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The Housewife
From the celebrated author of Finders Keepers comes a brand new, deliciously dark thriller 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 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.
Natalie Barelli delivers a supercharged, addictive thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish―a must-read for psychological thriller and Freida McFadden fans.
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 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.
Natalie Barelli delivers a supercharged, addictive thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish―a must-read for psychological thriller and Freida McFadden fans.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Natalie Barelli
12 books3,697 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 6,097 reviews
June 30, 2026
Fast paced thriller that is hard to put down!
August 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️s rounded up.
Although the synopsis gives you just enough without revealing too much, I'm glad I went into this one mostly blind. This is just going to be a quickie because I have a lot of packing to do tonight.
Jodie was both clever and incredibly naive, which made it impossible to predict what she'd do next. I probably shouldn't have liked her, but I did, and I found myself rooting for her anyway. Her internal dialogue had me laughing one minute and cringing the next, much like many of her very questionable decisions.
If you go into this expecting a plausible thriller, you're likely to be disappointed. I treated it as a fun, entertaining popcorn thriller, and it kept me thoroughly engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
This was a long-overdue buddy read with my friend Brooke, and as always, I had a great time discussing my theories with her—some of which actually turned out to be right! Be sure to check out her review to see what she thought of this one.
Although the synopsis gives you just enough without revealing too much, I'm glad I went into this one mostly blind. This is just going to be a quickie because I have a lot of packing to do tonight.
Jodie was both clever and incredibly naive, which made it impossible to predict what she'd do next. I probably shouldn't have liked her, but I did, and I found myself rooting for her anyway. Her internal dialogue had me laughing one minute and cringing the next, much like many of her very questionable decisions.
If you go into this expecting a plausible thriller, you're likely to be disappointed. I treated it as a fun, entertaining popcorn thriller, and it kept me thoroughly engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
This was a long-overdue buddy read with my friend Brooke, and as always, I had a great time discussing my theories with her—some of which actually turned out to be right! Be sure to check out her review to see what she thought of this one.
June 14, 2026
I was hooked all the way through The Housewife by Natalie Barelli. It’s one of those books where you keep telling yourself you’ll stop after the next chapter, but then something else gets revealed and suddenly you’re still reading.
There are so many secrets running through it that you never really feel settled on what’s true. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, the story shifts again and you’re left second-guessing everything.
The characters really stood out for me. They’re messy, flawed, and not particularly likeable at times, but that’s exactly what makes them so interesting to follow. The relationships between them are tense and constantly on edge, and you always feel like something is about to crack.
There’s also a dark humour running through it that caught me off guard in a good way. The line where the husband says he and his ex-wife were happy in their marriage, and the new wife replies, “Oh is that why she shot herself in the face then?” really shows the sharp, uncomfortable humour woven through the story. It’s brutal, but it works.
Natalie Barelli’s writing keeps everything moving at a really good pace. It’s twisty without being confusing, and she knows exactly when to drop information so you’re kept guessing without everything being given away too soon.
The ending tied everything together really well. It makes you look back at earlier moments in a completely different light, which is always satisfying in a book like this.
Overall, it’s tense, clever, and full of twists that keep you on your toes right to the end.
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, Natalie Barelli for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 30th 2026
There are so many secrets running through it that you never really feel settled on what’s true. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, the story shifts again and you’re left second-guessing everything.
The characters really stood out for me. They’re messy, flawed, and not particularly likeable at times, but that’s exactly what makes them so interesting to follow. The relationships between them are tense and constantly on edge, and you always feel like something is about to crack.
There’s also a dark humour running through it that caught me off guard in a good way. The line where the husband says he and his ex-wife were happy in their marriage, and the new wife replies, “Oh is that why she shot herself in the face then?” really shows the sharp, uncomfortable humour woven through the story. It’s brutal, but it works.
Natalie Barelli’s writing keeps everything moving at a really good pace. It’s twisty without being confusing, and she knows exactly when to drop information so you’re kept guessing without everything being given away too soon.
The ending tied everything together really well. It makes you look back at earlier moments in a completely different light, which is always satisfying in a book like this.
Overall, it’s tense, clever, and full of twists that keep you on your toes right to the end.
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, Natalie Barelli for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 30th 2026
February 4, 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
August 1, 2026
This book felt like a mess - somewhere between 2-3 stars for me.
July 28, 2026
THANK YOU, DARLA FOR RECOMMENDING THIS
“I will always remember his face in the candlelight, the way his eyes twinkled, the way I had the urge to stab them out with my fork so badly I had to sit on my hands.”
Well... if that line doesn't grab you by the throat or at least make you hide the cutlery, I don't know what will
Meet Mrs. Davies... aka Jodie... aka Jo... aka Joanna. Honestly, this woman has more names than a wanted criminal, and after reading this, I wasn't about to ask which one she preferred. One thing I do know? I would not cross her. And if you do, politely decline anything she offers you from the kitchen unless you're in the mood for a generous helping of instant karma.
I absolutely devoured this book (unlike any suspicious baked goods).
Jodie is officially my spirit animal. The things she does for Deborah are so far above and beyond the sister handbook that she deserves a medal or at least a very long vacation. These sisters have survived enough drama since childhood to make most soap operas look tame.
Every character earned their place, even the ones I wanted to lovingly shove into traffic. They all added something to the story, and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what chaos would unfold next.
Jodie may make the best macarons in town, but can she somehow whisk herself out of the giant mess she's found herself in? You'll have to read it to find out.
Deliciously entertaining, and a reminder that sometimes revenge is best served with dessert.
“I will always remember his face in the candlelight, the way his eyes twinkled, the way I had the urge to stab them out with my fork so badly I had to sit on my hands.”
Well... if that line doesn't grab you by the throat or at least make you hide the cutlery, I don't know what will
Meet Mrs. Davies... aka Jodie... aka Jo... aka Joanna. Honestly, this woman has more names than a wanted criminal, and after reading this, I wasn't about to ask which one she preferred. One thing I do know? I would not cross her. And if you do, politely decline anything she offers you from the kitchen unless you're in the mood for a generous helping of instant karma.
I absolutely devoured this book (unlike any suspicious baked goods).
Jodie is officially my spirit animal. The things she does for Deborah are so far above and beyond the sister handbook that she deserves a medal or at least a very long vacation. These sisters have survived enough drama since childhood to make most soap operas look tame.
Every character earned their place, even the ones I wanted to lovingly shove into traffic. They all added something to the story, and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what chaos would unfold next.
Jodie may make the best macarons in town, but can she somehow whisk herself out of the giant mess she's found herself in? You'll have to read it to find out.
Deliciously entertaining, and a reminder that sometimes revenge is best served with dessert.
July 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
After a whirlwind romance, Jodie marries Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his luxurious Beverly Hills home. His friends think she is a gold-digger…
BUT SHE DIDN'T MARRY FOR MONEY
The house is like a shrine to the first Mrs. Davies-her photos are everywhere-and it becomes clear that he hasn’t quite moved on from the loss. Even, Marie, the housekeeper seems to have worshipped Deborah Davies. But, that’s okay…
SHE DIDN'T MARRY FOR LOVE
Jodie is convinced that Roy murdered Deborah but she can’t go to the police because of her own checkered past so to prove her suspicions are correct, she will have to do her own investigating…
AND SHE WONT LET ANYONE STAND IN HER WAY
Once upon a time, I read just about EVERY psychological thriller released but it’s been awhile since I have picked up a book by this author. As the genre gained in popularity, its authors were forced to write books which were more and more twisty. But, somewhere along the way, they lost their appeal for me as FUN more often than not became extremely FAR FETCHED.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It was entertaining and the DARK HUMOR was hitting all the right notes.
But, the second half lost me. I was able to EASILY predict exactly what role each character would play, and the ending stretched believability a bit TOO FAR for my personal taste.
Three stars is GOOD. 🍿🍿🍿
But, FOUR STARS means above average, and it didn’t quite get there for me.
I am glad it was a 4 or 5 star read for MOST of my GR friends!
A buddy read with Marilyn so please be sure to check out her review.
AVAILABLE NOW!
After a whirlwind romance, Jodie marries Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his luxurious Beverly Hills home. His friends think she is a gold-digger…
BUT SHE DIDN'T MARRY FOR MONEY
The house is like a shrine to the first Mrs. Davies-her photos are everywhere-and it becomes clear that he hasn’t quite moved on from the loss. Even, Marie, the housekeeper seems to have worshipped Deborah Davies. But, that’s okay…
SHE DIDN'T MARRY FOR LOVE
Jodie is convinced that Roy murdered Deborah but she can’t go to the police because of her own checkered past so to prove her suspicions are correct, she will have to do her own investigating…
AND SHE WONT LET ANYONE STAND IN HER WAY
Once upon a time, I read just about EVERY psychological thriller released but it’s been awhile since I have picked up a book by this author. As the genre gained in popularity, its authors were forced to write books which were more and more twisty. But, somewhere along the way, they lost their appeal for me as FUN more often than not became extremely FAR FETCHED.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It was entertaining and the DARK HUMOR was hitting all the right notes.
But, the second half lost me. I was able to EASILY predict exactly what role each character would play, and the ending stretched believability a bit TOO FAR for my personal taste.
Three stars is GOOD. 🍿🍿🍿
But, FOUR STARS means above average, and it didn’t quite get there for me.
I am glad it was a 4 or 5 star read for MOST of my GR friends!
A buddy read with Marilyn so please be sure to check out her review.
AVAILABLE NOW!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ The Housewife trapped me and I really didn't want to get out.. it was THAT entertaining. I could not put this book down. It somewhat reminded me of The Housemaid: easy, quick, fun, 'one more chapter' type. I had a GREAT time with the unreliable narrator. I'm convinced that all housewives are unhinged. They are the most perfect, devoted domestic perfectionists, it's HARD to even think that something could be wrong with them...so you guys just wait until you meet Jodie!
Jodie has the most perfect life. Newly married, living in a large house with a perfect, wealthy man who is respectable member of a society, a doctor no less. The house is immaculate, clean, perfect, well built with a 24/7 housekeeper. Somehow everything looks good from the outside yet feels wrong on the inside. His dead wife is everywhere. Everyone remembers Deborah, Roy's first wife. Deborah was the most perfect housewife and an ideal woman in eyes of Roy, his friends and colleagues, including the housekeep, Marie. A 'happy' marriage soon enough becomes a suffocating trap. No one loves or respects Jodie. She tries and tries again, but Deborah is still better.
WELL..Jodie has secrets too. She is not who she says she is and she isn't the innocent woman trapped in a disturbing situation. She is a criminal and she's out for revenge. Revenge is like honey: it doesn't matter how long you have it, it just never goes bad. And the revenge in this book is so twisty and wild! I mean, the TEA was good. Can't say this was shocking but I definitely didn't see a few things coming.
Imagine you marry a man of your dreams only for him to become your worst nightmare...but the wife does it better.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Natalie Barelli for an early ARC.
Publication: June 30, 2026
Jodie has the most perfect life. Newly married, living in a large house with a perfect, wealthy man who is respectable member of a society, a doctor no less. The house is immaculate, clean, perfect, well built with a 24/7 housekeeper. Somehow everything looks good from the outside yet feels wrong on the inside. His dead wife is everywhere. Everyone remembers Deborah, Roy's first wife. Deborah was the most perfect housewife and an ideal woman in eyes of Roy, his friends and colleagues, including the housekeep, Marie. A 'happy' marriage soon enough becomes a suffocating trap. No one loves or respects Jodie. She tries and tries again, but Deborah is still better.
WELL..Jodie has secrets too. She is not who she says she is and she isn't the innocent woman trapped in a disturbing situation. She is a criminal and she's out for revenge. Revenge is like honey: it doesn't matter how long you have it, it just never goes bad. And the revenge in this book is so twisty and wild! I mean, the TEA was good. Can't say this was shocking but I definitely didn't see a few things coming.
Imagine you marry a man of your dreams only for him to become your worst nightmare...but the wife does it better.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Natalie Barelli for an early ARC.
Publication: June 30, 2026
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
July 11, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of The Housewife by Natalie Barelli
You ever start a book thinking, "I'll read a chapter or two before bed," and then suddenly you're staring at the clock wondering why it's 2:17 a.m. and questioning every life choice that led you to this moment? Yeah...that was me with The Housewife..Natalie Barelli has officially reminded me why she's one of those authors I trust to completely wreck my ability to be a responsible adult. The pacing is absolutely relentless. Those short chapters should come with a warning because they're basically legal loopholes for reading "just one more." Before you know it, you've devoured half the book and forgotten things like chores, sleep, and your family's existence.
This was definitely one of those reads that requires a seatbelt and comes with a height restriction. It takes off right around 100mph and it doesn't stop until it crosses the finish line. I loved how, even though we get let in on the plot pretty early on, it doesn't prevent the reader from being entertained the entire time and even excited along the way.
If psychological thrillers are your thing and you enjoy unreliable characters, shocking twists, and stories that make you side-eye your neighbors for a few days afterward, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Just don't make any important plans once you start...because odds are you're not keeping them.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
You ever start a book thinking, "I'll read a chapter or two before bed," and then suddenly you're staring at the clock wondering why it's 2:17 a.m. and questioning every life choice that led you to this moment? Yeah...that was me with The Housewife..Natalie Barelli has officially reminded me why she's one of those authors I trust to completely wreck my ability to be a responsible adult. The pacing is absolutely relentless. Those short chapters should come with a warning because they're basically legal loopholes for reading "just one more." Before you know it, you've devoured half the book and forgotten things like chores, sleep, and your family's existence.
This was definitely one of those reads that requires a seatbelt and comes with a height restriction. It takes off right around 100mph and it doesn't stop until it crosses the finish line. I loved how, even though we get let in on the plot pretty early on, it doesn't prevent the reader from being entertained the entire time and even excited along the way.
If psychological thrillers are your thing and you enjoy unreliable characters, shocking twists, and stories that make you side-eye your neighbors for a few days afterward, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Just don't make any important plans once you start...because odds are you're not keeping them.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
GOT TO LOVE A GOOD POPCORN THRILLER
In The Housewife Jodie has married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare. The fairy tale has faded, and she suspects he had some involvement in his first wife’s passing. So many dark secrets are about to spill.
The cover and blurb are what drew me into wanting to read the book and I am not disappointed. This was a popcorn thriller that kept me entertained throughout.
Jodie the lead in the book was a likeable character enough who you can root for and hoping she gets the justice she is seeking for.
The book is fast paced and readers of Freida McFadden line up because this one will be right up your street.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did such a good job. Each character was distinct and she gave personality to all involved.
Thriller veterans will guess the twist most likely, but it doesn’t stop the story from still being good and I had a good time.
The author has a very engaging and smooth writing style, and I am excited to read more of her work.
Get the audiobook and continue with you daily activities while being thoroughly entertained.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media Audiobook and the author, Natalie Barelli for the audiobook ARC of this novel
In The Housewife Jodie has married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare. The fairy tale has faded, and she suspects he had some involvement in his first wife’s passing. So many dark secrets are about to spill.
The cover and blurb are what drew me into wanting to read the book and I am not disappointed. This was a popcorn thriller that kept me entertained throughout.
Jodie the lead in the book was a likeable character enough who you can root for and hoping she gets the justice she is seeking for.
The book is fast paced and readers of Freida McFadden line up because this one will be right up your street.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did such a good job. Each character was distinct and she gave personality to all involved.
Thriller veterans will guess the twist most likely, but it doesn’t stop the story from still being good and I had a good time.
The author has a very engaging and smooth writing style, and I am excited to read more of her work.
Get the audiobook and continue with you daily activities while being thoroughly entertained.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media Audiobook and the author, Natalie Barelli for the audiobook ARC of this novel
July 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention from the first few chapters and kept me interested the whole way through. The story had lots of surprises, and even though I guessed a couple of things, there were still plenty of moments that caught me off guard.
The main character, Jodie, was interesting to follow. I didn't always agree with her decisions, but that made her feel more real. She has a difficult past and is trying to find out what really happened to her sister after her death was ruled a suicide. To get answers, she marries her sister's widowed husband, and that's when everything starts to get more complicated.
I liked how the story slowly revealed new secrets. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, something else changed my mind. The suspense kept building, and I always wanted to read one more chapter. The ending was satisfying and wrapped everything up well.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The main character, Jodie, was interesting to follow. I didn't always agree with her decisions, but that made her feel more real. She has a difficult past and is trying to find out what really happened to her sister after her death was ruled a suicide. To get answers, she marries her sister's widowed husband, and that's when everything starts to get more complicated.
I liked how the story slowly revealed new secrets. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, something else changed my mind. The suspense kept building, and I always wanted to read one more chapter. The ending was satisfying and wrapped everything up well.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
July 16, 2026
Having recently read Finders Keepers and finding it to be a decent read, I was looking forward to seeing what Natalie Barelli would do with another "who did I marry?" premise. While The Housewife kept me turning the pages, it ultimately asked me to suspend my disbelief a little more than I wanted to.
In a nutshell, Jodie marries renowned psychologist Dr Roy Davies after a whirlwind romance, and before long it's obvious the perfect marriage isn't quite so perfect after all. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that neither of them is telling the whole truth.
One thing Barelli does well is create morally grey characters, and this story features the greyest ones I've come across from her so far. Almost everyone has an agenda, so I was constantly wondering who was really manipulating who. The pacing moves quickly, there's always another twist around the corner, and every time I thought things couldn't get any more unhinged, they somehow did. All of that made for a really entertaining read, even when I wasn't completely buying into everything that was happening.
Where it started to lose me was some of the choices driving the story. As more of the story unfolded, I found it harder to get behind some of the characters' decisions, and eventually I stopped connecting with Jodie altogether. I don't mind deeply flawed or completely unhinged protagonists, but I never fully bought into just how far one character was willing to go in pursuit of the truth. Instead of pulling me in, it slowly started to lose me.
It's also probably worth admitting that I've read more than my fair share of psychological and domestic thrillers centred around suspicious spouses and dark family secrets. It takes a lot for this type of story to surprise me these days, and while The Housewife was certainly entertaining, it never quite did enough to stand out from the crowd.
I still had a good time with The Housewife, even if I didn't completely buy into everything it was asking me to believe. If you're a fan of fast-paced domestic thrillers filled with morally grey characters, manipulation and revenge, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one more than I did.
In a nutshell, Jodie marries renowned psychologist Dr Roy Davies after a whirlwind romance, and before long it's obvious the perfect marriage isn't quite so perfect after all. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that neither of them is telling the whole truth.
One thing Barelli does well is create morally grey characters, and this story features the greyest ones I've come across from her so far. Almost everyone has an agenda, so I was constantly wondering who was really manipulating who. The pacing moves quickly, there's always another twist around the corner, and every time I thought things couldn't get any more unhinged, they somehow did. All of that made for a really entertaining read, even when I wasn't completely buying into everything that was happening.
Where it started to lose me was some of the choices driving the story. As more of the story unfolded, I found it harder to get behind some of the characters' decisions, and eventually I stopped connecting with Jodie altogether. I don't mind deeply flawed or completely unhinged protagonists, but I never fully bought into just how far one character was willing to go in pursuit of the truth. Instead of pulling me in, it slowly started to lose me.
It's also probably worth admitting that I've read more than my fair share of psychological and domestic thrillers centred around suspicious spouses and dark family secrets. It takes a lot for this type of story to surprise me these days, and while The Housewife was certainly entertaining, it never quite did enough to stand out from the crowd.
I still had a good time with The Housewife, even if I didn't completely buy into everything it was asking me to believe. If you're a fan of fast-paced domestic thrillers filled with morally grey characters, manipulation and revenge, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one more than I did.
July 30, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟺 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
❝𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢: 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝, 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚍.❞
July 1, 2026
➡️ Not my favorite Housewife book.
😭😭😭
➡️ The storyline required a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
⚠️ POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD:
Plot summary: The protagonist’s ultimate dream was to become the perfect housewife, but she took a bizarre route to get there. She married her dead sister’s husband in a desperate quest to find out if her sister committed suicide or if her husband murdered her.
The biggest stretch? The Ph.D. husband had no idea that his new bride was an ex-con or was related to his first wife. (Huh?) There's more....but I will stop there.
➡️ An audiobook narrator can make or break a book.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker.
Although Karissa Vacker is an award-winning audiobook narrator who has narrated over 300 titles, this was not one of her best performances.
Her delivery was distracting and pitchy, frequently crossing the line into screeching. At times, the narration was genuinely painful to listen to.
➡️ Love the book cover, though!
June 30, 2026
I really enjoyed this dark twisty thriller written by an Australian author.
When Jodie marries Dr, Roy Davies, psychologist, she becomes obsessed with his first wife who apparently committed suicide. From the start there are huge doubts over whether everyone is who they appear to be and who is lying. The mystery gets deeper and deeper as the book progresses.
I found it clever, full of twists and turns, and the ending is dark and very satisfactory. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
When Jodie marries Dr, Roy Davies, psychologist, she becomes obsessed with his first wife who apparently committed suicide. From the start there are huge doubts over whether everyone is who they appear to be and who is lying. The mystery gets deeper and deeper as the book progresses.
I found it clever, full of twists and turns, and the ending is dark and very satisfactory. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
![Profile Image for shareen khan ۫. ˖[overseas, slump, semi-ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1776571444i/155464400._UX200_CR0,8,200,200_.jpg)
July 27, 2026
book: the housewife.
rate: 4.65/5 stars!!!
date read: 28 july, ‘26.
rtc: i couldn’t put this book down, and now it’s 5:35 am! yes! i stayed up all night! because, wow!!! the main character jodie just made the most obvious and hilariously dumb decisions anyone trying to be discreet could ever make. she couldn’t piece things together, but the story was incredibly fast-paced (imo), and you couldn’t help but be riddled with intrigue to see how it’ll all end (even though; the perpetrators were predictable to me), and even when it did, there was still more to uncover, leaving you desperate to know what would happen next!
i’ll write a proper review soon, but let’s just say i totally get why this book was everywhere on bookshelves and still is. i kept seeing so many of my friends and online readers diving into it like it was just inescapable, and i’m thrilled to be part of that club now! woohoo!!!
rate: 4.65/5 stars!!!
date read: 28 july, ‘26.
rtc: i couldn’t put this book down, and now it’s 5:35 am! yes! i stayed up all night! because, wow!!! the main character jodie just made the most obvious and hilariously dumb decisions anyone trying to be discreet could ever make. she couldn’t piece things together, but the story was incredibly fast-paced (imo), and you couldn’t help but be riddled with intrigue to see how it’ll all end (even though; the perpetrators were predictable to me), and even when it did, there was still more to uncover, leaving you desperate to know what would happen next!
i’ll write a proper review soon, but let’s just say i totally get why this book was everywhere on bookshelves and still is. i kept seeing so many of my friends and online readers diving into it like it was just inescapable, and i’m thrilled to be part of that club now! woohoo!!!
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?”
August 13, 2026
Craving a fast-paced popcorn thriller? Then you have to pick this up!!!
I didn't expect to fly through this one, but here I am. This hooked me from the start and even managed to surprise me at the end with some insane twists.
Actual rating - 3.5⭐
What to expect -
✨ Fast-paced psychological thriller
✨ Short chapters
✨ Unreliable narrator
✨ Rich people and their drama
✨ Unlikeable and unhinged characters
✨ Twists after twists
Jodie has always wanted a place to belong and to be the perfect housewife. But when she marries the renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davis, her happiness doesn't last long because all of his friends' wives are indifferent toward her, and even the housemaid treats her badly cuz they all liked his previous wife, Deborah, more. As Jodie starts to grow envious of his previous wife, she also begins to suspect that her husband might not be who she thinks he is, and might have done something to his ex-wife, so she vows to find out what he's hiding.
The premise definitely gave me vibes of the classic Rebecca and the fairytale Bluebeard, as they're all about a young woman marrying a wealthy widower who might have more skeletons in his closet than she initially thought. So, I really enjoyed the unsettling vibes this book was giving off at the start. I was even worried for our FMC at various points because she is so blunt and open about her thoughts that I kept wondering when she was finally going to face his wrath. And I don't want to spoil how the plot proceeds, so you'll just have to read it to find out what she unravels.
But coming to our FMC, she had such contrasting personalities that I was so confused about which one was her real self. Cuz trust me when I say that, at times, it felt like she had a screw loose, while at others, she came across as extremely witty and strategic. This made it really difficult to trust anything she was saying, and as confused as I was about her personality, I cannot deny that I enjoyed the unreliable nature of our FMC. It kept me guessing about what she was actually thinking and whether I could trust anything she told us.
The book did lose me a little in the middle, but then things started getting crazy, and I was immediately pulled back in. And the last 25% was a whiplash of twists after twists, some predictable and others quite surprising. And my favorite part was how everything was wrapped up and how that particular character managed to outsmart everyone. 👀
So if you're looking for an entertaining thriller with unhinged characters, an unreliable FMC, and insane twists, you have to pick this up.
✨Pre-read:
A fast-paced popcorn thriller with short chapters?! That's exactly what I'm in the mood for rn🙂↕️
I didn't expect to fly through this one, but here I am. This hooked me from the start and even managed to surprise me at the end with some insane twists.
Actual rating - 3.5⭐
What to expect -
✨ Fast-paced psychological thriller
✨ Short chapters
✨ Unreliable narrator
✨ Rich people and their drama
✨ Unlikeable and unhinged characters
✨ Twists after twists
Jodie has always wanted a place to belong and to be the perfect housewife. But when she marries the renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davis, her happiness doesn't last long because all of his friends' wives are indifferent toward her, and even the housemaid treats her badly cuz they all liked his previous wife, Deborah, more. As Jodie starts to grow envious of his previous wife, she also begins to suspect that her husband might not be who she thinks he is, and might have done something to his ex-wife, so she vows to find out what he's hiding.
The premise definitely gave me vibes of the classic Rebecca and the fairytale Bluebeard, as they're all about a young woman marrying a wealthy widower who might have more skeletons in his closet than she initially thought. So, I really enjoyed the unsettling vibes this book was giving off at the start. I was even worried for our FMC at various points because she is so blunt and open about her thoughts that I kept wondering when she was finally going to face his wrath. And I don't want to spoil how the plot proceeds, so you'll just have to read it to find out what she unravels.
But coming to our FMC, she had such contrasting personalities that I was so confused about which one was her real self. Cuz trust me when I say that, at times, it felt like she had a screw loose, while at others, she came across as extremely witty and strategic. This made it really difficult to trust anything she was saying, and as confused as I was about her personality, I cannot deny that I enjoyed the unreliable nature of our FMC. It kept me guessing about what she was actually thinking and whether I could trust anything she told us.
The book did lose me a little in the middle, but then things started getting crazy, and I was immediately pulled back in. And the last 25% was a whiplash of twists after twists, some predictable and others quite surprising. And my favorite part was how everything was wrapped up and how that particular character managed to outsmart everyone. 👀
So if you're looking for an entertaining thriller with unhinged characters, an unreliable FMC, and insane twists, you have to pick this up.
✨Pre-read:
A fast-paced popcorn thriller with short chapters?! That's exactly what I'm in the mood for rn🙂↕️
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
September 11, 2026
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲! 🍿
I absolutely devoured this one. I loved how it kept unfolding with little new revelations along the way, and I never once felt like I had it figured out. It was intriguing from start to finish, fast-paced, and just so much fun to read. Exactly what I was looking for!
I absolutely devoured this one. I loved how it kept unfolding with little new revelations along the way, and I never once felt like I had it figured out. It was intriguing from start to finish, fast-paced, and just so much fun to read. Exactly what I was looking for!
July 9, 2026
okay WOW i haven’t been in the mood for thrillers lately because they’ve honestly been disappointing me left and right, but this one completely shocked me.
this reminded me of reading my very first thriller and falling in love with the genre all over again, and that’s exactly why it’s getting 5 stars from me. it also gave me major Freida McFadden vibes, which i absolutely loved.
i picked this up thinking i’d read a few chapters and suddenly it was 4am... and i was turning the last page. we’ve all been there, right?
thank you to NetGalley for the arc 🖤
this reminded me of reading my very first thriller and falling in love with the genre all over again, and that’s exactly why it’s getting 5 stars from me. it also gave me major Freida McFadden vibes, which i absolutely loved.
i picked this up thinking i’d read a few chapters and suddenly it was 4am... and i was turning the last page. we’ve all been there, right?
thank you to NetGalley for the arc 🖤
September 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐
THE SATISFACTION I GOT AT THE END WAS BORDERLINE THERAPEUTIC
THE SATISFACTION I GOT AT THE END WAS BORDERLINE THERAPEUTIC
August 16, 2026
"Abandon your current read, toss it out the window, set it on fire, do whatever the hell you need to do Nat". My work bestie told me those wordsto get my ass in gear and read it with her, and I listened(cause I had no choice), and thank fucking God I did because this book grabbed me by the throat from the very first damn page. You know what pisses me off about some of these thrillers? They demand you wade through fifty to hundred pages of boring-ass setup before anything remotely interesting happens. They want your patience like it's a fucking currency they haven't earned. This book said "fuck that noise" and grabbed me by the throat from chapter one!! This wild-ass ride dumped me out past my depth, and I was happily sinking like a stone, totally loving every second......I literally devoured this book in a single sitting, neglecting my sleep, my chores, and my basic human needs because I could not put the damn thing down!!!
This one sent my mood straight down a steep slope, flipping the switch from pure hype to absolute chaos out of nowhere. I was questioning everything and everyone like a paranoid detective. Is our main girl Jodie a reliable narrator? Hell if I know, but she sure is entertaining as she stumbles through her life. One minute you're thinking "oh she's just a sweet, domestically obsessed wife," and the next she's doing something so batshit insane that you have to put the book down and reevaluate your entire existence. She's the kind of character who makes you question your own judgment. Is she a reliable narrator or is she full of shit? Is she playing 4D chess while the rest of us are playing checkers, or is she just a lucky dumbass who keeps falling ass-backward into her schemes? Does she actually have a grand plan or is she making this up as she goes along? Can you trust a single word that comes out of her mouth????? I kept asking myself a million questions that had me turning pages like a maniac. Does she have some secret ulterior motive hiding behind her perfect housewife facade? Is her new friend Erin actually trustworthy or is she playing a long game? And oh boy, the husband. Is Roy the loyal, grieving widower he pretends to be or is he a snake in the grass? Can we trust a single word that comes out of anyone's mouth in this entire godforsaken story? There are secrets buried in every corner of that beautiful house, and I was determined to dig them all up.
The genius of this book is that our narrator is simultaneously the smartest person in the room and the biggest fucking idiot you've ever met. She'll pull off a scheme that would make a criminal mastermind jealous, and then do something so monumentally stupid that you want to reach through the pages and smack some sense into her thick skull. And yet you can't stop rooting for her. You can't. Because beneath all that craziness, you know exactly why she's doing what she's doing, and you'd probably be just as unhinged in her shoes🤷♀️🤷♀️
So what is this book actually about without me giving away the farm?...Some chick ties the knot with a big-shot shrink and sets up shop in his swanky mansion, but the whole setup is an absolute fucking trap wrapped in velvet. She’s packing heavy baggage, the dead ex-wife’s ghost hangs over everything like a nasty smell, and the place is literally bursting at the seams with crazy-ass skeletons. To top it off, the housekeeper stares at her like a skid mark on a silk dress, while the local snobs act like the dead woman walked on fucking water. It’s a total game of chicken where you haven’t got a clue who’s actually holding the upper hand or getting played for a sucker!!! The bad fucking blood in that house is so heavy you could carve it up, and the mind games are just absolute top-tier shit. You’ll be throwing shade at the husband, the housekeeper, the busybody locals, and even the main girl herself. It’s a total free-for-all where everyone's running circles around each other, and frankly, not a single fucker in the place knows who's actually running the show.
So why read it? For starters, seeing a two-timing gaslighter get his absolute clock cleaned is fucking bliss. Next up, you’re basically strap-in for a high-speed chase that keeps your heart hammering the whole damn time. Third, you’ll be eyeballing a simple cup of Earl Grey like it’s pure radioactive sludge. Fourth, watching a girl obsess over scented soaps one minute and cold-blooded murder the next is prime-time entertainment. Lastly, the utter nerve of these twists will knock you flat on your ass—the author’s out of her fucking mind and I am SAT!!!
Keeping it real: I’m slaps-on-the-desk giving this a 3.5, but bumping it to a 4 out of sheer charity because the bangers were off the charts. Still, a few threads got left dangling out in the cold, and some of the character logic was a bit half-cooked if you pull on the string. The midsection dragged its feet with all the endless, dead-end snooping—I was ready to jump through the page and shove Jodie into that damn safe myself. But the utter fucking insanity of the whole thing makes it easy to forgive the bumps. It’s pure brain-candy trash in the absolute best way, the type of madness that has you barking at the pages like a nutjob. Do yourself a favor and drag a buddy along so you’ve got someone to vent to when shit hits the fan!!!
Nuggets of raw fucking truth: a decent baker spots the gap between a harmless sprinkle and a wicked shard, but a true maniac makes you wonder which one’s going down your neck. Chew real slow on this one. Save the best part for your grinders, because a hidden crunch is meant to be felt in the mouth, not in the throat😏💀
“I've never understood why some people insist on calling a spade a spade when they've never held one in their lives and wouldn't know the difference between a spade, a shovel, and a pitchfork without reading the labels at Home Depot.”
(She's not wrong. Have YOU ever held a spade? Didn't think so. Let the woman speak😮💨)
“Shall I get the body now? I mean, the cake?” I meant to lighten the mood, but I've never been good with jokes, and this one lands as you'd expect: with a thud. Meredith gasps, Barb slaps her hand over her mouth, and a dark shadow passes over Roy's face. I smile, showing teeth, to show it was a joke.
(It was a perfectly reasonable joke. Deborah's ghost probably found it hilarious. The harpies just have no taste. And honestly, "body" and "cake" are basically interchangeable in this household. We all know it💀)
“I retrieve the thinnest, sharpest shards of glass from the trash and examine them in my hand. I select one that's both long and jagged, and push it into the cake, right where I put the piece of toffee that marks Meredith's slice.”
“I shake my head, chuckling to myself, and retrieve the glass shard I'd inserted into Meredith's slice of cake. I shake my head. Don't be silly, I chide myself. You're not going to make friends that way!”
(Her growth arc is frankly inspiring. From "poison cake" to "let's be friends" in under ten seconds. That's character development, people. Also, she's right. Glass shards are NOT a good icebreaker. A for effort though🤷♀️)
"I'll always remember his face in the candlelight, the way his eyes twinkled, the way I had the urge to stab them out with my fork so badly I had to sit on my hands."
(Ah, young love. The butterflies. The romance. The homicidal urges. It's giving "Tinder date that went on one hour too long."💀😌😌 And honestly? A 43-year-old man with "twinkling eyes" isn't charming babe....it's a biological sign that he's about to buy a convertible and start dating someone younger. Oh wait..... He did 💀)
This one sent my mood straight down a steep slope, flipping the switch from pure hype to absolute chaos out of nowhere. I was questioning everything and everyone like a paranoid detective. Is our main girl Jodie a reliable narrator? Hell if I know, but she sure is entertaining as she stumbles through her life. One minute you're thinking "oh she's just a sweet, domestically obsessed wife," and the next she's doing something so batshit insane that you have to put the book down and reevaluate your entire existence. She's the kind of character who makes you question your own judgment. Is she a reliable narrator or is she full of shit? Is she playing 4D chess while the rest of us are playing checkers, or is she just a lucky dumbass who keeps falling ass-backward into her schemes? Does she actually have a grand plan or is she making this up as she goes along? Can you trust a single word that comes out of her mouth????? I kept asking myself a million questions that had me turning pages like a maniac. Does she have some secret ulterior motive hiding behind her perfect housewife facade? Is her new friend Erin actually trustworthy or is she playing a long game? And oh boy, the husband. Is Roy the loyal, grieving widower he pretends to be or is he a snake in the grass? Can we trust a single word that comes out of anyone's mouth in this entire godforsaken story? There are secrets buried in every corner of that beautiful house, and I was determined to dig them all up.
The genius of this book is that our narrator is simultaneously the smartest person in the room and the biggest fucking idiot you've ever met. She'll pull off a scheme that would make a criminal mastermind jealous, and then do something so monumentally stupid that you want to reach through the pages and smack some sense into her thick skull. And yet you can't stop rooting for her. You can't. Because beneath all that craziness, you know exactly why she's doing what she's doing, and you'd probably be just as unhinged in her shoes🤷♀️🤷♀️
So what is this book actually about without me giving away the farm?...Some chick ties the knot with a big-shot shrink and sets up shop in his swanky mansion, but the whole setup is an absolute fucking trap wrapped in velvet. She’s packing heavy baggage, the dead ex-wife’s ghost hangs over everything like a nasty smell, and the place is literally bursting at the seams with crazy-ass skeletons. To top it off, the housekeeper stares at her like a skid mark on a silk dress, while the local snobs act like the dead woman walked on fucking water. It’s a total game of chicken where you haven’t got a clue who’s actually holding the upper hand or getting played for a sucker!!! The bad fucking blood in that house is so heavy you could carve it up, and the mind games are just absolute top-tier shit. You’ll be throwing shade at the husband, the housekeeper, the busybody locals, and even the main girl herself. It’s a total free-for-all where everyone's running circles around each other, and frankly, not a single fucker in the place knows who's actually running the show.
So why read it? For starters, seeing a two-timing gaslighter get his absolute clock cleaned is fucking bliss. Next up, you’re basically strap-in for a high-speed chase that keeps your heart hammering the whole damn time. Third, you’ll be eyeballing a simple cup of Earl Grey like it’s pure radioactive sludge. Fourth, watching a girl obsess over scented soaps one minute and cold-blooded murder the next is prime-time entertainment. Lastly, the utter nerve of these twists will knock you flat on your ass—the author’s out of her fucking mind and I am SAT!!!
Keeping it real: I’m slaps-on-the-desk giving this a 3.5, but bumping it to a 4 out of sheer charity because the bangers were off the charts. Still, a few threads got left dangling out in the cold, and some of the character logic was a bit half-cooked if you pull on the string. The midsection dragged its feet with all the endless, dead-end snooping—I was ready to jump through the page and shove Jodie into that damn safe myself. But the utter fucking insanity of the whole thing makes it easy to forgive the bumps. It’s pure brain-candy trash in the absolute best way, the type of madness that has you barking at the pages like a nutjob. Do yourself a favor and drag a buddy along so you’ve got someone to vent to when shit hits the fan!!!
Nuggets of raw fucking truth: a decent baker spots the gap between a harmless sprinkle and a wicked shard, but a true maniac makes you wonder which one’s going down your neck. Chew real slow on this one. Save the best part for your grinders, because a hidden crunch is meant to be felt in the mouth, not in the throat😏💀
“I've never understood why some people insist on calling a spade a spade when they've never held one in their lives and wouldn't know the difference between a spade, a shovel, and a pitchfork without reading the labels at Home Depot.”
(She's not wrong. Have YOU ever held a spade? Didn't think so. Let the woman speak😮💨)
“Shall I get the body now? I mean, the cake?” I meant to lighten the mood, but I've never been good with jokes, and this one lands as you'd expect: with a thud. Meredith gasps, Barb slaps her hand over her mouth, and a dark shadow passes over Roy's face. I smile, showing teeth, to show it was a joke.
(It was a perfectly reasonable joke. Deborah's ghost probably found it hilarious. The harpies just have no taste. And honestly, "body" and "cake" are basically interchangeable in this household. We all know it💀)
“I retrieve the thinnest, sharpest shards of glass from the trash and examine them in my hand. I select one that's both long and jagged, and push it into the cake, right where I put the piece of toffee that marks Meredith's slice.”
“I shake my head, chuckling to myself, and retrieve the glass shard I'd inserted into Meredith's slice of cake. I shake my head. Don't be silly, I chide myself. You're not going to make friends that way!”
(Her growth arc is frankly inspiring. From "poison cake" to "let's be friends" in under ten seconds. That's character development, people. Also, she's right. Glass shards are NOT a good icebreaker. A for effort though🤷♀️)
"I'll always remember his face in the candlelight, the way his eyes twinkled, the way I had the urge to stab them out with my fork so badly I had to sit on my hands."
(Ah, young love. The butterflies. The romance. The homicidal urges. It's giving "Tinder date that went on one hour too long."💀😌😌 And honestly? A 43-year-old man with "twinkling eyes" isn't charming babe....it's a biological sign that he's about to buy a convertible and start dating someone younger. Oh wait..... He did 💀)
July 21, 2026
It’s like a Temu version of The Housemaid, which was also not good.
July 24, 2026
4 Stars! The kind of female protagonist I really like! Unexpected twists! Surprising ending! Enjoyable reading without gore and/or triggers that would make it impossible to continue reading. Unputdownable, you just want to keep reading a little bit more (the feeling of "I am glued to this book")... Evil towards evil people not towards good people. What is lacking in the story that made me decide to not give it 5 stars: Fear, tension and expectation... The events unfold one after another, there is no "punch in the gut" feeling, I was not afraid about anything and I would like more suspense, that unease feeling that something bad is about to happen to the protagonist. Oustanding narration on Audible! A pleasant surprise.
July 7, 2026
Struggle bus.
I really wanted this book to work for me, but unfortunately, it never quite got there.
The premise had potential. Jo is determined to uncover who killed Deb, and a mystery built around that question immediately caught my attention. Unfortunately, Jo's process to investigate the theory itself is where the story lost me.
Rather than approaching conversations with strategy or subtlety, Jo often asks direct questions with little thought about how they might be received. As a result, her investigation felt less like a calculated search for answers and more like a series of conversations that rarely moved the story forward in a meaningful way.
About halfway through, I realized I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters. That may very well have been intentional, but for me, it made it difficult to stay engaged. I considered setting the book aside, but I kept reading because I genuinely hoped the ending would change my mind.
It didn't.
While the book introduces several twists, many of them left important questions unanswered. I kept expecting the story to address details that seemed like obvious next steps, particularly DNA testing, but those loose ends were never fully explored. Instead of feeling cleverly ambiguous, they left me wondering why certain avenues were simply abandoned.
There were also a few moments where the internal logic didn't quite work for me. Some character reactions and conclusions felt inconsistent with information the story had already established, which occasionally pulled me out of the mystery. Instead of being surprised by the twists, I found myself questioning the reasoning behind them.
That said, I don't think this is a bad thriller. I simply think it wasn't the right thriller for me. I read a lot of books in this genre, so I tend to look for twists that genuinely surprise me, investigations that feel thoughtfully constructed, and endings that tie together the questions raised along the way. Readers who are newer to thrillers may have a very different experience and could find this an enjoyable introduction to the genre.
Overall, this one didn't leave the lasting impression I was hoping for.
Thank you, NetGalley, Natalie Barelli, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All comments and opinions are my own.
I really wanted this book to work for me, but unfortunately, it never quite got there.
The premise had potential. Jo is determined to uncover who killed Deb, and a mystery built around that question immediately caught my attention. Unfortunately, Jo's process to investigate the theory itself is where the story lost me.
Rather than approaching conversations with strategy or subtlety, Jo often asks direct questions with little thought about how they might be received. As a result, her investigation felt less like a calculated search for answers and more like a series of conversations that rarely moved the story forward in a meaningful way.
About halfway through, I realized I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters. That may very well have been intentional, but for me, it made it difficult to stay engaged. I considered setting the book aside, but I kept reading because I genuinely hoped the ending would change my mind.
It didn't.
While the book introduces several twists, many of them left important questions unanswered. I kept expecting the story to address details that seemed like obvious next steps, particularly DNA testing, but those loose ends were never fully explored. Instead of feeling cleverly ambiguous, they left me wondering why certain avenues were simply abandoned.
There were also a few moments where the internal logic didn't quite work for me. Some character reactions and conclusions felt inconsistent with information the story had already established, which occasionally pulled me out of the mystery. Instead of being surprised by the twists, I found myself questioning the reasoning behind them.
That said, I don't think this is a bad thriller. I simply think it wasn't the right thriller for me. I read a lot of books in this genre, so I tend to look for twists that genuinely surprise me, investigations that feel thoughtfully constructed, and endings that tie together the questions raised along the way. Readers who are newer to thrillers may have a very different experience and could find this an enjoyable introduction to the genre.
Overall, this one didn't leave the lasting impression I was hoping for.
Thank you, NetGalley, Natalie Barelli, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All comments and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2026
Jo has everything she could want in her new marriage, but she has an ulterior motive: getting revenge on her sister’s Deb’s killer. I could not put this one down. Literally was having out loud reactions to it throughout the whole book. A couple things I kind of suspected of saw coming, but most was a twisty surprise! Throughout the novel we meet a variety of shady characters including rich friends with housemaids, untrustworthy mistresses, and suspicious neighbors that kept me on my toes after each new clue was discovered. Jo clearly had issues though so that also kept me guessing throughout the story. There were a few moments of “well, they would have figured this aspect out”, some of which were unbelievable, but for the most part, I was captivated! I don’t want to say much more as to give away any spoilers, but if you love a good domestic thriller, this one is a definite win.
A big thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
A big thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2026
I went to log this as Currently Reading and noticed the 3.88 rating . . .
WTActualF??????
Let’s start by saying that if a title is about a housewife or a tradwife or a housemaid or a housekeeper or any combination of them all there is a 100% chance I’ll probably attempt to get it in audiobook format from the library. That being said, while I keep my expectations real low when it comes to the popcorn thriller, the tales of the second wife trying to figure out exactly what happened to the first wife are a dime a dozen and it’s hard not to compare apples to apples and even Freida did it better than this.
I’m going to try my hardest not to spoil anything, but I simply could not get over the glaring issue of the main character spending half her time trying to prove her husband offed the former lady of the house and the other half either banging him (absolutely zero smexy details given if you prefer your stabbies without like me) or wondering why he didn’t want to bang her. And since you find out pretty early on exactly who the second wife is, it was real fucky for them “making love” to be even be a topic of conversation.
On the positive, the narrator was a delight and delivered exactly the frenetic reading style that should have been Jodi’s innermost thoughts.
WTActualF??????
Let’s start by saying that if a title is about a housewife or a tradwife or a housemaid or a housekeeper or any combination of them all there is a 100% chance I’ll probably attempt to get it in audiobook format from the library. That being said, while I keep my expectations real low when it comes to the popcorn thriller, the tales of the second wife trying to figure out exactly what happened to the first wife are a dime a dozen and it’s hard not to compare apples to apples and even Freida did it better than this.
I’m going to try my hardest not to spoil anything, but I simply could not get over the glaring issue of the main character spending half her time trying to prove her husband offed the former lady of the house and the other half either banging him (absolutely zero smexy details given if you prefer your stabbies without like me) or wondering why he didn’t want to bang her. And since you find out pretty early on exactly who the second wife is, it was real fucky for them “making love” to be even be a topic of conversation.
On the positive, the narrator was a delight and delivered exactly the frenetic reading style that should have been Jodi’s innermost thoughts.
July 20, 2026
This was a fun popcorn thriller with reveals that start right in the first few chapters, I think that was my favourite thing about this book, the reveals started straight away and the plot as a whole was so easy to follow.
After a world wind romance Jody marries Roy and lives in the house her used to share with his late ex wife Deb. She is constantly in the shadow of his wife, it’s the same house, they same housekeeper, even the friends that come around are Debs friends but maybe for Jody that’s ok, because maybe she has her own agenda for being there.
This was your typical fast paced pop corn thriller with sharp wit, short chapters and clever twists. I have listened to a few books now by this author and Iv enjoyed all of them.
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