Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced readers audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Jane is a dog walker in her early 20s working in an exclusive Birmingham neighborhood. Jane has a past that she would like to keep private. She meets and gets involved with the newly widowed Eddie Rochester whose wife and her BFF died in a boating accident. This is a solid thriller told from multiple POVs. Jane, Eddie and Bea all have personal histories that are they don’t want exposed. There were multiple twists that I did not see coming.

Solid narration by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne and Lauren Fortgang.

Spoiler: There was one detail that really annoys me...how could you not exit a room? I don’t want to say more.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Wife Upstairs is a retelling of the classic Jane Eyre that is told by two narrators. Jane grew up in the foster system and is running from her past as a dog walker in a bougie neighborhood in Alabama. She strikes up a relationship with Eddie, a man who's wife has been missing and presumed dead for about 6 months. Jane finally has her foot into the lifestyle she's always wanted, but the ghost of Eddie's wife saturates all her attempts at fitting in to the community. Our other Narrator, Bee, is Eddie's wife and she tells her point of view from a different timeline than Jane. What secrets is Eddie hiding, and will they prove lethal to keep?

This book was great! Everything about it really flowed. The narrators did a great job making the story immersive and exciting and the pacing by the author was done exceptionally. The non-linear timeline was easy to follow and had you thirsting for more from each main lady. Jane was a great character to watch unfold and her role she plays in this story is one unlike I have ever seen in a novel like this before. Bee is a bit more predictable but still a well written character. Eddie really steals the show though. He gives Gone Girl vibes throughout the novel. Did he do it? No way....but then again....it had to be him. This book will keep you guessing and the twists won't leave you disappointed.

Four stars for this novel, and the narrators did such a great job! I recommend this to anyone 14+ who is looking for an escape from reality and a great thriller.

Jane Eyre set in the deep south? Ok you have my attention. Now throw in some really unlikeable characters and I will certainly take the bait. Leave me guessing until the very end, well now you have me hook, line and sinker.

Our story involves the ultra fancy Alabama neighborhood's plain Jane dogwalker. But who is Jane actually, do we ever know? She catches the eye of the recently-widowed Eddie Rochester. His wife Bea (crazy wealthy from her successful business) and her bestie Blanche, died in a terrible boating accident bodies never recovered (uh huh). Eddie quickly moves Jane in and well down the rabbit hole we go.

This book has more secrets and surprises than most domestic thrillers these days. Every turn around the mansion and there is something new we discover from one of our 3 narrators. They are all super unreliable and really unlikeable. But this is all good with me, I love these details. There were some flow issues and a couple parts that bugged me with the pacing. Overall this was a great 4.5 star read for me. I switched back and forth between audio and ebook. I enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an Audio ARC of The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This audiobook book was perfect!!!! I sat captivated all day listening to this snarky audio which left me bemused and riveted. This was a fun twist on the Jane Eyre classic, now set in suburban Alabama, where women obsess over the right yoga clothes and fret about southern home tzatchkies. Jane is running from her past, hoping to fit in but little does she realize she’s about to stumble into an even bigger mess. Eddie is handsome, charming, rich but he has a missing wife.

Rachel Hawkins has written a psychological thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a story that’s full of humor and charm and a real page turner. This audio was an absolute delight and one I’ll be recommending to EVERYONE!!!!! Kudos to the multi cast narration, especially Emily Shaffer who voiced Jane.

I really enjoyed this story, but I did not enjoy the narration. The thick southern accents, though slightly accurate, were distracting from the true tale.

An amazing crazy and messed up thriller which kept me moving on excited to craving for more.
This is a prime example of what the world sees is not always the truth. The whole book you feel
like you are on the edge of the cliff waiting for the rocks to let loose and you fall into the abyss.
Jane Bell, the dog walker, comes from a troubled background and finds a chance at a new life
with Eddy Rochester, a wealthy widower. Through the story you get a glimpse of how petty rich
southern women can be. The lies come to light little by little but will the truth come out before it's
too late. This thrilling book keeps you guessing till the last words fade into nothing.
Narrator by Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne, and Lauren Fortgang in an amazing way. You are
able to understand each person individually.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review and provider feedback on “The
Wife Upstairs.”

A thriller was just what I needed! I had a good time trying to figure out what exactly happened with Bea, Blanche, and Eddie and there were some fun plot twists. The pacing is quick and this was an easy audiobook to listen to.

Something I really liked about this was the changing points of view. I thought we'd only get Jane, but there were a few others that helped give a full picture of what happened. Some things weren't as they seemed and everyone is hiding secrets. Jane has a mysterious past she's running from, Eddie may have a dark side, and Bea and Blanche's friendship might not have been all roses. The different narrators for the audiobook also helped me keep track of who was talking when we switched.

One of the plot twists wasn't totally unexpected, but I liked how things played out. I also thought the ending was a bit creepy and still have a couple questions about motives and if anything else will happen. A great end for a creepy story!

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book kept me entertained. I was chugging along fully invested in the story and what was going to happen. And tried to figure out what was happening. I generally can guess what’s happening and am usually right. And I was here too. I still enjoyed the book. Would have liked a more finished end.

I'm so disappointed in this book. I liked the narator, I liked the story, I liked the setting... I hated the strong language. I know I sound like someone's grandmother and it's not like I haven't heard the words before but the use of profanity ruined this book for me. I'm probably the only one but I'm sad about it.

The story- It was ok. No surprises for me. This story is full of unlikable characters who all lie. It did build suspense fairly well, as you never knew when a secret would be exposed.

The narration- This is read by three narrators- overall, it was OK. The majority of the book is from Jane's perspective- In the beginning, it sounded very robotic to me. And fast. Not that I minded fast, but the book is set in Alabama, so it seemed strange. But Jane is not from Alabama and when doing voices for other characters, she slowed it down a lot. Bea's perspective- There isn't a ton of this, but the narration was fine. Eddie's perspective- even less than Bea's- again, fine. Easy to listen to and understand.

I was given a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Most people will enjoy this book- I don't regret reading it, but I have incredibly high standards for thrillers/suspense, so it was just OK for me.

Audiobook review: The Wife Upstairs is a 3 person narration depicting the life of former foster child, Jane, who is now a dog walker for the young elites in a "I have money and you don't" development in Alabama. This Jane is voiced as a somewhat jaded but hopeful young woman always looking out for a way to get a step up. She comes across as judgmental and snarky which proves a plus when trying to fit in with the South's version of the neo-wealthy valley girl. At times the Southern accents veer off track to a 1990's version of a valley girl. The chapters were clearly separated and easy to follow. Following the multi-person story-line was equally easy to do.
The story centers around Jane and her crush on a local (read good looking/wealthy/young) widower, named Eddie. They meet cute and he goes out to buy a dog so she can walk it and their relationship can develop. Lurking in the background is Jane's roommate who she would like to hide as he is a direct threat to her moving up in the world. And another smallish problem comes in the form of former friends of the deceased wife, Bea, and her equally dead best frenemy, Blanche.
As Jane and Eddie fall in love murder is discovered in this genteel backdrop. Can love conquer all and who will it have to conquer to succeed. Jane has to decide between love and money.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early audiobook for a review. All opinions are mine.

This was amazing. I am so obsessed with the modern retelling of classics trend that has been happening in books lately. The narrators of this were fantastic. The southern setting of this was done very well and mixed well with the gothic tone. I was definitely surprised by many things that happened at the end. Loved.

I don't think I read the blurb for this one. Honestly, I saw that Kirby Heyborne was a narrating, so I grabbed it. I'm not sorry I did either.

Told in alternating viewpoints, we meet Jane and Eddie. Jane, the dog walker. Eddie, the recently widowed.

Obviously sparks fly.

But...there's more. There are secrets and lies and manipulations happening in Thornfield, the small community where Eddie lives and Jane works.

On the surface, everything looks peaceful and happy. Serene. Perfect.

Underneath the surface, those secrets and lies...take us on a crazy ride where we don't know who is telling the truth, who is lying, or who the "good" guy is.

Reminiscent of Gone Girl, this book kept me guessing and left me thinking everyone got exactly what they deserved in the end.

The Wife Upstairs
by:
Rachel Hawkins
Publishes 1/5/21

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️. 5

A mysterious ex-wife
Secrets held
Ignoring all of the red flags

What I liked:
Great characters

What I disliked:
Too formulaic for me

Perfect for:
Fans of THE LAST MRS PARRISH
Fans of ummm, JANE EYRE

I found myself sucked into the book. It is one of those books that only works if everyone is virtually unlikeable. Despite ALL of the characters being unlikeable, it didn’t turn me off from the book. From almost the beginning, I had an idea in my head about how this might go and it turned out that I was right. I don’t know if I’m just really good at guessing twists or if this was utterly predictable. The writing made it really easy to devour this one, but I expected everything that happened. I also haven’t read Jane Eyre so I can’t comment on the retelling aspect. Overall, a fun read that didn’t wow me! The narration was really good and I felt like it captured how awful these people all were.

An excellent and twisty modern retelling of Jane Eyre, the classic Gothic novel by Charlotte Brontë.

All three of the narrators were excellent!

Rachel Hawkins soars with her debut adult novel. She intertwines mystery, romance and murder seamlessly.

Jane was an imposter assimilating a new life in Thornfield estates. She begins to develop relationships by providing dog walking service. Eddy Rochester, a wealthy widower,
rushes to cover his tracks regarding his deceased wife’s death. Jane fit all his needs and soon moves into Eddy’s home. She has a perfect life or so it seems. She is soon to find out it’s all lies.

Jane follows hidden clues uncovering information about her fiancé’s wife’s death. Betrayal became evident as new knowledge unfolds. Quick actions became vital as all rush to escape Thornfield before another death occurs.

A thrilling and surprising ending that captured my attention until the end.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review and provide feedback on “The Wife Upstairs”.
#thewifeupstairs. #netgalley. #rachelhawkins

This review is of the audio book, provided to me for free by #NetGalley.

For me, this was a disappointment. Personally, I read thrillers to be ... thrilled ... and pulled along by the story, surprised by the twists and turns. I knew the ending very early on in the book, and I believe that very few genre readers will be surprised by it. Still, this fits into the domestic thriller genre nicely, and the Jane Eyre aspect adds something new. It still may be an entertaining read for many fans of the genre; I realize that not everyone reads thrillers in hopes of being surprised by the ending. However, this is not a book I would suggest to someone who is specifically looking for a surprising and suspenseful read, or someone looking to branch out into the genre for the first time. And I would never recommend the audio book version to anyone!

What drew me in and kept me going was seeing how the classic Jane Eyre story would morph and inspire this domestic thriller. And that was fun! Loved her interpretation of St. John Rivers... for whatever reason, that was probably my favorite part. But as far as the thriller aspect goes, it was mediocre and middle of the road. Not much in the way of suspense or danger, the main character was either cocksure or confused, but rarely relatable, which further lessened the suspense. The stakes never felt very high for anyone except for Tripp, but he wasn't part of the action. And, finally, the many pieces of the backstory never fused in a satisfying way. All this combined and left me asking, What was the point?

I suspect that I would feel less critical of the print version of the book, because the primary narrator was so grating when delivering dialogue, that it was difficult to relax into the story. I made a point of listening to the descriptions around dialogue, to try to understand if the narrator chose to deliver lines a certain way or if she was taking direction from the book, and it seemed like it was mostly the narrator. The accents were inconsistent, as well as over the top, and sometimes it was not clear who was speaking, because they now sounded different from the previous time they spoke. The secondary narrator was also not great, with similar accent issues. There was a time or two where her theatricality reminded me of Moira Rose, which in this case is not a compliment. Final narrator was fine, and a relief to hear... although, somewhat of a leading choice, based on his narration of another popular domestic thriller.

Suspense is mild, violence is mild, romance is almost nonexisting. Cursing throughout.

With thanks to NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins is a suspenseful southern retelling of Jane Eyre. As someone who still hasn’t read the classic, I had no problem thoroughly enjoying this book.

Most of the characters are hiding things, from the kleptomaniac dog walker, to the handsome “widower” things are not all as they seem. Especially when one best friend turns up dead and the other is locked in a panic room...

This book was well written and well paced with interesting characters and an intriguing storyline. A highly recommended read.

4.5 stars.

A wife and best friend are presumed dead. The husbands live in an upscale neighborhood. A kleptomaniac starts walking dogs there and falls for one of the husbands. Then one of the bodies is found (the other person is locked in a panic room) and it’s clear that it was murder. Who did and how will the innocent get away?
Opinion
I absolutely loved this audiobook. The suspense is off the charts. There was a twist towards the end that I did not see coming.
This book is good enough that about halfway through I started recommending it to my friends.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.