What a stellar read! Sandie Jones is such a talent.

Thank you, Sandie Jones, St Martins Press, Minotaur Books & Netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

"The Other Woman" by Sandie Jones is a twisted and gripping psychological thriller that introduces readers to an antagonist that is as memorable as she is chilling. While this is Jones's debut novel, her confident storytelling and mastery of suspense are indicative of a seasoned writer.

The narrative follows Emily, a successful professional who believes she's found the perfect man in Adam. However, she soon realizes that there is a third wheel in their blossoming relationship – Adam’s mother, Pammie. Pammie is the titular "other woman," and her incessant interference turns Emily's dream relationship into a nightmarish power struggle.

Jones sets the stage with an intense plot that is riddled with unexpected turns. Her ability to build tension is commendable, keeping readers on edge from start to finish. The pacing is perfect, allowing the sense of dread to slowly build while continually leading the reader to second-guess the intentions of the characters.

Emily's character is relatable and well-drawn, with the readers feeling her frustration and anxiety as Pammie's manipulations become increasingly sinister. Pammie, however, steals the show as one of the most memorable villains in recent psychological thrillers - charmingly manipulative, subtly destructive, and seemingly untouchable.

The strength of "The Other Woman" lies in Jones's ability to masterfully play with the readers' perceptions. She brilliantly maintains an aura of ambiguity around Pammie’s intentions, making it hard to differentiate between genuine misunderstandings and malicious intentions.

However, some readers might find the characters' lack of communication frustrating and the conclusion a little too unexpected. While the shocking twist is certainly memorable, it feels slightly disconnected from the previous narrative.

In conclusion, "The Other Woman" is a captivating debut novel that hooks readers in with its domestic tension, well-developed characters, and thrilling plot. It's an ideal read for anyone who loves psychological thrillers, particularly those focusing on complex family dynamics and unsettling domestic drama. Jones's talent for suspense and nuanced characterization positions her as an exciting new voice in the genre.

The Other Woman is a gripping and chilling psychological suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Sandie Jones weaves a tale of love, rivalry, and twisted intentions, as Emily finds herself in a battle against her boyfriend's relentless mother, Pammie, who will stop at nothing to get rid of her. A thrilling read that will leave you guessing until the very end!

So good! Once I started it, I could hardly put it down. I'd think about it while I was at work all day and couldn't wait to pick it up again once home for the evening.
I love that I thought I knew where this was going but I was thrown more than a few times! Great read, looking forward to others by this auther!

WOW, that ending was fantastic!

Highly recommended.

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Minotaur Books via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was so thrilling and there were twists and turns the whole time. I definitely plan to read more from this author!

This was a great entertaining read! Fast paced and spun well. I just hated how unbelievable the main character was.....too gullible, no communication, and just downright frustrating. The story and plot were there, but when I couldn't connect with the main protagonist, I think that is what may have lost me on this one. A good quick read if you're looking for a fast paced thriller.

I was hooked from the start! Very entertaining even if it dragged a bit toward the end (nothing boring, just a bit repetitive). I'm sorry to say I saw the big twist coming, but it was a great one despite that!
4.5 stars because it achieved to keep me enthralled and made me feel many emotions!

I’m giving this book 3.5 stars mostly for the plot twist I didn’t see coming. However, I hated the main character, Emily, almost the entire time reading this book. She finally meets “the love her life”, yet refuses to communicate her wants, needs, fears and troubles with him in any effective way possible. The entire premise of this book is based on horrible communication styles, or lack there of, among all the characters. It was however an easy read, with a twist I didn’t see coming.

Whoa! Wow! And HOLY COW! Suspenseful and twisty and that ending came out of nowhere - did not see it coming! Go in without knowing much and you'll enjoy this psychological suspense.

This book had lots of twists and turns, and my jaw actually dropped a few times. I apologize for letting this sit on my TBR for so long, but I will definitely be reading more by this author. I really enjoyed it!

Loved this book! Kept me on my toes the whole read. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a psychological thriller

I really like this book it was pretty good easy read definitely recommend
The book grabbed me from the the beginning to the end

This is a twisted, wonderful rollercoaster of a book. Adam and Emily are a happy couple, but a rival woman waits in the wings. She wants Emily gone, will Emily survive, or will the rival win?

Wow! This book twists you up, then spins you out into a complete new tale. What a journey this author puts you on, with an ending sure to shake you up.

This book frustrated me because Emily is in a horrible, toxic relationship with Adam, but finds a way to blame everyone but him. I simply didn't understand why she "loved" him so much. The big twist is okay but not too shocking (I've seen it before). Lots of pop culture references, obligatory gay friend as well as an outspoken best friend, a job that pops up when necessary, lots of people saying "Erm..." or having smiles that "don't quite reach" their eyes. The best parts were the prologue and the epilogue.

What. Did. I. Just. Read?? 😳😳😳 Oh wow. I didn’t expect any of what just went down! Duped all the way through! This one definitely messed with my head... in the best way! Amazing story, Sandie Jones!

Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. It was one hell of a ride that made me feel every emotion known to man. Love, lust, anger and disgust. Then I get to the last few pages and my jaw hits the floor. An absolute thrilling read!

Emily meets Adam. Then she meets Pammie. This family is a twisted circus. You can’t tell who’s coming or going. Emily does her best to deal with Pammie but is left fighting for air with each turn, once you finish this book you’ll need a breather of your own.

A twist only a true sleuth could predict.

PROS:
- I hated Pammie... and I loved that I hated her. My physical reactions to Pammie's manipulative words and actions just shows how well the author wrote this character. It's been a while since I have been so irritated and angered by a character.
- I enjoyed the suspense of trying to determine Pammie's true motives and how it would all be resolved in the end.


CONS:
- There were many situations in which Emily could have confided in Adam, her mother, or her friends about Pammie's manipulation. I got a little frustrated when things could have been brought to light had Emily only told someone.
- While I enjoyed the suspense throughout most of this book, I feel like the ending and resolution came about a bit abruptly. The "twist" seemed to come out of nowhere.

Overall, this was a fun reading experience and a great debut novel for Jones. Looking forward to reading more of her novels!

Full of suspense that kept me on my toes. Almost reminded me of my own mother in law. Perfect storyline to keep the readers attention.