Meet Jane: the new dog walker in Thornfield Estates, Birmingham, AL. This gated community is exactly where she is looking to have a fresh start from her haunting past, and hopefully gain access to a world filled with lavish things that she’s always dreamed of. When she meets the rich and handsome Eddie Rochester, she feels as if she’s won the lottery. But does he have a secret of his past more disturbing than her own?

I’m pretty mixed about this one because I listened to the audiobook and thought it was really entertaining. (Thank you @netgalley & @macmillanaudio for the eALC!) On the other hand, I know if I were to read the physical book it would not have done much for me.

There were parts of it where I thought it was trying too hard to be a “modern” retelling of a classic with the excessive cursing (honestly, if you say the F word almost every page is that writing or texting?) but I was totally engrossed in the whole story. Sure, wasn’t my favorite writing and I didn’t really like any of the characters, but it was definitely enjoyable. I just wish it didn’t piggyback off of Jane Eyre because, come on, it doesn’t even hold a candle to it. If there’s one thing that came from this book is now I want to reread that classic since I haven’t in a long time!

All the modern twists I was thinking, “wow this feels exactly like an episode of Desperate Housewives,” and anything that brings me back to the amusing drama on Wisteria Lane gets a thumbs up in my book. Recommend the audiobook - the narrators were great!

I loved the audio. I read this physically first. Then listen to the audiobook. This book overall was in the middle for me.

The Wife Upstairs is an updated, reimagined Jane Eyre. It’s an interesting twist on a classic story, and I’m loving how many such novels have come out recently and how many more are scheduled for publication soon. But as with all such books, I think it’s going to be hit-or-miss with lovers of the original. Seeing how Hawkins updated and tinkered with the original characters is fun, especially regarding the supporting cast. It’s her approach to Jane that I had issues with. One of the main draws of the classic, at least for me, is Jane Eyre’s character. She upright and good and wholesome and selfless, all without seeming two-dimensional or unlikely in any way. This Jane is definitely not that one. She’s selfish. Greedy. Shallow. Petty. She steals from the rich for the simple pleasure of it. I did find still her oddly likable, but she in no way measures up to the Jane I love.

That being said, there were a lot of things I very much enjoyed about this book. First of all, the decision Hawkins made with regards to setting was so smart. There’s nothing quite as Gothic in feel as Victorian England, but the American South is the next best thing in terms of atmosphere. Southern Gothic is such an interesting subgenre, and the way Hawkins blended that into a classical Gothic story was noteworthy. The story takes place in Alabama, in a wealthy subdivision called Thornfield Estates. Jane is a dog-walker instead of a governess, which is how she, a broke orphan who has aged out of the system, finds herself in this glitzy neighborhood. It’s here she meets Eddie Rochester, she he almost runs her over in his sports car. Neither of their lives will ever be the same.

I very much enjoyed the ways in which Hawkins tweaked the original plot so that it was still surprising to readers of her source material while not veering far enough from it to lose its resemblance. Even though, or maybe because, I’m very familiar with the novel that inspired this one, there were plot points that surprised me a bit, which made my experience much more enjoyable and entertaining. Also, the audiobook is well narrated, with a different narrator for each point of view. The narrators oozed character into their performances, which made me want to just keep listening.

If you have any kind of sentimental attachment to Jane Eyre, I’m not sure this is going to be the right book for you. But it might be! Finding the ways in which Hawkins tipped her hat to the original adds a scavenger hunt element to an already engaging story. And if you’ve never read the classic, this is a fun riff on it that I think you’ll enjoy for its own sake, but also might leave you intrigued enough to give the original a try.

A wonderful retelling of Jane Eyre. It’s a great fast paced thriller. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced reading copy. Very much appreciated

I enjoyed the audiobook performance of "The Wife Upstairs"- it was well-read and really made the story come to life.

If I had rated this book directly after finishing it, it would probably have earned a full five-stars. The more I thought about it though, the more that the ending didn't sit quite right with me. It felt anti-climactic after the build-up throughout the story. 

I hated reading Jane Eyre in high school, but I thought the modern mystery/thriller twist would be worth reading. I do think that this book is enjoyable for someone expecting modern suspense storytelling more than someone who expects a replica of the story of Jane Eyre. At the same time, if you know the story of Jane Eyre, much of the mystery will be predictable.

Jane is not the type of character that I would generally root for in a story. She is fake with her interactions with all others,  That was kind of the point, and her troubled past was supposed to reflect this. I thought that in the end, relative to the other main characters, her back-story was not that interesting.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! I definitely recommend this one as an audio read.

If you’ve read Jane Eyre then you probably can probably guess what’s going to happen in this modern retelling of it. However the plot twists make it an enjoyable read but the narrative team makes this an amazingly enjoyable audiobook. I absolutely loved all the narrators and it made the hours of me purging my house very enjoyable, which that in itself is worth 5 stars.

My undergraduate thesis was on a combination of Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. So it is no wonder I thoroughly loved The Wife Upstairs. A modern retelling of these classics with brand new twists? Yes please!

This was brilliantly written, the story cleverly retold. During these uncertain times amidst a global pandemic, it is comforting to retreat back to the books we know and love the most. This allowed me a way to do that while keeping things new and fresh.

The narrators were wonderfully expressive and I have no complaints. They made the listening experience all the more pleasant. I am particularly grateful that it was done by a team rather than one voice because it made things easier to follow.

Five stars for an exciting twist on an old story we all know and love!

First let me say kudos to the narration team. They are superb!

“Jane” thinks she is the only one bringing secrets to her relationship with Eddie, but Eddie has a few of his own. While I didn’t connect with any of the characters, I was invested in the story from chapter one, I wanted to know what Jane was hiding and what happened to Eddie’s wife. I couldn’t put the book down, well stop listening. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Updated: January 4, 2021
Rachel Hawkins takes readers on a journey where a small subdivision Birmingham, Alabama has its fair share of secrets

Jane arrived in Birminham to make some changes in her life, well basically start a new life. Jane becomes a dog walker for many of the families in the neighbourhood which allows her to left a few trinkets here and there that will not be missed, I mean a girl cannot get buy on just dog walking. But things change when she meets Eddie Rochester, a recently widowed man, his wife drowned in a boating accident. Jane thinks she has finally hit it big, and is finally getting what she deserves in life, but as much as she wants to trust Eddie and those around her, something continually has her one edge. Her past may be catching up with her, but the future poses questions now too. Jane has always trusted her gut and looked out for herself, can she learn to trust Eddie as well?

Alright confession time guys, I have seen many reviews point to this being a modern reworking/retelling of Jane Eyre, well I never read Jane Eyre so my review will be based on not comparing it this classic. (I know I should probably read it some time, but so many books too little time, and often I find i cannot get into period books). So as I have not read Jane Eyre, I really enjoyed all the twists and turns that Hawkins presents throughout the book. You know basically from the start that something is afoot, but Hawkins keeps you reading on to discover what twist she has in store next for you. I also appreciated the small town feel of the book, where everyone know everyones secrets and gossip is a form of currency out there, where the people can buy anything they like.

I liked the duel perspectives of Bea and Jane and that Hawkins decided to keep Bea’s POV chapters short as well there is not much to elaborate on in her state in the story, when the story takes place. Plus we do get quite a bit of background information about Bea from Eddie as well as Bea's friends and the bit of journaling that she does as well, so I feel like you get to know Bea.

Jane is an interesting character, she is all about what getting what she feels like she deserves in life, even that means stealing it. This is why for her dog walking within a high end neighbourhood fits the bill as her has access to wealthy people who will not miss some belongings here or there. So there are times it is hard to root for Jane, as she is a thief and really does not seem to want to work at achieving anything but wants it handed to her. This is based upon her growing up in crappy foster home or foster home, but really to me this was an excuse, I almost see Jane as a sociopath at times. So Yes she is interesting but do I root for her, not really.

I wish the ending would have been different but I cannot say how i would have wanted to end. I feel like the ending was nice and neat in some ways but in other not, there was just something off about the whole thing.

This is the first book that I have read by Hawkins and I really enjoyed the story and characters throughout. I look forward to picking up another one of her books.

Enjoy!!!

This is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The characters have been reincarnated into today's society. All the main characters are there: Jane, Mr. Rochester, Bertha. They've been given a modern update: Bertha is reimagined as B - the clever business woman who worked her way up from rags to riches. Eddie Rochester - a gold-digging, good looking con man, Jane - a broke dog walker in the super richy neighborhood trying to escape her past. A mystery abounds. Each character is harboring a secret. Each is trying to escape a haunting past.

What I loved:
* The sly references to the gothic classic on which its based
* The modern, murder mystery vibe
* Jane isn't too innocent and perfect
* The open-ended ending (the suspense! You'll just have to read it to find out what I am talking about)

What I didn't love so much:
* If you've read Jane Eyre by Bronte, the plot is a little predictable

Recommended for: lovers of the Bronte sisters, those who love gothic literature, those in need of a thriller or mystery, lovers of classic retellings, anyone in need of a fast-paced audiobook.

*I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were fantastic! The southern accents were a nice touch to pull you into the novel more.

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan for providing a digital audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This one starts off a li'l clunky: "Jane" (not her real name) has a Past, and she is very clearly a Poor. Why else would she only order black coffees to save money (seriously, she was a barista but they charge for milk & sugar?)? Still, this sets us up to understand Jane; she is young and hungry; she is a little bit amoral, filching and hocking the odd diamond earring from her dog-walking clients in tony Thornfield Estates; she grew up in foster care in Arizona, where ... Something happened.

In contrast, there is Bea, the late (?) wife of Eddie, who quickly becomes one of Jane's dog-walking clients after almost bopping her with his sports car. Bea and Eddie were a golden couple: she beautiful, he handsome, she a mogul, head of her own Magnolia Table-esque empire, he a high-end builder. But Bea is dead now, her body lost to a lake accident when she and her best friend, Blanche, were at the summer house and went boating while drunk. But then Blanche's corpse turns up, and her death was clearly a homicide.

Jane takes all this in while falling for Eddie (although, does she, really? she's pretty mercenary), moving in with him, and trying to fit in with the society wives of Thornfield Estates, for whom she once worked. Jane does some amateur detecting, meeting with Tripp, her former client and Blanche's widower, on whom suspicion has now fallen in the aftermath of Blanche's body being found. Does he know what happened to Blanche and Bea? Or does he know something about Eddie's involvement with the "accident" at the lake?

Once this book gathers steam, it's a scorcher. The themes are familiar, but the story crackles, and the voice actors are superb. I can see this one being the next Big Deal in the popular suspense category - look out, Gone Girl.

Holy man, this book....it left me like”whoa”! The story had lots of twists and turns, up until the near end. It was very character and plot driven. You get to hear from a few characters as chapters/sections switch perspectives. I loved listening into it because it brought each character alive. This book was a really good suspense/mystery that was not overdone or over written. It had everything within perfect measure. I am still processing all of it, which is true sign I loved a book! I highly encourage you to read/listen to this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Another underwhelming thriller! I thought this was a predictable slow-burn so I don’t understand the big hype around this one. No character was likable to me, especially Jane. I think there was a lot of buildup around her big secret so that was a let down. There was a lot of buildup in general for nothing. Jane was rather annoying to me, there was no reason to care about her or even root for her. I feel like the book would’ve been better if Jane was a character to care about or root for. All I know is that I never felt anything for her or her past.

I can’t say much about the retelling of Jane Eyre since I never read it but I do know that was a big reason why there was some hype around it. I do seem to be in the minority on this one so I would take this review with a grain of salt and still encourage you to read it if you have any interest in it.

The narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life. Thanks to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

A very imaginative take on Jane Eyre, where you feel like you already have the answers, but the twists take you down a different path. Suspenseful and surprising.

So, I'm probably the only reviewer that isn't 100% familiar with Jane Eyre. Regardless, this was a great book. So twisty that I think I may have whiplash. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, another hint/reveal came along that totally threw me off again. Dark, but fun and exciting too.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. It is definitely in the genre of mystery and thriller. This is my Rachel Hawkins book I have listened to. The narrators did a good job reading this book. I didn't really care for the main character of the book. But I really enjoyed the side characters and the main male character Eddie. This audiobook will be in stores tomorrow for CA$26.99 (CAD).

So I had no idea this was a retelling of Jane Eyre until I finished and read some reviews from other readers. To be honest, if I had known that, I probably would not have read this (not a huge fan of retellings) but I'm glad I did! The Wife Upstairs was entertaining and creepy, with a touch of southern charm. Throughout the book, I had a resounding feeling that the story "had been told before" and wasn't entirely a new concept, but now I know why! Either way, Rachel Hawkins did a great job telling the story of Jane's quest to fit in with higher society, slowly unravelling her new love, Eddie's, dark secret. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audiobook!

Thanks, #NetGalley @MacmillanAudio @Macillan.Audio for a complimentary e ARC of #TheWifeUpstairs for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A twisty, slow-burn, domestic suspense story inspired by Jane Eyre.

Plain but street smart Jane has aged out of the foster care system and is struggling to make it on her own in a small suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. After a brief stint in a coffee shop, she becomes a dog walker in the upscale, gated community of Thornfield Estates. She supplements her income by stealing jewelry and other small items from her clients. One day while walking through the estates, she meets Eddie Rochester, a rich widower, whose wife recently died in a boating accident. Their insta attraction is complicated because Jane is running from her past and Eddie has secrets of his own.

The Wife Upstairs is described as a twisty retelling of Jane Eyre with southern charm.  I didn't experience typical southern charm in the book (southern, yes; charm, no) and if you pick it up with charm in mind, you might be disappointed.  Retellings are tricky. From my viewpoint, it's a very loose retelling. A few names, a parent-less girl, and a wife that's hidden away (title) are the main tie-ins with Jane Eyre (at least from what I can remember from reading it years and years ago). It's also described as a fast-paced thriller. My reading experience is that it was a slow burn with a some suspense near the end. All in all, I think I would categorize it as domestic suspense inspired by Jane Eyre.

(this paragraph may contain spoilers)
I admit, I like at least one likeable character in my stories. Told from three perspectives (Jane, Bea, and Eddie), The Wife Upstairs doesn't have one likable character. From what I remember of Jane Eyre, she was somewhat likable. I think the author does a good job in developing complex characters with good and bad sides. I could understand Jane's and Eddie's motivations for their actions, but I could not understand Bea and my feelings about her changed significantly from the beginning to the end of the story. You will like this if you love unlikable characters!

R for Language. While The Wife Upstairs doesn't have graphic depictions of murder, open-door sexual encounters, or nightmare-inducing scary moments, the story does include a significant amount of profanity. It seems like every other sentence contains an F-bomb. This may have been more pronounced since I listened on audio and my eyes can skim over offensive language more easily than my ears. Excessive profanity may not offend other readers, but it bothered me to the point that I wondered if the author lacked alternative vocabulary in her writing toolbag. If excessive profanity doesn't bother you, you might experience this story quite differently than I did. Honestly, many other reviewers haven't even mentioned this, so a distaste for profanity-laden prose is definitely a personal preference. If you don't appreciate the profanity but still want to read the book, I suggest the print version where it's easier to skim words.

I am usually annoyed when an author inserts her/his own political opinions/agenda into a story. There is at least one instance of this at about the 80% mark: "Tripp is many ugly things--a drunk, a lech, a Republican--but a murderer still doesn't fit him." In a year of a contentious election and widespread division, I don't see any value in including this hateful remark about republicans. I see hate all over social media (from both parties) and I don't need this type of statement to pop up in my escapist reads. The profanity and the political agenda affected my rating for this story.

Overall: In consideration of the thriller genre, I feel this was very mild which is just my speed! If it weren't for the profanity, I might have bumped up my rating. The Wife Upstairs has received other very favorable ratings and I would encourage you to read more reviews. I consider myself an outlier with my opinion.

Jane is a new dog walker for a wealthy southern neighborhood. She's also a former foster kid running from her upbringing and shady past. One day her luck turns when she meets the good looking, wealthy, and recently widowed Eddie. It doesn't take long before Jane goes from the dog walker to the young, fit fiance, with plenty of time and money on her hands. As it turns out, Eddie is also running from some problems of his own. Throw in a dead wife, with her own secrets, and you have an engrossing domestic thriller with lots of twists and turns.

By: Rachel Hawkins
Narrated by: Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne, Lauren Fortgang

This is a good listen, with enough craziness to brighten the most dreary of winter's days. I always appreciate when each character has a different narrator, rather than one narrator with different voices. I found all three narrators to be easy to digest without over compensating for the story or voice.

Available Now!

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read Jane Eyre at the end of 2020 to get ready for this retelling. It was an interesting take. Similar character names and a couple of similar plot points. Jane Eyre as a mystery/thriller was pretty good. I was guessing all the way to the end. The ending was a little anticlimactic. Given everything that happened during the book, I was expecting a bigger twist for the ending. Still very enjoyable!