I think this one will be a hit with some readers, but it just isn't for me. Two women with the same man - one being the wife. The narrator is obsessed with this man she is having an affair with nearly to the point of insanity. The women are both entirely too dependent on this cowardly man. I kept hoping they would join forces, but it sadly never happened.

With that said, the writing was great and I'm glad cheating wasn't romanticized.

I just can't get behind most of the story.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

3 stars. Amelie’s husband had an affair and divorced. Now Amelie is in love with Ben, but Ben is married. Amelie is the other woman, and the book revolves around her emotions and feelings. Overall, this was a bit too drawn out for me. Basically the ramblings and complaining of a woman who wants love and commitment from a married man.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I really struggled to finish this book. There is no real purpose to the story, just long, meandering thoughts of an unhappy woman caught in an affair that is not going to have a happy outcome. I think I dislike females characters who are portrayed as being this dependent on a man for fulfillment and would have enjoyed it more if the female characters had joined together.
This one just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Obsessive and unrelenting, Amelie has been having an affair with Ben for 2 years. Amelie is divorced and a successful writer - and her daughter, Nina, just started college. So now it is just Amelie and her writing in her home.

Sounds fine, no? The problem is that Ben is married. She is so "in love" with Ben that she becomes possessive and, quite assuredly, a sometimes bitter nag who is pushing Ben to leave his wife, Janet. Her exclamations of love and commitment to Ben do not mirror his. He comes across as wanting to "have it all"; his wife has a steady, well paying job and his architect firm is doing well now but never know when contracts could stop coming. He's hedging his bets.

To complicate things further, Nina is friends with Rachel - Ben's daughter. This could lead to trouble. Also, Janet seems interested in Amelie's book readings and wants to "buddy up" a bit with Amelie.

The plot may seem old - but it is not! Twists are involved.The great use of characters by J.P. Smith makes this book quite worthwhile. As the plot gets tighter, where will loyalties lie?

Many Thanks to Poison Pen Books and NetGalley for a very good read!

I'm having a difficult time reconciling my paradoxical reaction to this book. At times I thought the story was mired in exorbitant narrative, resembling a loopy stream of consciousness from a stark-raving, drunk, unemployed 18th Century philosopher. Other times, the prose was so taut and slick that the tension was palpable. At times, I thought the plot was absolutely brilliant... until other times when it wasn't. I felt the ending was an overshot. There were times when I grew tired of the back and forth of Amelie's thoughts, words, and deeds. Then there were other times that I could not put the story down.

I gave it 4 stars because I have a suspicion that my appreciation for 'If She Were Dead' will grow like a cult classic—the more I think about it, the more I will love it. I would definitely recommend this book.

BTW, Ben is the Almighty King, Lord of the Schmucks!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and J.P. Smith for an ARC of 'If She Were Dead' in exchange for honest and voluntary review.