This is a really original mystery with an idea that I’ve never quite seen before. The main character keeps having flashbacks for a wedding that she knows went awry but she cannot remember why. The reader finds out over the course of the novel in a captivating story unfolds.

this author never disappoints her readers this story so addictive . Zoe has it all loving husband two children .its coming up to her ten year wedding anniversary .that day half of it she can not remember as she fainted so she going to have a big party to make up for it her sister she is still looking for who went missing abroad how this story comes together is just brilliant i so enjoyed

Warning - when you read a Shalini Boland book, be prepared to not get anything else done!

I have read a number of books by this author and have enjoyed them, The Wife was no different.

It centres around Zo who is blissfully happy with Toby and about to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary. They have organised a party to celebrate and she's hoping it drives away the ghosts of her wedding day when she fainted and can't remember what happened prior to that, she knows there is something not quite right from that day, but she's unsure what...

Strange things start happening to her, her friends appear to be ignoring her, her old frenemy, Carrie is back in town and is causing trouble, she also keeps thinking she's seeing her sister who has been absent from her life for over a decade and couldn't even be bothered turning up to her wedding.

There were a few characters I was suspicious of in this book, mostly, the mother-in-law, Celia and my opinion on Toby definitely changed and I wish Carrie had got her comeuppance, nasty piece of work!

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion

I'm a big fan of this author's books, but The Wife doesn't quite reach the same level. Maybe it's because the plot is similar to so many out there that it feels like we've read this one before. It centers around Zoe, who faints on her wedding day and feels like everything is a bit off afterwards. Fast forward to 10 years later when she's planning a large anniversary party and suddenly everyone in her life is also acting a bit off. That's about it for the premise, going back and forth between the wedding and shortly after to the current time.. Occasionally we flash back even farther to when she was in college and her best friend at the time (and now Z-List Celebrity), Carrie, maneuvers her way into applying for the same job as Zoe. That period of flashbacks really only serves to show why she and Zoe have fallen out, but honestly, a few sentences could have covered that. And really that's one of the biggest issues with this story.

It definitely felt too short and padded, like with the 18 year old timeline. There's very little true action in the book, it is mostly Zoe's internal monologues stressing over the same issues again and again and again. Like her missing sister, Dina, who left to travel the world and hasn't been heard from in years. She was a terrible person, treated her family like crap, yet Zoe's obsessed with finding her and thinking about her all of the time, simply because 'she's her sister.' I fear this obsession was the author's way of foreshadowing, but it just gets so grating that you don't end up sitting back like 'Oh that's why she was obsessed with her forever' but more like 'She wasted all her time with that obsession for such an awful person.'

Remove all of this internalizing and you're not left with much. When the action does pick up towards the end, it only serves to make you realize what a weak character she is, being so wrong about nearly everyone in her life. The way it's written, she'd have to be completely oblivious to everything for the plot to unfold as it does. And each time she's told the truth about a person or event, she still doesn't realize she's being lied to. I mean come on, the woman would have to wise up at some point. I honestly thought it might have ended with some type of confrontation where she says 'Oh, but you don't realize, I actually knew this all along!" That would have been an actual twist, that she wasn't as pathetic and desperate as she's portrayed. But she really is, and it's disappointing.

I feel like the story could have been fleshed out more, and since there's so much jumping around in time, why not include some of her childhood memories in flashback? That time is only alluded to as being great, but we never experience it ourselves as the reader to see how this family was once whole before it was broken. We only see the aftermath which just paints everyone miserably. It's frustrating, because this author is usually adept at creating an everyday atmosphere with credible, yet interesting people around you, it's part of why I enjoy her books so much. And why I'll continue reading her work, hoping this book was just a one-off.

This book was extremely predictable but I still liked it anyway. It was a very fast read and it flowed nicely. There are a few plot lines that never really finish and loose ends that are never tied up.

Having previously read “The Marriage Betrayal” by the same author, I knew I was in for a treat when I was given an ARC copy of “The Wife” by Shalini Boland.
Zoe fainted on her wedding day and always had a bad feeling about it and it is all about to become clear. Zoe is looking forward to celebrating her 10th wedding anniversary with her friends and family but some faces from the past are bringing everything she thought she knew into question.
I inhaled this book, so many surprises I did not see coming which I love. A definite 5 star! I look forward to reading many more from this author.

This book was an easy entertaining read, but I felt like I kept waiting for a plot twist until the very end of the book. I didn't figure out the ending before it happened, and it was a good surprise ending.

The Wife by Shalini Boland is another fantastic read from an author who just gets better and better. Ms Boland is certainly one of my favourite authors, for the simple reason that she never fails to create a story and characters that keep me completely gripped from beginning to end, and this one is no exception. Brilliant.

Zoe is preparing to celebrate her tenth wedding anniversary with a party, alongside her darling husband, Toby. Life has been idyllic this past decade, and Zoe is anxious to share their happiness with family and friends. Naturally, planning the anniversary party brings back memories of the wedding day, and Zoe has nagging suspicions that something seemed off on what should have been the happiest day of her life. She remembers fainting, but why did everything after her recovery feel not quite right? When a number of unsettling events occur in the lead up to the party, Zoe begins to question not only her own sanity, but events which simply defy explanation.

This is another addictive read that you will surely want to devour in a single sitting. Thank you, Ms Boland, for the gift of your brilliant writing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Zoe and Tony are celebrating their their ten year anniversary. It's been hard work for Zoe. Planning the party, working at the hair salon, and taking care of the kids. She's excited ten years of marriage and she's still so in love with her wonderful husband. The wedding was supposed to to be the day of her dreams. It started out that way. Then she had that fainting spell right before the ceremony. That was horrible. Luckily her fiancee and Nick, his brother and her mother in law and father in law had been there to help get her settled. She had felt discontented her whole wedding day. She'd had a headache and had felt dizzy and nauseous. She got through it and now, ten year anniversary.
How time flies. If only she knew what had happened with her sister. They didn't have a great relationship, as sisters went. After their mother's death their father had withdrawn. Zoe tried the best she could to help raise her younger sister. Truth is there was a lot of resentment between the sister's. Her sister had been missing for ten years. No one had heard or seen her during that time. Zoe had always hoped for a reconciliation.
She looked at her family and her husband's family. She wished her family was like his. They were close knitted. What she always thought a family should be like. Well, at least she was marrying into one. They had been there for her since day one.
A psychological thriller that leads you softly by the hand, then shoves you in and leaves you in a dark and enthralling story!!!

Another record time reading. As soon as I got it into my hands, I told myself stop, I had works to do: polishing script, eating snacks, forcing myself to clean some places in the house (dusting or a little vacuuming) and doing a little laundry (baby steps one shirt and one pant at a time!), cooking ( okay, this part is lie, but I had to order cooking books for my husband to improve his culinary skills, does it count as a chore? Yes, it is. It requires searching on Amazon and too many finger clicking moves!)

So as you may imagine, I skipped my chores ( correction: I ate snacks. It can be doable during your fast read)

This kind of books made me feel like Flash: I’m not the fastest people of the world. But i can be flash-reader. My eyes are itchy, my head spins! Anyways! Let’s go back to the story.

The book’s plot line is intriguing and pace is breathtakingly fast. It keeps your attention, bugging you to learn more. Zoe is the main character, mother of two, working at beauty saloon. She is easy to relate but of course she can be easily manipulated and a little naive.
Her life is centered around her husband’s family. ( thanks to her neglectful father who is the only family member alive) Especially her lovely mother in-law becomes her confidante and close friend to share her secrets.

The only thing bothered me about this book are the plot holes and extremely naive attitudes of the MC. Let’s talk more about the story line:

Zoe faints on her wedding day 10 years ago and as her 10th year anniversary is getting closer, she starts to dig out what happened to her at her wedding day and when she pass through the streets with her car, she sees a woman exactly looks like her missing sister ( she has also been missing for 10 years) This unexpected coincidence is the second trigger to open the can of worms!

Yes, I ask myself too many times why she acted like she had the best dreamy life and why she waited too long to question her past.

The first trigger warned her something had to be wrong was the manners of her sister in law Madeleine who starts to avoid her by giving her cold shoulder. And her husband lied to her about business meeting and she caught him talking with Madeline in the middle of the street. Scandalous ha?

Well, keep reading because everything will be juicier throughout the preparation process of the wedding anniversary.

Overall: Fast, entertaining, gripping novel but there are plot holes, some illogical explanations and real evil delicious characters! The outcome was foreseeable but it was still twisty and enjoyable.
So I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 before starting my new book journey.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this exciting ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

Zoe and Toby had a rocky start on their wedding day. She fainted prior to the ceremony and experienced some nausea/ headache that lingered on... But now the two are happily married with two great children and Zoe is busy planning the big tenth anniversary celebration at the same venue as her wedding. Both Celia (Toby's mother) and Madeline - Zoe's sister-in-law - are anxious, too, and are helping with the plans.
"E3

So great, right? Zoe is fearful that the same sickness will plague her, again in a sort of "replay'.

Also, Zoe's sister, Dina, who has not been heard from in 10 years, may have been spotted by Zoe. (She is not sure, though). And for the first time, Toby has lied to Zoe about being at work when Zoe spots Madeline and Toby together.

Now could all of this be in Zoe's paranoid mind?

Another great gripping novel by Shalini Boland.

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a superb read!!!

When I saw this author had a new book out on Net Galley I stopped what I was reading to start this one. I love her writing style and this one didn't disappoint. I read this in one sitting.. Devoured it. Another fantastic book!!!
Always easy to get into and twists you will love. Pick this one up!!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release of this book..

When Zoe wakes up after fainting on her wedding day, she can't remember what happened. She goes ahead and marries the love of her life Toby, however she can never let go of the feeling that something happened that day. Almost ten years later, Zoe and Toby have a perfect life with two beautiful children, and plan an anniversary party to celebrate ten wonderful years of marriage. But things start to go wrong when Zoe's sister-in-law starts ignoring her. Then stories start to spread. She even catches Toby lying to her. And is the girl she has spotted several times her long lost sister? Just what is going on? To find the truth, everything Zoe holds dear may be under threat...

Wow! Another fantastic book by Shalini Boland. This tense and captivating psychological thriller is full of twists and turns and shocks! I loved every word of this book and raced through it, eager to find out the ending - which was just brilliant! I really recommend this book (and all of Shalini's books). Can't wait for the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Wow, what an amazing read. Absolutely raced through this!
It took a while to get going and at one point I thought the plot had been resolved and couldn't work out what would happen to make me keep reading. But how wrong was I?!
SO many twists that my head was spinning! That ending! So so good!

This is my 11th book review for this author since I started reviewing and have loved every one, this is no different
Zoe faints on her wedding day to Toby and as she recovers and the marriage takes place she cant help but feel ‘a bit off’ about what has happened and this feeling stays with her throughout her 10 year marriage, as her anniversary party looms ahead various things from the past start to re-appear in her life, she sights her Sister Dina who has been missing and her ex friend Cassie, now a Z list tv celeb who turns up to have her ‘hair madeover’ at the salon Zoe works at, she cant quite put her finger on it but all is not right, then her Sis In Law starts to avoid her but it seems has plenty of time for her husband
It all seems to be heading towards one big meltdown and then Zoe starts to remember more of her wedding day.....and everything Zoe thought she knew she realises couldnt be further from the truth
As always told in a very readable way with a host of easy to get to know characters, special mention for Cassie the Z list celeb who is wonderful in her slyness, the book hurtles towards a shocking end in this pitch perfect psychological/mystery thriller that fans and new readers will love

10/10
5 Stars

What can I say about this book ……… What an absolutely brilliant read , I picked it up in the afternoon and could not put it down , I would always expect that from Shalini but this book just had even more than usual for me . Zoe is happily married with 2 young children and approaching her 10th wedding anniversary . They are throwing a party to celebrate with all their friends and family . After an incident on her wedding day where she fainted she has always felt something was not quite right , and he has this feeling even more as the party approaches . Her sister in law who is one of her closest friends starts avoiding her , as do some of the mums on the school run and she just has no idea why . Her sister is missing and she doesn't have a really close relationship with her dad so relies on her husband Toby and his family , sharing her thoughts with her very supportive mother in law .
No spoilers but the last third of the book was a whirlwind of secrets and lies and the whole book was fantastically written as usual .
Brilliant 5 stars !!!!!

#TheWife #NetGalley
Slick and Clever. A must read.
10 Years Ago
Zoe was very happy like a normal girl who should be happy as it was her wedding day. She's going to marry a so called "kind and handsome" man named Toby.
But then she fainted or as she thought that she was. And then she remembered nothing of that wedding. When she woke up, she and Toby are wife and husband.
Now
Her life is going perfect. Its been ten years with Toby and they proved to be an adorable couple by all the people in their lives. But things are not what they seemed. Suddenly Toby started lying to her about his whereabouts. Everyone was behaving so abnormally and someone out there don't want this anniversary to be celebrated.

Well, Shalini is known for her claustrophobic reads and here's no exception. She has created an intriguing plot. Although I didn't understand why she showed ten years after marriage Zoe would know the truth? Why not only five years or eleven years but anyway that's not the matter to discuss in detail.
I loved the characters of Toby, Cassie ( this character is playing a pivotal role), Madeline and Nick. Although Celia and Zoe and the antagonist were good in their jobs.
Narration of the story is intense as it should be in a pure psychological thriller.
I hope that all the people who are fans of psychological thrillers and Shalini will love this psychological thriller.
I'll post a public review on 9th September. And will share it among my fellow Authors Bloggers Followers Friends and Family.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the tension leading up to the conclusion was off-the-wall. There were so many questionable things happening, I knew there was an amazing ending in store. Unfortunately, it didn't take me by surprise. I had a pretty good idea of some aspects of the twist. Even more disappointing, one of the plotlines was built up in a way that felt so promising, and its resolution feels half-hearted to me. However, there was a lot to love about this thriller, and hopefully it'll click more for someone else.

Interesting story.
Well written.
Written from heroine's POV.
HEA sort of.
,...............................,...

Oh my!!! Wow!!! Let's all hail Queen Shalini because this is another absolutely FANTASTIC book. I have no idea how any review will do this book justice.
I love Shalini's books, they grip me and keep me guessing. This has been no different, I came up with a number of scenarios for where this book was going- all wrong.
This is quite possibly my new favourite, this book has gripped me and made it utterly impossible to put down until I'd finished. I wish I could experience reading this book again for the first time.
I have loved Zoe, she is just one of those characters that you love from the start. Shalini's character development really makes you feel as though you know the characters.
The plot of this is entirely unique to anything I've read previously. It is one that will grip you and take you on a rollercoaster of events. You'll definitely still want more.
Shalini is an absolute genius, every time I've thought I was close to predicting the plot, something has happened and I've been kept guessing. I adore that you can't predict them.
This is a truly brilliant masterpiece and quite possibly my new favourite. This is definitely a five star read and Shalini is a fantastic author.
I absolutely recommend this as a must read.