Wow shalini has done it again! A great suspenseful read that kept me on the edge of my seat, I literally couldn’t put The Wife down and read it in one glorious afternoon sitting! Fast paced, it kept you guessing throughout and the surprises just kept coming!particularly liked the setting of Shaftesbury and gold hill as it’s local to me living in Salisbury and made the read so much more relatable.The lengths and depravity that some people will go to to cover something up and the ingenious story line with its twists and turns Makes this a first class psychological thriller totally captivating and brilliant from start to finish.
Thank you shalini and net galley for this early read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC of The Wife by Shalini Boland in exchange of a honest review.

All the twists started happening in the second half of the book and I could not put it down until I found out what happened! But I found the first half of the book quite slow, in comparison to the second half, and I was expecting a bang for the ending, but it didn't have that huge shock factor for me personally. It was a good book, loved the suspence and I like it mostly for the second part of the book, definitely worth a read.
I enjoyed the switch between past and present, it didn't get confusing for me.
The writing style and the pacing made the book really easy and quick to read. The whole plot was super intriguing and I enjoyed all the stories adding up to Zoe's growing suspicions leading up to a panic attack.
Loved the suspense, a solid built-up, and a few plot twists in the end!

*It was actually a 3.5/5 stars for me

Wow wow wow Shalini Borland never fails.I was drawn in from the first pages read late into the night.A twisted dark thriller that kept me guessing till the last pages.This author is one of my thriller favorites a chilling read each time.# netgalley #thewife

What a brilliantly addictive book this is, well written with good characters, a great page turner with plenty of twists and turns, a brilliant ending which I never guessed and it makes extremely compulsive reading.

Well done Shalini, you never disappoint and I look forward to your next masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

WHAT A THRILLER!!!! Zoe faints on her wedding day. For the rest of that day she sort of floats through. She has no recollection of what caused her to faint or the time just beforehand. But she is marrying the love of her life so all is well.....or is it!!! I can always depend on Shalini for an amazing book. This one caused me sleepless nights because I couldn't put it down!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.

I always find Shalini Boland novels gripping, fast paced and unable to put down until I have reached the end. Well that's pretty much the same with this one.

Zoe got married 10 years ago to Toby. On the wedding day Zoe fainted and never knew why but always felt that something bad happened that was erased from her memory. Ten years on Toby and Zoe have two beautiful children and a very happy life together. They are planning to have an anniversary party but with the day getting closer strange things start to happen. One of her friends starts ignoring her, she catches Toby lying to her and someone is spreading stories that might stop the party from happening at all. All the time Zoe is convinced she doesn't know the full story of her wedding day and the desire for the truth is greater than ever.

Another excellent read told at breakneck pace. Interesting characters and a page turning plot. Another top drawer read by Shalini Boland.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You NetGalley/Publisher & Author for this gifted ebook.

Summary
Everyone has their secrets. But this one could destroy your marriage.

When Anna Blackwell opens an email from an unknown sender, the shocking image attached shatters her perfect world. A woman has been killed. And Anna knows who did it. The past is catching up with her.

Is it her turn next?

Review
So if you are looking for gripping mystery read to end your summer of with this is it.
I love thrillers and suspense books. But I felt this book wasn't all that for me. It was good don't get me wrong, it just wasn't what I was expecting it to be.
It was pretty fast paced read.

Overall- Good Book

Rating- 3/5

After having finished this book, I opened my jewelry box and put this priceless, precious gem of a book inside of it. 

From the very first few sentences I was lost, lost in this captivating story. The world might have stopped turning and I would not have noticed. I was too enthralled. 

The author takes us on a trip from the present to the past and back again and I read at light speed. I could not stop myself. The book took over and I had no say in this. 

How would you feel when you come around and feel like something is missing put you can't put your finger on it? It keeps playing in your head but to no avail. But one thing is for sure: the truth always comes out even if you have to wait 10 years for it. Maybe you wished you never remembered...

A brilliant book, without a doubt. 5 stars

Thank you, Shalini Boland and Bookouture

Your wedding day should bring warm memories for many years to come. What if some of your memories of the day are missing and you feel in your gut that something was not quite right. Her sister Dina, whom she has been estranged from for many years, never showed up for her wedding. She wished she could put the hard feelings she has had with her sister behind her. Zoe was in the hotel room getting ready for her wedding to her fiance Tobey. Next thing she can remember is lying on the floor and she was told she passed out and hit her head. She gathers herself together and decides to go on with the wedding instead of getting medical attention. She didn't want her wedding day ruined. Over the next ten years she has two children and a happy marriage. Zoe never hears from her sister after all these years and she starts searching for her. As she searches for her sister some memories of her wedding day have returned and her family starts acting strange. What is her family hiding? I enjoyed the twists in the book and never saw the last one coming. This is one of those books you read in one sitting because you just have to find out what is going on. A great book to put at the top of your to read list.

I'm not sure how to rate this book. I definitely liked it because there were times when I couldn't put it down and just had to race through another chapter, but it was extremely far-fetched and for a relatively short book, there was some unnecessary padding.

I liked the relationship between Zoe and her dad, especially towards the end when we find out a bit more. I also liked how the book was divided into short chapters, it always made me want to read 'just one more.'

An issue I did have was that the book spent a lot of time on focusing on things that didn't end up being important and probably not enough time developing the characters that are central to the plot. For example, there is a whole chapter dedicated to why Zoe fell out with her childhood best friend but it doesn't really end up having anything to do with the story. I would have liked to have known a bit more about brother in law Nick and father in law Malcolm as you never really get to find out anything about either character's personality even though they are 'main characters.' I didn't hate the ending but it was a bit implausible.

Overall I did like this but think it could have been better. I've read all of Shalini Boland's books and would recommend The Millionaire's Wife and The Girl From The Sea over this one.

The Wife is a wonderfully twisted domestic thriller. All the twists kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page. I won't say too much because I don't want to ruin all the twists but I highly recommend The Wife.

Zoe fainted on her wedding day and doesn't remember what caused her to faint or what was going on when she fainted. She just remembers an uneasiness during the day that was supposed to be the happiest day of her life but has the perfect marriage. Ten years later Zoe and Toby are getting ready to have a big 10 year anniversary celebration. People start acting weird around Zoe and unusual events are happening. Zoe starts to wonder what really happened on her wedding day.

The story switches between present day and ten years before, on Zoe's wedding day and the months after the wedding.

The characters are much more likable than most thrillers, but you have to read to the end to find out who the villains are.

The Wife was my first Shalini Boland book, but definitely will not be my last. I am looking forward to reading her back list.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shalini Boland does it again. The Wife is one doozy of a domestic thriller with twists upon twists that I did not see coming. Loved it!

I love all the books that Shalini Boland writes and always want to read her stories. The latest, The Wife was another fantastic novel.

On the day of her wedding, Zoe faints and has no recollection of why. When she wakes up, there’s a bump on her head but her new mother-in-law Celia who is a nurse, promises that she is okay. And Zoe is fine aside from a little headache. Sure, her memory is blank, but she marries the love of her life, Toby.

Ten years go by and she’s very happy with Toby and their children. In fact, Toby and Zoe are planning on a big anniversary party to celebrate. And then one day, she thinks she sees her estranged sister. She hasn’t seen Dina in ten years, could she be back in town?

As Zoe questions the reappearance of Dina, she is also wondering why her sister-in-law Madeline is suddenly acting standoffish. Questions swirl in Zoe’s brain especially when an old friend Cassie turns up.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Zoe fainted on her wedding day, and she never knew why. She’s always felt sure something bad happened. Ten years later, she’s going to find out what…

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Zoe was sitting in her hotel room, in her perfect white dress, looking forward to the moment when she would make kind, handsome Toby her husband. Then, there was a blank.

They said she must have fainted, overcome with emotion. But nothing felt quite right afterward. Did something happen in that missing time?

Now, Toby and Zoe have two beautiful children and a perfect life. They’re planning their ten-year anniversary party for their family and friends. The invitations have been sent, the food ordered. They’re going back to the grand hotel where they got married.

But as the anniversary gets closer, it becomes clear not everyone is looking forward to celebrating. She catches Toby lying about where he’s been. One of her best friends seems to be ignoring her. And someone is spreading stories that might stop the party from happening at all.

Zoe is increasingly sure that she doesn’t have the full story. But does she want to know the truth, if it will destroy everything?

This was another page-turner from a favorite author. I will read anything and everything Shalini Boland writes!

Another terrific deal for the Kindle version, this book will be out on September 9!

The Wife by Shalini Boland

I’m usually quite a slow reader, but I read ‘The Wife,’ written by Shalini Boland, in two sittings. The narrative structure is tight. The story is paced well and there is no lull in the narrative drive. The tension ascends parallel to plot twists all the way through.

I read a lot of books, particularly psychological fiction. Since I read books back-to-back, I often find it difficult leaving one story world for a new one. Often, it can take me a few days to get into a new story, but this wasn’t the case with The Wife. In this book, I hit the story reading! There was no time to brood over previous stories. This takes skillful writing on the authors part.

The story is written in first person narrative. Zoe is the narrator as well as the story’s protagonist, so we see events unfold through her eyes. The narrative distance or psychic distance brings us up close to Zoe's situation, and because it is expertly applied, at times, we essentially become Zoe - hence my beating heart!

I did have some issues with characterisation. Zoe’s characterisation was fantastic; however, I felt that Nick, in particular, required more depth. He isn’t really a minor character in this story, so he could have been fleshed out a bit more than he was. At one point, there was a monologue by another character, which referred to Nick’s nervousness. It wasn’t until this point that I truly realised his actions were caused by nerves. If Nick was fleshed out more, this could be shown implicitly through characterisation rather than explicitly telling the reader.

I also felt there were some loose ends with regards to Dina. What is her story? Perhaps it is intentional that we are left wondering? I just felt that something important had been missed out. However, I still absolutely loved reading the story, and I’m going to buy everything Shalini Boland has written!

Absolutely loved this domestic thriller! Shalini Boland does it again! Loved the twists and turns and wow what an ending. I literally had no idea... did not see it coming at all. Wonderful cast of characters that were easy to relate to and really like (ok some I strongly disliked!).
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Highly recommend

Wow! It started as a woman with a seemingly perfect life, perfect family, and boy did that change!! I read it in one sitting, couldn’t put it down. It was full of twists and turns and had an ending I never saw coming!

I really enjoyed this book.
It had everything I like in a thriller - suspense, a solid built-up, and a few plot twists in the end. I really liked Zoe as a character, and her growing paranoia and anxiety were really well-written and really added to the suspense, which made me read the entire book in one sitting.
Yet I was a little disappointed by the ending. The middle parts were so good that I was expecting something huge for the ending, and sadly the plot twists were quite predictable and the last scenes seemed to be over too quickly to really have shock factor. I did enjoy the epilogue a lot, and I was glad that it was added to make up for the rest of the ending.
I didn't always enjoy the switch between past and present, especially because sometimes it was a little confusing and the timeline was hard to follow.
The writing style and the pacing made the book really easy and quick to read and I couldn't put it down once I had started. The whole plot was super intriguing and I enjoyed seeing all the little moments adding up to Zoe's anxiety and her growing suspicions. The atmosphere was definitely one of the things I enjoyed most about this.

I love reading excellent psychological suspense novels, but it’s not always easy to find them. It takes talent to write a real page-turner, a book that’s impossible to put down. Therefore I’m happy to say Shalini Boland did it! I read the book as fast as I could, because I simply had to find out the truth. What happened on Zoe’s wedding day?

Zoe has been told she fainted before the wedding, but she can’t remember anything. She was pregnant, and believed that was the reason. She believed it for ten years, until the ball started rolling, the truth couldn’t be hidden anymore, and her memory came back. Weird things had started happening before her tenth wedding anniversary. Her friends avoided her, her husband lied, she thought she saw her sister twice, a sister she hadn’t heard from in over ten years...

An enjoyable read, a book I will not easily forget, written by a talented author. Well-developed characters, and the perfect pace and balance of dropping information to the reader. How have I not heard of her before?

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy!

My Review:

I will say this to the moon and back that boy this Shalini Boland woman sure knows how to write a book!!!!!! I have read many of her books and loved them all. In fact I’m determined to read all books. She is one of my favorite authors and I pray that she continues to write more and more and more!!!!!!

This book was about a woman who’s past and present collides in many ways. Zoe faints on her wedding day ten years earlier and doesn’t remember a thing. Now with her anniversary party coming up she has this feeling that her fainting spell so long ago was something more. Is Zoe right? Why does she keep getting hang up calls? Why does everyone around her seem to be acting suspicious? Did she do something wrong? You find all your questions and more out by the end of the book.

I want to start off by saying that I can’t say enough good things about this author. I love the way she writes and how she really brings the book alive. I feel like I watching an award winning movie when I’m reading her books. I’m telling you her books are just that good. I loved the way that this book came together. You go from past to present and really feel like you are one with the story. I also loved all the characters. The characters all had their flaws but they flowed well with each other. They each had their place in the story and it worked so well. I really loved that. Let’s talk about the plot. Now that was a doozy. Who doesn’t love a story where where your past affects the present. Also, that ending, wow!!!!! Shalini is the queen of shock. I really thought I knew where the end was taking me but I was dead wrong. I just love endings with a twist. They bring such joy to me as it’s hard to surprise me anymore.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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.