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The Whisper
She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
Tucking her little boy Ollie into bed one night, Sarah notices his beloved teddy bear, which she bought him when he was born, is missing and in its place is a new toy given to him by her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, Laura. When she asks Ollie about it, he begins to shift uncomfortably, before whispering ‘Laura told me a big secret and she said I can never tell you’.
Sarah’s heart sinks. But when she raises her concerns, nobody wants to listen. To everyone else, Laura is the perfect stepmother and Sarah is just the jealous ex-wife. But Sarah knew the moment she met Laura she couldn’t trust her, from her overly perfect stepmother act to the way she evaded questions about her own history.
Soon Ollie is asking to spend more time with his dad and Laura, and shrinking away from Sarah. Then, when she calls to him in the garden one day, Ollie doesn’t answer back. The garden is silent. Ollie’s sandpit is empty. Ollie has disappeared.
If you love a book that keeps twisting and turning, then you’ll love My Husband’s Girlfriend – it’s guaranteed to keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Claire McGowan, Shalini Boland and Lisa Jewell.
Tucking her little boy Ollie into bed one night, Sarah notices his beloved teddy bear, which she bought him when he was born, is missing and in its place is a new toy given to him by her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, Laura. When she asks Ollie about it, he begins to shift uncomfortably, before whispering ‘Laura told me a big secret and she said I can never tell you’.
Sarah’s heart sinks. But when she raises her concerns, nobody wants to listen. To everyone else, Laura is the perfect stepmother and Sarah is just the jealous ex-wife. But Sarah knew the moment she met Laura she couldn’t trust her, from her overly perfect stepmother act to the way she evaded questions about her own history.
Soon Ollie is asking to spend more time with his dad and Laura, and shrinking away from Sarah. Then, when she calls to him in the garden one day, Ollie doesn’t answer back. The garden is silent. Ollie’s sandpit is empty. Ollie has disappeared.
If you love a book that keeps twisting and turning, then you’ll love My Husband’s Girlfriend – it’s guaranteed to keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Claire McGowan, Shalini Boland and Lisa Jewell.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2021
1178 people are currently reading
1690 people want to read
About the author
Sheryl Browne
38 books884 followersHi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
March 6, 2021
Steve has split from his wife Sarah, and has a new girlfriend, Laura. Though Steve and Sarah no longer share a home, they do maintain contact for the sake of their 3 year old son Ollie. Steve wants Ollie to meet Laura, but after his first sleepover with them, Sarah detects a change in her son on his return. Sarah herself has some niggling doubts about Laura - she appears to be very timid and sweet (in fact overly sweet) but Sarah senses a devious and sinister motive behind the facade.
Something of a slow burner, though I definitely wanted to keep on reading, to see just where it led, and to be fair, there were quite a few twists towards the end of the book, but honestly not one of my favourites.
* My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Something of a slow burner, though I definitely wanted to keep on reading, to see just where it led, and to be fair, there were quite a few twists towards the end of the book, but honestly not one of my favourites.
* My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
March 23, 2021
This is a psychological thriller which builds up very gradually. The build-up is not very engaging, though there are twists towards the end.
After her separation from Steve, her 3-year-old son Ollie means everything to Sarah. Steve has a new girlfriend – Laura, and Sarah wants to be sure that during Ollie’s visits, she will take good care of him. After Ollie’s first visit, Sarah gets the impression that Laura’s is trying to manipulate Ollie. However, Laura has explanations for a few incidents which arouse Sarah’s suspicion. Sarah’s ex Steve and her boyfriend Joe both feel she is getting stressed and paranoid for no reason. And yet, Sarah senses there is something Laura is holding back about her past.
The book gets off to a decent start, but the build-up has a lot of repetitive and dull sequences and you just wish the story would move on. The story does pack several twists towards the end, but they come across as very forced. The multiple elements in the story just does not converge well and left me mostly unsatisfied.
I have liked Sheryl Browne’s earlier books which I found to be good relaxing reads but this one did not work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.
After her separation from Steve, her 3-year-old son Ollie means everything to Sarah. Steve has a new girlfriend – Laura, and Sarah wants to be sure that during Ollie’s visits, she will take good care of him. After Ollie’s first visit, Sarah gets the impression that Laura’s is trying to manipulate Ollie. However, Laura has explanations for a few incidents which arouse Sarah’s suspicion. Sarah’s ex Steve and her boyfriend Joe both feel she is getting stressed and paranoid for no reason. And yet, Sarah senses there is something Laura is holding back about her past.
The book gets off to a decent start, but the build-up has a lot of repetitive and dull sequences and you just wish the story would move on. The story does pack several twists towards the end, but they come across as very forced. The multiple elements in the story just does not converge well and left me mostly unsatisfied.
I have liked Sheryl Browne’s earlier books which I found to be good relaxing reads but this one did not work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.
March 23, 2021
3 topics covered in this book that although where not the main story gave good insight and was really interesting to have discussed and included in the book
1. Stuttering/Stammering and its effects on the person suffering with it
2.Animal Rescue/Shelters and what it is like to work for one and
3. Nightmares and Sleep Walking and how they present
I read Sheryl’s latest book in one sitting, having read and reviewed her previous 7 psychological thrillers it is no secret I am a fan
But was Book 8 going to be as good?
Well it was and I think one of my favourites of a favourite
The story is told brilliantly and one of those where you know a ‘baddie’ is a ‘baddie’ right from the outset and the story then follows all the characters as they are introduced.......separately they are troubled, together ( as they become involved ) they are chaotic and you begin to wonder as the drama unfolds if everything you have perceived about each of them is in fact as you thought
Brutal, tense and at times dark the author also manages to include humour, human goodness and a sense of justice, not always easy to do but done perfectly
In fact it was a perfect read for a perfect reading day
10/10
5 Stars
1. Stuttering/Stammering and its effects on the person suffering with it
2.Animal Rescue/Shelters and what it is like to work for one and
3. Nightmares and Sleep Walking and how they present
I read Sheryl’s latest book in one sitting, having read and reviewed her previous 7 psychological thrillers it is no secret I am a fan
But was Book 8 going to be as good?
Well it was and I think one of my favourites of a favourite
The story is told brilliantly and one of those where you know a ‘baddie’ is a ‘baddie’ right from the outset and the story then follows all the characters as they are introduced.......separately they are troubled, together ( as they become involved ) they are chaotic and you begin to wonder as the drama unfolds if everything you have perceived about each of them is in fact as you thought
Brutal, tense and at times dark the author also manages to include humour, human goodness and a sense of justice, not always easy to do but done perfectly
In fact it was a perfect read for a perfect reading day
10/10
5 Stars
March 1, 2021
Sarah is worried when her four year old son goes to visit her ex partner Steve and his new girlfriend Laura.
A slow burning psychological thriller that has twist and turns.
I found the use of multiple narrators put me off slightly because of the repetitive telling of events.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A slow burning psychological thriller that has twist and turns.
I found the use of multiple narrators put me off slightly because of the repetitive telling of events.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2021
Three year old Ollie's parents, Sarah and Steve have split up. Sarah is in a new relationship with an old flame, Joe. Steve and his new girlfriend, Laura, have just moved in together. sarah wants to meet Laura before she lets little Ollie stay over. Sarah sensed something about Laura, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Mother's instinct was trying to warn her about something. but what? Or is Sarah just jealous of Steve's new relationship.
The story is told from multiple points of view, There's plenty of twists amd red herrings but the clues are there for you to find. The plotline pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the last page. The characters are all complex, have secrets and i wasn't that struck on any of them. You will find yourseld second guessing everything. The story does start off slow but it soon picks up to a steady pace. Sheryl Browne has a way of captivating your attention. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, i did really like this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #SherylBrowne for my ARC of #MyHusbandsGirfriend in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from multiple points of view, There's plenty of twists amd red herrings but the clues are there for you to find. The plotline pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the last page. The characters are all complex, have secrets and i wasn't that struck on any of them. You will find yourseld second guessing everything. The story does start off slow but it soon picks up to a steady pace. Sheryl Browne has a way of captivating your attention. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, i did really like this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #SherylBrowne for my ARC of #MyHusbandsGirfriend in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2021
Sarah begins to worry about her son Ollie after a visit with his father and his new girlfriend. Ollie has always had a comfort toy for sleep, and one night, she realizes he has a new toy and he - in the innocent way a toddler speaks - says that Laura, her ex's girlfriend, gave it to him and that he has a secret.
Quite naturally, Sarah begins to worry. Of course, her ex is unconcerned. Even her friends are not concerned. Sarah takes measures right away, and this includes meeting Laura one-on-one. Laura seems ideal so perhaps Sarah is worried for nothing. However, a mother's instinct is strong. And Sarah soon realizes that she definitely has things to worry about.
In this compelling read by one of my most enjoyable authors, we see Sarah making strides to work well with the split custody. As the characters came into play it was easy to put myself in Sarah's shoes, but also Laura's as a stepmother trying to win over a small child. However, in true fashion for a psychological thriller, there were some things that were just not right.
In fact, this book dealt with touching issues, and one of those is loss. How did loss play into the growing relationships with Sarah's son and Laura? As things developed in this compelling read, pieces of a jumbled puzzle soon began to fall into place. This story had surprising twists and turns, as well as rabbit trails, and this led to a thrilling conclusion that I would never have guessed.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Quite naturally, Sarah begins to worry. Of course, her ex is unconcerned. Even her friends are not concerned. Sarah takes measures right away, and this includes meeting Laura one-on-one. Laura seems ideal so perhaps Sarah is worried for nothing. However, a mother's instinct is strong. And Sarah soon realizes that she definitely has things to worry about.
In this compelling read by one of my most enjoyable authors, we see Sarah making strides to work well with the split custody. As the characters came into play it was easy to put myself in Sarah's shoes, but also Laura's as a stepmother trying to win over a small child. However, in true fashion for a psychological thriller, there were some things that were just not right.
In fact, this book dealt with touching issues, and one of those is loss. How did loss play into the growing relationships with Sarah's son and Laura? As things developed in this compelling read, pieces of a jumbled puzzle soon began to fall into place. This story had surprising twists and turns, as well as rabbit trails, and this led to a thrilling conclusion that I would never have guessed.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
March 8, 2021
Slow burn psychological thriller with several twists near the end.
Steve and Sarah have split but they have a 3 year old son to co-parent. They’ve both moved on to other partners, but Sarah isn’t convinced that Steve’s new partner Laura, is someone she wants around her son. There’s just too many red flags that Steve isn’t willing to see. And the more Sarah and her partner Joe look into Laura’s past, the creepier things seem and the more Sarah worries about Ollie’s safety. Will they be too late in proving the past is coming out?
There were a lot of repetitive scenes and a lot of inconsistencies in the story which kind of made it hard to connect to at times but then when the twists came they were big ones which helped save the story. Sarah came off as a very protective mother but highly unlikeable and Laura, who I think was meant to be unlikeable, I ended up feeling sorry for.
Overall, it was worth the read, but not one I would tell everyone I know about.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.
Steve and Sarah have split but they have a 3 year old son to co-parent. They’ve both moved on to other partners, but Sarah isn’t convinced that Steve’s new partner Laura, is someone she wants around her son. There’s just too many red flags that Steve isn’t willing to see. And the more Sarah and her partner Joe look into Laura’s past, the creepier things seem and the more Sarah worries about Ollie’s safety. Will they be too late in proving the past is coming out?
There were a lot of repetitive scenes and a lot of inconsistencies in the story which kind of made it hard to connect to at times but then when the twists came they were big ones which helped save the story. Sarah came off as a very protective mother but highly unlikeable and Laura, who I think was meant to be unlikeable, I ended up feeling sorry for.
Overall, it was worth the read, but not one I would tell everyone I know about.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.
April 7, 2021
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Sheryl Browne's exciting new domestic thriller MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND.
Where do I start? I totally loved this book! I have read most of Sheryl's thrillers and this one is up there as one of the best, alongside "The New Girlfriend" (which is pretty hard to beat). But MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND was so bloody brilliant that I read it in one sitting, finishing at 3am.
Is it anxiety, jealousy or gut instinct?
When Sarah's ex-husband Steve meets and moves in with his new girlfriend, she insists on meeting Laura first before their 3 year old son Ollie can visit. This is only natural since, as his mother, Sarah only wants what's best for her child. The meeting goes well, or so Sarah thought, until Steve berates her asking did she have to give Laura such a hard time. But Sarah never thought she did. In fact, she quite liked Laura and sympathised with her obvious nervousness and stammering. So what impression did she give Steve after their meeting then?
Without any further reasonable concerns, Ollie went to his first sleepover with his daddy and Laura. Feeling at a bit of a loss by his absence, Sarah enjoys a quiet night with her police officer boyfriend Joe, who she's known since high school. But when Ollie returns on Sunday evening, he begins to exhibit strange behaviour. Not only that, his comfort toy he's had since he was six months old seems to have been replaced with a new toy Laura bought him called Mr Whale. Sarah is uneasy. Ollie has never been parted from Bunny and will not sleep without him...but he appears to drift off just as easily with his replacement. So what happened to Bunny? When she asks Ollie about it, he says that Bunny has a 'portant job to do at daddy and Laura's - guarding his toy box. And yet, Sarah is still uneasy.
Then she hears Ollie chattering away to himself in his room one day about starfish and superheroes. Standing outside his bedroom door, it soon becomes clear that Ollie is having a conversation with an imaginary friend as she can only hear one side. She smiles, thinking it endearing that he has such a vivid imagination. But then her phone beeps alerting her son to her presence outside his door and all goes quiet. When she enters the room, Ollie is huddled in his bed strangely silent. Sarah asks him about his new friend to which Ollie whispers "It's a secret" and that he wasn't allowed to tell her. Sarah is troubled that her ex-husband's new girlfriend appeared to be telling her son to keep secrets from his mother. Not only that...but his room at his dad's and Laura's place seemed to be identical to his own room at home. From the same wallpaper to the same toy box to the same bed. And then the two items she was intending on getting for Ollie's upcoming 4th birthday, Laura then went out and bought for him. What was she up to? Was she trying to replace Sarah in her son's affections?
But whenever Sarah tried to raise her concerns with Joe or Steve, she was met with resistance. No one seemed to believe her or take her concerns seriously. But Sarah was uneasy. Something wasn't right. She had a right to be anxious where her son was concerned. Was she just jealous, as Joe and Steve seemed to think she was? Or was her mother's instinct telling her that something was definitely off?
Waking from a nightmare...but was it just a bad dream?
Laura fell in love with Ollie the first moment she saw him, with his halo of blonde hair and his beautiful blue eyes. She wanted him to be happy with her and Steve that she couldn't do enough for him. She made his bedroom identical to the one he had at home and gave him a new comfort toy to take to bed to replace the bunny whose ear had mysteriously been cut off. Instead of reading his usual "Never Ask" bedtime stories, she would instead tell him a special story of a different type of superhero who was just like him and who rescued the fish and starfish. But this story was a secret...and he must never tell anyone.
But Laura has secrets of her own. Secrets that if one would dig deep enough, they would uncover all she has been trying to escape from. And she mustn't let those secrets come out. For they will destroy her...and put Ollie in danger. And she must, above all costs, keep Ollie safe.
One of the main themes to MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is the perceptions we have others and that we shouldn't judge them on first impressions. Everyone has a story that we know nothing about and we end up creating false narratives before learning anything about them. This is the case with Sarah and Laura. Sarah's uneasiness and constant paranoia (for good reason) kept her from seeing the bigger picture where Laura was concerned. And Laura's inability to face the truth of her past and recover her repressed memories kept her from trusting...well...anyone. Add Laura's overbearing, ghastly and somewhat bizarre mother "call me Sherry", who consistently puts Laura down at every turn, and we have a complexity of problems that give Sarah good reason to be worried.
A slow burn to begin with, MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND builds up a tension that soon becomes palpable. By 15% in the pace is ramped up a notch that by 30% you can't put the book down.
From the beginning, it may seem as if the picture we are given is clear, and all the pieces fit together nicely. But Sheryl has woven yet another intricate tale that leads us off on a tangent we aren't expecting...should we not be paying attention. Fortunately, I was. Unable to hoodwink me this time, I figured out the underlying riptide that was otherwise a surprising twist but I still enjoyed every minute of the ride.
Told from the various perspectives of Sarah, Laura, Joe and Steve, each of the characters are well developed and cleverly portrayed. You feel just the right amount of sympathy to outrage as well as a range of conflicting emotions throughout as the story moves at the rate of knots. Sarah wants nothing more than to keep her child safe while Laura is the product of her childhood environment. It is easy to sympathise with both women...but is that all there is? Or is there something deeper, darker and more sinister at play?
MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is easily one of my favourite domestic thrillers by Sheryl Browne. Not only is it cleverly written but this tense and sometimes dark thriller is so engaging that I could not put it down until I turned the last page. I simply HAD to read it in one sitting...it is THAT good! And thank you for not abusing or killing off any any animals while Sarah worked at the shelter. I can't abide any animal's death...even in a good story.
Perfect for domestic thriller fans and those of Shalini Boland, KL Slater, Lisa Jewell and Ruth Heald, MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is a must read I have no hesitation in recommending.
I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Where do I start? I totally loved this book! I have read most of Sheryl's thrillers and this one is up there as one of the best, alongside "The New Girlfriend" (which is pretty hard to beat). But MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND was so bloody brilliant that I read it in one sitting, finishing at 3am.
Is it anxiety, jealousy or gut instinct?
When Sarah's ex-husband Steve meets and moves in with his new girlfriend, she insists on meeting Laura first before their 3 year old son Ollie can visit. This is only natural since, as his mother, Sarah only wants what's best for her child. The meeting goes well, or so Sarah thought, until Steve berates her asking did she have to give Laura such a hard time. But Sarah never thought she did. In fact, she quite liked Laura and sympathised with her obvious nervousness and stammering. So what impression did she give Steve after their meeting then?
Without any further reasonable concerns, Ollie went to his first sleepover with his daddy and Laura. Feeling at a bit of a loss by his absence, Sarah enjoys a quiet night with her police officer boyfriend Joe, who she's known since high school. But when Ollie returns on Sunday evening, he begins to exhibit strange behaviour. Not only that, his comfort toy he's had since he was six months old seems to have been replaced with a new toy Laura bought him called Mr Whale. Sarah is uneasy. Ollie has never been parted from Bunny and will not sleep without him...but he appears to drift off just as easily with his replacement. So what happened to Bunny? When she asks Ollie about it, he says that Bunny has a 'portant job to do at daddy and Laura's - guarding his toy box. And yet, Sarah is still uneasy.
Then she hears Ollie chattering away to himself in his room one day about starfish and superheroes. Standing outside his bedroom door, it soon becomes clear that Ollie is having a conversation with an imaginary friend as she can only hear one side. She smiles, thinking it endearing that he has such a vivid imagination. But then her phone beeps alerting her son to her presence outside his door and all goes quiet. When she enters the room, Ollie is huddled in his bed strangely silent. Sarah asks him about his new friend to which Ollie whispers "It's a secret" and that he wasn't allowed to tell her. Sarah is troubled that her ex-husband's new girlfriend appeared to be telling her son to keep secrets from his mother. Not only that...but his room at his dad's and Laura's place seemed to be identical to his own room at home. From the same wallpaper to the same toy box to the same bed. And then the two items she was intending on getting for Ollie's upcoming 4th birthday, Laura then went out and bought for him. What was she up to? Was she trying to replace Sarah in her son's affections?
But whenever Sarah tried to raise her concerns with Joe or Steve, she was met with resistance. No one seemed to believe her or take her concerns seriously. But Sarah was uneasy. Something wasn't right. She had a right to be anxious where her son was concerned. Was she just jealous, as Joe and Steve seemed to think she was? Or was her mother's instinct telling her that something was definitely off?
Waking from a nightmare...but was it just a bad dream?
Laura fell in love with Ollie the first moment she saw him, with his halo of blonde hair and his beautiful blue eyes. She wanted him to be happy with her and Steve that she couldn't do enough for him. She made his bedroom identical to the one he had at home and gave him a new comfort toy to take to bed to replace the bunny whose ear had mysteriously been cut off. Instead of reading his usual "Never Ask" bedtime stories, she would instead tell him a special story of a different type of superhero who was just like him and who rescued the fish and starfish. But this story was a secret...and he must never tell anyone.
But Laura has secrets of her own. Secrets that if one would dig deep enough, they would uncover all she has been trying to escape from. And she mustn't let those secrets come out. For they will destroy her...and put Ollie in danger. And she must, above all costs, keep Ollie safe.
One of the main themes to MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is the perceptions we have others and that we shouldn't judge them on first impressions. Everyone has a story that we know nothing about and we end up creating false narratives before learning anything about them. This is the case with Sarah and Laura. Sarah's uneasiness and constant paranoia (for good reason) kept her from seeing the bigger picture where Laura was concerned. And Laura's inability to face the truth of her past and recover her repressed memories kept her from trusting...well...anyone. Add Laura's overbearing, ghastly and somewhat bizarre mother "call me Sherry", who consistently puts Laura down at every turn, and we have a complexity of problems that give Sarah good reason to be worried.
A slow burn to begin with, MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND builds up a tension that soon becomes palpable. By 15% in the pace is ramped up a notch that by 30% you can't put the book down.
From the beginning, it may seem as if the picture we are given is clear, and all the pieces fit together nicely. But Sheryl has woven yet another intricate tale that leads us off on a tangent we aren't expecting...should we not be paying attention. Fortunately, I was. Unable to hoodwink me this time, I figured out the underlying riptide that was otherwise a surprising twist but I still enjoyed every minute of the ride.
Told from the various perspectives of Sarah, Laura, Joe and Steve, each of the characters are well developed and cleverly portrayed. You feel just the right amount of sympathy to outrage as well as a range of conflicting emotions throughout as the story moves at the rate of knots. Sarah wants nothing more than to keep her child safe while Laura is the product of her childhood environment. It is easy to sympathise with both women...but is that all there is? Or is there something deeper, darker and more sinister at play?
MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is easily one of my favourite domestic thrillers by Sheryl Browne. Not only is it cleverly written but this tense and sometimes dark thriller is so engaging that I could not put it down until I turned the last page. I simply HAD to read it in one sitting...it is THAT good! And thank you for not abusing or killing off any any animals while Sarah worked at the shelter. I can't abide any animal's death...even in a good story.
Perfect for domestic thriller fans and those of Shalini Boland, KL Slater, Lisa Jewell and Ruth Heald, MY HUSBAND'S GIRLFRIEND is a must read I have no hesitation in recommending.
I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 5, 2021
I love Sheryl Browne’s book and this is another great psychological thriller.
Sarah and Steve have separated but they share custody of their three year old son Ollie.
Steve wants him to stay over at his new girlfriend’s house with him but Sarah asks to meet her first.
Sarah is not sure what to make of Laura at first but agrees to give her a chance.
Soon small things are happening and Sarah thinks Laura is trying to get one up on her all the time. Steve thinks she’s being ridiculous and her new partner, Joe also can’t see a problem.
As the story progresses we learn that Laura and her family have a secret and it’s causing problems between Laura and her mother and threatening to ruin her relationship with Steve.
There’s lots of times when you think Sarah is right to question Laura but she does have a knack of talking her way out of things.
I loved the nail biting ending and highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Sarah and Steve have separated but they share custody of their three year old son Ollie.
Steve wants him to stay over at his new girlfriend’s house with him but Sarah asks to meet her first.
Sarah is not sure what to make of Laura at first but agrees to give her a chance.
Soon small things are happening and Sarah thinks Laura is trying to get one up on her all the time. Steve thinks she’s being ridiculous and her new partner, Joe also can’t see a problem.
As the story progresses we learn that Laura and her family have a secret and it’s causing problems between Laura and her mother and threatening to ruin her relationship with Steve.
There’s lots of times when you think Sarah is right to question Laura but she does have a knack of talking her way out of things.
I loved the nail biting ending and highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 3, 2021
I was gripped from the off in this superb psychological thriller.
Sarah is a recently single mum to Ollie of which her ex hasn't wasted any time in seeing someone else, I could feel Sarah's concerns at her son having to welcome this new person into his life and as we get further into the story, alarm bells were blasting away in my ears where Laura was concerned.
I was torn so many times between whether Laura was genuine and it was just Sarah's imagination running wild or was there something more sinister afoot. It's a story that had me tearing through the pages to find out the truth.
My Husband's Girlfriend is another edge of you seat read from one of my go to authors in this genre. I don't think I have any nails left from all the biting I did as the tension kept building until the ultimate climax that had me feeling like I had just got off the waltzers at the fairground. I loved this story that had me doubting everything and everyone. A must read for fans of psychological thrillers!
Sarah is a recently single mum to Ollie of which her ex hasn't wasted any time in seeing someone else, I could feel Sarah's concerns at her son having to welcome this new person into his life and as we get further into the story, alarm bells were blasting away in my ears where Laura was concerned.
I was torn so many times between whether Laura was genuine and it was just Sarah's imagination running wild or was there something more sinister afoot. It's a story that had me tearing through the pages to find out the truth.
My Husband's Girlfriend is another edge of you seat read from one of my go to authors in this genre. I don't think I have any nails left from all the biting I did as the tension kept building until the ultimate climax that had me feeling like I had just got off the waltzers at the fairground. I loved this story that had me doubting everything and everyone. A must read for fans of psychological thrillers!
June 9, 2021
The most astonishing thing about this book is the number of 4 and 5 star reviews it has received. There was nothing thrilling about this family saga filled with the most unbelievable characters and practically every twist ever invented. Paedophilia, stalking, break-ups, attempted make-ups, cover-ups, sleepwalking, child abduction, drowning, jealousy_ it has it all. Sadly, not in a good way. The worst part for me though was main character Sarah, behaving so stupidly, that instead of rooting for her I actually felt sorry for her son Olllie. Add to this the police being depiced as downright incompetent and the most I'd give this in good conscience is 2 and a half stars
April 29, 2021
Tried it; it was MEH. Just how many psychotic personalities can you fit in one novel and get away with it? Apart from poor old Sarah and wee Ollie they’re all doolaley; eventually even Laura’s (rushed) backstory spoils the epilogue...and Joe disappears from all ongoing narrative.....ridiculous plot, utterly unbelievable and silly. My first book by this author, and deffo my last.
June 19, 2022
My husband's girlfriend by Sheryl Browne was a great read! One of those books that once you start it's really hard to put down. Do you believe in mothers intuition or does Sarah just really dislike her ex husband's new girlfriend? If you are looking for a thriller with lots of twists, turns and a surprising who done it ending...this is your book!
March 28, 2021
'My Husband's Girlfriend' is a gripping domestic thriller with many twists and turns that keeps you guessing till the end.
Sarah and Steve, parents to 3-year old Ollie, are divorced and have moved on to new partners, even as they maintain a cordial relation for the sake of their son. Sarah, however, doesn't trust Laura, Steve's new girlfriend and live-in partner. Though sweet and stuttering on the outside, Sarah believes Laura has a sinister motive that involves Ollie and despite her attempts to prove it, she is brushed off as the jealous ex-wife. But 'there is such a thing as a mother's intuition,' she tells Joe, her policeman boyfriend and her worst fears come true when Ollie goes missing one day.
The story is narrated in five POVs which was a bit excessive, I think. Laura is portrayed as manipulative, obsessive and sneaky, hiding a big secret while Sarah comes across as unhinged and rambling in her attempts to uncover those secrets. And the two male protagonists, Steve and Joe, seem to be caught up in the craziness between two women each. Much of the book was spent in Sarah oscillating between accusing and apologizing to Laura. The plot twists were quite thrilling and so the culprit came across as a surprise, even though there were hints earlier. The ending of the book was kind of a let-down as it seemed too rushed, leaving a few unanswered questions.
Overall, an engaging and intense page-turner. A big thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah and Steve, parents to 3-year old Ollie, are divorced and have moved on to new partners, even as they maintain a cordial relation for the sake of their son. Sarah, however, doesn't trust Laura, Steve's new girlfriend and live-in partner. Though sweet and stuttering on the outside, Sarah believes Laura has a sinister motive that involves Ollie and despite her attempts to prove it, she is brushed off as the jealous ex-wife. But 'there is such a thing as a mother's intuition,' she tells Joe, her policeman boyfriend and her worst fears come true when Ollie goes missing one day.
The story is narrated in five POVs which was a bit excessive, I think. Laura is portrayed as manipulative, obsessive and sneaky, hiding a big secret while Sarah comes across as unhinged and rambling in her attempts to uncover those secrets. And the two male protagonists, Steve and Joe, seem to be caught up in the craziness between two women each. Much of the book was spent in Sarah oscillating between accusing and apologizing to Laura. The plot twists were quite thrilling and so the culprit came across as a surprise, even though there were hints earlier. The ending of the book was kind of a let-down as it seemed too rushed, leaving a few unanswered questions.
Overall, an engaging and intense page-turner. A big thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2021
This was predictable and the villains obvious. I skimmed a fair amount to get the gist but then I went back to the beginning. I enjoyed the understated sex which would have been out of context for this plot. It’s important to note that the chapters switch, told in multiple perspectives. For the purpose of clarity, given the title, it doesn’t seem that Steve and Sarah were ever married, they were together and had a son. Considering Laura’s evasiveness, Sarah’s instincts scream to investigate Laura’s background, which Steve should have done. Steve is passive.
Favourite quote “Steve was so laid-back sometimes he was horizontal”.
Joe thinks she’s waging a vendetta against Laura out of jealousy, yet he himself has unresolved issues with his ex-wife, Courtney.
From the onset it was clear that Sherry, Laura’s mother had ulterior motives. According to Sherry, Laura’s younger brother Jacob died, as a toddler.
Sarah read the online report feeling sick to her soul:
“Missing toddler: Jacob Caldwell, who vanished from his bed in July 2003, is believed dead. Despite repeated searches and investigations following the three-year-old’s disappearance, no trace of the child has ever been found.
Detectives from West Mercia Police searched extensively for clues around the Warwickshire house from where it was first assumed Jacob had been taken. It is since believed that he may have wandered from the house onto land close by that was being excavated. Officers believe he may have been accidentally killed by one of the construction vehicles on site. To date, his body has not been recovered.”
Sarah is suspicious of Laura’s behaviour and that she might be substituting Ollie for Jacob.
Joe, Sarah’s old friend from school has his own troubled past, in the shape of a lying, cheating ex-wife, Courtney. She admitted she had been pregnant when he left her. She lost the baby – at six months, and apparently it was his! She’s split up with the guy she was seeing.
Sarah couldn’t help wondering why Courtney sought Joe out to tell him this now.
Sarah visits Liam, Laura’s ex-husband’s son, he is furious that she approached his son and is livid.
‘I will never let that woman near my child ever again,’ he seethed.
‘But why? Mr Jameson, I need to know. I have a son of my own’
‘Keep her away from him, She’s dangerous.’
‘Dangerous how?’
‘Ask her about her brother,’ he said cryptically.”
“You might also want to ask her about her previous job, and why she left it. Whatever you do, just keep her away from your child.”
Her gut instinct says he truly believed Laura to be a danger.
How does one keep their child safe from a threat they could sense but not see?
Her mother, Sherry, projects her love to the world, in private...she’d guilted Grant into marrying her and she’d further guilted him into staying. Laura has no doubt, that was the reason for her unconscionable actions. To keep a man who was desperate to walk away from her. She was a liar.
Laura hadn’t been sleepwalking that dark night. She’d taken the sedative her mother had offered her before going to bed. Sherry always ensured she took sedatives. Sometimes she didn’t swallow them, aware that her mother often didn’t go to Jacob if he woke in the night. Always leaving him … Jacob’s sobs had woken her. He’d been crying. She could hear him, whimpering. The crying had stopped.
The memory floated, you have to save him, as others had, hazy and incomplete but slowly forming a picture. Ironically, it was her mother’s latest attempts to sabotage any life she might have that triggered her memories. She is determined to destroy and to keep her from forming any relationships, from trusting to believing in herself.
If Sherry suspected that Laura had remembered details, that had evaded her until now, she would stop at nothing to silence her. She glanced to where Joe had climbed into his car. He was watching the house, waiting, Laura gathered, to make sure Sarah and Ollie emerged safely. Did he know, that someone was watching him too? Her gaze travelled to the car parked on the opposite side of the road, two vehicles behind him.
Coincidences or clearly orchestrated events to paint Laura as unstable? Her mother tries to convince Steve of her mental state, when she’s in fact gaslighting her to suppress her memories.
-----------------------------------------------------
Joe:::
The last time he’d seen his ex-wife Courtney was as he’d stuffed a few clothes in a holdall and walked out three months ago. Having witnessed her with her ex the night before, he’d doubted he could be civil. He’d sensed her infidelity but he hadn’t realised how spectacularly, until, following her a few times when she’d gone out dressed to kill had given him all the evidence needed. The bloke enjoyed illicit sex, it seemed; since he was with someone else and Courtney was married, shagging her qualified, obviously. Faced with the actual reality had been devastating. They’d gotten married and it had been a volatile relationship. He’d been devastated by her infidelity. Then one day he’d woken up to the fact that he’d simply stopped loving her.
Steve to Sarah
There are a few years separation when Joe and Sarah were living their lives…
‘Does he have kids?’ Steve went on, before she could finish.
‘No,’ she provided patiently. ‘He wanted children, but…’
‘Skeletons in cupboards?’
‘No, and he certainly doesn’t ask Ollie to keep secrets from me!’
-----------------------------------------------------
Laura:::
“Have you always stammered?’ she asked gently.
‘A bit. It really kicked in when I was in my teens, though. I didn’t dare open my mouth for a while,’ she said
‘Did you not get some support?’
‘Eventually. Not at first, though. I think my mother thought I would just grow out of it. We don’t get on that well, I’m afraid.’
‘That’s a shame. What about your father? Do you get on with him okay?’
‘Stepfather. And no, I don’t. He’s loaded, old money, inherited from his parents; imagines himself entitled because of it. He didn’t want to marry my mother, but she manipulated him into it.’
“You can see why I ran scared of marriage, can’t you?’ She sighed amusedly.
‘You’ve never been married then?’ Sarah enquired, casually she hoped.
‘My job always took up too much of my time. I just never met the right person. I lived with my last boyfriend for a while, but it didn’t last.’
‘Do you mind if I ask why?’ Sarah didn’t want to appear to be grilling her. She hoped Laura would understand that she just wanted to know her better.
-----------------------------------------------------
Steve:::
Steve has unrealistic tendencies, facilitating a reunion between Laura and her mother, Sherry. Had Laura been more forthcoming perhaps Steve would not have breached their reconciliation. Sarah doesn’t want to sabotage Steve’s relationship but she’s suspicious of Laura.
He confides to Sarah that Laura has nightmares about her brother, moreover, she sleepwalks. He’s found her a few times in the garden. She seems to be searching for him. Sarah looked at him, and couldn’t help but be concerned for him. He was visibly shaken. She couldn’t countenance Ollie being placed in danger.
‘Try the name Caldwell, she left home not long after it happened. Changed her name, according to her mother.’
‘What was his name?’
‘Jacob’. Laura had called Ollie Jacob.
Joe and Sarah dated years ago at school, they’d broken up at eighteen, and both had relationships go wrong in between.
Laura seeks her revenge after realising her mother was Steve’s hit and run driver before ambushing Joe.
‘Your grandchild’s life! You callous b*tch! She stole him from me, convinced me that he would have a better future with her and Grant as his parents, that Grant would marry her if he thought she was pregnant’.
(The promise of financial security).
‘She took him away. Buried him in some dark, lonely place all on his own. You told Grant he was dead when you fished him out of the pool, didn’t you? My baby! My p-p-precious Jacob. You told Grant he was dead, but you didn’t make sure, did you? You didn’t f-g well make sure! He wasn’t! He wasn’t dead! I know he wasn’t. He was floundering, trying to swim, but he couldn’t! And you didn’t even try to save him! She buried him anyway. Do you know why? To have something to hold against that bastard she got to marry her. As if his abusing me wasn’t enough. She ruined my marriage! It was her who led that little boy to the swimming pool. She wanted me to get blamed. You shouldn’t have tried to make me believe it was me who killed my baby, Mother. I remember, you see. I was the one trying to s-s-save him, and you … I know what you did!’
‘Do you know what the irony of all this is, darling Mother? He was Grant’s child. And he killed him. Oh dear, are you shocked, Sherry? Jacob wasn’t fathered by some boy in the village. Jacob was Grant’s child. He slapped him to stop him crying, and then left him to drown in the pool while he sat pouring brandy down his neck and not giving a sh*t. And you cleaned up his mess, just to hold onto him. Where is he? Where did you bury him?’
‘Laura, don’t!’ Joe’s heart slammed against his chest as she raised the knife, and then almost gave out as Sarah stepped into the room.
‘Laura,’ she said shakily, tears rolling down her face, ‘I’ve lost my little boy. Can you help me find him?”
(All this time Grant thought it was his child with Sherry, he never discovered Laura was the mother; yet he was misled to believe he’d murdered his own son, (how incoherent was he) yet he’d been sexually assaulting Laura). Vile, utterly despicable.
Sherry fed Laura sedatives, robbing her of the right to grieve for her child, driving her almost to the brink of insanity – rarely lucid. She’d in turn told Grant he’d killed him. He’d slapped him to stop his crying, left the frightened child wandering in the garden, where he’d blundered in the dark into the pool. Grant said in his statement that Sherry had sworn she would keep his secret. Grant, hadn’t relished the idea of spending the rest of his life as a convicted child killer and paedophile.
Had it not been for Laura following them to psychotic, delusional Courtney’s apartment, Ollie never would have survived.
(I ventured into this, skimming, unable to find spoilers. As I skimmed, I was intrigued and lured into wanting to unravel the character dynamics. This my first read by this writer, the story was engaging).
This fell short on the psychological spectrum for me. I would define it as mysterious. An excellent story.
Favourite quote “Steve was so laid-back sometimes he was horizontal”.
Joe thinks she’s waging a vendetta against Laura out of jealousy, yet he himself has unresolved issues with his ex-wife, Courtney.
From the onset it was clear that Sherry, Laura’s mother had ulterior motives. According to Sherry, Laura’s younger brother Jacob died, as a toddler.
Sarah read the online report feeling sick to her soul:
“Missing toddler: Jacob Caldwell, who vanished from his bed in July 2003, is believed dead. Despite repeated searches and investigations following the three-year-old’s disappearance, no trace of the child has ever been found.
Detectives from West Mercia Police searched extensively for clues around the Warwickshire house from where it was first assumed Jacob had been taken. It is since believed that he may have wandered from the house onto land close by that was being excavated. Officers believe he may have been accidentally killed by one of the construction vehicles on site. To date, his body has not been recovered.”
Sarah is suspicious of Laura’s behaviour and that she might be substituting Ollie for Jacob.
Joe, Sarah’s old friend from school has his own troubled past, in the shape of a lying, cheating ex-wife, Courtney. She admitted she had been pregnant when he left her. She lost the baby – at six months, and apparently it was his! She’s split up with the guy she was seeing.
Sarah couldn’t help wondering why Courtney sought Joe out to tell him this now.
Sarah visits Liam, Laura’s ex-husband’s son, he is furious that she approached his son and is livid.
‘I will never let that woman near my child ever again,’ he seethed.
‘But why? Mr Jameson, I need to know. I have a son of my own’
‘Keep her away from him, She’s dangerous.’
‘Dangerous how?’
‘Ask her about her brother,’ he said cryptically.”
“You might also want to ask her about her previous job, and why she left it. Whatever you do, just keep her away from your child.”
Her gut instinct says he truly believed Laura to be a danger.
How does one keep their child safe from a threat they could sense but not see?
Her mother, Sherry, projects her love to the world, in private...she’d guilted Grant into marrying her and she’d further guilted him into staying. Laura has no doubt, that was the reason for her unconscionable actions. To keep a man who was desperate to walk away from her. She was a liar.
Laura hadn’t been sleepwalking that dark night. She’d taken the sedative her mother had offered her before going to bed. Sherry always ensured she took sedatives. Sometimes she didn’t swallow them, aware that her mother often didn’t go to Jacob if he woke in the night. Always leaving him … Jacob’s sobs had woken her. He’d been crying. She could hear him, whimpering. The crying had stopped.
The memory floated, you have to save him, as others had, hazy and incomplete but slowly forming a picture. Ironically, it was her mother’s latest attempts to sabotage any life she might have that triggered her memories. She is determined to destroy and to keep her from forming any relationships, from trusting to believing in herself.
If Sherry suspected that Laura had remembered details, that had evaded her until now, she would stop at nothing to silence her. She glanced to where Joe had climbed into his car. He was watching the house, waiting, Laura gathered, to make sure Sarah and Ollie emerged safely. Did he know, that someone was watching him too? Her gaze travelled to the car parked on the opposite side of the road, two vehicles behind him.
Coincidences or clearly orchestrated events to paint Laura as unstable? Her mother tries to convince Steve of her mental state, when she’s in fact gaslighting her to suppress her memories.
-----------------------------------------------------
Joe:::
The last time he’d seen his ex-wife Courtney was as he’d stuffed a few clothes in a holdall and walked out three months ago. Having witnessed her with her ex the night before, he’d doubted he could be civil. He’d sensed her infidelity but he hadn’t realised how spectacularly, until, following her a few times when she’d gone out dressed to kill had given him all the evidence needed. The bloke enjoyed illicit sex, it seemed; since he was with someone else and Courtney was married, shagging her qualified, obviously. Faced with the actual reality had been devastating. They’d gotten married and it had been a volatile relationship. He’d been devastated by her infidelity. Then one day he’d woken up to the fact that he’d simply stopped loving her.
Steve to Sarah
There are a few years separation when Joe and Sarah were living their lives…
‘Does he have kids?’ Steve went on, before she could finish.
‘No,’ she provided patiently. ‘He wanted children, but…’
‘Skeletons in cupboards?’
‘No, and he certainly doesn’t ask Ollie to keep secrets from me!’
-----------------------------------------------------
Laura:::
“Have you always stammered?’ she asked gently.
‘A bit. It really kicked in when I was in my teens, though. I didn’t dare open my mouth for a while,’ she said
‘Did you not get some support?’
‘Eventually. Not at first, though. I think my mother thought I would just grow out of it. We don’t get on that well, I’m afraid.’
‘That’s a shame. What about your father? Do you get on with him okay?’
‘Stepfather. And no, I don’t. He’s loaded, old money, inherited from his parents; imagines himself entitled because of it. He didn’t want to marry my mother, but she manipulated him into it.’
“You can see why I ran scared of marriage, can’t you?’ She sighed amusedly.
‘You’ve never been married then?’ Sarah enquired, casually she hoped.
‘My job always took up too much of my time. I just never met the right person. I lived with my last boyfriend for a while, but it didn’t last.’
‘Do you mind if I ask why?’ Sarah didn’t want to appear to be grilling her. She hoped Laura would understand that she just wanted to know her better.
-----------------------------------------------------
Steve:::
Steve has unrealistic tendencies, facilitating a reunion between Laura and her mother, Sherry. Had Laura been more forthcoming perhaps Steve would not have breached their reconciliation. Sarah doesn’t want to sabotage Steve’s relationship but she’s suspicious of Laura.
He confides to Sarah that Laura has nightmares about her brother, moreover, she sleepwalks. He’s found her a few times in the garden. She seems to be searching for him. Sarah looked at him, and couldn’t help but be concerned for him. He was visibly shaken. She couldn’t countenance Ollie being placed in danger.
‘Try the name Caldwell, she left home not long after it happened. Changed her name, according to her mother.’
‘What was his name?’
‘Jacob’. Laura had called Ollie Jacob.
Joe and Sarah dated years ago at school, they’d broken up at eighteen, and both had relationships go wrong in between.
Laura seeks her revenge after realising her mother was Steve’s hit and run driver before ambushing Joe.
‘Your grandchild’s life! You callous b*tch! She stole him from me, convinced me that he would have a better future with her and Grant as his parents, that Grant would marry her if he thought she was pregnant’.
(The promise of financial security).
‘She took him away. Buried him in some dark, lonely place all on his own. You told Grant he was dead when you fished him out of the pool, didn’t you? My baby! My p-p-precious Jacob. You told Grant he was dead, but you didn’t make sure, did you? You didn’t f-g well make sure! He wasn’t! He wasn’t dead! I know he wasn’t. He was floundering, trying to swim, but he couldn’t! And you didn’t even try to save him! She buried him anyway. Do you know why? To have something to hold against that bastard she got to marry her. As if his abusing me wasn’t enough. She ruined my marriage! It was her who led that little boy to the swimming pool. She wanted me to get blamed. You shouldn’t have tried to make me believe it was me who killed my baby, Mother. I remember, you see. I was the one trying to s-s-save him, and you … I know what you did!’
‘Do you know what the irony of all this is, darling Mother? He was Grant’s child. And he killed him. Oh dear, are you shocked, Sherry? Jacob wasn’t fathered by some boy in the village. Jacob was Grant’s child. He slapped him to stop him crying, and then left him to drown in the pool while he sat pouring brandy down his neck and not giving a sh*t. And you cleaned up his mess, just to hold onto him. Where is he? Where did you bury him?’
‘Laura, don’t!’ Joe’s heart slammed against his chest as she raised the knife, and then almost gave out as Sarah stepped into the room.
‘Laura,’ she said shakily, tears rolling down her face, ‘I’ve lost my little boy. Can you help me find him?”
(All this time Grant thought it was his child with Sherry, he never discovered Laura was the mother; yet he was misled to believe he’d murdered his own son, (how incoherent was he) yet he’d been sexually assaulting Laura). Vile, utterly despicable.
Sherry fed Laura sedatives, robbing her of the right to grieve for her child, driving her almost to the brink of insanity – rarely lucid. She’d in turn told Grant he’d killed him. He’d slapped him to stop his crying, left the frightened child wandering in the garden, where he’d blundered in the dark into the pool. Grant said in his statement that Sherry had sworn she would keep his secret. Grant, hadn’t relished the idea of spending the rest of his life as a convicted child killer and paedophile.
Had it not been for Laura following them to psychotic, delusional Courtney’s apartment, Ollie never would have survived.
(I ventured into this, skimming, unable to find spoilers. As I skimmed, I was intrigued and lured into wanting to unravel the character dynamics. This my first read by this writer, the story was engaging).
This fell short on the psychological spectrum for me. I would define it as mysterious. An excellent story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2021
Note - I received this digital arc for free as a courtesy of Net Galley and Bookouture publishers in return for an honest feedback.
Rating - 3/5
'Appearances can be deceptive.' And this is exactly what My Husband's girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is a all about. A standalone psychological thriller with a catch line in the book cover' She thought her child was in safe hands but she was wrong' and guess what - the deception starts from there itself !! This is one book that is definitely worth a short. To start with, I am absolutely glad that the book title was changed from whisper to My husband's girlfriend as the latter seems all the more relatable to the story in hand.
Divorced couple Sarah and Steve co - parent their 3 year old son Ollie. Both Sarah and Steve have moved on with their relationship. Things are manageable as Sarah spends time with Joe her ex and an officer who too is divorcee, however things start to complicate when Sarah has to take her son to spend time with Steve and his girlfriend Laura. All motherly instincts flare up in Sarah upon meeting Laura for the first time; which only increased further, the more she came to know about her and her family. To the world, Laura appears the perfect stepmother looking to build a beautiful relationship with Ollie but with Sarah that is so not the case. Things escalate to a point when Ollie goes missing and how Sarah attempts to find her child back in a race against time.
The story was a complete roller coaster which practically builds up momentum till the end of the book. It was impossible to even gauge the gender of the culprit till the very end of the story. However there are a few points that need to be mentioned here. Chapter one just kept you hooked to the book but after that it was a slow drag of daily mundane events that was just building up the momentum which at times made me loose interest in the story. There were a couple of incidents that got you hooked but the fire simply dies soon enough. There were points in the story which actually made me wonder what is the mystery or thriller event in the story - an indicator of how slow paced it was. Secondly the narrative was from multi perspective angle which was going back and forth that at times you do get lost a bit. There were certain loopholes or rather questions that were left unsolved in the story even after the end. The story generates a chaotic perspective with so many details that wasn't so essential. For all these reasons I have rated the book as 3 stars.
Rest apart, it was truly a psychological thriller indeed that really made you wonder how things can spiral out of control for people at the wink of an eye. And that you never know who walks among us with a mask while harboring psychotic and cruel tendencies in mind. Profane language usage is moderate while there are descriptive instances of sex and romance in the story. The language is quite simple to read and understand which is why this book is perfect for all readers aged 15+.
Rest assured the book is a fabulous read.
@netgalley, @bookouture, Feel free to add me on Goodreads, Edelweiss and Book Sirens for more reviews. (less)
Trigger warnings: blood, violence, attempted murder, murder of children (graphic), miscarriage, abuse, child rape, child pregnancy,
Rating - 3/5
'Appearances can be deceptive.' And this is exactly what My Husband's girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is a all about. A standalone psychological thriller with a catch line in the book cover' She thought her child was in safe hands but she was wrong' and guess what - the deception starts from there itself !! This is one book that is definitely worth a short. To start with, I am absolutely glad that the book title was changed from whisper to My husband's girlfriend as the latter seems all the more relatable to the story in hand.
Divorced couple Sarah and Steve co - parent their 3 year old son Ollie. Both Sarah and Steve have moved on with their relationship. Things are manageable as Sarah spends time with Joe her ex and an officer who too is divorcee, however things start to complicate when Sarah has to take her son to spend time with Steve and his girlfriend Laura. All motherly instincts flare up in Sarah upon meeting Laura for the first time; which only increased further, the more she came to know about her and her family. To the world, Laura appears the perfect stepmother looking to build a beautiful relationship with Ollie but with Sarah that is so not the case. Things escalate to a point when Ollie goes missing and how Sarah attempts to find her child back in a race against time.
The story was a complete roller coaster which practically builds up momentum till the end of the book. It was impossible to even gauge the gender of the culprit till the very end of the story. However there are a few points that need to be mentioned here. Chapter one just kept you hooked to the book but after that it was a slow drag of daily mundane events that was just building up the momentum which at times made me loose interest in the story. There were a couple of incidents that got you hooked but the fire simply dies soon enough. There were points in the story which actually made me wonder what is the mystery or thriller event in the story - an indicator of how slow paced it was. Secondly the narrative was from multi perspective angle which was going back and forth that at times you do get lost a bit. There were certain loopholes or rather questions that were left unsolved in the story even after the end. The story generates a chaotic perspective with so many details that wasn't so essential. For all these reasons I have rated the book as 3 stars.
Rest apart, it was truly a psychological thriller indeed that really made you wonder how things can spiral out of control for people at the wink of an eye. And that you never know who walks among us with a mask while harboring psychotic and cruel tendencies in mind. Profane language usage is moderate while there are descriptive instances of sex and romance in the story. The language is quite simple to read and understand which is why this book is perfect for all readers aged 15+.
Rest assured the book is a fabulous read.
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Trigger warnings: blood, violence, attempted murder, murder of children (graphic), miscarriage, abuse, child rape, child pregnancy,
April 7, 2021
Just brilliant. Thrilling. Tense. Pacy. A heart pounding, spectacular, wonderful read. Amazing. Loved it.
April 8, 2021
Sheryl Browne sure knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat. My Husband's Girlfriend starts off with me thinking this was a predictable story and that I knew exactly where this one was going, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Sarah and her husband Steve have split up and he is moving in with his girlfriend, Laura. Sarah meets Laura and just has an odd feeling. After Ollie's first overnight stay, she becomes worried. Ollie's care bunny is missing and he now has a whale, his room is decorated exactly like his room at home, and Laura is telling him to keep secrets from his mother. Her friends and even her boyfriend who is a police officer, all chock it up to jealousy and thing she needs to relax. well only time will tell if Laura is unstable and if Ollie is in danger.
I can only imagine what Sarah was feeling as she became more and more convinced that Laura was a danger to her child. I was very frustrated with Steve, he took Laura's side no matter what. Ollie was adorable. He loved him mom and dad, so of course he also loved Laura and Joe. When we meet Laura's parents, you know something is off, but what? There were some interesting issues in this book as well, such as loss, grief, mental health, split families and trust. This is a story full of suspense, questions and yes twists. I felt chills at times and could feel evil, but not sure why and who it was targeting. All I will say is that I was so wrong in my ideas, but the final twists and conclusion had my jaw dropping. I enjoyed this story and recommend it to lovers of Domestic Thrills and Suspense. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I can only imagine what Sarah was feeling as she became more and more convinced that Laura was a danger to her child. I was very frustrated with Steve, he took Laura's side no matter what. Ollie was adorable. He loved him mom and dad, so of course he also loved Laura and Joe. When we meet Laura's parents, you know something is off, but what? There were some interesting issues in this book as well, such as loss, grief, mental health, split families and trust. This is a story full of suspense, questions and yes twists. I felt chills at times and could feel evil, but not sure why and who it was targeting. All I will say is that I was so wrong in my ideas, but the final twists and conclusion had my jaw dropping. I enjoyed this story and recommend it to lovers of Domestic Thrills and Suspense. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
March 11, 2021
A great read as usual from this author with good characters, an excellent page turner with lots of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.
February 24, 2021
In a nutshell: Sarah and Steve, parents of three year old Ollie, have split up. Steve has a new girlfriend, Laura, who he wants Ollie to spend time with. Laura seems OK initially, but the more Sarah finds out about her, the weirder she seems, leading Sarah to worry about Ollie’s safety.
It’s got one of those tag lines which they always seem to have - “She thought XYZ. She was wrong.” (I always “hear” this inside my head in an ominous voice accompanied by booming music.)
Unfortunately the story just never really grabbed me, perhaps because the characters never came to life for me. There’re a lot of repetitive scenes of Sarah worrying over the Ollie/Laura situation. Understandable, but not that thrilling to read. Laura herself is clearly a troubled individual, haunted by events she can’t quite remember and prone to sleepwalking. When the revelations do eventually come, it wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting (I didn’t really know what to expect) but I guess it did make sense, though I was left a little confused as to how certain situations had actually come about. I did guess who was responsible when something happens to Ollie near the end.
Laura’s job was also a source of confusion. We are told she is a palliative care nurse - she describes herself as such - but according to her mother she has no qualifications, and her last job was as a teaching assistant. I’m not sure how she managed to become a palliative care nurse without training or qualifications. Possibly she is a healthcare assistant or similar, but she certainly describes herself as a nurse and nobody ever says she isn’t.
I’m sure many people will enjoy this story but unfortunately it didn’t really engage me.
March 21, 2021
Oh my goodness, Sheryl Browne certainly knows how to tell a story that grips and holds you right to the last page. I really felt for Sarah, trying to fight her basic maternal instincts that were screaming at her that something was wrong with her husband’s new girlfriend, Laura, then doubting her gut when she was offered reasonable explanations for her strange behaviour. The story is told in multiple viewpoints so we get to know all the characters and sympathise with most of them although there are a couple of horrors. There are plenty of twists, turns and secrets in the story, and Sheryl’s pacey writing style carries you along and keeps up the tension. I didn’t guess the ending at all, it completely surprised me, so clever. Sheryl is one of my favourite authors and I literally couldn’t put this book down. A recommended read for anyone who likes a fast-paced, twisty thriller with an OMG ending.
March 4, 2021
This is the first of Sheryl Browne's novels published by Bookouture that I read (I knew her from the romance ones she previously had published elsewhere) but it certainly won't be the last.
Being happily childless, I may not be the ideal reader for a story about a mother scared for her child's safety but still, the book's description intrigued me and then it was easy to empathise with Sarah, especially when everyone tried to reassure her and she was so frustrated to look like a "paranoid neurotic" or a ridiculously jealous woman.
The story is told in multiple points of view (but most often Sarah's) alternating in short chapters (which I like), and of course there are twists that make it hard to comment without giving anything away.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes the genre or is interested in trying it... but maybe not to people whose children are about to meet their other parent's new partner for the first time. ;)
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Being happily childless, I may not be the ideal reader for a story about a mother scared for her child's safety but still, the book's description intrigued me and then it was easy to empathise with Sarah, especially when everyone tried to reassure her and she was so frustrated to look like a "paranoid neurotic" or a ridiculously jealous woman.
The story is told in multiple points of view (but most often Sarah's) alternating in short chapters (which I like), and of course there are twists that make it hard to comment without giving anything away.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes the genre or is interested in trying it... but maybe not to people whose children are about to meet their other parent's new partner for the first time. ;)
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
I do like a Sheryl Browne book because I find the domestic thrillers she writes realistic, possible, engaging and extremely easy to read. There aren't any gruesome bits or much violence, instead the tension is created by what is implied and through the unequivocal fact that there is always an emotionally damaged, fatally flawed character (or more) often accompanied by a sense of the ordinary 'victim' not being believed and questioning their own sanity.
In My Husband's Girlfriend, there seems to be the perfect amount of realism, past trauma, love interest and specific details to add an essence of originality to a vastly saturated market for this type of book. The characters are realistically drawn, to the extent that they could live next door to you, and the plot lines are believable because they centre on things that could, unfortunately, so easily happen.
In this novel there is the tug of love and separation anxiety experienced when a couple split but share a child. The plot incorporates the messy emotions which exist when ex partners forge new relationships and there is even more of a desire to protect your offspring and hang on to the linked-by-flesh-and-blood ties, whilst also having to trust in someone who is a stranger that s/he will be caring and kind to the most precious gift you possess.
Sarah adores her almost 4 year old son Ollie and whilst she appreciates Steve, his Dad, also loves him dearly, she feels compelled to check out Steve's new partner Laura now that they are living together.
Sarah is also embarking upon a new relationship with Joe, a very distant old flame and local police officer. Cracks appear rapidly in their tentative attempts at dating because Sarah is overwhelmed with unease at various separate pieces of information simply not adding up where Laura is concerned.
With liberal hints at dark pasts and enough trauma to change a person for good, who can Sarah trust? Can she even trust herself?
Pacy, sinister and shocking, this was another storyline I could only piece together partially, genuinely exclaiming out loud at a twist toward the end.
Highly recommended read for all lovers of the genre and i eagerly await the next Sheryl Browne book. Thanks as always to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read ahead of publication.
In My Husband's Girlfriend, there seems to be the perfect amount of realism, past trauma, love interest and specific details to add an essence of originality to a vastly saturated market for this type of book. The characters are realistically drawn, to the extent that they could live next door to you, and the plot lines are believable because they centre on things that could, unfortunately, so easily happen.
In this novel there is the tug of love and separation anxiety experienced when a couple split but share a child. The plot incorporates the messy emotions which exist when ex partners forge new relationships and there is even more of a desire to protect your offspring and hang on to the linked-by-flesh-and-blood ties, whilst also having to trust in someone who is a stranger that s/he will be caring and kind to the most precious gift you possess.
Sarah adores her almost 4 year old son Ollie and whilst she appreciates Steve, his Dad, also loves him dearly, she feels compelled to check out Steve's new partner Laura now that they are living together.
Sarah is also embarking upon a new relationship with Joe, a very distant old flame and local police officer. Cracks appear rapidly in their tentative attempts at dating because Sarah is overwhelmed with unease at various separate pieces of information simply not adding up where Laura is concerned.
With liberal hints at dark pasts and enough trauma to change a person for good, who can Sarah trust? Can she even trust herself?
Pacy, sinister and shocking, this was another storyline I could only piece together partially, genuinely exclaiming out loud at a twist toward the end.
Highly recommended read for all lovers of the genre and i eagerly await the next Sheryl Browne book. Thanks as always to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read ahead of publication.
June 24, 2021
Sarah & Steve have broken up but they have been able to continue to be civil to each other for the sake of their son Ollie, who spends most of the time with Sarah, going to Steve at weekends. Now Steve has a new partner & Sarah wants to meet her before Ollie goes to stay with them. Laura strikes Sarah as a pleasant but rather nervous with a stammer when she is nervous. Sarah thought the meeting had gone quite well. Sarah also has a new partner who is also divorced (thought it was a bit rich her wanting to meet Laura when she hadn't even mentioned Joe to Steve!!) Ollie seems to get on well with Laura although there are soon things Sarah is not happy about.
Told from various points of view, this was quite a convoluted tale. I found it a good read even if at times I found the actions/reactions of the characters were asking for a bit of a stretch of belief. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Told from various points of view, this was quite a convoluted tale. I found it a good read even if at times I found the actions/reactions of the characters were asking for a bit of a stretch of belief. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
April 4, 2021
A new author to me.
This is a slow burning domestic thriller exploring the feelings,anxieties and jealousies of parents when the family unit breaks down and co parenting begins with new family dynamics. It has an easy reading writing style.
Sarah notices Ollie’s behaviour changes after his first sleep over with his dad and new girlfriend and has concerns. It culminates when Ollie who is 4 disappears while Sarah is distracted by a parcel delivery. Who is the culprit? He doesn’t disappear until late on in the book when doubt has been cast on several characters reliability.
There are 4 main narrators the mom Sarah, the ex Steve with his new girlfriend Laura and Sarah’s fledgling romance with Joe. Each telling their side of the story which leads to a bit of overlap.
Sarah comes over as the hysterical neurotic mother and an unreliable narrator. She demonstrates double standards she introduces Ollie to Joe on their first date, but questions Steve wanting him to meet his girlfriend Laura wanting to vet her first.
Laura comes across as trying too hard, she has her own historic issues. Laura has a speech impediment and feels socially awkward because of it. There are some early red flags about her behaviour. She also appears to be an unreliable narrator.
Other minor characters start to look unstable too to add to the mix.
The tension and pace ramp up at the end.
The ending felt abrupt, it is full of twists and turns but the antagonist felt unconvincing.
I didn’t feel that I managed to fully engage with this book. Although I feel I must point out that I do struggle to engage with some psychological thrillers as I find the tropes of the genre some times difficult to accept.
This is a slow burning domestic thriller exploring the feelings,anxieties and jealousies of parents when the family unit breaks down and co parenting begins with new family dynamics. It has an easy reading writing style.
Sarah notices Ollie’s behaviour changes after his first sleep over with his dad and new girlfriend and has concerns. It culminates when Ollie who is 4 disappears while Sarah is distracted by a parcel delivery. Who is the culprit? He doesn’t disappear until late on in the book when doubt has been cast on several characters reliability.
There are 4 main narrators the mom Sarah, the ex Steve with his new girlfriend Laura and Sarah’s fledgling romance with Joe. Each telling their side of the story which leads to a bit of overlap.
Sarah comes over as the hysterical neurotic mother and an unreliable narrator. She demonstrates double standards she introduces Ollie to Joe on their first date, but questions Steve wanting him to meet his girlfriend Laura wanting to vet her first.
Laura comes across as trying too hard, she has her own historic issues. Laura has a speech impediment and feels socially awkward because of it. There are some early red flags about her behaviour. She also appears to be an unreliable narrator.
Other minor characters start to look unstable too to add to the mix.
The tension and pace ramp up at the end.
The ending felt abrupt, it is full of twists and turns but the antagonist felt unconvincing.
I didn’t feel that I managed to fully engage with this book. Although I feel I must point out that I do struggle to engage with some psychological thrillers as I find the tropes of the genre some times difficult to accept.
May 16, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of My Husband's Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne.
5 star read- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- This follows Couple Sarah and Steve, whom are 3 year old Ollie's Parents... Steve has recently split and he has moved in with his new girlfriend Laura. Sarah is not comfortable with Laura she feels uneasy. She knew something wasn't right from the very very start. She told steve but he just told her that she is jealous and he brushed it off as nothing. She was only doing this due to her mother instincts and only want what is best for her child and for the safety of their child! But no one is listening to her. Lots of secrets from the past! truths to be told!
Such a gripping, thrilling, enthralling ride of emotions! so good recommend highly!
5 star read- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- This follows Couple Sarah and Steve, whom are 3 year old Ollie's Parents... Steve has recently split and he has moved in with his new girlfriend Laura. Sarah is not comfortable with Laura she feels uneasy. She knew something wasn't right from the very very start. She told steve but he just told her that she is jealous and he brushed it off as nothing. She was only doing this due to her mother instincts and only want what is best for her child and for the safety of their child! But no one is listening to her. Lots of secrets from the past! truths to be told!
Such a gripping, thrilling, enthralling ride of emotions! so good recommend highly!
April 19, 2021
OH.MY.WORD! THIS book was crazy, crazy good....with an emphasis on CRAZY! Oh, and GOOD! I have actually loved every book I have read by this author and I swear with each book she shocks and impresses me more. This in fact is one of my new favorites, it was just that good. The plot, the characters, the craziness...well, wow. I loved it and anyone who loves a good book that's like an onion, with so many layers and a spectacular twist will love this book too. Get it, read it, you will not be able to put it down. What are you waiting for?? GO GET IT NOW!
May 16, 2023
Im sad that I didnt put this book down early on when I thought it was dragging. It kept going over the same issues, then getting resolved, same issue, resolved. It was obvious from the begging what the ending would be. Also it lacked so many details. There was supposed to be so much love between the husband and new girlfriend yet we learned nothing about the love. So very hard to believe. Ugh waste of time.
March 3, 2025
Very good book, kept you guessing all through, didn't expect the twist at the end though
April 15, 2021
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! Another great read by one of my favorite authors. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and the ending blew my mind. Sheryl Browne NEVER disappoints. If you are a fan of psychological suspense then this is a must read. Clear your calendar because you are not going to want to put this book down until the final page.
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