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The Wife's Experiment
Not yet published
Expected 15 Aug 26She didn't confront her husband. She studied him.
Three days before her wedding, Madeline Cross discovered Ethan's affair. She married him anyway—and filed the betrayal away for eleven years.
Now she's ready to run her experiment.
In a quiet coffee shop, Madeline hires Noelle: a young woman in need of money, willing to seduce a married man for a cashier's check and a spreadsheet of rules. Total transparency. No intimacy without permission. And above all—don't fall in love.
What follows is a months-long affair Madeline directs by text, steering her own husband from a distance with two words at a time: go cold. Go dark. She built the maze. She walled off every corridor. She was certain she controlled who would meet whom, and when, and how it would end.
But subjects don't stay subjects. The people inside her experiment began finding each other in the spaces she built to keep them apart—and somewhere in the dark glass of her own kitchen, Madeline realized her husband had stopped being a person she loved and had become a problem she was solving.
Then the three of them sit down to dinner. Three people. One table. Three incomplete versions of the truth.
And Ethan, it turns out, has been running an experiment of his own.
The Wife's Experiment is a cold, precise, slow-burn psychological drama about control, betrayal, and the terrifying question beneath every marriage: who's really holding the thread—and who's just being measured?
For readers who devour domestic thrillers where the wife is the most dangerous person in the room.
Book One of a trilogy. The story continues in Ethan's Revenge and Noelle's Reckoning.
Three days before her wedding, Madeline Cross discovered Ethan's affair. She married him anyway—and filed the betrayal away for eleven years.
Now she's ready to run her experiment.
In a quiet coffee shop, Madeline hires Noelle: a young woman in need of money, willing to seduce a married man for a cashier's check and a spreadsheet of rules. Total transparency. No intimacy without permission. And above all—don't fall in love.
What follows is a months-long affair Madeline directs by text, steering her own husband from a distance with two words at a time: go cold. Go dark. She built the maze. She walled off every corridor. She was certain she controlled who would meet whom, and when, and how it would end.
But subjects don't stay subjects. The people inside her experiment began finding each other in the spaces she built to keep them apart—and somewhere in the dark glass of her own kitchen, Madeline realized her husband had stopped being a person she loved and had become a problem she was solving.
Then the three of them sit down to dinner. Three people. One table. Three incomplete versions of the truth.
And Ethan, it turns out, has been running an experiment of his own.
The Wife's Experiment is a cold, precise, slow-burn psychological drama about control, betrayal, and the terrifying question beneath every marriage: who's really holding the thread—and who's just being measured?
For readers who devour domestic thrillers where the wife is the most dangerous person in the room.
Book One of a trilogy. The story continues in Ethan's Revenge and Noelle's Reckoning.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 15, 2026
About the author
Luna May
5 books15 followersLuna May grew up in Orlando, Florida, and has spent the last twenty-five years building a life alongside her husband and their two children. In 2011, the family put down new roots in South Carolina — a move that quietly changed everything. In the years that followed, Luna earned her RN license, then her insurance license, moving through the practical demands of life the way most people do, one credential, one season at a time.
Now a homemaker, she has finally turned toward the thing she always meant to do. The Wife's Experiment is her debut novel, drawn in no small part from the life she knows most intimately. Most days, you'll find her at home with her three dogs — writing, or outside somewhere in the sun.
She has notebooks full of ideas and stories that have been waiting patiently for years. At 44, she's done making them wait.
Her genres include: Psychological thrillers, dark romance, gothic and folklore horror, poetry, and short stories.
Now a homemaker, she has finally turned toward the thing she always meant to do. The Wife's Experiment is her debut novel, drawn in no small part from the life she knows most intimately. Most days, you'll find her at home with her three dogs — writing, or outside somewhere in the sun.
She has notebooks full of ideas and stories that have been waiting patiently for years. At 44, she's done making them wait.
Her genres include: Psychological thrillers, dark romance, gothic and folklore horror, poetry, and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Copy Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wife’s Experiment
Author Luna May
Publication date August 15, 2026
First, I'd like to thank Luna May and Rachel at Inside Story for sharing an advance copy of this book with me prior to publication.
I'm honestly a little torn on this one. While The Wife's Experiment wasn't really my kind of book, I can absolutely appreciate how well it was written, and I still think it's one that many readers will enjoy.
For me, the biggest challenge was that this isn't a fast-paced psychological thriller. It's a slow-burn psychological drama that demands your full attention. Every conversation, every decision, and every interaction feels intentional, and I found myself constantly analyzing what was happening beneath the surface. It required far more thinking than I usually enjoy while reading, which made it a slower experience for me.
The premise is incredibly original. Madeline discovers her fiancé's affair just days before their wedding, marries him anyway, and waits eleven years before carrying out an elaborate experiment to test him. What begins as a carefully controlled plan slowly spirals into something much darker as everyone involved starts making choices Madeline can no longer predict.
The characters are fascinating because none of them are particularly likable, yet I couldn't stop wondering what they would do next. The tension builds steadily, with manipulation, betrayal, and shifting power dynamics keeping the story unpredictable.
If you enjoy character-driven psychological dramas that focus on mind games rather than nonstop action, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. Although it wasn't a perfect fit for my personal reading tastes, I can appreciate the originality of the story and the skill behind its execution. I'll be interested to see where the trilogy goes next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wife’s Experiment
Author Luna May
Publication date August 15, 2026
First, I'd like to thank Luna May and Rachel at Inside Story for sharing an advance copy of this book with me prior to publication.
I'm honestly a little torn on this one. While The Wife's Experiment wasn't really my kind of book, I can absolutely appreciate how well it was written, and I still think it's one that many readers will enjoy.
For me, the biggest challenge was that this isn't a fast-paced psychological thriller. It's a slow-burn psychological drama that demands your full attention. Every conversation, every decision, and every interaction feels intentional, and I found myself constantly analyzing what was happening beneath the surface. It required far more thinking than I usually enjoy while reading, which made it a slower experience for me.
The premise is incredibly original. Madeline discovers her fiancé's affair just days before their wedding, marries him anyway, and waits eleven years before carrying out an elaborate experiment to test him. What begins as a carefully controlled plan slowly spirals into something much darker as everyone involved starts making choices Madeline can no longer predict.
The characters are fascinating because none of them are particularly likable, yet I couldn't stop wondering what they would do next. The tension builds steadily, with manipulation, betrayal, and shifting power dynamics keeping the story unpredictable.
If you enjoy character-driven psychological dramas that focus on mind games rather than nonstop action, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. Although it wasn't a perfect fit for my personal reading tastes, I can appreciate the originality of the story and the skill behind its execution. I'll be interested to see where the trilogy goes next.
July 26, 2026
“The Wife's Experiment” by Luna May was a slow burn for me, but it kept me invested with its web of secrets, deception, and growing tension. I couldn't stop wondering where the experiment was leading, and that curiosity kept the pages turning. If you enjoy domestic thrillers that gradually build suspense before delivering surprising developments, this one is worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Wife’s Experiment is one of those rare novels that gets under your skin and stays there. Luna May takes a premise that could have been pure soap opera — a betrayed wife hires another woman to test her husband’s fidelity — and turns it into something colder, sharper, and far more intelligent than you expect.
The characters are the beating heart of this book. Madeline is a fascinating, unsettling protagonist: brilliant, meticulous, and so committed to control that you can’t decide whether to root for her or fear her. Ethan is drawn with real complexity — a man whose need to be essential in every room becomes his undoing. And Noelle, who could easily have been a plot device, grows into a fully realized woman with her own agency and secrets. Watching these three orbit one another is riveting.
The plot is tightly constructed, every piece deliberate. What begins as a controlled experiment slowly spins into something none of them can contain, and the anniversary dinner where three versions of the truth collide is an absolute gut-punch of a scene. Just when you think you know where it’s headed, the story reveals its final layer, recontextualizing everything.
The pacing is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. May trusts her readers, letting the dread build detail by detail rather than rushing to the payoff. Every chapter tightens the wire a little more.
And the storyline lingers long after the last page — a meditation on control, self-deception, and how we unravel without noticing. The ending is honest rather than tidy, and it sets up the next book beautifully.
The characters are the beating heart of this book. Madeline is a fascinating, unsettling protagonist: brilliant, meticulous, and so committed to control that you can’t decide whether to root for her or fear her. Ethan is drawn with real complexity — a man whose need to be essential in every room becomes his undoing. And Noelle, who could easily have been a plot device, grows into a fully realized woman with her own agency and secrets. Watching these three orbit one another is riveting.
The plot is tightly constructed, every piece deliberate. What begins as a controlled experiment slowly spins into something none of them can contain, and the anniversary dinner where three versions of the truth collide is an absolute gut-punch of a scene. Just when you think you know where it’s headed, the story reveals its final layer, recontextualizing everything.
The pacing is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. May trusts her readers, letting the dread build detail by detail rather than rushing to the payoff. Every chapter tightens the wire a little more.
And the storyline lingers long after the last page — a meditation on control, self-deception, and how we unravel without noticing. The ending is honest rather than tidy, and it sets up the next book beautifully.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars
🌶️ 1/5 Spice
I picked this up expecting a psychological thriller, and somehow ended up side-eyeing every married couple I passed for the next 48 hours.
This book is the definition of “just one more chapter.” Every time I thought I had everything figured out, the story politely laughed in my face and said, “Cute. Try again.”
Madeline was fascinating. I genuinely could not decide if I wanted to hug her, fear her, or take notes from her. Ethan kept making me question every decision he made, and Noelle added just enough mystery to keep me suspicious of absolutely everyone.
The tension in this book deserves its own award. It isn’t loud or over the top. It slowly creeps under your skin until you’re sitting there at 2 a.m. whispering, “Well… now I HAVE to know.”
Now for the spice. This is a 1/5 on my personal spice scale. The only thing getting hot in this book was my anxiety. My Kindle stayed fully clothed, but my blood pressure certainly did not.
If you love psychological thrillers with morally gray characters, mind games, twists that make you rethink everything, and enough suspense to keep you awake way past your bedtime, absolutely pick this one up.
I came for the drama, stayed for the manipulation, and left trusting absolutely no one. Five stars from me. 🖤📚
🌶️ 1/5 Spice
I picked this up expecting a psychological thriller, and somehow ended up side-eyeing every married couple I passed for the next 48 hours.
This book is the definition of “just one more chapter.” Every time I thought I had everything figured out, the story politely laughed in my face and said, “Cute. Try again.”
Madeline was fascinating. I genuinely could not decide if I wanted to hug her, fear her, or take notes from her. Ethan kept making me question every decision he made, and Noelle added just enough mystery to keep me suspicious of absolutely everyone.
The tension in this book deserves its own award. It isn’t loud or over the top. It slowly creeps under your skin until you’re sitting there at 2 a.m. whispering, “Well… now I HAVE to know.”
Now for the spice. This is a 1/5 on my personal spice scale. The only thing getting hot in this book was my anxiety. My Kindle stayed fully clothed, but my blood pressure certainly did not.
If you love psychological thrillers with morally gray characters, mind games, twists that make you rethink everything, and enough suspense to keep you awake way past your bedtime, absolutely pick this one up.
I came for the drama, stayed for the manipulation, and left trusting absolutely no one. Five stars from me. 🖤📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 🌟 Review. The Wife's Experiment by Luna May.
Thanks to Inside Story and the author for this advanced copy. Release day is 15 August.
Just before her wedding to Ethan, Madeline finds out he's having an affair. She does nothing. She marries him anyway but also starts a plan. Years later, she decides to run an 'experiment'. She hires Noelle - who desperately needs money - to seduce Ethan. The rules are clear and concise, Madeline has thought of everything. Burner phones and total transparency. EVERY bit of communication between Ethan and Noelle is recorded.
Sometimes, however, the subjects in an experiment find ways to break the rules, and one of them runs an experiment of their own....
WOW! This story is vividly cold and calculated, right down to journals and spreadsheets, I started to wonder if Madeline even had a heart!!!! Betrayal and control definitely set the premise.
It's a slow burn psychological thriller that pulled me in completely. The experiment is precise and expertly planned - a unique prose indeed!
Thanks Luna May, this was an excellent debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to Book two and three in this series!!!!!
Thanks to Inside Story and the author for this advanced copy. Release day is 15 August.
Just before her wedding to Ethan, Madeline finds out he's having an affair. She does nothing. She marries him anyway but also starts a plan. Years later, she decides to run an 'experiment'. She hires Noelle - who desperately needs money - to seduce Ethan. The rules are clear and concise, Madeline has thought of everything. Burner phones and total transparency. EVERY bit of communication between Ethan and Noelle is recorded.
Sometimes, however, the subjects in an experiment find ways to break the rules, and one of them runs an experiment of their own....
WOW! This story is vividly cold and calculated, right down to journals and spreadsheets, I started to wonder if Madeline even had a heart!!!! Betrayal and control definitely set the premise.
It's a slow burn psychological thriller that pulled me in completely. The experiment is precise and expertly planned - a unique prose indeed!
Thanks Luna May, this was an excellent debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to Book two and three in this series!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Book review of The Wife’s Experiment
By Luna May aka Sabrina Denham-Bailey
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if I could give it more stars I would!!!
Book overview:
She didn't confront her husband. She studied him.
Three days before her wedding, Madeline Cross discovered Ethan's affair. She married him anyway—and filed the betrayal away for eleven years.
Now she's ready to run her experiment…
****************************************
“Oh my gosh, LUNA MAY IS A FREAKING GENIUS!” I kept shouting as I read this book in one setting.
This story BLEW MY DANG MIND 🤯
Never mess with a woman scorned.
Unlike any psychological thriller I’ve ever read!
Step down off the throne Stephen King, there’s a new QUEEN 👑 in town and her name is LUNA MAY!
Brilliantly written 🙌 You don’t want to miss this MASTERPIECE!
On preorder now in Kindle format and releases August 15, 2026.
By Luna May aka Sabrina Denham-Bailey
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if I could give it more stars I would!!!
Book overview:
She didn't confront her husband. She studied him.
Three days before her wedding, Madeline Cross discovered Ethan's affair. She married him anyway—and filed the betrayal away for eleven years.
Now she's ready to run her experiment…
****************************************
“Oh my gosh, LUNA MAY IS A FREAKING GENIUS!” I kept shouting as I read this book in one setting.
This story BLEW MY DANG MIND 🤯
Never mess with a woman scorned.
Unlike any psychological thriller I’ve ever read!
Step down off the throne Stephen King, there’s a new QUEEN 👑 in town and her name is LUNA MAY!
Brilliantly written 🙌 You don’t want to miss this MASTERPIECE!
On preorder now in Kindle format and releases August 15, 2026.
Review of advance copy
The premise of this one had me hooked! A wife discovers her husband is having another affair and decides to turn the tables by creating a psychological experiment involving him and his mistress.
My only note, the entire book revolves around the experiment, and I kept waiting for something bigger to happen. It felt more like watching the characters analyze the situation rather than experiencing the consequences of it.
The writing was very beautifully done, and I appreciated the exploration of obsession, betrayal, and human behavior. I just needed more thrill.
Please don’t take my review as a reason not to pick it up. Every reader’s experience is different. Books are subjective, and that’s the beauty of reading!
My only note, the entire book revolves around the experiment, and I kept waiting for something bigger to happen. It felt more like watching the characters analyze the situation rather than experiencing the consequences of it.
The writing was very beautifully done, and I appreciated the exploration of obsession, betrayal, and human behavior. I just needed more thrill.
Please don’t take my review as a reason not to pick it up. Every reader’s experience is different. Books are subjective, and that’s the beauty of reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Special thanks to Luna May for the ARC copy of The Wife’s Experiment. This is her debut novel, and I was grateful for the chance to read it early.
Spoiler: I really enjoyed the experiment within an experiment — an unexpected plot turn I genuinely didn’t see coming. It added a clever layer to the story that kept me invested.
Some parts fell a little flat for me (I really wished Madeline had the chance to get more revenge for his affairs), and I found myself struggling in a few sections. But overall, the book is worth the read, and I’m already looking forward to Ethan’s Revenge.
Trigger warnings: Infidelity
Spice: None
Spoiler: I really enjoyed the experiment within an experiment — an unexpected plot turn I genuinely didn’t see coming. It added a clever layer to the story that kept me invested.
Some parts fell a little flat for me (I really wished Madeline had the chance to get more revenge for his affairs), and I found myself struggling in a few sections. But overall, the book is worth the read, and I’m already looking forward to Ethan’s Revenge.
Trigger warnings: Infidelity
Spice: None
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ STEPPING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE ✨
I just turned the final page of The Wife’s Experiment by Luna May, and wow... my mind is spinning! 🤯
This isn't my typical kind of read, but sometimes you just need a good psychological thriller to completely shake things up. The tagline says, "Some wives forgive. Some wives leave. Madeline takes control," and let me tell you, Madeline does not play around. 🖤
It was dark, twisted, and kept me guessing the entire time. If you love a book that makes you question everything and features a main character taking total control of her narrative, you definitely need to add this one to your TBR!
I just turned the final page of The Wife’s Experiment by Luna May, and wow... my mind is spinning! 🤯
This isn't my typical kind of read, but sometimes you just need a good psychological thriller to completely shake things up. The tagline says, "Some wives forgive. Some wives leave. Madeline takes control," and let me tell you, Madeline does not play around. 🖤
It was dark, twisted, and kept me guessing the entire time. If you love a book that makes you question everything and features a main character taking total control of her narrative, you definitely need to add this one to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*The Wife's Experiment* is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The tension builds steadily, the twists land at just the right moments, and the pacing never lets up. Ethan, Madeline, and Noelle are layered, believable characters whose choices kept me guessing until the very end. If you enjoy psychological mind games, complex relationships, and a story that refuses to slow down, this one is absolutely worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me quite intrigued and keen to see how it ended. It was very in-depth and has you questioning the concepts you thought you knew. Overall, was a different read to the normal stories off the jilted housewife. It tells you a story from an intelligent woman, who likes to gather the evidence and present her findings in a documented and well researched manner. Definitely one to read for those whom would enjoy a story about the factual side of infidelity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can honestly say that I have never read a book with this premise, and it was such a fun read. It plays out just like an experiment with all these different factors at play.
There were some parts of it that I did not see coming at all, and I was thrilled to find out that this is part of a trilogy. I can't wait to see what happens next!
There were some parts of it that I did not see coming at all, and I was thrilled to find out that this is part of a trilogy. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was very well written, but it was not for me.
It was a slow burn, but not my kind of burn.
But that's just my thoughts on it, and I would still recommend it.
Just because it's not my cup of tea, it does not mean others won't enjoy it.
So absolutely give it a read it.
It was a slow burn, but not my kind of burn.
But that's just my thoughts on it, and I would still recommend it.
Just because it's not my cup of tea, it does not mean others won't enjoy it.
So absolutely give it a read it.
Review of advance copy
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a read!
What a character Madeline is - absolutely love her and want her as my best friend!
This book keeps you guessing so much so that you have to keep reading.
Very clever storyline which provokes questions all the way through. I look forward to reading more from this author.
What a character Madeline is - absolutely love her and want her as my best friend!
This book keeps you guessing so much so that you have to keep reading.
Very clever storyline which provokes questions all the way through. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where to start! This book had me wanting more with each page turn!! The twist at the end?? Wow . You never know who's watching you and what they have up their sleeve till it's almost too late! With the read and I can't wait for more from this author!
Review of advance copy
★★★★★
What an incredible debut! The writing is a slow burn that pulled me in immediately and never let go. So well-paced, so much tension on every page. You can tell this author has a real gift for storytelling.
What an incredible debut! The writing is a slow burn that pulled me in immediately and never let go. So well-paced, so much tension on every page. You can tell this author has a real gift for storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a good look at relationships within a marriage and outside. Madeline knew about Ethan's affair and took control with her experiment. This story had me wanting to find out what happens between them all. This was a well told story with great characters.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews