Gabby's daughter has just left for college and she's struggling. She also realizes that she hates her husband and wants out of her marriage. But can't ask for a divorce because she could wind up losing he house which means so much to her.

She shares a bit of how she's feeling with her best friend. And then, after several drinks, starts chatting with a woman named Ellis and tells her everything. Because sometimes it's easier to share the truth with a total stranger. Ellis suggests she assist and gives Gabby her card.

Gabby's husband has cheated before and she fears he's cheating again. She tries to reach Ellis without success. Leaves messages and then deletes her number. The back and forth she has with wanting to contact Ellis and not weighs heavy on her. Her husband brings up divorce and tells her he's in love with someone else and it sends her spiraling.

The dual timelines between now and Gabby's younger years help the story unfold. I loved the cat and mouse slow burn of this one. You feel uneasy throughout and although the twist didn't surprise me, I still liked it and found the book very entertaining.

Hannah Curtis did a great job with narration. She built the suspense and allowed us to feel how helpless and panicked Gabby felt at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an ALC.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for this gifted ALC!

It’s a tale as old as time. A grey haired geriatric with a 20 something blonde hanging on his arm. The Younger Woman plays on this trope, but makes it fresh and entertaining.

This book was more layered than I expected it to be, and that’s a good thing. Because I think without that depth, it wouldn’t have been as special. The layers kept me guessing, kept me entertained and made me care about the outcome of our dirtbag male character. God, he was insufferable. I won’t say more without spoilers, but I want to rant in this review about how much he absolutely sucked. The audacity of some people, seriously. She was just trying to make him feel included and then he goes and …

Anyway.

I enjoyed this. It was perfect popcorn thriller material.

I really had no idea what to expect from this audiobook, The Younger Woman by Cate Ray, as I have never before listened to this author's stories. The description of the book sounded very interesting to me (empty nesters, failing marriage, middle age and much more!), so I requested an ARC. At first I was a bit confused differentiating the two main characters but after a bit into the story I was able to follow along without any problems. I enjoyed the narrator, Hannah Curtis, and appreciated the fact that she did not change her voice to reflect which character was talking, but rather the phrases and words used told me who was talking at each interval. I highly recommend this audiobook and I thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC. I highly recommend this book.

This was a good read. The narrator did a pretty good job of bringing the character’s voice and personality to life. She can be interested in the story. I wouldn’t say I loved the story, but I did like it.

The Younger Woman is a thrilling domestic drama that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Gabby’s realization that she can no longer stand her husband, Fred, sets the stage for a gripping tale filled with twists and suspense. When Gabby drunkenly confesses her wish for Fred’s death to a mysterious younger woman, Ellis, she doesn’t expect it to lead anywhere. But soon, Gabby discovers that Ellis might not be who she claims to be, throwing her into a dangerous game of deception and manipulation.

The story is fast-paced and full of unexpected turns. Gabby’s journey to uncover the truth about Ellis—and what Fred might be hiding—keeps the tension high throughout. I was constantly questioning the narrator’s reliability and trying to figure out who to trust. The suspense was palpable, and the stakes felt real as Gabby navigated a web of lies. The author did a fantastic job of keeping me hooked, never letting me settle on any one conclusion for too long.

Overall, this book is a sexy and thrilling ride that mixes domestic tension with edge-of-your-seat suspense. I would definitely read more books by Kate Ray if they follow this same style. Four out of five stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced reader copy of the audiobook.

I honestly wasn’t expecting much from this audiobook, especially at the beginning. The premise didn’t exactly pull me in, and I wasn’t a fan of how the characters were treating each other. But as I kept listening, I found myself oddly hooked. The twist wasn’t something I’d usually enjoy, but it still managed to hold my attention.

When the twist hit, I wasn’t blown away, but it did wrap things up in a way that kept me engaged. It’s definitely not the most original thriller, but it keeps you entertained from start to finish.

If you’re looking for something fast-paced and suspenseful, this is perfect. It’s not a story that will stick with you forever, but it’s definitely a solid listen when you just want something fun and gripping.

When her daughter leaves for college, Gabby is forced to confront how much she really loathes her husband. She confesses that to Ellis, a woman she meets in a bar, in fact, she says she wishes her husband were dead. Working on the strangers on a train riff, Ray uses an unreliable narrator to create and enjoyable and suspenseful read

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Advance Reader Copy and Advance Listener Copy of this book.

I was so excited about the concept of this book from the description, but unfortunately this book feel very flat for me.

I didn't care about a single character, except for maybe the daughter Alice, and I found the stakes to be paper thin.

I felt that this was a slow burn that didn't have high enough stakes to keep someone interested. The FMC's inner dialogue and actions were very far fetched for me.

I did really love the way the narrator did the audiobook.

Wanted to love this so badly and was very disappointed.

One night at a bar, Gabby meets an enigmatic younger woman named Ellis, and in a haze of drunkenness, she confesses that she wishes Fred dead. Surely she didn't expect anything to come of it, but when she tries to track Ellis down again, she realizes that Ellis might not have been who she said she was.
As Gabby begins to unravel the truth about Ellis, and what Fred might be hiding, she is thrown into a whirlwind of lies and manipulation. How much is she willing to risk to expose the truth? And who is the real target?
Gabby and Fred have just begun to adapt to their new life as empty nesters when Gabby makes a stunning realization: she can't stand her husband.
A woman's confession about her husband sparks a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in this riveting domestic thriller

The Younger Woman is a snapshot of how hard an empty nest can be for some women. I liked the main character with all of her flaws.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this book and audiobook

Unfortunately, I found this book to be too melodramatic. I thought the FMC was quite whiny. I am upset because I really wanted to like this book. Hannah Curtis does a good job with the narration of the audiobook, but I just couldn't find myself connecting with any of the characters, unfortunately.