This was a quick and entertaining read. I really enjoyed the twist at the end. Some tough subject matter but was done well.

Adira is a successful black woman who could have anything she wants but what she wants is for Gabriel to be true to her. She has a feeling he has been cheating on her and when she looks through his emails and sees one from a girl named Jocelyn she is devastated but when she writes to Joseline, his mistress says they must meet Adira doesn’t know why but she agrees to it. When the two women finally meet Adira doesn’t like Jocelyn smug attitude and it’s too happy to tell her not only is she not his first mistress but he’s been seeing the other girl much longer. Before it’s over however the two women bond and even though I Adira is a puddle of misery and Jocelyn is the picture of beauty and perfection there’s something about her lover’s wife that strikes a chord with the well put together Jocelyn. While all this is going on Adira there’s also stalking Giuliana another beautiful woman who seems to be Gabriel‘s main stay side chick. When Adira left the meeting with Jocelyn she gave her a card and said if you need my help call me. Little did Adira know she would do just that and start her descent into crazy town. We also see throughout the book a little girl and her little sister who’s mother Claudette is at best neglectful and at worst very abusive and when she starts dating the local preacher things for the two little girls one who is named panda starts to get really really bad. I have read many books and said this is one of the best books I have ever read but when I say this is “the best” most well put together twisty plot with complete surprises not only at the end but all the way through and OMG I loved it! I have never read a book by Shonora Williams before but as soon as I post this review I will definitely be going look for them. This is a intricate devious mind boggling OMG story and wow did I enjoy it! This is the reason they made the genre thriller to begin with. If I had to pick a favorite book for 2023 it would definitely be The Other Mistress by Shonora Williams The best criteria to know if they book it’s truly a great thriller is win there or no eye Rolling moments and they definitely have none in this book. I received this five star read from netGalley in Kensington books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

What do you do when you find out your husband is cheating on you with not just one, but two other women? You team up with one of the mistresses, that’s what!

Adira Smith-Cortez has it all: a multimillion dollar company that she built herself, a beautiful home and a loving husband. But when she finds out that her husband Gabriel is cheating, she turns to his friend Jocelyn for help, only to find out he has slept with her too! With Jocelyn’s encouragement, Adira attempts to get rid of the other mistress so she can have Gabriel all to herself again.

This was a book that kept me up late reading and then I had to take some time to collect my thoughts. Though it started as a slow-burn thriller, once it picked up the pace it did not let up until the end! I found myself getting so frustrated with Adira, why she not only was taking care of Gabriel (who was awful to her!) but desperately wanted to have a child with him too. Although mostly told from Adria’s point of view, there are several chapters told from Jocelyn the mistress and also flashbacks of other unknown characters. Throughout the story, the author drops red herrings and bits of information that seemed insignificant, until they weren’t. When everything came together, it blew me away. If you are a psychological thriller fan, do NOT miss this one!

Also, I loved Shanora William’s previous book “The Wife Before” and was delighted to hear of Samira and Roland again!

“The Other Mistress” releases June 27th! This review will be shaded to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

What a roller coaster! I always expect twists and turns from Shanora but she really pulled my chain with this one.

First off - when you very begin this one, take the triggers seriously. If you have any issues with the triggers mentioned, don't proceed. I'm not an easily triggered individual, but that doesn't mean these kinds of issues don't both me. However, when given the appropriate treatment, they are powerful pieces of character development. Shanora does an all out amazing job at taking clinical issues and showcasing what this is like for people in that head space.

Secondly - I thought I knew where this one was going. I always take it as a challenge, especially with mystery and thriller books, to see how closely I can guess where the author will take it. BOY WAS I WRONG. At the very beginning I felt like she would take it down PATH A.... and about halfway through the book, I'm figuring it's going out down PATH A VERSION 2... but by the end she was in a whole other town and country than where I thought that path was going. Which makes me enjoy a book even more when I am left guessing.

Thirdly - Human trauma and emotional damages are real. People deal with them all the time and some have breaks. I loved the character of Adira because no matter what, she was always true to herself - no matter what. She's very aware of her own insecurities and continues to try and live her life the best way she can. That's all we can ask for as humans really. Do our best with the hands given to us and see where life takes us.

Wow talk about a total mind (insert bad work lol). I found myself talking to the characters as if they could hear me. And let's talk about plot twists..... ok yeah I can't talk plot twists because you need to experience that jaw dropping events!!

Unfortunately, The Other Mistress was a miss for me. I read about 60% of the book but decided not to finish. The premise of the story is something I usually enjoy but felt this book to be too slow paced and the main character very unlivable.

Wow, what in the world just happened? That’s what this book made me say. The storyline was extremely interesting and it had that moment when you were left speechless.
So speechless, that I honestly don’t know what to say other than wow..

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the chance to read and review this one.

Adira and Gabriel have a seemingly perfect marriage; they're both crushing their professional goals and are head over heels for each other. That is until Adira finds out Gabriel is cheating on her with, not one, but two other women. She gets the courage to reach out to one of them, Jocelyn, and they oddly start plotting a revenge scheme to get the other mistress to leave Gabriel so Adira can have him all to herself. Sound messy? It is.

Shanora does it AGAIN! I couldn't put this one down and although I suspected something seemed off with Adira and Jocelyn's bond, I was NOT expecting that ending.

Thank you to Shanora Williams, Kensington Books - Dafina, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange of my honest review.

I love how this author tells stories. She really has a way of making you like unlikable characters. I always enjoy when an author can do that. Love this author!

The Other Mistress by Shanora Williams starts off with an author’s note that warns readers about trigger content. I am glad it is included, but it would have been nice if this was included in the blurb (and then I would not have chosen this book). The Other Mistress starts off on a good note. But then the pacing slows down considerably. I struggled to get through the story to the end. The story is told mostly from Adira’s point of view. We learn very little about Adira in the first half of the book except that she is a successful, rich lingerie designer and that she loves Gabriel, her two-timing husband. I quickly tired of hearing how Adira felt for Gabriel. I do not know how she could forgive cheating and plan to have a child with this man. The dialogue was awkward. The twist at the end was expected. I figured it out long before the reveal. The ending was predictable. There were some bits that were off and there are many holes in the story (think Swiss cheese). I ended up with more than a few questions at the end. The author’s warning was spot on. I ended up skimming over these disturbing sections. I do feel that readers should be warned before obtaining the book. As you can tell, The Other Mistress was not a hit with me.

This book will really mess with your head! I kept finding myself wanting to tell Adira to let her husband go and surround herself with people who can really appreciate and love her. And then…..BAM! The storyline flips and you realize that all along things were not as they appeared!

What a twist! The other mistress was a great read, really takes you on a ride and kept me locked in on the edge of my seat. I loved this book!
Thank you for this read!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it was incredibly fast paced and loved the twists and turns. The middle of the book can get somewhat confusing & I thought quite a few times that Adira needs to quit this loser already, but keep reading! So good!

I absolutely loved the twists and will definitely read more of Shanora’s books. I did find it hard to completely like Adria at the beginning and it took me a bit to actually get through the middle. I think the ending and twists absolutely made up for it.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book that took me on a captivating journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. While my initial expectations were high, the book evoked a range of emotions, leaving me with mixed feelings.

The story had its moments of entertainment, and I particularly enjoyed the experience of reading it alongside a friend. The shared discussions and perspectives added depth to the overall reading experience.

However, as the story progressed and the reality of the characters' lives unfolded, I found myself feeling a profound sense of sadness rather than the anticipated relief. It was a testament to the author's ability to evoke powerful emotions and convey the complexities of human experiences.

The writing style was engaging, drawing me into the characters' lives and allowing me to empathize with their struggles. The book effectively explored themes of love, loss, and resilience, highlighting the enduring strength of the human spirit.

While it didn't fully meet my personal expectations, I recognize that it offers a thought-provoking reflection on the human condition. It serves as a reminder that life can be filled with both joy and sorrow, and that our experiences shape us in profound ways.

In conclusion, this book takes readers on a captivating and emotional journey. Despite the mixed feelings it left me with, it is an engaging read that explores themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Between 3.5 and 4 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was a solid read that kept my interest. It's a binge worthy read with a twist I didn't see coming. The author did a good job of leading the readers one way and then going in another direction. It wasn't perfect by any means and I found some things to be a little unrealistic with the character's actions, but I still liked it.

At the start I questioned where the book was going but decided to keep on reading. I think the ending made up for things, but I do wish the momentum would have been continuous. However, I did enjoy reading this one despite the few problems I had with it. I think this book will be well suited towards readers who are looking for a quick read with light mystery elements.

"The Wife Before" by Shanora Williams totally took me by surprise & when I discovered that she had a new book coming out, I had to request a copy to review.
"The Other Mistress" was a slow paced addictive thriller that had me racing to finish it because I knew Ms. Williams had something special she was hiding.
Well, I was correct, there were 2 draw dropping twists that I never saw coming.
I'm here Ms. Williams, patiently waiting for your next novel.

I read two of this author's previous books so was excited about this one. It kept me turning pages, but I just couldn't love it. It is good, just not great. Adira is married to Gabriel. Gabriel is cheating with Jocelyn and Julianna. Jocelyn approaches Adira with a plan to split up Julianna and Gabriel thus giving Adira a chance to get Gabriel back. In the words of the cover blurb, what could possibly go wrong? Adira is an idiot. Sorry, but she is. Queen of bad decisions. But, like a train wreck, I did want to see how it turned out. The twist seemed very similar to the other books. As I said, I didn't hate it, I just feel it could have been better. I appreciated the fast pace and short chapters and do still look forward to more.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Shanora Williams and Kensington Books, Dafina for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I will post my review to Amazon, Instagram and various other retail and social media sites upon publication.

This book had me holding my breath, page after page. Gasps, head shakes, and wide-eyed disbelief accompanied my reading. The suspense was stellar and the characters were deplorable, which is why I blew through this book like a train, in less than 24 hours. There were a couple parts of the plot that may have been problematic, if the rest was not so wonderful. Thank you to NetGalley and Defina Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was a blast!

#TheOtherMistress #NetGalley
The Queen of psychological thriller. Mind blowing thriller..
Adira Smith-Cortez knows how to turn around a troubled past. Now she’s a self-made multi-millionaire who takes exquisite care of herself and her only true love: her husband, Gabriel. Adira has it all—except the answer to one tormenting question: why is attentive, affectionate Gabriel cheating on her—with not just one, but two women. There’s sexy Jocelyn, a club owner. And then there’s Julianna, a celebrity makeup artist he’s even crazier about. In a tricky twist, vengeful Jocelyn offers Adira the perfect plan to get her straying spouse back It sounds simple: Adira will befriend Julianna through a fake identity, play on her and Gabriel’s vulnerabilities and cause them to split up permanently. Determined to reclaim her happiness, Adira won’t—can’t—stop to think what could possibly go wrong . Until too many of Gabriel’s lies start adding up to a disquieting truth. Until Julianna discovers who Adira really is—and Jocelyn pushes Adira to ever-more-unthinkable extremes. With her world collapsing and shattering memories tearing her apart, how far will Adira’s obsession take her—and how much of herself is she willing to lose in the process
Loved it so so so much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me an advance copy.