This novel was every bit the enjoyable read as everyone told me it would be. It was the winner of my February 2021 poll, and it did not disappoint. Touted as a modern Jane Eyre re-telling with a twist, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins certainly has several parallels to the original Charlotte Bronte novel, but it is also a very different novel that stands well on its own--so you don't have to be a fan or to have read the Classic to appreciate and enjoy The Wife Upstairs.

Jane Bell grew up in foster care and is trying to escape her past. She has a plan and she is determined to do what it takes to get what she wants. She has found her way into the Thornfield Estates in Alabama, a wealthy gated community, where she walks dogs for the bored housewives who have better things to do--like shop and plan charity events. No one notices the little things that disappear when Jane is around--an earring here or there, perhaps a watch or a bracelet. And no one ever questions whether Jane is who she says she is.

Jane finds exactly what she is looking for when she runs into the recently widowed Eddie Rochester--or rather, he almost runs into her with his car. Eddie is everything Jane wants. Rich, single, and available. The two hit it off immediately and one thing leads to another. Jane's plan is working perfectly. But she is haunted by the memory of Bea, Eddie's wife, who seemed almost too good to be true, a rags to riches story, well-liked and well-loved. And then there are the questions surrounding her disappearance and death. She and her friend had died in a boating accident. It was an accident, right?

I know I am not supposed to like any of the characters--they all are rather pretentious and self-centered, but I could not help but like Jane. Perhaps it was sympathy for all she'd been through as a child, but I also liked her grit and perseverance. There was a naivety about her, just the same. Especially when you stand her up next to the charming and polish of other characters in the novel. I also kind of liked Eddie, ever so charming and yet not quite hiding a strong approach-with-caution vibe underneath it all.

I did not want want to put this novel down; it was such a fun read. It doesn't take itself too seriously either, which I think is part of its charm. Even when I suspected the direction the novel would go, whether I was right or wrong, I enjoyed finding out every step of the way. And I loved the ending. I was not sure how everything would turn out, but it felt right for the story Hawkins was telling us.

This was a fun new take on Jane Eyre, providing a thriller-feel that felt natural to the story. The writing kept me interested throughout as the POV shifted among the three main characters. I think it holds up even if you haven't read the classic, as well.

I loved Rachel Hawkin's Young Adult books and her first adult book was even better. The book being told by different perspectives really enhanced the spookiness and craziness for me. The twists and turns of this book were awesome and I honestly didn't see the ending playing out the way that it did. I really hope the author continues in this genre, she really has a knack for spooky thrillers that leave you guessing what's going to happen next.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I am not a huge Jane Eyre fan so I picked this up on a lark (and probably missed some of the references!) but I enjoyed it overall. The characters were unlikeable but meant to be, and the twist at the end was interesting.

The Wife Upstairs was both addictive and intriguing. After getting drawn in I devoured it in one sitting. While I’ve read Hawkins Hex Hall books I didn’t really know how I’d feel about this one until I started it. I will definitely continue to read her books though, that’s for sure.

This was another thriller that just didn't click for me. I don't know why people are trying to rewrite Jane Eye or Rebecca, and then it isn't as good as the original. It was okay, but nothing to rave about.

Wow! Couldn’t put this book down! Suspenseful, unpredictable ending! ! Between the plot twists and the insanely complicated characters, I was on edge for the entire book. I still don’t know how to feel about the people or the ending. Nice debut!

A fun and compelling thriller and a clever Jane Eyre retelling! I raced through this and enjoyed it immensely!

Initially The Wife Upstairs was an engaging read, but as the story went I became lost in the mundane days of the housewives. I was practically begging for something sinister to happen. The ending was underwhelming and felt thrown together. Luckily it was a quick read with short chapters.

I have to say I did enjoy the ending of this book, but I didn’t really care for any of the characters and the dialogue felt forced between them. I don’t know, there was just something about this book that although it was okay-ish, it was also just kind of annoying.

One of the best thrillers I’ve read! I went into this with such hope. I love Jane Eyre and I love gothic fiction. Let me say, it did not disappoint! I absolutely devoured this story as quickly as I could turn the pages. 5 well deserved stars!

This thriller was absolutely mind blowing! Thrillers are one of my favorite genres and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. From the very beginning I got that suspenseful feeling about who you can trust and who not to trust. Little did I know the person I trusted the whole book was the major plot twist! I will definitely be reading more of her work.

A great and different page-turner. A modern Jane Eyre with a twist - I read this one in a fevered 24 hours.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

The Wife Upstairs is compulsively readable, scary, and full of twists and turns that keep you guessing. It's also very well-written, which is not akways the case with today's domestic thrillers. High quality, literary fun with all the escapist murder drama you need. Highly recommend!

The last few thrillers I’ve read have been a little boring, so I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to start The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. I like my thrillers to be fast, thoughtless page-turners that keep me entertained, but are quick to get through. I don’t want to think about who might have done what, or for the twist to be super obvious; I just want to power read and be satisfied at the end of it. And friends, that’s exactly how I felt with this one.

The story follows Jane, a dog-walker working in an affluent neighborhood, as she’s trying to reinvent herself and leave her past behind. After almost being hit by a car, she falls for the driver, Eddie, and quickly finds herself in a serious relationship. Eddie, recently widowed, is taking care of his late wife’s multi-million dollar business, and not everyone in the community thinks he’s totally innocent. Sure, sometimes the husband is the prime suspect, but in a wealthy neighborhood full of gossip, is anyone really safe?

The Wife Upstairs puts a modern twist on the Gothic thriller, and the setting (Alabama), sets the tone for the story. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, the quick, easy pace, and how the ending was wrapped up but left just enough wiggle room to wonder what actually happened.

If you’re looking for a new thriller to read, I highly suggest checking this one out. I’ve seen some reviews say that it’s very predictable and not original, but I’ve never read Jean Eyre (the classic it’s based on), so I didn’t feel that way. But fair warning to those who have!

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for sending me a digital ARC via NetGalley. The Wife Upstairs came out on January 5, 2021, and is available wherever books are sold.

Loved this Jane Eyre retelling! Super spooky and kept my attention throughout! Can’t wait to read more from this author!

I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins newest book! Lots of unexpected twists and turns, and a great overall atmosphere!

This book has definitely been making its rounds in the book circles as a fantastic thriller, and I agree 1000%. A December 2020 BOTM pick, it gained traction (and rightfully so) as one of the best newest thrillers so far. Everyone who said that was right and if you love thrilling mysteries of missing characters, this one's for you.

Mediocre. Not enough layers and depth in the narrative, the characters, or the relationships. The twists are predictable, and the characters are shallow, childish, and unlikable. I didn't have a strong emotional reaction to this but it was intriguing enough to keep me captive (pun intended) on a winter afternoon.

This story caught my interest right away. Girl with lots of secrets walks dogs for rich people in a ritzy neighborhood. Soon, she ends up engaged to the neighborhood's handsome widower. But what secrets is HE hiding? The book held my attention most of the way--the panic room was an unexpected and interesting twist--but my interest waned big time during the last twenty percent of the book.

One BIG reason I checked out was due to a personal pet peeve of mine. This line in particular really annoyed me: "Tripp is so many ugly things--a drunk, a lech, a Republican..." Insert eyeball emoji here. Do authors not understand that people outside of their own political party read their books? Do they honestly think that readers that comprise half of this country are going to read that line and chuckle good-naturedly? Personally, I couldn't care less about an author's political affiliation, as long as they write good stories. But for the author and the publisher..... Did that particular line add ANYTHING to the book? If you think it added something important, was it important enough to risk alienating half of your readers? Was it important enough to lose out on all of that potential income? Maybe your answer is yes, and that's fine. Perhaps you don't want ugly Republicans reading your books. But in the future, maybe put that as an author's note in the beginning of her books so we don't waste our time. Just a suggestion.