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Such a Good Wife
Betrayal was just the beginning…
Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2021
507 people are currently reading
13235 people want to read
About the author
Seraphina Nova Glass
10 books3,257 followersSeraphina Nova Glass is a two-time EDGAR AWARD nominated author. Hew novel, On A Quiet Street, was a New York Times Summer Read, a #1 Amazon Bestseller, and Editor’s Pick. It was also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle.
Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.
Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,012 reviews
November 26, 2022
Slow burn psychological/ domestic thriller that you find yourself drawn into its rich deeply layered character driven writing!
I am kind of true addict WTH I just read books with so many twists and never see it coming revelations. This book is so different from my normal smart, mind blowing, fast pacing thrillers but I still enjoyed it too much because...
Well, Melanie Hale is flawed but honest heroine who makes us truly feel how a person who is suffocating, trapped in her own life, trying to find a way to escape from her own realities for just a second to breathe!
You can feel her cry for help, giving up her own writing career to take care of her son who is at the spectrum of mental illness. And she also finds herself taking care of Colin’s mother who suffers from dementia, slowly dying, losing her cognitive skills. Let’s not forget her daughter who turns into a sulking, whiny teenage.
Colin is buried his head into his work. Even though he’s the sweet and kindest guy, the flame they had before already diminished!
Melanie feels lost, breathless, lonely, unhappy, exhausted, unfulfilled ! She tries to join the book club to connect with her privileged, pretentious, gossiping neighbors which results as disaster.
Colin suggests her attend a writing group at a bookstore. And she meets with charming Luke, a romance writer, who rocks her world. She feels the attraction and she tries to resist but she cannot! So she cheats, she hates herself but she cannot stop because first time in her life she feels alive! The forbidden intimacy, the undeniable attraction between them crushes into guilt feelings, her responsibilities to her family.
She decides to end things between them but as she stops by his house, she finds him lying on a blood pool! It’s too late! And somebody sees her living his place! Somebody tries to blackmail her! She is already summoned to the police station. Could she be the prime suspect because of a crime she didn’t commit! Who may have killed Luke? An ex? A rival? Somebody she knows?
This is more a psychological, slow burn, high tension suspense novel with detailed and impeccably well crafted characters. The characters’ evolving at the risky situations pick your interest more than the ongoing investigation.
It was solid, well written suspense reading with impressive character building. That’s not my favorite kind of exciting, intriguing thriller novel but I still couldn’t put it down till the end and the conclusion was outstandingly great which made me rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 steamy, intriguing stars!
Even though our heroine has flaws, telling lies, cheating, you can easily resonate with her and understand her misery, desperation without prejudging her.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin / Graydon House for providing me this digital reviewer copy in exchange my honest thoughts.
I am kind of true addict WTH I just read books with so many twists and never see it coming revelations. This book is so different from my normal smart, mind blowing, fast pacing thrillers but I still enjoyed it too much because...
Well, Melanie Hale is flawed but honest heroine who makes us truly feel how a person who is suffocating, trapped in her own life, trying to find a way to escape from her own realities for just a second to breathe!
You can feel her cry for help, giving up her own writing career to take care of her son who is at the spectrum of mental illness. And she also finds herself taking care of Colin’s mother who suffers from dementia, slowly dying, losing her cognitive skills. Let’s not forget her daughter who turns into a sulking, whiny teenage.
Colin is buried his head into his work. Even though he’s the sweet and kindest guy, the flame they had before already diminished!
Melanie feels lost, breathless, lonely, unhappy, exhausted, unfulfilled ! She tries to join the book club to connect with her privileged, pretentious, gossiping neighbors which results as disaster.
Colin suggests her attend a writing group at a bookstore. And she meets with charming Luke, a romance writer, who rocks her world. She feels the attraction and she tries to resist but she cannot! So she cheats, she hates herself but she cannot stop because first time in her life she feels alive! The forbidden intimacy, the undeniable attraction between them crushes into guilt feelings, her responsibilities to her family.
She decides to end things between them but as she stops by his house, she finds him lying on a blood pool! It’s too late! And somebody sees her living his place! Somebody tries to blackmail her! She is already summoned to the police station. Could she be the prime suspect because of a crime she didn’t commit! Who may have killed Luke? An ex? A rival? Somebody she knows?
This is more a psychological, slow burn, high tension suspense novel with detailed and impeccably well crafted characters. The characters’ evolving at the risky situations pick your interest more than the ongoing investigation.
It was solid, well written suspense reading with impressive character building. That’s not my favorite kind of exciting, intriguing thriller novel but I still couldn’t put it down till the end and the conclusion was outstandingly great which made me rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 steamy, intriguing stars!
Even though our heroine has flaws, telling lies, cheating, you can easily resonate with her and understand her misery, desperation without prejudging her.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin / Graydon House for providing me this digital reviewer copy in exchange my honest thoughts.
March 21, 2021
Such A Good Wife...As if!
Melanie is happily married to Collin. They have a teenaged daughter and younger son, and also care for Collin’s mom, who is pretty much on her deathbed. Despite some struggles, they remain happy. Melanie has always wanted to be a writer, so when Collin convinces her to join a writing group at the local bookstore, she decides to give it a go.
That’s her first mistake.
At the bookstore, she meets a well known romance author named Luke. Immediately smitten and not able to hide her rapidly growing desires, Melanie begins an affair with him. Despite her guilt, she keeps it up until it finally dawns on her what the fallout could be if her family ever found out.
She decides to break it off, and goes to his house to do it in person. Unfortunately, Melanie never has a chance to tell him...because Luke is dead. What’s worse is that someone seems to know she was seeing him.
If only she never went to the bookstore.
When a book has mostly all unlikeable characters, it’s important for me to still be able to root for one if I’m going to enjoy it. Luckily, I was rooting for Melanie despite her moral issues. This is a fun read with simmering suspense throughout. While the tension doesn’t necessarily build, there are a couple unexpected surprises and a deliciously wicked ending that borders on bonkers...but totally works.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I look forward to more. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to HarperCollins/Graydon House for sending me a widget for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on: 8/10/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Melanie is happily married to Collin. They have a teenaged daughter and younger son, and also care for Collin’s mom, who is pretty much on her deathbed. Despite some struggles, they remain happy. Melanie has always wanted to be a writer, so when Collin convinces her to join a writing group at the local bookstore, she decides to give it a go.
That’s her first mistake.
At the bookstore, she meets a well known romance author named Luke. Immediately smitten and not able to hide her rapidly growing desires, Melanie begins an affair with him. Despite her guilt, she keeps it up until it finally dawns on her what the fallout could be if her family ever found out.
She decides to break it off, and goes to his house to do it in person. Unfortunately, Melanie never has a chance to tell him...because Luke is dead. What’s worse is that someone seems to know she was seeing him.
If only she never went to the bookstore.
When a book has mostly all unlikeable characters, it’s important for me to still be able to root for one if I’m going to enjoy it. Luckily, I was rooting for Melanie despite her moral issues. This is a fun read with simmering suspense throughout. While the tension doesn’t necessarily build, there are a couple unexpected surprises and a deliciously wicked ending that borders on bonkers...but totally works.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I look forward to more. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to HarperCollins/Graydon House for sending me a widget for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on: 8/10/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
August 13, 2021
Oh, this was fun! For all appearances, Mel is the perfect wife. She cares for her ill mother-in-law, dotes on her husband, Colin, and two children, and everyone loves her.
Mel has two sides, though. Underneath the surface, there are many cracks because she’s overwhelmed and hurting. She begins an affair with a local author named Luke. Mel’s deception allows her to feel more confident and empowered.
Mel finds Luke passed away in his home, and now all her secrets might be bared. And how does Mel keep herself from being associated with Luke’s death while also preserving those secrets?
Such a Good Wife is a nailbiter. I read it quickly, and it had just the kind of fast pace I enjoy in my thrillers. Mel is a complex character who really gets under your skin. I enjoyed watching those last twists unfold to see how the chips would fall for her. I definitely want to read more from this author and recommend this one highly to thriller fans who are looking for a fun and suspenseful story that’s not overly dark.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Mel has two sides, though. Underneath the surface, there are many cracks because she’s overwhelmed and hurting. She begins an affair with a local author named Luke. Mel’s deception allows her to feel more confident and empowered.
Mel finds Luke passed away in his home, and now all her secrets might be bared. And how does Mel keep herself from being associated with Luke’s death while also preserving those secrets?
Such a Good Wife is a nailbiter. I read it quickly, and it had just the kind of fast pace I enjoy in my thrillers. Mel is a complex character who really gets under your skin. I enjoyed watching those last twists unfold to see how the chips would fall for her. I definitely want to read more from this author and recommend this one highly to thriller fans who are looking for a fun and suspenseful story that’s not overly dark.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
January 7, 2022
EXCERPT: I look at my shaky hands on the steering wheel and notice I don't have my wedding ring on. That whole time, he never saw a ring. Not that Luke Ellison was flirting with me. I am 100 per cent positive that the stress has made me delusional,and he was just being friendly the way he would with anyone he found sitting reading his book. He wasn't making a pass. No.
I look at my naked ring finger. I didn't leave it off intentionally. I was making turkey meatballs with Ben, and I was wrist deep in raw meat. Last time we made them, bits got stuck in the grooves in my ring, and it took me half a day to figure out why a tinny, bloody smell was following me around. It's sitting on the windowsill above the sink right now. But it doesn't matter. He wasn't coming on to me. I didn't do anything wrong. Except that I was going to let him.
ABOUT 'SUCH A GOOD WIFE': Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
MY THOUGHTS: Every now and then I come across a book that is deliciously trashy and that I just love. Such a Good Wife doesn't quite make the grade, but it comes close. It's a good read and I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.
The characters are all flawed, and even though Mel makes some stupid decisions I could relate to her. I loved her take on the book club women. I think we all know women like them!
I had totally the wrong person picked for who had killed Luke, so that was a twist that surprised me. I'm still not 100% sure about the ending. On one hand I think it was quite clever, but I think it would be extremely difficult for Mel to have done what she did and pull it off.
One thing puzzled me though, and that was how Mel, who has her mother-in-law Claire who has dementia living with her, sometimes hires a day nurse to look after Claire while she keeps her assignations, and at other times seems to just waltz off and leave Claire to fend for herself. Minor quibble, I know, but it annoyed me.
Altogether Such a Good Wife is a quick, easy and entertaining read.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#SuchaGoodWife #NetGalley
I: @seraphinanovaglass @titanbooks
T: @SeraphinaNova @TitanBooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Seraphina Nova Glass is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Playwright-In-Residence at the University of Texas, Arlington where she teaches Film Studies and Playwriting.
She holds an MFA degree in Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Titan Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I look at my naked ring finger. I didn't leave it off intentionally. I was making turkey meatballs with Ben, and I was wrist deep in raw meat. Last time we made them, bits got stuck in the grooves in my ring, and it took me half a day to figure out why a tinny, bloody smell was following me around. It's sitting on the windowsill above the sink right now. But it doesn't matter. He wasn't coming on to me. I didn't do anything wrong. Except that I was going to let him.
ABOUT 'SUCH A GOOD WIFE': Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
MY THOUGHTS: Every now and then I come across a book that is deliciously trashy and that I just love. Such a Good Wife doesn't quite make the grade, but it comes close. It's a good read and I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.
The characters are all flawed, and even though Mel makes some stupid decisions I could relate to her. I loved her take on the book club women. I think we all know women like them!
I had totally the wrong person picked for who had killed Luke, so that was a twist that surprised me. I'm still not 100% sure about the ending. On one hand I think it was quite clever, but I think it would be extremely difficult for Mel to have done what she did and pull it off.
One thing puzzled me though, and that was how Mel, who has her mother-in-law Claire who has dementia living with her, sometimes hires a day nurse to look after Claire while she keeps her assignations, and at other times seems to just waltz off and leave Claire to fend for herself. Minor quibble, I know, but it annoyed me.
Altogether Such a Good Wife is a quick, easy and entertaining read.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#SuchaGoodWife #NetGalley
I: @seraphinanovaglass @titanbooks
T: @SeraphinaNova @TitanBooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Seraphina Nova Glass is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Playwright-In-Residence at the University of Texas, Arlington where she teaches Film Studies and Playwriting.
She holds an MFA degree in Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Titan Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 5, 2021
This is an engrossing domestic suspense novel. I enjoyed the first book I read by Glass last year, and this one is just as imaginative.
I do not generally care for cheating in a book, and in this one I barely tolerated it, but since I knew from the beginning that it wasn't going to turn out well, I just went with it. I could honestly empathize a bit with Mel--trying to be a wife, mother to a teen daughter and special needs son, daughter-in-law to her husband's aging invalid mother who lives with them, and loses herself in the process. That helped me to care about her and what happened to her, no matter how much I disapproved of some of her choices. The daughter's teen angst is written SO well, as is the cattiness of the neighborhood ladies. My only issue is that a few of those threads, especially with the book club friends, could have been juicy elements to the story but they are mentioned and then not explored further.
As I said above, this is more of a domestic suspense than a true mystery. There are a couple of decent twists, but overall it's fairly straightforward. It's a bit of a slow burn, because there's not a great deal of action, however the characters (for the most part) don't do outlandish unrealistic things like in most books I've read lately, so it was a refreshing change. It also shows that an author can write a compelling novel without armchair detectives and eye-rolling moments (except the cheating, I will always roll my eyes at that) and still keep the reader entertained and invested.
Overall this is a great summer suspense novel sure to entertain.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I do not generally care for cheating in a book, and in this one I barely tolerated it, but since I knew from the beginning that it wasn't going to turn out well, I just went with it. I could honestly empathize a bit with Mel--trying to be a wife, mother to a teen daughter and special needs son, daughter-in-law to her husband's aging invalid mother who lives with them, and loses herself in the process. That helped me to care about her and what happened to her, no matter how much I disapproved of some of her choices. The daughter's teen angst is written SO well, as is the cattiness of the neighborhood ladies. My only issue is that a few of those threads, especially with the book club friends, could have been juicy elements to the story but they are mentioned and then not explored further.
As I said above, this is more of a domestic suspense than a true mystery. There are a couple of decent twists, but overall it's fairly straightforward. It's a bit of a slow burn, because there's not a great deal of action, however the characters (for the most part) don't do outlandish unrealistic things like in most books I've read lately, so it was a refreshing change. It also shows that an author can write a compelling novel without armchair detectives and eye-rolling moments (except the cheating, I will always roll my eyes at that) and still keep the reader entertained and invested.
Overall this is a great summer suspense novel sure to entertain.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 19, 2021
Mel is such a good wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. Her life is constantly busy as she takes care of her children and mother-in-law. You'd think she could do no wrong, but she makes a mistake that causes her life to spiral out of control. All of a sudden, her tidy and fairly predictable life becomes a nightmare. Calm and collected Mel quickly becomes tense and paranoid. Before long she's in way over her head, as she struggles to keep up with her lies and those around her.
This was a domestic thriller I couldn't put down. The mess Mel got involved in kept me hooked from beginning to end. You'll definitely find yourself questioning the moral compass of such a good wife, and will feel the tension and suspense throughout.
I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands, who really brought the story to life.
This was a domestic thriller I couldn't put down. The mess Mel got involved in kept me hooked from beginning to end. You'll definitely find yourself questioning the moral compass of such a good wife, and will feel the tension and suspense throughout.
I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Xe Sands, who really brought the story to life.
September 15, 2021
A good wife, mom, daughter-in-law, and neighbor, are all ways to describe Melanie Hale, who dutifully fulfills each of these roles despite being exhausted and wanting an activity for herself again.
Melanie joins a writing group and while there, meets a local author named Luke. She unexpectedly has an affair with him, which is very out of character for her. When something big happens, Melanie is faced with difficult decisions and must to decide how far she’ll go to protect her family … And, that’s all you need to know — Read or listen to Such a Good Wife!
While I like audiobooks, it usually takes me a little longer to get through them, however, I flew through this one in just a few days, eager to continue listening whenever I could. Xe Sands is a great narrator and I had to see how things played out for Melanie.
Thanks to Renee (@itsbooktalk) for this recommendation on a recent podcast episode of @booktalketc
Melanie joins a writing group and while there, meets a local author named Luke. She unexpectedly has an affair with him, which is very out of character for her. When something big happens, Melanie is faced with difficult decisions and must to decide how far she’ll go to protect her family … And, that’s all you need to know — Read or listen to Such a Good Wife!
While I like audiobooks, it usually takes me a little longer to get through them, however, I flew through this one in just a few days, eager to continue listening whenever I could. Xe Sands is a great narrator and I had to see how things played out for Melanie.
Thanks to Renee (@itsbooktalk) for this recommendation on a recent podcast episode of @booktalketc
August 22, 2021
On the surface, Melanie (Mel) Hale’s world is fulfilling. She’s married to Collin who’s a successful provider and dotes on her. They have two children, Rachel and Bennett who is on the spectrum, and she is the primary caregiver for her mother-in-law Claire who is suffering from the final stages of dementia. But deep down, Mel feels a weariness, questioning whether there’s more in life and if she made a mistake in not pursuing her own dreams as a writer. When Collin signs her up to participate in a writer’s group and makes plans to free her up time wise so she can attend, it sounds like the perfect balm. Though the group is a disappointment, Luke Ellison, the local writer reading a passage from his published book to a captive audience nearby is certainly not. Their later meeting at the bookstore’s cafe is life changing. And when he turns up dead, things get desperate.
One of my most disliked book tropes is cheating partners so I coached myself to have an open mind about Mel before I even began this story. Surprisingly (even to me!), I was able to do that and just follow the flow of the story. But, I couldn’t help prodding her from the sidelines to not make the choices she eventually fell prey to doing. I could see the train wrecks coming (yes, there were multiple ones), even though they were not predictable. What was fascinating to see was how far Mel was willing to go to protect herself, her children and her husband. She took some treacherous, dangerous paths that shocked me but, in the end, we’re understandable.
This story crashed my sensibilities, had me rooting for someone I wasn’t even sure I liked let alone admired. I still can’t believe I wanted her to come out of this unscathed and to not be implicated in Luke’s death. There are a few red herrings and they are oh, so good. While I had a suspicion as to what caused Luke’s death, I was still surprised at the outcome. But, the mystery takes a back seat to the brilliance of Mel’s characterization. I’ve never been so conflicted about someone I normally would have easily written off. That’s a tribute to the writing and the outstanding performance by the narrator, Xe Sands. Despite my high expectations of her, she made this story come alive for me in giving exceptional voice to Mel. I’m thrilled I opted for the audio version but don’t expect a tidy little ending. It was perfect.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
One of my most disliked book tropes is cheating partners so I coached myself to have an open mind about Mel before I even began this story. Surprisingly (even to me!), I was able to do that and just follow the flow of the story. But, I couldn’t help prodding her from the sidelines to not make the choices she eventually fell prey to doing. I could see the train wrecks coming (yes, there were multiple ones), even though they were not predictable. What was fascinating to see was how far Mel was willing to go to protect herself, her children and her husband. She took some treacherous, dangerous paths that shocked me but, in the end, we’re understandable.
This story crashed my sensibilities, had me rooting for someone I wasn’t even sure I liked let alone admired. I still can’t believe I wanted her to come out of this unscathed and to not be implicated in Luke’s death. There are a few red herrings and they are oh, so good. While I had a suspicion as to what caused Luke’s death, I was still surprised at the outcome. But, the mystery takes a back seat to the brilliance of Mel’s characterization. I’ve never been so conflicted about someone I normally would have easily written off. That’s a tribute to the writing and the outstanding performance by the narrator, Xe Sands. Despite my high expectations of her, she made this story come alive for me in giving exceptional voice to Mel. I’m thrilled I opted for the audio version but don’t expect a tidy little ending. It was perfect.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
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November 3, 2025Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she’s a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
I tried really hard to grin and bare the start of Such a Good Wife hoping to get through the story of how married woman Mel meets and begins cheating with local author Luke. I just wanted to get to the part where Luke is found dead and Mel’s life devolves into trying to keep her brief affair secret, but I just couldn’t. I mean, I did give it a whopping third of the book to improve. I think it was the fact that everything I read felt more like a love story between a cheating spouse and her not even devoted lover that really got to me. Sigh.
On top of that, however, a subplot developed that just made me uncomfortable. Perhaps it grows into an integral part of the storyline, but the entire time I was reading this book, it just felt as though it was thrown in there for an extra bit of vile behavior. I mean, is anyone in this small Louisiana town (besides Mel’s adoring husband and her two boisterous kids) not loathsome and offensive?
There were, of course, some pluses. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet relationship between Mel and husband Collin, but it ultimately made me itch to shake her for what she was doing with Luke in the first place. On top of that, the depiction of her son’s autism was incredibly genuine and true-to-life so I have to hand it to Glass for that. But, honestly, the only other redeeming quality, in my opinion, were the humanizing relationships between Mel and her family and their intensely layered characters.
All in all, this one, despite me not finishing, was better than others that I’ve DNFed, which is why I tried to stick it out for so long. Part of that was because I absolutely adored Glass’s novel On a Quiet Street and wanted to give this one a decent shot. And, in the end, it won’t stop me from trying others by the author because it was the subject matter that got to me and not the execution or poor writing. So, who knows, maybe I’m just a prude. Rating of DNF.
Trigger warning: cancer, dementia, infidelity, rape, assault (not complete as I DNFed this one)
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She’s exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers’ group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she’s transformed into a role she doesn’t recognize—a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.
When Mel finds Luke’s dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke’s death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they—and she—go to keep those secrets hidden?
I tried really hard to grin and bare the start of Such a Good Wife hoping to get through the story of how married woman Mel meets and begins cheating with local author Luke. I just wanted to get to the part where Luke is found dead and Mel’s life devolves into trying to keep her brief affair secret, but I just couldn’t. I mean, I did give it a whopping third of the book to improve. I think it was the fact that everything I read felt more like a love story between a cheating spouse and her not even devoted lover that really got to me. Sigh.
On top of that, however, a subplot developed that just made me uncomfortable. Perhaps it grows into an integral part of the storyline, but the entire time I was reading this book, it just felt as though it was thrown in there for an extra bit of vile behavior. I mean, is anyone in this small Louisiana town (besides Mel’s adoring husband and her two boisterous kids) not loathsome and offensive?
There were, of course, some pluses. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet relationship between Mel and husband Collin, but it ultimately made me itch to shake her for what she was doing with Luke in the first place. On top of that, the depiction of her son’s autism was incredibly genuine and true-to-life so I have to hand it to Glass for that. But, honestly, the only other redeeming quality, in my opinion, were the humanizing relationships between Mel and her family and their intensely layered characters.
All in all, this one, despite me not finishing, was better than others that I’ve DNFed, which is why I tried to stick it out for so long. Part of that was because I absolutely adored Glass’s novel On a Quiet Street and wanted to give this one a decent shot. And, in the end, it won’t stop me from trying others by the author because it was the subject matter that got to me and not the execution or poor writing. So, who knows, maybe I’m just a prude. Rating of DNF.
Trigger warning: cancer, dementia, infidelity, rape, assault (not complete as I DNFed this one)
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
January 18, 2022
Deception gives us temporary peace. And yet, no one seems to notice the length of its tentacles that leave deep furrows leading all the way back to its source.
Such A Good Wife led me down a Louisiana garden path to the ol' front porch of Melanie and Collin Hale and their two young children. Melanie has her hands full with twelve year old Rachel sending out the static of adolescence in every direction. Eight year old Ben is on the spectrum of Autism and Mel has worked hard to get him into a top-notch school with dedicated teachers. She also cares for Collin's mother who is suffering from dementia. There's not much time to even catch her breath.
Collin, a good husband to go along with that good wife, encourages Melanie to attend a writing class at the local book store in town. Melanie has always wanted to be a writer and she's put aside her dreams for her family.
You know when something beckons you in an ill-set direction. Mel hears the voice of a local published author in the back of the store who is reading excerpts from his latest book. The crowd leans into the suggestive tones that are peppered with Louisiana heat. Luke Ellison has the older women flushed and buying copies of his work. And our sweet Melanie will experience actions rather than just words from Luke that fateful night. And the actions just keep a comin'......with Melanie wondering how she waded into the depth of this bayou.
Seraphina Nova Glass, you grabbed me with the set-up of small town family life and just the mention that a "book store" was involved. You placed Mel in a no-win situation that called to our imaginations. Then you set a whale-sized set of circumstances in the middle of the road. We all bought it and we were glued to the page. But then, when you step in dog doodoo you're gonna leave tracks.
Such A Good Wife was such a good read until the wrap-up faced the impossibility of closure. I certainly won't go into detail or give anything away. Let's just say that a heinous act is still a heinous act no matter how you justify it. That's why this one is sitting with a more than generous 3 Stars from me. Urgh, I wanted a far better ending. Glass, you shattered me. (Oh, pun intended.)
I'd encourage you to read Such A Good Wife. So many have rated it much higher with stellar reviews. Take it out for a spin and see what you think.
Such A Good Wife led me down a Louisiana garden path to the ol' front porch of Melanie and Collin Hale and their two young children. Melanie has her hands full with twelve year old Rachel sending out the static of adolescence in every direction. Eight year old Ben is on the spectrum of Autism and Mel has worked hard to get him into a top-notch school with dedicated teachers. She also cares for Collin's mother who is suffering from dementia. There's not much time to even catch her breath.
Collin, a good husband to go along with that good wife, encourages Melanie to attend a writing class at the local book store in town. Melanie has always wanted to be a writer and she's put aside her dreams for her family.
You know when something beckons you in an ill-set direction. Mel hears the voice of a local published author in the back of the store who is reading excerpts from his latest book. The crowd leans into the suggestive tones that are peppered with Louisiana heat. Luke Ellison has the older women flushed and buying copies of his work. And our sweet Melanie will experience actions rather than just words from Luke that fateful night. And the actions just keep a comin'......with Melanie wondering how she waded into the depth of this bayou.
Seraphina Nova Glass, you grabbed me with the set-up of small town family life and just the mention that a "book store" was involved. You placed Mel in a no-win situation that called to our imaginations. Then you set a whale-sized set of circumstances in the middle of the road. We all bought it and we were glued to the page. But then, when you step in dog doodoo you're gonna leave tracks.
Such A Good Wife was such a good read until the wrap-up faced the impossibility of closure. I certainly won't go into detail or give anything away. Let's just say that a heinous act is still a heinous act no matter how you justify it. That's why this one is sitting with a more than generous 3 Stars from me. Urgh, I wanted a far better ending. Glass, you shattered me. (Oh, pun intended.)
I'd encourage you to read Such A Good Wife. So many have rated it much higher with stellar reviews. Take it out for a spin and see what you think.
June 13, 2021
Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass is a thriller read that really gives away what you will get simply by the title. Melanie Hale is our main character who we are to believe is such a good wife. Melanie is the type of woman that others envy looking as if she has it all, two wonderful children and a loving husband. What more could Melanie possibly need?
Melanie however isn’t as happy as she seems on the outside. One day Melanie decides to do something for herself and attend a local writer’s group hoping for a bit of inspiration in her life and her writing. However, after the meeting Melanie finds herself flirting with Luke, a charming writer who Melanie somewhat envies his exciting life style.
Melanie doesn’t quite know why or how she ended up in an affair with Luke or how to break things off now that it has happened. Sneaking moments with Luke became too addicting and Melanie knows she needs to call it off before she ruins her family and marriage but when Melanie walks in and finds Luke’s dead body she panics and runs and now Melanie lives in fear of anyone connecting her to Luke.
Such a Good Wife is another thriller that for me had it’s positives and it’s negatives while reading. The book really was a slow burner as it spends a lot of time on Melanie contemplating the affair and really seemed to drag that all out. The book for me did pick up though and have me engaged in the whodunnit all of the story and I thought it wrapped up in a twisted and fascinating way which I liked. Overall I’m giving this one three and a half stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Melanie however isn’t as happy as she seems on the outside. One day Melanie decides to do something for herself and attend a local writer’s group hoping for a bit of inspiration in her life and her writing. However, after the meeting Melanie finds herself flirting with Luke, a charming writer who Melanie somewhat envies his exciting life style.
Melanie doesn’t quite know why or how she ended up in an affair with Luke or how to break things off now that it has happened. Sneaking moments with Luke became too addicting and Melanie knows she needs to call it off before she ruins her family and marriage but when Melanie walks in and finds Luke’s dead body she panics and runs and now Melanie lives in fear of anyone connecting her to Luke.
Such a Good Wife is another thriller that for me had it’s positives and it’s negatives while reading. The book really was a slow burner as it spends a lot of time on Melanie contemplating the affair and really seemed to drag that all out. The book for me did pick up though and have me engaged in the whodunnit all of the story and I thought it wrapped up in a twisted and fascinating way which I liked. Overall I’m giving this one three and a half stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 1, 2021
Melanie is married to Collin and they have two children: a teenaged daughter and a younger son with special needs. Collin's mother, who is in poor health and requires help with daily activities, also lives with them. Melanie joins a writing group which meets at the local bookstore where she encounters a popular romance author named Luke who is at the bookstore to promote his book and eventually she begins an affair with him. Luke ends up dead and someone seems to know about Melanie's affair with him.
I quite liked Melanie and, even though I read the book blurb, I was very disappointed in her when she started this affair, as if the actual book was going to be different from the synopsis. There are a few pretty steamy sex scenes but there's also lots of suspense and some family drama involving Collin's mother which I thought was going to go somewhere and didn't. Although I guessed whodunnit (very unusual for me), I was very anxious to find out how the story would end. I was ultimately disappointed in the ending but it did wrap things up neatly. Well written and a smooth read.
This is the first book by Seraphina Nova Glass (and may I say, what a classy name!) that I've read and I enjoyed it a great deal. I look forward to reading some of her other works. This book is very similar to I Don't Forgive You although I'm not very far into that book and, even though they're both good books, I don't recommend reading them too closely together.
I won an ARC of Such a Good Wife in a Goodreads giveaway so thanks to them and to Graydon House, the publisher, as well as BookClubbish, the creator of the giveaway.
Available August 10, 2021
I quite liked Melanie and, even though I read the book blurb, I was very disappointed in her when she started this affair, as if the actual book was going to be different from the synopsis. There are a few pretty steamy sex scenes but there's also lots of suspense and some family drama involving Collin's mother which I thought was going to go somewhere and didn't. Although I guessed whodunnit (very unusual for me), I was very anxious to find out how the story would end. I was ultimately disappointed in the ending but it did wrap things up neatly. Well written and a smooth read.
This is the first book by Seraphina Nova Glass (and may I say, what a classy name!) that I've read and I enjoyed it a great deal. I look forward to reading some of her other works. This book is very similar to I Don't Forgive You although I'm not very far into that book and, even though they're both good books, I don't recommend reading them too closely together.
I won an ARC of Such a Good Wife in a Goodreads giveaway so thanks to them and to Graydon House, the publisher, as well as BookClubbish, the creator of the giveaway.
Available August 10, 2021
November 20, 2021
Most readers liked this but unfortunately I did not 😖. I think for me while it was a fast read it was slow at same time. If that makes sense. Mels personality along with her family seemed contrived and at times just filler in the novel. The ending did pique my interest but by that point I was over her. She went from kind of a blubbering adolescent to then masterminding a plot to tie things up. Just not for me, I don’t need things to be realistic but this pushed the boundaries for me in terms of the characters personalities. Was a library book so no harm no foul. On to next one
July 26, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was only my second Seraphina Nova Glass book, and the first one was barely a 3-star read for me, so I definitely found this one to be significantly better. As expected, the title is sarcasm in its most delicious form, as the main character, Melanie Hale, is anything but a good wife.
The book starts off with a bang - you know someone is dead, and you know it's a man, but that's it.
Then begins the story of Melanie, her husband, Collin, their two children, and a live-in mother-in-law with dementia. Melanie has much to handle at home between her special needs son and her mother-in-law, and she is exhausted, stressed, and feels unfulfilled as a woman. What better way to eliminate stress and feel fulfilled as a woman than join a writing group and begin an affair with a successful romance author (eye roll). Before long, Melanie is over her head and her lies and double life catch up with her, and things spiral out of control in a murderous way. Things go from bad to worse when she learns that someone is on to her who knows that she had an affair and begins blackmailing her.
I was hooked from the start of this one, although Melanie's affair seemed forced for the sake of the storyline. Her husband, Collin, is a dream husband and there wasn't enough "wrong" in her marriage for me to buy into the reasons for the affair - but clearly there wouldn't be a plot without it, so therein lies the reason I guess. I thought the secondary storylines i.e. the crooked cop, the mother-in-law with dementia, and the "other women" in the picture, had potential but weren't fully explored. There was so much that could have been done with them, but they sort of fizzled out. Perhaps that's also why I wasn't in love with the ending - it felt a bit rushed and left some unanswered questions, not to mention, it was borderline ridiculous.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this one. There were a few unexpected twists, just maybe not as dark and sinister as I expected. While definitely not in my "top thriller" category, it was still a memorable read!
This was only my second Seraphina Nova Glass book, and the first one was barely a 3-star read for me, so I definitely found this one to be significantly better. As expected, the title is sarcasm in its most delicious form, as the main character, Melanie Hale, is anything but a good wife.
The book starts off with a bang - you know someone is dead, and you know it's a man, but that's it.
Then begins the story of Melanie, her husband, Collin, their two children, and a live-in mother-in-law with dementia. Melanie has much to handle at home between her special needs son and her mother-in-law, and she is exhausted, stressed, and feels unfulfilled as a woman. What better way to eliminate stress and feel fulfilled as a woman than join a writing group and begin an affair with a successful romance author (eye roll). Before long, Melanie is over her head and her lies and double life catch up with her, and things spiral out of control in a murderous way. Things go from bad to worse when she learns that someone is on to her who knows that she had an affair and begins blackmailing her.
I was hooked from the start of this one, although Melanie's affair seemed forced for the sake of the storyline. Her husband, Collin, is a dream husband and there wasn't enough "wrong" in her marriage for me to buy into the reasons for the affair - but clearly there wouldn't be a plot without it, so therein lies the reason I guess. I thought the secondary storylines i.e. the crooked cop, the mother-in-law with dementia, and the "other women" in the picture, had potential but weren't fully explored. There was so much that could have been done with them, but they sort of fizzled out. Perhaps that's also why I wasn't in love with the ending - it felt a bit rushed and left some unanswered questions, not to mention, it was borderline ridiculous.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this one. There were a few unexpected twists, just maybe not as dark and sinister as I expected. While definitely not in my "top thriller" category, it was still a memorable read!
August 9, 2021
How could a writing group and an author book signing turn into an affair and then a murder?
Melanie is married, a stay-home-mother, an overworked mother, and an aspiring author.
She attends the local writing group, sees the handsome author signing books across the room, starts up a conversation with him, and starts an affair with him.
Melanie is actually not very likable. She feels no remorse for her infidelity, but worries when she finds her lover dead in his home.
She worries the murder will point to her and ruin her family because she didn’t call the police.
We follow Melanie as she stresses about whether she will be charged and who actually did kill the author.
She also does some risky investigation in shady places and with shady people.
SUCH A GOOD WIFE is a tense read with twists you won't expect.
If you enjoy a nail biting read, you won’t want to miss this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Melanie is married, a stay-home-mother, an overworked mother, and an aspiring author.
She attends the local writing group, sees the handsome author signing books across the room, starts up a conversation with him, and starts an affair with him.
Melanie is actually not very likable. She feels no remorse for her infidelity, but worries when she finds her lover dead in his home.
She worries the murder will point to her and ruin her family because she didn’t call the police.
We follow Melanie as she stresses about whether she will be charged and who actually did kill the author.
She also does some risky investigation in shady places and with shady people.
SUCH A GOOD WIFE is a tense read with twists you won't expect.
If you enjoy a nail biting read, you won’t want to miss this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2021
Such a good wife is a book that I should have DNF but instead I read it and was so pissed off for the rest of the day.
It is really hard for me to rate books 1 star but I feel really strong about my opinions of this book, Especially the ending so I’m gonna go for it. 80% of this book had little to no plot line, then the last 20% picked up but my hate for all of these characters overruled any compassion for any of them.
Do NO READ the rest of this review if you have not read the book it contains allllll the spoilers.
This “good wife” FAKED A SEXUAL ASSULT by a detective that raped and abused multiple women, to create evidence she used as blackmail to protect herself and her husband from a conviction that they were 100% guilty of. Yes she ‘helped’ Lacy, but what about the other women? As a victim of sexual abuse I am so disappointed in this story and the lack of TWs. I wouldn’t recommend this book anyone.
It is really hard for me to rate books 1 star but I feel really strong about my opinions of this book, Especially the ending so I’m gonna go for it. 80% of this book had little to no plot line, then the last 20% picked up but my hate for all of these characters overruled any compassion for any of them.
Do NO READ the rest of this review if you have not read the book it contains allllll the spoilers.
This “good wife” FAKED A SEXUAL ASSULT by a detective that raped and abused multiple women, to create evidence she used as blackmail to protect herself and her husband from a conviction that they were 100% guilty of. Yes she ‘helped’ Lacy, but what about the other women? As a victim of sexual abuse I am so disappointed in this story and the lack of TWs. I wouldn’t recommend this book anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
January 18, 2022
Mel wasn't such a good wife!! She was a quick-witted liar and a damn good one too! There were some things that she did that did not sit well with me but that's what made this particular story more interesting.
This was a suspenseful domestic thriller that kept me engaged with a fantastic surprise ending 😲
This was a suspenseful domestic thriller that kept me engaged with a fantastic surprise ending 😲
December 10, 2022
There were some parts I loved, but some that didn’t give me much. The emotions felt real, but I was somewhat annoyed by the main characters guilty conscience. How many times did she need to repeat how devastated she was by her choices? The book was suspenseful and well-written, but I read it a while ago and the plot has already started to fade which tells me it wasn’t particularly memorable.
Read
July 27, 2024DNF @ 15%. Nothing about this audiobook is working for me….I don’t care for the main character, the plot or the audio narrator. Moving on…
September 8, 2023
Melanie Hale's life was fulfilling for the most part. Happily married with two children, with her mother-in-law lives with them. She loves her husband. Her life. But, something was missing. That is all on the outside. Inside, Melanie is filled with doubts, uncertainty and has a strong feeling of missing out on something. There are stressful things in her life. Melanie's son is on the spectrum and her mother-in-law as dementia.
One thing Melanie dreamed of was being a writer. Upon her husband's suggestion, she takes the opportunity to attend a writers' group meeting and that is where she meets a local author named Luke. Mel begins an affair with Luke. However, she soon becomes filled with guilt. She goes to his home to tell him that it is over, only to discover his dead body. What is she to do? Then it becomes apparent that someone knew of Melanie's affair with Luke, thus putting her in more than one precarious position.
How can Melanie balance keeping her marriage intact, all while not being connected with Luke's death? This tension-filled book delivers a story of a woman filled with flaws, but it was so very easy to empathize with Melanie, whether due to her home life, or to the situation that has started taking over her life, beyond Luke's death, to the point of blackmail. From the beginning to the thrilling conclusion, Such a Good Wife was impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Graydon Huse and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
One thing Melanie dreamed of was being a writer. Upon her husband's suggestion, she takes the opportunity to attend a writers' group meeting and that is where she meets a local author named Luke. Mel begins an affair with Luke. However, she soon becomes filled with guilt. She goes to his home to tell him that it is over, only to discover his dead body. What is she to do? Then it becomes apparent that someone knew of Melanie's affair with Luke, thus putting her in more than one precarious position.
How can Melanie balance keeping her marriage intact, all while not being connected with Luke's death? This tension-filled book delivers a story of a woman filled with flaws, but it was so very easy to empathize with Melanie, whether due to her home life, or to the situation that has started taking over her life, beyond Luke's death, to the point of blackmail. From the beginning to the thrilling conclusion, Such a Good Wife was impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Graydon Huse and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
January 26, 2022
4/5
Labai, labai įtikinamais veikėjais paremtas trileris. Neturi jis nei netikėto siužeto, niekur negirdėto, nei tokių posūkių, kurių nebūsite skaitę jokioje kitoje knygoje. Bet jei patinka stebėti vykstančias katastrofas, matyti kaip ir kodėl žmonės nusprendžia pataisyti savo gyvenimus nežinodami, kad iki jų sugriovimo – tik vienas žingsnis, o tada nagrinėti kaip renka šukes, bandydami atkurti buvusį tobulą paveikslą – šiam trileriui tikrai rekomenduoju duoti šansą. Patiko tai, jog pagrindine veikėja ir jos motyvacija patikėti lengva, o ne taip kaip dažnai nutinka trileriuose, ji ir nenervina – aišku kaip ji atsidūrė situacijoje, kurią stebime, aišku iš kur kilo nepasitenkinimas gyvenimu, tačiau Glass nebando manipuliuoti emocijomis ir prikurti neįtikėtinų problemų, taip pateisindama šūdinus veikėjų sprendimus. Autorė nebando išrasti dviračio, tačiau jį iš mažyčių detalių surinkinėja kruopščiai, literatūriškai ypač sklandžiai ir su neblogu psichologiniu užmoju, tuo išskirdama šį trilerį iš kitų.
Patiko tai, kaip logiškai viskas susidėliojo. Ir tai, kad visa ko esmė nepastatyta ant žaibo greičiu lekiančių dialogų. Autorė mėto pėdas, bet tai neužknisa – neužima viso laiko priversdama spėlioti, veikiau vynioja siūlų kamuolį pamažu, taip skaitinį paversdama tinkamu tiek žanro pradinukams, tiek senbuviams. Turiu ir priekaištų – kai kurie labai stereotipiniai sprendimai nenudžiugino, kai ką buvo per lengva numanyti, bet džiaugiuosi, kad klausimų man liko iki pat pabaigos, o daugelį sprendimų galima vertinti nevienareikšmiškai. Sakyčiau, kad klasikinių trilerių kategorijoje tikrai labai neprastas autorės debiutas.
Labai, labai įtikinamais veikėjais paremtas trileris. Neturi jis nei netikėto siužeto, niekur negirdėto, nei tokių posūkių, kurių nebūsite skaitę jokioje kitoje knygoje. Bet jei patinka stebėti vykstančias katastrofas, matyti kaip ir kodėl žmonės nusprendžia pataisyti savo gyvenimus nežinodami, kad iki jų sugriovimo – tik vienas žingsnis, o tada nagrinėti kaip renka šukes, bandydami atkurti buvusį tobulą paveikslą – šiam trileriui tikrai rekomenduoju duoti šansą. Patiko tai, jog pagrindine veikėja ir jos motyvacija patikėti lengva, o ne taip kaip dažnai nutinka trileriuose, ji ir nenervina – aišku kaip ji atsidūrė situacijoje, kurią stebime, aišku iš kur kilo nepasitenkinimas gyvenimu, tačiau Glass nebando manipuliuoti emocijomis ir prikurti neįtikėtinų problemų, taip pateisindama šūdinus veikėjų sprendimus. Autorė nebando išrasti dviračio, tačiau jį iš mažyčių detalių surinkinėja kruopščiai, literatūriškai ypač sklandžiai ir su neblogu psichologiniu užmoju, tuo išskirdama šį trilerį iš kitų.
Patiko tai, kaip logiškai viskas susidėliojo. Ir tai, kad visa ko esmė nepastatyta ant žaibo greičiu lekiančių dialogų. Autorė mėto pėdas, bet tai neužknisa – neužima viso laiko priversdama spėlioti, veikiau vynioja siūlų kamuolį pamažu, taip skaitinį paversdama tinkamu tiek žanro pradinukams, tiek senbuviams. Turiu ir priekaištų – kai kurie labai stereotipiniai sprendimai nenudžiugino, kai ką buvo per lengva numanyti, bet džiaugiuosi, kad klausimų man liko iki pat pabaigos, o daugelį sprendimų galima vertinti nevienareikšmiškai. Sakyčiau, kad klasikinių trilerių kategorijoje tikrai labai neprastas autorės debiutas.
April 26, 2021
This was a bit of a slow burn, but with an action-packed ending. It centers on Melanie, a happily married mother of 2, who randomly starts an affair with a visiting writer, only to risk being exposed when he turns up dead.
I couldn't quite figure out why Melanie started the affair to begin with, other than out of potential complacency or curiosity. I didn't find her super likable, as she seemed to use people around her (i.e., her "friendship" with Lacy) and also made some stupid decisions. I wish I could have better understood why she did the things she did and what she was thinking.
Despite not being enamored with Melanie, I enjoyed the read and felt it was a steady slow burn. The end of the book had a couple big twists, neither that I saw coming, and one causing me to suspend my disbelief. Though it seemed rather "out there" to me, it was enjoyable to read.
Overall, fun book with a unique take on a common story. This wasn't my favorite book ever, but is definitely memorable, and the ending was a fun ride. Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't quite figure out why Melanie started the affair to begin with, other than out of potential complacency or curiosity. I didn't find her super likable, as she seemed to use people around her (i.e., her "friendship" with Lacy) and also made some stupid decisions. I wish I could have better understood why she did the things she did and what she was thinking.
Despite not being enamored with Melanie, I enjoyed the read and felt it was a steady slow burn. The end of the book had a couple big twists, neither that I saw coming, and one causing me to suspend my disbelief. Though it seemed rather "out there" to me, it was enjoyable to read.
Overall, fun book with a unique take on a common story. This wasn't my favorite book ever, but is definitely memorable, and the ending was a fun ride. Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2021
It was an easy read but just didn’t care for it.
Never really understood why the mother in law was in the story. Seemed like there was going to be a story there and then nothing.
Never really understood why the mother in law was in the story. Seemed like there was going to be a story there and then nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
she's such a whore and does not deserve her husband's forgiveness, i already expected who the killer was, the ending was mid, but it was readable
December 6, 2023
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
4.5 stars
A domestic suspense noir built on lies, deceit, lust, infidelity, blackmail and murder, . Such a Good Wife is a 2021 publication from HQ Fiction. Addictive, steamy and full of deception, Seraphina Nova Glass has gained a top spot on my list of highly recommended domestic thriller novelists.
💍Featuring an ordinary housewife tempted by her darkest desires when she feels unfilled in life, Such a Good Wife is the second novel from the author of Someone’s Listening. From the commencement of this thrilling showpiece, we are made to feel as though the lead character Mel should be unlikeable. However, I found myself sympathising with and making excuses for Mel’s bad behaviour. This is not to say that I accept or believe cheating on a partner is the right thing to do, but I couldn't stay away from the pages of affair. When the murder plot is introduced, things are turned right on their head. We are taken on a very different direction that is filled with deep suspicion, violence, abuse, death, cover-ups, cheating, blackmail, assault and more. Every cast member could be charged with something or other, which is where this novel truly excels. I loved it!
💍The short and consuming chapter issues, the seductive writing, a go anywhere style plot, narrative twists and a solid home focus setting all adds to the flavour of this one. The lead character also grapples with some relatable and interesting stress factors such as a workaholic husband, a child with developmental needs and a mother-in-law with dementia. With a dash of the literary world thanks to the murder victim’s career and the lead’s aspiration to be a writer, Such a Good Wife provides plenty of entertainment value.
💍Make sure you stick around for the end. Seraphina Nova Glass delivers a sweet revenge style conclusion that was surprising. Such a Good Wife is one to turn to on a balmy summer’s evening, it’s a solid 4.5 stars from me.
4.5 stars
A domestic suspense noir built on lies, deceit, lust, infidelity, blackmail and murder, . Such a Good Wife is a 2021 publication from HQ Fiction. Addictive, steamy and full of deception, Seraphina Nova Glass has gained a top spot on my list of highly recommended domestic thriller novelists.
💍Featuring an ordinary housewife tempted by her darkest desires when she feels unfilled in life, Such a Good Wife is the second novel from the author of Someone’s Listening. From the commencement of this thrilling showpiece, we are made to feel as though the lead character Mel should be unlikeable. However, I found myself sympathising with and making excuses for Mel’s bad behaviour. This is not to say that I accept or believe cheating on a partner is the right thing to do, but I couldn't stay away from the pages of affair. When the murder plot is introduced, things are turned right on their head. We are taken on a very different direction that is filled with deep suspicion, violence, abuse, death, cover-ups, cheating, blackmail, assault and more. Every cast member could be charged with something or other, which is where this novel truly excels. I loved it!
💍The short and consuming chapter issues, the seductive writing, a go anywhere style plot, narrative twists and a solid home focus setting all adds to the flavour of this one. The lead character also grapples with some relatable and interesting stress factors such as a workaholic husband, a child with developmental needs and a mother-in-law with dementia. With a dash of the literary world thanks to the murder victim’s career and the lead’s aspiration to be a writer, Such a Good Wife provides plenty of entertainment value.
💍Make sure you stick around for the end. Seraphina Nova Glass delivers a sweet revenge style conclusion that was surprising. Such a Good Wife is one to turn to on a balmy summer’s evening, it’s a solid 4.5 stars from me.
October 3, 2021
The most memorable part of this novel for me was how one character, who is depicted as highly dependent, is only mentioned intermittently. It seems that Glass created a character she really didn't have the energy to deal with.
Forgive my naiveté, but don't people have affairs when something is missing from their primary relationship? Mel describes her husband and their relationship in glowing terms. Self-delusion?
This was a depressing story of bad behavior followed by worse behavior for even less justifiable reasons.
Forgive my naiveté, but don't people have affairs when something is missing from their primary relationship? Mel describes her husband and their relationship in glowing terms. Self-delusion?
This was a depressing story of bad behavior followed by worse behavior for even less justifiable reasons.
April 18, 2022
Trileris, kuriam į nugarą kvėpuoja aistra. Gyvenimo aistra, santykių aistra, neišpildytos karjeros aistra ir tiesos paieškų aistra. Iš tiesų, tai nė nežinau, kiek čia to trilerio - kad nužudytas vienas asmuo? Bet ir tai ne tiesiogiai, taip labiau už paraščių šešėlio. Žodžiu, nieko baisiaus net bailiams. Tiesiog, čia herojus aistringai veikė, čia jo - bam - ir neliko. Drįsčiau teigti, kad tai labiau romanas, pasimatavęs trilerio smokingą. Bet tokį, kuris prigludo kaip nulietas, stilingai ir išraiškingai. Bet vis tik, retkarčiais pasimuistydavęs, dar lyg ir ne iki galo "prisijaukinęs" prie tokio aprėdo.
Knygoje daug buities, gyvenimiškos rutinos pelėsio, įtampos, kuri kyla iš kasdienybės, kuomet įsisukam į savo "žiurkėnų ratelius" ir matome tik tai, ką norime matyti. Istorijoje šėlioja santykių psichologijos vėjai, o bandantys nuo skersvėjų prisidengti veikėjai man pasirodė labai žaismingi ir ... gyvi. Tikri, artimi, žemiški. Tokie, kuriuos nesunku pateisinti, suprasti, nes tam tikrais kampais gali priminti mus pačius. Pervargusius, nusivylusius ir ieškančius laimės, o kartais tai darančius per stipriai.
Man patiko. Parašiau 4 ⭐️, nes ir vėl žvaigždynų šleifą prikirpo pabaiga. Šį kartą ji buvo laaaabai logiška, labai teisinga, labai gyvenimiška, bet - bet tai ir buvo jos bėda (man), nes tikėjausi, kad nuneš stogą kažkur iš šono atskridęs meteoritas 😁 Žodžiu, jaučiu, kad darausi priekabi trileriukų pabaigoms - išlepau 🤭😁 Norisi, kad būtų logiška, bet tuo pačiu ir kosmiškai netikėta. Tai čia buvo tik logiška, suprantama ir realiai tas "pateisinimo momentas" užglaistė visą kūrinio "trileriškumą", užkamšė aštrius kampus ir, deja, bet suminkštino pačią istoriją. Todėl sakau, kad taip, man labai patiko, skaitant įtraukė, nesinorėjo knygos paleisti, rūpėjo, baisiai rūpėjo, antakiai kilnojosi nuo netikėtos aistros gūsių, bet ilgainiui knyga priguls į užmaršties klodus. Taip jau būna su tomis "tiesiog geromis" knygomis.
P.S. Ir knygos techniniai reikalai tikrai labai tvarkingi. Didžiuojuosi šio kūrinio lietuviškomis fėjomis - vertėja Gabriele ir redaktore Vaiva 💃
REKOMENDUOJU, jei mėgstate romanus, bet norite išbandyti "kažką kitaip". Rekomenduoju, jei norite paragauti gero buitinio trilerio, bet bijote "per aštriai" - imkit, čia ganėtinai saugu. Siūlau, jei norėtumėte pasimatuoti neištikimybės liepsnų karštį - ir tą, kuris maloniai šildo, ir tą, kuris sudegina viską aplink.
Knygoje daug buities, gyvenimiškos rutinos pelėsio, įtampos, kuri kyla iš kasdienybės, kuomet įsisukam į savo "žiurkėnų ratelius" ir matome tik tai, ką norime matyti. Istorijoje šėlioja santykių psichologijos vėjai, o bandantys nuo skersvėjų prisidengti veikėjai man pasirodė labai žaismingi ir ... gyvi. Tikri, artimi, žemiški. Tokie, kuriuos nesunku pateisinti, suprasti, nes tam tikrais kampais gali priminti mus pačius. Pervargusius, nusivylusius ir ieškančius laimės, o kartais tai darančius per stipriai.
Man patiko. Parašiau 4 ⭐️, nes ir vėl žvaigždynų šleifą prikirpo pabaiga. Šį kartą ji buvo laaaabai logiška, labai teisinga, labai gyvenimiška, bet - bet tai ir buvo jos bėda (man), nes tikėjausi, kad nuneš stogą kažkur iš šono atskridęs meteoritas 😁 Žodžiu, jaučiu, kad darausi priekabi trileriukų pabaigoms - išlepau 🤭😁 Norisi, kad būtų logiška, bet tuo pačiu ir kosmiškai netikėta. Tai čia buvo tik logiška, suprantama ir realiai tas "pateisinimo momentas" užglaistė visą kūrinio "trileriškumą", užkamšė aštrius kampus ir, deja, bet suminkštino pačią istoriją. Todėl sakau, kad taip, man labai patiko, skaitant įtraukė, nesinorėjo knygos paleisti, rūpėjo, baisiai rūpėjo, antakiai kilnojosi nuo netikėtos aistros gūsių, bet ilgainiui knyga priguls į užmaršties klodus. Taip jau būna su tomis "tiesiog geromis" knygomis.
P.S. Ir knygos techniniai reikalai tikrai labai tvarkingi. Didžiuojuosi šio kūrinio lietuviškomis fėjomis - vertėja Gabriele ir redaktore Vaiva 💃
REKOMENDUOJU, jei mėgstate romanus, bet norite išbandyti "kažką kitaip". Rekomenduoju, jei norite paragauti gero buitinio trilerio, bet bijote "per aštriai" - imkit, čia ganėtinai saugu. Siūlau, jei norėtumėte pasimatuoti neištikimybės liepsnų karštį - ir tą, kuris maloniai šildo, ir tą, kuris sudegina viską aplink.
March 26, 2021
In Such a Good Wife, Seraphina Nova Glass weaves a deliciously dark tale starring Melanie, a loving and overworked mother and wife having an affair with the handsome Luke…until he turns up dead. If you think you've figured out the culprit, think again. A sly and pulse-pounding murder mystery set in steamy Louisiana.
June 1, 2021
This is the unpredictable story of Melanie Hale a “devoted mother”, a “loving wife” and to her dementia suffering old mother-in-law, a “diligent caregiver”.
Despite the glorious portrayal, Melanie is anything but all of those qualities!
Exhausted and burnt-out from the pressures of everyday life she succumbs in a matter of seconds to the charms of Luke, a successful author after a writers’ group meet and embarks on an affair immediately that she carries on alongside all her domestic duties with gusto.
But when she finds Luke dead in his house, she attempts to erase all her traces from his life in order to protect her image and relationships from any potential damage the discovery would cause her but ends up getting entangled in her own web.
I don’t think I have ever despised any character in any story in recent history as much as I did Melanie and without giving any spoilers the fact that the author somehow makes her out to be a “good wife” will blow your mind and is the real mystery you need to unravel by reading this book!
Thank you to the publishers @harpercollinsca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book✌🏼
Such a Good Wife will be out on 10 August 2021.
Despite the glorious portrayal, Melanie is anything but all of those qualities!
Exhausted and burnt-out from the pressures of everyday life she succumbs in a matter of seconds to the charms of Luke, a successful author after a writers’ group meet and embarks on an affair immediately that she carries on alongside all her domestic duties with gusto.
But when she finds Luke dead in his house, she attempts to erase all her traces from his life in order to protect her image and relationships from any potential damage the discovery would cause her but ends up getting entangled in her own web.
I don’t think I have ever despised any character in any story in recent history as much as I did Melanie and without giving any spoilers the fact that the author somehow makes her out to be a “good wife” will blow your mind and is the real mystery you need to unravel by reading this book!
Thank you to the publishers @harpercollinsca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book✌🏼
Such a Good Wife will be out on 10 August 2021.
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