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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Elana is desperate to get away from her husband Jackson. When they married, he seemed like the perfect man, everything she ever wanted, but she was wrong. Over time he has revealed himself to be controlling and unpredictable. The more Elana finds out about what happened between Jackson and his ex-wives, the more frightened she becomes. Elana is determined to not only escape with her seven-year-old daughter, Phoebe but also get justice for everyone Jackson has wronged.
Jenna Kernan does an excellent job developing the character of Elana. I felt like I was there with her trapped in her horrible, controlling marriage, desperate to find my way out. I also really enjoyed the past and present POV. I think it helped to develop the characters more. I found myself hooked the last quarter of the book, reading faster and staying up late to find out how the story would end. I just wish the first half of the story had as much tension and suspense as the last quarter of the book. For that reason, I rate this book 3.5/5 stars. I still highly recommend it to anyone that loves psychological thrillers! The character development was stellar.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jenna Kernan does an excellent job developing the character of Elana. I felt like I was there with her trapped in her horrible, controlling marriage, desperate to find my way out. I also really enjoyed the past and present POV. I think it helped to develop the characters more. I found myself hooked the last quarter of the book, reading faster and staying up late to find out how the story would end. I just wish the first half of the story had as much tension and suspense as the last quarter of the book. For that reason, I rate this book 3.5/5 stars. I still highly recommend it to anyone that loves psychological thrillers! The character development was stellar.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was very well written. I really enjoyed character development. BUT this book did make me angry at times. I would find myself speaking to Elana, screaming at her to leave that wicked man. However, that is easy for me to say as someone who’s never suffered domestic abuse. Even though I wanted Elana to hurry up and leave Jackson, that most likely wouldn’t have been the right choice. I felt myself grieving for Elana, drawn very close to her character. This is always a plus when it comes to the main character.
The narrator was amazing, this made for a very pleasant listen.
I see that a few other reviewers saw the plot as linear, I would say the opposite. We knew that what Jackson was doing was out of spite/control, of course, but there are some revealing things from his past that i found very intriguing and shocking. I would recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the arc, in exchange for my honest review.
The narrator was amazing, this made for a very pleasant listen.
I see that a few other reviewers saw the plot as linear, I would say the opposite. We knew that what Jackson was doing was out of spite/control, of course, but there are some revealing things from his past that i found very intriguing and shocking. I would recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the arc, in exchange for my honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Oh my goodness I’ve just finished this book and wow what a superb read it was. The Ex-Wives is psychological/ domestic thriller that was filled with so much tension. Literally my heart was in my mouth at times as I was reading. It’s been a while since I read a book filled with so much suspense. The whole time reading this book I felt a chill running through me every time a certain character made an appearance. Ok there were times when I wanted to scream at the book and tell Elana to grab her child and get out of there. But who knows how anyone would react in real life situation like that. A really great read that had my on the edge of my seat until the final sentence.
Well, you can certainly tell that Elana hasn't read many domestic thrillers. If she had, she would have recognized that her white knight in shining armor whose family pretty much runs a small town is probably not everything he presents himself to be. But by the time she realizes it, she is stuck. I was incredibly annoyed by how often she used love to explain away red flags. As a reader of a lot of domestic thrillers, everything felt very predictable.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you love domestic psychological thrillers, then this book is right up your alley. There are a few trigger warnings for domestic abuse and gaslighting. Honestly, the domestic abuse is what knocked this down one-star rating for me. Otherwise it’s a solid psychological thriller.
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Ex-Wives is a story about Elena who is married to Jackson and supposedly lives the perfect life along with her daughter Phoebe. Soon we find out that Jackson has had two previous marriages where they each lost their daughters after leaving him. Turns out, life with Jackson isn’t as perfect as it seems.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration, it was well done and it was easy to follow the different characters. The storyline itself was good, I enjoyed the twist but I also felt that it dragged a little bit with various plot lines that felt unnecessary to the overall story.
As we kept getting little glances at Elena’s past life I really wish this was fleshed out more, particularly around how she met Jackson. I really enjoyed the end which is where a story really clinches it rating with me. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review**
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration, it was well done and it was easy to follow the different characters. The storyline itself was good, I enjoyed the twist but I also felt that it dragged a little bit with various plot lines that felt unnecessary to the overall story.
As we kept getting little glances at Elena’s past life I really wish this was fleshed out more, particularly around how she met Jackson. I really enjoyed the end which is where a story really clinches it rating with me. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review**
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great example of a really exciting crime thriller. Sinister and foreboding with the use of dual timelines to build tension. Fast paced and seriously nail-biting in places, my anxiety was through the roof!
When Elana marries Jackson she is a poor 24 year old widow, Jackson seems like the perfect man and sweeps her off her feet - handsome, charismatic and rich, he charms her into marrying him and bringing both her and her daughter Phoebe into the family. However on the day of her wedding rehearsal dinner she receives a warning from one of his ex wives, surely she is just crazy or jealous? Or is there more to Jackson than meets the eye…?
Great narration as always by Stephanie Cannon
CW domestic violence, coercive control, domestic abuse, gaslighting, emotional blackmail, child abuse
When Elana marries Jackson she is a poor 24 year old widow, Jackson seems like the perfect man and sweeps her off her feet - handsome, charismatic and rich, he charms her into marrying him and bringing both her and her daughter Phoebe into the family. However on the day of her wedding rehearsal dinner she receives a warning from one of his ex wives, surely she is just crazy or jealous? Or is there more to Jackson than meets the eye…?
Great narration as always by Stephanie Cannon
CW domestic violence, coercive control, domestic abuse, gaslighting, emotional blackmail, child abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
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
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced