Cover Image: The Last Housewife

The Last Housewife

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I adored the setting in this book. This thriller was everything I'd hoped it would be. The subject matter was a bit much, but I think it worked for this book. Cults, abuse, depravity.... don't read this if those topics affect you deeply. Her writing is incredible and I can't wait to read more.

I was so immersed in this, she took me on the ride, and the twist at the end was perfect.

Was this review helpful?

Per usual, Ashley Winstead has completely blown me away. The Last Housewife has earned her the title of “Cult Queen” and I will literally read anything she writes. Twists, powerful writing, and an ending I couldn’t get to fast enough! Cannot recommend this one enough!

Was this review helpful?

This one was dark. I thought I appreciated dark and while there were aspects of this one that I did like, there were several other instances that haunted me.

Was this review helpful?

The ending brought it down a star. I really dislike when books have ambiguous endings. It was still really good though but please please please check trigger warnings!

Was this review helpful?

Well, the book was well written the subject matter was very disturbing. I’m not really sure why I requested this book as it’s not my type. I look forward to more from the author, because it was very well written.

Was this review helpful?

From my blog: Always With a Book

I absolutely loved Ashley Winstead’s debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and knew I would be reading anything and everything she wrote. I actually read her debut romcom, Fool Me Once, and quite enjoyed it. If Ashley writes it, I’m going to read it! I was thrilled that my IRL picked this one to read last month…it had been on my list since it came out last year but I just never got around to it.

This is an extremely dark and twisted book and I cannot tell you how much I loved it…but I think knowing I was going to be discussing it with my bookclub was incredibly helpful. This book begs to be discussed once you read it, or even as you are reading it. There is so much going on and while I could get into it, I think that would definitely spoil quite a bit of the book, so I’m just going to say I loved both the podcast elements and the cultish elements of this book, and I loved how the book pushed every boundary it could and then some. There are so many trigger warnings, and they are listed right at the beginning of the book. Now, I’m not usually one to mention these as I tend to think they are spoilers themselves, but in this case because of the nature of the book, it is worth mentioning. This book definitely isn’t for everyone, so if you are worried, check them out.

I found this book to be a compulsive read and even though there were tough places to get through, the writing is incredible, the story is powerful, and this book further solidified my love of this author. She is most definitely a must-read author…I would read her grocery list if I could. I love her books and cannot wait to get my hands on her 2023 release, Midnight is the Darkest Hour!!!

Was this review helpful?

The Last Housewife was compulsively readable but I felt horrible the whole time I was reading it. There were so many terrible people and things within these pages that I constantly felt icky while reading and would have quit the book if it wasn't a netgalley read. On top of the disturbing subject matter, the writing style did not work for me. The end of each chapter was jarringly abrupt and the beginning of the next chapter never seemed to pick up in a place that created a smooth transition. There wasn't anything thrilling about this book at all. I do not think it should be labeled as a mystery or a thriller or even suspense. It should be categorized as a disturbing psychological drama.

Was this review helpful?

A quick read thriller with twist and turns. My first book read by this author but defiantly not my last ! Fast burn !

Was this review helpful?

Winstead knows how to shake you down to your core with a bone chilling, women centric thriller. She always manages to freak me out.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this title in exchange for honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

A propulsive and shocking story of a college cult and the women's lives that it destroyed. This story will stay with you long after it finishes.

Was this review helpful?

This was a DNF for me. I'm probably just not the target audience for books like this. It's just trying too hard to being dark and twisty and just making me uncomfortable for the sake of doing it. I'm not into that. I want to connect and grow.

Was this review helpful?

This thriller felt messy and forced. A lot of details were brushed over and there were inconsistencies that detracted from any believability. It seemed like the author really wanted to write a book inspired by both Larry Ray and NXIVM at any cost, even if the story and characters weren't particular strong. Most disappointing, the opportunities for suspense were mostly replaced with sexual violence, which resulted in, for me, a thrill-less thriller. There was ample warning about the violence, so my issue isn't that it was included - it just isn't a replacement for thrills or suspense for me. It's not clever or engaging, like I prefer a thriller to be. I do think that this book will land for those who like a ripped-from-the-headlines story. However, I'd still prefer to recommend the actual non-fiction accounts.

Was this review helpful?

Shay Deroy feels unfulfilled in the life she thought she wanted- married, wealthy, living in the suburbs, taking time off from work to focus on her writing. But when she learns of the death of an old friend, she feels compelled to return to her college town and uncover what really happened. She reveals the horrors of her past to uncover the truth and take down a powerful network of abusers.

First of all, there are a million content warnings to be aware of. Suicide, sexual assault, self harm, etc. As heavy as the content matter was, I didn’t find it to be particularly graphic or explicit.

If you’re a fan of true crime, this book is for you. Shay unlocks her best detective skills to find the truth, going so far as to infiltrate the system she believes is responsible for her friend’s death. It kept me guessing the entire time and has a couple huge twist endings. The truth turns out to be even more dark and twisted than I imagined. The network of abusers and misogynists Shay uncovers is so deeply ingrained in systems of power, it was unsettling in a dystopian, Handmaids Tale-esque, “it’s fiction but not too far fetched” kind of way 🥲

Was this review helpful?

Shay Deroy has a dark past, and when one of her college friends associated with that past dies of an apparent suicide, she joins her childhood friend who runs a true crime podcast to investigate the death. As Shay becomes more and more sucked into the cult she escaped from, she realizes the way to save herself and others is by making some sacrifices and facing the danger.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book, but Shay’s story is the type that makes your skin crawl. Add in a few twists and a shocking ending and you have a great summer thriller if you are up for some uncomfortable content along the way.

Was this review helpful?

In college, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works. Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. When she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death eight years later, she begins to suspect that the past she thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever. Recruiting the help of an old friend and current podcast, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers.

This was so intense. It made me wish I was in a book club, so I could talk about it. It’s totally not my usual book, but I couldn’t put it down.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Housewife is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Last Housewife asap.

Was this review helpful?

There was a lot that was intriguing in this mystery/thriller that forces a woman to go back and confront the unspeakable and mysterious things that happened in college. Like a good movie in the same genre, the protagonist gradually peels back events to reveal their origin and manages to reclaim her power.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very different thriller than many others I have read. I very much enjoyed the cult-like themes, and the explorations of those. I also always love a podcast tie-in-- I especially enjoyed this one since the host had a personal connection to the story he was reporting. The tensions remained super high throughout, and there was a satisfying payoff at the end!

Was this review helpful?

This was an anger inducing, fast paced and compelling thriller that captured me almost immediately and carried me through until the ending. Ashley Winstead has a talent for ridiculous plots that are engrossing and entertaining and in this second thriller from her, she also comments on the role of women in society, both assumed and actual. As a woman, I found a lot of the discourse really infuriating, but that was the intention - to shine a light on female anger as a valid emotion instead of one to be kept hidden. The social commentary, while a little heavy handed at times, was nicely intertwined with the plot, which focused on a sex cult and didn't pull any punches in that department. Although much of the plot was fairly predictable (there weren't many twists and turns here), I really enjoyed the ride and this has cemented Winstead as a thriller author that I will continue to read from.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?