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karen1's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
litwithleigh's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
2.5 rounded up
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 2.5/5 | Ending: im confusion (in a good way)/5
THE PLOT
Leah thinks she's free from her abusive ex-husband until BLOOP he moves into the home next door. Unsurprisingly he starts wreaking havoc, but when he pops up dead, everyone's secrets are at risk of being exposed.
MY OPINION
I'm gonna be honest, Samantha Hayes has joined Alafair Burke as my guilty pleasure author. You might be like HUH??? With a 2.5??? Yes... I know. But like I said, it's a GUILTY PLEASURE. Like Selling Sunset and Love is Blind, you know you shouldn't enjoy it, but yet you do? Objectively, I know this is not a literary masterpiece, but nonetheless I was entertained.
I've now read three Hayes novels including this one. [b:The Trapped Wife|58347340|The Trapped Wife|Samantha Hayes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623771782l/58347340._SY75_.jpg|91494284] was so hard to rate because I was so confused but that ending was banger!! And [b:Date Night|52757344|Date Night|Samantha Hayes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561660247l/52757344._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71667357] blindsided me again with a shocking twist. Out of the three, the Ex-Husband had the least shocking twist... or did it? I still don't know how to feel about those final couple of paragraphs and what that means in the grand scheme of things. If you read this, slide in my DMs. Because if she's saying what I think she's saying... game changer.
Hats off to Hayes for creating a truly unlikeable ex-husband. Everything Craig did is FIGHT TALK. I want to engage in a physical altercation of fisticuffs with him. I would love to kick him straight in the chest and watch his shoulders clap together like a standing ovation. I swear I'm not violent...
Like I said, this is the equivalent to a gossip magazine. If you want a breezy read on a Saturday afternoon, pick this up. This is your typical commercial domestic thriller with affairs galore, shallow characters, and cheap thrillers. It just didn't annoy the shit outta me because none of the characters were supposedly educated psychologists acting a fool for some dick.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: easy read, entertaining, final couple of paragraphs had me like WAIT A DAMN MINUTE
Cons: avg writing, one affair was particularly yucky, i wanted to fight Leah's "friends"
2.5 rounded up
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 2.5/5 | Ending: im confusion (in a good way)/5
THE PLOT
Leah thinks she's free from her abusive ex-husband until BLOOP he moves into the home next door. Unsurprisingly he starts wreaking havoc, but when he pops up dead, everyone's secrets are at risk of being exposed.
MY OPINION
I'm gonna be honest, Samantha Hayes has joined Alafair Burke as my guilty pleasure author. You might be like HUH??? With a 2.5??? Yes... I know. But like I said, it's a GUILTY PLEASURE. Like Selling Sunset and Love is Blind, you know you shouldn't enjoy it, but yet you do? Objectively, I know this is not a literary masterpiece, but nonetheless I was entertained.
I've now read three Hayes novels including this one. [b:The Trapped Wife|58347340|The Trapped Wife|Samantha Hayes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623771782l/58347340._SY75_.jpg|91494284] was so hard to rate because I was so confused but that ending was banger!! And [b:Date Night|52757344|Date Night|Samantha Hayes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561660247l/52757344._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71667357] blindsided me again with a shocking twist. Out of the three, the Ex-Husband had the least shocking twist... or did it? I still don't know how to feel about those final couple of paragraphs and what that means in the grand scheme of things. If you read this, slide in my DMs. Because if she's saying what I think she's saying... game changer.
Hats off to Hayes for creating a truly unlikeable ex-husband. Everything Craig did is FIGHT TALK. I want to engage in a physical altercation of fisticuffs with him. I would love to kick him straight in the chest and watch his shoulders clap together like a standing ovation. I swear I'm not violent...
Like I said, this is the equivalent to a gossip magazine. If you want a breezy read on a Saturday afternoon, pick this up. This is your typical commercial domestic thriller with affairs galore, shallow characters, and cheap thrillers. It just didn't annoy the shit outta me because none of the characters were supposedly educated psychologists acting a fool for some dick.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: easy read, entertaining, final couple of paragraphs had me like WAIT A DAMN MINUTE
Cons: avg writing, one affair was particularly yucky, i wanted to fight Leah's "friends"
superslothlouise's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
maerae10's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tinkerbellnolan's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of twists and turns but found it hard to fully get into. Decent read though
elsshelves's review against another edition
3.0
HMMM. I just don't know how to feel. I enjoyed it but I also feel it was just all over the place at some points and just had the most bizarre, random things happening?! I just cant put my finger on how i feel!
readwithjakeline's review against another edition
2.0
If your favorite genre is a thriller! Then this book will not be a big enough thrill for you.
booknerd315's review against another edition
3.0
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This thriller ended up being a three star read for me. I was conflicted with how I wanted to rate this book. First, the majority of the book lacked that sense of "thrill" in my opinion. It felt more like a women's fiction book instead of domestic thriller. The thrilling part didn't really show up until almost 80% into the book which was a huge let down for me. Second, I found some aspects to the plot to be unrealistic which also took me away from the story.
Overall, the writing is easy, sucks you in and has shorter chapters. Some cons are lacking the thrill factor, unrealistic pieces and felt more in the branch of women's fiction.
Perfect for fans that are trying their hand at domestic thrillers. This one would be perfect to start out at- not too much gore, not too scary, light on the thrill.
This thriller ended up being a three star read for me. I was conflicted with how I wanted to rate this book. First, the majority of the book lacked that sense of "thrill" in my opinion. It felt more like a women's fiction book instead of domestic thriller. The thrilling part didn't really show up until almost 80% into the book which was a huge let down for me. Second, I found some aspects to the plot to be unrealistic which also took me away from the story.
Overall, the writing is easy, sucks you in and has shorter chapters. Some cons are lacking the thrill factor, unrealistic pieces and felt more in the branch of women's fiction.
Perfect for fans that are trying their hand at domestic thrillers. This one would be perfect to start out at- not too much gore, not too scary, light on the thrill.
catreader18's review against another edition
5.0
Imagine your ex husband moves in next door. The divorce was not aminicable and your ex is is very charming and can get anyone to believe what he says. Does not sound like fun to me. This is what The Ex-Husband is about. Leah is trying to move on with her life and be as civil as possible with her ex for the sake of her children. As hard as she tries her ex is always one step ahead of her. This novel got my blood boiling when his antics. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to yell at the ex. Its an excellent book.
tressatnt's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.75