This book made me question my own mental state right along with Alex. It's more than a love triangle, it's a love square! Ha! Great character depth, from the kids to the adults, with such complex relationships. I love the story telling coming from different characters point of views at different times in their lives. My only question and dislike is, how could Freddie have stayed away that long with not much reason and then show back up, unannounced years later and care for everyone like he never left.
A bit predictable with jealousy and revenge coming through until the end!

Well this was certainly a gripping and twisted tale! I wasn’t sure what was coming next in this amazing story! Poor Alex has one husband and then her former husband comes back from the dead! Talk about one too many. Fabulous read!I recommend.

Predictable story with unlikeable characters. I wasn't a fan of the writing either, it didn't really pull me in and make me feel engaged with the story. None of the characters really talked to each other about the important things and there was so much about this that seemed super unrealistic.

3.5 stars

The premise was intriguing—Alex's husband, Freddie, vanished years ago, and just as she’s built a new life with his best friend, Carter, Freddie suddenly returns. I was expecting a gripping, twist-filled thriller, but it didn’t quite deliver the tension I was hoping for.

The dual timelines and multiple perspectives were interesting, but the pacing felt uneven. The big twist was predictable early on, and I never fully connected with the characters. It wasn’t a bad read—just not as suspenseful or engaging as I’d hoped. If you enjoy domestic dramas with a bit of mystery, you might still find it worthwhile!

I started this book on Sunday, and I was so hooked that I couldn’t put it down – I ended up finishing it on Monday, simply because I needed to sleep to go to work! Let me tell you, this book absolutely lives up to its "unputdownable" promise. From the very first page, I was completely absorbed. The plot is so gripping and addictive, and while I did manage to predict the ending (50%), the journey itself was so compelling that I couldn’t stop reading.

This book dives deep into some compelling themes, touching on postpartum depression, general depression, the complexities of friendships, the rollercoaster of motherhood, the ups and downs of spousal relationships, and the myth of the "picture-perfect" family.

What really sets this book apart is its pacing. It moves at lightning speed, and the chapters are short, which creates this irresistible urge to keep turning the pages. Every chapter ends with just enough of a cliffhanger to make you need to know what happens next – I found myself staying up late, not willing to stop until I knew more.

And oh, the twists and surprises! There are moments that completely take you by surprise, throwing you off balance in the best possible way. If you're in need of a thrilling read that will have you hooked from the get-go, this is it. It’s an emotional rollercoaster you won’t want to get off of. I highly, highly recommend it!

Just when Alex thought she had moved on, her world shatters all over again.

Ten years after her first husband, Freddie, vanished without a trace, Alex has built a new life with her second husband, Carter, and their children. Because Carter was Freddie's best friend, it was his shoulder Alex cried on when Freddie vanished, leaving her to raise her two young daughters alone. Finding solace and comfort in one another, their long friendship turned to love and they welcomed baby Dylan after getting married.

But when Freddie reappears unexpectedly, he utters a chilling warning: "Don't trust Carter."

As Alex grapples with resurfaced emotions and mounting suspicion, she begins receiving anonymous, threatening notes leading her to confide her fears and anxiety with her childhood best friend and constant companion, Gemma.

Torn between two men she once loved and unsure whom to believe, Alex must unravel the truth before it's too late.

If you're drawn to psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the final page, this one is a must-read.​

Huge thanks to NetGalley, A.J. McDine, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of its proposed April 1st, 2025 release date.

oh behave this book was too much. in all the delicious and brilliant ways a thriller should be. it had me from the blurb to be honest. and from there it just hooked me in more and more until i was speeding through out. and then i wanted to find the end but also with my alegances to certain characters i didnt know if i could face the end if it turned some of the characters into "baddies".
so what would you do if your husband vanished....
then youve fought to move on and married his best friend...
then one day your first husband is just there,back,on your doorstep...
and so we are pulled into how their lives will unfold. and how they handle it. but also the past. and the telling of how and what happened to the first husband.
this book was great.
a true gem of a domestic thriller.

First, thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

What would you do when your ex-husband suddenly shows up at your doorstep? Especially when you thought said husband is dead? That is exactly what Alex gas to deal with. On top of that, her ex, Freddie, does tell her she can not trust her current husband, Carter....

I did really enjoy the book which is told from the POV of both Alex (present) and Freddie (past). The chapters are not too long, fast-paced, and since this is a thriller, we do have a lot of twists and turns. Totally recommended!

From the first line, this book hooks you in. It’s a brilliant story about Alex, and the bombshell she finds herself when her ex-husband (presumed dead) turns up at her door! The multiple timelines work exceptionally well, alongside the multiple character perspectives. At first, the present is narrated by Alex, while the past is told by her ex-husband. As the plot thickens, you see the perspectives of other characters. This was an addictive read, and I couldn’t put it down once I’d started!

This was a well written book. I found myself reading into the night. It was written by one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend reading this book and any other books by this author.

The Husband Before You by A J McDine
10 years ago, Alex’s first husband, Freddie disappeared without a trace. Now he’s standing at the front door unbeknownst to Alex now being married his best friend Carter.

The timelines goes back and forth between now and before Freddie disappeared. Alex was struggling with PPD and Freddie was facing legal recourse at work. Alex has begun to receive anonymous notes alluding to the truth coming out, but Alex has no idea what that truth is.

A brilliant domestic thriller filled with plot twists and turns! Quick paced and an easy read .

Alex’s first husband has been missing for 10 years. On the night of Alex and her new husband’s anniversary, Freddie, the first husband reappears. Where has Freddie been? And why has he come back? And what is Alex going to do now that she has remarried to Freddie’s best friend, Carter?

Freddie told Alex, “Don’t trust Carter.” Who should she trust, her first husband or her second husband?
And who could be behind the mysterious notes that keep appearing in Alex’s mail slot saying that “the truth will come out?”

The premise of this book sounded great, and I was so excited to read it, but it fell short for me.

One of the first things that I found strange was when Freddie comes through the door, one of the first things that Alex did was to go and “cancel the cab” for the anniversary dinner. She wasn’t freaking out or emotional about Freddie’s return. If my husband all of a sudden reappeared after 10 years, I imagine that my reaction would be MUCH different than Alex’s.

Then they all just coexisted like a big dysfunctional family. “It would be the perfect picture of domesticity if it wasn’t so twisted. One wife, three kids, two husbands. It’s like something from a down-market reality tv show. … what happens next? Freddie can’t stay here forever. “

As the book went on, Alex and Carter act like they know he’s been alive for the last 10 years, like they never assumed he was dead. I thought this was so strange!

“I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. How am I supposed to keep both husbands happy? I’m not sure it’s possible.”

The amount of times that the author referred to Freddie and Carter as the “first husband” and “second husband” drove me crazy.

When we get to the part in the story where Alex is recounting the morning Freddie left, she doesn’t seem all that worried or concerned. She didn’t assume something horrible had happened to him, she just said that he vanished.

Overall, I thought this book was choppy and predictable. We never did find out why Freddie decided to return, and his reasoning for being away for 10 years was stupid. Not my favorite, and unfortunately probably would not recommend it to friends.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Y’all, AJ doesn’t get enough hype for her domestic thrillers 😮‍💨

You’re always guaranteed a quick, twisty ride with a WTF storyline. The Husband Before You was a fun one that had me speed reading trying to find out if my hunch was correct. I also need a follow up book because I know that you know who isn’t going to let it go that easily!

“The Husband Before You" by A.J. McDine is an engrossing 5-star read! Alex was abandoned by her first husband, Freddie, 10 years ago when he suddenly walked out on her and their children. Seven years later, he was declared dead, allowing Alex to marry Carter—Freddie’s best friend since college and former colleague at the same hospital. But when Freddie unexpectedly reappears at her doorstep, everything spirals out of control.

The story is told from the perspectives of both Alex and Freddie, shifting between the present and the past—spanning 10 or even 20 years back. The author masterfully weaves these timelines together, revealing the intricate connections between the four main characters. There are a few small twists along the way, but the real surprises come at the end!

Having read a couple of A.J. McDine’s other books and enjoyed them, I’m excited to see what she comes up with next!

Thanks to Bookouture, A. J. McDine, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

I always enjoy books by AJ McDine! This domestic thriller had my attention from chapter 1. From the very beginning, you don't know who to trust. Does husband #1 or husband #2 have the family's best interests in minds? Can either of them be trusted? Someone is sending anonymous messages (are they meant to be threatening or warnings?) and everyone seems to be harboring a secret.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I didn’t particularly care for this book. The description and premise sounded interesting, but after having figured out what was going on in the first 15% of the novel I only finished it because it was offered to me on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book leans heavily on the “domestic” part of “domestic thriller”. The story focuses on Alex, a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) who has made the decision to become a mother not once, or twice, but three times, then spends her days whining and sighing about how tired she is at having to do laundry and clean while her doctor husband supports them. The self-imposed martyrdom made me not root for her, which I don’t think was the author’s intention. Alex was simply just unlikable for endlessly whinging about how hard her life is when she has no money woes, there are two parents to carry the load, she only has one child not in school, and she doesn’t need to work. It left a very sour taste in my mouth.

As an American reader I did not understand a lot of the terms and verbiage, but eventually just stopped looking up the definitions as I was getting the general concept and wasn’t very invested in the story. I think it would be worthwhile for the publisher to make some small adaptations in that regard for a USA release.

This book lacked subtlety and the character’s motivations were trite (especially the antagonist’s). After having completed it, this is the type of book that gets adapted into a Lifetime movie. Between the endless SAHM navel-gazing, an unlikable protagonist, a predictable story, and motivations lacking nuance or depth, this isn’t a book I’d recommend.

I was hooked from the very first page and read it in one sitting! I absolutely loved The Husband Before You by A J McDine! Addicting! Highly recommend this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I have read a few books by McDine now and have enjoyed every single one.

.J McDine always provides an entertaining read and this one was no exception.

Alex’s first husband Freddie has been gone for ten years, a doctor who had two young children with Alex. But one night Freddie just seems to disappear, never to be heard of again until one night Alex opens the front door and there he is, standing in front of her. She cannot believe what she is seeing.

Throughout Freddie’s time away Alex has been supported by her best friend Gemma and she honestly doesn’t know how she would have managed without Gemma to support her and confide in. Every girl needs a best friend they can count on don’t they?

Alex had finally learned to swallow her grief and move on with her life raising her children alone until she finally decided to marry again, to Freddie’s good friend Carter. But one night Freddie tells Alex she should not trust Carter and on top of this she has been receiving threatening messages, her life is now in turmoil.

So now with Freddie back Alex’s life will never be the same again. She is now having to navigate her world with both men in it, two men she feels a very strong connection with but ultimately she can only have one. But is Alex really seeing the whole picture clearly or is there signs she should be picking up on, signs that may clearing lead to the path that lies ahead of her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all options expressed are my own.

Imagine your first husband leaving and never coming back. You presume he’s dead and you remarry. Well then your first husband shows back up after 10 years. This kept me glued to the pages and I enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book had me hooked Alex’s husband disappears, and years later, she marries his best friend and has a new child. Then, out of nowhere, her first husband shows up on their doorstep.

This was an easy, fast-paced, and engaging read. I finished it in just a couple of sittings and was fully invested in the characters and their story, eager to see how it all played out. However, I found the plot a bit too predictable. Additionally, I couldn’t quite get on board with Alex’s final decision.

That said, I really enjoyed the story overall and would definitely recommend it!