DNF 50%
The Ex Between Us has great potential. I can definitely see how this book could capture many people's attention. The writing is excellent and descriptive. The world and suspense building is well written. Nicola Marsh has very good attention to detail in her writing. However, I do have to say, this book has a way of making it feel like a slow burn. I eventually set down the book and didn't want to return because I cannot stand Jo's character. I have a full understanding that her character is supposed to be sad, full of jealousy, and chaotic, but I simply just cannot stand her character. It feels like a constant woe me/ poor me. I can't get myself to pick up this book just for fun. I'm really not enjoying it. I know this book could be great. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and say it's not the book for me right now. It's one I may come back to later and see if my mind is changed. I hate to say it but I feel bored when I read this book or have a sense of dread when I knew I needed to sit down and read it. I eventually just couldn't take it anymore.

This was a quick and fun read. The story centers on Abi and Jo, who have been best friends since junior high. When Abi's son leaves for college and she meets a new man, weird things start happening. Jo is treading in dangerous territory by upping her flirtation with Abby's ex and weird things start happening at her house too. There are also 2 "frenemies' in town that the women knew in high school who just happened to show up around this time. Who is really harboring secrets? It's very soap opera like but will keep you engaged!

The narrative alternates between Abi and Jo, mostly in current time but with a few flashback chapters that set the stage for the current landscape. I didn't love either main character, but you'll see that one of them has a lot more strange things going on in their head than the other one, making her easy to hate. I found myself silently yelling at her in my head a few times. I figured out pretty early who the villain was but I wasn't sure exactly how it was going to play out. There was constant action throughout. The ending had a couple of twists that I definitely did not see coming.

Overall, this is a a light "beach read" type of domestic expense that held my interest and had some great twists. If you don't mind the not relatable/likable characters, I expect you'll enjoy it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great well written book which held my interest throughout with good well described characters. I am not always a lover of books where they keep changing timescales but I did get used to it and this seemed to work well.

I found it to be a fast paced good domestic thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Jo and Abigail have been best friends since high school. Their friendship has had a number of ups and downs through the years. They are very different from each other but still manage to be there for one another and for Abigail’s son, Rob.

Things are getting ready to change now that Rob is headed off to college. Suddenly, Abigail finds herself single and starts dating Noah. Noah seems like the perfect man and Abigail can’t believe her luck. Then odd things start to happen as she and Jo start noticing strange occurrences and disturbing threats aimed at both of them as their homes are vandalized. Jo is concerned that it might be Noah, he is the only new thing in their lives. Abigail thinks it is one of the mean girls from high school that are in town. The friendship between the 4 girls in high school was never a good one.

The story was engaging and hard to but down. Lots of twist and turns until a shocking but satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend.

4.5/5

I absolutely love a domestic thriller that is dramatic and maybe even a little over the top in a soap opera kind of way and this one delivered on all fronts! There was lots of unreliability, seriously as it flipped back and forth between Jo and Abi’s perspective I had no idea who was telling the truth or lying. Maybe both? Such a mindfuck in the best way. I sped through this really fast because I couldn’t stop reading, give me all the drama and I’m entertained. It was juicy and surprising and while I did figure out one twist only right before it happened it didn’t bother me in the slightest because this was the best popcorn thriller I’ve read in awhile! Definitely would be ideal to read by the pool this summer.

I could see this being turned into a Lifetime movie or whatever those straight to TV Amercian dramas are called. This is a fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing - with a whole host of characters to suspect rounded off with a pretty dramatic ending

The Ex Between Us starts off as decribing the main characters Abigail aka "Abi", Callan aka "Cal" Jolene aka "Jo" and Rex who is Jo's neighbor growing up. I like how the author decribed present and the past seperately letting the audience piece together what is building up in the story. Initially, When Abi finds out that she is pregnant with Cal's baby, Jo gives Abi an icy shoulder and stops all contact with her as Jo knows that it should have been her not Abi with Cal at the party. Cal retrives Jo at her house and then Jo falls in love with the baby, Rob, and Jo is named Godmother. Because Jo felt it would make her Godmothering duties easier to perform, she decided to move to the same town Abi moved to in order to be close by. Jo is making the audience believe that she is only going after Cal in order to get Tom's attention because at the time, Jo is convinced that is who she is wanting to end up with, Tom. Abi is supposedly Jo's best friend growing up or is she really? After Abi's son, Rob, graduates high school and goes off to college, Jo takes Abi out for a night out so she as a single mother is not going to spend the night alone experiencing empty nest. Low and behold Abi meets Noah whose true identity is revealed at the end of the story. This is Abi's new love interest, her distraction. Jo ends up sleeping with Cal, the father of Rob and Abi's ex hoping that Abi does not find out. Later on is it that it is learned that Jo is behind the sabotaging incidents even her own due to Jo being tired of being overwhelmed with having her nose rubbed into Abi's picture perfect life. The true twister at the end of the story I will admit left my jaw dropped open like what just happened. The author did an excellent job on this book and I definitely look forward to reading more of hers in the future. If I could give this 10 stars I would.

Well what can I say, it was like a soap opera with lots of twists and turns - cannot believe how high school still impacted people 18 years later. The author wrote this to keep you guessing which she did throughout the book.

This was a great summer read, nothing serious but so much fun with trying to work out. The ending was brilliant.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

The Ex Between Us by Nicola Marsh
Release date: August 12, 2022

A big thank you to @bookouture @netgalley @nicolamarshauthor for this ARC releasing in August. I was hooked on this one from the beginning!

Best friends Jo and Abi have been through a lot together, supporting each other through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Like any friendship, they've certainly had their rough patches. But they always have each other's backs. Don't they?
When Abi meets Noah, she finally thinks she has gotten lucky in love. But it seems like Jo doesn't approve of the new love in Abi's life. Is it jealousy? Or is Jo just a little on edge from a wave of threats both women have recently begun receiving? Alternate timelines tell the tale of Jo and Abi's evolving relationship with twists and turns throughout before the ultimate reveal of the reasons for Jo's apprehension, and who is behind these disturbing threats.

Like I said, I was hooked from the first chapter and this was an easy read. There were a couple of things that were perhaps drawn out and unnecessary, but overall I was impressed. I had an idea of how the end would turn out, but still had fun along the way with some surprises, and was very satisfied with the ending!

4/5⭐

Instagram.com/books_first.life_second

This book was a little bit of a slow burn but that ending was crazy!! I loved it and loved the characters. Will definitely be looking for more by Nicola Marsh!

I'd prob say this is more chic lit than thriller but I still really enjoyed it. Its not reinventing the wheel but it's still a good story with scarily accurate characters and a good twisty plot. It is a predictable ending but there's still a few moments you won't see coming. A really fun, quick read

Such a twisted story!

Jo and Abi have been best friends since childhood except for a short period in high school when Abi betrays Jo. Abi’s son Rob is headed off to college and Jo is looking forward to spending more time with Abi. Rob’s father, Cal is an absent father and totally immersed in his work. After a night out on the town, Abi meets Noah who sweeps her off her feet. Soon strange things start happening to Abi and Jo. Abi’s garden is destroyed, her mail is damaged, and someone is sabotaging her at work, and someone is spray painting threatening messages on Jo’s property.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between these two childhood best friends. Jo has always been jealous of Abi and feels everything comes easy for her. Jo comes off as desperate having never been in a serious relationship and unable to have children of her own. I really felt bad for Jo’s character as she sat in the sidelines watching everything come effortlessly for Abi during their entire friendship.

The story really kept my attention as I tried to figure out who the perpetrator was, and the author does a great job of throwing you off track as you try and unravel the mystery. I was totally blindsided when they were revealed! The ending was twisted and very satisfying! I did not see that ending coming at all! I highly recommend THE EX BETWEEN US, and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my eARC.

You can have many acquaintances, but you only have a few good friends. The kind of friends you can count on each and every day. Those who will love you no matter what. Those you forgive you no matter what. Those you have your back no matter what.

But then that one question rises again: how well do you know them? They claim indeed to have your back, but are they really? Aren’t they lulling you into a false kind of security preparing your back for stabbing it, not once, twice but multiple times?

No, that is a thought that does not even cross your mind. That is something you read about in books. You went through so much together, you are convinced you are as solid as a rock.

Of course you sometimes disagree and argue, but the bond you have will never break. There are still certainties in life and this is one of them. No doubt about that.

Everything is going to plan, until it isn’t anymore…

This is the story of Abi(gail) and Jo(elle). Best friends who have become so close they consider themselves family tied together by Abi’s son, Rob with Jo being his godmother.

Something major has happened in the past and even though people say they have forgiven, it does not necessarily mean they have forgotten. Revenge seems to be the main course on the menu today…

I was totally captivated by this book. The author had my attention straight away and I loved the twisty road she created for the reader to follow.

Everybody makes mistakes, but some seem to be more difficult to digest… The liar lies to the liar, who lies to the liar, who lies to the liar,... 5 stars

Thank you

Abigail and Joelle have been best friends since their school days, with only one blip back in high school. But ever since, their lives have been totally intertwined, even closer than sisters. Jo is even godmother to Abi’s son Rob. With Rob heading off to college and Abi dating an interesting new guy, Jo fears she’ll be sidelined. When she starts flirting with Abi’s ex, things start to escalate out of control. Old loyalties get tested, past jealousies emerge, and someone is in grave danger.

“The Ex Between Us” is a fun and easy read. The female friendships and old petty high school drama feel very realistic and relatable, albeit a little immature. Who holds on to high school grudges for 18 years? I did find some of the characters’ inner thoughts a little repetitive, as was the rehash of certain events. While this novel didn’t really scream “thriller” to me, it is quite twisty. I was able to accurately guess the big plot twists before they were revealed, but it’s not necessarily that they were telegraphed too soon; I’m an avid reader of this genre and I love to guess! Newer suspense readers will likely enjoy this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Waiting to find out how things would turn out between Abi and Jo kept me reading late into the night. Throw in Noah and things really get wonky, which just adds to the tension.

If you are a fan of Nicola Marsh's you will definitely enjoy The Ex Between Us. It has this author's trademark suspense, fast-pacing, and surprises.

Do yourself a favor and read this!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

Jo is my best friend. From high school to adulthood, we’ve gone through everything together. Even when I made a foolish mistake and betrayed her in the worst way, she forgave me. She’s godmother to my son and our lives are intertwined. We want the best for each other, always.

I hope she approves of my new boyfriend Noah. How could she not? Noah is kind, attentive and loves me for who I am. But when I introduce them over dinner one evening, Jo doesn’t look happy. She’s always been protective of me and as Noah clutches my hand, I force her reaction to the back of my mind.

But later Jo tells me that someone is threatening her and she fears for her life. And all too soon, the threats land at my door too. At first it’s small things: my precious roses destroyed, my mail sabotaged. But when I receive a note saying, “I want your life,” I’m terrified.
I really enjoyed this book totally recommend it
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture
I just reviewed The Ex Between Us by Nicola Marsh. #TheExBetweenUS #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller by Nicola Marsh. The writing was excellent, there were loads of little secrets between all of the characters, and there was a plot twist that I never saw coming. My only complaint is that I wanted more!

This is my first book by Nicola Marsh. I enjoyed it a lot. I did guess the ending but still fun and quick read. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Abi and Jo have been friends for over two decades. They have been through it all between betrayal, teen pregnancy and bullying, they have stuck by each other's sides. However, Jo has always been a bit jealous of Abi, with the life she has and everyone adoring and choosing her. And when both friends start receiving threatening messages, neither of them know who to trust. Can their friendship withstand this or will they band together as they have in the past?

I found this story eerily real as I, myself, have experienced so, so many fake friendships. The cattiness, pettiness and jealousy between women shown in this is so easily relatable. The author did an amazing job with that. However, it did get a little redundant at times. The ending kind of ruined it in my opinion. Without giving away any spoilers I will just say that with such a relatable story, the character's lack of emotion in a given crises was a little too outrageous. Overall this was an enjoyable, quick read with an underwhelming ending. Three stars.