Scan barcode
sabinamarr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booked_with_julia's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Mira Books for a copy of this book!
Adele Parks delivers another gripping psychological thriller with First Wife’s Shadow, a twisty, tension-filled page turner!
Emma’s whirlwind romance with charming and mysterious Matthew raises a lot of red flags, especially with her two best friends. They don’t think Matthew is all he says to be. The shadow of his deceased wife looms larger than expected.
A tense and addictive ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
greys527's review against another edition
3.25
This is the second book I've read but Adele Parks. I liked this one, but they're is definitely a common theme in her books. I enjoyed this, but not as much as the other. Emma just wasn't a very relatable or enjoyable character. I liked the boss persona for the first few chapters but I didn't buy the relationship with Matthew so had a tough time rationalizing her decisions
peerebeer24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
lornatheebooklover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ditten's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book had a lot of things going for it but it ass soooo long and so slow paced.
There were a couple of fun twists and turns but I wouldn't have finished it if I could've found a spoilery review online because it dragged a bit too much for my liking.
The ending was... fine? Kind of dumb and a bit anti climactic but okay, I supoose
There were a couple of fun twists and turns but I wouldn't have finished it if I could've found a spoilery review online because it dragged a bit too much for my liking.
The ending was... fine? Kind of dumb and a bit anti climactic but okay, I supoose
readingtilthebreakofdawn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a difficult one for me to review simply because the first half left me frustrated because I just knew what was going to happen and the story was going too slow for my taste. I wanted to DNF it a few times. I even found myself skimming it, but I'm so glad I stuck it out, because the last half is what I was here for. The twists and different POVs really shed light onto the whole story and made me like First Wife's Shadow that much more.
Emma is a successful woman that has it all. Career, money, friends. But the one thing she doesn't have is a romantic relationship. With her best friends married off and with families, she has kind of been left on the side. But when she meets a younger man at a conference, she thinks her luck may have changed.
Matthew is a widower and is still getting his life together nearly a year after the death of his wife. When he meets Emma at a conference, they have a little connection. But it's not until she calls him for a job weeks later that they end up really connecting and slowly building a friendship that quickly turns into more. Matthew seems to be all in with Emma and Emma wants the happiness that her friends have had, so she jumps in with both feet. But Emma's friends see all the red flags and want her to put on the brakes and take things a bit slower. They care for Emma and the last thing they want to see is her taken advantage of. Or do they just not want Emma to leave their little friend group for this new younger man??
As I said above, the first half was a little slow and all from Emma's POV. Emma and her decisions frustrated me to the point that I nearly DNFed the book on a few occasions. BUT, I HAD to know how this story ended and I pushed on. And once we got a taste of another POV? Well, that changed everything for me. I liked seeing the other side of the story and how the puzzle pieces connected. I had an inkling of an idea, but not the whole picture. And even when things escalate to the point of no return, there are still MORE twists that I did not see coming and it really made me like the journey that much more.
With all that said, I want a book that immediately draws me in and while this book didn't exactly have that, it had enough to keep me invested and wanting to know more. Even with the slower start, and characters that aren't always likable, I would recommend sticking around for the ending that just may surprise you.
Emma is a successful woman that has it all. Career, money, friends. But the one thing she doesn't have is a romantic relationship. With her best friends married off and with families, she has kind of been left on the side. But when she meets a younger man at a conference, she thinks her luck may have changed.
Matthew is a widower and is still getting his life together nearly a year after the death of his wife. When he meets Emma at a conference, they have a little connection. But it's not until she calls him for a job weeks later that they end up really connecting and slowly building a friendship that quickly turns into more. Matthew seems to be all in with Emma and Emma wants the happiness that her friends have had, so she jumps in with both feet. But Emma's friends see all the red flags and want her to put on the brakes and take things a bit slower. They care for Emma and the last thing they want to see is her taken advantage of. Or do they just not want Emma to leave their little friend group for this new younger man??
As I said above, the first half was a little slow and all from Emma's POV. Emma and her decisions frustrated me to the point that I nearly DNFed the book on a few occasions. BUT, I HAD to know how this story ended and I pushed on. And once we got a taste of another POV? Well, that changed everything for me. I liked seeing the other side of the story and how the puzzle pieces connected. I had an inkling of an idea, but not the whole picture. And even when things escalate to the point of no return, there are still MORE twists that I did not see coming and it really made me like the journey that much more.
With all that said, I want a book that immediately draws me in and while this book didn't exactly have that, it had enough to keep me invested and wanting to know more. Even with the slower start, and characters that aren't always likable, I would recommend sticking around for the ending that just may surprise you.
jessjohnson1702's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thereadingrose_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Minor: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Murder
relaxedreader34's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0