I finally had a chance to open up the first book and got cracking! I wasn't expecting this! Ok, so Ellie repeats herself... a LOT! But despite this, I was still left wanting to know more, more about what happened 14 months ago. I had suspicions about what might happen, especially with the tagline of "There are three people are in her marriage" - I mean it's natural for your brain to go in one direction with this! After finishing the first book, I am still none the wiser but it ramped up at the end, as we went back to that night. Aaaahhhhhhh the end! I thought I had more pages! I need to now read the 2nd book and pronto!

Ellie and Michael are a couple who have experienced something. Michael, however, will not talk about it at all. He thinks it's done and dusted and he's moving on and he wants Ellie to do the same. She won't. She's spying, snooping and angry. A woman scorned and all that. But like I say, I still have no idea! I mean I have my idea, but I can't see how it's going to be right. I am completely fascinated by this book. Yes, ok the repetitiveness did bring it down a star, but the story and the characters, despite not being likeable, have kept me enthralled and I have to know more!! plus a book sold as Doctor Foster, hell yeah I am there!!

I'm really looking forward to reading the next one - can you tell?! I need to know the secrets that lie ahead!

I felt the story was dragged out although it somehow kept my attention, maybe it was more curiosity, I love reading stories on what goes on behind closed doors of a marriage and/or family, Micheal and Ellie seemingly have a perfect marriage on the surface and by on looking, which is not uncommon, but in reality life isn't as rosie. Ellie is a very interesting character and I felt I could relate to her, the story is told from her point of view. I was left feeling like I wish there was more sustains to the buildup but all in all I did enjoy it and I will read the rest of the series.

This book was intriguing, at times making you question the protagonist and the motives behind her actions. I enjoyed the book, however, felt that it was lacking a conclusion at the end, instead it seemed that the first book existed solely to set up the second.

I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review........ The first part of a 4 part book and I must admit - I'm hooked already. I think the fact the story is split between 4 parts would of annoyed me if I had to wait ages between each part, however I have the last 3 parts ready and waiting to be read on my kindle straight away from Netgalley. I'm reading on immediately as I am very intrigued to see where the story goes from here. Although there's not really any twists or turns, it's more of a domestic drama; I still found it to be quite a page-turner. I'm just starting part 2 now.........

I raced through this in record speed because I was so keen to find out a) what had happened and b) what was going to happen. I liked the way the book started at a point between a horrific event in the past and began a slow build into what I'm sure will be a dramatic set of events in the future. Ellie's increasing insecurity

Ellie's increasing insecurity makes her a wonderfully unreliable narrator - are the events she describes true?
Or just in her head? Is Michael not being truthful? And what of Liam? So many questions! All of which combine to make this a rollickingly good and fast read - I raced through it often, literally on the edge of my seat.

The characters of Ellie and Michael are well drawn if a little cliched - ambitious working-class girl meets dreamy English literature professor...they fall in love, get married and have a perfect life. Until they don't. Which is where we enter the story. Something has torn at their marriage. An it seems that things are about to get a whole lot worse.

This, the first in a series of four sends us both back into the past find out what happened...and wondering what is going to happen to bring the issues in this book to a head.

The downside is that the book is repetitive - we don't' find out the nature of the past event until the very end - even though it had been mentioned virtually constantly since the start.

Also, the ending is very abrupt...maybe this is a ploy to get people to click through to get the second part (I did this) but it felt unsatisfying.

All in all though an interesting, pacy read and I am looking forward to part 2.

I read all three of the books in this series one after another hoping to make one good book out of them all but it just didn't happen. The story is not exciting at any stage and could be written as one short story rather than adding all the boring and repetitive padding that all three books had in abundance.
I hate to give such negative criticism but I could not find any redeeming features to the series.Unlikable and unbelievable characters and a plot to match.

This whole series is so gripping, I read all 3 in a day as I couldn't get enough. The characters are incredible, I adore Ellie even though I probably shouldn't. The idea that it's comparable to Docter Foster is spot on. Really recommend these, they'd be perfect for a holiday read on the beach! Or a flight!

This was very different to books I read in that it was in four parts. The blurbs got me intrigued so had to try them. I’m curious as to where this book is going. It’s hard to review this book without giving away anything about it. I think the fact it’s in four parts makes it too slow for me, but I am still intrigued so I will carry on. Michael and Ellie are seen as the perfect successful couple but then Michael starts to tutor a student, is history repeating itself? We shall see.

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what can I say about this book. From the start its very secretive I couldn't stop reading this book to find out what the story was about it was very intriguing this book didn't disappoint.

I liked all the characters I think there is more to this story can't wait to read part 2

I would like to say thank you to net galley for letting me review this book.

Loved loved loved it! Already ordering the next book on Kindle because I need to know what happens next!

This book was both aggravating and addicting. An event has changed the once perfect marriage of Ellie and Michael and this "event" is referred to constantly and when we finally get to the flashback that will possibly explain all-the book is over. The cliffhanger worked-I will be purchasing book 2 in November.

Great build up of psychological tension. Believable characters. The intense storytelling makes it hard to tell what is true and what is in the main character's mind, building up the suspense and drama. Worth reading. I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy anything about this short story about marriage and infidelity told from the perspective of the wife. This is the first in a series told from the perspective of the main characters but I will not be reading the next in the series. Forgettable and not particularly well written.

This definitely has a Dr. Foster feel to it, and if you haven’t seen that particular programme then be prepared for a paranoid and vengeful woman, and the close scrutiny of a marriage.

Marriage, relationships and friendships are at the forefront of this story. The story starts after specific events, which lead to the deterioration of her mental health and her marriage. The reader remains unaware of what those events are specifically until the author starts to reveal some of the details towards the end of this book.

It’s hard to feel a lot of empathy for Ellie. because she seems so unstable. She is jealous, paranoid and isn’t adverse to the occasional bouts of stalking. She doubts everything her husband says and does, perhaps with good reason though.

Roberts describes the charismatic husband really well. The charmer, the kind of man women want attention from, even if it is just the faintest of touches or a short moment of eye-contact. I think they thrive on the energy, the heavy feeling of lust and danger in the air. The short culmination of spiked desire, albeit only in a brief second of imagined abandonment. Michael is that type of man. The kind of man who holds the attention of the room, and enjoys every second of it. You have to be a strong woman or partner to accept this particular vice or personality trait. Why? Well, because he will only ever belong to you completely when there is only the two of you and no other person to stroke the ego of the prettiest peacock in the room.

No wonder Ellie is driven to distraction, especially after the damage her marriage has already incurred. It’s interesting to note, and yet absolutely the norm, that as a woman she is expected to forgive, forget and go back to being the happy little wife. Regardless of the pain, horror and irreparable damage to her life and well-being she has had to endure.

The author writes a good game. In book one the nails are being slowly driven into the coffin one by one, whilst the reasons for her obsessive and paranoid behaviour are revealed at a calculated pace. Some characters look guiltier than others, however there are always three sides to every story. Her side, his side and somewhere in the middle is the truth. This is a four part series and I am looking forward to reading the next book For Better, For Worse.

This was the first part in a 4 part series that leaves you on such a cliffhanger that you are desperate to read more. Ellie and Michael have obviously been through a difficult time and although I am guessing what is to come I am keen to find out.

Oh dear! If I had wanted a story in serial form I would have bought a weekly magazine. Part One has only just built up its characters and setting when it ends - on a cliffhanger, with nothing explained or resolved. I had just (finally) reached the point when I actually wanted to know what happened, but it was not to be. I struggled to feel any connection with either of the main characters. She is suspicious to the point of paranoia, following her husband, assuming everything he says is a lie, and constantly referring to 'what happened' so many times it became boring and repetitious. Okay, so you're not going to tell us what it was - I get that! And he spends most of the story avoiding her, refusing to talk, and leaving the room. I couldn't even get a sense of their age. - their lifestyle, home and seniority at work gave me the impression they are in their fifties, but when we finally find out the relevance of the empty room that seems extremely unlikely. The story is much too short to be sold independently. It should be part of one whole novel, sold together so we can find out the ending. .If I am expected to now wait for (and pay for) parts two, three, or more, I don't think I will be doing so,

Wow! What an intense first part to The Wife. Was hooked from the moment I started reading, as I was drawn into the lives of the characters. So much intrigue and suspense. And what a cliff-hanger! Can't wait for part 2 to find out more!

Loved the suspense of this one! Michael and Ellie are the "perfect" couple but something ominous looms in the past that prevents them from moving forward. Ellie is suspicious and paranoid but doesn't want to confront her husband as she believes he is lying and keeping secrets from her. I wasn't prepared for the cliffhanger ending even though I knew it was a series. Now I'm on the edge of my seat awaiting book 2!

To Have and To Hold, (The Wife Book 1), M L Roberts
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: mystery and thrillers, women's fiction

I loved the synopsis and looking on both amazon and goodreads its listed as a 400 page book, a four book series. I expected this part, part one to be 400 pages though, but its not.
I guess the 400 pages relates to the whole story :-( as part one is 1402 kindle location.....I can't seem to find info on when parts 2,3,4 are out and I so hate waiting. for me it spoils a story, divided like this, and TBH I feel in this case its unnecessary, it could have been put together as one book, or possibly two.
Four parts though? With no release dates for the rest? I'll have forgotten much of this by then, certainly the drama will have lost its impact. 

That's a real shame as its a terrific story, carefully written so we think A is what happened, then clues laid out so we think maybe it was B instead. Then something else comes up so maybe it wasn't A or B but C, and then maybe D and E are part of the story too. There are lots of clues laid out, but many send the reader off in the wrong direction. Or do they?? 

I really enjoyed this, what there was of the story anyway, and as a complete book it would probably be a five star, but divided as it is?
Well, the biggest emotion I feel is frustration, not knowing when I can read more, not knowing how long before I get the whole story, especially as it ends in my least favourite way, with a dam n sharp cliffhanger. Gah!! 

Stars: Three, excellent writing, tantalising story but presented this way, divided into four parts, really spoils my enjoyment. I felt I'd barely got started before it was ending....

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

A mysterious storyline of a couple damaged by something in their past, a real page turner. I couldn't wait to see what happened to them. It contained strong characters, with hidden secrets and a past that contained hurt. I can't wait for book 2. Really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to M L Roberts for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read it and gave an unbiased opinion.