2.5 stars.

Unlikable and unreliable characters within a dramatically implausible plot.

An intriguing premise that piqued my curiosity. I do like books with unreliable, manipulative characters which this novel has plenty of. I can tolerate unlikable characters as long as they are entertaining and unique. Unfortunately I didn’t find any of these characters remotely interesting. Within the first several pages I knew I wasn’t clicking with the narrative.

The main character was extremely conniving and sneaky. From the start her personality felt forced and overly dramatic and I just wasn’t buying into it. This distracted me and overshadowed any sort of enjoyment I may have found within the storyline.

The plot lacked tension and suspense. There wasn’t anything about the storyline that kept me curious or intrigued. It was an entertaining story but overall it was unthrilling and unmemorable.

This was my first experience with this author and this simply wasn’t a good fit for me. I need my storylines to have plausibility and characters worth rooting for (whether likeable or not). I have heard great things about her previous book, The Perfect Girlfriend, which I hope to try out soon for comparison.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!

Eek, I was so excited to get to do a cover reveal for this and then read for part of the blog tour. I loved Karen's last book, The Perfect Girlfriend and so knew The Last Wife would be just as brilliant.

The characters for a start, Karen has the most amazing talent of drip-feeding information to make her characters seem real, Marie, Nina, Stuart and Camilla, even the children are all written in such a way that you can't not like them, but then as the story starts to unfold, you don't know who to trust and believe, much like Marie, the main character who is suffering from this issue and she feels alone and isolated by this.

She's lost her best friend, Nina, who's entrusted her with her last wishes and Marie will do her very best to fulfil them. But at what cost.

So when Marie's relationship with partner Ben breaks down, she very soon manages to move in with Stuart, and starts taking the children to school where she hears the gossip and underhand comments. Despite all that, she soon takes Nina's life on, in all ways conceivable. But its too late, once Marie starts finding out Nina's secrets and her life unravels into being a real-life tale of lies she can't let taint her new family.

As it often appears, Nina's life seemed perfect - she had the husband, Stuart doting, loving and attentive. The chocolate box cottage in the country and Felix and Emily her beautiful children. But Marie soon starts unpeeling layer by layer and finds the insides to be fairly rotten. Camilla, who also went to art college with Marie and Nina seems just as entangled in these lies, untruths, half stories - whatever they are - that Marie is piecing together and it turns out, is even more involved than she first realised.

Marie is now a successful photographer and starts to look back at her photos from shared holidays with her then-boyfriend Charlie. When Nina and Stuart met and their wedding, she sees things she didn't notice before looks, people who now she knows better and starts to see the real story behind Nina's. Was she trying to protect Marie? Or stop her knowing too much, why didn't she just tell her these things?

What a tangled web they weaved indeed..... but if I told you anymore that as they say would be a spoiler - and I don't do those. You'll have to read this twisty tale of friendship for yourself.

Marie Langham made promises to her best friend while Nina was on her deathbed and she won’t let anything, including gossip, disapproval, and threats get in the way of fulfilling Nina’s last wishes. However, Marie is a troubled woman, insecure, desperate to fit in with Nina’s former friends, and devastated that she has not been able to get pregnant. Marie puts her own life on hold to help Nina’s widowed husband and their children adjust to life without Nina but someone is not impressed with her efforts to step into Nina’s life. Who is threatening Marie and will secrets that both Nina and Marie were keeping put Marie in danger now?

I absolutely loved “The Perfect Girlfriend”, so I was eager to read this domestic suspense novel by the same author. Marie has the same ability to make you cringe over her questionable choices as the main character from Hamilton’s previous book did. However, “The Last Wife” is actually a little less over-the-top and a little less fun to read. That being said, I was intrigued to find out where the story was headed. There were so many unlikable characters in the book, it was hard to figure out who was lying and who was telling the truth. Marie admits early on “there’s always a reason for lying” so unsurprisingly, her version of past events changes as the story progresses. In spite of her lies and misdeeds, I like Marie and hoped she could somehow emerge from Nina’s shadow and find the happiness she was looking for. The book was a fast read that kept my interest throughout the story. Marie experiences many moments of “be careful what you wish for” in the book, but I was pleased with how things ended. The book is unique enough to stand out from the many domestic suspense and thrillers out there and I will continue to follow this author.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Harlequin/Graydon House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Nina and Marie were best friends. Marie secretly wanted Nina’s “perfect” life, so when Nina is dying, she asks Marie to take care of her family. What Nina did not know is that was Marie’s plan all along. Marie starts becoming more and more involved in her family until Marie gets exactly what she has always wanted, but at what cost?

This novel was well written, and all through the story, things were never as they seemed. I was a little confused with the side line story of the ex boyfriend, and at times felt as if this was too different stories in one book. I would have loved diving into the twisted character of Marie and her relationship with Nina’s family a little more. All in all, it was a good read and although this was the first novel I have read by Karen Hamilton, I would read another one of her psychological thrillers.

Thank you so much to the author Karen Hamilton, Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

I read and reviewed Karen Hamilton’s debut novel THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND a couple of years ago, and I absolutely LOVED it. She pulled off a great story with a narrator who was technically completely reliable and yet also utterly unhinged. So when I got the opportunity to review THE LAST WIFE, I grabbed it up.

In a lot of ways, Marie, the first-person narrator of this book, is somewhat similar to Juliette from The Perfect Girlfriend. She starts out the book seeming kind and normal, quite a sympathetic figure as she has just lost her best friend Nina to cancer and is desperate to help Nina’s widower and children, all while trying to salvage her own relationship with Ben and get pregnant. It slowly starts to become apparent that Marie is on the co-dependent side, but I never thought she was a bad person. What I did conclude, though, is that pretty much everyone over the age of 18 in this story was morally grey at best, and Marie got sucked into it herself when she couldn’t stop asking questions.

The issue I had was that the stakes never seemed to get that high. The only danger to Marie happened when she put herself in a risky situation, something which always makes me impatient when supposedly smart people do because it’s just dumb and unnecessary. Unlike Juliette from The Perfect Girlfriend, who was so rivetingly psychotic I couldn’t look away, I ended the book with something of a ‘meh’ feeling because I didn’t really care enough about Marie either way. Three stars.

A psychological thriller of two women with different agendas. A strong plot that jumped a bit for me. Solid writing so definitely worth a shot. Pick this up and decide for yourself. Good story. Happy reading!

This book for me was.... interesting. It took me a bit to get into it.... by the end I was wanting to know how things wrapped up.
It was a good read.. but not amazing for me. It felt a bit all over the place to me.
Overall it was ok.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

When Marie agreed to look after her best friend Nina's family after her death, this promise would lead to much more than she bargained for. Marie and Nina have known each other for years, so Marie was already very close to Nina's husband Stuart and their two children. Marie gives her all when it comes to her new "family".

Someone is not happy about what is going on, and this forces Marie to face her troubled past. Lies are going to be exposed. Meanwhile, Marie's mother is in hospice, and that itself takes a toll on Marie.

This book was rather difficult to read at times. For most of the story, Marie proved to be an unreliable narrator. I never felt comfortable with her character. She took and took and took, lying all the way. However, there was a reason behind her behavior (which is about as far as I can go without a spoiler). As Marie's past became clear, it was much easier for me to remain invested in the story. The kicker is the fact that not only did Marie hide her past, but Nina had secrets too. This created a mystery beyond the drama of Marie inserting herself into Stuart's family.

While reading, this book made me think of the classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, because it was easily made clear that Marie would be a replacement wife. However, this story did not have that haunting effect. Instead, this story contained unlikable characters by the droves. My interest might have waned in the beginning, but I certainly had to see this to the end. Learning about why Marie lied was very intriguing. Also, I will say there were some surprises in this book, and this story delivered a decent conclusion, albeit jarring.

Many thanks to Graydon House Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This is a domestic drama with some hints of psychological thriller and suspense, but the latter two elements never really got there for me. The domestic drama was well-written with a narrator who is self-centered and who tells the story from her own point of view, without noticing her own weaknesses. Marie, Camilla, Charlie and Nina go on vacation together and one of them dies there. That’s the beginning of the mystery, but it really isn’t one for long as Marie tells us quickly what she surmises had happened. Marie is extremely jealous of Nina and her life as a mom with a perfect family. That obsession is the foundation of the story. I really didn’t sympathize with any of the characters unless it was the children who had to put up with such nonsense from the adults. Nevertheless, the plot was cleverly written with just enough twists to keep me reading. Fans of domestic drama with a hint of mystery and thriller will enjoy this new book by Karen Hamilton.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Holy smokes! What a book! I really have no idea what to classify this as. It’s not exactly a thriller but it has suspense and so many psychological twists and turns.

Nina and Marie were best friends—until Nina was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Before she died, Nina asked Marie to fulfill her final wishes.

But her mistake was in thinking Marie was someone she could trust.

What Nina didn’t know was that Marie always wanted her beautiful life, and that Marie has an agenda of her own. She’ll do anything to get what she wants.

Marie thinks she can keep her promise to her friend’s family on her own terms. But what she doesn’t know is that Nina was hiding explosive secrets of her own.

I loved stepping into the world of Marie‘s character and what made her “tick.” Her character, her flaws, and the suspense drive the story and keep you turning the pages.

As the story progresses from Marie’s point of view, the layers of her character and other characters are slowly pealed away, and you will find yourself with more questions than answers. Is Marie a victim or is she a villain? Who is the good-guy in this book? Is there a good-guy in this book? Who is telling the truth?

Marie’s story holds a lot of twists and turns and a few surprises I didn’t see coming. Hamilton did an excellent job creating absolutely twisted and warped characters and a plot line that dealt with obsessive and warped relationships.

The Last Wife was an addictive read that I could not put down or even shake off after I finished it. If you like books with flawed characters, suspense and not knowing who to trust, then this book is for you!

Thank you Harlequin Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Review Publication 6/26: https://www.bookmarkedbyandrea.com/home/the-last-wife
Instagram post 7/7: https://www.instagram.com/andrea.c.lowry.reads/

A special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Marie Langham is devastated when her friend since childhood, Nina, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Before Nina dies, she asks Marie to look out for her family—her two kids, and husband, Stuart. Of course Marie says yes, she would do anything for Nina.

After Nina's death, Marie begins to learn more about her friend, especially when Camilla, a mutual college friend, reappears. Once envious of Nina's life, Marie comes to realize that nothing is what it seems. She has to figure out what is true and who she can trust before the consequences of Nina's dark past destroy her.

The Last Wife has an interesting premise: best friends, one of whom has a dying wish for the other to watch over her husband and children. But what unfolds instead is a story of never knowing exactly who is telling the truth—it becomes a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for. And maybe to never join a book club.

While this book is being marketed as a thriller/mystery, it is more of a family drama with very little suspense. Although Hamilton is a great writer and starts off strong, she ultimately loses the plot—it simply overwhelms her. There is also a lot going on for the reader to keep track of.

Maria is the type of unreliable narrator that is prone to rambling and too much page time is dedicated to her musings. Unfortunately, as a whole, the cast of characters are lacking and I had trouble connecting with them.

That being said, I would definitely give Karen Hamilton another try.

The Last Wife is a domestic thriller about two women, their friendship, and a dying wish. Before Nina dies, she asks Marie to take care of her husband and child. Should Nina have actually trusted Marie to keep this promise? Many secrets are revealed in this thriller, but there aren't any likable characters here; so it's hard to care too much about this story's conclusion. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Domestic suspense novels always sound so dramatic and fascinating, so I am not surprised that my sister-in-law picked this one out for me to read next over the holiday weekend. Marie is a photographer and has long clung to the side of her best friend, Nina, from primary school to art college and beyond. But though Marie has spent most of their friendship being envious of all that Nina has (husband, two children, beautiful home with a guest cottage), circumstances align for Marie to quite neatly and literally fill Nina's shoes - only to find secrets hidden.

It's an engaging read with plenty of suspicious activity all around - from Nina's widowed husband, another old friend unexpectedly back in town, jealous neighbors, stubborn relatives and many of Marie's own blatant lies. The latter makes it more difficult to really connect - or even root for - Marie. But the plot moves in surprising enough ways that the book remains entertaining despite not caring much for its narrator. It becomes quite the page turner and while the ultimate resolution isn't exactly satisfying, it is an entertaining enough read overall. I just wish that I had liked some of the characters a bit more!

A very intriguing and engrossing book. The narrator captures your attention from the first few lines and kept it until the end, There were quite a few twists and turns.

A slow burn thriller with great suspense at opportune times. Author Karen Hamilton wrote a twisty thriller which had many loops, especially at the end.

Marie had promised Nina that she would look after her family, especially the kids. She had always wanted Nina's life hence was happy to do so. Then came the reality and secrets...

My first book by this author, I was led down a merry chase with an unreliable narrator, Marie, who would keep me on my toes. To trust or not to trust was the basic question in my mind. The story moved in one direction when suddenly all the things I knew changed dramatically. The plot became deeper where the secrets of the past impinged on the present. And I was left sideswiped.

There were a great many things which shocked me; the second half twisted things around. The author managed to keep my curiosity running high. The only niggle I had was the main character kept ruminating in most of the book. I had to hop, skip, and jump that as it felt repetitive. So I would say the basic plotline kept the suspense flying.

Overall, I was compelled to know the truth. And the book made a great breakfast read.

I really could not get into this book. I didn't like the characters and could not relate to them. This book was a real struggle to read.

The last wife by Karen Hamilton was one of those books I hate to review. I didn’t particularly like it, but some people will love it. In the fashion of Gone girl, I didn’t like any of the characters but I just had to keep reading to the end.
Nina and Marie were best friends, until Nina became terminally ill. Before she died, Nina asked Marie to fulfill several promises. But could she trust Marie? What Nina didn’t know was Marie envied Nina’s perfect family, and perfect life...and she would do anything to have it. But be careful what you wish for...
The beginning starts off slow but does pick up. The more I found out about the friends, the less I liked them. There were a couple of key points in the book I did like which made me round it up from 21/2 star to 3 star....and I would be willing read the author again.
Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't love The Perfect Girlfriend but was curious to see how The Last Wife would be...

I enjoyed the first half ... read through it pretty fast. Maria's character was interesting and I was curious to see where her story went. Somewhere along the way it just gets to be too much ... very unbelievable, the storyline takes a weird turn and there's too much going on to keep everything straight. The characters are lacking and I felt as though in many circumstances they needed more. I didn't feel connected to any of them at all.

In the end I found this book quite frustrating, jumbled and lacking the jaw dropping moment of a thriller. With that being said - this is not a thriller ... sorry guys! This is a family drama with very little suspense.

Thanks to Harlequin - Trade Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy!

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in return for my unbiased review. I really enjoyed reading this twisted psychological thriller. The author led us to believe that Nina had the perfect life and Marie was manipulating and jealous of her friend's life. The characters began to stray from the way they were portrayed and take on different qualities. I did like the way this book took you on an unforgettable ride.

3.5 stars

This was a mixed bag for me. I didn’t respond well to the writing style as it was a bit dry and abrupt. A chapter would end, but the transition to the next was often confusing or felt like I had missed a paragraph.
But— the storyline did keep me intrigued! With no real likeable characters (outside of the kids) to get behind, the antagonist could have been anyone and I found myself placing this label on at least 3 of them until it’s all revealed.
The ending wasn’t what I had expected, but looking back, it’s what I SHOULD have been expecting all along.

ARC provided by NetGalley