This started out so good for me - and then it fell flat. I didn't like the ending at all The characters were one-dimensional. There were some story threads that really went nowhere. Very disappointed. I'm giving it three stars because I did love the first 2/3 of the book.

This book was a super fast read and I really enjoyed it. It was a bit predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This wasn't a big hit with me. Honestly I found the writing very simplistic, almost juvenile. Just not a style that I admire.

This review could start one of two ways. I could give you the premise and my impressions or I can do what I am doing now. I will tell you that while reading this book, I could not help but think of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier or The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - both of which I thought were excellent books.

Now, what was it about The Wife Upstairs that made me ponder over those other titles? Well, Jane is a dog-walker in a gated community. The community is rather elite and the women are quite snobbish. Jane definitely does not fit in, but meeting Eddie Rochester is about to change her life. She just might be able to become one of them.

Eddie has a story that he would not rather have to tell. His wife and her best friend have disappeared and is is assumed both women drowned. What is more is that a shroud of guilt is hanging over Eddie's neck. Nonetheless, Eddie and Jane hit it off and the two become a couple. However, Jane is constantly reminded of Eddie's previous wife Bea. She was an icon of sorts. For one thing, Jane often feels that the women in the community are constantly comparing her to Bea. Then there is Eddie. Something is not quite right, especially when she is fighting for his heart, knowing how much he loved and misses Bea every single day.

So Jane changes her appearance, her dialogue and inserts herself into every aspect of Eddie's life and the community. Will it be enough? Meanwhile, there is something eerie going on. Chilling actually, and that is the point when the previously mentioned titles came to my mind.

However, this book has its own edge, its own level of creepiness, deceit and mystery. As a matter of fact, the blurb alludes to a love triangle. Why is that? Well, you would have to read this chilling book by Rachel Hawkins so that you can get that answer. I would have loved to give this book five stars, but the conclusion threw me. Even so, this was a twisty read, filled with a variety of characters, many rather unlikable at best. The plot and its twists were rather captivating and definitely caught me by surprise.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins is a lovely read, reading Jane Eyre before reading The Wife Upstairs is not necessary it really makes for a more appreciative read of the twists and turns.

This is a story full of unlikeable people who in the end deserve each other. Though the book feels like a retelling of Jane Eyre it is all new and intriguing in its own right.

Well told and will hold your interest to the very last page. A great read for those who enjoy the Classics and those who don’t.

Great book with a ending I didn't see coming.!! Thanks net galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I will be looking for more by this author in the future.

The Wife Upstairs has some delicious twists up its sleeves, and I loved this story of a bunch of untrustworthy characters being thrust into a situation where they have to outsmart each other!

I really liked this book. It had great characters, suspense, humor and unending plot twists. Kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommended

This book was pretty good and engaging, if not predictable. It was really hard for me to be invested in the main character though.

The Wife Upstairs is filled with so many twist and turns. It is filled with devious characters that I hope I will be reading more about in future books. This storyline is different than anything I’ve read lately. I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to read more books by Rachel Hawkins.

This book provides lots of twists and turns. I could not put down! I’d give this book 4 stars any day.

Wow! This story just kept providing twists and kept me reading with enthusiasm. The main character is both likable and unappealing at the same time. The reader is unsure whether to root for her or not from moment to moment. The characters are made to be so visible in the head of the reader, the writing is very good.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the Wife Upstairs. This book drew me in and I couldn’t stop! I would give this book 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

An amazing take on the classic Jane Eyre. I was fortunate enough to get to listen to it as well as read an ARC and I absolutely loved it.

This book was a great twist on the old classic Jane Eyre. The several twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The ending took me by surprise. This was a really good psychological thriller.

This Jane Eyre retelling set in a Southern town was super entertaining. Lots of twists and turns that I didn't expect. I discussed this a lot more in depth in my reading vlog on my YT channel: https://youtu.be/SO4qbsPxecY

Perfect book, really enjoyable story despite unlikeable characters. Full of twists and turns and kept me gripped till the end.

I can’t say I loved this book, but I didn’t hate it either. I liked the premise of the story. It just seemed to take a long time to get anywhere. The main character is unlikeable. Several times the past that she is running from (including police involvement) is hinted at but once it is revealed turns out to be nothing significant. It took me several tries to get into reading the book, yet there were times when I couldn’t wait to get back to it. I didn’t like the ending. It was too superficial and felt thrown together to meet a deadline.

I enjoyed the narration with the exception of the voice of Emily. It grated on my nerves. Fortunately, she didn’t have a lot of dialogue.

I would say that this book is worth a read (or listen), just don’t expect it to knock your socks off.


I received an ARC through St. Martin Press and Macmillan Audio. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Oh mannnnnnn this ended up being pretty underwhelming. I was so excited when I saw that this was a modern day Jane Eyre retelling, but I just feel like Hawkins could have gone so much further with this one. The plot twists were very easy to guess and the story and characters were just pretty meh. Not a terrible book, but not great either.

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

Not a big fan of this book. The pacing felt weird between all the different perspectives and I seen the "twist" coming a mile away. Janes past was also alluded to for so long and then glossed over super quick and it felt like a big let down. Will check out this authors other work but this was a fail for me.