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New Hope #2
The Replacement Wife
From the bestselling author of The Social Affair comes a new riveting, powerful psychological thriller which offers a savage look into a utopian cultish society where beauty and perfection are valued at all costs.
For readers of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins, The Replacement Wife offers a peek into the lives of a married couple up against impossible odds and the notion that history has a way of repeating itself.
Statistically speaking, fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce. What are the odds for murder?
Widower Tom Anderson is a savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Problem is, one is a lonely number. Thankfully, he solved for X by finding the perfect woman. It wasn't easy. Tom is very specific. He has to be.
Having checked 'find trophy wife' off his list, life was moving along swimmingly. Until that perfect woman let it slip--she has a past. One she kept hidden, almost perfectly.
Sure, she lied--she fudged the numbers. Most women do.
Now, Tom has buyers' remorse and according to cult rules only two options: get rid of her--or single-handedly erase her past.
She's a liar. But she does keep house well. And she makes a mean lasagna.
Decisions, decisions.
Razor-sharp and utterly gripping, this electrifying story explores the lengths one will go in the pursuit of perfection, little white lies that can turn lethal, and the danger lurking behind the smiles of those we trust most.
For readers of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins, The Replacement Wife offers a peek into the lives of a married couple up against impossible odds and the notion that history has a way of repeating itself.
Statistically speaking, fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce. What are the odds for murder?
Widower Tom Anderson is a savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Problem is, one is a lonely number. Thankfully, he solved for X by finding the perfect woman. It wasn't easy. Tom is very specific. He has to be.
Having checked 'find trophy wife' off his list, life was moving along swimmingly. Until that perfect woman let it slip--she has a past. One she kept hidden, almost perfectly.
Sure, she lied--she fudged the numbers. Most women do.
Now, Tom has buyers' remorse and according to cult rules only two options: get rid of her--or single-handedly erase her past.
She's a liar. But she does keep house well. And she makes a mean lasagna.
Decisions, decisions.
Razor-sharp and utterly gripping, this electrifying story explores the lengths one will go in the pursuit of perfection, little white lies that can turn lethal, and the danger lurking behind the smiles of those we trust most.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2018
446 people are currently reading
1139 people want to read
About the author
Britney King
76 books1,621 followersGrab a drink. Settle in. I’ve got a quick story for you.
It starts, as most good stories do, with someone chasing a feeling.
Picture a Texas writer surrounded by five kids, two literary dogs, one unreasonable cat, and a partridge in a pear tree—all orbiting a household powered by caffeine, chaos, and sheer willpower.
Instead of getting into trouble in real life, she decided to invent it on the page. (Healthier for everyone. Mostly.)
She didn’t set out to write the perfect thriller, but she has been chasing a certain feeling for years—chasing the perfect story.
The kind that makes you miss your exit, burn your dinner, or stay up later than you meant to.
The kind that makes a reader say “just one more chapter” and lie to themselves beautifully.
Some writers chase awards.
Britney chases that feeling.
You might call it persistence.
She calls it passion—the only real secret ingredient behind thirty-plus books and counting.
Always reaching for whatever that elusive green-light moment is.
She hasn’t caught it yet.
But that’s half the fun.
You can find Britney online here:
Website ➜ https://britneyking.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/BritneyKingA...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@britneyking_
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/britneyking_/
BookBub ➜ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/britn...
Newsletter ➜ https://britneyking.com/newsletter/
It starts, as most good stories do, with someone chasing a feeling.
Picture a Texas writer surrounded by five kids, two literary dogs, one unreasonable cat, and a partridge in a pear tree—all orbiting a household powered by caffeine, chaos, and sheer willpower.
Instead of getting into trouble in real life, she decided to invent it on the page. (Healthier for everyone. Mostly.)
She didn’t set out to write the perfect thriller, but she has been chasing a certain feeling for years—chasing the perfect story.
The kind that makes you miss your exit, burn your dinner, or stay up later than you meant to.
The kind that makes a reader say “just one more chapter” and lie to themselves beautifully.
Some writers chase awards.
Britney chases that feeling.
You might call it persistence.
She calls it passion—the only real secret ingredient behind thirty-plus books and counting.
Always reaching for whatever that elusive green-light moment is.
She hasn’t caught it yet.
But that’s half the fun.
You can find Britney online here:
Website ➜ https://britneyking.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/BritneyKingA...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@britneyking_
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/britneyking_/
BookBub ➜ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/britn...
Newsletter ➜ https://britneyking.com/newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 11, 2018
4.5 STARS
Before I get started, I'd like to point out one thing. While this *technically* can be read as a standalone, I would urge you to pick up and read The Social Affair first in an attempt to introduce you to the New Hope world and the backstory into a few of the characters mentioned in The Replacement Wife. Besides, it was just an all around awesome read, so duh. Read it first. But also, read this one too. Ok, now that we have that clear, let's move on.
I feel like books written by Britney King should come with a warning-open only when you have a chance to devour in one sitting. They're that good. I have struggled writing reviews for all three of King's books that I have read (to date), not because they're problematic or flawed, but because they are so twisty and compulsive that I'm grinding my teeth in fear of ruining even the slightest surprise for a future reader. Her blurbs are relatively vague, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, which is EXACTLY how they should be. No detail is included that could spoil the reader, but the foreshadowing that you're able to see after finishing the novel is mind blowing. If you haven't read TSA yet, I would recommend you stop reading my review here and come back to it after you've done so. If you are ready to start TRW, you still should stop here and just go start the book. ;)
I love that we get to revisit many of the same characters in this book that we did in TSA, but with a new focus on the supporting cast from the previous novel. This trend that King has of connecting all of her books through various character spotlights is BRILLIANT! I wish more authors would do this, because I can hardly handle the amount of suspense and connectivity the reader feels not only in the surprises they will find for the book they are reading, but in the anticipation of the future novels as well. GENIUS!
Sorry, I know you're disappointed that you're not getting any details from me on this one, but tough titty. You'll thank me later, I promise! All you need to know is 1) Read The Social Affair first and 2) Follow it up by immediately reading The Replacement Wife. Highly recommended to those who enjoy novels of gluttonous suspense peppered with trending topics and relevant media.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy for review.
Before I get started, I'd like to point out one thing. While this *technically* can be read as a standalone, I would urge you to pick up and read The Social Affair first in an attempt to introduce you to the New Hope world and the backstory into a few of the characters mentioned in The Replacement Wife. Besides, it was just an all around awesome read, so duh. Read it first. But also, read this one too. Ok, now that we have that clear, let's move on.
I feel like books written by Britney King should come with a warning-open only when you have a chance to devour in one sitting. They're that good. I have struggled writing reviews for all three of King's books that I have read (to date), not because they're problematic or flawed, but because they are so twisty and compulsive that I'm grinding my teeth in fear of ruining even the slightest surprise for a future reader. Her blurbs are relatively vague, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, which is EXACTLY how they should be. No detail is included that could spoil the reader, but the foreshadowing that you're able to see after finishing the novel is mind blowing. If you haven't read TSA yet, I would recommend you stop reading my review here and come back to it after you've done so. If you are ready to start TRW, you still should stop here and just go start the book. ;)
I love that we get to revisit many of the same characters in this book that we did in TSA, but with a new focus on the supporting cast from the previous novel. This trend that King has of connecting all of her books through various character spotlights is BRILLIANT! I wish more authors would do this, because I can hardly handle the amount of suspense and connectivity the reader feels not only in the surprises they will find for the book they are reading, but in the anticipation of the future novels as well. GENIUS!
Sorry, I know you're disappointed that you're not getting any details from me on this one, but tough titty. You'll thank me later, I promise! All you need to know is 1) Read The Social Affair first and 2) Follow it up by immediately reading The Replacement Wife. Highly recommended to those who enjoy novels of gluttonous suspense peppered with trending topics and relevant media.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy for review.
September 10, 2018
3 Stars
I’d heard so many good things about this author’s works so my expectation for this book was too high! My mistake was that I went into it blind! I didn’t read any reviews and like most of the times I didn’t read the blurb! This cult thing is not for me really! This was my first read by this author and unfortunately, the writing and plot did not impress me! But it was me not the book since most of the readers loved this book! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel and hope you enjoy it more than me!
I’d heard so many good things about this author’s works so my expectation for this book was too high! My mistake was that I went into it blind! I didn’t read any reviews and like most of the times I didn’t read the blurb! This cult thing is not for me really! This was my first read by this author and unfortunately, the writing and plot did not impress me! But it was me not the book since most of the readers loved this book! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel and hope you enjoy it more than me!
May 7, 2018
4.5/5 stars!
Britney King, you seriously slay me. I am so obsessed with this universe you have created in The Social Affair and continue with The Replacement Wife . The Replacement Wife is a continuation of the New Hope Church storyline from it's predecessor; focusing on the relationship between widower Tom Anderson and his new wife Melanie. In The Social Affair, we quickly touch upon their relationship, but now we are center stage. Melanie is a 22-year old spoiled brat who is quick to find her meal ticket and becomes intertwined in a scandalous affair with accountant Tom Anderson. After Tom's wife's death, the two are married and ready to continue their lives together—and with New Hope Church. Little does Tom know, that his perfect replacement wife is more than he bargained for.
As I've mentioned before, The Replacement Wife is considered the second book in the New Hope Church series (is that what we are calling it?), but you don't necessarily need to read The Social Affair to understand what's going on—but why would you not!? We close some loose ends from The Social Affair, and move full force into new territory. The New Hope Church is really fascinating to me, because it's totally a cult, but there's still so many questions left unsaid. Scientology has nothing on the New Hope Church, it's that crazy. I'd love to continue reading this series for as long as Britney keeps writing about it!
Melanie is definitely a more interesting character than any of the characters in this series thus far, and I truly loved to see her perspective. In natural Britney King fashion, the story flip-flops between point of views and we also get to read the story in Tom's perspective. Tom is more sympathetic than Grant Dunn from The Social Affair, and he's more sharp to catch onto the secrets and lies from both the New Hope Church and his personal life. Both Tom and Melanie were dynamic, flawed, and deeply relatable characters that made me truly immersed into the New Hope Church and their lives.
The Replacement Wife is very fast-paced—clutch the pearls and pump the brakes! There's no fluff or mundane developments throughout the story, so you will read this book relatively fast. In fact, I had to take away half a star because I felt the ending in The Replacement Wife was too rushed and therefore it read a little unbelievable to me. If we had another 50 or so pages to tie up the odds and ends of "the conflict" (I will not divulge the ending so that's what we'll call it), it would've been a more robust and promising ending (possibly).
Overall, The Replacement Wife further fascinates me with the foundation of cult and religious fundamentalists—specifically the New Hope Church—and with Britney King. I love King's writing and will continue to obsess over anything she produces.
Britney King, you seriously slay me. I am so obsessed with this universe you have created in The Social Affair and continue with The Replacement Wife . The Replacement Wife is a continuation of the New Hope Church storyline from it's predecessor; focusing on the relationship between widower Tom Anderson and his new wife Melanie. In The Social Affair, we quickly touch upon their relationship, but now we are center stage. Melanie is a 22-year old spoiled brat who is quick to find her meal ticket and becomes intertwined in a scandalous affair with accountant Tom Anderson. After Tom's wife's death, the two are married and ready to continue their lives together—and with New Hope Church. Little does Tom know, that his perfect replacement wife is more than he bargained for.
As I've mentioned before, The Replacement Wife is considered the second book in the New Hope Church series (is that what we are calling it?), but you don't necessarily need to read The Social Affair to understand what's going on—but why would you not!? We close some loose ends from The Social Affair, and move full force into new territory. The New Hope Church is really fascinating to me, because it's totally a cult, but there's still so many questions left unsaid. Scientology has nothing on the New Hope Church, it's that crazy. I'd love to continue reading this series for as long as Britney keeps writing about it!
Melanie is definitely a more interesting character than any of the characters in this series thus far, and I truly loved to see her perspective. In natural Britney King fashion, the story flip-flops between point of views and we also get to read the story in Tom's perspective. Tom is more sympathetic than Grant Dunn from The Social Affair, and he's more sharp to catch onto the secrets and lies from both the New Hope Church and his personal life. Both Tom and Melanie were dynamic, flawed, and deeply relatable characters that made me truly immersed into the New Hope Church and their lives.
The Replacement Wife is very fast-paced—clutch the pearls and pump the brakes! There's no fluff or mundane developments throughout the story, so you will read this book relatively fast. In fact, I had to take away half a star because I felt the ending in The Replacement Wife was too rushed and therefore it read a little unbelievable to me. If we had another 50 or so pages to tie up the odds and ends of "the conflict" (I will not divulge the ending so that's what we'll call it), it would've been a more robust and promising ending (possibly).
Overall, The Replacement Wife further fascinates me with the foundation of cult and religious fundamentalists—specifically the New Hope Church—and with Britney King. I love King's writing and will continue to obsess over anything she produces.
May 8, 2018
After losing his wife, Tom needs a replacement. He is, after all, second in command of the New Hope church, and it wouldn’t do well to remain single. After a chance encounter on the street and a second meeting at a bar, Tom thinks he’s found his perfect trophy wife. He quickly marries the young, beautiful, Melanie, and is sure he can mold her into the perfect stepford wife. Little does he know, Mel is a liar. She has a past that she’s kept hidden from him, and when it comes out, his world is shaken. Can he move forward with Mel, or does she need to be disposed of?
After reading The Social Affair by the same author, I was so intrigued about the world of New Hope that Britney King had created. I was fascinated by the cult-like aspect of it, and wanted more more more, so when she announced that The Replacement Wife would be set in the same world and focused on two of the supporting characters from The Social Affair, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! I flew through the book in two sittings, and was not disappointed!
The Replacement Wife immediately engages the reader, and I was hooked from the very beginning – I was dying to find out what events took place that led up to the prologue. The book was fast paced and moved quickly, so it was easy to fly through. Britney King’s writing is phenomenal, and makes it easy for the reader to binge read the book to find out more. She has a great way of moving the story forward without dragging things out, while still managing to keep an aspect of suspense.
I couldn’t wait to see how the book ended, and the ending was better than I could have ever predicted! King brilliantly wove a story of two flawed, unreliable, characters that led to an explosive ending that I didn’t see coming. I was thrilled by the end of the book, and really enjoyed the fact that she left the end a little open so the reader can imagine what comes next.
If you read and loved The Social Affair, you need to read this one! It was so interesting to see “behind the scenes” of New Hope, which we got to see the tip of the iceberg of in The Social Affair. While The Replacement Wife can be read as a standalone, I’d still recommend reading The Social Affair first, because it sets up a few backstories that are mentioned throughout this book that will help you put all of the pieces together.
All in all, this was a big 5 star read for me! I can’t find much fault with this book, and it’s been one of my favorite reads of the year so far! Thank you to Britney King for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review!
After reading The Social Affair by the same author, I was so intrigued about the world of New Hope that Britney King had created. I was fascinated by the cult-like aspect of it, and wanted more more more, so when she announced that The Replacement Wife would be set in the same world and focused on two of the supporting characters from The Social Affair, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! I flew through the book in two sittings, and was not disappointed!
The Replacement Wife immediately engages the reader, and I was hooked from the very beginning – I was dying to find out what events took place that led up to the prologue. The book was fast paced and moved quickly, so it was easy to fly through. Britney King’s writing is phenomenal, and makes it easy for the reader to binge read the book to find out more. She has a great way of moving the story forward without dragging things out, while still managing to keep an aspect of suspense.
I couldn’t wait to see how the book ended, and the ending was better than I could have ever predicted! King brilliantly wove a story of two flawed, unreliable, characters that led to an explosive ending that I didn’t see coming. I was thrilled by the end of the book, and really enjoyed the fact that she left the end a little open so the reader can imagine what comes next.
If you read and loved The Social Affair, you need to read this one! It was so interesting to see “behind the scenes” of New Hope, which we got to see the tip of the iceberg of in The Social Affair. While The Replacement Wife can be read as a standalone, I’d still recommend reading The Social Affair first, because it sets up a few backstories that are mentioned throughout this book that will help you put all of the pieces together.
All in all, this was a big 5 star read for me! I can’t find much fault with this book, and it’s been one of my favorite reads of the year so far! Thank you to Britney King for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review!
May 10, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Britney King does it again with The Replacement Wife! I read The Social Affair back in January and was a big fan of it, but it was nice to get the bit of backstory that The Replacement Wife provides. This book is basically an extension of The Social Affair, and I wouldn't read it before reading that one. This is a good standalone, but might spoil a couple of things for you if you read it first.
This was another page-turner/binge read for me. It alternates between Mel (Melanie) and Tom's perspectives which is something I always enjoy. We get to learn a lot about Tom's backstory and his role within the cult as their accountant, but also a lot about Mel and her personality.
I did think reading from Tom's perspective was a little dull at times, but Mel's never was. Reading her parts made me snicker a lot because she's quite the strong personality; no matter what the rest of the cult would like to believe.
I thought the writing was very fluid and although the end was a little crazy, it didn't really bug me. However, it may seem a little (or a lot) unbelievable for some people.
Final Thought: I'm finding that King is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I really want to read more from her. Her books always seem to be fast-paced and unique, and The Replacement Wife was no exception. If you loved The Social Affair (or even if you didn't), I think you are going to enjoy this one. It's a good choice if you are looking for something you can read in a day as well.
The Replacement Wife in 3-ish words: Binge-Worthy, Concise & Daring
Britney King does it again with The Replacement Wife! I read The Social Affair back in January and was a big fan of it, but it was nice to get the bit of backstory that The Replacement Wife provides. This book is basically an extension of The Social Affair, and I wouldn't read it before reading that one. This is a good standalone, but might spoil a couple of things for you if you read it first.
This was another page-turner/binge read for me. It alternates between Mel (Melanie) and Tom's perspectives which is something I always enjoy. We get to learn a lot about Tom's backstory and his role within the cult as their accountant, but also a lot about Mel and her personality.
I did think reading from Tom's perspective was a little dull at times, but Mel's never was. Reading her parts made me snicker a lot because she's quite the strong personality; no matter what the rest of the cult would like to believe.
I thought the writing was very fluid and although the end was a little crazy, it didn't really bug me. However, it may seem a little (or a lot) unbelievable for some people.
Final Thought: I'm finding that King is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I really want to read more from her. Her books always seem to be fast-paced and unique, and The Replacement Wife was no exception. If you loved The Social Affair (or even if you didn't), I think you are going to enjoy this one. It's a good choice if you are looking for something you can read in a day as well.
The Replacement Wife in 3-ish words: Binge-Worthy, Concise & Daring
May 2, 2018
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~ My heavens was this another cracking good read from this author. I really enjoyed her book THE SOCIAL AFFAIR but I LOVED this one. After I finished the previous book I was left super intrigued to learn more about the church and especially Tom, and I got that and more with this book. The writing was fantastic. It was very well paced. The plot was super engaging and kept me on my toes with the twists and turns. And that ending...LOVED IT!
~CHARACTERS~
There isn't a single likable character in this book (lol). That said, I thought each one of them was deliciously duplicitous. They were well written. They were intriguing. It was like watching a mindf-ck battle of wills.
~IN THE END~
I LOVED it! It made for a nice change of pace to step outside my usual genre of "romance" and into a well crafted psychological thriller. Fantastic writing. Interesting characters. Excellent twists and turns. What more is there to say. This one gets two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.
May 6, 2018
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
I’m not ready to die. I always thought I’d be old. I thought I’d have wrinkles and saggy skin…laugh lines well earned… Regret tastes horrible, in case you’re wondering.
I might be sick and not for the reason he thinks. That name—his dead wife’s—it’s the first four letter word, not counting work, that I actually dislike.
In my experience with organized religion, people wore fake smiles they stretched across their face. They had to grin and bear it, but they were glad when it was over so they could get back to their judging and their sinning.
Her chest heaves. It’s like she’s deflating. No need to worry, her implants will keep her afloat. I’m impressed by the way they’re so…out there.
The little boy’s face flashes in my mind. I have to admit, he was kind of cute. For a split second, I wonder what it would have been like to have kept him. You know, like finders, keepers. It must be the liquor talking.
I’m naked in a trunk. How much worse can it get? It’s like Mark Twain said, it’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.
Secrets do a lot of things. They make you exciting. They make you adventurous. They make you important. But there comes a point where having a secret without anybody knowing loses its fun. And while, maybe you don’t necessarily want to let others in on what that secret is, you at least want them to know you have one.
My Review:
I’m more than a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. The premise was chilling and the writing was more often than not compelling and shot through with brilliant observations and insight, yet there were times I grew exasperated with the storyline and characters, who were all quite vile. What a nest of vipers! I feel a considerable level of skepticism toward all organized religions and cults, but this church and their “programs” took it to a new level. And I just couldn’t get a handle on the oily Melanie, she obviously thought herself to be quite intelligent, yet she was often moronic, and almost always contemptible. Yet I couldn’t put this intriguing and tautly written book down. This was my first time reading the massively talented Brittany King – the gal has mad skills and may just be an evil genius. But I would caution her family members to tread lightly and always remain on her good side.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
I’m not ready to die. I always thought I’d be old. I thought I’d have wrinkles and saggy skin…laugh lines well earned… Regret tastes horrible, in case you’re wondering.
I might be sick and not for the reason he thinks. That name—his dead wife’s—it’s the first four letter word, not counting work, that I actually dislike.
In my experience with organized religion, people wore fake smiles they stretched across their face. They had to grin and bear it, but they were glad when it was over so they could get back to their judging and their sinning.
Her chest heaves. It’s like she’s deflating. No need to worry, her implants will keep her afloat. I’m impressed by the way they’re so…out there.
The little boy’s face flashes in my mind. I have to admit, he was kind of cute. For a split second, I wonder what it would have been like to have kept him. You know, like finders, keepers. It must be the liquor talking.
I’m naked in a trunk. How much worse can it get? It’s like Mark Twain said, it’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.
Secrets do a lot of things. They make you exciting. They make you adventurous. They make you important. But there comes a point where having a secret without anybody knowing loses its fun. And while, maybe you don’t necessarily want to let others in on what that secret is, you at least want them to know you have one.
My Review:
I’m more than a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. The premise was chilling and the writing was more often than not compelling and shot through with brilliant observations and insight, yet there were times I grew exasperated with the storyline and characters, who were all quite vile. What a nest of vipers! I feel a considerable level of skepticism toward all organized religions and cults, but this church and their “programs” took it to a new level. And I just couldn’t get a handle on the oily Melanie, she obviously thought herself to be quite intelligent, yet she was often moronic, and almost always contemptible. Yet I couldn’t put this intriguing and tautly written book down. This was my first time reading the massively talented Brittany King – the gal has mad skills and may just be an evil genius. But I would caution her family members to tread lightly and always remain on her good side.
May 6, 2018
I need to reveal this.
I have loads of this authors books. Yes, loads.
I read the books that’s waiting on my TBR pile in order of publishing (I’m often behind) blog tours and urgency. So the other books were personally bought and hauled.
That is going to change! I have just been a virgin to this author and I’m well and truly broken in.
This book has surprised me.
The bedrock series has been the books that my good friend has been urging me to read. Why didn’t I listen!
The Replacement Wife I thought I had pre ideas about but it turned into much more than I expected.
I didn’t once get bored. I didn’t once want to give up reading it. The pace of this was sometimes a bit slower than others, however it did allow me to get things sorted out in my mind.
You have chapters which are headed with a named character which is purposeful and easy to follow.
Once I got into this plot I didn’t want to escape.
The Church and it’s agenda was such a unique plot that I was kept fascinated all the way through.
Great rounded out characters.
I most definitely will be making room for more of the books I have by her.
May 9, 2018
**5 Goodreads Stars**
"The real horrors of this world are other people."
"It's not rocket science. To believe that just because they're good, everyone else is. But that's not the way the world works. There's too much history to prove otherwise."
Britney King's The Replacement Wife is the follow-up to The Social Affair, which I purchased and absolutely devoured earlier this year. If you like heady psychological thrillers that explore the intricacies of human nature - especially the darkest aspects of human behavior - this series is for you.
The two books explore the inner workings of a cult that attracts people who desire wealth and power. The cult requires men and women to go to the extreme to prove their loyalty. These extremes involve altering one's appearance, dieting to stay thin, and posting on social media to draw in followers desiring the same lavish lifestyle of the cult's followers. If cult members deviate from the rules, they are physically and emotionally punished at a "reprogramming center."
Crazy, you say? Just look at the recent news headlines this past two weeks, which involved famous actresses in a sex cult. These actresses posted attractive pictures of their lifestyles on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in order to lure people, mostly young women, into their cult. The women in the cult were branded with the name of their male guru and forced to perform sexual acts with him. Yes, it can happen, and King provides a compelling narrative that explains the psychology of how it can happen.
Why would anyone let themselves be subjected to such abject horror and torture just to belong?
The Replacement Wife is told from the perspectives of Melanie and Tom, both of whom seek money, power, and, above all else, control over others. Melanie has a chance encounter with Tom when they bump into each other on the street. Melanie has just been booted out of her wealthy family's mansion and told to figure out life on her own. Thrust into the world with few skills other than the ability to manipulate others, Melanie immediately sees Tom - an older but attractive businessman - as a target. But there's one big problem: he's married. For Melanie, that's just a minor detail.
She pursues him at a bar and finds that he is game. An affair comes easy to them, and soon Melanie has weaseled her way into Tom's life. Tom's wife, June, fades out of the picture after she passes away due to a botched plastic surgery, paving the way for Melanie to take over Tom's life (and, more importantly to Melanie, finances).
Little does Melanie know that Tom is also manipulating her. Soon she realizes that she has been played for a fool. She is enmeshed in Tom's cult, which has sought to reprogram her and force her to comply or else.
This a dark twisty thriller that reveals the lengths at which people will go to belong to a community and to wield power over others. King has crafted some deeply disturbing characters who clearly have counterparts in real life as we have seen in the news headlines. Yet these characters still have likable and relatable traits...or perhaps her characters are just masterful manipulators, drawing the reader into their lair of lies and deceit. King's prose is masterful; there are so many fantastic quotable parts of the book that truly capture the depths of human nature.
I highly recommend King's books if you are a fan of thrillers, mysteries, suspense, or psychological thrillers. I really could not put either of her books in this series down - so you are warned that you may spend all night reading them! I really hope there is another book in this series, because you can bet I'm reading it! Thank you to Britney King for a copy of The Replacement Wife!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
"The real horrors of this world are other people."
"It's not rocket science. To believe that just because they're good, everyone else is. But that's not the way the world works. There's too much history to prove otherwise."
Britney King's The Replacement Wife is the follow-up to The Social Affair, which I purchased and absolutely devoured earlier this year. If you like heady psychological thrillers that explore the intricacies of human nature - especially the darkest aspects of human behavior - this series is for you.
The two books explore the inner workings of a cult that attracts people who desire wealth and power. The cult requires men and women to go to the extreme to prove their loyalty. These extremes involve altering one's appearance, dieting to stay thin, and posting on social media to draw in followers desiring the same lavish lifestyle of the cult's followers. If cult members deviate from the rules, they are physically and emotionally punished at a "reprogramming center."
Crazy, you say? Just look at the recent news headlines this past two weeks, which involved famous actresses in a sex cult. These actresses posted attractive pictures of their lifestyles on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in order to lure people, mostly young women, into their cult. The women in the cult were branded with the name of their male guru and forced to perform sexual acts with him. Yes, it can happen, and King provides a compelling narrative that explains the psychology of how it can happen.
Why would anyone let themselves be subjected to such abject horror and torture just to belong?
The Replacement Wife is told from the perspectives of Melanie and Tom, both of whom seek money, power, and, above all else, control over others. Melanie has a chance encounter with Tom when they bump into each other on the street. Melanie has just been booted out of her wealthy family's mansion and told to figure out life on her own. Thrust into the world with few skills other than the ability to manipulate others, Melanie immediately sees Tom - an older but attractive businessman - as a target. But there's one big problem: he's married. For Melanie, that's just a minor detail.
She pursues him at a bar and finds that he is game. An affair comes easy to them, and soon Melanie has weaseled her way into Tom's life. Tom's wife, June, fades out of the picture after she passes away due to a botched plastic surgery, paving the way for Melanie to take over Tom's life (and, more importantly to Melanie, finances).
Little does Melanie know that Tom is also manipulating her. Soon she realizes that she has been played for a fool. She is enmeshed in Tom's cult, which has sought to reprogram her and force her to comply or else.
This a dark twisty thriller that reveals the lengths at which people will go to belong to a community and to wield power over others. King has crafted some deeply disturbing characters who clearly have counterparts in real life as we have seen in the news headlines. Yet these characters still have likable and relatable traits...or perhaps her characters are just masterful manipulators, drawing the reader into their lair of lies and deceit. King's prose is masterful; there are so many fantastic quotable parts of the book that truly capture the depths of human nature.
I highly recommend King's books if you are a fan of thrillers, mysteries, suspense, or psychological thrillers. I really could not put either of her books in this series down - so you are warned that you may spend all night reading them! I really hope there is another book in this series, because you can bet I'm reading it! Thank you to Britney King for a copy of The Replacement Wife!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
May 11, 2018
You may remember that at the beginning of the year I read my first Britney King book, The Social Affair so when I heard her latest book was set in the same world AND explored the cult like church, New Hope I was beyond excited! I’ve had a long fascination with anything cult related and let me tell you, the one depicted here was crazy interesting. How people buy into this sort of thing blows my mind, the guidelines and regulations are beyond bizarre, how can anyone think New Hope is a great place to be?!
This is told via alternating points of view, that of newlyweds Mel and Tom. He is a higher up in the church and she is unknowingly his “replacement wife”. Both are devious and manipulative, a sure fire way to keep the reader on their toes, who can you trust?! Are they both insane? What are their separate objectives?! SO MANY QUESTIONS, I love it and never was sure what to think from one minute to the next.
This had the same hip vibe that TSA had, there is something current about King’s writing style and plotting that just works so well for me. There is some serious depth here as well, plenty to contemplate and think about later and of course there are some surprises along the way. Make sure you read TSA first, and go ahead and grab this one at the same time because you’ll wanna read both. Bonus points because both books are quick reads, perfect to binge on over a weekend.
The Replacement Wife in three words: Fast, Absorbing and Bold.
This is told via alternating points of view, that of newlyweds Mel and Tom. He is a higher up in the church and she is unknowingly his “replacement wife”. Both are devious and manipulative, a sure fire way to keep the reader on their toes, who can you trust?! Are they both insane? What are their separate objectives?! SO MANY QUESTIONS, I love it and never was sure what to think from one minute to the next.
This had the same hip vibe that TSA had, there is something current about King’s writing style and plotting that just works so well for me. There is some serious depth here as well, plenty to contemplate and think about later and of course there are some surprises along the way. Make sure you read TSA first, and go ahead and grab this one at the same time because you’ll wanna read both. Bonus points because both books are quick reads, perfect to binge on over a weekend.
The Replacement Wife in three words: Fast, Absorbing and Bold.
March 4, 2020
After LOVING the author’s latest release ‘Kill Sleep Repeat’, I purchased this title.
The premise intrigued me to no end and I was anticipating another fabulous read.
Maybe my expectations were too high or I should have read The Social Affair first, but this wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped. The plot was great but it didn’t have the same flow and sharpness. In addition the central protagonist was challenging to root for being a spoiled rich brat.
There were some nice twists and a satisfying ending. I’ll definitely read more of Britney King’s work.
The premise intrigued me to no end and I was anticipating another fabulous read.
Maybe my expectations were too high or I should have read The Social Affair first, but this wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped. The plot was great but it didn’t have the same flow and sharpness. In addition the central protagonist was challenging to root for being a spoiled rich brat.
There were some nice twists and a satisfying ending. I’ll definitely read more of Britney King’s work.
September 4, 2018
Release Date: May 3, 2018
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Actual Rating: 5 stars
And here we have another excellent thriller from Britney King. Last year I snagged a copy of The Social Affair as a few blogging friends had recommended it and since then I have been utterly HOOKED. The Social Affair takes place in the same town that this one does, and while it each book can stand completely on their own, I do recommend reading the Social Affair first as things that happened in THAT book are talked about in THIS one. Again, it's not necessary in order to enjoy this one fully, but I think readers will like the way the two come together. Anyway, this book (and it's predecessor) is original, taught with tension, and compulsively readable. It gives readers an in depth look at a cult-like society where beauty and perfection are valued at all costs, and following the rules will save your life. Britney King gives her readers the best twists and turns and an ending that you won't see coming! I was shocked with how everything unfolded in the end and truly excited with how things were left. I hope she continues books that take place in this community, because I simply cannot resist them!
If you are looking for a smart, intriguing, and twisted domestic thriller then I highly recommend this one. Britney King is soon to be up there with the bigger name authors like Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, and Paula Hawkins!
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Actual Rating: 5 stars
And here we have another excellent thriller from Britney King. Last year I snagged a copy of The Social Affair as a few blogging friends had recommended it and since then I have been utterly HOOKED. The Social Affair takes place in the same town that this one does, and while it each book can stand completely on their own, I do recommend reading the Social Affair first as things that happened in THAT book are talked about in THIS one. Again, it's not necessary in order to enjoy this one fully, but I think readers will like the way the two come together. Anyway, this book (and it's predecessor) is original, taught with tension, and compulsively readable. It gives readers an in depth look at a cult-like society where beauty and perfection are valued at all costs, and following the rules will save your life. Britney King gives her readers the best twists and turns and an ending that you won't see coming! I was shocked with how everything unfolded in the end and truly excited with how things were left. I hope she continues books that take place in this community, because I simply cannot resist them!
If you are looking for a smart, intriguing, and twisted domestic thriller then I highly recommend this one. Britney King is soon to be up there with the bigger name authors like Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, and Paula Hawkins!
June 25, 2020
"Let's say you are at a stoplight and in the car next to you is a girl-the words 'about to die' stamped on her forehead, the word 'doomed' written all over her-and let's pretend that girl is me."
The Replacement Wife
by Britney King
I have discovered Brittney King's books and I doubt I will ever be the same again.
I just finished "The Social Network" last week and in my review of that great story, I expressed the hope she'd write more about the creepy Stepford cult. I had no way of knowing..she already had!
The replacement wife is that book. And it's another winner.
So why just a three? Because I gave Social Network a four and I like that one better. This one was wild and unpredictable ..but had a but to much internal speak for me.
What I mean by that is we, the reader, get so much of Mel's thought process. Tom's too. I some times like that but more often then not, I do not like the "telling before showing" way of doing things.
I found the book very confusing and hard to follow and frankly..Mel's internal musings brought t he book down a bit on the ratings scale for me.
Do not get me wrong. Am thrilled she wrote a follow up. I hope she writes a follow up to the follow up because I cannot get enough of this creepy group.
But maybe with less internal talking and more in depth conversations? Also, for some reason it was just so hard to follow. And hard to get into because Mel isn't a character I could feel for. I would like a character or two I actually like. Being inside Mel's head was like being in the head of a very weary and cynical old soul with no feeling for anyone or anything. So it is hard to think of her as a damsel in distress. And there is a tiny bit of animal torture and any animal torture is to much animal torture in my book. That gets an automatic star taken off.
END SPOILER:
How can she fall i n love if she can not feel?
Regardless...the atmosphere is sensational. She leaves one wanting more. I want to know what will happen. Please let there be a book three and who knows maybe there already is.
I do suggest reading The Social Network first. It will make more sense.
3.5 stars. I do really like her books.
The Replacement Wife
by Britney King
I have discovered Brittney King's books and I doubt I will ever be the same again.
I just finished "The Social Network" last week and in my review of that great story, I expressed the hope she'd write more about the creepy Stepford cult. I had no way of knowing..she already had!
The replacement wife is that book. And it's another winner.
So why just a three? Because I gave Social Network a four and I like that one better. This one was wild and unpredictable ..but had a but to much internal speak for me.
What I mean by that is we, the reader, get so much of Mel's thought process. Tom's too. I some times like that but more often then not, I do not like the "telling before showing" way of doing things.
I found the book very confusing and hard to follow and frankly..Mel's internal musings brought t he book down a bit on the ratings scale for me.
Do not get me wrong. Am thrilled she wrote a follow up. I hope she writes a follow up to the follow up because I cannot get enough of this creepy group.
But maybe with less internal talking and more in depth conversations? Also, for some reason it was just so hard to follow. And hard to get into because Mel isn't a character I could feel for. I would like a character or two I actually like. Being inside Mel's head was like being in the head of a very weary and cynical old soul with no feeling for anyone or anything. So it is hard to think of her as a damsel in distress. And there is a tiny bit of animal torture and any animal torture is to much animal torture in my book. That gets an automatic star taken off.
END SPOILER:
How can she fall i n love if she can not feel?
Regardless...the atmosphere is sensational. She leaves one wanting more. I want to know what will happen. Please let there be a book three and who knows maybe there already is.
I do suggest reading The Social Network first. It will make more sense.
3.5 stars. I do really like her books.
May 6, 2018
Britney King is one of my favorite people and she knows how to tell a story! I'm so happy to be back in the same universe as The Social Affair as she brings us a new perspective in the church/cult community. She's bringing all the Stepford Wives vibes to this follow-up and all of these characters are SO screwed up... and I LOVE it!
She references some characters from The Social Affair but this can absolutely be read as a standalone. I love references to social media, in this case InstaLook, that shows how what is presented to the world is not always a true telling of what's happening behind the screen. What you see is most definitely not what you get in this cultish church where appearances are EVERYTHING.
I love the direction this book went. The ending was a bit out there but I always love that in a book. I did feel it was slightly off kilter in how "easy" things turned out for a certain character and I NEED TO KNOW MORE... and I'm sure we will get it as I KNOW King has more coming our way.
Cult type books always fascinate me and to see how easy it is to get in but how hard it is to get out is a psychological ride I'm always fastening my seat belt for. Take me away! But please, please do NOT let me wake up to rejuvenation! 😉
Stick your thumb out, hitch hike your way into this seedy, "perfect" world where you need to watch everything that you do because trust me, SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING!
She references some characters from The Social Affair but this can absolutely be read as a standalone. I love references to social media, in this case InstaLook, that shows how what is presented to the world is not always a true telling of what's happening behind the screen. What you see is most definitely not what you get in this cultish church where appearances are EVERYTHING.
I love the direction this book went. The ending was a bit out there but I always love that in a book. I did feel it was slightly off kilter in how "easy" things turned out for a certain character and I NEED TO KNOW MORE... and I'm sure we will get it as I KNOW King has more coming our way.
Cult type books always fascinate me and to see how easy it is to get in but how hard it is to get out is a psychological ride I'm always fastening my seat belt for. Take me away! But please, please do NOT let me wake up to rejuvenation! 😉
Stick your thumb out, hitch hike your way into this seedy, "perfect" world where you need to watch everything that you do because trust me, SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING!
May 10, 2018
I was so excited to read another Britney King book. Since reading Bedrock I have loved each of her books and this one lived up to my expectations.
The Replacement Wife is a follow on to The Social Affair but in my opinion it can be read as a standalone (although The Social Affair is so good if I think you should read it).
I really should buddy read this authors books. So many times I wanted to talk about parts of this book while reading it. I felt as if I had whiplash. My head kept saying what am I reading. Totally messed with my head.
Like previous books by this author I’m not gonna go into the storyline. You really do need to jump in blind and drown in the story.
This truly is a faultless read. I sat down in the sun this morning and apart from grabbing a drink I read this in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down.
I’m so excited to see what else this author is going to write.
The Replacement Wife is a follow on to The Social Affair but in my opinion it can be read as a standalone (although The Social Affair is so good if I think you should read it).
I really should buddy read this authors books. So many times I wanted to talk about parts of this book while reading it. I felt as if I had whiplash. My head kept saying what am I reading. Totally messed with my head.
Like previous books by this author I’m not gonna go into the storyline. You really do need to jump in blind and drown in the story.
This truly is a faultless read. I sat down in the sun this morning and apart from grabbing a drink I read this in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down.
I’m so excited to see what else this author is going to write.
May 8, 2018
This was an enjoyable read by Britney King. I loved the whole cult aspect and I loved how Melanie was one step ahead. The story was told in dual point of view and I loved seeing thoughts from both Melanie and Tom. I enjoyed each of their backstory as well. Neither of them are what they seem in my opinion.
This was a fast paced story and the plot intrigued me but I felt the ending was a little bit rushed and would have liked more once we got to the twist. The last few chapters had me glued to the edge of my kindle. I hope we get a sequel in the future as I feel Melanie is just getting started!
“Received a review copy and I voluntarily provided an honest review."
This was a fast paced story and the plot intrigued me but I felt the ending was a little bit rushed and would have liked more once we got to the twist. The last few chapters had me glued to the edge of my kindle. I hope we get a sequel in the future as I feel Melanie is just getting started!
“Received a review copy and I voluntarily provided an honest review."
May 7, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by Britney King and I will definitely be picking more of them up! I really enjoyed THE REPLACEMENT WIFE. It has all of the elements that I love in a psychological thriller. I flew through this book! I just had to know what was going to happen.
I think this book has some of the same characters that are in The Social Affair, which is another book by King, but I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything even thought I haven’t read The Social Affair yet (it’s definitely on my list to read though). I thought all of the characters were well developed and they were all equally messed up in the head....which is an excellent element for a psychological thriller! The story includes a cult with some incredibly ridiculous rules, or an “agreement” as it’s called in the book, for women. The are absolutely horrifying and unrealistic yet the women always seem to fall into line.
This book made my skin crawl a couple of times when reading about the “rejuvenation” Center that the women would be sent to if they didn’t comply with the agreement. But again, this is a good thing for a psychological thriller! I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good, sinister read! I will be picking up The Social Affair very, very soon.
I think this book has some of the same characters that are in The Social Affair, which is another book by King, but I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything even thought I haven’t read The Social Affair yet (it’s definitely on my list to read though). I thought all of the characters were well developed and they were all equally messed up in the head....which is an excellent element for a psychological thriller! The story includes a cult with some incredibly ridiculous rules, or an “agreement” as it’s called in the book, for women. The are absolutely horrifying and unrealistic yet the women always seem to fall into line.
This book made my skin crawl a couple of times when reading about the “rejuvenation” Center that the women would be sent to if they didn’t comply with the agreement. But again, this is a good thing for a psychological thriller! I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good, sinister read! I will be picking up The Social Affair very, very soon.
May 8, 2018
"The real horrors of this world are other people."
The Replacement Wife is a follow-up to The Social Affair, but it could technically be read as a standalone (I don't recommend doing that if you're planning on reading TSA, though, because some things would be spoiled).
This book has a fantastic opening that hooks you immediately. I was excited to see what was going to happen, and I was looking forward to getting the background information on the cult that wasn't given in TSA.
I think I would have enjoyed TSA more if this book would have been re-worked & published first. I'm not a huge fan of reading a book and having all the background information be in the second book. Because of this, the series as a whole feels very disjointed, and things feel out of order. I liked TRW better than TSA because it felt more cohesive & held the information that was lacking in TSA.
This book is very Stepford-esque, and I definitely had fun reading it...up until the ending. It was very far-fetched / over-the-top. It did set up an interesting premise for the next book, but the wrap-up just sort of went off the deep end.
Besides that, everything else was good. The set-up for the cult was intriguing, and I was invested in the story. I think I will probably continue on with the third book to see where it goes.
The Replacement Wife is a follow-up to The Social Affair, but it could technically be read as a standalone (I don't recommend doing that if you're planning on reading TSA, though, because some things would be spoiled).
This book has a fantastic opening that hooks you immediately. I was excited to see what was going to happen, and I was looking forward to getting the background information on the cult that wasn't given in TSA.
I think I would have enjoyed TSA more if this book would have been re-worked & published first. I'm not a huge fan of reading a book and having all the background information be in the second book. Because of this, the series as a whole feels very disjointed, and things feel out of order. I liked TRW better than TSA because it felt more cohesive & held the information that was lacking in TSA.
This book is very Stepford-esque, and I definitely had fun reading it...up until the ending. It was very far-fetched / over-the-top. It did set up an interesting premise for the next book, but the wrap-up just sort of went off the deep end.
Besides that, everything else was good. The set-up for the cult was intriguing, and I was invested in the story. I think I will probably continue on with the third book to see where it goes.
May 4, 2018
I love the covers that Britney King comes out with. They really seem to encompass the mystery and intrigue of her books… and I love the mystery and intrigue in Britney King’s books! I was beyond hooked and Ms. King didn’t release me til the very last word! It’s very much the same world as The Social Affair, which I totally recommend as well, but we have some crossover with some people and issues.
I can normally plot out the book I’m reading during the first 25% of a book and I’m generally correct… I have never guessed Britney King’s books. She takes you on this mental ride that is a total mindfuck! I never see the end coming and have to sit there dumbfounded afterwards. This was one of her best storylines though! It starts off in the midst of the action and doesn’t stop! Ms. King is at the top of her game! I hope she continues to drop thes fantastic thrillers on us!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
Check out my Blog: Next Book Review
Check out my Facebook Page: Next Book Review Facebook
I can normally plot out the book I’m reading during the first 25% of a book and I’m generally correct… I have never guessed Britney King’s books. She takes you on this mental ride that is a total mindfuck! I never see the end coming and have to sit there dumbfounded afterwards. This was one of her best storylines though! It starts off in the midst of the action and doesn’t stop! Ms. King is at the top of her game! I hope she continues to drop thes fantastic thrillers on us!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
Check out my Blog: Next Book Review
Check out my Facebook Page: Next Book Review Facebook
May 11, 2018
I am very familiar with Britney King and her thrillers, so for me to grab The Replacement Wife was a no brainer and I am was very excited to begin reading.
.
“Have dinner with me.”
Is that your line?”
“Not exactly”
What is then”?
His eyes were on mine. There was hesitation in what he said next. “It’s an invitation to make the biggest mistake of your life.”
.
Was it her arrogance or was she naive when she accepted?
.
Britney King has the ability to hook me from the beginning. She is a master at using misdirection, leading me down paths that I never see coming. I think I know where I’m going, but as I turn the pages, I am caught by surprise, over and over again.
.
Melanie’s parents had money and she lived by the spoiled girl ethic…until…her parents had enough. She’s not like you or I. She thinks she wants the white picket fence life, but she is a master at fooling herself. She will learn what she really desires and goes after it with a vengeance.
.
This is one of those stories that read like true crime for me. It raises all kinds of questions, but no on has the right to play God, doling out their own form of punishment.
.
The Church…I almost consider it a character. Is it a cult? Uption Village, better known as The Village brought to mind the Stepford Wives…on steroids.
.
Britney King has the ability to put her hooks in me from the opening pages, reeling me in word by word, hook, line and sinker! She has a way of lulling me into complacency, like the calm before the storm, then throwing something horrid and twisted at me. I LOVE IT! She’s fills her books with jaw dropping surprises, unforeseen, amazing and delighting this bookaholic. I love when I cannot figure out where the author is taking me, delighting me with their wild and wicked imagination, and Britney does that magnificently.
The Replacement Wife by Britney King will thrill and delight all suspense lovers . If you want to wowed and amazed, this is an author you will want on your reading list. She has some freebies available when you sign up on her web page, so you can whet your appetite.
.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Replacement Wife by Britney King.
See more at fundinmental
.
“Have dinner with me.”
Is that your line?”
“Not exactly”
What is then”?
His eyes were on mine. There was hesitation in what he said next. “It’s an invitation to make the biggest mistake of your life.”
.
Was it her arrogance or was she naive when she accepted?
.
Britney King has the ability to hook me from the beginning. She is a master at using misdirection, leading me down paths that I never see coming. I think I know where I’m going, but as I turn the pages, I am caught by surprise, over and over again.
.
Melanie’s parents had money and she lived by the spoiled girl ethic…until…her parents had enough. She’s not like you or I. She thinks she wants the white picket fence life, but she is a master at fooling herself. She will learn what she really desires and goes after it with a vengeance.
.
This is one of those stories that read like true crime for me. It raises all kinds of questions, but no on has the right to play God, doling out their own form of punishment.
.
The Church…I almost consider it a character. Is it a cult? Uption Village, better known as The Village brought to mind the Stepford Wives…on steroids.
.
Britney King has the ability to put her hooks in me from the opening pages, reeling me in word by word, hook, line and sinker! She has a way of lulling me into complacency, like the calm before the storm, then throwing something horrid and twisted at me. I LOVE IT! She’s fills her books with jaw dropping surprises, unforeseen, amazing and delighting this bookaholic. I love when I cannot figure out where the author is taking me, delighting me with their wild and wicked imagination, and Britney does that magnificently.
The Replacement Wife by Britney King will thrill and delight all suspense lovers . If you want to wowed and amazed, this is an author you will want on your reading list. She has some freebies available when you sign up on her web page, so you can whet your appetite.
.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Replacement Wife by Britney King.
See more at fundinmental
November 5, 2018
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had the pleasure of reading The Social Affair back in May and became enamored with New Hope Church. I read The Replacement Wife a few weeks before my stop on the blog tour for Speak of the Devil. I love that these books play off one another, but that they are also their own entity. I really enjoyed The Social Affair, but I absolutely LOVED and devoured The Replacement Wife! Tom and Mel have the most functional dysfunctional relationship you could imagine, and I adored Mel, which I would not have anticipated after meeting her in The Social Affair.
Britney writes some of the most badass female characters that I’ve ever encountered. While the New Hope Church books can each be read as a stand alone, I urge you to read them in order so you can fully experience and appreciate the intricate web that Britney King weaves.
I had the pleasure of reading The Social Affair back in May and became enamored with New Hope Church. I read The Replacement Wife a few weeks before my stop on the blog tour for Speak of the Devil. I love that these books play off one another, but that they are also their own entity. I really enjoyed The Social Affair, but I absolutely LOVED and devoured The Replacement Wife! Tom and Mel have the most functional dysfunctional relationship you could imagine, and I adored Mel, which I would not have anticipated after meeting her in The Social Affair.
Britney writes some of the most badass female characters that I’ve ever encountered. While the New Hope Church books can each be read as a stand alone, I urge you to read them in order so you can fully experience and appreciate the intricate web that Britney King weaves.
May 7, 2018
Anyone who pays attention to my reviews probably already expected this one because Britney King is kind of my favorite author ever these days. You can bet if she's got a new book coming out, I'm following every blog post and every tweet and salivating over the opportunity to get my hands on it. Since I've read a few of hers, I've kind of developed some specific expectations for Britney's work. Not everyone is as talented when it comes to getting into the heads of unorthodox characters as she is. Most of us are not sociopaths. That's a good thing, of course, but it also means that a lot of us just don't understand how the mind of someone like that works. What I've found most impressive in all of Britney's work, including this one, is how well she not only understands her characters, but how well she can draw readers into the heads of event he most demented serial killer. Since I've come to expect this from her, I'm not always surprised by how strangely relatable her characters are, even when they have horribly unhealthy and seriously psychologically deviant mindsets. This one surprised me, though! Both The Social Affair which, if you haven't read it, precedes this one, and The Replacement Wife have the odd feature of helping me understand the appeal of cult situations like this. She makes it easy to see how people are drawn into cult mindsets and why they stay. I also love the way that she delves into exploring what people are capable of in moments of despiration. Pretty much, Britney King is my hero and I will forever bow down to her ability to create realistic psychological thrillers.
This book made me incredibly happy in more ways than I can probably ever explain (and you might be worrying about my sanity given the content and nature of the characters, but that's okay!). To begin with, Mel's character is one that was ever so briefly introduced in the previous book, and I felt as if she was constantly blossoming and becoming deeper throughout this story. Admittedly, that growth and depth looks very different from what it might look like with more mainstream characters, but it is present and I very quickly became addicted to trying to follow her thought processes and understand her behaviors. I felt the same way about Tom. The cameo appearances of other characters, especially Jude and Kate since they're not actually from this series, was ridiculously exciting because I just love books that tie into each other! It's brilliant and I highly suggest that if you haven't read their series, you add that to your TBR, as well. I think my favorite thing about this one, though, is that even though I felt like I had come to the point of understanding Mel and Tom, the ending took me completely by surprise. I never expected things to unfold quite the way they did. Almost as unexpectedly, I'm still rooting for Mel and I can't wait to see where her story goes from here!
This book made me incredibly happy in more ways than I can probably ever explain (and you might be worrying about my sanity given the content and nature of the characters, but that's okay!). To begin with, Mel's character is one that was ever so briefly introduced in the previous book, and I felt as if she was constantly blossoming and becoming deeper throughout this story. Admittedly, that growth and depth looks very different from what it might look like with more mainstream characters, but it is present and I very quickly became addicted to trying to follow her thought processes and understand her behaviors. I felt the same way about Tom. The cameo appearances of other characters, especially Jude and Kate since they're not actually from this series, was ridiculously exciting because I just love books that tie into each other! It's brilliant and I highly suggest that if you haven't read their series, you add that to your TBR, as well. I think my favorite thing about this one, though, is that even though I felt like I had come to the point of understanding Mel and Tom, the ending took me completely by surprise. I never expected things to unfold quite the way they did. Almost as unexpectedly, I'm still rooting for Mel and I can't wait to see where her story goes from here!
May 10, 2018
Melanie is basically a spoiled brat who has been living off her parents her entire life and when they decide to cut Melanie off she is left scrambling. That is until she meets Tom, an older business man who seems to have his life together. Melanie fakes a pregnancy to get further in with Tom. But what Melanie did not plan on is that Tom is part of a "church" that believes rules should be followed and they have their own ways of dealing with those that break the rules.
The amount of lies and deception in this dark, twisted story is extraordinary. Each character seems to have ulterior motives and lies to get what they want. This concept made it difficult to keep track of who the actual victim was. At times I felt for one character and at others I felt for another. The dual POV allows the reader to see all the lies firsthand. When one of Melanie's lies comes to the surface Tom finds himself in a difficult spot. The church is requiring that either he gets rid of
Melanie or he gets rid of her past. What will happen to Melanie?
While I enjoyed this book, I do not think it was as good as The Social Affair. The premise was chilling but it lacked the intensity that I was really hoping for which is why I took away a star. I do still believe that King did an outstanding job and I do hope that more books will be on the horizon.
Thank you to Britney King for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The amount of lies and deception in this dark, twisted story is extraordinary. Each character seems to have ulterior motives and lies to get what they want. This concept made it difficult to keep track of who the actual victim was. At times I felt for one character and at others I felt for another. The dual POV allows the reader to see all the lies firsthand. When one of Melanie's lies comes to the surface Tom finds himself in a difficult spot. The church is requiring that either he gets rid of
Melanie or he gets rid of her past. What will happen to Melanie?
While I enjoyed this book, I do not think it was as good as The Social Affair. The premise was chilling but it lacked the intensity that I was really hoping for which is why I took away a star. I do still believe that King did an outstanding job and I do hope that more books will be on the horizon.
Thank you to Britney King for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 11, 2018
Thank you to the publisher and the author for senind me a free e-copy of The Replacement Wife in exchange for my review and blog tour coverage. All opinions are my own.
This novel really blew me away. I wasn't exactly sure what I should expect going into The Replacement Wife as this was the first novel I have read by Britney King but I was pleasantly surprised. Knowing that the novel is satirical, I thought perhaps it would be on the darker, more serious side. While it is definitely sinister, there is a funny and quick-witted sense of humor that makes it hard to put down. It is just so readable!
None of the characters are likeable, but that's the point. There are any number of metaphors and issues about modern times that can be found between the pages of The Replacement Wife. From gender inequality to the fake lives presented on social media, this novel said what others aren't brave enough to say.
The exclusive church and cult setting really added a suspense factor, and the mind games everyone played with each other made this very psychological. I honestly think this book could have been a little longer, there were parts that I wish had gotten a little more explanation and other parts seemed rushed. But the ended was so twisted and I was kicking myself for not seeing it coming! I feel like King left things open for a sequel and of there is one, I will be all over it! I rate this one 4 out of 5 stars.
This novel really blew me away. I wasn't exactly sure what I should expect going into The Replacement Wife as this was the first novel I have read by Britney King but I was pleasantly surprised. Knowing that the novel is satirical, I thought perhaps it would be on the darker, more serious side. While it is definitely sinister, there is a funny and quick-witted sense of humor that makes it hard to put down. It is just so readable!
None of the characters are likeable, but that's the point. There are any number of metaphors and issues about modern times that can be found between the pages of The Replacement Wife. From gender inequality to the fake lives presented on social media, this novel said what others aren't brave enough to say.
The exclusive church and cult setting really added a suspense factor, and the mind games everyone played with each other made this very psychological. I honestly think this book could have been a little longer, there were parts that I wish had gotten a little more explanation and other parts seemed rushed. But the ended was so twisted and I was kicking myself for not seeing it coming! I feel like King left things open for a sequel and of there is one, I will be all over it! I rate this one 4 out of 5 stars.
April 29, 2018
This was my first book by this author. The blurb sounded great, nice and twisted which I love, but from the start I was confused. It jumps around quite a bit throughout the entire story without any reference to the timescale your reading. The only guide you have is the rough age of the characters at the time.
The book is written from a dual POV of the 2 main characters, Tom & Melanie. Tom's life is "The Church" and that's the world if drags Melanie into, even though it's far from the life she wants.
While the storyline itself was a good one and the final twist something you never saw coming, a slow start and lots of confusion about whose role was what and the jumping around in time I was distracted and found it hard to finish. So I guess it held true to it's blurb in that sense, it was psychological and does mess with your head.
The book is written from a dual POV of the 2 main characters, Tom & Melanie. Tom's life is "The Church" and that's the world if drags Melanie into, even though it's far from the life she wants.
While the storyline itself was a good one and the final twist something you never saw coming, a slow start and lots of confusion about whose role was what and the jumping around in time I was distracted and found it hard to finish. So I guess it held true to it's blurb in that sense, it was psychological and does mess with your head.
May 9, 2018
Wow, what a shocking and twisted story this was. From the very beginning, I was drawn in. Not only was I captivated by what was happening, the story was so well written.
Unfortunately, I did not realize this was a companion novel to another book. While I still enjoyed this one, I wonder if perhaps my understanding and enjoyment would have been increased had I read that prior. That being said, the complex storyline was beyond intriguing. I also have to say that if you’re reading this story for warm and fuzzies, you aren’t going to get that. I liked that this was different from other stories I usually read.
Now that I’ve read this, I’d like to go back and read more of King’s work. I can’t even begin to imagine what else she’s come up with.
July 14, 2018
“I don’t tell him I’m thinking of starting my own channel. Or that I might name it “the most bored housewife in the world.’ He lies, so I lie. I hear that’s the way this whole marriage thing works.”
Britney King does it again and I want more! As addictive as The Social Affair, this book does not disappoint. While the main characters are briefly mentioned in The Social Affair you don’t necessarily need to read it before picking this one up.
This book satisfied my craving for more details on the New Hope Church and gave us characters that were just as crazy, if not more. I don’t know how she does it but King can craft a story that you just can’t put down. I gobbled this one up in two sittings and loved that it ended in a way I never saw coming.
I’m officially starting a Britney King cult following. Who’s in? 😉
Britney King does it again and I want more! As addictive as The Social Affair, this book does not disappoint. While the main characters are briefly mentioned in The Social Affair you don’t necessarily need to read it before picking this one up.
This book satisfied my craving for more details on the New Hope Church and gave us characters that were just as crazy, if not more. I don’t know how she does it but King can craft a story that you just can’t put down. I gobbled this one up in two sittings and loved that it ended in a way I never saw coming.
I’m officially starting a Britney King cult following. Who’s in? 😉
August 11, 2018
Britney King is the queen of creating unlikable characters. The Replacement Wife revolves around the same church cult from Social Affair. Tom is back, and he has a new wife that won't go down easy.
These are such fun books to binge read, and King so easily pulls you into the story. I simultaneously found myself despising the characters, but needing to see more from them. The cult aspect is also one I love, and I highly recommend this book.
These are such fun books to binge read, and King so easily pulls you into the story. I simultaneously found myself despising the characters, but needing to see more from them. The cult aspect is also one I love, and I highly recommend this book.
May 3, 2018
This was a captivating read. The dark secretive life of living in a cult. It had many twists and turns and it mostly kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. Will Melanie stay the Replacement Wife or be replaced herself?
May 9, 2018
Another compelling read by King. I liked that this book related to the previous but there were some details I wish I remembered. I read most of it in a day. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting more books with the nefarious New Hope church, and Melanie!
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