I was jumping up and down when I was approved for this book. The Last Mrs. Parrish is one of my favorite books. The sequel started off strong and intriguing, with Amber finding rare gemstones and Jackson in jail, but that’s about where the excitement ended for me. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this was a DNF for me. At 60%, I realized I didn’t care what happened with the characters. I didn’t like any of them, and especially wanted Daisy Ann to go away. I wanted to finish the book, I tried to stick it out, but there was nothing thrilling about it. I honestly think throwing Daisy Ann in there ruined it for me. I don’t think she was needed to make a great sequel. Gosh it pains me to write this review. I needed this book to be something else for these characters, and I don’t think this was it.

Liv Constantine’s novel, "The Next Mrs. Parrish," co-authored by Lynne and Valerie Constantine, is the second book in the psychological duology "Mrs. Parrish." The narrative unfolds through three alternating perspectives: Amber, Daisy Ann, and Daphne.

Seven months into Jackson Parrish's imprisonment for tax evasion, Amber Patterson Parrish (formerly Lana Crump) plans to sell his possessions and flee the country with millions from illegally sold rare diamonds. Jackson unexpectedly returns before her escape, confiscating her passport and striking a deal: in exchange for half the diamond proceeds, Amber must help him win back his ex-wife Daphne, who is in California with their daughters, Tallulah and Bella.

Concerned about Tallulah’s depression, Daphne returns to Connecticut, but Jackson’s drastic actions—drugging Daphne and temporarily revoking her parental rights—compel Daphne to comply with his demands to see her children.

Meanwhile, Daisy Ann Briscoe, grieving her father’s mysterious death following his marriage to Amber, suspects foul play. Encountering Amber at a company event reignites Daisy Ann's determination to uncover the truth. Following public humiliation by Daisy Ann, Amber amends her agreement with Jackson: besides aiding with Daphne and sharing the diamond money, Jackson must assist Amber in seeking revenge against Daisy Ann.

As the storylines converge, revelations and consequences unfold. Unlike its predecessor, this novel stretches believability with its numerous loose ends and improbable plot twists. The repeated evasion of legal repercussions strains credibility, particularly with the swift resolution of the diamond subplot, lacking the necessary gravity and external tension.

Daphne’s character arc deteriorates noticeably in this sequel, becoming a fragile figure jeopardizing herself and her children. Jackson, purportedly reformed post-prison, maintains questionable behavior inconsistent with his previous misogynistic traits, albeit now preferring dominance by others in the bedroom, contradicting established character traits. While less toxic than the first novel, "The Next Mrs. Parrish" struggles with event plausibility and character inconsistencies that undermine its believability.

Have been a fan of every one of these books in this series. These books are what started my love for thriller mystery book.

Liv Constantine's debut novel, "The Next Mrs. Parrish," is a gripping and cunning psychological thriller that immerses readers into a world of ambition, deception, and betrayal. With its intricately woven plot and morally ambiguous characters, Constantine delivers a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The story revolves around Amber Patterson, a woman consumed by her desire for wealth, status, and a life of luxury. Amber sets her sights on Jackson Parrish, a wealthy and charismatic businessman who seems to have it all—including a beautiful wife, Daphne, who embodies everything Amber covets. Determined to infiltrate the Parrish family and secure her own place in their world, Amber devises a cunning plan to become the next Mrs. Parrish.

Constantine's strength lies in her ability to create complex characters who blur the lines between right and wrong. Amber is a formidable protagonist, driven by her ambition yet vulnerable in her pursuit of validation and acceptance. Daphne, initially portrayed as the perfect wife, reveals layers of depth and resilience as the story unfolds, challenging Amber's assumptions and leading to unexpected twists.

The narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives between Amber and Daphne, offering readers insights into their contrasting motivations and hidden agendas. Constantine skillfully builds tension and suspense, revealing secrets and manipulations that drive the plot forward with relentless momentum. As the stakes escalate and loyalties are tested, the novel delves into themes of power dynamics, social ambition, and the consequences of obsession.

The pacing is brisk, propelling the reader through a series of shocking revelations and psychological gamesmanship. Constantine's prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the opulence of the Parrish world as well as the darker motivations lurking beneath its polished surface.

"The Next Mrs. Parrish" is a captivating thriller that explores the lengths people will go to achieve their desires and the price they ultimately pay. With its unpredictable twists and morally complex characters, Constantine delivers a compelling read that will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction and anyone who enjoys a tale of intrigue and psychological suspense.

"The Next Mrs. Parrish" establishes Liv Constantine as a masterful storyteller in the realm of psychological thrillers. This novel is a rollercoaster of manipulation and ambition, guaranteed to keep readers guessing until its satisfying and shocking conclusion.

How fun to travel back to Bishops Harbor with Daphne Parrish and reunite with the rancid cast of characters she had left behind: Jackson, her ex-husband, and Amber, his current wife and the woman for whom he left Daphne. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse thread woven throughout the entirety of the story. I did find myself getting rather frustrated with some of the decisions Daphne made and her inability to stand up for herself at times, but overall found myself anticipating what would come next and enjoying it all the way through its satisfactory conclusion.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the ARc copy of this one, which is out now!!!

I landed on liking this one, but not loving it. However, I did like it much better than the first book. It had more originality than the first. I enjoyed how Daphne was her own person & stood up for what she wanted and needed to do, butttt she was also sucked in to things that she shouldn't have been.

I really disliked majority of the other characters, but understand that role they played here.

Overall this was a decent read!

📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 📚
📖 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: The Next Mrs. Parrish
📝 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Liv Constantine
🗓️ 𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: June 18, 2024
🤯 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Psychological Thriller
📱𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓: eARC & audiobook
✨ 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💭 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Oh my… this was so satisfying (especially the ending)! I absolutely loved “The Last Mrs. Parrish” when it came out several years ago and was thrilled to have a follow up. It has all our old favorites (shitty Jackson, conniving Amber, lovely Daphne)… plus a new character, someone from Amber’s past. Daphne has left her life in Connecticut and moved to California with her daughters. Jackson is serving out his tax evasion sentence. And Amber? Amber is still Amber, backstabbing and doing everything she can to get what she feels she deserves.

Similar to the first book, this novel reads like a daytime soap. So much happens! It goes off the rails! But I absolutely LOVED it and think you will too. Even if it’s been a few years since you read the first, it’s ok… you will easily pick up where you left off. Read the first book if you haven’t already, this one is definitely a sequel that will be confusing without starting at the beginning.

I read the digital book and also listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed both formats. The narrators (Raquel Beattie, Suzanne Elise Freeman, Erin Bennett, and Scott Brick) are all fabulous, though it did take me a little while to associate each of the three narrators’ voices with their respective characters. I found their voices to be quite similar. They’re all enjoyable to listen to so I’d recommend the audiobook if you often prefer to listen.

I’ve heard “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden has way too many similarities to the first. The Liv Constantine book was published first so take what you want away from that little tidbit. I haven’t read the other yet so I can’t compare and contrast myself.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The sick and twisted Jackson and Amber Parrish are back at it with their conniving antics. This time they team up to prey on their enemies to get what they want. Still giving off Sleeping-with-the-enemy vibes but at a frustrating cadence. Reading at times I found myself thinking - how is Amber putting up with this? Why doesn't she try harder to escape this clearly thought out scheme? There's no way this is how it would go down in real life. Knocked off a star due to frustration.

This follow up to The Last Mrs. Parrish (and the novella The First Shot) - this book has three narrators - Daphne & Amber from the first book and a new character that you meet in The First Shot. I really enjoyed this new character and how she weaved into the story but overall, this fell flat for me.

The choices that Daphne made in this one made no sense to and kind of undermined who she became & the strength she had at the end of the first book. Amber just kind of annoyed me in this one versus being cunning and entertaining like in the first book.

So overall - I am glad I read it just to see where Constantine took these characters but overall it felt repetitive and frustrating and way to many "twists" thrown in at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Random House Audio for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Last Mrs. Parrish blew me away a year ago. So I was obviously thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley. Many thanks to the publishers

As for my review: I forgot how much I disliked these characters but I was still wrapped up in their mess. I was nervous about introduction of a new character but it ended up being very well executed (even thought I disliked her too). I spent most of the time cursing Amber and Jackson to hell and another large percent wanting to shake sense into Daphne and then even more time mentally sending Tallulah to time out.

Despite all that, this is an easy thrilling read. Gave me a couple dark themes, then threw in just a few twist and turns. ended up with good old fashioned chaos. Sometimes we need that
3.5 rounded up

This sequel had a huge expectation to fill, and boy did it deliver. I really thought the first in the duology tied itself up well enough to be a standalone, so I was a bit worried about where this was going to go, and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The new characters and story arcs played nicely together and paid off in the end

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I mean, what can be wrong with Liv's books? A great fun read. Recommend

I absolutely devoured The Last Mrs. Parrish, so I was super excited when I learned there would be a second book. I flew through this one as well and it was definitely a page turner. There were definitely plot twists I didn’t see coming, and I’m satisfied with the ending. I didn’t find myself as invested as I was in the first so a solid 3.5 stars from me!

Daphne, Amber and Jackson are back, and the cat and mouse page-turning plot will keep you guessing in this sequel to the popular bestseller. Jackson is soon to be released from prison, and Amber is scrambling on what her next steps need to be since she was responsible for sending him there. As she plots her next moves, she reckons with her past behavior, history, and is intent on settling scores by manipulation. Daphne is also grappling with Jackson's upcoming release as her daughters long to see their Dad and reestablish a relationship. but at what cost to Daphne. Will she be lured back into Jackson's web whether she likes it or not. If you are a fan of the first, you will devour this novel!

Oh how I was anticipating this book coming out. I have to say that I was definitely on the edge of my seat and these authors know how to trick your brain.
I was so anxious the entire story and I was also glad that I had read The First Shot since a majority of this book revolved around a character from that and her story. This is truly a hard book to review without giving away the plot of the story. So I will say, read it if you like domestic thrillers. Not a lot of death and scariness that way but definitely had you feeling the unreliable narrator at times.
My only negative was that there was a lot of repetition. I felt this was to remind us of the first book, but most reread it since it had been a while between the two and all the call backs to The Last Mrs. Parrish and The First Shot was a bit taxing at times.

Where do I even begin to rave about this book. This is the second book with these women and I highly recommend reading the first book before getting into this one. You really need to know the full story of these women really understand them. I highly highly recommend this book because it had me on edge just like the first book. It was so good.

This was a 3.5 star read for me. The first half was a bit slow ... and unbelievable with Daphne's storyline. However, after the midpoint, it got MUCH better. I would have liked a bit more closure to the ending ... There are some twists here that aren't completely predictable. The ending was justified all the way around.

This review was also published on Goodreads.

I was looking forward to this sequel for so long, even though I wasn't sure that it needed a sequel... Well, I was wrong. This was the book I didn't know I needed. Twisty-turny and wicked fun. The ending was open enough that there could be a third? Ha ha....

This was somewhat entertaining. There were certain parts I found enjoyable and other parts were lacking. This was definitely a quick read, and once you start you are hooked. This just needed a bit more development to take it to the next level.

You can read this as a standalone, but it is best to start with The Last Mrs. Parrish. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was quit the rollercoaster of a ride. I will be sure to read this author again. The last part of the book had many twits, so just keep on reading .
4 star