I am in two minds about this book. It was fairly easy to read and I liked the way the characters developed and how they were depicted.
But I felt the book lacked energy, pace or excitement. With the exception of the final part of the book where it all became clear with an unexpected ending.
Overall a 3 star read for me.

I loved the opening to this book. It absolutely kept me turning those pages. The drowning in the water prologue was haunting. I needed to find out why Brigid was having the disturbing thoughts and dreams - or repressed memories. The mystery made it easy for me to become immensely invested.

There was a colourful list of characters - a group of friends who are all part of a supper club. I had my suspicions of nearly all of them during the book. The last quarter had me motoring through the pages with excitement. I needed to know who did it and why.

I enjoyed reading from Charity and Brigid’s perspectives. The mystery POV was chilling. As for the USA location, I thought it was charming.

All in all, a great mystery, one that will have you guessing throughout!

I really wanted to enjoy this but struggled with it at times to the point I couldn’t finish it. This one wasn’t for me.

Second Wives
by Carey Baldwin
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date 17 Mar 2023

Description
They both want their happy ever after. But who will kill for it?
We were such good friends... until the day she married my ex-husband.Now, I’ve married hers, and we’ve agreed to get along for the sake of our families.
It’s all very civilized, but then there’s a freak accident and I wake up in a hospital bed.
As I take in my surroundings, a familiar and loving sight greets me – my darling husband.
He tells me everything is going to be alright. That he loves me and that whatever challenges come our way, we’ll get through them together.for an instant, I feel safe. I push the nightmare that has haunted my dreams to the back of my mind - an unknown man forcing someone under water, vowing that their next breath will be their last.But as I gaze into his eyes, I begin to pale. Because I’m sure the man sitting opposite me is not my husband.He’s hers.
So why do I feel he is the only person in the world I can trust?

🛑MY Review🛑

I really enjoyed this book once the story picks up. The down side for me was the fact there was way too many characters. I had to start back over and pull out a notebook to keep up with who was who. I felt the same uncertainty and anxiety Brigid did. The twists and turns are completely unexpected and I could hardly wait for the next one. Absolutely a true psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist in every sense of the word.
#SecondWives #NetGalley
******Disclosure*******
Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get.

After divorcing, friends remarried each other's husbands.

After an accident, Brigid awakens in the hospital with her husband by her side, telling her she will be alright. Except that he is her ex-husband, her friend Charity's spouse. But why does Brigid believe that Nash is the only person she can rely on?

The story revolves around deciding which woman is being honest, and why do Brigid's dreams of Lake Tahoe seem to reveal a past murder that she might have been involved in?

I had a hard time finishing this book because the plot is disjointed, the dynamic feels forced, and I didn't care for the characters.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy reading this novel.

Second Wives by Carey Baldwin

Published: March 17, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pages: 322
KKECReads Rating:
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Carey Baldwin is a USA Today bestselling author of psychological suspense. Also a dedicated physician, she holds two doctoral degrees, one in medicine and one in psychology. Her experience in the fields of medicine and psychology often informs her writing. She loves reading and writing stories that keep you off balance and on the edge of your seat. Carey lives in the southwestern United States with her amazing family. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and chasing wildflowers.

“As long as I live, I promise I will never let anyone hurt you.”

Brigid suspected something was wrong with her marriage long before she said anything. Nash denied there being any problems, but Brigid couldn’t move past it. When they divorced, Nash eloped with Charity, a mutual friend. In her shock, Brigid fell in love with Jackson, Charity’s ex-husband. Now, the secrets are deep, the truth deadly, and memories are returning.

This was intense. I enjoyed the build-up and found the controlled chaos well organized. I was shocked by the big reveal, and I was wrong about who I suspected was the guilty party.

There are a lot of characters in this book, but the core cast is well-developed. I liked the dynamic and the familial bond they had. Their lives felt very wealthy Southern Cali.

I loved that water and darkness were also major characters throughout this book. That was clever and well done. This was like riding a roller coaster. The first dip was surprising, the second scary, and the final drop is critical.

The plot of this book was intriguing but the characters just weren’t there. Most characters were really annoying and I didn’t really want to finish this one but I pushed through.

Second Wives is the first book by author Carey Baldwin that I've read. Two women, Charity and Brigid, have divorced their husbands and married the other's spouse. They might've been good friends; it's hard to tell given their different stories. Charity's daughter died. Brigid's daughter is alive and dating Charity's brother. After a dinner with a few neighbor couples, a gun goes off and Brigid suffers an injury. When she awakens, she's unsure which man is her husband. The story revolves around deciding which woman is being honest, and why do Brigid's dreams of Lake Tahoe seem to reveal a past murder that she might have been involved in? Baldwin draws you in easily, forcing you to turn the pages constantly. Thought I'd just read for an hour but 3+ later, I finished the book. Was such a strong story, and the characters truly had an impact on me. I rooted from Brigid the entire way, and she deserves so much more. Writing quality was good. Character development was truly impressive for a single novel. I felt like I knew these people, even if several moments were over the top. Can't wait to try another book by Baldwin.

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in two afternoons, you don't know what is going to happen next. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Second Wives by Carey Baldwin offers an interesting premise but, for me, it failed to fully deliver.

Brigid and Charity were good friends until Charity began an affair with Brigid's husband and eventually married him. Brigid then marries Charity's ex-husband and the two newly arranged couples make an effort to keep things amicable. All is well until Brigid suffers an accident that causes amnesia, and the confusion that follows will have her questioning everything, even her own sanity.

I found this one to be a bit if a slow read, although a few twists and turns are just tantalizing enough to keep you flipping the pages. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

✨ 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒚 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒅𝒘𝒊𝒏 ✨

Firstly, thank you goes to NetGalley, Carey Baldwin & Bookouture for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have really mixed feelings about this book… The synopsis had me instantly intrigued and so I couldn’t wait to start it but I just felt like throughout I was waiting to be thoroughly engrossed and, unfortunately, this didn’t happen.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥-𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺. 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭, 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.

Brigid is living a lovely, affluent life in Southern California surrounded by what she believes to be a tight-knit group of friends. That is, until one of her so-called friends, Charity, begins an affair with her husband who she then ends up marrying. And, if that wasn’t strange enough, Brigid then marries Charity’s ex-husband, thus creating a “husband swap” of sorts. They are dealing with this situation amicably but when Brigid sustains emotional amnesia after an accident she doesn’t anticipate the amount of uncertainty this will bring to her life including the resurfacing of previously forgotten memories. What comes next is a psychological whirlwind….

I do have to say that my intrigue was held throughout the book and I did find it rather “unputdownable” but unfortunately I guessed some of the twists which was a disappointment. However, I didn’t see the final twist coming which was impressive!

There was a lot of mystery surrounding the characters but I did have to make a list of who was who as I was becoming confused and felt like there wasn’t enough depth into certain characters which I feel could have added an extra addition to the storyline. Perhaps this would also have added to the “who dunnit” element.

Overall, I enjoyed this read but wasn’t as excited by it as I had hoped to be, based on the synopsis. The book’s release date is 17 March and I would recommend grabbing a copy if you like quick, easy to read psychological thrillers!

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I was a little disappointed in this book. Didn’t hold my interest and I’m not sure why! I did struggle to finish it and it did get better at the end but overall it just was not the book for me. Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Carey Baldwin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This book had such an interesting concept. It could have really been a top notch domestic thriller. However it didn’t do it for me. Maybe I went in with the wrong expectations. I expected a Tarryn Fisher ‘the wives’ kind of story. Something that kept me at the edge of my seat, with a big climax that nobody saw coming.
However none of that was delivered. What we got was e messy story with a very predictable plot. I kept on reading hoping it would get better…. But it didn’t.

I dont think I would have finished the novel if I had known.

They both want their happy ever after. But who will kill for it?
We were such good friends... until the day she married my ex-husband.
Now, I’ve married hers, and we’ve agreed to get along for the sake of our families.

Wow what a twisty addictive read this was. This may not be the conventional way to leave a marriage by marrying your friends husband and she yours but makes for great reading. This is the path Charity and Brigid have taken and it may have devastating consequences for both. As the four are good friends, they have had to learn how to navigate this new environment. Brigid has been involved in a terrible accident that has her with some amnesia about the finer details of what happened, at times she feels she is going mad trying to understand the circumstances of what occurred, she is experiencing flashes of memory but who really was out to hurt her?

I really enjoyed this light hearted read and quickly whipped through it in an afternoon. I would not call it a thriller to me it is more a drama with some shocking revelations which I did not pick at the end. thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

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. The main characters are Brigid and Nash, and Charity and Jackson. When both couples reach a rough patch and divorce it is almost instant that they connect with the other person’s spouse. This could make for a very rough situation however since all couples are happy and still friends, they make it work, until they don’t. When an accident leaves Brigid in the hospital her friends are there to comfort her and check on her. However, when the nurse assumes that Nash is Brigid’s husband, he doesn’t correct her, and this leaves Brigid wondering why his lie feels so real. This plot was very deep and complex, but it was also very compelling as a reader, and it left me desperate to figure out who was lying and what was really going on with Brigid and Nash. The one thing I didn’t like about this book was it was a little confusing at first to try to keep track of who was who, who was married to who and who was faking but once I got deeper into the story it all made sense. This was the second book that I’ve read by this author, and she is really proving why her work is one to be watched for. Carey Baldwin has a way of writing characters that you can connect with, and then throwing them into a plot that not anyone would be able to think of let alone write. She produces her plots with such passion and mystery that the whole time you think you know what is going on only to have the rug ripped out from you in the end, in a good way of course. This book was fantastic and I’m starting to think that Mrs. Baldwin is an author that needs to be looked for because it’s not just anyone that can write as well as she can. I loved this book, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

The description of Second Wives, a psychological thriller by Carey Baldwin, caught my reader's attention. The prologue of the story creates a sense of mystery that hooks the reader, and the unique setup of the plot adds to the awkwardness between the characters and their authenticity. The characters' development is interesting, with their inner monologues creating suspense and the ulterior motives for their actions unclear.

Throughout the book, the characters constantly question each other's motives and authenticity. This creates tension and ambiguity in the story and leaves readers guessing about who to trust.
However, the sheer number of events occurring throughout the book can make it difficult for readers to follow the plot. The author surprises the readers with several jaw-dropping moments, but there aren't enough connect-the-dots moments to lead to the ultimate reveal.

Despite this, the author kept the readers guessing, which is what one ultimately wants in a psychological thriller. The book has a unique concept of two couples marrying each other's ex-spouses, which creates additional drama. The mutual friend group also adds to the tension as they all have to deal with each other in awkward situations.

Overall, Second Wives is a well-crafted psychological thriller with complex characters and a unique concept that adds to the drama. Although there are some drawbacks to the book, it keeps the readers on their toes and provides a thrilling ride.

Second Wives is an interesting mystery/thriller. It is definitely one of those books where you are surprised by the ending and it was definitely a good plot twist. The characters are easily likable and their personal stories are all interesting.

Brigid and Charity essentially have swapped husbands after they both went through a divorce and ended up getting married to each others ex-husbands under unusual circumstances. After a near death experience, Brigid starts having blurred flashbacks and over the course of the story, puts together the clues as to what her flashbacks mean.

I liked the plot, but I felt like it took a really long time to get to “the point” of the story and the story only for interesting in the last 10 or so chapters.

I was intrigued by the blurb and the first chapter did well to hook me in…the plot started off well. However I found Second Wives takes me a few chapters to follow the storyline and characters.

The story basically was about two friends (wives) divorced and re-married to each other husband. Like a swap.

There were some twists for the story but it involved more on family drama then what a thriller normally expected (maybe I’m wrong..). You had to guess who was hiding secrets, who was telling the truth. I would suggest a pen and paper nearby to make sure we follow the story!

I look forward to the author’s next book to see more thriller elements in.

When can you stop pretending that everything is ok? Brigid knew something was wrong when she woke up after the supper club. She realises that she has lost her emotions and she has no idea how she feels about her husband Jackson. To complicate things even further her ex husband is married to Jackson's ex wife and she is tired of always trying to be the bigger person. Brigid knows that something is wrong as she has started having nightmares again and she has started having panic attacks. Her friends think that she is losing her mind and her husband Jackson is worried about the state of their marriage.
Brigid is trying to figure everything out by herself but she feels like she can't trust anyone especially the new wife Charity as she never believed that they weren't having an affair. There are too many things that are pointing in her direction as she is trying to turn Brigid daughter against her as well. But who is the victim in this situation? Will Brigid ever be able to find her way back to her husband and will she be able to find out the truth about her nightmares?
What a rollercaster of a read. So many twists & turns.
Some weird and wonderful characters. Some of them are so entitled which doesn't make them pleasant people to be around. Brigid is one confused woman I feel that she is still holding onto the past and that she will never truly be happy until she forgives everyone. I hope that her & Jackson do get their happy everafter as they do deserve it.
Thank you Netaglley & the publisher for the ARC copy. Very enjoyable read. This is my voluntary review

Carey Baldwin is a brilliant insightful thrilling writer, I love the look into US life too. I can't wait to read this one next on my list