The Ex Wives

by Jenna Kernan

Two ex-wives. Two missing girls. Will yours be next?

Pulling a batch of my husband’s favourite golden oatmeal cookies from the oven, I smile to hear my daughter Phoebe playing in the treehouse outside. I was once so close to losing everything, but since I married handsome Jackson , I have a perfect life. Jackson might tell me what to wear, but he just likes to buy me nice things. He says I don’t need a job, and why would I want one? I can spend all day taking care of Phoebe and running errands in the fancy car Jackson gave me—he knows everywhere I go, and I love how much he wants to keep me safe.

But my whole world shatters when I find out Jackson is a liar.

He never mentioned he was married before—twice.

I love him so much. But how can I trust him now? Desperate for answers, I search our pristine house top to bottom. I thought Jackson was but is it a way to control me?

When I track down his ex-wives, I see fear in their eyes. Both these women had little girls just like me. And when they left Jackson, their daughters went missing.

Devastated I’ve put Phoebe in danger, I have no choice but to find the truth about those poor girls. To protect Phoebe, I must pretend to still be the perfect wife, even though fear floods through me at Jackson’s touch.

But how far will I have to go? And what will happen to me and my sweet child if my husband finds out?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Fans of The Perfect Marriage , The Wife Between Us and The Woman in the Window won’t be able to put this down.

Read what everyone’s saying about Jenna

“OMG… my mind can’t stop spinning … Crazy, twisted, devious, mind-boggling storyline that left me speechless … I loved it and couldn’t get enough of it! ... I would yell at my Kindle … Jaw-dropping and left me totally speechless .” Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book should come with a warning Beware, once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down … and stay up way past your bedtime! … an incredible novel… a must-read!! ” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“ I could NOT put this book down! WOW! WOW! WOW! … fantastic, fast-paced, and riveting… Lots of twists and turns.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A non-stop twisty roller-coaster ride that you won’t be able to put down! … A highly recommended read from me. Perfect holiday reading! ” Rachel Bustin, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“ Wow I loved this book!!! Jenna Kernan has a great way of leaving you completely speechless with her books… This book is great!! Go read it immediately!! ” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“ Wow … an absolutely compelling read… I absolutely loved this one… so compelling… a real page-turner … I didn’t want it to end … One of the best books I have read this year. Highly recommended .” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“ Wow … I loved this book… I’ve devoured this book in just one sitting … The author has pulled me in from page one … I have been completely hooked … I 100% recommend this book and this author. This is most definitely a five star read .” Little Miss Book Lover 87 , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“ Wow , wow , wow!!!! If you want your mind blown this book will definitely be for you… I had to know what happened and had to know it right now … Full of shocks .” Blue Moon Blogger

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2022

About the author

Thank you for finding me on GoodReads.

Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan

Here's a bit more about me...

Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.

Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...

Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com

Follow Jenna here ...
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Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
I need to catch a breath...woah that was tense!

Elana is drowning with bills after her husband died leaving her and precious little Phoebe mostly to themselves without any family nearby. Elana's pretty face and curvy figure caught the eye of a billionaire mayor, Jackson of a little Florida town, Bald Cypress. To Elana, it's like a fairytale to marry a man like Jackson despite being warned about his character by his second ex-wife!

Elana is the type of protagonist you want to shake and tell her to get a grip. To listen to her gut instinct. All the red flags? 🚩🚩 Run woman!! She didn't have anywhere to go and no money. He's soooo controlling to her and Phoebe. Besides, he's the mayor and his brother is a cop.

Knowing this is a domestic psych thriller ahead of time, I tried to guess the twist, and OMG I didn't even see it! What an entertaining first book for me from Jenna Kernan, and I'll just have to look for more.

I enjoyed this audiobook read by Stephanie Cannon. I was able to distinguish the characters without any problem. Male characters did sound funny like they are drunk and it took me a while to realize that wasn't the case.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this DRC.
Expected publication on Oct 10, 2022!

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️
Elana feels like she won the jackpot! Newly married to Jackson the town’s Mayor. She finally has a safe home for her self and her daughter. Ok he might be a bit controlling.💁🏻‍♀️ That’s ok she can handle that…. Until she realizes her life and that of her daughter’s are at stake.

You see she isn’t Jackson’s first wife. And the children of his previous wives have all mysteriously vanished. Will Elana’s daughter be next?

Elana’s character just didn’t ring true. She was portrayed as an innocent young mother who was widowed at a young age. All she has in life was her daughter. Yet when she started to realize the danger she was in she stayed and put her daughter in grave danger. Hmmm… With the FBI nowhere to be found (not even mentioned for the most part) Elena takes on her sadistic husband alone. Didn’t really add up for me.🤷🏻‍♀️

Overall I was disappointed. And left feeling like I just listened to a Hallmark movie rather than a sinister thriller.

I am definitely an outlier as most readers really enjoyed this one. So please read those reviews before making your decision to read or walk away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media 🎧

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Featuring ~ single 3rd person POV, dual timeline ~ now and then, young widow, manipulation, missing children

What would you do if your soon to be husband's ex wife tells you he can't be trusted and not to marry him? Well, you chose love and marry him of course.

Elena is widowed with a daughter, Phoebe, when she meets Jackson. He seems perfect until a few months into their marriage when she starts to see a darker side to him.

Jackson is the Mayor and another powerful, successful man that feels like he can manipulate people. He has people in his pocket that can make someone's life hell if you get on his bad side and don't follow his orders.

There were some times I wanted to knock some sense into Elana and tell her to get the heck outta dodge. I felt so bad for Phoebe's grandparents and how they were never allowed to see her.

Overall, a solid domestic thriller. I think the dual timeline was a good choice that gave us some edge of the seat moments.

Narrated by Stephanie Cannon for 11 hours, easy to follow at 2x. Overall she did a fine job, but I could have went for more emotion at times, especially when she was in the sea and her life was on the line.

I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I switched back and forth between them and either way was perfectly fine.

*Thanks to Bookouture & Bookouture Audio, Jenna Kernan and NetGalley for the ARC and advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book where I can honestly say "I did not see that coming!" Seriously, what a shocker that was! Woohoo! I love when a book can shock me and this one did it!

Elana considers herself fortunate to have met Jackson after the death of her husband. She initially believes that she has a perfect life. But soon, Jackson begins telling her what to wear, not to work, and what to say to people. But her life otherwise is good, right? Her daughter, Phoebe is happy and has made friends. But then, Elena finds out that Jackson is a liar. He has been married twice before and that is only the beginning....

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job. Elena quickly learns that all that glitters is not gold. She has stepped in some serious you-know-what! Jackson is a powerful man. He is the mayor, and his brother is a police officer. Where do you turn when those in the position to help are loyal to the enemy?

Just when I thought I had things figured out, Jenna Kernan shocked the daylights out of me with a reveal which had my head spinning. Very nicely played.

Great narration, perfect plotting, and a jaw dropping reveal, made for a very enjoyable listen (read).

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 BOOKSTAGRAM: niki_reading_books

He snorted. “I hope you run. Nothing I like better than flushing birds and shooting them out of the clear blue sky.”

To the outside world, Jackson seems like the perfect man: handsome, charming, and rich. But after widowed mother Elana marries him, she quickly learns that he’s not who he pretends to be. He’s controlling, demanding, and abusive, all the things Elana was warned about by his supposedly “crazy” ex-wife when she crashed their wedding rehearsal. Elana now has reason to believe that her daughter Phoebe will be in danger if she runs— she’s learned from the FBI that his two ex-wives both had daughters who disappeared after they left Jackson. Realizing that she and Phoebe’s lives are at stake, Elana begins plotting her escape.

This book was SO GOOD… absolutely gripping. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Just when I thought I had something figured out, there would be another twist. If you’re looking for a solid domestic thriller, I highly recommend this one.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is how to write a domestic thriller. You know who the bad guy is, but you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what they will do and how it will all play out. I actually had to put it down at one point to break the tension because I was having anxiety for the MC.

The ending had a believable and interesting twist. There is something you will wonder about throughout the story and then it plays out later on. I did have a couple of questions about the end, but nothing that took away from the story.

This was my first read by Jenna Kernan and I'll definitely be looking into reading more of her work.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Cannon and I thought she did an excellent job. She added to the tension felt in the story. I'm hoping more of Kernan's work is read by this narrator.

4.5★

#TheExWives #NetGalley

(Please note that there is domestic abuse in various forms in the story.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elana appears to have the perfect life. Handsome husband, sweet daughter with a lovely house, new car and anything her heart desires. if it’s too good to be true, something has to wrong. Things are definitely not what they seen. Her world gradually goes from a dream to your worst nightmare. Is her husband the answer to her prayers or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Constant twists, fast paced and a surprising conclusion describe this original and entertaining thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ex-Wives by Jenna Kernan

The Ex-Wives by Jenna Kernan is filled with jaw-dropping suspense. This is my first book by the author and I was blown-away by her talent. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one night.

Synopsis:
My husband Jackson and I just got married. He is an excellent partner and stepfather to my daughter Phoebe. Jackson is handsome and rich. He loves me so much that he even tells me what clothes to wear. Yes, he wants to know where I am and gets mad when I do not immediately answer my phone, but that is only because he cares.

Humm...why is Jackson lying? I just found out he has been married twice and both of his stepdaughters mysteriously disappeared after he divorced. Jackson would never hurt Phoebe, would he?

Readers can't help being drawn into The Ex-Wives by Jenna Kernan as the story unfolds. The author puts them right in the middle of the action with vivid descriptions of interpersonal relationships. This domestic thriller is a compelling read, but it is not for the faint of heart. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before proceeding.

The Ex-Wives by Jenna Kernan is available on October 10th.
( 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this intriguing thriller with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly tense read that I really enjoyed.
As soon as I started reading it, it was screaming 'Behind Closed Doors' by BA Paris vibes. So tense, creepy, and seriously unnerving throughout.
The main character did frustrate me a lot, the red flags and subsequent decision making skills were interesting lol. But we do see this a lot in thrillers 'if that was me I'd have picked up on it', but would we really? So I decided to not be too harsh with that bit. It just adds to the tension even more!
The ending blew my socks off! Woah, I need a lie down...

[Alissa *toastedowlreadsbooks* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a ebook ARC of this title.

My issues with this book are plot-related more than style or topic, and I'm not sure how to discuss without spoiling. My biggest gripe? The main character, Elana, is an idiot. Just an absolute moron. She handles every single situation so ridiculously that I cannot fathom a real person would do this. (Spoilers, I'm sorry)

Your fiance introduces you to a woman that he later says is his first wife and you aren't furious that he didn't tell you about his two failed marriages? At no point prior to you realizing he's an abusive POS do you push back at all on him dictating what you wear and how you spend money? Fine, okay, I can buy it, people find themselves in terrible situations and ignore red flags all the time. But it becomes IMPOSSIBLE about two thirds of the way in, when he frames her for breaking her daughter's arm and having a drug habit. First off, she's repeated that she doesn't even drink, and people can testify to that. Secondly, the detective says her husband claims the daughter's arm was broken for days and he had to take her to the hospital because the mom refused - except mom has a perfect alibi in the case of the daughter's friend's mom, who not only saw the daughter sans broken arm that afternoon, but can also testify that the husband picked her up, and that mom showed up later looking for her unaware that the husband picked her up. They cannot convict her of a drug charge without a lawyer, and given that there's been no evidence of any issues, pretty sure they'd throw out the brother-in-law arresting her and finding planted drugs. I'm not sure the author was even trying to have this be plausible, and yet, does Elana think of any of this? NO. SHE JUST SIGNS PAPERS WITHOUT READING THEM. And then decides the best course of action is to LET HERSELF BE MURDERED to save her daughter. And when she finally gets evidence that her husband is involved in the missing child case, does she contact the FBI? No, she drives over to the first wife's house, who she already knows is friendly with her husband and is not an ally, and lets her burn the evidence!!!

It was twisty and soapy and a quick read, and I thought the way in which Elana finally got out was smart and tense, but lord, I was genuinely yelling while reading this book. Some of the twists were just completely implausible and unnecessary.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I asked for more Jenna Kernan books and I received! The Adoption was one of my favorite books this year and this one was great too. Her books are always a little longer than I usually prefer but I fly right through them. It’s magic!

Elana is living a Cinderella story, by all outward appearances, married to Jackson. She was a single mom, widowed, and just getting by when she was swept off her feet by this guy. He sounds too good to be true and that’s because he is. Sometimes you don’t know you married a dud until you’re stuck with them!

We find out he has a history of his ex’s kids going missing so as much as she wants to leave, she’s terrified of something happening to Phoebe. Jackson is the mayor, his older brother is on the city council, and his younger brother is a tater head cop.

On a trip to NC for a fishing thing(male pissing contest), she is planning to flee, but a situation presents itself that could be even more appealing..

Again, this was great. My biggest issue is that from the beginning the FBI is trying to help and she’s too afraid to tell them anything. Not usually a fed fan but everyone local is in his pocket so it felt kind of like “WHY?”.. I almost wish that detail wasn’t added because it made it feel like some suffering was for nothing, but I do understand that abused people don’t always react how we’d like, given the stress they’re under. They do the best they can.

Also the constant “I’m so lucky” “This is like a dream!” “He has money but isn’t too tall!” was laying it on a bit thick lol we get it, he’s rich.. and insane. And are we just going to gloss over the cousin thing? IYKYK.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. Another banger by this author.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is now one of my top thrillers. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat! I couldn’t put this book down, and read it in less than 24 hours. Kernan did a fantastic job at making the tension palpable. One of the best things about this book? It felt new, like nothing that I have ever read before. I liked that there was plenty of dialogue and not too much background information. There was just enough background for the reader to understand the story. I did NOT see the ending coming, and I absolutely loved the way that Kernan finished this book. It is very rare that I like endings, but this one was absolutely perfect. My friend read this as an ARC and she kept telling me I needed to read it. I’m so glad that I listened to her and read it! A must read for any thriller reader.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone dreams of finding that perfect soulmate. That partner that completes you, to have a family with, to lay down roots, especially if your first husband has died in a horrible accident, leaving you a single parent of a young girl. That’s exactly where Elana finds herself when she meets Jackson, the man of her dreams, and a man that accepts Phoebe as his own. So perfect. The perfect marriage. The perfect life. But how do you know when in all actuality, you’ve met the devil at the crossroads. Sold yourself and your daughter for creature comforts and a chance at a “perfect, money laden life?”

This thriller was an action packed punch from start to finish. The lies. The deception. The choices Elana had to make. This will keep you up late at night flipping pages watching Elana struggle to make it out of the spiderweb Jackson has caught her in.

There are trigger warnings in here including child abuse, spousal abuse, murder and the cutting off and imprisonment of a spouse and young daughter in the den of the devil. Some of the scenes are graphic and cause a gut wrenching cringe reaction. The story itself flies along.

This is one I will recommend to anyone that loves thrill books with a complex mystery to solve. As long as you can handle the tension that builds including the above mentioned triggers, this is not one to miss.

This is my first book I’ve read by the author, but it most definitely won’t be my last!

This was a 4 out of 5 star read for me and one I definitely recommend you grab on release day … Oct 10, 2022. Add this to your spooky October thrill read list. You won’t be sorry you did.

Thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher #Bookouture, and the author Jenna Kernan for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Happy reading my friends! 😊

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine you are in marriage and you find out your husband has two ex-wives and their are missing girls. Elana, her daughter Phoebe and new husband Jackson are living a privileged life. However, Jackson is controlling and Elana makes excuses for him.

A lady from Jackson past warns her, but should she believe him? She starts to doubt her husband when the FBI comes calling. They want to get information from her that corroborates Jackson has something to do with the missing girls.

Elana tracks down the ex-wives and finds out their daughters went missing. Jackson is pressuring her to have a child! Who should she trust? Are these wives telling the truth? Just because he is controlling does that mean he would retaliate if his wives wanted out of their marriage.

This audio is riveting. I loved her last one The Adoption, and highly recommend both. This novel is due out October 10, 2022. Thank you @Netgalley, @bookoutureaudio and auhor @jennakernan for this advanced copy.

[Joyce Stewart Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ex-Wives
by Jenna Kernan
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
Two ex-wives. Two missing girls. Will yours be next? Pulling a batch of my husband’s favourite golden oatmeal cookies from the oven, I smile to hear my daughter Phoebe playing in the treehouse outside. I was once so close to losing everything, but since I married handsome Jackson, I have a perfect life. Jackson might tell me what to wear, but he just likes to buy me nice things. He says I don’t need a job, and why would I want one? I can spend all day taking care of Phoebe and running errands in the fancy car Jackson gave me—he knows everywhere I go, and I love how much he wants to keep me safe. But my whole world shatters when I find out Jackson is a liar. He never mentioned he was married before—twice. I love him so much. But how can I trust him now? Desperate for answers, I search our pristine house top to bottom. I thought Jackson was caring: but is it a way to control me? When I track down his ex-wives, I see fear in their eyes. Both these women had little girls just like me. And when they left Jackson, their daughters went missing. Devastated I’ve put Phoebe in danger, I have no choice but to find the truth about those poor girls. To protect Phoebe, I must pretend to still be the perfect wife, even though fear floods through me at Jackson’s touch. But how far will I have to go? And what will happen to me and my sweet child if my husband finds out?
👀🔪 MY REVIEW👀🔪
This was my first book by author Jenna Kernan. From the very first page it got my attention. It starts off very slow with chapters flipping between then and now, allowing you to see just how much their relationship changes. It is a true psychological thriller with so many jaw-dropping twist in every sense of the word. The twists and turns are completely unexpected. Some were just totally unbelievable. The author repeats herself so much in the beginning that I almost stopped reading it. The only reason I kept going was because I just had to know if she was able to get her daughter Phoebe out of this extremely abusive situation. About mid way through it really picks up, the repeating stops and the story takes off to the point that it becomes completely and utterly impossible to put down.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free E -ARC copy of this book from netgalley prior to release. Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
#netgalley
#TheExWives #NetGalleyReviewer
#bookouture

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two ex-wives. Two missing girls. Will yours be next?

Pulling a batch of my husband’s favourite golden oatmeal cookies from the oven, I smile to hear my daughter Phoebe playing in the treehouse outside. I was once so close to losing everything, but since I married handsome Jackson, I have a perfect life. Jackson might tell me what to wear, but he just likes to buy me nice things. He says I don’t need a job, and why would I want one? I can spend all day taking care of Phoebe and running errands in the fancy car Jackson gave me—he knows everywhere I go, and I love how much he wants to keep me safe.

Jackson is one of those men that devastate women's lives, he is arrogant, egotistical and lies, only interested in his own gratification that suit his needs and in the process destroys others. He is hiding secrets and beholds many traits that are unbecoming which also result in the shattering of others. Once Phoebe find out about previous marriages and tracks down these women, she fears for the life of her daughter, with good reason.

This is a great story that draws you in and another I read in one sitting. Definitely a book I would recommend and will look out for others by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

[SueCanaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been married over 32 years but for some reason my genre of choice seems to be domestic thrillers with less than perfect marriages. The Ex-Wives was one of those books that drew me in, had me rooting for the main character, Elana, and the entire time I was on the sidelines getting so mad that ALL the red flags were flying, and Elana took forever to even acknowledge them.

The audio book kept me listening and I finished this one in a day. It really is unputdownable.

And, despite listening obsessively to this genre, I DID NOT SEE THE END COMING at all. Well done writing. Great narrator who voiced each character uniquely enough I had no problems keeping track of the story.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rate this book 3.5 stars.

One husband. Two ex-wives. Two missing children.
Jenna Kernan’s “The Ex-Wives” follows Elana Belaru’s life with her husband, Jackson, and daughter Phoebe. Jackson and Elana’s relationship started off as a perfect fairy tale—he was wealthy, charming, and romantic. Elana had nothing to her name, and she saw Jackson as her ticket to stability and safety for her and her daughter. On the day of her and Jackson’s wedding, Elana is startled to see a woman in her dressing room—Shantel, one of Jackson’s ex-wives. Shantel warns Elana to halt the wedding and leave Jackson before it’s too late. Elana’s rose-colored glasses didn’t pay any mind to Shantel’s warning, and she went through with the wedding. If only hindsight wasn’t 20/20. Elana, shortly after their wedding, realizes the mistake that’s been made. Jackson is an abusive MONSTER and there’s suspicion in his involvement surrounding his ex-wives’ missing children. The FBI corners Elana to request her help in proving Jackson is responsible for the disappearances. From here, she begins plotting her and Phoebe’s escape to leave Jackson and free themselves from the prison he’s created. Elana demonstrated the dire lengths a mother will go to protect her child. She acted out of desperation, and it shows in each step of her plan. Will she be successful in finding culpable evidence to use against her husband? Will Jackson take Phoebe away from Elana and make her disappear? Will the mother-daughter duo finally escape?

Kernan creates a highly intense storyline for our narrator and her daughter—it was hard to put the book down once you were locked in. The author did an excellent job exploring the complexities of coercive control and how it affects a partner and their actions. Moreover, I enjoyed how the story was written from a “then” and “now” perspective, it helped give the characters more depth when moving through the plot. Overall, this was an exciting read and I would recommend it my friends/fellow book lovers.

A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Hite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Ex Wives in exchange for an honest review.

Elena and her daughter, Phoebe, think they have just entered into the perfect life when Elena married Jackson, a charismatic and rich small town mayor. That is until they begin to see Jacksons controlling ways from the clothes they wear to the tracking device on Elena's car and cell phone. Elena uncovers an even more startling fact her husband forgot to mention... he has been married twice before... and each wife had a young daughter that has gone missing. As tensions rise and Jackson's behavior becomes out of control Elena decides she must leave him but how does she do so and keep Phoebe from succumbing to the same fate as the young girls before her.

This is a gripping family suspense full of drama and sinister characters. The abusive relationship Elena finds herself in keeps her tethered to Jackson for the safety of her daughter. Jackson, and his whole family, are very manipulative and sinister but well thought out in their actions which keep Elena trapped in a cat and mouse game. It is one of the better true psychological thrillers I have read recently with shifting characters and a few creative surprises. The character of Faith and relationship with Jackson was the weakest part of the story but overall I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Jenna Kernan's work.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'The Ex Wives' by Jenna Kernan. 


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jenna Kernan, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous. 


Publication date 10th October 2022.


This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hunted Girls' and 'The Adoption' which I would also recommend. 


I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful and interesting eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am a fan of Jenna and if this is half as good as 'The Hunted Girls' and 'The Adoption' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Fans of The Perfect Marriage, The Wife Between Us and The Woman in the Window won’t be able to put this down'. I am a huge fan of 'The Wife Between Us' so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture  that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 35 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Florida, USA 🇺🇸. 


This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Elana Jackson. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. 


'The Ex Wives' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Jenna discusses domestic abuse/violence. 


Wow!! What a non stop action packed psychological page turner!! Fantastically written with vivid descriptions that really put you in the storyline. The synopsis, title and civet worked perfectly with the plot. 


The plot itself is unique and intriguing and filled with heart in your mouth in the edge of your seat moments. Several times I realised I was holding my breath and biting my nails. This book has everything you could want in a psychological thriller novel!! It was filled with love, mystery, deceipt, secrets, tension, suspense and several messed up people!!  I was completely absorbed from page one until the explosive ending. I cannot wait to read more books by this fantastic author. Just when I thought I had worked one thing out I was absolutely mind blown by another shocking reveal!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me when it comes to thrillers but this book absolutely messed with my head!!! The worrying thing is that the plot is scarily realistic and the psychological abuse that Elana suffers many women suffer similar worldwide. Domestic abuse is a hard subject to write about but Jenna has done an absolutely fantastic job!! Although hard to read at times I just could not put it down!! If one person who is being abused reads this recognises the signs of abuse gets the help they need it then Jenna has potentially saved a life! If you or someone you know is going through anything mentioned in this book please get help ASAP before it is too late. Jenna has included helplines at the end of this book. I have been a victim of domestic abuse myself and would like to thank you Jenna for covering this important topic, showing readers red flags to keep an eye for and for including charaties and numbers survivors can use to get help. I absolutely love, love, loved the ending (and relieved about something specific, I won't go into details though as not to spoil it for future readers but I'm sure if you've read in you'll know what I mean) and would love to see this turned into a movie!! 


The characters were all very different with their own unique personalities. They were all strong and well developed characters along with being very believable. I was completely invested in Elana and my heart completely went out to her for all she went through. I loved seeing her character develop throughout the book and was extremely proud of her at the end. As a mum myself what she went through is a mothers worse nightmare and she is an amazing mum who does everything she can to put her child first. I could not stand Jackson who made me sick to my stomach. There was also several other characters who had serious issues doing what they did/didn't do. However I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of whether I loved or hated the characters they all worked perfectly together to create an unputdownable psychological thriller. 


This is only the third book that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the second time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Amalia did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jenna but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie!


Continue to read until the end of the book for an excerpt from Jenna's 'The Adoption'. Another absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will have you hook, line and sinker!! 



Congratulations Jenna on yet another fantastic page turner!!! An explosive psychological thriller that will have you chewing your nails and screaming and shouting at the pages!! Here's to your next success 🥂. This is exactly why I love your books and cannot wait until each and every one you bring out!! 


Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down even at 2am!!


Overall a heart stopping, page turning must read psychological thriller that will suck you in from start to finish. 


Genres covered in this book include Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Domestic Thriller, and Psychological Thriller amongst others. 



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer, M. J Arlidge, 'The Woman in the Window' , 'Gone Girl', 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Perfect Marriage', 'The Woman in the Window', PJ Tracy and anyone looking for a book guaranteed to shock you!! 



350 pages.


This book is just £1.99 or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) to purchase on kindle or £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 


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[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jenna Kernan’s Nadine Finch books and I have to say her standalones are just as good. Having just the right balance between character development and plot this book pitches you straight into a marriage that is absolutely terrifying.

After the death of her first husband, Jackson rescued Elana and her daughter Phoebe from poverty. At first he seemed charming but he is wealthy, influential as mayor and demands complete control. There is also the fact he has two ex wives with missing children and the Mennonite community to factor in.

With the FBI needing her to get evidence of his involvement in the missing children and her own daughters safety to consider Elena is going to need her wits about her.

My hackles went up as soon as I was introduced to Jackson. This man gives off more red flags than a socialist state convention. Elena immediately elicited empathy with the predicament of her situation. As a mother your child’s safety is always paramount, even if it means your own is at risk. The Mennonite community I found fascinating, closely resembling the Amish with the modesty clothing and lack of technology, making things a lot more difficult for Elena to leave.

Nail bitingly good this had me on the edge of my seat more than once. A nerve jangling, suspense filled thriller with a top shelf bad guy.

[Vicki Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one put the capital J in Juicy!! It was like a PSA, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is! The main character in this one started out submissive, weak and annoying. But the read got real good, real quick. There were plenty of tense moments and some twists I didn't anticipate. It ramped up at the end and I found myself reading late into the night to find out what happened. The ending fit the end of the story. A recommended read for those who like domestic thriller, but are OK with abuse.

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Oct 4,2022 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was not an easy read. Very similar too Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris but only because of the abusive husband. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time rooting for Elana.

Many twists and turns and I enjoyed the ride despite the sociopath in this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture

[Brittany Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooh this was really good! 3.5 stars. I was rooting for our main character Elena the whole time! I love a good domestic thriller and this one i devoured within a day lol. What lengths would you go to to protect yourself and your child? Elena soon learns she will do whatever it takes to keep her and her daughter safe.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

How many times do we need to tell you to not marry someone you just met 2-3 months ago?? Like come on!! lol Sometimes I wanted to smack the MC for being so naive, but it was overall a decent domestic thriller and the narration was good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[kimberley (thearieslibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5 (rounded up to 5⭐)

⚠️ Content warning: domestic abuse, controlling and/or coercive behaviour, child abuse, profanity, gun, degrading language, murder, death, pregnancy, hunting, vehicle accident, incestuous relationship, alcohol use, blood, drugs, sexual situations, overdose, suicide, choking, vomiting, animal death, abduction, arson, animal cruelty and mentions eating disorder⚠️

Elana is recently widowed and left with a lot of debt from her first husband’s death when she meets Jackson, who is all too keen to pay off her debt and treat her to anything she wants. She goes from living a life of poverty to having security with Jackson. It is not long until this façade starts to crumble, and he starts to show his true colours to Elana although he is cautious enough to not show them around anybody else. Elana finds out from the FBI that Jackson had two previous marriages and when they tried to leave him, their daughters mysteriously disappeared. This is when she starts plotting her escape with her daughter, Phoebe…

It was well written. I really enjoyed how the chapters flipped between the then and now, as it showed you how much their relationship had changed between the two time periods. In the then, they appear to be happily in love but in the now, Elana starts seeing her husband for the walking red flag that he is.

Whilst Elana’s decisions may appear to be stupid to some, I think her decisions reflect how much Jackson had worn her down and as a result, it affected her ability to be able to think rationally as he completely changed her through his controlling and coercive behaviour, and she did what she had to do in order to save herself and her daughter from an abuser.

It shows the ‘extreme’ lengths that a person who has experienced domestic violence sometimes is driven to, in order to escape their abuser especially if they have power, like Jackson did as he is the mayor of the town that they live in. So, if Elana had not done what she did in the end, nobody would have believed her, and the situation could have been completely different. This also shows an important example of what people can be driven to do in order to be believed about domestic abuse, whether this is by law enforcement or even by people within their community.

This book provides a raw representation of domestic violence within a relationship (although it is not limited to just partners). I am also really glad that this book includes resources for different countries (UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) within ‘A Letter from Jenna’.

Having said that, I have never wanted to punch a man so much in my entire life. Jackson is a truly awful man and he had me yelling at the book because of 1) angry he made me and 2) how upset I was with how he treated Elana. However, his character is supposed to be disliked because he is an abuser who uses his power to exert control over his wife (as well as previous wives).

The book does start off a bit slow, but it does pick up around the halfway point. Furthermore, I did find the ending a bit unrealistic as I had doubts about the possibility of Elana going on a date with another man so soon after leaving her abusive relationship with Jackson.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book!

I have posted this review to my NetGalley and Goodreads accounts. I will also post a review on my Instagram and Tiktok a week before the publication date (10th October 2022). This book will be available to purchase as an e-book on Kindle for £1.99.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 🤯 This book totally blew my mind! 😮😲😬

When I saw the title of this book I hoped it was going to be a story that included fantastic #mindfucks and let me tell ya, this book delivered.

The story begins by placing the reader in the mind of Elana, who is an emotional wreck. She thought Jackson was the man of her dreams. She felt extremely lucky to have found love again after her first husband died and believed that marriage to Jackson would provide stability and security to her and her daughter’s lives.

“I have a perfect life. Jackson might tell me what to wear, but he just likes to buy me nice things. He says I don’t need a job, and why would I want one? I can spend all day taking care of Phoebe and running errands in the fancy car Jackson gave me—he knows everywhere I go, and I love how much he wants to keep me safe.”

Elana is realizing how wrong she was about Jackson being a perfect husband. Her eyes are now being painfully opened to the danger she placed herself and her daughter in by marrying Jackson. When we first meet Elana at the beginning of the book, she is about to be questioned by the FBI—about what? Her wonderful husband! She finds herself in the precarious position of desperately wanting to report Jackson’s behaviors to the FBI, while being terrified that if she divulges anything, Jackson will make her pay dearly.

“Elana stiffened; guilt at her anticipation that Jackson might be out of her life, and panic that she’d have to disobey him, collided like tectonic plates shaking her foundation.”

There are several subplots in this story that all revolve around the lead male protagonist, Jackson Belauru, who is quite simply a psychopath. He is also the mayor of the small Florida town where much of this story is set. Jackson is a narcissistic, psychopathic small-town mayor working on his third marriage, brother of a police officer, and a possible kidnapper and murderer of children. He is recently married to Elana, a widow and mother to 7-year-old Phoebe.

Once the book gets going, it becomes very clear that Jackson is someone who needs to take a long walk off a short bridge and go for a swim! 🐟🐠 🎣

There are many other characters in the story who are also pivotal to the plot: Jackson’s two brothers, Sawyer and Derek, Zoey, Sawyer’s wife, and, as Elana finds out, Jackson’s two ex-wives, Faith and Shantel, along with two missing young girls, Grace Collins and Raelyn Keen, and some side characters who help add tension to the story.

😎Also we can’t forget 3 German shorthaired pointers Gunner, Dash, and Chase. 🐕🐶

This story moves along at a steady clip and keeps you guessing - there are lots of twists and turns and a couple “no way” moments. This magic combination had me flipping pages as fast as possible!

What happened to the two little girls? What else is Jackson hiding, who is helping him find perfect wives in an attempt to obtain the son he so desires?

Such a great story! Can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you to Bookoture for the review copy. Opinions and review are my own thoughts.


5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost don't know where to start on this one. I legitimately couldn't tell if the author was mocking the Florida Good Ol Boy stereotype or if she was writing this to appeal to a certain type of woman. Elana is a young widow with a small daughter, who was swept off her feet by Jackson Bellauru, son of a billionaire and mayor of a small Florida backwater. On the day of their wedding, his second ex-wife shows up to warn her to call off the wedding, because Jackson is an abusive sociopath, and after she left him, her daughter from a previous relationship went missing. Elana is like nah, I'm cool, he has a lot of money and can take care of us. Sure enough, after they are married Jackson's true colors come out, and surprise! The "crazy" ex wife was right. Elana learns his first ex wife, a creepy Mennonite woman who is ALSO HIS COUSIN, also has a daughter from a previous relationship who went missing after their marriage ended. Elana now realizes the danger she and her daughter are in. She thinks she is finally rid of Jackson after he drunkenly falls off their boat one night, but unfortunately for Elana her plan that nearly ends in her own drowning backfired, and Jackson realizes she is trying to leave him. The violence escalates, and Elana decides the only way to save her daughter is to allow him to kill her instead. At this point in the story, which went on forever, I only wanted to see if he was going to get what was coming to him, hence the extra half star. But overall the writing was simplistic, it was hard to sympathize with Elana, the portrayal of the Mennonite community was uncomfortable, and there were several tangents that could have been edited out for brevity and not affected the plot and may have even made it better.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jenna Kernan for an ARC of The Ex Wives in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Ex-Wives
Author: Jenna Kernan
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: October 10, 2022
My Rating: 3.6

Elana is recently widowed and was left with a large debt. Now as she looks out the window in her beautiful new home she sees her daughter Phoebe playing in the treehouse; Elana cannot help but think how lucky she is not to worry about paying her bills: as she now has security with her handsome husband Jackson Belauru.
It is not long until she discovers that Jackson has a dark side.

She finds out that Jackson has been married twice and his previous wives had little daughters that mysteriously went missing.
Elana was aware that Jackson had a stepdaughter who ran away but Elana finds out that that she wasn’t given all the information~ she indeed has not been told the truth.
Elana knows she needs to plan a safe way of leaving Jackson before something terrible happens to her and especially to her daughter.

I always enjoy reading the author’s notes and/acknowledgements. When author deal with disturbing situation, I like that they include hotline information.
In this case Jenna Kernan informs readers that domestic abuse is never the victim’s fault and provided information for help in many countries: Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline number for here in the United States is
1-800 799-7233.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 10, 2022

[Craig and Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is quite attractive but the tale inside is just an average read.
Some of it I did enjoy, the writing is good but I was glad to have read the final page.
Elana and Jackson have the most blessed life.
She and her daughter Phoebe were on the verge of losing it all when Jackson entered her life.
He made everything perfect again.
Elana doesn’t need to work, she can look after her daughter and go shopping in the expensive car Jackson got her.
But when she finds out that Jackson is lying, her whole universe is in jeopardy.
Her search for the truth puts her and her child in danger and when she speaks to the Ex Wives, fear is rising quickly.
So pretending to be the perfect wife is her only answer.
Until it all comes crashing down
A slow burn drama that had moments of good but there’s no surprises here.
It’s felt more like a lifetime movie than a psychological thriller.
There’s no twist, it felt a little predictable and the ending was expected.
The last quarter of the story had the most drama and held my interest more so than the rest of the book.
Not much on the wow or thrills side, overall it was ok without the tense factor.
Readers pick up, if you dare.