3.75 Stars.

Firstly, thank you to Brilliance Publishing & Brilliance Audio for sending me this advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

"My perfect man is married. And his wife is missing. Can I really trust him—or am I next?"

This book was nothing like I imagined it could be, and that was the best part. I devoured this audiobook for it's engaging storyline and fantastic narrator, though I must admit, it took me a little while to comprehend where the book itself was going. Luckily, that didn't matter and this only made me want to keep reading it whenever I got the chance. For a long while it was a "who done it" and yet I was wondering what it was that was done. It really did keep me on my toes.

I was hooked. Watson's writing is truly captivating. This book had a variety of likeable and non-likeable characters and I enjoyed that they were all very distinct. They had enough depth to feel like you knew who they were. Following Sophie on the uncovering of the truth was enjoyable, suspenseful and unlike anything I've read.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

The PERFECT thriller. The audiobook actually gave me chills. Incredible narration, twists and turns that kept me guessing.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was an enjoyable, yet very predictable thriller. I'm not a huge fan of the main character, but I enjoyed the narration and would listen to other titles she narrates.

**2.5 stars rounded up to 3**

This had lots of potential but ended up feeling a bit basic and lacked any real punch.

The main character felt very naive, self centered and needy so I found myself not really caring for her.

The main point of the plot also too so long to get to that it felt a bit anti climatic by the time we reached it. This also features a trope I'm not a fan of so that also took me out of the story quite quickly.

I did find the writing style really easy to listen to and the narrator did a fantastic job at all the character voices and I found her very engaging.

Overall a decent listen but unfortunately for me nothing out of the ordinary.

His First Wife is a shorter read, which honestly worked in its favor—I appreciated the quick pace. The characters stirred up a mix of emotions in me, which is always a sign that a story has something going for it.

Sophie, though... whew. I found her frustratingly naïve. More than once, I wanted to reach into the pages and give her a good shake. Her insecurity made it hard for me to really connect with her, even though I was intrigued by the secret she was keeping. That twist added some much-needed intrigue.

But then there’s Emilio. One minute Sophia’s falling head over heels, the next she’s throwing accusations of him keeping secrets, even though she is doing the same. The back-and-forth felt a bit condescending and repetitive, which took me out of the story at times.

Abby, the stalker-ish friend, kept me guessing right from the start. She added a mysterious edge that kept me turning the pages, just to see how her part of the story would unfold.

All in all, this wasn’t a groundbreaking read, but it wasn’t a waste of time either. A solid in-between book when you’re in the mood for some drama and secrets without a huge time commitment.

Thanks to NetGalley and all the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Someone lies, and someone dies…

These are the words Sophie hears from a fortune teller. When her new boyfriend’s estranged wife goes missing, Sophie can’t help but wonder - is she next?

Psychological thriller and mystery readers will love this twisty tale. There is so much going on, so many suspicious people, that I really had no idea where to even focus to figure out what the heck was going on. Even the parts that I did kind of figure out were just a drop in the bucket of lies and secrets. This is my first book by @suewatsonbooks and I plan to read through her backlog. Fans of John Marrs and Freida McFadden will feel right at home!

Narrator @pollyedsell did a superb job with the character voices. They were all distinct and clear. She captured the tense moments perfectly.

Add His First Wife to your to-read list! I wasn’t able to stop listening till the very end 🎧 Happy reading! 📚

I loved this book! Thanks for the opportunity to listen in advance.

His First Wife
by Sue Watson
Narrated by Polly Edsell

This book is about Sophie and Emelio's weird relationship. Why Sophie puts up with the dozens of red flags and stays in a relationship with Emilio throughout the story is beyond me. Sophie starts dating a professor from work, an elusive volcanologist named Emilio, who is the least attention-seeking boyfriend on the face of the Earth. He lives with his sister-in-law in his first wife's mansion. The first wife is nowhere to be seen, rather galavanting around the world. Sophie is kind of obsessed with her. I don't want to give the story away, as it does have some twists and turns, but I sped through the last few hours because it was just redundant and slow-paced. Sophie's poor decisions really got to me, and I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters or what happened to them.

The narration was well done, and it was easy to listen to and understand, even with Emilio's accent. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Brilliance Publishing for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!

I found this one to be predictable.
I thought it was pretty obvious (the mystery), but I was still able to engage for the majority of the book.
I did not enjoy the structure or organization of the plot. We didn't find out the wife is missing until about halfway through the book - that irritated me.
The second half of the big did drag on a bit. I found myself just wanting it to be finished.
I found Sophie's gullibility in believing anything because she was "in love" unflattering and unappealing for her character. Red flag after red flag, but no concerns?! She is as oblivious as a teenage girl with her first love? It just frustrated me. She loved MMC so much that she is blind?! Come on now!
The is a short book and I appreciate that.
There is some suspense, tension, and mystery. Not one of my favorites, but not my least favorite.
I think the ingredients are here, but I had trouble with the recipe.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for this wild and twisty ride of a listen!

Whew! From the very first chapter of His First Wife, I knew I was in for a psychological thriller that would have me second-guessing everything. Sophie, a widowed art teacher just trying to move forward, falls for the mysterious Emilio—who definitely has skeletons in his closet. And Gina, the so-called chill first wife? That woman gave me whiplash with her calmness. Sabrina, Gina’s sister, added fuel to the suspense with her strange attitude and biting words, leaving me questioning everyone’s intentions.

Every time I thought I had it figured out, Sue Watson threw in another twist. From suspicious neighbors to odd balcony watchers to a missing woman and secrets unraveling faster than I could process—this audiobook had me holding my breath more than once. The narration was gripping and perfectly matched the tension of the story.

And that ending?! Let’s just say I thought I was prepared, but I absolutely was not. Sophie’s secret hit hard, and I’m still thinking about what comes next for these characters. A couple of threads left me wanting more answers, but overall—if you love twisty domestic thrillers with layers of lies, messy relationships, and endings that pack a punch, this is for you.

Add this to your TBR, but don’t make plans—you won’t be able to stop listening.

This was a good book. It really kept me guessing. The way everything unfolds makes this book well written. I liked this one.

This was the first book By Sur Eatson that I’ve read, but it will not be the last. The complex twists and turns throughout the book kept me engaged!

love all Sue Watson trillers and this book was not the exception.
In this story we follow Sophie, who is mesmerized by Emilio from the moment she first sees him. Once these two are interacting she falls FAST…

I felt like throwing my kindle away because Sophie’s decisions were often reckless and she actively chose to ignore all red flags thrown at her. Sue did a great job at keeping the suspense built until the last moment, and although I thought I had figured all out, the twists proved I never did.

I enjoyed the narration of the book, Polly did a great job bringing Sophie to life.

I totally recommend this thriller to anyone who enjoys twisty, mysterious stories!

Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Audio for the ALC!

I think the synopsis of this is a little misleading. This is way more about the 'shadowy figure' and Sophie's relationship with Emilio; you don't even find out the wife is technically missing until over halfway through the book.

I found the mystery to be pretty obvious, but it was entertaining enough. I felt like the book could have ended ten times before it actually did. I kept looking at how much time I had left and groaning because it was dragging so badly.

The romance part turned me off I was also gagging at the MC and how pathetic she is; followed by being quite stupid. I had to quit. I wasn’t interested in spending time with either of them. Sorry

I've been reading Sue Watson's books since 2018 and I have to say, HIS FIRST WIFE is one of her best works to date. The story grabbed my attention from the start. I liked that it took place in Italy and that were a lot of secrets throughout the story. The narration was perfection. Sometimes that can alter the story for me, but this narrator did not. I didn't know what or who to believe and when I got to the ending I was really surprised. If you want a fun thriller to listen to, don't hesitate and grab this audiobook on release day!

Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication day.

The story had a lot of potential, with a suspenseful setup and an intriguing mystery surrounding Emilio and his wife. The premise pulled me in, and I was curious to see how it would all unfold.

However, I really struggled with the main character, Sophie. Her decisions often felt frustrating and irrational, and I found it difficult to connect with her or sympathize with her situation. At times, her behavior made it hard to stay engaged with the story, and I found myself more annoyed than intrigued.

That said, the pacing was decent and there were a few twists that kept me turning the pages. It wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t quite deliver the tension or character depth I was hoping for. A decent thriller if you’re looking for something light, but not one that left a lasting impression for me.

This story was suspenseful with a slow unraveling and little plot twists sprinkled throughout the book. 🤩 I enjoyed the mystery and the misleading characters. The narration was great as well. 😊

Whew, this book had me side-eyeing every charming man with a mysterious past! His First Wife serves up a tall glass of red flags with a side of Sicilian sunshine. Emilio? Gorgeous. Smart. Intense. Absolutely the type you should run from in the first five pages.

Sophie, girl… I wanted to shake you. I get it—vacation romance and all—but when the "perfect man" has a missing wife and people start warning you off him like he’s a walking true crime podcast? Maybe listen.

Sue Watson kept the suspense sizzling with just enough twists to make me question everyone—including Sophie herself. It’s fast, addictive, and the ending made me gasp out loud. If you're in the mood for a psychological thriller with Mediterranean vibes, grab this one.

Thank you Sue Watson, Brilliance Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

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