W.O.W.
I read this in one sitting., what a masterpiece!
When Freddy turns up on Alex s doorstep after upping and leaving 10 years previously ,things have changed and moved on. Alex is now married to Carter, freddies best friend and colleague at the hospital where they had both worked as drs. What will happen? 2 husbands, 1 wife, 3 children and a jealous best friend Gemma.. I cant rate thus highly enough!, there are lots of twists, and it proper had me gripped.

Solid mystery with red herrings at every turn - taut, intense, addictive - read it in one afternoon! Fast moving, complex, and some definite surprises.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!!

"The Husband Before You" is a gripping psychological thriller that had me engrossed from start to finish.

The story revolves around Alex, who has rebuilt her life with her two daughters, her new husband, and their young son after her husband, Freddie, abandoned her. A decade later, Freddie resurfaces, raising the questions: Where has he been all this time, and why did he leave?

Narrated from multiple perspectives, I found each character’s journey fascinating, from Alex’s struggles to Freddie’s mysterious absence and its ripple effects on everyone involved.

This book had me hooked from the very first page to the last—it's one I’ll definitely be recommending!

From the moment I saw AJ McDine's latest ARC offering ‘The Husband Before You’ on NetGalley, I knew I had to dive in. I've always been captivated by her work, and I knew I was promised a thrilling ride.

What would you do if your husband, presumed dead for 10 years suddenly reappeared on your doorstep?

The story centers around Alex, who has rebuilt her life and found happiness with her new husband, Carter. The unexpected return of her long-lost husband, Freddie, throws everything into turmoil as she grapples with the return of her past and the uncertainty of her future.

AJ McDine crafts a suspenseful narrative, expertly weaving a tangled web of secrets and unresolved emotions.
The use of multiple points of view and dual timelines kept me constantly engaged, piecing together the past and present, slowly unraveling the mystery surrounding Freddie's disappearance and the impact of his return on Alex's carefully constructed life.

The pacing is expertly handled, steadily building tension as the story unfolds, leaving me racing through the pages until the very end.

AJ McDine has once again delivered a compelling and thought-provoking read and I absolutely loved it!

Thank you AJ McDine, NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy.

I really enjoyed this thriller, told from multiple points of view. Just where has Freddie been all these years? I did think i had it worked out but it totally surprised me! A great read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I wish the author would have broke this book into sections past and present vs going back and forth each chapter. I think it would have flowed better. Freddie shows up one day to see his wife has married his best friend. He disappeared years ago and no one had any idea where he went. Now he’s back. Why? Where did he go? Who will she choose?

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and bookouture for approving my request to read this book.

The Husband Before You is an utterly compelling psychological thriller which kept me desperately turning the pages.

In this story we meet Alex who has moved on with her life with her two daughters, her new husband and their young son after her husband Freddie left her. 10 years after he disappears he returns but where has he been and why did he leave?

Told from multiple viewpoints throughout I thoroughly enjoyed each characters story from how Alex has coped to why Freddie disappeared and how it impacted everyone involved lives.

This book definitely kept me intrigued from the first page yo the last-I'll definitely be recommending this one!

Alex was married to a doctor, Freddie. She had a toddler and a 3 month old baby and was suffering from depression.
Freddie is trying to help, but long hours, and a misdiagnosis of a sick child has taken it's toll. He disappears without a trace.
Alex marries Carter, and has support from her best friend Gemma, and suddenly Alex opens the door and Freddie is standing there.

I was totally invested in this book! It is well written, and well thought out. I could not predict the ending. There were so many suspects in the happenings, and I kept changing my mind.
Freddie was the one who put the suspect into my mind, he was spot on.

My gripe about this book is the masculine name for the lead character. Alex. It is a pet peeve of mine for authors that shorten names and females have a male name.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book thoroughly, very entertaining.
4/5 stars from me.

I don't know where to begin. I laughed, I gasped, I screamed, I loved and I hated, and reminded me that our mental health suffers when we're stuck on survival mode. I dislike Carter, I think he's a wanna be Chad. Sorry, it had to be said. It was a good read with plot twists right to the end.I couldn't put the book down.

You find the love of your life. You get married and t-start a family. Everything is peaches and cream. Until that moment that one little misunderstanding proves to be the last drop...

When Alex finds herself face to face with someone she did not expect to ever see again, she does not know what to think. Will this turn her world upside down again or will she finally get answers to all the questions she has?

The author weaves past and present into a perfect pattern.Both Alex and Freddie have busy lives and neither of them are coping. They need help, but they are so immersed in their own problems they don't see what the other one is struggling with or what the other one needs. You feel the frustration growing and it's inevitable the bomb will burst.

I wanted to dive between the pages to urge them to take some time for each other and talk everything through. Unfortunately nobody else did this for them. It could have saved them a lot of trouble.

I utterly enjoyed this great story. I loved the chapter alternating different points of view and a book with a dog is always a bonus. 5 stars

Thank you

Be warned, once you start reading this book, you won’t be able to put it down!
I raced through it in almost one sitting and really enjoyed it.
I’ve loved all of A J McDine’s other books, however this is probably my favourite.
I was totally engrossed in the characters and plot and found it fast paced and twisty. I guessed the ending, however that certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
This is a very worthy 5 star read! It’s a great read!

This book was completely unputdownable it reeled me in right from the very start. The twists left me speechless I did gasp out loud at the ending which I thought was brilliant!

Every chapter has a slap bang feeling to make your heart skip. The plot was interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! It was action-packed, suspenseful and intriguing!

I’d highly recommend this book if you like a tightly plotted, clever story with razor-sharp dialogue, characters that pop off the page and twists so chilling you’ll be reaching for a blanket to wrap yourself in, then this book is for you!! My favourite character was Gemma she was wild!


A massive 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

Your husband just walks out on you and your children.
Years later you have remarried and moved on then years later he turns up at the door!
Great storyline, something a bit different.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This book is amazing, it was one I could not put down. Its tells the story in the perspective of Alex and Freddie ( her first husband), going back and forth between the present and the past when Freddie first left. There is a lot of shocking points in the book about both the present and the past. As you go through the book you learn why Freddie disappeared 10 years ago and what he had been doing for the years. From Alex's point of view you learn about how she's coped and how when Freddie returns it turns her life upside down. With the shocking twist at the end with Alex's best friend , this book will be one you can't put down

What would you do if your missing husband showed up after you had already moved on with his best friend? This book is full of juicy secrets that leave you gasping for breath. Looking forward to the next one.