I so enjoyed First wife’s shadow. If you enjoy a deception and redemption novel. This is the novel for you. We will be seeing a lot from Adele parks

The First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of relationships, secrets, and self-discovery. The story follows Nell, who finds herself entangled in the mystery of her husband’s first wife after unexpected revelations turn her world upside down. Parks’ writing is sharp and engaging, with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are richly developed, and the emotional depth of the story made me reflect on the ways in which our pasts shape our present. It’s a compelling blend of suspense, drama, and insight into human nature. I loved how it kept me on the edge of my seat while also offering a powerful message about moving forward from the shadows of the past. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys emotionally complex and well-crafted stories!

It took me a minute to get into this, but once I did I couldn’t put it down! I did guess a couple of the twists but that didn’t take away from anything. Highly recommend!

Emma meets Matthew who says he's a widower. She's very rich and he's very poor. He moves in and things start happening, not good things.

Emma is Matthew's second wife and she always feels second best to Matthew's deceased wife. After her marriage to Matthew, strange things begin to happen to Emma, Is the dead wife haunting her? Her friends are suspicious of Matthew especially since Emma has money.

Emma is attractive, CEO of a wind harvesting company, and very independent. She meets Matthew at a conference where she is speaking. He is ten years her junior and recently widowed.

This book will cause whiplash from all the twists and turns. The story is fun and gripping and keeps the reader engaged.

Fun, Twisted and Gripping!

3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. This book will be released 3/18/25.

What started out as a romantic story turned into a mystery of self doubt and questionable decisions as the new wife tries to find her place in her new marriage. I felt her discomfort as the plot developed and her experiences continued to create tension for me as a reader.

"First Wife's Shadow" is a slow-burn mystery. I loved the cover, title, and premise of the story but found it difficult to engage with the story. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy easy reading and slow-paced mysteries, and for fans of Adele Parks. I hope her next book makes more of an impression. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date is March 18, 2025.

#FirstWifesShadow

This was a truly excellent story. Lots of drama, lots of twists that really kept you guessing.

I'm ready to find another book by Adele Parks to start!

This book was easy to read and engaging. It had a slow-burn beginning, which made the twists at the end hit even harder. While some parts were predictable, the writing was so strong that it didn’t bother me. My only downsides were that I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, and for someone so independent and smart, the protagonist sure missed a giant bag of red flags lol. Overall, it was still a quick and entertaining read.

At age 47, Emma meets Matthew and falls quickly for him although he is eleven years her junior. Her best friends are suspicious of his motives but Emma is too much in love to take notice. But some strange things begin to happen and she feels she is being haunted by Matthew’s first wife, Becky. She also feels Matthew compares her to Becky. Everything changes and Emma is not sure what is real.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma, a successful CEO, falls in love with Matthew, a widower, and they quickly become engaged. However, Emma starts to feel insecure and haunted by Matthew's deceased wife. Strange occurrences make her question if she is being haunted or hunted. Her friends think Matthew is gaslighting her, while he believes she is acting like her alcoholic father. The mystery of what is really happening unfolds as Emma's life may be in danger.

This is my second book by Adele, and I must say, she did not disappoint! The story was a thrilling rollercoaster ride with a twist that caught me completely off guard. I was so engrossed in the book that I couldn't put it down all day. The unexpected ending left me pondering, "What would I do?"

The characters were not only likable but also well-developed, which is a rare combination. I found myself rooting for all of them, which doesn't happen often. There were so many red flags and unanswered questions surrounding the "happy" couple, especially Emma's lack of inquiry before deepening their relationship. This mystery kept me eagerly turning each page.

While the plot was complex and at times frustrating, all the pieces fell into place as the story unfolded. Multiple points of view were presented towards the end, shedding light on the reasons behind the events. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and was pleased that it lived up to my expectations.

If you appreciate deceit, family drama, and unexpected twists and turns, this book is must-read. It's a captivating story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First Wife’s Shadow started out a bit slow, but when strange accidents start happening in Emma’s life, it really started to pick up for me. Haunted by her new husbands dead wife, things are becoming increasingly intense for Emma. Her friends don’t believe her, her husband thinks she’s drinking too much, and she believes the ghost of Becky is out to get her. Is she wrong?

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

First Wife’s Shadow starts out as mystery you think you might be able to guess the plot around but its third act shakes up everything and introduces twists that I dare you to have anticipated.

Emma is a 47 year old woman who has burrowed completely in her routines as a reaction to the chaos her alcoholic father wrought in her childhood, and this discipline to her routine contributes to her success as a CEO and the accompanying wealth that comes with this. When she meets recent widower Matthew her routines and discipline go out the window as for the first time in years she gives in to her heart (despite her friends concerns). But Emma seems to be losing her wits, drinking more, and generally suspecting she’s being haunted by Matthew’s first wife, Becky.

You may think you know what’s afoot (and you probably do) but Matthew throws in some curve balls as the story continues and Adele Parks writes her characters so well that by the end I wasn’t sure what was coming next.

This book had a wonderful storyline and plot! It was a bit lengthy and drawn out in places but the twists were excellent and unexpected!

Emma is an independent, wealthy woman who has everything going for her - except she doesn’t really have anyone to share her life with. She meets Mathew, a handsome widower, and things take off. The memory of Mathew’s first wife lingers, and Emma can’t help but think she might just be second best. But questionable things begin to happen as their relationship progresses and Emma is not sure if she can trust her husband, or herself.

I very much enjoyed this novel. This is my first book by Adele Parks and I was very pleased with it. The story had me hooked from the beginning and halfway through the story takes a huge turn! At first, I was certain that I already knew what was going on in the story. Then the plot twist was revealed, and I was in shock! The rest of the story had me wanting to read more and more. Just when I thought I was able to figure out the outcome, another plot twist was added! This was definitely a twisty thriller and I had me on my toes, especially towards the end. If you enjoy Freida McFadden books give this one a try! I highly recommend it!

Title releases on March 18 2025

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I met Adele Parks at a screening for the movie adaptation about her book about twin sisters. LOVED the movie & was excited to read her new book. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, the dating/courtship of 47 yr old CEO of Airbright Emma Westerly and 36 yr old freelance photographer Matthew Charlton. Emma feels a bit insecure, "....dating Matthew is wonderful, but negotiating the presence of a dead ex is a new experience & oddly a little trickier than negotiating the presence of a live one." Emma feels "I'm second choice, not second chance" and she'll "never be the love of his life. Only second to her." Her best friend Heidi thinks Matthew is rushing the relationship. She cautions Emma to get a prenup. Emma is the orphaned daughter. Her dad was an alcoholic and Emma tends to drink a lot. At 25%, I start wondering if Emma is an unre6natrator. First she was locked in her sauna and then there's a breakin. Comments are made about her being in perimenopause and not sleeping well and having brain fog. In Chapter 14, Matthew is already moving in with the very successful Emma after only dating less than 4 months. Is Matthew a con-artist? Did he kill his first wife Becky? Adele Parks is known for crazy twists so I'm anticipating something. The scene with the spaghetti sauce has me convinced Emma has serious issues. By the end of Chapter 19, the book seems ridiculous. I was going to skim the rest of the book to see if my predictions were correct. Without 54%, I was so disappointed & disgusted that I just stopped reading it.

I'm being generous giving it 2 stars and encourage you to watch the movie adaptation of Parks other book instead.

I am so sad to say that I did not enjoy this one. It was so slow and dragged out. The ending was not as shocking as I would've liked it to be. It was also pretty predictable to be honest. It just didn't hit the right spots for me with this one.

I am a huge fan of Adele Parks, I have yet to read a book of hers that disappointed me, and this one is no different. I really enjoyed this book, and didn’t want it to end. There were so many twists, it will make you feel as though you are on a roller coaster, and will put the book down with a slight case of whiplash.

The premise of the book without spoilers: After Emma falls in love with Matthew, those close to Emma think that the only thing Matthew is after is her money. Then strange things start happening, making Emma feel as though she may be losing her mind.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and last but not least, Adele Parks for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC! I enjoyed Adele Parks’ writing and the storyline was entertaining. I feel I was missing some key elements of the story, but I’m not sure if this was left out or I somehow bypassed it. I did like the plot twist and it was unexpected.

First wife’s shadow by Adele parks

Emma is a CEO who has the world at her fingertips, wealthy, and a life that others would kill for. She meets Matthew who dotes on her and listens to her. After only a few short months she falls in love and marries him. Soon after the once perfect fit turns sketchy, Emma questions her once confident lifestyle into a question of her memory and capacity to handle day to day tasks.

This book was good but also calculated just when you think you know what’s happening it spins you around and points things in a different direction completely. I enjoyed it but also had an idea what would happen. I enjoyed it.