A thoroughly entertaining novel with bold, alluring characterization. The storyline brims with lies, depravity, with and a bit of ladies club on the side. May Cobb has created a brilliant cast of characters with affluence, attitude, and charm. Readers will love getting to know them but even more, will absolutely love to hate them. The concept of the storyline was nothing short of fun with tons of twists, turns, and a bit of shock along the way. Great read for book clubs.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BerkelyPub for the ARC of #TheHuntingWives which was won through #ShelfAwarenessPro. All thoughts and opinions posted by Wayward Readers Book Blog are original and offered voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC!

This book made me want to throw open my windows, let in the fresh air, breathe in a rain storm, sink my knees into the earth. Yes, it was about a group or devious, sharp wives who shoot on Friday nights and cheat on their husbands, but the writing was so beautiful, reading the book felt like watching a summer storm.

This was my first from the author and I loved it. I loved her imagery, I loved her wives, especially Sophie’s vulnerability. I found myself relating to her thoughts of unrest all too well, and instead of it being worrisome, it was a comfort. Trauma and abandonment root deeply. I can’t help but understand why she acted the way she did sometimes.

But all in all, you do really have to admire a woman who takes charge of her future and does what she can to clear her name. I think that’s pretty badass.

And that twist made my jaw dropped, and I actually gasped.

The Hunting Wives was a solid thriller. I loved how conniving it was. I loved the nastiness of the wives. It was definitely a crispy apple type of read. I recommend this.

Overall, this is a solid thriller (with a great cover!). But personally I struggled with it. I think that's maybe due to where I'm at in life and how the characters made me feel.

This book has all of the right elements. The Hunting Wives are intriguing and their antics suck the reader in. While the whodunnit is bit easy to predict as you get closer to the end, there is enough mystery going on in this book to keep you guessing.

I think my problem is that I really, really hated the main character Sophie, who basically blows up her entire life for two reasons that are never really deeply explored in the story: her sexual attraction to Margot and her alcoholism.

I know that characters who make bad choices are the backbone of every good story. I accept that. However, Sophie rarely makes any GOOD choice this entire book. You just want to take her aside and explain, "you have a drinking problem and you are in love with Margot-both of which are overriding your ability to make good choices." Instead she keeps doing destructive things and then wondering, "Why am I doing this?" and then promptly doing them again (with a glass of wine). Frankly, it got tiring after awhile.

Maybe my reaction is a function of age. I know how much work it is to achieve all of the things Sophie has in her life. To see her throw those things away because she refuses to take a hard look at herself was ultimately hard (and unenjoyable) for me to witness. I guess I needed to feel like she had some redeeming qualities in order to have enough empathy to root for her throughout the story. I had trouble doing that.

This book has some solid storytelling, but again, perhaps not a great match for me personally. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was good. I just didn't click with the main character. This just wasn't the book for me. It's like Real Housewives (which I have never watched, so that may be inaccurate) and a murder mystery. Like Desperate Housewives based in a suburb of Dallas. It was good, but the main character annoyed me. She makes so many weird choices and acts like a jerk to her husband. There is something appealing about the cover, otherwise I may not have noticed this one.

* Alternate review to be published on mysteryandsuspense.com on 1/2/2021. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/author/michael-david/

Ever hear that saying, Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?

I think that should apply to every member of the Hunting Wives, a group of “friends” who like to drink and shoot skeet every Friday evening. Skeet shooting is not the only thing these women like to hunt. They’re always on the prowl.

When Sophie, new to a small town in Texas, finds herself bored with small-town living, she’s eager to shake things up...and is immediately intrigued by Margot and her elite crew. They make up the Hunting Wives. Sophie is swept up into their clique, but soon finds that it’s not all fun and games. Soon, she’ll be right in the middle of a murder investigation...and she won’t know who to trust.

This is a juicy and wicked thriller that traps you in its lair from beginning to end. The characters aren’t very likable, and Sophie makes one bad decision after another. She exasperated me, and I wanted to scream at her to get a freakin’ grip! Yet, I couldn’t stop flying through the fast-paced story.

There are plenty of twists and revelations to keep things interesting. I’m looking forward to reading more from author May Cobb.

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Expected Publication Date: 5/18/2021

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

This book was just not a good choice for me, I could not get into a bunch of women shooting, drinking and cavorting. I found the Hunting Wives to be unrealistic and Sophie wanting to be just like them unbelievable! I did finish the story, but it was a real struggle. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This book is deliciously scandalous. I could really relate to the boredom of the main character, who is newly transplanted from a big city into suburbia. It's the kind of boredom that catches you unaware, and suddenly you're going down the strangest rabbit holes and becoming interested in the most unlikely things. So I completely empathized when Sophie becomes obsessed with the beautiful Margot Banks, someone who appears to have it all.

What starts off as an exciting new friendship quickly devolves into a cutthroat, dangerous game where the women turn out to be ruthless, capricious, disloyal, and above all, willing to do ANYTHING to get what they want. You'll go from empathizing with Sophie to wanting to shake and scream at her to stay the hell away from her newfound "friends."

It's such a quick, fun ride, and you are going to love to hate these scandalous characters.

Thanks goes out to Berkley and Netgalley for letting me preview this title ahead of publication.

Shallow, obsessive, sensual and too much alcohol. Yet I loved this book and charged through it in two days.

Sophie has her eye on Margot, a snooty socialite that heads a click of women in their thirties called the “Hunting Wives.” Only they aren’t hunting animals, but they do shoot skeet every Friday at Margot’s lake house property.

In fact Sophie is obsessed with Margot and is in heaven when Margot invites her to hunting night.

Then a murder messes with all their lives. Sophie’s adoration of Margot still stands.

So much alcohol is consumed in this book, it’s amazing anyone knew what they were doing or saying.

I still loved it. Cobb is definitely and up and coming author to watch. She knows how to rivet the reader to the page. Highly, highly recommend this book.

Gun toting housewives meets murder? SIGN ME UP. In May Cobb's The Hunting Wives, women are behaving very very badly - cheating, gossiping - but now add murder to the mix and all hell has broken loose in bless your heart Texas. THW had me turning the pages, theorizing, laughing and gasping along the way. I can already tell this is going to be a buzz book of 2021 when it releases in May.

Thank you to Berkley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thinking I had selected another chick-lit book for reading (nothing wrong with that if you like them; I find myself ambivalent on the subject) I settled into May Cobb’s “The Hunting Wives,” without much hope for a thrilling read. Boy, was I surprised. While it’s not enduring literature, I found myself quietly settled into a story that was, amazingly, well done.

Sophie O’Neill, an unlikeable narrator, short on ethics, long on excesses, arrives in her new small Texas hometown from big-city Chicago and soon finds herself at loose ends, gets bored and restless, and finds herself with a new set of girlfriends who want to have fun with booze and kinky behavior. Her inhibitions melt away and she finds herself falling into the tawdry group, unable to resist the excitement of a new life. She soon uncovers her true self, an alcoholic with unusual sexual proclivities, and, as such, falls into the category of a weak, disagreeable soul that’s hard to admire.

After a young girl is discovered murdered, Sophie finds herself under suspicion as the killer and her entire life falls apart. Socialite Margot Banks is the leader of the group. Her wealth and allure have drawn the wives into a world of dangerous partying and recreational shooting, a world that creates the environment which has enamored Sophie.. The subsequent investigation puts Sophie in a downward spiral from which, it appears, she will not soon recover. Even her husband takes their small child and chucks her out. Read the book for more details and a surprise ending.

I found the writing to be relentless with possibilities for intrigue. The author has a way with words that make the mundane seem inescapable, gives human behavior new twists and turns, and has a masterful way with dialogue. The book will not be ignored by readers who give it a chance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Sophie’s life was so busy in Chicago that she felt like she didn’t even have time to enjoy it. Her and her husband decide to move to a slower paced town in Texas with their small son.
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But, not long after settling in, Sophie doesn’t know what to do with herself. Her days feel interminable and she grows bored and restless.
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She meets a beautiful, sexy, enviable socialite named Margot and is immediately enamored with her.
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Margot invites Sophie to join her elite hunting club.
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As Sophie becomes more involved with the club, she feels pulled in opposite directions. Does she truly want the boring stay at home mom life or does she want the excitement and wild partying with the club?
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A teenage girl is found murdered.... Things spin out of control.....
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Wow! This is one wild ride that is popping and crackling with sexual electricity throughout! ⚡️
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I love books with unlikable characters that you love to hate and this book certainly delivers that! I wanted to shake Sophie and slap a few others 😂
There are some devious characters in this story! With friends like these....
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Definitely recommend this one. I loved it!

I’ve been excited to read this one for awhile, I fell in love with the cover and the synopsis. Women in small town Texas with big gossip and drama! This is desperate housewives southern style! Absolutely full of twists and turns! Good read!

When Sophie moves to a small town from Chicago, she’s quickly enthralled by the wealthy and flashy Margo. As Margo accepts her into their hunting club, Sophie becomes more obsessed with Margo. When a young girl shows up dead, Sophie wonders if Margo had anything to do with it.

This was a quick, easy, and fun thriller, perfect vacation read. It’s was easy to follow with one perspective and real time narration, which is seems many modern thrillers shy away from... but as this book proves, sometimes simple is just as good. I loved the gossip and scandal between the wives, and would have loved to see a bit more into their lives and marriages. I’d say this was a pretty slow burn, as the excitement and intrigue doesn’t really start until the end. It was definitely worth the wait. I loved the main character. Even though she made bad decision after bad decision, she was still very relatable and redeemed herself.

“What did I mean to her? And more importantly, what did she mean to me? How did I lose myself so wholly when I was around her?”

The Hunting Wives comes out 5/18.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

The Hunting Wives was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021, I am so happy to report, it lived up to the hype! The few books I’ve read from 2021 are all amazing, I think 2021 is gonna be a great reading year!

Synopsis: The Hunting Wives is about a group of women living in small town Texas, and all their small town drama and secrets. Keeping this vague, I went in blind, and I encourage you to do the same!

Review: These are some devious wives! Think Big Little Lies meets Desperate Housewives. I loved the upscale settings, the quirky characters, and the mystery. I had so many guesses on how this would turn out, and I was all around just plain wrong. If you do not have this on your TBR, add it now! This is the definition of a perfect summer read, or if you are in need of some fiery Texas heat read it now! Mystery lovers and domestic thriller lovers, I guarantee you will love this!


Thank you @berkleypub @netgalley @this_is_edelweiss for providing me with my digital copy.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the e-ARC and the opportunity to read and review early.

This book... phew. It's an experience. If you're looking for a juicy thriller that's like Desperate Housewives gone shooting in the woods with layers of obsession, wealth, and destruction, this is one to add to your list. It's completely unbelievable but it's a page turner. Also great for fans of The Flight Attendant show on HBO!

What would've happened if The Plastics grew up and didn't learn their lesson and Regina George didn't get hit by that bus?
Add in some Real Housewives of Gun Country and Wild Things....and you get this.

What an absolutely scandalous book that could be on the cover of a tabloid!

This is not something I typically read because it was a little 50 shades and was over the top naughty, but holy shit I was entertained like whoa!

I am currently rewatching PLL and this was a GREAT read to go along with it.

If you like crazy chicks, doing crazy things, drinking crazy amounts of booze, and crazy drama, this is for you!!

Sophie and her husband and small son have moved to a small town. She's bored. There's nothing to do or anyone to visit with. She start following a woman, Margot on Facebook. She is curious about her. Maybe she could be a friend.
She soon becomes friends with Margot, Jill and two other women. It will not be a happy ending.
A great and thrilling book. Lots of twists and turns. Characters you love or hate. Great storyline.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I made it halfway, and was so disappointed to see the direction it was headed. Narcissistic, self-absorbed women, and the even more insecure, no-back-bone women friends, who get together to cheat on their husbands was not the plot I was expecting. I was really underwhelmed and disappointed with this one. Thank you for the ARC.

When Sophie O'Neill leaves her busy life in Chicago for the anticipated pleasures of small town friendliness, stay at home mothering, and time to enjoy it all, she finds companionship and more with a group of affluent new besties who welcome her into their exclusive coterie. Soon the Friday night's of sleet shooting parties liberally fueled with alcohol have become a regular part of her week, and the women her closest confidantes. But when murder rears its ugly head, the charmed life she sought turns out to be a deadly illusion. The plot is mildly interesting, the women one-dimensional, and the novel an interesting but flawed concept.

A young wife and mother recently settled in a small Texas town after leaving a high profile job in Chicago..
She loves her charming husband and adores her young son but slowly she starts to get bored and falls prey to some wild women who have formed an exclusive social group. Sophie becomes completely obsessed with the socialite/ ringleader, Margot, and sets out to become her néw best friend.
Margot loves inviting her ‘special’ friends out to her exclusive ranch for rounds of skeet shooting, wild sex parties and alcohol.
When a young woman is found murdered on the property, Sophie is involved in the investigation.
Unfortunately., she can’t remember important details, her marriage is suffering, and the police are certain she is involved.
How can she save her marriage, prove her innocence and find the killer, she is certain one of the Hunting Wives is involved’