Thank you MB Communications/ThrillerbookloversThePulse, #partner, for the advanced copy of Jill Is Not Happy in exchange for my honest review.

Kaira Rouda is a favorite amongst us over at The Pulse – @thrillerbookloversthepulse – & we cannot get enough of her devious characters. This latest book has all buzzing!⁣

Is it possible to love an author just because of the characters she creates? Because that is why I love Kaira Rouda’s books! She always manages to give us the most deliciously unhinged characters & I always look forward to meeting her newest ones! ⁣
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In Jill Is Not Happy we have such a fun cat & mouse game…one between a husband & wife that takes us on quite the adventure. There are so many twists & turns here that it’s more fun to just sit back & enjoy the ride, rather than try to figure out where this might be headed, at least I found to be the case. ⁣
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With a dual timeline & dual POV, the author allows us to be in the characters’ minds & feed us just enough information to hook us, while also building suspense & leaving us wanting to know more. And that ending…without spoiling it, I’ll just say it’s satisfying but open enough as to maybe hint there’ll be more???

Jack and Jill have been together since college. They live a great life, but have drifted apart. Now that their daughter, Maggie, has moved out, Jack wants to end their marriage. But Jill is determined to find the spark they lost along the way. She knows all of Jacks secrets, and she's willing to play dirty if he doesn't do what she wants.

Another brilliant book from this author, with a twist. Usually in thrillers, it's always the husband, right? Well, this time, it's the wife. It left me feeling sorry for Jack and Maggie, and pretty much everyone else who crossed Jill.
This was brilliantly written, and had me flying through the pages. Given the ending, I would love a sequel. A definite must read.

Oh my goodness.. Domestic thrillers are my favorite.

Jill knows what she wants, and that is her husband forever. She will do anything to keep him.. Now, I figured what would happen, but the ride was still great.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy!

Kaira Rouda is a favorite over at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and everyone is excited about her upcoming thriller. Thanks to @kairarouda and @thrillerbookloversthepulse for an advance copy.
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Jill isn’t happy. And when Jill isn’t happy, no one else is either.
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Jack and Jill have been married for years, and to the outside world, their life appears perfect. But that’s exactly how Jill wants it to seem. Beneath the carefully crafted exterior lies a marriage simmering with resentment, manipulation, and buried truths. When the couple heads out for a weekend getaway, the cracks in their relationship grow impossible to ignore. Accusations fly, tension escalates, and the real question isn’t just whether their marriage will survive, but whether both of them will make it home.
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This one is full of unlikeable, unreliable characters and a story that keeps you second-guessing. If you love twisty, character-driven thrillers that explore the dark side of marriage, this one is for you!

I absolutely loved Jill Is Not Happy! Kaira Rouda never disappoints, and this book is no exception. The story is fast-paced, full of suspense, and packed with the kind of psychological tension that keeps you turning pages late into the night. Jill is a fascinating character—flawed, complex, and totally unforgettable. I’ve read all of Rouda’s books, and each one just gets better. Highly recommend to anyone who loves domestic thrillers with a dark edge!

This book just wasn’t for me . I really disliked Jill - she was honestly more annoying than anything else - and Jack just came across as so gullible and stupid even though he knew his wife was a liar and really not a good person and although I felt sorry for him I was like dude if you are this stupid you deserve her . Overall I just didn’t enjoy the story

2:5 ⭐️

Kaira has done it again! I don’t read her books, I devour them. I finished this in 2 sittings. Couldn’t put it down. I am noticing a trend with her books-the characters tend to be absolutely bonkers. The most outlandish group of over the top humans are in her books….and I am here for it. 💯

The title is so accurate….because Jill really is NOT happy!!! The crazy twists & turns left me holding on for dear life with this one. The characters…fantastic! I loved the way Kaira unpacks deception in her books. From start to finish I was fully invested.

Absolutely loved this one & will forever be auto-buying anything by this author.

Woah baby! Hold on to your hat for this crazy read! Told by delightfully unlikable, unreliable narrators this is a story of what Jill will do to have what she wants. Jill is a planner and once she decides what she wants nothing will stop her from getting it and keeping it and she wants Jack and a happily ever after with him. Jack has decided that he wants more and is ready to untangle his life from Jill’s. Secrets and actions from the past keep them tied together. Can Jack find a way free? Told from both points of view and moving between the past and present readers get a first hand look at what Jack and Jill will do to have what they want. I loved this book! Highly recommend it!

"𝑾𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅."

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @kairarouda and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In true Kaira fashion, this is twisty and crazy like usual.

Jack & Jill [ yes like the nursery rhyme ], have a "Special" type of marriage.

Jill will do whatever it takes to stay with Jack, and Jack will do anything to get away from Jill. But they share a dark secret that's inside Jill's notebook.

Twisted and unhinged is the best way to explain this one. I couldn't wait to see how this played out and who would survive in the end.

PREORDER this one today!

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
June 10, 2025

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Last, now, next

L- So I Lied
N- Kill My Darlings
N- ?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #upcomingthriller #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #jillisnothappy #kairarouda
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Jack and Jill have been married for a long time, inseparable from the beginning and bound together by a dark secret they share from their college days. Jack is no longer happy in the marriage and now that their daughter, Maggie, is grown and out of the house, he decides it is time to part ways. But Jill won’t allow that to happen… over her dead body. Through increasingly manipulative and cunning tactics, Jill develops plays games in order to ensure Jack stays in the marriage. They set off on a roadtrip through Utah, what is thought of as a reconnection trip for Jill, but it could be the last hurrah for Jack…

This was a very quick and interesting domestic suspense where I never knew what was coming next. Haven’t read anything by Kaira in the past but I enjoyed this so I definitely will now!

Thank you to Penzler, Kaira, NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers Pulse for the e-galley!

This was such a fun cat and mouse thriller! Jill was so unhinged and crazy and poor Jack just wanted her out of his life. Unfortunately, Jill knew his darkest secret and threatened to go public if he left her. I liked watching them each try to outsmart each other as they went on this road trip where they both had their own agendas. This story was fast-paced with lots of twists and secrets!

Thank you, Penzler Publishers, for providing the copy of Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda. If you’re looking for a fast and easy read, pick up this book! This would be a great beach read. Jill was a piece of work, and I loved reading about her manipulative ways. At some point it got to be too much and it felt repetitive - different incidents, but nothing that advanced the story. The ending wasn’t satisfying, but I’m not sure what the ending should have been. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for this enjoyable read!

This is a tricky one for sure! Neither of these characters are remotely likable, although Jack does have a likability edge over Jill. Their marriage, while outwardly seeming perfect is far from it and neither of them are good people, the deserve each other, but only Jill seems to recognize that! There are so many twists and turns it is a rollercoaster for sure. This author is a fav and her books never disappoint.

The bones of this story were fantastic. It was a quick and easy read. At points it did feel a little repetitive with the same back and forth but overall I enjoyed it. If you think you’ve encountered a toxic relationship before, wait until you meet Jack and Jill. The repetition did seem to build up the tension quite well for the ending which was nice. You definitely will have to suspend belief and go with the flow for this one but it was fun! I wish we got more information on Jill’s childhood since it was brought up so much but I feel we did get a decent amount.

Jill loves her husband Jack and will tell anyone who asks how amazing he is…well, except for recently he’s been feeling a little down. Now empty nesters, she plans a road trip for them to reconnect. The thing is…Jack wants a divorce. He has only stayed with her because of…well what happened in the past. He wants to end this marriage, but what else is Jill hiding?

Buckle up! This is a fast paced thriller with secrets and twists and turns and an ending I did not see coming! As I was reading this I kept telling myself just one mor chapter and before I knew it I had finished the book.

Jill is unhinged and I was here for it!! I loved the use of dual timelines and how the author gives us these little bread crunches along the way. These are two people in a toxic relationship and Jill will do anything to keep them together.

No spoilers - this book brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “Partners In Crime.”

✨What To Expect
🥀Thriller
⁉️Suspense
📝Unhinged Behavior
🔪Dark Secrets
🚙Road Trip
🐁Game of Cat & Mouse
⏰Dual Timelines
✌️Dual POV

4.5 Stars for "Jill Is Not Happy" by Kaira Rouda!
Thanks so much to Kaira Rouda and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for this gifted ARC of "Jill Is Not Happy." Our team gets to dive into some amazing reads, but this one really stood out as one of the most intense this year.

OMG!! Jack might be the first fictional husband I feel sorry for! Don't get me wrong, he's no angel, but he's married to a manipulative and cunning psycho. Jill would drive anyone crazy. Even though she’s not likable, you have to admire how twisted her mind is. Just make sure you stay on her good side!

When "Jill Is Not Happy," you can bet Jack isn't either!! I couldn't wait for them to get on the road and see what Jill had planned. I could practically feel the gears turning in her head. Oh, Jack, you really shouldn’t have poked the bear!

This story blends a perfect balance of humor with the thrills of unexpected twists! Kaira Rouda created a suspenseful plot around two complex characters that are perfectly created and totally unforgettable!

Thanks to the author and Scarlet/Penzler Pub for the gifted ARC provided through Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily!

#JillIsNotHappy #KairaRounda #Scarlet #NetGalley #ThrillerBookLoversThePulse #PenzlerPublishers

I love domestic suspense and Kaira Rouda does a fantastic job writing them! Jill’s marriage is on the rocks. They are high school sweethearts, but Jack wants OUT! He is done. Jill is on a mission to do anything in her power to prevent him from leaving. Will she succeed? Does that shared secret matter anymore? I flew through the chapters! And the ending left me wondering we’d have a book ✌️

Kaira Rouda does domestic suspense like no one else. We love her at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse.
And Jill? She’s not happy.

This book had me hooked with its dual POV, tension, and a marriage that’s way past saving…but not quite over. Jack is plotting a clean break. Jill? She’s got her own storm brewing. They belong together and she will make sure they stay together.
It’s unsettling, addictive, and full of unhinged moments.

Review of Jill Is Not Happy by @kairarouda

Thank you so much to @thrillerbookloversthepulse and @kairarouda for the advanced digital copy of this one. I absolutely loved it. I’ve been sick, but I still binged out this book in two days. I enjoyed it so much. I love a good toxic relationship book and this one checked every box for me. It is fast pace with lots of twists and turns and nobody is who you think they are. This is a must read for thriller lovers. This one comes out June 10 so make sure you get your copy!

Synopsis:

Some secrets keep a couple together.

If you ask Jill Tingley, she'll tell you she and her husband Jack are college sweethearts living the dream in Southern California. Wealthy, popular and genetically blessed, theirs is an enviable life, though they've grown distant in recent years. Newly empty nesting with their daughter Maggie away at college, Jill suggests a road trip to reconnect.
Jack would rather do anything else than drive to Utah with his wife. He's only stayed in this marriage because of a shared secret, a tragedy in the past he wanted to keep buried. And for his daughter's sake. But Jack is finished with the charade of his marriage. He's filing for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what.

But he doesn't realize what else Jill is hiding.

So begins a cat-and-mouse road trip as a cunning wife—think Ripley in yoga pants—and a reluctant husband match wits and drive each other to the edge. But everything will be fine. Jill still loves Jack and believes he's the only one for her. She’ll do anything to keep him. Anything. She always has.

Another brilliant book from this author, with a twist. We meet Jack and Jill! Jack and Jill are playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse the entire book. There are some secrets and surprises along the way. Jill has planned a road trip with her husband, Jack, to reconnect. He just wants to get away from her but can’t because of a shared secret.. The chapters are fast and go between Jack and Jill’s POV. The ending was perfect, and room, for a possible second book. The old saying happy wife, happy life, it definitely applies to this book. Jill is not happy then no one is happy!

#netgalley