What do you think?
Rate this book
The Housewife
7 hours, 50 minutes
From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
Audiobook
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Natalie Barelli
12 books3,402 followersNatalie Barelli lives in Australia with her family where she is forever thinking up ways of killing people and getting away with it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,889 reviews
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
August 8, 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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium.com
instagram
facebook
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 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.
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.
August 1, 2026
This book felt like a mess - somewhere between 2-3 stars for me.
July 4, 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
“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
August 7, 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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5! THIS WAS SO GOOD! FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW
She has the perfect life. A perfect house, a perfect man. Somehow everything feels wrong. His dead wife is everywhere. A marriage becomes a suffocating trap. Imagine you marry a man of your dreams only for him to become your worst nightmare...
But here's the twist. She has secrets too.. ;)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Natalie Barelli for an early ARC.
Publication: June 30, 2026
She has the perfect life. A perfect house, a perfect man. Somehow everything feels wrong. His dead wife is everywhere. A marriage becomes a suffocating trap. Imagine you marry a man of your dreams only for him to become your worst nightmare...
But here's the twist. She has secrets too.. ;)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Natalie Barelli for an early ARC.
Publication: June 30, 2026
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.
August 5, 2026
╰┈➤ 𝟺 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
❝𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢: 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝, 𝚒𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚍.❞
July 2, 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 rn, semi-ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1776571444i/155464400._UX200_CR0,8,200,200_.jpg)
July 29, 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?”
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
July 10, 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 🖤
August 5, 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.
June 21, 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.
July 23, 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.
July 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Housewife by Natalie Barelli. This was a fast paced thriller that kept me glued to it the entire time. I was hooked right from the start. A lot of twists in this one and when you think you have it all figured out, it shifts and you're wrong! Nice short chapters and an easy, quick read. I gave this one 5 stars because it was that good! #NatalieBarelli #PoisonedPenPress
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 22, 2026
Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies with a deliciously twisty psychological thriller at its core…sign me up!!
I absolutely LOVED this audiobook 🎧 and truly didn’t want it to end.
Natalie Barelli has crafted a story packed with secrets, manipulation, betrayal, and enough neighbourhood drama that kept me completely hooked from beginning to end. Beneath the glossy facade of wealth, beautiful homes, and seemingly perfect lives lurks a web of lies that had me questioning everyone.
Jodie was such an entertaining character to follow as she took on the role of investigator, determined to uncover what really happened to her husband’s first wife. And get this? She’s not the gold-digger everyone assumes she is, and her husband isn’t quite the upstanding citizen with impeccable professional credentials that he claims to be. In fact, nothing is quite as it seems.
The story is steeped in secrets, suspicion, and deception. The tension simmered beautifully throughout, and I found myself looking for every opportunity to put my headphones back on but it was so good, I actually slowed down my listening towards the end because I simply didn’t want the story to be over 😩😩
🎙️ Karissa Vacker’s narration was absolutely fantastic! She captured the emotion, tension, and drama perfectly, bringing each character to life and making an already addictive story even more immersive.
Was every moment entirely plausible? Probably not. Did I care? Not one bit. I was far too busy enjoying the ride. 😮💨😂
If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers filled with lies, betrayal, manipulation, wealthy neighbourhood drama, and characters who keep you guessing until the very end, then this is one I would wholeheartedly recommend.
Five huge stars!!! Addictive, twisty, dramatic, and thoroughly entertaining 📚✨
A huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review. 📚🎧✨
Release date: June 30, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this audiobook 🎧 and truly didn’t want it to end.
Natalie Barelli has crafted a story packed with secrets, manipulation, betrayal, and enough neighbourhood drama that kept me completely hooked from beginning to end. Beneath the glossy facade of wealth, beautiful homes, and seemingly perfect lives lurks a web of lies that had me questioning everyone.
Jodie was such an entertaining character to follow as she took on the role of investigator, determined to uncover what really happened to her husband’s first wife. And get this? She’s not the gold-digger everyone assumes she is, and her husband isn’t quite the upstanding citizen with impeccable professional credentials that he claims to be. In fact, nothing is quite as it seems.
The story is steeped in secrets, suspicion, and deception. The tension simmered beautifully throughout, and I found myself looking for every opportunity to put my headphones back on but it was so good, I actually slowed down my listening towards the end because I simply didn’t want the story to be over 😩😩
🎙️ Karissa Vacker’s narration was absolutely fantastic! She captured the emotion, tension, and drama perfectly, bringing each character to life and making an already addictive story even more immersive.
Was every moment entirely plausible? Probably not. Did I care? Not one bit. I was far too busy enjoying the ride. 😮💨😂
If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers filled with lies, betrayal, manipulation, wealthy neighbourhood drama, and characters who keep you guessing until the very end, then this is one I would wholeheartedly recommend.
Five huge stars!!! Addictive, twisty, dramatic, and thoroughly entertaining 📚✨
A huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review. 📚🎧✨
Release date: June 30, 2026
July 6, 2026
Loved this fun and twisty popcorn 🍿 thriller by Natalie Barelli! If you like domestic thrillers with drama, rich people who behave badly, found family, snark, revenge, humor, suspense and an ending you didn’t see coming, all with a questionable narrator, then this book is for you!
I listened to this story narrated by Karissa Vacker who did a fantastic job with multiple characters. It kept my interest and never had a dull moment. At just under 8 hours at 1x speed, you can knock this out in a day!
Did I have to suspend a little bit of belief? Of course, but if you are willing to be along for the ride, you will like this one. For fans of Freida McFadden, A.R. Torre and Jeneva Rose, you will especially enjoy this book!
I listened to this story narrated by Karissa Vacker who did a fantastic job with multiple characters. It kept my interest and never had a dull moment. At just under 8 hours at 1x speed, you can knock this out in a day!
Did I have to suspend a little bit of belief? Of course, but if you are willing to be along for the ride, you will like this one. For fans of Freida McFadden, A.R. Torre and Jeneva Rose, you will especially enjoy this book!
July 14, 2026
Such a fast paced popcorn thriller that hooks you in straight away!
The story follows Jodie, who marries a wealthy Beverly Hills psychologist but soon starts to suspect he murdered his first wife. With a complicated past of her own, she’s determined to uncover the truth while trying not to let her own secrets come to light.
Jodie is such a peculiar character. She’s the perfect housewife, but her mind never stops racing. When Roy’s family and friends continue to idolise his first wife while barely acknowledging Jodie, she starts digging into the past. With everyone hiding secrets and the characters all a little shady, the suspense never lets up.
The first half had me completely glued to the pages. The second half became predictable, slightly messy, and pretty far fetched, but it was still hugely entertaining.
It definitely gave me The Housemaid by Freida McFadden vibes!
A fun, addictive popcorn thriller that’s perfect when you’re after an easy, entertaining read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story follows Jodie, who marries a wealthy Beverly Hills psychologist but soon starts to suspect he murdered his first wife. With a complicated past of her own, she’s determined to uncover the truth while trying not to let her own secrets come to light.
Jodie is such a peculiar character. She’s the perfect housewife, but her mind never stops racing. When Roy’s family and friends continue to idolise his first wife while barely acknowledging Jodie, she starts digging into the past. With everyone hiding secrets and the characters all a little shady, the suspense never lets up.
The first half had me completely glued to the pages. The second half became predictable, slightly messy, and pretty far fetched, but it was still hugely entertaining.
It definitely gave me The Housemaid by Freida McFadden vibes!
A fun, addictive popcorn thriller that’s perfect when you’re after an easy, entertaining read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 14, 2026
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
The Housewife by Natalie Barelli is a dark, psychological thriller about a woman named Jodie, who marries a famous psychologist named Dr. Roy Davies. She has the perfect house in Beverly Hills. However, her perfect life is not all it seems.
Jodie uncovers her husband’s controlling nature and suspects he was involved in his late wife's death, all while dealing with her own secrets.
I really enjoyed this novel’s dark humor and the protagonist was hard not to root for!
Go to this one blind if you read it! It was a fun one.
The Housewife by Natalie Barelli is a dark, psychological thriller about a woman named Jodie, who marries a famous psychologist named Dr. Roy Davies. She has the perfect house in Beverly Hills. However, her perfect life is not all it seems.
Jodie uncovers her husband’s controlling nature and suspects he was involved in his late wife's death, all while dealing with her own secrets.
I really enjoyed this novel’s dark humor and the protagonist was hard not to root for!
Go to this one blind if you read it! It was a fun one.
August 4, 2026
Ура, моя первая книга на английском спустя много лет!
Про художественные достоинства промолчу
Про художественные достоинства промолчу
June 24, 2026
This is pure popcorn thriller chaos in the best way.
Jodie is completely unhinged—in a way that somehow makes you keep rooting for her even when you probably shouldn’t. She’s witty, sarcastic, impulsive, and wildly unreliable, but she’s also magnetic. The kind of anti heroine you watch spiraling and think: why am I still on your side?
The tone leans darkly comedic in a way that really works. There’s a sharp edge of humor running through the tension, which keeps the story from ever feeling too heavy even when things get disturbing. It’s fast, addictive, and constantly shifting, just when you think you know what Jodie is going to do next, she does something completely unhinged instead.
Is it predictable at times? Sure. Some twists land in the “I saw that coming” category. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter because the ride is the point here. It’s messy, bold, a little over the top, and completely entertaining from start to finish.
This is the kind of thriller you read in one sitting because you need to know how far it’s willing to go.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Unreliable, morally gray narrators
* Dark domestic thrillers with obsession and control themes
* Fast paced “read in one sitting” stories
* Black comedy mixed with suspense
* Anti heroines you shouldn’t trust but can’t stop watching
Jodie is completely unhinged—in a way that somehow makes you keep rooting for her even when you probably shouldn’t. She’s witty, sarcastic, impulsive, and wildly unreliable, but she’s also magnetic. The kind of anti heroine you watch spiraling and think: why am I still on your side?
The tone leans darkly comedic in a way that really works. There’s a sharp edge of humor running through the tension, which keeps the story from ever feeling too heavy even when things get disturbing. It’s fast, addictive, and constantly shifting, just when you think you know what Jodie is going to do next, she does something completely unhinged instead.
Is it predictable at times? Sure. Some twists land in the “I saw that coming” category. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter because the ride is the point here. It’s messy, bold, a little over the top, and completely entertaining from start to finish.
This is the kind of thriller you read in one sitting because you need to know how far it’s willing to go.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Unreliable, morally gray narrators
* Dark domestic thrillers with obsession and control themes
* Fast paced “read in one sitting” stories
* Black comedy mixed with suspense
* Anti heroines you shouldn’t trust but can’t stop watching
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,889 reviews