"Jill is Not Happy" unfolds as a slow and methodical burn, drawing readers into its suspenseful atmosphere. The dual nonlinear points of view effectively enrich the narrative, adding depth to the characters and their experiences. It’s a straightforward yet engaging read that keeps you intrigued throughout. Overall, I would give it 3.5 stars for its unique storytelling and captivating execution.

This pace domestic thriller is definitely on of Kaira's best. Shifting between the viewpoints of both Jack and Jill, it barrels along with devious intent, highlighting the toxic nature of their relationship, mostly thanks to Jill and her scheming. Trapped together on a road trip to Utah, they both have different plans for its conclusion. Jack wants out, but Jill has other ideas, and it's about to get real. With twists galore and a super ending, Jill Is Not Happy is perfect for lovers of fast-paced domestic suspense with secrets on every page.

Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda is a highly recommended domestic thriller featuring a very flawed couple in a toxic marriage.

Jack and Jill Tingley met in college and have been married for over twenty years. With their daughter Maggie now away at college, Jill has planned a road trip to Utah for her and Jack to reconnect. Jack, on the other hand wants nothing more to do with Jill. He has a mistress and is planning to divorce Jill as soon as they return. The only reason he has stayed with her for so long is due to a tragic secret the two share. Jill is not happy; she is not going to allow Jack to leave and she has it all in writing.

With each chapter the fast-paced narrative switches between the point-of-view of Jack and Jill. As more secrets are revealed, the toxicity, scheming, and tension explode off the page along with the new twists in the plot. Jill is presented as especially cunning and obsessive, but the deviousness and duplicity of both characters is revealed along the way. Ultimately none of the characters are trustworthy or likable, but following their drama is deliciously entertaining.

Jill Is Not Happy is a perfect choice for those who enjoy reading fast-paced domestic thrillers with devious characters. Thanks to Penzler Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I enjoy Kaira Rouda's thrillers, and I honestly thought nothing could top her Best Day Ever series...until now.

Jill Is Not Happy has a Fatal Attraction feel to it. And since we got both Jack and Jill's perspectives, I never knew who I should be rooting for. Most people would say Jack (and part of me wanted to, as well), but making Jill a narrator was akin to making Paul Strom a narrator in the aforementioned series. Like part of me wanted her to win while the other part thought she was totally unhinged. Honestly, their marriage was so sad and embarrassing that I was hoping they could both get a fresh start on their own. I felt bad for Jill with Jack being so repulsed by her and even having an affair. However, Jack was stuck in this toxic marriage and needed to find a way out, and Jill kept messing that up for him.

There were a few spelling, grammar, and consistency errors, but I am hoping those will be fixed for the final print.

Overall, a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game that will shock you at times and keep you guessing as to where it will go. It needs a sequel! (And it needs to be from Maggie's perspective.)

Since it is a thriller, you can guess that certain things will be triggers throughout. Especially if you've ever read a Kaira Rouda novel because then you know what you're getting into!

Movie casting suggestions:
Jill: Reese Witherspoon
Jack: Sam Page
Erica: Phillipa Soo
Maggie: Lizzy Greene

I really enjoyed JILL IS NOT HAPPY. This was a fun and easy read. I liked that it kept me guessing the entire time. If you are looking for something exciting add this book to your list. Highly recommend!

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

Thank you Scarlet for the gifted digital ARC.

Probably closer to 2.5 stars but I'll round up.

This was... unfortunately a no from me, dawg. I was absolutely hooked for the first 35-50% of the book, and then things just started getting irritating. Not only is Jill unhappy, she is DEEPLY unlikeable. I can typically handle that trait in a book's main character, but she was entirely too much. I don't know that I've ever so heartily rooted for a character's demise.

I also kept getting completely taken out of the story every time she referred to her husband as "handsome." (i.e. "Don't worry, handsome; Sleep well, handsome.") It's not a realistic way for people to converse with each other and I found it super distracting.

Finally, the ending was super disappointing. No big twist, big reveal, or final showdown. It just ended, and in a really unsatisfying way. I love this author and will definitely read what she writes next, but this one was a swing and a miss for me.

Jill is Not Happy pub date is June 10.

Jill, Jack, and the brilliant Kaira Rouda – no wonder Kaira is such a popular author with us all over at #thepulse.
Jill might be THE most unhinged book crazy I have read in a long time. She is so normal on the outside, but… nope. Nope. Nope. NOPE.
This THE ultimate book if you want a book that makes you both roll your eyes and love to hate the main (unhinged) character.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Jill Is Not Happy By Kaira Rouda
Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Publisher: Penzler Publishers | Scarlet

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Penzler Publishers, Scarlet, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! And a special thank you to the author for the really cool swag package to go along with this e-ARC!!

📚MY REVIEW:

Jill Is Not Happy is a twisty domestic thriller that will keep you guessing! Kaira Rouda is a favorite author at The Pulse, and this read reminds me why!

This book is told in the dual POVs of husband and wife, Jack and Jill, and also told in dual timelines: then and now. Jill and 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 take a road trip 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 and plans to file for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what. But Jack doesn’t realize what else Jill is hiding.

The short chapters in alternating POVs made this a really fast-paced read! The cat-and-mouse vibes kept me waiting to see which spouse was going to outsmart the other next. The secrets of each of the spouses just kept dropping as the book went on, and each time something new was revealed, my jaw seemed to hit the floor a little harder.

If you're a fan of cat-and-mouse vibes in your domestic thrillers and love watching spouses try to enact revenge against the other, you're going to love reading about Jack and Jill Tingley. Jill Is Not Happy is available June 10th!

#JillIsNotHappy #KairaRouda #PenzlerPublishers #Scarlet #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerbookloversthepulse #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #domesticthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Jill is Not Happy!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👰‍♀️ believe wholeheartedly in “til death do us part”
🥗 enjoy a side salad with dinner
🌄 have ever dropped your phone off the side of a canyon
🍷 love the finer things in life

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

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.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a wild story! Jill was absolutely bonkers. At first, I really felt for her. I was all, Oh no, her husband and her are having a tough time, I wonder what he did, to, okay, she’s actually the one causing the absolute chaos in this marriage! I really enjoyed her absolute bluntness, because it proved how absolutely unhinged she was. She stated everything so matter of factly, even when it was cruel. Total psychopath behavior. I enjoyed their time in Utah, and honestly wanted to see a bit more of it. Arches National Park is gorgeous, and I was disappointed they never ended up making it to that destination. Overall, if you love to hate the FMC, pick this one up!

This was my first book by Kaira Rouda, and I really enjoyed it.
We meet Jack and Jill and learn about a failing marriage...or is it?!
Two different POVs and past and present references. Fast-paced , twists and turns, and short chapters make the reader want to read just one more chapter before lights out.

I look forward to reading more of Kaira's books.

Thank you to Penzler Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Riveting read from star author Kaira Rouda! Jill Is Not Happy, therefore no one else can be which includes husband, Jack. Fascinating take on psychopathy and what people will do to get what they want. Well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Scarlet for this ARC!

I loved Jill’s character, especially how messed up she is. Her personality drives the narrative and makes for an entertaining read. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say that Jack has more than met his match. Fans of popcorn and domestic thrillers will enjoy this book.

I'm not real happy either after finishing this book. Jill is a nightmare. Jack's an idiot. The end of the story does not feel any way near the end of the story. There should be more. I feel like I traveled in a big loop, ending up where I started. Frustration!

✨️ The team at @thrillerbookloversthepulse are reviewing Jill Is Not Happy and it's definitely an addictive ride.

Jill Is Not Happy is one of these popcorn thrillers you just can't tear your eyes from. It's impossible to put down or look away. Right from the start with the dual POV and dual timelines it had me hooked. It is highly fast paced and dives straight into the action without any useless fluff.

The FMC is definitely high on the scale of delusional and unhinged. I couldn't wait to see what she would do next. Was there major twists and turns, not really, it still kept me hooked and entertained throughout. The ending was a little rushed and too open ended for my personal enjoyment. Is there going to be a sequel ? Maybe ?

Overall, this was a solid fast paced popcorn thriller. Very fun and entertaining if you don't mind an open ended conclusion, that might leave you with a lot of questions.

✨️Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse, @netgalley, @penzlers & Kaira Rouda for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Everything about this novel is perfect. Jack and Jill are married, and everyone thinks they have the perfect life. Neither of them are innocent.

The pacing of this novel is fantastic - the short chapters with alternating timelines, and points of view kept me turning the pages, and was easy to follow. I hope there is a sequel because these are great characters and there has to be more to their story.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

Jack and Jill met in college and have been inseparable ever since. In the way that if Jack leaves, Jill will tell all of his dirty little secrets. Between the two of them they have many and not just your run of the mill secrets. These are dark and deeply disturbing. They are both characters that I could not relate with to any level. They are the kind of people you grab some popcorn and sit back and watch the destruction of their lives tumble around them.

I could not stand Jill. She is one unreliable, unlikable character that was over the top. Jill not only wants to be physically attached to her husband, but she despises her daughter. It was an intense mix. The book is a quick read, I tore through it to see how these two were going to destroy each other and those around them. Thank you to Kaira Rouda and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my gifted copy.

I will read anything Kaira Rouda writes including her grocery list. Now that I think of that, it's probably filled with red herrings.

Jill has planned a getaway to see some of the national canyons and to make Jack, her husband, fall in love with her again. She has lots of tricks up her sleeve for that because she's very devious and you'll grow to despise as the book goes on. Jack and Jill have been together since college when they forged a secret together that no one must know. They have a daughter in college, Maggie, who favors her father and will do anything to keep him away from her mother.

Rouda has a knack for psychotic characters that are bigger than life. I highly recommend this domestic thriller to all my thriller reading friends.

However, I was hoping for a different ending with this one.

Deliciously dark and delightfully unnamed, Jill is not Happy is a razor-sharp dive into one woman's unraveling. Rouda serves up her signature trademarks: toxic marriage, ambition, and revenge with a venemous bite. Twisted fun from start to finish.

Jill Is Not Happy is a wild and addictive ride. Kaira Rouda delivers another gripping psychological thriller with a main character who is completely unhinged in the best way. Jill’s voice is sharp, sarcastic, and twisted, and I could not stop reading as she slowly unraveled.

The story is fast-paced and full of dark humor. Rouda does an amazing job making you love to hate Jill. The ending was chilling and left me thinking long after I finished.

If you enjoy messy characters, toxic relationships, and smart, entertaining thrillers, this one is a must-read.

There’s a lot to dig into in the seemingly perfect marriage of Jack and Jill. There’s a long-ago hit and run. A couple of suspicious fires. Money missing from the town budget. And now this very strange road trip to help the lovebirds reconnect. Or is the vacation meant to help a predator catch its prey? Loved it.