absolutely love this author's writing and this new release was once again a brilliant read.

 

I was hooked from the first few pages - even though I really wasn't keen on the concept of the book originally.

I hate any kind of cheating, even with knowledge beforehand - I just think nothing good can come of it - but in this case, the actual partner swap was the tip of the iceberg.

 

Our main characters were brilliantly introduced and it was easy to see that poor Hayley felt stuck in a rut with Nate - the attention that Tamsin and Seb paid her, definitely sparked this need for something more in life.

Our couples were such a great contrast initially that I could feel this pull the had on Hayley - but also the danger that this could pose.

 

I liked that we follow the story from Hayley's pov - not that I was desperate to get stuck into all their minds and understand what motivated each character - but I think that only seeing things from this one viewpoint helped to allow the story to develop and unfold gradually, keeping me on tenterhooks and unsure about how things would play out.

 

As ever, we see lots of twists along the way and these had me eating up the pages, rushing to find out just what was going to happen next and still being shocked by that final twist when it came.

 

A great read which is a good lesson on trust and behaviour as well as how the way we perceived things can be skewed by how people present themselves.

Honestly, the number of thrillers I read, it's a shock I trust anyone in my life!!

 
Profile Image for Leanne.
900 reviews87 followers
December 1, 2025
Lisa Hall has once again delivered a psychological thriller that grips from the very first page. The Wife Swap takes a seemingly playful idea—one night of swapping partners—and twists it into a dark, spiraling nightmare where desire, guilt, and danger collide.

From the moment Seb and Tamsin move in next door, the tension simmers. They’re glamorous, magnetic, impossible to resist, and their presence unsettles the quiet rhythm of Nate and his wife’s life. What begins with shared meals and laughter quickly escalates into temptation, and then into a decision that cannot be undone. The fallout is immediate, shocking, and utterly consuming.

Hall’s writing is sharp and addictive, blending domestic drama with nail-biting suspense. The characters feel vividly real—flawed, vulnerable, and driven by impulses that make the story both relatable and terrifying. The pacing is relentless, each chapter pulling you deeper into a web of secrets and betrayals until the final twist leaves you breathless.

This is not just a thriller; it’s a story about the fragility of trust, the danger of envy, and the devastating consequences of crossing boundaries. Fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, and Shari Lapena will find themselves hooked, but Hall’s voice is distinctly her own—taut, daring, and impossible to put down.

With thanks to Lisa Hall, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
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