If you're a fan of Frieda McFadden, you'll love this book as it is very similar to her writing. It is an easy to read mystery that will have you flying through it in no time! I was engaged the whole way through and couldn't believe I finished it so fast. I loved the twists

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

The story opens with Emma being arrested for her husband's murder then we go back a few weeks to discover what happened in the lead up.

Emma has it all, the gorgeous successful husband, twin daughters and a fabulous big house. Lydia sees it, wants it and sets out to take it. The background characters are part of Emma's book club including her sister Jude. When Lydia is invited she quickly does her best to turn everyone against Emma including her husband.

At this point I'm very glad I read some reviews as it all seemed a bit fast moving and ridiculous...turns out there was another side to come...We then get Emma's real side of the story, and the truthful side. Full of cliffhangers and twists, this is a fun, easy read I'd recommend to friends.

A book about a Book Club and a dead man, you don't need to say anything else to convince me to read it. I loved the first chapter, the way the author piques our interest by starting with a scene that will only happen much later on, we are always hooked on the book, waiting to see what happens between where we are in the story and the scene in the first chapter.
The story is told from two points of view, Emma and Lydia, in short chapters that gradually reveal the truth about them and the man who unites them, Elliot. Emma, ​​the woman who has everything and just wants to be happy again; Lydia, the woman who wants everything Emma has.
There is love, heartbreak, sex, intrigue, friendship, sisterhood, but above all a lot of greed and we already know that greed has everything to go wrong.
The writing is simple and easy to read, with elements of humor throughout, as well as dramatic moments. It's not an intense thriller, full of police details, so I recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy thriller.

This was a fun, bingeable mystery that reminded me a little of a mix between Freida McFadden and Mary Kubica. Super easy language, themes of feminism and every chapter ended in some kind of cliffhanger or uncertainty to keep you reading. Perfect for a book club discussion, long journey or to break a book slump. Truly so so much fun!

Really enjoyed the dual narrative of this mystery and even more so when Emma 'switched' to her real account of what was going on. Definitely lots to think about in terms of plot and the consequences of actions! Would 100% make a great bookclub read!!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

The Woman from BookClub by Carrie Hughes is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that dives into the seemingly ordinary lives of five women in a book club—until a newcomer arrives and shatters their balance. I was hooked from the very first page and ended up finishing it in a single sitting.

The story is told from two points of view, which kept it interesting. Emma appears to have the perfect life—a wealthy, handsome husband, two lovely daughters, and a beautiful home. But when Lydia, the newcomer, steps in, she becomes obsessed with Emma’s life and will stop at nothing to take it for herself. Things take a darker turn when Emma’s husband is murdered, and suddenly both women are suspected.

The twists were sharp and entertaining, though I found the ending a bit underwhelming compared to the build-up. What I loved most was how the author kept readers torn—sometimes I liked Emma and felt sorry for her, while at other times I found her choices frustrating. Lydia, on the other hand, was both clever and terrifying, making her a character you can’t look away from even when you dislike her.

I also appreciated the way book references were tied into the story—it kept the book club theme alive throughout. Overall, I’d rate this a solid 3.5 stars. It’s a strong and exciting debut that thriller fans will definitely enjoy. This book is extra special for me as it was the first ARC I ever received, and I’m grateful to NetGalley and Carrie Hughes for the opportunity. Wishing the author all the best for the release on November 6, 2025—If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers with a bookish twist, this one won’t disappoint.

I didn’t expect this book to grip me the way it did. It starts with the familiar comfort of a book club, but slowly pulls back the layers to reveal something far more intimate and unsettling. It’s less about plot twists and more about the emotional weight people carry behind closed doors.

There’s a quiet tension throughout—this feeling that something isn’t quite right—and I loved how that built over time. The characters felt so real in their flaws, in the way they try (and sometimes fail) to connect.

It’s one of those books that lingers after you finish. Thoughtful, sharp, and quietly haunting. Not your typical “book club” story—and that’s what made it so memorable.

This was such a good read!! Fast paced, full of strong female characters and brilliant plot twists, this had me hooked!! I loved the complexity behind the story and the dual pov worked so well!! Both women are so different but each have their own arcs which rely on each other. A brilliant read.

This book was so entertaining!!!

This story starts with a little chaos when a beloved book club member gets arrested... during book club. You then follow Emma, a trad housewife in a seemingly perfect marriage to Elliott, avid reader and book clubber, and Lydia, a downright insufferable gold digger looking to find a place in this world... or, you know, find a rich husband so she can live lavishly.

You get 3 perspectives throughout the story, Lydia's pov, Emma's pov, and another pov of what "really" happened leading up to the arrest in the first chapter. It's full of twists, turns and deceptions. Carrie Hughes gives you two versions of the same story and it’s up to you what to believe as the truth...

To reiterate what I texted Lillian, "I'm not sure if this is necessarily a ~good~ book, but my god, am I entertained." I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a chaotic, messy, high-speed thriller with plenty of twists.

4/5 stars

This book sucked me in and did an excellent job with the character development. I will definitely recommend it to friends. I think it would be a fun book club pick.

The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. I will look for other books by this author.

Welcome to Book Club.

Emma has it all. Jules knows it all. Rosa's seen it all. Marianne's done it all. Lucy watches it all. And newcomer Lydia wants it all.

When the perfect wife Emma gets arrested for the murder of her husband at book club the group is reeling, and the book goes on to tell the story of how it came to be that Emma was arrested and what happened next.
I really loved this book, which was fast paced, and was told from Emma’s & Lydia’s ( who I didn’t like, but shows that the character was written well), points of view. Each chapter alternating between the two. The other women were brought into the story through the chapters, when you learnt more about their characters. The story did not have a major twist, but lots of smaller plot twists throughout. It also cleverly didn’t wrap up the story once the reveal was made but carried on afterwards with further plot twists to come.

This was a cosy thriller to me, well written and kept me engaged from the start. There were elements of humour incorporated throughout. The Plot wasn’t overly complex, and it made it quick to read. Whilst I enjoyed this book it wasn’t quite 5 stars for me, as the end felt a bit conveniently wrapped up and there wasn’t a jaw dropping moment for me. However, I would recommend this book.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and Canelo for my copy in exchange for an honest review

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Hera Books and author Carrie Hughes for providing me with the eARC of “The Woman from Book Club”, in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: 6th November 2025

Emma, the one the seemingly perfect wife, is arrested at book club for the death of her husband. However, there is a lot more to the story than a simple revenge murder.

Written from dual perspectives, the wife, Emma, and the mistress, Lydia, are two unreliable narrators who have you guessing whose story is true.

This book had me hooked from the first line, and I could not put it down. Easy to read, and with the dual perspectives, I kept turning the page and starting the next chapter as I needed to know what the other perspective had to say about what had happened. This was cleverly written, making you both equally love, hate and question each character throughout the book.

Lydia was vicious enough that you could not help but dislike her, despite her motives for her chooses, and Emma was relatable, especially as a Mom, that you did want to root for her throughout the novel.

I love a book club setting, and this was a pure example of how woman can band together when they believe that one of their own has been wronged.

This was a fun read and one I would definitely recommend if you love a woman lead, entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was honestly an interesting read and I recommend to anyone looking for a decent thriller. It's especially cool with the dual POV and having to choose which girl you want to believe....

a book club with a difference. i know a few people who go to book clubs and they can be quite varied. but i love that, there seems to be something for everyone. this club was certainly a variation and one i was hooked to and wanted to know more from the characters within it.
we are told different perspectives of the same story. so we are getting view and trying to decipher the reliable or truthful ones here. it was fast paced and exciting all the way through. the more you read the more you want to read. the more you learn of the plot and characters the more you want to.
i found myself taking sides early on and wondered whether the author was taking me for a ride. this character totally got my anger rising. the way she was using and manipulating people. ugh. what i do like though is that like me not everyone else was taken in by her. i do hate humans who manage to be absolute horrors but somehow are the big bully's of the world who have everyone fooled too.
a few of the characters you can take a quick judgement of but i also like how we then need to sit back and see,as we learn more, how they might be just human with flaws and shaped from experiences.
some of this book is as you expect and you get to guess a few things but some things will completely turn you on your head and make you cheer or be shocked that good people don't always come out on top.
i really like how Carrie portrayed things especially when groups of woman come together and how friendships form. add to that certain power and dynamics of certain members of a group and you've got a great scene to be set front of you here. i enjoyed having this birds eye view of a group.
i read through this book in one sitting because i wanted to see how it would turn out. was there a bad guy? who did what? and how much of what i wanted to play out, would?
i really enjoyed Carrie's writing style. she was clever, had wit, and a deft touch of humour mixed with mayhem.
this book is definitely a lesson in be careful what you wish for, be careful what you see on the surface of people you NEVER compare to. and that all that glitters is very much not gold.
a great read. just what i wanted from it going in.

Lydia truly believes that she is entitled to that lifestyle that she is seeking as she is above living in a dumpy bed sit and take jobs that are beneath her. That is why she latches onto Emma and the book club as a means to elevate herself into the higher echelon of society. She has no qualms in spinning a story of Emma's infidelity so that she can succeed in her relationship with Elliot. What she quickly learns is that Elliot is a misogynist who lords his success as a divorce lawyer that the woman's role is to be at home and cater to his needs. He even won't take female clients due to his viewpoint. The reason that Emma, although as trapped as she was, doesnt leave is due to Isabella and Chloe. Yet when she gets kicked out and meet Will is when she realizes what true freedom looks like. When Emma is questioned and arrested for murder of Elliot, this book takes a very interesting turn as to who actually killed him and why. Was Lydia an accomplice or the murderer? Did Emma pay her off? Who shoved whom? Fascinating until the end where Lydia ends up in Dubai, it certainly keeps the reader guessing.

I had a good time reading this! I liked the pace cause it goes in a mix of fast and slow. Just right there and the plot evolves and moves without getting confused. The second part was the best in my opinion

Actual rating: 3.5

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

I was in a bit of a reading slump when I remembered I had this one waiting, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed. I picked it up and finished it in just a few days, which says a lot.

The writing pulled me in right away. Carrie Hughes knows how to stir up emotions, and she did it well here. The insufferable characters? They definitely did their jobs. I found myself frustrated, angry, and shaking my head more than once.

While it wasn’t a mind-blowing read, The Woman from Book Club was still an engaging one. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something to help break a slump or if you want to dip your toes into mystery without diving into anything too dark.

At its heart, this book also shows how our choices, and sometimes our stubbornness, can ripple out and hurt others in ways we don’t expect. That little reminder lingered with me even after I finished the story.

✨ An engaging story with characters that feel real and themes that stick with you. A satisfying and enjoyable read With lots of twists and turns !!

No matter how high the level of drama in your book club, it is unlikely that anyone would expect what transpires in this particular story.

When newcomer Lydia joins a book club largely consisting of well-off people, her aim is to snag herself a wealthy husband. So what if he's currently someone else's husband?

As Emma finds out to her horror, Lydia's approach is a no-holds-barred takeover attempt. And if there is anything worse than losing your husband to another woman, it has to be then being accused of his murder...

The book is an easy enough read, but I found it too for fetched. While I pitied Emma, I did not find her a particularly sympathetic character because she seemed annoyingly naive. Also, it felt as though Emma's husband turned on her too quickly, and Lydia was almost cartoonishly villainous. This one started well, but ended up disappointing.