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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
DNF this book. It was slow and could not get into it.
Got about a third of the way through this one before throwing in the towel! A man's mundane life, complaining about "the one that got away", to his bestie...I felt like I was sitting through a droning lecture. No thanks!
DNF 10% slow beginning, the more I read the more it reminded me of Saltburn and I still feel a bit scarred from that movie so decided not to continue with this book. Unusual as I am normally a fan of Valerie Keogh
The title of this book grabbed my attention. Not because I am a Trophy Wife...far from it...lol...but I once named my car Trophy Wife. A gorgeous burgendy Nissan Maxima. It was the first vehicle I ever owned which had EVERYTHING. Heated seats, AC seats, heated steering wheel, leather interior, moon roof, sun roof...ahhh my car was a trophy wife. I miss her sometimes but as with all Trophy Wives, they tend to get upgraded once they start showing their age lol
Anyhooo....yeah, so grabbed the book expecting to read about a diva housewife but found out the books protagonist was male, Jake.
We follow Jake's life from the time he leaves for school despite his parents objections. He leaves and does not keep in contact with his parents at all....at all. This alone is strange.
We follow Jake as he goes through school, meets his best friend, gains a great career and earns lots of money. He has also told his best friend Adam his parents are dead.
Jake is obsessed with his best friends wife. Creepy. But since they cannot be together, he married Adam's sister Ann. They don't love each other but...there it is....she's his Trophy Wife.
By the time we even get to this point of the title of the book, Trophy Wife, I am stifling yawns and wondering if I should just DNF the book but since I was more than half way through, I kept on reading hoping it would get better.
Wrong. It just got worse. The last part of the book was so far fetched, unrealistic and for lack of a better word, ridiculous.
I rarely give books 2 stars but this one is lucky it got those two stars. The writing style was not bad, the story itself was.
Anyhooo....yeah, so grabbed the book expecting to read about a diva housewife but found out the books protagonist was male, Jake.
We follow Jake's life from the time he leaves for school despite his parents objections. He leaves and does not keep in contact with his parents at all....at all. This alone is strange.
We follow Jake as he goes through school, meets his best friend, gains a great career and earns lots of money. He has also told his best friend Adam his parents are dead.
Jake is obsessed with his best friends wife. Creepy. But since they cannot be together, he married Adam's sister Ann. They don't love each other but...there it is....she's his Trophy Wife.
By the time we even get to this point of the title of the book, Trophy Wife, I am stifling yawns and wondering if I should just DNF the book but since I was more than half way through, I kept on reading hoping it would get better.
Wrong. It just got worse. The last part of the book was so far fetched, unrealistic and for lack of a better word, ridiculous.
I rarely give books 2 stars but this one is lucky it got those two stars. The writing style was not bad, the story itself was.
Valerie Keogh returns following [b:The Widow|61851752|The Widow|Valerie Keogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660935522l/61851752._SY75_.jpg|97509205] and [b:The Lodger|60775894|The Lodger|Valerie Keogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652208698l/60775894._SY75_.jpg|95832946] with her latest Gatsby-vibe, moody, gripping, and thought-provoking literary, psychological thriller, THE TROPHY WIFE — one man's tragic journey and cautionary tale.
The "IFs" in life—missed opportunities, extraordinary lives almost lived, and regrets. A life—of lies, secrets, greed, regret, and loss.
A man desperately trying to understand precisely where it went wrong, to pinpoint the moment: when he left home? When he met Adam? Jane? Ann? Or when he discovered the truth about his parents.
Thanks to him, three people have died.
Meet Mr. Jake Mitchell. He grew up in a small and dreary town with small minds and few expectations, including his parent's views.
He applied for a scholarship to the University of Oxford without consulting his parents and forging their names. He was accepted! His future and his dreams suddenly became attainable. He would study business and economics. He would achieve success.
Of course, his parents were not overjoyed and thought he should stay there and work in the factory. He wanted more. He did not desire a life like his parents, with every spark crushed by dull grinding monotony.
His parents even said the day he was leaving—maybe they needed to visit Cornwall, but he knew they would never visit. He would escape. His freedom awaits him, and he leaves without a backward glance.
The hand of fate? Destiny? Where did he go wrong?
Phase One: Parents
Phase Two: Oxford University
Phase Three: Adam
Phase Four: Jane
Phase Five: Ann
Phase Six: The discovery
Phase Seven: Financial ruin | Failing marriage
Phase Eight: Joyce
Phase Nine: Plot to murder wife
Phase Ten: Final Reality
He was on a train to Oxford to get his education—where he met Adam. He wanted everything he had. Adam came from money and privilege. Jake had come to Oxford to find endless possibilities and would not saddle himself with his past. Truth or lie? He chose lies.
He took the metaphorical knife and sliced away his past, saying his parents had died a few years earlier in a car crash and both killed instantly. He did not realize then that his life would become intertwined with Adams— and he would be forced to live a lie forever.
What 18 yr-old thinks of the consequences of his actions? He even believed his own story for a while.
Immersed in his friendship with Adam and taken under the wing of the wealthy parents, Giles and Clara, with old money and class. He even met Adam's sister, the beautiful Ann, that attended Cambridge. She regarded everyone as prey. Not a lot of substance, but beauty.
After a while, it was too late, to tell the truth—he had too much to lose.
After university, not yet thirty, he was hired as a consultant fund manager for one of London's investment banks, making more money than he had thought possible. He was rich. He thought that was enough until he met Jane.
Adam was mesmerized by Jane, a woman he had overlooked. Now it was too late. Adam would soon marry the girl he loved. He made a mistake. He would be happy for his best friend. He would one day be his best man even though he is envious. Just as well—he would need to tell her his secret and that he could not.
He would buy the mansion, the Porche, the designer clothes. Money did make the world go round. Elgin Crescent—Everyone would be envious and give him the needed status. Ten million dollars? He was a fraud.
But then he needed a wife. So he may as well settle with Ann. She is beautiful, and Adam/Jane would be his brother/sister-in-law, and their parents would welcome him. However, Ann was manipulative and scheming and she loved to spend money. He did not love her.
He could be happy, couldn't he? No matter how rich he became, there was his past. If he had confessed, his life might have ended differently.
He does not tell anyone but decides to visit his parent in Bristol after all these years. But when he arrives, things do not go as he planned. He receives a shock that would alter his life. His parents no longer live at 24 Primrose Terrace. It had been seventeen years. He had no idea what had happened after he left. He only sent annual Christmas cards and never heard back.
When faced with this reality, it is more than he can bear. But he cannot discuss this with anyone since he has lied about his past. A loveless marriage and two children later, he made a terrible mistake.
He was a sitting duck for what was to follow.
The economy. A falling marriage. Children are taken care of by nannies. His job and position would soon be ending. His money would be gone. His family would leave.
A ride on the Tube to Charing Cross. A mysterious woman at a table outside Paul's cafe. Her name is Joyce—an artist.
He stopped. Now his life would forever change.
A plan to escape. A plan to kill his wife. Uxoricide. The act of killing one's wife. Stealing from his client's funds. He changed his mind. Too late. They planned to leave. Now she is gone. Nothing is as it appears.
What happens next will BLOW YOUR MIND! How will Jake's life end?
WOW!!! I have so much to say about this book. I had no clue I would love this book so much, but there are pros and cons. My thoughts:
~Firstly, I enjoy the author's writing style. I have recently discovered Valerie Keogh, and this is my fifth book by the author I have read. I appreciate how she leaves readers with something to ponder at the end of each chapter or a summary. I like this and find it very engaging and refreshing. She is also a skilled writer and master storyteller and her books are thought-provoking even though thrillers.
~This was a great story that I enjoyed reading about the life of Jake, as a cautionary tale with lots of plot twists, especially the last part - murder plot, Charing Cross, and after—brilliant!
~The author's writing is very good, and engaging—it lends itself to a more literary feel. By eliminating the current title, cover, and sex scenes, you strip down to the real story.
~The entire time I read, I thought of The Great Gatsby. Jake reminded me so much of Jay Gatsby. His origin, the lies about his past, parents, greed for money, status, secrets, the need for the big house, and the desire for a woman he could not have. Jake, like Jay Gatsby's story, is tragic, and there is much beneath the surface.
In summary, I hope this book gets into the right hands and a reader who appreciates the story and not just another trophy wife book. I urge readers to return to the first chapter after reading the book, which is key.
Looking forward to seeing what is next from this author. I am enjoying reading her backlist!
Thank you to #BoldwoodBooks and #Netgalley for a gifted ARC.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 2, 2023
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Jan 2023 Must-Read Books
The "IFs" in life—missed opportunities, extraordinary lives almost lived, and regrets. A life—of lies, secrets, greed, regret, and loss.
A man desperately trying to understand precisely where it went wrong, to pinpoint the moment: when he left home? When he met Adam? Jane? Ann? Or when he discovered the truth about his parents.
Thanks to him, three people have died.
Meet Mr. Jake Mitchell. He grew up in a small and dreary town with small minds and few expectations, including his parent's views.
He applied for a scholarship to the University of Oxford without consulting his parents and forging their names. He was accepted! His future and his dreams suddenly became attainable. He would study business and economics. He would achieve success.
Of course, his parents were not overjoyed and thought he should stay there and work in the factory. He wanted more. He did not desire a life like his parents, with every spark crushed by dull grinding monotony.
His parents even said the day he was leaving—maybe they needed to visit Cornwall, but he knew they would never visit. He would escape. His freedom awaits him, and he leaves without a backward glance.
The hand of fate? Destiny? Where did he go wrong?
Phase One: Parents
Phase Two: Oxford University
Phase Three: Adam
Phase Four: Jane
Phase Five: Ann
Phase Six: The discovery
Phase Seven: Financial ruin | Failing marriage
Phase Eight: Joyce
Phase Nine: Plot to murder wife
Phase Ten: Final Reality
He was on a train to Oxford to get his education—where he met Adam. He wanted everything he had. Adam came from money and privilege. Jake had come to Oxford to find endless possibilities and would not saddle himself with his past. Truth or lie? He chose lies.
He took the metaphorical knife and sliced away his past, saying his parents had died a few years earlier in a car crash and both killed instantly. He did not realize then that his life would become intertwined with Adams— and he would be forced to live a lie forever.
What 18 yr-old thinks of the consequences of his actions? He even believed his own story for a while.
Immersed in his friendship with Adam and taken under the wing of the wealthy parents, Giles and Clara, with old money and class. He even met Adam's sister, the beautiful Ann, that attended Cambridge. She regarded everyone as prey. Not a lot of substance, but beauty.
After a while, it was too late, to tell the truth—he had too much to lose.
After university, not yet thirty, he was hired as a consultant fund manager for one of London's investment banks, making more money than he had thought possible. He was rich. He thought that was enough until he met Jane.
Adam was mesmerized by Jane, a woman he had overlooked. Now it was too late. Adam would soon marry the girl he loved. He made a mistake. He would be happy for his best friend. He would one day be his best man even though he is envious. Just as well—he would need to tell her his secret and that he could not.
He would buy the mansion, the Porche, the designer clothes. Money did make the world go round. Elgin Crescent—Everyone would be envious and give him the needed status. Ten million dollars? He was a fraud.
But then he needed a wife. So he may as well settle with Ann. She is beautiful, and Adam/Jane would be his brother/sister-in-law, and their parents would welcome him. However, Ann was manipulative and scheming and she loved to spend money. He did not love her.
He could be happy, couldn't he? No matter how rich he became, there was his past. If he had confessed, his life might have ended differently.
He does not tell anyone but decides to visit his parent in Bristol after all these years. But when he arrives, things do not go as he planned. He receives a shock that would alter his life. His parents no longer live at 24 Primrose Terrace. It had been seventeen years. He had no idea what had happened after he left. He only sent annual Christmas cards and never heard back.
When faced with this reality, it is more than he can bear. But he cannot discuss this with anyone since he has lied about his past. A loveless marriage and two children later, he made a terrible mistake.
He was a sitting duck for what was to follow.
The economy. A falling marriage. Children are taken care of by nannies. His job and position would soon be ending. His money would be gone. His family would leave.
A ride on the Tube to Charing Cross. A mysterious woman at a table outside Paul's cafe. Her name is Joyce—an artist.
He stopped. Now his life would forever change.
A plan to escape. A plan to kill his wife. Uxoricide. The act of killing one's wife. Stealing from his client's funds. He changed his mind. Too late. They planned to leave. Now she is gone. Nothing is as it appears.
What happens next will BLOW YOUR MIND! How will Jake's life end?
WOW!!! I have so much to say about this book. I had no clue I would love this book so much, but there are pros and cons. My thoughts:
~Firstly, I enjoy the author's writing style. I have recently discovered Valerie Keogh, and this is my fifth book by the author I have read. I appreciate how she leaves readers with something to ponder at the end of each chapter or a summary. I like this and find it very engaging and refreshing. She is also a skilled writer and master storyteller and her books are thought-provoking even though thrillers.
~This was a great story that I enjoyed reading about the life of Jake, as a cautionary tale with lots of plot twists, especially the last part - murder plot, Charing Cross, and after—brilliant!
~The author's writing is very good, and engaging—it lends itself to a more literary feel. By eliminating the current title, cover, and sex scenes, you strip down to the real story.
~The entire time I read, I thought of The Great Gatsby. Jake reminded me so much of Jay Gatsby. His origin, the lies about his past, parents, greed for money, status, secrets, the need for the big house, and the desire for a woman he could not have. Jake, like Jay Gatsby's story, is tragic, and there is much beneath the surface.
In summary, I hope this book gets into the right hands and a reader who appreciates the story and not just another trophy wife book. I urge readers to return to the first chapter after reading the book, which is key.
Looking forward to seeing what is next from this author. I am enjoying reading her backlist!
Thank you to #BoldwoodBooks and #Netgalley for a gifted ARC.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 2, 2023
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Jan 2023 Must-Read Books
The Trophy Wife by Valerie Keogh
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 02 Jan 2023
Genre:General Fiction, Mystery, and Thriller
In a world where we seem so focused on achievements and possessions, this book was a welcome read. Force you to watch. I found it well-planned d the subject well-researched, and I pondered it for days.
If I could change one thing, I would like to eliminate improper behavior. It wasn't needed and didn't add to the plot. If it were removed, the story would appeal to an even wider audience. When she met Anne, she knew she was the right woman. With her as my companion, my misfortune is behind me. Anne's stunning looks and her social interactions will enrich my life. I'm not in love with her, but she gives her the wealth she wants. I'm not lonely anymore. She completes me
But my marriage soon threatened to strangle me. Marrying Anne was a terrible mistake. We have to get out of this intolerable situation. My only hope is to find an exit.
#NetGalley#bookstagram #mysteryandthriller #generalfiction #thetrophywife
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 02 Jan 2023
Genre:General Fiction, Mystery, and Thriller
In a world where we seem so focused on achievements and possessions, this book was a welcome read. Force you to watch. I found it well-planned d the subject well-researched, and I pondered it for days.
If I could change one thing, I would like to eliminate improper behavior. It wasn't needed and didn't add to the plot. If it were removed, the story would appeal to an even wider audience. When she met Anne, she knew she was the right woman. With her as my companion, my misfortune is behind me. Anne's stunning looks and her social interactions will enrich my life. I'm not in love with her, but she gives her the wealth she wants. I'm not lonely anymore. She completes me
But my marriage soon threatened to strangle me. Marrying Anne was a terrible mistake. We have to get out of this intolerable situation. My only hope is to find an exit.
#NetGalley#bookstagram #mysteryandthriller #generalfiction #thetrophywife
A tale of obsession better not told. It was not thrilling and I almost DNF'd it but hoped it would get better. It did not.
This book is more than I expected. The story is twisted and unexpected. Jake’s dream has been to be better off in life than his parents. He left home at 17 years old and never looked back. I didn't know if I liked Jake’s character. He works hard for what he has but at the same time looks down on those with less. You will need to read this book until the very end and then spend some time processing what just happened. The ending is wild!
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism