Shalini Boland knocks it out of the park again. I was very interested in this novel because I found that the plot sounded like nothing I've ever read before. A woman fainting on her wedding day for an unknown reason ten years ago. Then she decides to try to dig a little deeper and find out what actually happened that day and what the reason is for her memory loss.I really liked how the book jumped back and forth between what happened to Zoe leading up to and on the wedding day, but is also jumped to her life now in the present where her sister is missing. It was really interesting to get the different times laid out for the reader and it also let the reader try to figure out what happened before the author explained, which I always love doing in a novel. I found the time jumps very well laid out and easy to distinguish as a reader and I also found that the characters were very strongly written. I also found this book to be absolutely compelling and I wasn't able to put it down as soon as I started reading, I just had to figure out what happened to our main character. There were so many twists that the reader put us through that it was so much fun to try to figure out the next one Great read and I'm so glad that I got the chance to check it out. This book is impossible to put down once you start because every time you think you know what is going on the author throws another huge plot twist your way. I loved this book it was everything a good thriller should be and more. Check out this book because it is one that will be talked about for ages. I cannot say enough good things about this book it is one that I cannot wait to see on shelves to add to my collection. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

📚BOOK REVIEW📚

THE WIFE by
Shalini Boland

I did enjoy this one as a read, it was engaging and the story ambled along nicely... Its just that when the story unravelled to finding out what had gone on previously and then to what would happen next - it all went rather far fetched and unbelievable.
It unfortunately started to remind me of the channel 5 afternoon movie's (sorry 🤭) BUT yknow, if you like those then I'm sure you'll love this book 👍👍
Overall - Good as a Domestic Family Drama and well written but just went a bit cheese factor towards the end

⭐⭐⭐

-Leanne 😊

This was a very readable twisted domestic family drama/thriller with a host of relatable characters.

The story switches between the past Zoe's wedding day and the present date leading up to the celebration of her tenth wedding anniversary.

Zoe's fairy tale wedding day didn't go to plan as the beginning of the story sees her coming round from a "Fainting Episode" as she is preparing for the ceremony the only issue is Zoe is plagued with amnesia and can't remember what happened directly before she fainted.and a succession of suspicious events makes her start to question everything she thought she knew.

They say the mind tries to protect us from traumatic events is this the case for Zoe?

<b>4 What A Difference 10 Years Makes Stars
* * * * <i>Spoiler Free-A Quick Review</i>
There is a reason people tell you to follow your gut instincts. Even those who do not believe in esp or deja vu still will own up to the 'Gut Instinct Thing" and how it has helped them in financial deals, personal relationships, and life-changing moments.

In Shalini Boland's The Wife, Zoe should have listened to her instinct to discover why everyone said she had fainted before her wedding. It seems she came to, dizzy, confused with lost time, and with no memory of what had caused it or what exactly happened.

Zoe let personal doubts and concerns wipe away any feelings of concern that day and now this happy couple is about to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Wonderful children were born and raised, lots of happy memories of this family together over the years for Zoe to cherish.

But lately, something is off. People are not where they said they would be, getting caught in lies they have told. This party is happening at the same location as the wedding and Zoe isn't sure if this is the best idea.

What was a very good idea indeed was this book. This has a strong hook and will get you turning the pages.

I love Shalini Bolands books and The Wife did not disappoint. This book is about Zoe, who seems to have a gap in her memeory from her wedding day when she fainted and hit her head. But she has a sense of unease about the whole day in question, and suddenly her best friends seem to be snubbing her. Now years later they are about to celebrate a wedding anniversary at the same venue. Pieces of Zoe’s memory start clicking into place and she will find out the nothing is what it seems to be.
This was a fast paced read that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are well written and relateable. The story flows smoothly and there are plot twists and turns which prevent the book from becoming dull or predictable. Overall it was a great read. It’s losing a star only because it wasn’t as fast paced as it could have been and lacked a feeling of urgency in some areas.

Another hit for Boland! She’s very good at writing thrillers, THE WIFE being no exception! Well written, thrilling, shocking, chilling, and unputdownable! This one really had me wondering what was exactly going on, found it to be originally unique and realistic! I loved the past and present and collisions you’ll see! Preorder today, as I promise this twisted, realistic thriller is not one to be missed!
Will buzz around platforms, as well as use my low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

Shalini Boland did it again! I have loved all of her books so far and this one wasn’t any different. They are quick and easy reads with plot twists you never see coming.

A cracker of a story!

Zoe has it all. Happily married for 10 years, a doting husband, Toby, mother in law, Celia, who is more like a mom and 2 lovely kids. The party to celebrate their 10th Anniversary is all set, but Zoe feels something amiss. She remembers how she fainted on her wedding day and part of her memory is lost. As the Anniversary weekend draws nearer, Zoe feels like the missing pieces of her memory of her wedding day holds something important. With close friends avoiding her and Toby being elusive about some things, Zoe is unsure about the anniversary celebrations.

The story is told from the POV of the wife, Zoe, and how she has her own issues to deal with. The early death of her Mother is another cause for things between her Father, Guy, younger sister Dina, and Zoe to be less then normal.

The story is gripping and there is a certain warmth/camaraderie between the characters that I find in most of Shalini Boland's books. A page turner for sure.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

What a corker of a book that was just full of twists that I never would have predicted.

Zoes wedding day to Toby was not quite as she would have wished for. Her sister Dina, who she misses terribly, is abroad and unable to make the wedding. Then on her wedding morning Zoe faints, whacking her head. She can remember nothing about the event but carries on through her wedding day in a fog with a crashing headache.

Ten years later and the couple are organising a celebratory party to mark their anniversary. As small hindrances crop up, Zoe is convinced that the party will not go without a hitch. This proves correct when dark family secrets and lies become evident as the evening progresses and nobody appears to be who they were thought to be.

Brilliant, easy to read page Turner with an ending I would never have predicted. Highly recommend.

This book was a good thriller. It kept me guessing and engaged. I liked the then and now perspectives of the storyline.

Ten years ago on her wedding day Zoe fainted in her hotel room and has no recollection how it happened.
Now she is returning to the hotel for her tenth wedding anniversary and strange and unsettling things are happening again.
This was an enjoyable thriller with twist and turns .
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.7 Stars
I’d like to start by saying that this is my first book written by the author. While I have mixed feelings about the story, I am intrigued by her writing and have added her to my TBR.
The Wife is the story of Zoe, a 37 yo woman with a loving family and a happy life. She’s planning her 10th wedding anniversary celebration to make up for her fainting incident that marred the beauty of her wedding day. As the date comes closer, Zoe realizes that things are not what they seem. She is surrounded by lies and treachery. The blank space in her memory needs to be filled. Her questions need to be answered. But at what cost?
The story goes back and forth between the present and different sections of the past. We see the events through Zoe’s eyes, think her thoughts, and feel her overwrought emotions.
That’s where I’ve started feeling detached. I wasn’t able to think like Zoe nor feel like her. Her instincts were right (which I love). But she didn’t seem to be the kind to take a stand unless forced. The 2-3 times she does it, I kept cheering for her.
What made me wonder and wonder (until the climax) was her obsession with her younger sister, Dina. Somehow, that character was never real. The references to the differences between them, the causes for it, and the hints about what went wrong got repetitive over time. I just wanted to know and be done with it.
And when the reveal finally happens, it’s doesn’t seem strong enough. I was disappointed. More so because that’s the only place we get some sort of direct connection with Dina, and she is as surreal as always.
A few characters add little or nothing to the story, and others could have been developed in detail. The extra scenes emphasize Zoe’s insecurity and vulnerability, which was evident quite early in the book. I wanted to know more about the ones who play a major role in the story rather than the ones who come and go without much reason.
The pacing during the first half is quite slow compared to the second half, where everything happens in quick succession. That led to information dump in immediate scenes. Couple it with predictable twists, the book dips as it fails to sustain the balance.
However, there is tension, suspense, and a sense of fear about what would happen. That makes up for this misbalance to a good extent. The ending, though expected, was nice to read. Zoe seemed to be taking better control over things.
Then we have a final shot- the epilogue. I’ve always been a fan of epilogues. But this one leaves me with mixed feelings. It shows the true colors of a character (which I liked) but takes the story away from the lead character. Someone else manages to trump over the heroine, and not for the first time. With Zoe being the narrator throughout the book, to have an epilogue by a much stronger character dimmed the new-found strength of Zoe we get to see a page ago.
Overall, the narration is engaging and the shifting timelines were interesting. The book is a page-turner, despite a few misses.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC copy.

#TheWife #NetGalley

I have always loved her novels, but this one is an embarrassment. Extremely poor writing, insipid characters and nonsensical plot. I guess not everything from this author should get published

Wow! Another brilliant book by Shalini Boland. If you love psychological thrillers, then ‘The Wife’ has to be on your read list.

I love how the mystery unfolded and took me on a memorable journey. Zoe is so ordinary and her life is normal in every way until she starts seeing someone from her past. Shalini skilfully ties this in with the behaviour of everyone around Zoe. I felt the tension and anxiety that was building up within her as the truth closed in.

This book was particularly unsettling and had me biting my nails as I raced through it, desperate to know what had been going on. I enjoyed how Zoe’s old school friend, Cassie, came into play, twisting things even further.

Zoe’s character was relatable and well written. I enjoyed getting to know her as I read. She could have been a friend or acquaintance, and the hair salon and home settings sealed the authenticity. The characters around her were well fleshed out.

‘The Wife’ is a fantastically fast and immersive read and boy does it pack a big fat punch at the end. Full of surprises and shocks, I can honestly say, I thought it was fabulous!

This story begins when Zoe passes out on her wedding day, and although she is confused and can’t remember what happened she goes ahead with the wedding. Fast forward ten years and she is planning her and her husband’s anniversary party. She has been happy the last ten years, she has a loving husband and they have two wonderful children, but she can’t shake the feeling that something happened on her wedding day that she can’t remember. Then the days leading up to the party she finds out her husband is keeping secrets from her. This is a psychological thriller and a quick read with lots of twists. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Zoe faints on her wedding day, about an hour before she is expected to walk down the aisle. She’s convinced by those around her and herself it was nerves or as she later finds out pregnancy. But since then she still feels like she is missing what really happened that day. Now planning a 10 year wedding anniversary friends are acting weird, memories are coming back and she’s about to find out what really happened that day.
I loved this book. I kind of went n with no expectations as I’ve never read this author. The book went back and forth from last to present and is full of twists. To be honest I skipped to the end to see what really happened! I wasn’t shocked, it made sense but it was still a good storyline. I went back to finish the book right away. It was a good read. The author makes you feel like you are going as crazy as the main character. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

Edge of the seat thriller building up to the final crescendo of surprises. Kept me engrossed throughout.

Shalini Boland is an author that I can rely on having a fast paced and twisty story. The Wife did not let me down. It was a fun read, although I had my suspicions as to where it was headed and I was pretty much spot on. But even with that I was hooked and looking forward to seeing how it would end.

Zoe fainted on her wedding day.. nightmare! She has always though that something had happened but she has no memory of it. 10 years later and she and Toby are happily married with 2 kids and getting ready to celebrate their anniversary. A party has been planned at the same hotel as the wedding. As the party gets closer, Zoe’s life starts to become a mess. She catches Toby lying to her, her friends are giving her the cold shoulder and things are not going as planned. When the truth of what happened on her wedding day comes out her life is never going to be the same again,

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

The Wife by Shalini Boland Reviewed on August 14, 2020 4 Stars

This story starts off with Zoe “The Wife” and main character in this novel passing out on her wedding day which was 10 years ago. She does not remember most of her Wedding Day, there was a nurse at the wedding and declares Zoe okay and no need to go to the ER. Zoe has never had a fainting problem but finds out that she is pregnant and figures that was the problem.

Zoe is a hair dresser in a small town; she and her husband Toby have 2 children and are looking forward to celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. However as the date gets closer she cannot help but think about her memory loss at their wedding. Additional strange things are happening. Her sister-in law Madeline is actually giving her the cold shoulder. Then Zoe accidently sees her husband Toby with Madeline and, of course, suspects an affair. Other things are going but you find out about them when YOU read this story.

Yep there are some twists that kept me reading.

Love the info at the end of the novel… so many great read that I have missed.
This is my first [author: Shalini Boland] novel and I look forward to reading another. In fact, just put [book: The Silent Mother] and [book: The Secret Sister] on my TBR list!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 9, 2020

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Wife" in exchange for my honest review.

Once again Shalini Boland has written a book filled with characters and a storyline that draws you in immediately and doesn't let you go until the last page. The story moves back and forth in time between the headings "THEN", "NOW", "18 YEARS AGO", "THE DAY OF THE WEDDING", and "9 MONTHS LATER".

The story starts at the wedding of main character Zoe (Williams) Johnson. She faints at her wedding and has no recollection of what happened or why. 10 years later as she is planning her Wedding Anniversary party she still feels dread and slightly off about that day but still doesn't know why. She has the perfect life. Married to the man of her dreams - Toby. They have 2 children - Alice (9) and Jamie (6). She is part of an extended family - Mother-in-Law: Celia, Father-in-Law: Malcolm, Brother-in-Law: Nick and his wife: Madeline. They have 2 daughters: Beth (12) and Freya (6).

Soon it feels like everything is not quite how it seems. Madeline cancels a babysitting offer at the last minute saying that she felt that Zoe had too much on her plate. Other mothers at the school drop-off are avoiding her gaze. She starts seeing a young woman that she swears is her sister Dina whom she hasn't seen since she left home at the age of 16. She's distracted, obsessed even by the thought that her sister is back in Shaftsbury and has not contacted her or their father. She causes a car accident, thinking she saw her sister. She runs out of the salon into the freezing rain thinking that her sister looked in the window. Everytime her phone rings, she thinks it's her sister. A former friend is causing her problems as well - at work and in general.

As the story unfolds we learn of blackmail (who was blackmailing whom), an affair (but who was having the affair), the possibility of someone being drugged (and the shock of who was doing it), a struggle, misdirection and then a revelation of a murder. The shocking reveal of the mastermind had me turning the pages faster and faster because I just could not believe it. The joy of who saves the day. The epilogue makes you wonder if people ever learn from their mistakes.

A slight head scratcher was on page 186, which left me wondering why Celia was wearing "and navy ankle books".

An absolutely brilliant book. I had a lot of trouble putting it down because I had to know what was going to happen. If only there were more than 5 stars for this one. I can't wait to see what Ms. Boland writes next!!! I highly recommend this and any of her previous books.