Cover Image: Second Wives

Second Wives

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this unreleased arc. I had a hard time getting into this one. There were alot of characters to remember. It was a good plot, with two couples getting divorced and both marrying each others spouses.

Was this review helpful?

Took over half the book for the story to really get going which I found a little frustrating.

It was a well thought out and cleverly concealed plot, but after that big reveal, the timing was off again for me.

Enjoyable book if not a bit absurd in places.

Was this review helpful?

Twist and turns! A real suspense thriller, I couldn't put this book down, the twist at the end was a real shock! I loved how Bridgid was determined throughout and didn't let anything sway her from the task at hand! I really enjoyed all the characters and the way we could really connect with Brigid!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Carey Baldwin for allowing me an early release for this amazing story!

Was this review helpful?

I bury hatches but I keep maps of where I put them.

Brigid split with her husband. She suspects an affair because he remarried Charity so quickly but he swears he didn't. The one person who could relate to this shock was Charity's husband. He wooed Brigid and she was unable to resist his charm and attention after being neglected in her marriage for so long.

So they pulled the ole husband switcheroo. Confused yet? Okay, let's get after it.

Brigid insists on things remaining amicable for the sake of their daughter Tish. The two swapped couples even stay in the same social circles. Things are chugging along peacefully until one night at Supper Club.

Brigid is injured in an incident and Charity vows to help her heal and be her best friend. That is until she overhears a conversation between Brigid and her ex-husband, who is now Charity's husband.

Now she's starting to think maybe everyone would be better off without Brigid. She lost a child so she could even be there for Tish. Perhaps Brigid shouldn't have made it out of that party alive after all..

This is a neat concept and I felt like it was very clever but I was a bit confused by the swap and how many characters there were to learn. I think with a confusing storyline like this, maybe the rest should have been a bit simpler.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!

Was this review helpful?

Second wives is a family drama/thriller that is based on the premise of two wives that essentially swap husbands. Divorcing and remarrying each others.

As you can imagine the wives and the husbands are not the best of friends but tolerate each other for the sake of the daughter and the mutual friend group.

While they are learning to coexist a murder takes place and something else more sinister is a foot unveiling a hidden memory of a murder in Lake Tahoe. Does someone want Brigid dead? Is it charity?

While the premise for this book for good I think the addition of Tish and Christian having a romance put it over the top for me. It was a bit too extreme and overall awkward.

The writing was well done and the characters were developed just not in my presence a great thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouturw for the advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

This book makes me happy for my simple, uncomplicated life. Though I suppose most domestic thrillers do. Bridget and Charity married each other's husbands, yet still remained friends? Hard to believe and obviously not everything is as it seems. This was one twisty read with points of view alternating between the two women and an unknown third party that is presented in first person.

The couples are part of Supper Club and the story takes off when Bridget is injured at one of these gatherings. From here it's a wicked mind game.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

This book was very interesting right from the start. The story was a little confusing in the beginning on who was with who initially especially after we find out that the couples have switched spouses, however it was quickly resolved and easier to follow.

Was this review helpful?

Two friends switch husbands. I knew this had to be juicy.
How civilized, switching husbands as if it’s as casual as exchanging recipes.
I was a bit muddled about Brigid but thought I had Charity figured out. Turns out I was wrong on both accounts.
The real nemesis is revealed much later in the book and then the pieces click into place nicely.
I Blanche at the thought of swapping spouses with anyone especially within the same friend group, but it makes for an excellent plot.

Was this review helpful?

I was really excited to get approved for this book. The blurb sounded amazing and I thought for sure it would be a winner. Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations. The story was boring and hard to get into. The main characters were rather annoying. The end had a twist that, to me, seemed like it came from out of nowhere. Overall, the story lacked a point and it seemed like a twist was thrown in to make it easy to wrap up.

Was this review helpful?

The Second Wives is a domestic thriller revolving around a group of friends, husband and wives. They call themselves the supper club. Brigid and Nash live in Southern California with a group of friends. Lately, Brigid feels as if things are changing with Nash. He shows all the signs of having an affair. Eventually they divorce and several days later after the final decree Nash marries Charity. Although both deny getting together until after the divorce, Brigid doesn't believe them.

One year later Brigid marries Charity's ex-husband, Jackson. for the sake of everyone including the supper club, they all agree to be friends. One evening while Charity is showing off her remodel of the home Brigid once share with Nash, a gun goes off and Brigid is wounded and taken to the hospital. When she awakens days later, she looks up into her husband's face as he declares his undying love for her. Brigid does the same only something is wrong. She remembers Nash is her ex-husband and Jackson is her present husband, but she starts to get upset and wants to know where Jackson is and is he okay.

Brigid sees a therapist because she has sustained emotional amnesia. While she remembers everything that happened, she doesn't feel the emotions she should and she doesn't trust those close to her anymore. Brigid is struggling to get her feelings back, but it just doesn't happen. But there seems to be something from Brigid's past that is coming through to her in her dreams, or recurrent nightmares. As she tries to work through these issues everything escalates around her until one of the men in the supper group kills himself and Brigid suspects he was murdered.

This story is told from several points of view. Primarily Brigid, then Charity and finally the bad guy. There are many choices for who that might be as mine kept changing as the story is told. But I never saw the ending coming, for me it was a total surprise.

Second Wives is a fun, fast read. The dynamics between the couples was interesting as well as entertaining. Certainly worth reading.

Was this review helpful?

Second wives or more like wife swap!. All the problems you would anticipate and more from this strange arrangement. Jealousy, betrayal and envy run amok.! Reading this book was like getting the juiciest gossip about the perfect neighbors down the street. Tell me more you say? I can’t without giving away the surprising twists that will pull you in and grab you by the collar and won’t let you go.

Was this review helpful?

Another entertaining, keep you guessing thriller by Carey Baldwin! The Second Wives was not what I was expecting at all…in a good way! Following the life and unfortunate events of Brigid Templeton things turn into a twisted, what happened, and who’s responsible mystery. The events unfolded in such a suspenseful way that I could not put this one down!

Was this review helpful?

SECOND WIVES by Carey Baldwin is a tangled web of deceit, memories, relationships and the power of female friendships, no matter how they’re formed.
Brigid and Nash divorce after she discovers his infidelity with Charity, her one time friend. After the death of their daughter, Hope, Charity and Jackson drift apart and also divorce. Unbelievably each of the spouses end up with the other.! What could possibly go wrong?
After a freak accident during their Supper Club, Brigid is haunted by a recurring dream of murder. Due to that nightmare she cannot seem to settle into her new life. While her own daughter, Tish (Hope’s BFF) struggles in the aftermath of her friend’s death and while trying to move into adulthood, Brigid continues to try to cobble together a new life with Jackson. When another of the Supper Club members suddenly dies, along with Charity’s son from a previous relationship, all are left wondering how they will survive. More memories surface for Brigid leading to a shocking confrontation I didn’t see coming.
I loved the way Ms. Baldwin slowly dug through the deep layers of the plot to the core of what was happening. I like her writing style. I found myself leaning in and turning pages as quickly as I could to find out where this was going. Her descriptions left me feeling the water lapping at my toes, I could just hear the breeze blowing through the trees and across the water, and taste the coffee at the Clues in the Coffee bookstore (great name).
I’ll recommend this one to those I know who are or are thinking about becoming the SECOND WIVES. I can’t wait to dive into some of Ms. Baldwin’s other novels. Great job!

Was this review helpful?

A phenomenal, interesting, and intriguing read. So many twists and turns, I couldn’t put the book down till I finished!” loved both Brigid and Charity's characters. The twist at the end was Shocking. Perfect for weekend pastime. Highly recommended. Superbly written thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Woah, this book really kept me guessing the entire time, and I was literally stuck to the edge of my seat!

Was this review helpful?

Two married good friends - one daughter who died in a crash while the other one lived - the women divorce and marry the other husband and are no longer good friends- and one has a dream of seeing someone being drowned, but wait was it a dream???? Whatever you think this book is about it's so much more.

From the first page I was hooked and the rest did not disappoint either. The ending will shock you as you get hit by twists and turns that will wrap everything up.

I can't wait to read more from Carey Baldwin.

#NetGalley #SecondWives #Bookouture

Was this review helpful?

Carey Baldwin is a new author to me and I quite enjoyed the story and I will definitely be looking for more of her books. She surprised me with who did it and I liked how the story ended and how the characters resolved their stories.
There was enough suspense to keep me entertained and engaged and I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
And everything resolved in a very satisfying way that felt very real and comfortable.

Was this review helpful?

What a chaos relationship. When they go to other ex, are they not thinking about uncomfortable? Weird? Awkward? Cringe? Especially they are bestfriend? Seem like ploy revenge. The mystery nice i enjoy it but the drama no.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#SecondWives #CareyBaldwin #Bookouture #NetGalley #ARC

Was this review helpful?

This was another winner, another psychological thriller from Bookouture! Loved it, loved it so much!
The very beginning of the book felt kind of slow, but then it picked up and turned into a breathtaking journey.
The story of two ladies kind of “swapping” husbands is a unique one. That alone would make any book stand out.
The second part of the book was really fast-paced and pieces were clicking together, and the ending – ok, I did not see that one coming. I do love a good and twisty book, but when there are absolutely unexpected twists, well, that is a bonus.
At one point it felt like there might be slightly too many characters in this book, it was overwhelming at times, but it was not distracting from the main story.

Was this review helpful?

Fabulous book although very twisted. Would two friends really switch husbands? Brigid and Charity did. There is trauma, grief and lots of secrets in this book. I certainly did not expect the ending. The Author led me down the garden path again! Read this book. I recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?